Author: siskinbob

Formerly employed by MOD and IBM, now retired

If You Carry A Knife You Are Planning To Kill


In my view, if you leave home carrying a knife, then you are already of the mindset that you may use it.

If you use it, then you must be aware that you are, potentially, going to kill someone.

That is not manslaughter. That is murder.

While Betteridge didn’t take the knife out, he must have accepted it from Hansen, and he did wield it with tragic consequences.

And, again, in my view, Hansen, who supplied the knife, bears equal responsibility and should also be charged with murder.

Neither Betteridge nor Hansen can be unaware of the countrywide incidents involving knives and the subsequent consequences.

Far too many knife related deaths are being reported on TV and in the press.

And yet, Hansen still carried a knife out onto the streets and at some time passed it to Betteridge, who then used it to such devastating effect.

In the early hours of Saturday, August 5th, 2023, the lives of three eighteen year olds were changed forever, along with the lives of their friends and family.

https://app.portsmouth.co.uk/full_page_image/page-11-2029/content.html

RIP Malcolm


https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/sussex-mourns-bonfire-legend-who-provided-the-big-bangs-at-fireworks-displays-across-the-county-4534451?page=2

I want to take a few moments to mention Malcolm Foster.

Malcolm was a school chum who lived a few doors down the road from where I lived. We used to muck around in the village of Westfield, where we lived.

We went to school together, initially at Westfield’s own primary school, which was just a few minutes’ walk up our road. And then, later, joining the Cooks Coaches’ daily school run to Claverham County Secondary School at Battle.

At the weekends and in school holidays, it was breakfast and out. We would go exploring the countryside for miles around on our bikes.  Occasionally, we would ride out to Brede village and its namesake river, with our fishing rods on the hunt for Roach, Perch, and eels. Our parents never knew where we were, and there were no mobile phones back then. No packed lunch, either. We might have scrumped a few apples, and I do remember sitting in a field of Kale chomping down on a few leafy stalks. I dread to think what might have been sprayed on those fields.

My father was the village bobby, and it was normal police practice to change officers’ assignments every couple of years or so. We had moved to Westfield from Lewes, and then sadly, our family had to move away from Westfield.

We didn’t move far, just to Battle. For me, it was just a few minutes’ walk from our new house to Claverham. But it did mean that I didn’t have the daily coach ride with Malcolm, and also, the ripple effect was that there were no after-school or weekend jaunts. So, inevitably, we drifted off into different social groups.

Over the years, we have communicated sporadically, but without the aid of current social media it was difficult.

So, although we didn’t remain close friends, I do have some happy memories.

And, from what I have been reading recently, Malcolm lived a full life with lots of friends.

RIP Malcolm Foster. My thoughts go out to all your friends and family.

Plans But No Real Substance


This is the face of a deluded woman.

https://app.portsmouth.co.uk/full_page_image/page-17-1971/content.html

Deluded because she is annoyed that folks, when they visit, can’t see the councils plans.

Journalist Christopher Howse of The Telegraph published an article on the demise of Waterlooville. He presented his view after a single visit.

Well, I found myself in Waterlooville centre at around 13:00 on Monday and I think Mr Howse is pretty spot on.

Although there were a few people wandering around, they didn’t look much like shoppers, more they were just passing through. With no shop fronts to attract them, invite them to pause a while and browse. It all looked pretty desolate.

All that was missing was some tumbleweed blowing around.

Despite the best efforts of those businesses actually open, it is not an attractive place to be.

There are many barber shops here, but all but one had no customers. The bored proprietors were sitting drinking coffee or fizzy pop.

The coffee shops all seemed to be fairly busy, but due to a distinct lack of interest in chipboard, there wasn’t much to keep me window shopping.

After around 45 mins, I had completed a full circuit of the town centre and took myself off to join the coffee drinkers.

I’m sorry, Councillor Robinson, but visual impressions of the town don’t convey the potential that HBC plans to build on. I really do applaud HBC for what they are trying to do, but as I have said before, I fear it is too little too late.

A misguided HBC has mishandled the planning of both Waterlooville and Havant centres, and the local residents are paying the price

It Passed …. Again !


Here in the UK, once a vehicle is three years old, it has to be submitted for a annual MOT test.

My vehicle, a Mazda CX5, which I have had since 2013, was due its MOT at the end of this month.

It was booked into the testing station today.

Brilliant news, it passed the examination. That’s eight consecutive years with no work to be carried out.

The Telegraph’s View Of Waterlooville


Over the years, I have, in several posts, made some disparaging remarks about the state of our town (village) centre.

How it is slowly decomposing, and becoming something of a ghost town.

Well it seems we have now come to the attention of The Telegraph, one Britain’s national broadsheets.

The English high street: Waterlooville, Hampshire – how a town centre dies

This has become an object lesson in how a thriving town can be ruined by poor building and haphazard planning

This is the opening salvo of a sad description   of how Havant Borough Council planners have mismanaged the development of Waterlooville and then, having fouled it up they have sat back to let the rot set in.

Further into the article, reference is made to the Wellington Way Shopping Centre website. I didn’t know it had one.

“Wellington Way Shopping Centre, right at the heart of the town,” says its website. “Offers a great mix of high-street names and boutiques. Come on down and enjoy the atmosphere.”

This is followed by …

You would have to be deranged to enjoy the atmosphere.

I have long bemoaned the fact that the planners diverted the A3 London Road to dogleg its way around the town centre. Effectively isolating the town centre from the new shopping experience that is the Wellington Way Retail Park. The Telegraph had this to say …

Since 1983, the A3 has roared in a dog-leg bypass, leaving the London Road, the main shopping street, as a comfortless pedestrian open space.

I note that the Telegraph didn’t  comment on that part of the retail park experience which is the parking.

Only a moron would create a retail park with two motor vehicle entrances but only one exit. Parking is free for a set period of time, monitored by NPR cameras. Many folks have found that they have been fined due to it taking over an hour to exit the car park, thereby exceeding the free period.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/02/27/english-high-street-london-road-waterlooville-hampshire/

Don’t get me wrong. I know that HBC are working hard to turn things around. But, as I have also previously stated, I believe it to be too little, too late.

They have already subdivided the town centre by diverting and pedestrianising the A3. This is a change that they are highly unlikely to reverse.

Today, a Monday afternoon, I have just circumnavigated the town centre. There were a fair few people around, but it was a long way from the bustling town it was. And despite the clean-up work, it is drab, uninviting, and sad. The Telegraph are not far off the mark.

Danger in Numbers


https://app.portsmouth.co.uk/full_page_image/page-4-2033/content.html

I’m baffled.

I love wild animals when they are in their own environment or failing that, in a well run zoo especially when they are working to protect endangered species.

What I don’t understand is why private individuals feel the need to keep dangerous animals as pets !!

And I find the stats published in my local paper somewhat troubling.

Among the creatures kept in the Portsmouth area are Suphan Cobras, White Lipped Vipers, and a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake.

In Havant, there are, apparently, 37 Chinese Alligators !!!

And these are only the ones that are being kept legally with the proper Dangerous Wild Animal licenses.

How many illegals are there ?

I Don’t Get It


https://app.portsmouth.co.uk/2024/02/28/747-new-houses-purchased-by-portsmouth-city-council-in-largest-acquisition-of-its-kind-to-boost-social-homes/content.html

I don’t understand how this works !

Portsmouth City Council purchases houses that are already occupied. In so doing, they become responsible for the management and maintenance of 747 properties.

The homes were sold to the council by Clarion Housing Group, who were trying to shed the properties from their portfolio. 

Has anyone asked why Clarion was getting rid of these properties?

Equally puzzling, to me, is why Portsmouth City Council wants to responsible for housing and tenants spread throughout Hampshire.

The majority of the new buildings are in Portsmouth, with others situated in Gosport, Havant, Fareham and Winchester.

How does this help with the existing shortfall of available properties to house those who are already on the local waiting list for social housing ?

Wouldn’t the money have been better spent on new build properties, which would be empty and could, therefore, have a direct impact on the waiting lists.