Author: siskinbob

Formerly employed by MOD and IBM, now retired

“They’ve burned down the pier!! Bastards !!”


I was awoken this morning  by a text from my sister informing me

“They’ve burned down the pier!!

Bastards !!”

Hastings Pier has been closed since 2006 but there has been an active campaign to get it renovated and reopened. Although the police have already detained two men this is going to be a severe blow not just to the campaign but also to the whole community.

As well as being an iconic landmark on the Sussex coast the pier is a landmark in my childhood and teens. Having lived my early years in and around East Sussex, from Shoreham to Battle, Hastings and the pier featured quite a bit.

As a family we used to gather along the beach from the pier, to have lunch with Mum and some of her workmates from KB (Kolster Brandes).

From the age of 9, after Mum & Dad gave me my first fishing rod, I used to fish from the pier as well as along the shore line. We won’t mention the ill-fated fishing trip by the lads from Battle Engineering, where I worked immediately after leaving school. Also there were many fishing trips with Dad in his Rana dinghy propelled by the ubiqitous British Seagull. All launched from various points along the Hastings and Bexhill shoreline.

Then of course there was the all night concert that was held on Hastings Pier, Friday 26th June, 1970.  I had travelled up from Pompey with my mate Dirk Diamond (honest, that’s his name) to see The Edgar Broughton band.  As the Broughtons had also played a gig up in London that night it was actually 04:00 Saturday morning before they hit the stage. However, we were kept entertained as also on the bill that night were Blonde on Blonde, Jigsaw, Cupids Inspiration, Sarah Gordons House Of Bondage (The guitarist did say that Sarah would take off  her top if £10 could be collected. It was and she did). All for the princely sum of 25/- (£1.25).There is actually an image of an advert for the gig here

So you can see why, with many memories tied to Hastings Pier, I agree with my sisters sentiment.

BASTARDS !!

Full story here

Idiots – Well Done. Another Black Mark On Portsmouths Reputation


The dinosaur scupture which has been a feature of Southsea Common has been destroyed by fire.

This is obviously a deliberate act carried out by thoughtless individuals and I’m sure they have had a good laugh at the expense of everyone elses enjoyment.

The sculpture was due to move on soon, now Portsmouth has a poor reputation. Why would anyone allow something like this to come here in the future.

Give These People A Kick Up The Arse


An unemployed man, spends his own money to tout for work, has his benefits cut because he wasn’t actively looking for work.

This is madness.

No wonder so many of the benefit claimants sit on their bums all day and just take the money. What incentive is there when the government jobs-worths take punitive action against those that try to help themselves.

The Job-Centre staff in Basildon, Essex need their arses kicking

See here

Bring Back The Birch -3


And yet another article which just beggars belief. And the police say they can do nothing. This is a farce, you couldn’t make it up…..

We are being let down by the police whose hands have been tied by all the do-gooders who would rather stand up for the rights of the criminal community rather than the moral rights of the general public.

Bring Back The Birch -2


I had just posted my comments regarding a local situation. Then I read this  …

Tormented to death

The youth of today call for respect but they do not give it. Those responsible for this should be prosecuted for murder or at the very least manslaughter. They set out to hurt even if they didn’t intend to kill. Whatever their intent they had no qualms about the possible effects of their actions.

Bring Back The Birch


I don’t know about anyone else but I am sick to death of hearing about how the youth of today are making ordinary folks lives a living hell.

Here is yet another example……

Couple brick up their window because of trouble-making yobs

How can this be acceptable  in this day and age ?

Somehow we have lost our way as a society. These yobs know the difference between right and wrong. Is it that they just don’t care or is it, as I suspect, they know that they won’t get punished even if they are caught.

Back in my parents day there was the threat of “the Birch” and I believe they still had this form of punishment available on the Isle of Man right up to the 70’s.

Perhaps now is the time to start a campaign to reintroduce this  kind of punishment for the kind of petty criminal activities that don’t warrant imprisonment.

I for one would vote for it.

Waterlooville CID – Full Marks


Well done to Waterlooville CID for getting these thugs off our streets.

Anyone who thinks its OK to forcibly enter a person’s home and set about them with a baseball bat deserves to be sent down. I am pleased to see that the courts have handed down an appropriate sentence in this case.

Full story here

World Stops For Doddery Old Fart


So the Pope decided to come even though I didn’t want him here.

Now I have to put up with every news cast showing me where he’s been, who he’s spoken to. Interviews with people of all ages saying that seeing the Pope is the greatest event in their lives. Where have these people been all their lives. Seeing a doddery old fart from a few hundred metres away is not my idea of living. Why don’t all these people go visit a care home. There they can see, speak to, touch and smell dozens of folks who shuffle along in their night gowns, heads bent forward mumbling to themselves. The religious experience is there for the taking.

Have you seen all the souvenir tat that is being sold too. It’s just like a day out to the seaside.

Pick up your Pilgrim Pack, Pope In A Snow Dome, Wrist Bands and so forth. Where do you suppose all those little golden pounds are going ?

And while all this goes on the general public are prevented from going about their daily grind as roads are blocked off, pavements are corralled and then blocked by hoards of people standing around waiting for a glimpse as he passes by in his double glazed invalid carriage…sorry “Popemobile”.

And don’t get me started on him being the head of the biggest organisation of abusers ever. And before you all beat me to death I’m not saying he is one. However, the Catholic Church as an institution has systematically denied and hidden the scope of the problem. How many young people were made out to be liars whilst being emotionally scarred. And what happened to the perpetrators. Were they prosecuted. Oh no. They might have been moved to another location but they were not punished. Even to this day they try to fob us off with “whats past is past” type statements.

Tell that to the folks who suffered and are still suffering.

And what is this circus costing me – British Tax Payer ???

Butser Hill – My Favorite Place in the World ?


The question was, “What’s your favourite place in the world ?”

This may not actually be my favourite place in the world but Butser Hill is the one that is currently the most accessible to me.

On a clear day you can see for miles. This view can be, with a little walking, be almost 360 degree. To the north is Petersfield. To the west is the Meon Valley “little switzerland”. To the south is The Solent, the Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and The Spinnaker Tower. To the east are the forests of Queen Elizabeth Country Park.

On a good day it is almost silent in the sense that you cannot hear any traffic. Just the sound of the insects, birds and the farm animals far below you. Occasionally you may be surrounded by the sheep that are loosed to graze the hillside.

Its a good place to contemplate your navel or any other item that may be bothering you or just to let your eyes relax and stare off into the distance, put your mind into neutral and think about nothing at all.

Just let nature work her magic.

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