Inspirational – Harry’s Mountain Heroes


Like Harrys Arctic Heroes this new documentary follows a team of five soldiers, who were wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, as they take on one of the world’s toughest challenges. It follows the team as they attempt to climb to the summit of Mount Everest. Once again this expedition is supported by patron and friend Prince Harry.

Each of the team members has suffered significant damage to their bodies, some have lost parts of limbs or have, due to nerve damage, lost use of limbs. These injuries only serve to make the already demanding task even more of a challenge and this documentary shows the team dealing with altitude, temperatures, night climbs, avalanches and hair-raising ladder crossings over crevasses.

Given the sacrifices that these guys have made for this country and the months of rehabilitation each has endured one can only be amazed at their individual tenacity and strength of will.

Captains Martin Hewitt and David Wiseman, Pivates Jaco van Gass and Karl Hinett, and Doctor Francis Atkinson I salute you. You are an inspiration to us all.

Neil Armstrong – Farewell To A Real Hero


one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind

The man who said those famous words has taken the final step of his life. Yes, Neil Armstrong has passed away at the age of 82 due to complications following heart surgery.

Armstrong was a qualified aeronautical engineer. As a naval pilot he saw action in the Korean War flying over 70 missions. After leaving the navy he became a research pilot and flew many experimental aircraft.

He will, however, be remembered as the first man to walk on the moon. I, like some 500 million people around the world, watched in awe as on July 21st 1969 Apollo 11 touched down on the surface of the moon. We watched as Armstrong and co-astronaut Buzz Aldrin spent several hours on the surface of the moon, collecting samples, conducting experiments and taking photographs and we watched their return to planet earth.

After the Apollo program Armstrong spent some time teaching and also as spokesman for American businesses.

Neil Armstrong was a true hero, an inspiration to a generation.

Correspondents say Armstrong remained modest and never allowed himself to be caught up in the glamour of space exploration.

“I am, and ever will be, a white-socks, pocket-protector, nerdy engineer,” he said in February 2000, in a rare public appearance.

In a statement, his family praised him as a “reluctant American hero” who had “served his nation proudly, as a navy fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut”.

The youth of today, who seem to only aspire to fame and celebrity without putting in the work and effort, could do worse than look to him as a role model.

BBC News – Neil Armstrong's death: Reaction.

Employment boost as Waterlooville business park plans are unveiled


I have been a tad busy with work for the last few weeks and have found it virtually impossible to get my head into blog mode let alone focus on local affairs. So I am sorry but this is old news but I wanted to bring it to your attention.

Finally, The News has discovered the planned development right here in Waterlooville. No not the enormous housing development known as WoW (West of Waterlooville). Even The News knows about that. No I’m referring to the development of the BAE site that I brought to your attention in my previous post

This is another of the Havant Borough Council / Portsmouth City Council/ East Hants Council job creation schemes. At least that’s what they say on paper. All of the proposed developments around Waterlooville are supposed to be creating jobs. But not one of them is being sponsored by any company that has signed up to move into the area and actually create those jobs.

The various councils will argue that you have to create the right conditions, prepare the environment to entice these erstwhile employers into the area. However, my fear is that what will be created will be empty commercial / industrial buildings.

We will have the new housing developments filled with a willing work force but no one to employ them. It is easier to build homes and to fill them than it is to get businesses started.

Just listen to the news regarding the economy and the apparent unwillingness of the banks to lend to businesses. To be quite honest I also wonder about the ability of folks to obtain mortgages to buy the new homes being built.

Employment boost as Waterlooville business park plans are unveiled – News – Portsmouth News.

Words For Teenagers


The viral message started its life in an April 2010 newsletter put out by the principal of Kaikohe’s Northland College, John Tapene, quoting a youth court judge’s tough advice for bored teenagers. In short, the judge told teens to stop complaining they had nothing to do, urging them instead to take responsibility and “develop a backbone”.

Words For Teenagers

This cutting has been doing the rounds both via Facebook and email and although this article was originally published two years ago I believe the sentiments expressed have been relevent for many years and are still relevent to this day. Anyway, Mr Tapene’s words struck a chord with me and I felt I had to reproduce them here.

Sam Bird and Nick Yelloly hoping home soil boosts Formula Renault 3.5 title hopes – Formula Renault 3.5 news by Josh Bell at AUTOSPORT.com


Nice article here by Josh Bell who is doing a stint at Autosport.

Sam Bird and Nick Yelloly hoping home soil boosts Formula Renault 3.5 title hopes – Formula Renault 3.5 news – AUTOSPORT.com.

I Just Had To Let You Have It


Noir – We Just Had To Let You Have It. That is the name of the band and their only album.

I have this on vinyl and right now I have no way to play it. So I was knocked out to find this available on youtube.

Give it a listen. You may be surprised. This is Rain, the opening track of the album.

This does not sound like a 70’s cut.

Track 2 Hard Labour

And here is Track 4, In Memory of Lady X

Track 5, How Long

And finally Track 6, The System


I have nothing to add to this. Jason Manford has said it all.

Rowan Draper's avatarRowan Draper

Now you know me, I like a laugh. And I do enjoy having a laugh with you lot on here, some of you are witty, some genuinely bonkers, a few of you are dead funny and most of you are respectful, thoughtful human beings and I am honoured that you have liked my page and my work over the years.

But.

Some of you are utterly horrendous. I mean genuinely thick as shit, heartless wastes of oxygen who I am ashamed have liked my page and my work.

Now don’t get me wrong, I like a bit of banter, I can take a joke, I can take an insult, sometimes people go too far, sometimes people get a bit personal but over the years I’ve dished it out and there is very little that anyone can say to me on here that has genuinely hurt me or upset me. Don’t…

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How Winter Road has changed in the last 80 years


I lived in Winter Road, 43 years ago, when I moved to Pompey to start my Fitter and Turner apprenticeship. I was sharing digs there, with a number of other dockyard apprentices, for just over a year before moving on to a new place in St. Davids Road.

What is amazing is the lack of motor vehicles in the photo accompanying the article in the News.

How Winter Road has changed in the last 80 years – Remember When – Portsmouth News.