It’s a Chard life

I’m glad to see the Grand Prix being covered by BBC again but it’s hard to believe that it’s been away for 12 years. I loved the website headline (www.formula1.com) after the race, “The Brawn Supremacy”. Just about summed it up really, although Rubens had a bit of luck coming second after a very eventful afternoon. I feel that Vettel was treated a bit harsh, having received a 10 place penalty after the race for being wiped out by Kubica. It’s probably because he was saying sorry to his team all the way back to the pits. Although he couldn't’quite bring himself to retiring to the pits for a while. Maybe he thought he could still win on 3 wheels; I wonder if he was singing that song. Hamilton got promoted to third after Trulli was given a penalty; that’s the first time I remember a steward’s decision going his way.

As I was saying, Chard is a pretty little town in the south west corner of Somerset. I remembered to bring my camera with me today so I can finally post a couple of photos. The main feature in Chard is the rock sculpture in the high street that seems part of the water feature that the council seem to go to great lengths to keep and maintain. The water comes from an underground spring and flows right through the high street. Witherspoons has converted the old cinema and you can still see the old fashioned balcony on the inside. I popped in tonight to sample their Tuesday special, mixed grill and a pint for £6.10. I tried the new large version for £7.60. It consisted of a 4oz rump steak, 2 x 4oz gammon steaks, 2 x lamb chops, 2 x Lincolnshire sausages, 6 x beer battered onion rings, a free range egg, tomato, mushroom, chips and peas; all washed down with a pint of your choice. Yes, the pint was also included in the price. Only trouble is, I'm stuffed now.

Whilst watching QI last week from my “room”, I was surprised to be told the Alexander Graham Bell was not the inventor of the telephone like we were all taught at school. It was Elisha Gray who was the co owner and chief scientist working for a company manufacturing telegraphic equipment. Bell copied Gray’s idea and patented it first. This was possible as at the time you didn’t require a working model to be granted a patent. Only later did he get it working. Ten years on Bell was challenged in the courts but the case was dropped as most people concerned had died. In addition Bell paid Gray $100 000 and Western Electric (Gray's company) was contracted as Bell's sole equipment supplier – an arrangement that lasted for almost 100 years.