Month: November 2011

Jackie Leven


I just thought I would post this having just received an email today. Jackie Leven, the Scottish singer-songwriter is gravely ill, suffering from cancer. In all likelihood he only has a few days left to live.

“Leven is probably the most talented singer-songwriter never to have become a household name” – Neil McCormick

For those of you who have never heard of Jackie I suggest you take a look at the link below and some of the other offerings available on YouTube.

My thoughts are with Jackie, his family and friends.

Jackie Leven & Deborah Greenwood in Southsea – YouTube.

Thankful villages: The places where everyone came back from the wars


Today is Remembrance Sunday and many people will be paying tribute to those that died during the two “great” wars and many other conflicts. The media, newspapers and television, are full of articles and programmes looking back at the famous battles and talking to survivors.

But, please, follow the link below for a slightly different look at the war years and the impact that they had on communities. There you can read about villages that watched their menfolk march off to war and were lucky enough to see all of them return. It’s an amazing story which shows the arbitrary nature of war.

As an aside to this article is a short mention of the French village, Thierville, which has not suffered a single fatality in any of France’s last five wars. That is the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, World Wars I and II, Indochina, and Algeria. A truly unique claim.

Given the lives lost during all those wars, then to be able to witness the return of all your menfolk, that is truly something for which to be thankful.

BBC News – Thankful villages: The places where everyone came back from the wars.

David Cameron calls Fifa’s England poppy ban ‘absurd’


And absurd it is.

Although the poppy may not be worn in all countries around the world, the sentiment is recognised and respected.

Recently Poundland made fools of themselves by banning their staff from wearing a poppy as it contravened their dress code.

What is the matter with these people ? So many petty minded people.

FIFA say that, if they give in to the England request, it will open the doors to other such requests.

So what ?


If we are being asked to acknowledge another nation wishing to show respect then so be it.

Sport is supposed to transcend politics and religion and yet the ruling bodies seem to bend over backwards to get themselves embroiled in disputes over just those matters.

BBC – Newsbeat – David Cameron calls Fifa’s England poppy ban ‘absurd’.

“Smokin” Joe Frazier – RIP


The world of sport has bid a fond farewell to a legend of the boxing world. Former World Heavyweight Champion “Smokin” Joe Frazier died after losing his final fight with cancer of the liver.

He was a true champion.

BBC News – Boxing ex-world champion Joe Frazier dies.

Still Here


Wow !!

Didn’t it rain last night. The sort of rain that falls so hard that it creates a low lying mist cloud up to about twelve inches from the ground. Thunder and lightening too.

Our conservatory has a variety of leaks that creep into action depending on wind direction and amount of water falling out of the sky. Only rarely do they all drip at the same time.

Last night, around midnight, was one of those occasions. I rushed around, strategically placing containers in all the usual places, trying to get ahead of the game.

I thought I had them all covered but this morning I found a wet patch on the step by the kitchen door. A new leak has developed and bypassed all the containers.

Hey ho !! Never mind, I’ll have you covered next time.

 

I Thought You Needed A Smile


This was recently sent to me so I decided to share …….

In  case you needed further  proof that the human race is doomed through stupidity, here are some  actual label instructions on consumer  goods.

  1. On Tesco’s Tiramisu dessert  (printed on bottom) — “Do  not turn upside down.”
    (well… a  bit late?)
  2. On  Sainsbury’s peanuts —  “Warning:   contains nuts.”
    (talk about a news  flash)
  3. On Boot’s Children Cough  Medicine — “Do  not drive a car or operate machinery after taking this  medication.”
    (We could do a lot to reduce the  rate of construction accidents if  we could just get those 5  year-olds with head-colds off those  bulldozers.)
  4. On  Marks &Spencer  Bread Pudding —  “Product will be hot after  heating.”
    (….and you   thought??.)
  5. On a Sears hairdryer — Do not use while  sleeping.
    (That’s the only time I  have to work on my  hair.)
  6. On a bag of Doritos — You  could  be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details  inside.
    (the shoplifter special?)
  7. On a bar of Dial soap — “Directions:  Use like  regular soap.”
    (and that would   be?)
  8. On some Swanson frozen dinners — “Serving  suggestion:  Defrost.”
    (but, it’s just a   suggestion.)
  9. On packaging for a Rowenta iron  — “Do  not  iron clothes on body.”
    (but wouldn’t this save  me  time?)
  10. On Nytol Sleep Aid — “Warning:   May cause drowsiness.”
    (..I’m taking this  because?)
  11. On  most brands of  Christmas lights — “For  indoor or outdoor use  only.”
    (as  opposed to  what?)
  12. On a Japanese food processor — “Not to be used  for the other use.”
    (now, somebody out  there,  help me on this. I’m a bit  curious.)
  13. On an American Airlines packet  of nuts — “Instructions:  Open packet,  eat nuts.”
    (Step 3: say  what?)
  14. On a child’s Superman  costume — “Wearing of this garment does not  enable you to fly.”
    (I don’t blame the company. I  blame the parents and legislators for this one.)
  15. On a Swedish chainsaw — “Do not attempt  to stop chain with your hands or genitals.”
    (Oh my God..was there a  lot  of this happening somewhere?)

And one last thought ….

Blessed are the cracked: for  it is they who let in the  light

Hasn’t He Gone Yet ?


I thought he had gone.

Why is it taking so long to get Julian Assange , King of Wikileaks, exported ?

I squawked about his extradition back in February and he is still here.

Waterlooville – Before The Planners Took The Heart Out OF The Town Centre


This is Waterlooville, the town where I live, as it used to be. The photo is dated around the 50s or 60s. In 1985 the local planners deemed it to be a good idea to pedestrianize this road. The heart and soul of the town has all but dried up. All of the original stores  have long gone and other than the banks, few of the major chains are interested in coming here. Despite the additional 2500 homes soon to be built to the west of the town.

The A3 has been diverted around the town centre and now serves to separate the town into two unique shopping areas. Current plans underway will only serve to further divide the town. Already Waitrose have stated that the opening of the new Sainsbury’s store will probably drive them and their small store  out of the town.

Within the last year or so it was decided that the tired shopping centre was in need of a makeover, what was required was nice pastel shades and in addition some strange artistic shapes were introduced. The end result, to my mind, would have been considered modern back when this photo was taken.

Now, Waterlooville seems to be moving to a cafe culture with numerous coffee shops, cafes and very soon Wetherspoons will be opening the third pub. ALthough I think that is something of a mixed blessing since it is opening almost next door to the Heroes. It remains to be seen if the Heroes can compete with the Wetherspoons business model.

In the meantime the stores that would encourage passing trade for the food/drink establishments are slowly dying a death.

Don’t misread my intentions. I am not against change. What I am bemoaning, is what I believe to be mistakes by the planners. Yes the A3 needed to be diverted to resolve the traffic problems but was it necessary to take away the passing trade. The old road could have had traffic calming to prevent it becoming a rat run and still allowed folks to access the shops. However, the way it was done and the subsequent planning decisions regarding the Retail Park and the Wilkinson/Waitrose area have served only to destroy the heart of the town. The dual carriageway separates the town centre from the retail park. The Wilkinson/Waitrose area seems like a separate shopping centre with its back to Waterlooville. The proposed new  Sainsbury’s soon to be built at the western end of the Retail Park is just going to drag shoppers away from the town centre especially with the addition of a new petrol station. It remains to be seen how this will all pan out.

Personally I don’t hold out much hope for Waterlooville Town Centre.

Road in different eras – Remember When – The News.