Category: Local (To Me !!!)

Mindless Vandalism


Another example of the mindless perpetrating the unbelievable against the defenseless.

Vandals trashed the South Street centre by breaking furniture, smashing crockery and throwing soil from plants over the floor.

They made holes in the walls, broke windows and pulled things from shelves.

I can never understand the mentality of the people who carry out these destructive attacks on people and property.

When I was a spotty faced youth I lived in the village of Westfield just north of Hastings. Back then we had less to entertain us. There was no daytime TV and only two channels in the evenings. We didn’t have computer games in fact the only “electric” games available were our train sets. If we were bored we went down the rec, played football, dug up some worms and went fishing or just went exploring either on our bikes or on foot.

I recall groups of us going out and about when I was a teenager, hanging around on street corners in Battle. At no time did we ever consider going and trashing someones home or the local community centre or any other establishment. I do distinctly remember being challenged by the owner of the local dry cleaners, standing in front of a group of us with a large golfing umbrella, asking

Are you contemplating mayhem about my premises ?

I remember there was a friendly exchange of views but it was all light-hearted. Can you imagine the reaction of some members of our modern-day youth to any form of confrontation, let alone from someone using that sort of language. Yes we might have gotten up to some mischief. OK, I admit it, we did. We might have put out a window or two in a derelict industrial building but we never attacked people’s homes or places of work.

Now that I am much older and, hopefully, wiser I still can’t understand their actions.

Apparently police have arrested three teenagers, a 13-year-old boy and two 15-year-old boys who are being questioned on suspicion of criminal damage and theft.

If these lads are found to be the perpetrators then they should be made to help repair the damage. Fines or detention is not the answer.

They should be made to stand in front of the people who make use of this centre and explain why they chose to break in and trash the place.

Finally they should be made to spend a significant amount of their free time at the centre. Working there so they get a feel for what this place is doing for their community and what their actions mean to the folks that use the centre.

Anyone with information about the break-in should call Gosport police station on 101.

You can also give information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Yobs trash safe haven for Gosport people with cancer – Local – Portsmouth News.

Anyone Know What This Is ?


Does anyone know what this is ?

My wife and I spotted two instances of this on a tree stump in our front garden on Saturday morning. I wish I had taken the picture then as this stuff was bright yellow. As you can see in the photo it is now a very pale yellow. The second instance has all but disappeared.

So, does this look familiar to anyone. Is this some kind of fungus or perhaps a form of cocoon ?

Lunatic Driver


Yesterday I was driving down the A3(M), sitting in the outside lane bringing up the rear of a small convoy, doing just under 70mph when this tosser in a green Ford Focus came hurtling up behind me. He then proceeded to tailgate me trying to push me to go faster. He did this despite the fact that it was quite obvious  there was no where for me to go. But still he pushed.

There is a saying that if you cannot see the wheels of the car behind you then it is too close. Well this idiot was so close to my rear that I could not see his head lamps or even the leading edge of the bonnet.

At his first opportunity he “undertook”, then cut back in front and brake tested me. He then gesticulated at me, using both hands off the steering wheel.  Further along the road he did the same thing to another motorist, then to another. This was a man in a hurry and one who couldn’t care less about his or other folks safety. As it happens we were following the same route and we, my wife, granddaughter and I, watched as he forced his way past various cars as we all headed down the Eastern Road.

I  can only assume that he was late for the Pompey match but this idiot has no place on our roads

So, if you see a green Ford Focus X235 AMP, BEWARE !!!

First We Have No Hotels – Then Along Come Two At The Same Time


Havant Borough Council will decide next week whether BAE Systems can build a 60-bedroom hotel and restaurant, car showroom and drive-through on the site of redundant buildings at Brambles Farm industrial estate.

Janet Johnston, secretary of Waterlooville Business Association, said: ‘For years we have said Waterlooville needs a hotel.

It seems that Janet has forgotten about the Dunsbury Hill Farm development which also features a hotel and conference centre at its heart. Should both developments go ahead as the planners are hoping, Waterlooville will go from having no hotels, to having two.

Seems they come along like buses.

I’m still puzzled as to where all the business investment is coming from, where all the business demand for these hotels is being generated.

Janet goes on to say

‘There are times when we have had events on and people have to find somewhere to stay. There are bed and breakfasts but not somewhere businessmen can stay easily. I’ve seen the plans and they are very good.’

Good they may be but if we don’t attract new businesses to the Waterlooville area and generate news jobs then nobody will be making use of all those extra beds.

Redundant buildings may boost business if Waterlooville hotel plan is agreed – Local Business – Portsmouth News.

South Parade Pier At Risk


South Parade Pier’s owners face liquidation over unpaid energy bills. The danger is if the owners of the pier have to close it down due to lack of income then the real rot will set in. All the while the pier is in active use there is a chance for it to be maintained and refurbished. As soon as the usage declines then so does the state of repair.

Everyone knows that these structures are expensive to maintain due to the harsh, salty and damp environment that they are in. There must be an argument for Portsmouth City Council or even Hampshire County Council stepping in and providing some degree of subsidy to ensure that South Parade Pier doesn’t go the way of Hastings and Brighton piers.

Seaside piers are part of our heritage. Many have succumbed to extreme weather, arsonists and old age. We almost lost South Parade Pier a few years ago, no thanks to Ken Russel and his crew who were filming Tommy at the time. We don’t want that to happen again.

Its time for local government or even national government to step in.

South Parade Pier’s owners face liquidation over unpaid energy bills – Local Business – Portsmouth News.

Curzon Rooms Fire – It Was Only A Matter Of Time


Once again, and the second time in less than a month, The Curzon Rooms in Waterlooville have been the target of arsonists.

The Curzon Rooms building has been an eyesore for many years, slowly decomposing, while the owners and Havant Borough Council have played pat-a-cake around the planning regs. The generally poor condition of the building has not been a welcoming site for potential businesses who may have been tempted to come to Waterlooville.

Havant Borough Council have not made life easy for the owners of the Curzon Rooms otherwise the site would have been redeveloped many years ago. In the meantime Waterlooville Town Centre has slowly gone down hill while the council focus on creating a “retail park” style shopping centre on the west side of the town.

So what was already an eyesore has now become even more of one. It is time for HBC to get the building forcibly demolished.

Curzon Rooms fire, Waterlooville. Picture Malcolm Wells
Curzon Rooms fire, Waterlooville. Picture Malcolm Wells

Police probing ‘suspicious’ derelict Waterlooville building blaze hunt youths – Local – Portsmouth News.

Rough seas and tide put an end to plucky lady’s dream


Chris Pitman is one plucky lady. She attempted one of the most arduous challenges for anyone let alone a 61 year old.

But it wasn’t to be. Weather and tides conspired against her and she had to give up just 5 miles from the French coast.

Chris should be really proud of her acheivement and the money that she has raised for charity.

Rough seas and tide put an end to dream of Channel record – News – Portsmouth News.

Good Luck Chris


Yes, good luck to 61 year old Chris Pitman who is attempting to become the oldest British woman to swim across the English Channel.

Chris, from Bedhampton, started her attempt earlier this morning at around 03:15. Leaving from Dover she expects the crossing to take between 15 and 18 hours.

I wish her the best of luck.

Chris starts her swim across the Channel – News – Portsmouth News.

How Much ???


That was pretty much the response from my wife when the garage called to advise that her car had failed its MOT and, how much the repairs were going to cost.

The car is only eight years old has less than 30K  on the clock and does less than 3K a year. This really is the car with a lady owner that only drives it to the hair dressers once a week.

So, how much was this going to be ?

As the mechanic described it, worst case “If we have to replace both rear brake assemblies and the brake shoes too” then £300″. “Obviously if we find that any of the parts don’t need replacing then we won’t and the price will be reduced accordingly”

So all in all it’s not actually a bad price. Given how much garages charge these days we could be considered to have “gotten off lightly”. Still a bit of a shock when the car gets so little usage.

So now we are going through the usual “get rid of it”, “the MOT is more than the car is worth” gut reactions.

All pretty much un-warranted as this car really doesn’t owe us anything. It is a Ford Ka and as you would expect for a low mileage car it hasn’t let us down. In fact most of its woes are now down to age, rather than wear and tear, hence things like brakes (probably rubbers getting tired) and the last MOT we replaced track rod ends (probably the rubbers getting tired allowing dirt into the ball joints).

I don’t get to drive the Ka very often but when I do I always enjoy the experience. Given it’s size it handles much like a go-kart. That is it is very nippy and it goes where you point it. The steering is direct making it fun to take round corners.
So although we have a black cloud hanging over us right now I’m sure the sun will break though very  soon.

Update: 18:00

Good news from the garage. They didn’t have to replace any brake parts. Still charged us for the strip down, clean and adjust but the bill came in at £200.

View From The Conservatory


I haven’t posted from the conservatory for a while. But here are three items to make up for it.

The first is a shot of a Red Admiral, a typical summer visitor who was making the most of our Buddleia or Butterfly Bush. At least in this case it was living up to its name. Most years we have hundreds of flowers but the butterflies don’t come until the flowers have turned brown.

Red Admiral - Vanessa Atalanta
Red Admiral – Vanessa Atalanta

The next is of a Green Woodpecker. Not such a regular visitor to our garden but a welcome one all the same. We do see them in the area and this is the second time in recent months. This was taken through the double glazing so I consider this a lucky shot considering that I had the 300mm lens on as well which makes it a bit more difficult to keep the camera stable.

Green Woodpecker - Picus Viridis
Green Woodpecker – Picus Viridis

And finally a bit of humour. I was just mowing the lawn and popped indoors for a cuppa tea. When I cam back out my mower had all but disappeared. I blame it on this mixed up summer weather that we have had this year.

I only popped indoors for a cuppa