Thursday, 31 October 2013
Tonight's Candlelit walk
More tomorrow.- It's taking a bit more time than expected.
To keep right up to date try the Facebook page
We have two cats
They are sisters. I can imagine this happening!
However I imagine the one in the box would put up a bit more of a fight!
However I imagine the one in the box would put up a bit more of a fight!
Monday, 28 October 2013
Refreshing to hear
A family became very angry at the way a farmer again cut his hedge, leaving thorns all along a narrow lane which they use regularly.
Most people would do nothing and just moan. They phoned the police expecting them to come and see what had happened.
They did - all the way from Windermere - and listened carefully to their complaint and took the matter seriously.
It really is worth while following up a legitamate complaint.
We have an excellent police force in this area. They will take action if the issue warrants it.
Don't sit at home and spit fire. Do something! Much of the time it works. We really can all work together and get those that show little respect for others to change - or face the consequences.
Most people would do nothing and just moan. They phoned the police expecting them to come and see what had happened.
They did - all the way from Windermere - and listened carefully to their complaint and took the matter seriously.
It really is worth while following up a legitamate complaint.
We have an excellent police force in this area. They will take action if the issue warrants it.
Don't sit at home and spit fire. Do something! Much of the time it works. We really can all work together and get those that show little respect for others to change - or face the consequences.
Sunday, 27 October 2013
The value of talking directly to everyone at the slightest opportunity
That for me is why the market at Ulverston is so important.
It can be very brief, always though, ready to be responsive if people want to talk further and knowing how to bring a conversation to an end when we wish.
In my view we don't have to even talk but just a genuine open smile that envites others to talk if they wish. This a great priviledge we have in Ulverston as we can make contact of some kind with a high proportion of those we come across.
Regular contact keeps relationships 'pottering' along ready to expand - or contract - when appropriate. This is for me why Ulverston is such a special size. This is also why I hate Facebook with a passion - it is so superficial and so inferior to real face to face contact.
It can be very brief, always though, ready to be responsive if people want to talk further and knowing how to bring a conversation to an end when we wish.
In my view we don't have to even talk but just a genuine open smile that envites others to talk if they wish. This a great priviledge we have in Ulverston as we can make contact of some kind with a high proportion of those we come across.
Regular contact keeps relationships 'pottering' along ready to expand - or contract - when appropriate. This is for me why Ulverston is such a special size. This is also why I hate Facebook with a passion - it is so superficial and so inferior to real face to face contact.
Saturday, 26 October 2013
The Candlelit Walk is this next Thursday at 6:30
This starts at the beginning of the Cumbria Way in The Gill, Ulverston.
There's been a whole lot of new creativity as you'll see if you visit their Facebook page.
Here's a photo from that that page of some of the new pots that have been made.
There's a beautiful poster for this event around town - I'll try to get a copy here for tomorrow.
There's been a whole lot of new creativity as you'll see if you visit their Facebook page.
Here's a photo from that that page of some of the new pots that have been made.
There's a beautiful poster for this event around town - I'll try to get a copy here for tomorrow.
Concern in the Welsh Valleys over the behaviour of Persimmons
The Welsh Government appear to be standing up to Persimmons: Do we need to follow Wales and have tighter regulations in this country?
we read:
The firm, which builds about 1,000 new homes annually in Wales, blamed low sales prices and heavier regulation by the Welsh government.
Regional managing director Glyn Mabey told reporters it was not "economically viable" to build there, while acknowledging that the decision would be detrimental to the area - both through direct and indirect job losses - and would mean "a decline" in an already depressed area.
Abedare housing agent Gavin Williams argues that Persimmon came a cropper for overpricing new builds.
"They have always been known to try to get above-market values but the market has not been there. Persimmon should have done their research."
But unlike much of Britain the valleys aren't desperate for new housing.
"We're not over-reliant on new builds," Williams says. "There's plenty of Victorian and post-war houses. There's not a shortfall. If the area was demanding it it would have an effect, but there's plenty of supply for demand."
Councillor Jeffrey Elliot, whose Cwmbach ward in Aberdare is scheduled to be where the last Persimmon-built scheme takes place, is less optimistic.
"Persimmon provides jobs and they provide nice, affordable housing in this area, and a lot of people are coming into this area as a result," he says.
The announcement came without warning - worrying since the Welsh Assembly government likes to boast that it works with businesses to see what help can be given to solve problems like this.
The stark announcement smacks of an attempt at blackmail - Persimmon has blamed planning regulations and environmental requirements that it says add £3,000 to the cost of building a house compared with England.
But only last year the government eased up on a tranche of environmental regulations in order to "help out" business. What's left are basic requirements such as wall and ceiling insulation, vital for energy conservation.
The Welsh government should seek to work with house-builders, but really it ought to get on with a house-building programme directly - and get Wales out of a housing blight that has lasted decades."
we read:
"Builders' Blackmail in the Valleys"
"ROY JONES says Persimmon's decision to stop building is a bid to undermine environmental regulations"
"Last week Wales's biggest house-builder Persimmon Homes announced it was pulling out of one of the poorest of the Valleys - the reason being that it does not make enough money out of houses on sites north of Pontypridd in the area known as Heads of the Valleys.
The firm, which builds about 1,000 new homes annually in Wales, blamed low sales prices and heavier regulation by the Welsh government.
Regional managing director Glyn Mabey told reporters it was not "economically viable" to build there, while acknowledging that the decision would be detrimental to the area - both through direct and indirect job losses - and would mean "a decline" in an already depressed area.
Abedare housing agent Gavin Williams argues that Persimmon came a cropper for overpricing new builds.
"They have always been known to try to get above-market values but the market has not been there. Persimmon should have done their research."
But unlike much of Britain the valleys aren't desperate for new housing.
"We're not over-reliant on new builds," Williams says. "There's plenty of Victorian and post-war houses. There's not a shortfall. If the area was demanding it it would have an effect, but there's plenty of supply for demand."
Councillor Jeffrey Elliot, whose Cwmbach ward in Aberdare is scheduled to be where the last Persimmon-built scheme takes place, is less optimistic.
"Persimmon provides jobs and they provide nice, affordable housing in this area, and a lot of people are coming into this area as a result," he says.
The announcement came without warning - worrying since the Welsh Assembly government likes to boast that it works with businesses to see what help can be given to solve problems like this.
The stark announcement smacks of an attempt at blackmail - Persimmon has blamed planning regulations and environmental requirements that it says add £3,000 to the cost of building a house compared with England.
But only last year the government eased up on a tranche of environmental regulations in order to "help out" business. What's left are basic requirements such as wall and ceiling insulation, vital for energy conservation.
The Welsh government should seek to work with house-builders, but really it ought to get on with a house-building programme directly - and get Wales out of a housing blight that has lasted decades."
Friday, 25 October 2013
Confidence, a wonderful quality
Confidence truly makes the world of a difference.
A lovely woman struggled past me on crutches as I stood in my clarinet tunnel on Thursday. She moved very slowly and apparently very tentatively.
I called out quietly "Well done. Looks like hard work." She said - "Yes. I've been moving around like this for some time. My foot's in plaster and it's difficult"
I was full of admiration that she ventured out at all. Then she told me how her therapist encouraged her by telling she would do it she had confidence. It reminded me of being told when younger - "You can take out a rowboat as long as you've taken one out before" How the hell do you get started then I thought.
You can do it if you've got confidence. So how do you cope when you haven't got it. I guess you take your life in your hands and just do it only to find that you can.
In her case succeeding was important - She had 26 steps up to her front door, then another 46 steps up to the door of her flat - what if she fell? Didn't bear thinking about. She said it as if she now had the confidence - and she hadn't had a fall - well not bad enough to stop her trying again.
This demands true courage and with home being at the top of 72 steps it was succeed or remain in her flat the rest of the year. (for ever?)
Many of us face similar situations - it's the trying that makes the difference. Courage builds on courage to try which leads to confidence and confidence again. It must start at an early age with parents that encourage us to take risks which we succeed at, without their help so that we can say "I did it on my own"
Playing my clarinet on my own, in public, has regularly scared me into a nervous wreck only now am I beginning to start to enjoy mayself and even now I find all sorts of excuses not to start playing. Now the confidence is beginning to kick in. I can look back to a few successes and this Thursday I felt absolutely rubbish before I started when a small voice said " Go on start. Do it and you'l find it's a lot better than you imagined"
This courageous woman has surely developed confidence , the hard way, she ventures out evey time knowing she's got 76 steps to deal with." Just do it" she must say to herself.
And she does.
She thanked me for our chat. Talking does help. Talking to others and then doing . That vital winning combination.
No doubt we all meet similar situations. There's a lot of courageous people around. We all benefit from a pat on the back.
A lovely woman struggled past me on crutches as I stood in my clarinet tunnel on Thursday. She moved very slowly and apparently very tentatively.
I called out quietly "Well done. Looks like hard work." She said - "Yes. I've been moving around like this for some time. My foot's in plaster and it's difficult"
I was full of admiration that she ventured out at all. Then she told me how her therapist encouraged her by telling she would do it she had confidence. It reminded me of being told when younger - "You can take out a rowboat as long as you've taken one out before" How the hell do you get started then I thought.
You can do it if you've got confidence. So how do you cope when you haven't got it. I guess you take your life in your hands and just do it only to find that you can.
In her case succeeding was important - She had 26 steps up to her front door, then another 46 steps up to the door of her flat - what if she fell? Didn't bear thinking about. She said it as if she now had the confidence - and she hadn't had a fall - well not bad enough to stop her trying again.
This demands true courage and with home being at the top of 72 steps it was succeed or remain in her flat the rest of the year. (for ever?)
Many of us face similar situations - it's the trying that makes the difference. Courage builds on courage to try which leads to confidence and confidence again. It must start at an early age with parents that encourage us to take risks which we succeed at, without their help so that we can say "I did it on my own"
Playing my clarinet on my own, in public, has regularly scared me into a nervous wreck only now am I beginning to start to enjoy mayself and even now I find all sorts of excuses not to start playing. Now the confidence is beginning to kick in. I can look back to a few successes and this Thursday I felt absolutely rubbish before I started when a small voice said " Go on start. Do it and you'l find it's a lot better than you imagined"
This courageous woman has surely developed confidence , the hard way, she ventures out evey time knowing she's got 76 steps to deal with." Just do it" she must say to herself.
And she does.
She thanked me for our chat. Talking does help. Talking to others and then doing . That vital winning combination.
No doubt we all meet similar situations. There's a lot of courageous people around. We all benefit from a pat on the back.
This Thursday's Market
This benefitted from participation from several sources creating the feel of plenty going on. One of these was the mysterious (to me) group of older men and one woman calling themselves the Rotary campaigned around the town blowing whistles and waving models of flowers, in favour bringing an end to polio. They seemed to disappear at about mid-day. They added great 'colour' to the market.
Alongside their stall Uncle Tim is now running a regular stall every Thursday and Saturday selling practical children's toys. Being a 'local' of many years standing, he is able to engage other locals and visitors with a great sales patter and secures a good number of sales. He had a new line in Kites which requed no sticks. Hoping to test one out today. Geoff persevered with his clarinet from approx 10:30 and is becoming a regular feature every Market Day.
Alongside their stall Uncle Tim is now running a regular stall every Thursday and Saturday selling practical children's toys. Being a 'local' of many years standing, he is able to engage other locals and visitors with a great sales patter and secures a good number of sales. He had a new line in Kites which requed no sticks. Hoping to test one out today. Geoff persevered with his clarinet from approx 10:30 and is becoming a regular feature every Market Day.
Monday, 21 October 2013
The 'new ' Ulverston cobbles are in safe hands
Great to find a Cumbria County Council worker that insists on doing a brilliant job.
It's incredible but an electricity cable was smashed through the water drain outside the Sun some years ago and they are now trying to reconnect the drain so that it removes the water rather than it soaking away - into the Sun's cellar.
The really bad news is that Nick Raymond is back at the helm of CCC Highways - Southern Area. He could well have been in charge when this electrical contractor did his work: Raymond, I understand, rarely checked the work contractors did. A chance for him now to show us what a good job he can do. Perhaps this will be an example of the standard of work that will be now done under his supervision: an example to live up to.
Our county councillors James Airey and Mark Wilson will hopefully keep tabs on him in the future and this job in particular.
In this particular case the cobbles will need to be set in place using Ultracrete which is a strong frost resistant cement used for relaying the cobbles all down Market Street.
My experience and that of most people I have talked to is that Raymond is very arrogant and doesn't check on the work of contactors.
Some years ago United Utilities stated that their contractors, Balfour Beatty never had their worked checked when they replaced the water main the full length of Market Street digging holes through the cobbles in about 15 places. They admitted that very shoddy work had been done when we approached them and agreed to make repairs themselves or pay CCC Highways to do the work, I got a cheque for £25.
I and the Ulverston Town Council got nowhere with CCC when we complained about the state of the cobbles - we were all ignored by Raymond whereas United Utilities immediately responded. United Utilities had a reputation to maintain. We trust that this has now changed.
It's incredible but an electricity cable was smashed through the water drain outside the Sun some years ago and they are now trying to reconnect the drain so that it removes the water rather than it soaking away - into the Sun's cellar.
The really bad news is that Nick Raymond is back at the helm of CCC Highways - Southern Area. He could well have been in charge when this electrical contractor did his work: Raymond, I understand, rarely checked the work contractors did. A chance for him now to show us what a good job he can do. Perhaps this will be an example of the standard of work that will be now done under his supervision: an example to live up to.
Our county councillors James Airey and Mark Wilson will hopefully keep tabs on him in the future and this job in particular.
In this particular case the cobbles will need to be set in place using Ultracrete which is a strong frost resistant cement used for relaying the cobbles all down Market Street.
My experience and that of most people I have talked to is that Raymond is very arrogant and doesn't check on the work of contactors.
Some years ago United Utilities stated that their contractors, Balfour Beatty never had their worked checked when they replaced the water main the full length of Market Street digging holes through the cobbles in about 15 places. They admitted that very shoddy work had been done when we approached them and agreed to make repairs themselves or pay CCC Highways to do the work, I got a cheque for £25.
I and the Ulverston Town Council got nowhere with CCC when we complained about the state of the cobbles - we were all ignored by Raymond whereas United Utilities immediately responded. United Utilities had a reputation to maintain. We trust that this has now changed.
How much longer ?
How much longer will we be greeted by this out of date image of our mayor?
This is the picture that you see if you go to the Ulverston Town Council website.
Despite having been pointed out to our Town Clerk, Jayne Kendal, two months ago it continues to feature. Isn't it time to keep our Town's website up to date? Come on Jayne, you're usually so efficient though websites have never been your strong point.
Our actual Mayor, Mrs Judith Pickthall and her deputy Cllr Helen Irving who will become mayor next year, were part of a great new initiative last Tuesday at 11.30 am at the Factory shop. The idea is for the mayor and the councillors from each ward to attend a location in that ward in order to get a chance for the residents to talk to them.
At the same time they sought to publicise the Super Saturday Markets on the first Saturday of each month. There have now been two: the last was a resounding success with the reduced car parks charge of only £1:40 for the day attracting a lot of visitors to the town. Mayor Pickthall was rightly very proud to point out that on both market days SLDC had collected more cash from car park fees at the reduced rate by increased usage than the much higher unbusinesslike rate which has been killing off our town's trade.
Sadly SLDC gain more cash by having a sane charging policy whilst The Town Council are having to finance the extra attractions on these days that have helped pull the crowds in. Our mayor's initiative is to be applauded.
Despite having been pointed out to our Town Clerk, Jayne Kendal, two months ago it continues to feature. Isn't it time to keep our Town's website up to date? Come on Jayne, you're usually so efficient though websites have never been your strong point.
Our actual Mayor, Mrs Judith Pickthall and her deputy Cllr Helen Irving who will become mayor next year, were part of a great new initiative last Tuesday at 11.30 am at the Factory shop. The idea is for the mayor and the councillors from each ward to attend a location in that ward in order to get a chance for the residents to talk to them.
At the same time they sought to publicise the Super Saturday Markets on the first Saturday of each month. There have now been two: the last was a resounding success with the reduced car parks charge of only £1:40 for the day attracting a lot of visitors to the town. Mayor Pickthall was rightly very proud to point out that on both market days SLDC had collected more cash from car park fees at the reduced rate by increased usage than the much higher unbusinesslike rate which has been killing off our town's trade.
Sadly SLDC gain more cash by having a sane charging policy whilst The Town Council are having to finance the extra attractions on these days that have helped pull the crowds in. Our mayor's initiative is to be applauded.
Sunday, 20 October 2013
Persimmons again
Yes I've got it in for you again.
Please don't waste your lawyer's time in writing warning letters to me. Take me straight to court: this page isn't coming down. There's a small minority that share my view and welcome somewhere that comes out and says it in 'black and white'.
In my view, you, like so many organisations in our culture including our government, are guilty of brain washing: persuading many of the public to buy something they need, like they need a whole in the head, like a noose round their neck.
Yes, in my view, first time buyers need the chance to buy a home, but not a massive mortgage that will create enormous strains to their finances, their self esteem, their relationships and their long term ability to cope. The temptation of a 5% deposit is in my view immoral. Buyers are invited to be part of what is being called the Housing Bubble. Why - because I believe it is almost certainly going to burst and prices will fall leaving buyers owing more than their precious house is worth. How will they then feel? If they need to move to another job immediately after buying :will they be able to sell? If they lose their jobs and can't pay their mortgages:what will happen?
Happy happy intelligent thoughtful couples:
I couldn't resist this lovely photograph of the idyllic surroundings for a couple with a dog. Is this an empty plot for your dream house?
Perhaps not:
Is there any grass left? Will there be any room left to swing the proverbial cat?
Note: Prices from -£ blank.
What price heaven?
And now other problems emerge. Will your house get build when promised? Are there enough bricks? Are there enough bricklayers? Enough skilled tradesmen to equip and finish these promissed houses? Has the government's policy plundged us into another crisis that will be painful.
Surely what is needed is gentle growth with the least stress possible. What we have here in my view is a recipe for a very painful disaster.
What do you think?
Do you think?
Are you a local politician? Are you concerned?
Cllr Colin Pickthall our silent Labour ward councillor : What is your advice?
Will you give it here?
Surely this is a time when wise men should be voicing their opinions, not hiding in a council chamber.
Instead:
From: J PICKTHALL
Date: 15 October 2013 22:03:16 GMT+01:00
To: Geoff Dellow
Subject: Re: contact
Reply-To: J PICKTHALL
Geoff,
Sorry, I thought we had a talk of some sort. Sorry it was not of the requisite quality.
I suggest you stick with Margaret (Hornby, our alternative councillor added by GBD), who is an excellent councillor with endless patience. I'm afraid I am not and have not.
Cheers,
Colin.
Please don't waste your lawyer's time in writing warning letters to me. Take me straight to court: this page isn't coming down. There's a small minority that share my view and welcome somewhere that comes out and says it in 'black and white'.
In my view, you, like so many organisations in our culture including our government, are guilty of brain washing: persuading many of the public to buy something they need, like they need a whole in the head, like a noose round their neck.
Yes, in my view, first time buyers need the chance to buy a home, but not a massive mortgage that will create enormous strains to their finances, their self esteem, their relationships and their long term ability to cope. The temptation of a 5% deposit is in my view immoral. Buyers are invited to be part of what is being called the Housing Bubble. Why - because I believe it is almost certainly going to burst and prices will fall leaving buyers owing more than their precious house is worth. How will they then feel? If they need to move to another job immediately after buying :will they be able to sell? If they lose their jobs and can't pay their mortgages:what will happen?
Happy happy intelligent thoughtful couples:
Being offered houses in lovely locations
More Myths
I couldn't resist this lovely photograph of the idyllic surroundings for a couple with a dog. Is this an empty plot for your dream house?
Perhaps not:
Is there any grass left? Will there be any room left to swing the proverbial cat?
Note: Prices from -£ blank.
What price heaven?
And now other problems emerge. Will your house get build when promised? Are there enough bricks? Are there enough bricklayers? Enough skilled tradesmen to equip and finish these promissed houses? Has the government's policy plundged us into another crisis that will be painful.
Surely what is needed is gentle growth with the least stress possible. What we have here in my view is a recipe for a very painful disaster.
What do you think?
Do you think?
Are you a local politician? Are you concerned?
 |
| Cllr Colin Pickthall |
Cllr Colin Pickthall our silent Labour ward councillor : What is your advice?
Will you give it here?
Surely this is a time when wise men should be voicing their opinions, not hiding in a council chamber.
Instead:
From: J PICKTHALL
Date: 15 October 2013 22:03:16 GMT+01:00
To: Geoff Dellow
Subject: Re: contact
Reply-To: J PICKTHALL
Geoff,
Sorry, I thought we had a talk of some sort. Sorry it was not of the requisite quality.
I suggest you stick with Margaret (Hornby, our alternative councillor added by GBD), who is an excellent councillor with endless patience. I'm afraid I am not and have not.
Cheers,
Colin.
Saturday, 19 October 2013
Standing up
This is such brilliant advice. Something I shall focus on from now on.
Standing up is good for you.
I can immediately put this into practice all the two hours that I practice my clarinet. In fact I can start doing three things at the same time: playing my clarinet, standing and dancing around a little.
The next thing will be to change my position in front of this computer so that I stand.
We'll see how this goes!
Standing up is good for you.
I can immediately put this into practice all the two hours that I practice my clarinet. In fact I can start doing three things at the same time: playing my clarinet, standing and dancing around a little.
The next thing will be to change my position in front of this computer so that I stand.
We'll see how this goes!
Friday, 18 October 2013
It's a lot of hard work but . . . .
The enjoyment the sweet peas that were grown in the park gave to numerous people from the local area - both visitors to the park and older people that had bunches thrust in their hands at their homes throughout last year:
Encourages me to do it again.
And if it's going to happen then the seeds need to go in NOW if they're going to be ready next June!
This year, rather than grow seeds that were given my Chiltern Seeds, these are specially chosen varieties. Potentially 110 plants. If you're going to work that hard - why not chose the best?
Next job: clean the greenhouse out to give them a disease free home for the winter.
Encourages me to do it again.
And if it's going to happen then the seeds need to go in NOW if they're going to be ready next June!
This year, rather than grow seeds that were given my Chiltern Seeds, these are specially chosen varieties. Potentially 110 plants. If you're going to work that hard - why not chose the best?
Next job: clean the greenhouse out to give them a disease free home for the winter.
How sad - but true
Britain's shame : a million neglected old people.
"Up to a million elderly people are being consigned to a life of loneliness and ill health because of society’s shameful failure to take responsibility for older relatives, the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt will say today."
"In a provocative speech, Mr Hunt will warn that too many old people are unnecessarily placed into care or left isolated in their own homes when they could be looked after by relatives. He will also call on Britain to learn from other cultures where “the social contract” between young and old is far stronger."
See the Independent
My experience here in Ulverston supports this view.
We older people end up supporting each other. Some are very wise and active people who have an extended family who provide a stimulating contact but mainly because the older ones are exceptional people: they make a deliberate effort to make contact. Others are severely neglected.
It's important for all of us to feel valued in order to preserve our self esteem. The problem is maintaining contact between people of all ages from babies to ninety year olds. My experiences are that our society is divided into bands of people of similar ages. Each band does not fully value people outside theirs.
It seems inbuilt in our culture that people outside our 'band' are not important enough to spend time with and continue to keep close contact. Geography is a real problem.
We both have real problems with the 30 to 45 bracket. We try to build relationships but as we don't have familly here in Ulverston there is no long term link with this younger age group. They seem very wrapped up in each other Facebook may be the reason. Do they really value older people? As many don't have parents nearby they appear to have very shallow relationships with this agegroup and maybe only know how to relate to them as 'interfering parents'. I was very surprised to find that in spite of activities with the them in Mill Dam Park, most of them show no inclination to talk and care for what we do. We appear to be dropped like hot cakes once our usefullness is over. We can easily be misunderstood and totally ignored and then there is surprise when we have withdrawn and gone elsewhere.
I am having to rethink where to devote my energies of contact in order to grow long term , stable relationships that will be long lasting. My safest investment is in myself : to be self supporting which is heading for loneliness or lack of contact with others.
My recommendation : make a big effort to get to know someone outside your age band. Get to know them really well - build up trust. And yes it won't be at all easy. It's worth the effort. I am aware of loads of interactions that can be mutually beneficial. Sad to ignore these.
Thursday, 17 October 2013
Such an appropriate song for these hard times
So beautifully and sensitively sung.
Why do tears come to my eyes when I listen to it?
Mary Hopkin - you're brilliant.
This will be one of my favorites for the market on my clarinet.
Why do tears come to my eyes when I listen to it?
Mary Hopkin - you're brilliant.
This will be one of my favorites for the market on my clarinet.
Saturday, 12 October 2013
Crap sign
Is this a crap sign?
Does it really serve any purpose other than to annoy dog owners?
Is anyone likely to take any notice?
Will it lead to any less crap being left behind?
Is this kind of thinking for the benefit of the public or for the local authority councillors and officers?
Does it really serve any purpose other than to annoy dog owners?
Is anyone likely to take any notice?
Will it lead to any less crap being left behind?
Is this kind of thinking for the benefit of the public or for the local authority councillors and officers?
Remark as we left the Hot Mango - Wow
The menu last night was:
We had:
The Cullen Skink - loads of smoked haddock; followed by Slow cooked beef and black been chilli and finished with Panna cotta with roasted rhubarb.
Baked fig with blue cheese and prosciutto followed by Baked sea trout on a bed of braised fennel and new potatoes ( the braised fennel was a great taste) and finished with
Friday Evening 11th
October 2013
(Service 5.30 - 8pm)
Starter
Homemade Cullen Skink
Leek and potato soup with smoked haddock
Asparagus with a soft poached egg and a balsamic reduction (v)
Baked fig with blue cheese and prosciutto
Main
Rib-eye steak served with tomatoes, mushrooms, onion rings
and hand-cut chips
(supplement £5.00)
Pork loin steak with baked apple and black pudding with potato croquette
and apple puree
Baked sea trout on a bed of braised fennel and new potatoes
Slow cooked beef and black bean chilli served with boiled rice
Roasted butternut squash and red onion with balsamic dressed rocket and
feta cheese topped with toasted bread crumbs (v)
(Alternative vegetarian dishes are available upon request at the time of booking)
Dessert
Raspberry and white chocolate meringue roulade
Panna cotta with roasted rhubarb
Selection of cheeses served with biscuits, bread & butter
(supplement £2.50)
Fruit sorbet 3 scoops (mango, lemon or strawberry)
English Lakes ice cream 3 scoops (vanilla, chocolate, toffee or strawberry)
2 Courses £17 3 Courses £20
We don’t charge for service, although tips may be left at your discretion
We had:
The Cullen Skink - loads of smoked haddock; followed by Slow cooked beef and black been chilli and finished with Panna cotta with roasted rhubarb.
Baked fig with blue cheese and prosciutto followed by Baked sea trout on a bed of braised fennel and new potatoes ( the braised fennel was a great taste) and finished with
Selection of cheeses served with biscuits, bread & butter - a great selection of five cheeses.
Everything absolutely spot on except for some room for two very very minor things - if you're really picky - which we are! The soup was warm/hot rather than hot/hot. And I'd have preferred a long teaspoon for the dessert - I love eating something like this a very small taste at a time.
Well be back when we need a special meal out (must remember it's on a Friday) !
Once again Ulverston excels itself
Friday, 11 October 2013
Now we're being asked to go that extra mile
“I have been shaking for most of the last 48 hours. I oscillate between fear, disbelief and panic.”
This is what Kieron Bryan wrote in a letter to his family last week. Kieron is one of the 30 people currently being held in Russian prison facing piracy charges.
It has been exactly three weeks since Russian agents boarded the Arctic Sunrise and arrested all 30 people on board. Now, they are all being held in Russian prisons. Many of them are being kept in freezing cold cells for 23 hours a day, with just one hour out for exercise.
The support team in Murmansk is working around the clock to ensure they receive care packages with food and books to make life a little bit more comfortable for them. But what they need more than anything is continued pressure from millions so we can get them released.
Over 1.2 million of us have already written to Russian embassies around the world demanding the release of the Arctic 30. Let's double that. Please forward this email to at least three friends and ask them to write to the Russian embassy.
This week, our international director, Kumi Naidoo, wrote to President Putin offering himself up as a guarantor for the Arctic 30. He pledged to move his life to Russia for the duration of this affair if the Arctic 30 were released on bail.
Countless human rights and legal experts have come forward to say the piracy charges against the Arctic 30 are unfounded and ludicrous. High profile people from Stephen Fry to Bianca Jagger and Jude Law have publicly voiced their support for the Arctic 30.
Let’s get them out! Please forward this to your friends and ask them to send an email to demand the release of the Arctic 30.
www.greenpeace.org/freethearctic30
Thank you for all your support in the past three weeks.
Fran
This is what Kieron Bryan wrote in a letter to his family last week. Kieron is one of the 30 people currently being held in Russian prison facing piracy charges.
It has been exactly three weeks since Russian agents boarded the Arctic Sunrise and arrested all 30 people on board. Now, they are all being held in Russian prisons. Many of them are being kept in freezing cold cells for 23 hours a day, with just one hour out for exercise.
The support team in Murmansk is working around the clock to ensure they receive care packages with food and books to make life a little bit more comfortable for them. But what they need more than anything is continued pressure from millions so we can get them released.
Over 1.2 million of us have already written to Russian embassies around the world demanding the release of the Arctic 30. Let's double that. Please forward this email to at least three friends and ask them to write to the Russian embassy.
This week, our international director, Kumi Naidoo, wrote to President Putin offering himself up as a guarantor for the Arctic 30. He pledged to move his life to Russia for the duration of this affair if the Arctic 30 were released on bail.
Countless human rights and legal experts have come forward to say the piracy charges against the Arctic 30 are unfounded and ludicrous. High profile people from Stephen Fry to Bianca Jagger and Jude Law have publicly voiced their support for the Arctic 30.
Let’s get them out! Please forward this to your friends and ask them to send an email to demand the release of the Arctic 30.
www.greenpeace.org/freethearctic30
Thank you for all your support in the past three weeks.
Fran
Wednesday, 9 October 2013
Sunday, 6 October 2013
Ulverston's second Super Saturday Market was a huge success
On making a few enquiries, the driving force behind this initiative has been our Mayor Judy Pickthall, able assisted by Jane Kendall our Town Clerk. The initial idea has come from Frome by special messengers we visited there to gather information from other successful communities.
Friday, 4 October 2013
Striking out for what one believes in -needs lots of thought and action
Wind turbines are a new thing to be seen on our horizon.
Sadly most of us resist change. We readily accept a telegraph pole but not a turbine.
There is a purest approach that a turbine free environment is desirable but we accept electrocity pylons. Human survival requires sacrifices, this one is a very minor one. Very hard cold winters of -5 deg centigrade and sudden floods are the alternative.
If people are willing to finance this way of generating carbon free energy so that our children can enjoy a global-warming free future, they should be applauded not criticised.
We all need to become better informed and willing to challenge our own biggotted opinions which are based on being frightened of change.
Sadly I too am guilty of not thinking things threw.
I originally wrote : "Please write in and support the following planning proposal."
Jim and Yvonne Miller bid to build a single wind turbine (85 metres high) on land near Roerigg Tarn, Lowick Common near Lowick Green just north of Ulverston very close to their home. The company who will build the turbine is Freewind Ltd , Essex
The planning application is SL/2013/0906
On reflection, as a result of being stopped to think by a friend - 85metres - Do you realise just how high that is?
And one on it's own - how intrusive. Our human spirits need to value solitude and undesturbed skylines. So a compromise is needed we need to give ground in some areas and not others and then we have to decide "Where if not here?" - one on it's own sounds very intrusive - a group of fifty in a designated location leaving other areas for quiet contemplation?
If you go onto South Lakeland District website, planning applications are very easy to locate and you can submit your comments on-line. It can take as little as 5 minutes.
Support Jim and Yvonne in their efforts to produce electricity in a renewable way rather than using more fossil fuels. Can they come up with alternative proposals?
Jim informs that there is local opposition building up and it is not pleasant, I imagine because it comes from people who don't stop two minutes to think what the alternatives are. There's some hard difficult thinking to be done - or will it be avoided - lots of quiet talking is needed.
Sadly most of us resist change. We readily accept a telegraph pole but not a turbine.
There is a purest approach that a turbine free environment is desirable but we accept electrocity pylons. Human survival requires sacrifices, this one is a very minor one. Very hard cold winters of -5 deg centigrade and sudden floods are the alternative.
If people are willing to finance this way of generating carbon free energy so that our children can enjoy a global-warming free future, they should be applauded not criticised.
We all need to become better informed and willing to challenge our own biggotted opinions which are based on being frightened of change.
Sadly I too am guilty of not thinking things threw.
I originally wrote : "Please write in and support the following planning proposal."
Jim and Yvonne Miller bid to build a single wind turbine (85 metres high) on land near Roerigg Tarn, Lowick Common near Lowick Green just north of Ulverston very close to their home. The company who will build the turbine is Freewind Ltd , Essex
The planning application is SL/2013/0906
On reflection, as a result of being stopped to think by a friend - 85metres - Do you realise just how high that is?
And one on it's own - how intrusive. Our human spirits need to value solitude and undesturbed skylines. So a compromise is needed we need to give ground in some areas and not others and then we have to decide "Where if not here?" - one on it's own sounds very intrusive - a group of fifty in a designated location leaving other areas for quiet contemplation?
If you go onto South Lakeland District website, planning applications are very easy to locate and you can submit your comments on-line. It can take as little as 5 minutes.
Support Jim and Yvonne in their efforts to produce electricity in a renewable way rather than using more fossil fuels. Can they come up with alternative proposals?
Jim informs that there is local opposition building up and it is not pleasant, I imagine because it comes from people who don't stop two minutes to think what the alternatives are. There's some hard difficult thinking to be done - or will it be avoided - lots of quiet talking is needed.
'Hating Britain'
This week the news has been dominated by the Daily Mail’s coverage of Ed Miliband’s father - in which the paper said he "hated Britain".
Alastair Campbell, former comms advisor to Tony Blair, went on the BBC's Newsnight to debate the story. Instead of Paul Dacre, the Daily Mail’s editor, coming to the studio his deputy was put forward. The Daily Mail spokesman said the coverage was justified because Ed Miliband seeks to be Prime Minister and so it was in the public interest - while others argue it was an unjustified attack on a dead man who fought for his country.
Campbell has started a petition on Change.org issuing a challenge to Paul Dacre to go on TV and debate the story and the Mail’s role in public life. He says: “I’m hoping that if enough of us call on him to do so, Paul Dacre will agree to come into a TV studio and debate, face to face, why he thought it was appropriate to trash the name of a dead man who fought for his country”.
What do you think? Would you like to see these two major public figures debating on TV?
Click here to add your name to call for a TV debate between Campbell and Dacre.
Or if you disagree, join the conversation on the Change.org Facebook page.
The Change.org Team
Sign the Petition
If this refers to the Falklands war then I too believe we have no business occupying the Falklands. I see it as a provocative posture to the Argentinians. The world more than ever needs reconciliation rather than conflict. Thatcher's aggressive attitude did much to encourage many of us to 'hate' Britain.
Increasingly I find the media as stirring up trouble and exaggerating 'the facts' rather than providing helpful information. This is why I do this blog - so as to provide a platform for those that find that the attitudes of the Evening Mail, the Westmorland Gazette, the BBC both radio and television etc as unacceptable much of the time which is why I rarely read/listen to them.
I have enough 'news' going on immediately around me in the people I meet on a day to day basis.
People like The Mail that write such stuff are scum.
Alastair Campbell, former comms advisor to Tony Blair, went on the BBC's Newsnight to debate the story. Instead of Paul Dacre, the Daily Mail’s editor, coming to the studio his deputy was put forward. The Daily Mail spokesman said the coverage was justified because Ed Miliband seeks to be Prime Minister and so it was in the public interest - while others argue it was an unjustified attack on a dead man who fought for his country.
Campbell has started a petition on Change.org issuing a challenge to Paul Dacre to go on TV and debate the story and the Mail’s role in public life. He says: “I’m hoping that if enough of us call on him to do so, Paul Dacre will agree to come into a TV studio and debate, face to face, why he thought it was appropriate to trash the name of a dead man who fought for his country”.
What do you think? Would you like to see these two major public figures debating on TV?
Click here to add your name to call for a TV debate between Campbell and Dacre.
Or if you disagree, join the conversation on the Change.org Facebook page.
The Change.org Team
Sign the Petition
If this refers to the Falklands war then I too believe we have no business occupying the Falklands. I see it as a provocative posture to the Argentinians. The world more than ever needs reconciliation rather than conflict. Thatcher's aggressive attitude did much to encourage many of us to 'hate' Britain.
Increasingly I find the media as stirring up trouble and exaggerating 'the facts' rather than providing helpful information. This is why I do this blog - so as to provide a platform for those that find that the attitudes of the Evening Mail, the Westmorland Gazette, the BBC both radio and television etc as unacceptable much of the time which is why I rarely read/listen to them.
I have enough 'news' going on immediately around me in the people I meet on a day to day basis.
People like The Mail that write such stuff are scum.
Why this?
What's this all about?
Why me?
Have Persimmons' lawyers considered that this is harassment?
I last went in to take photos on the 1st September.
Are they trying to hide something?
My letter dated 24th September:
From: Geoff Dellow
Date: 24 September 2013 12:43:05 GMT+01:00
To: Gerard Khoshnaw
Subject: Re: Persimmon Homes v Dr Dellow
Thank you for taking the trouble to itemise the statements that you find unacceptable.
I have removed these. Please don't hesitate to comment, should you wish.
Geoff Dellow
Why me?
Have Persimmons' lawyers considered that this is harassment?
I last went in to take photos on the 1st September.
Are they trying to hide something?
From: Geoff Dellow
Date: 24 September 2013 12:43:05 GMT+01:00
To: Gerard Khoshnaw
Subject: Re: Persimmon Homes v Dr Dellow
Thank you for taking the trouble to itemise the statements that you find unacceptable.
I have removed these. Please don't hesitate to comment, should you wish.
Geoff Dellow
Thursday, 3 October 2013
Corner of two busy roads with pedestrians around
Here's an interview that was filmed earlier today.
Are there any observations that can be made?
Parked on New Market Street at its corner with Market Street at midday of today's Market Day: leaning on his car and enjoying the music.
Several questions arise for me.
1. Is the man correct? No, not if he's causing an obstruction
2. Does his disablement qualify him for the permit he has? A question for the issuing body CCC
3. Should he be driving??
Please educate me . Thank you.
It's good to know that the police take this kind of behaviour seriously. Our combined work where the police are there in the background to support people who have the courage to speak up works wonders. They are very keen to urge peole to take great care. Asking gentle questions and not arguing is by far the most effective. Something I find difficult but am getting better at! Youtube can be very effective too!
Are there any observations that can be made?
Parked on New Market Street at its corner with Market Street at midday of today's Market Day: leaning on his car and enjoying the music.
Several questions arise for me.
1. Is the man correct? No, not if he's causing an obstruction
2. Does his disablement qualify him for the permit he has? A question for the issuing body CCC
3. Should he be driving??
Please educate me . Thank you.
It's good to know that the police take this kind of behaviour seriously. Our combined work where the police are there in the background to support people who have the courage to speak up works wonders. They are very keen to urge peole to take great care. Asking gentle questions and not arguing is by far the most effective. Something I find difficult but am getting better at! Youtube can be very effective too!
Dealing with depression
A friend wrote to say that she had been suffering from depression.
Here are attemps to answer this based on my own experience:
Zero attempt
and it's jumped ahead of the queue.
Be nice to yourself -take yourself somewhere, buy something (but avoid an addiction) something you would never think of doing. A trip to one of the lakes if you're in Scotland a day trip to London even if you only have two hours there. A walk out the door at 4 am to find the first place that serves coffee. Have an expensive tea/ experience in a lovely environment where people pamper you. Have your hair done buy a really beautiful dress but it must be the best in the shop - pawn your bed to do it - here I'm on very dodgy ground and will shut up.
First attempt.
There's a deep truth that all we creative people need to take in.
Being Creative is taking risks- sometimes big risks to our emotions. When the risks pay off we feel absolutely brilliant. If they don't . . . . .deep misery.
Second attempt.
Having heard you sing I know that you're a perfectionist - you wouldn't be as good as you are without this . Perfection takes some achieving (tongue in cheek) so accept what you do achieve as a success.
Third attempt
The way I cheer my perfectionist streak up is by asking myself the question: Well it was rubbish this time but was it better than last time? - It's bound to be. (if we've worked hard between the two last events.) If so then it is perfectly logical - now it's the logic that is perfect - if every time you do something - with practice in between - you get better even a little bit then you must MUST be moving towards the standard you wish to reach.
Now if you feel you've reached a plateau (it won't be one but it may seem that way) then find another hill to climb where you know you can improve. There are many aspects to what you do
Fourth attempt
Find someone you trust to be your judge and listen to them. Someone who knows what their talking about. if they tell you to knuckle down and master a technique then think carefully about what they say
Fifth attempt
One I love. You are investing in your future in a way that will be there for the rest of your life - it cannot be taken away.
Sixth attempt
Have several activities that have nothing to do with each other - something that is fun - for you I can imagine it could be dancing (it is for me) - possibly entirely for yourself and on your own. Moving to music is a sure way of getting the blood flowing which may wash out all those chemicals out of your brain that cause depression. It could be another talent that you enjoy - I love the challenge of playing chess - sadly the people who \i play treat it seriously - I can't: I have the clarinet that is far more important - never-the less I go back to my chess friends because they take me away from my clarinet contacts. Then I have an allotment which is completely open to a beautiful sky - and things will insist on growing there whatever I do or don't do - I also have another group of friends there. So find say two other activities that are different some bringing you into contact with a totally different group of friends - so if one group is on the on the way down another could well be on the way up
Seventh attempt
Regard your hard times as character building - tough medicine but true. I know from my experiences through my life that some have been really tough and I came I came through them.
Depression is the way our bodies protect themselves. It's a good thing. Our body is saying - hold on I need a rest - I need to go back into recovery mode - let yourself get depressed knowing that you will eventually get better. Again what has worked for me when I really hit rock bottom - on my own - with my friends deserting me because they couldn't cope with my company. it took months to fully recover. What encouraged me every week I was in the middle of this nightmare was that if I stopped and checked how I was feeling: I knew I was feeling terrible but this was better than a week ago.
At the time I had watched a Japanese film where a woman had been kidnapped and was being forced to live in a very large pit - all mod cons so to speak at the bottom - but trapped. Every time she tried to escape the sand would collapse and she found herself back at the bottom. She kept trying because she realised every day she tried she got just a little nearer to top of the pit which represented freedom.
For me during this time I could imagine my pit and the top was way above my head - however each week I knew that the surface though way above my head was just a little nearer.
I still remember the feeling that my top could be reached if I just stretched my arms out high above my head and i could feel the grass of the top - I was nearly out. Next week I knew I was out.
I then had the sure knowledge for the rest of my life that if ever I was at the bottom of a pit I would be getting out - eventually - there was no doubt.
Now it's similar - even last night I felt really confused and very upset - several things had happened during the day and evening that threw me. Yet I knew - I was really certain that all I had to do was to go to sleep and very soon something in me surges through me - I roar like a lion and throw the bedclothes off and cry Right! If this doesn't happen and I don't feel good in the morning I just lie there and wait bed clothes over my head - Having been through the previous experience many years ago I KNOW I'll be feeling good eventually ! It's a very reassuring feeling.
I'll stop there.
Here are attemps to answer this based on my own experience:
Zero attempt
and it's jumped ahead of the queue.
Be nice to yourself -take yourself somewhere, buy something (but avoid an addiction) something you would never think of doing. A trip to one of the lakes if you're in Scotland a day trip to London even if you only have two hours there. A walk out the door at 4 am to find the first place that serves coffee. Have an expensive tea/ experience in a lovely environment where people pamper you. Have your hair done buy a really beautiful dress but it must be the best in the shop - pawn your bed to do it - here I'm on very dodgy ground and will shut up.
First attempt.
There's a deep truth that all we creative people need to take in.
Being Creative is taking risks- sometimes big risks to our emotions. When the risks pay off we feel absolutely brilliant. If they don't . . . . .deep misery.
Second attempt.
Having heard you sing I know that you're a perfectionist - you wouldn't be as good as you are without this . Perfection takes some achieving (tongue in cheek) so accept what you do achieve as a success.
Third attempt
The way I cheer my perfectionist streak up is by asking myself the question: Well it was rubbish this time but was it better than last time? - It's bound to be. (if we've worked hard between the two last events.) If so then it is perfectly logical - now it's the logic that is perfect - if every time you do something - with practice in between - you get better even a little bit then you must MUST be moving towards the standard you wish to reach.
Now if you feel you've reached a plateau (it won't be one but it may seem that way) then find another hill to climb where you know you can improve. There are many aspects to what you do
Fourth attempt
Find someone you trust to be your judge and listen to them. Someone who knows what their talking about. if they tell you to knuckle down and master a technique then think carefully about what they say
Fifth attempt
One I love. You are investing in your future in a way that will be there for the rest of your life - it cannot be taken away.
Sixth attempt
Have several activities that have nothing to do with each other - something that is fun - for you I can imagine it could be dancing (it is for me) - possibly entirely for yourself and on your own. Moving to music is a sure way of getting the blood flowing which may wash out all those chemicals out of your brain that cause depression. It could be another talent that you enjoy - I love the challenge of playing chess - sadly the people who \i play treat it seriously - I can't: I have the clarinet that is far more important - never-the less I go back to my chess friends because they take me away from my clarinet contacts. Then I have an allotment which is completely open to a beautiful sky - and things will insist on growing there whatever I do or don't do - I also have another group of friends there. So find say two other activities that are different some bringing you into contact with a totally different group of friends - so if one group is on the on the way down another could well be on the way up
Seventh attempt
Regard your hard times as character building - tough medicine but true. I know from my experiences through my life that some have been really tough and I came I came through them.
Depression is the way our bodies protect themselves. It's a good thing. Our body is saying - hold on I need a rest - I need to go back into recovery mode - let yourself get depressed knowing that you will eventually get better. Again what has worked for me when I really hit rock bottom - on my own - with my friends deserting me because they couldn't cope with my company. it took months to fully recover. What encouraged me every week I was in the middle of this nightmare was that if I stopped and checked how I was feeling: I knew I was feeling terrible but this was better than a week ago.
At the time I had watched a Japanese film where a woman had been kidnapped and was being forced to live in a very large pit - all mod cons so to speak at the bottom - but trapped. Every time she tried to escape the sand would collapse and she found herself back at the bottom. She kept trying because she realised every day she tried she got just a little nearer to top of the pit which represented freedom.
For me during this time I could imagine my pit and the top was way above my head - however each week I knew that the surface though way above my head was just a little nearer.
I still remember the feeling that my top could be reached if I just stretched my arms out high above my head and i could feel the grass of the top - I was nearly out. Next week I knew I was out.
I then had the sure knowledge for the rest of my life that if ever I was at the bottom of a pit I would be getting out - eventually - there was no doubt.
Now it's similar - even last night I felt really confused and very upset - several things had happened during the day and evening that threw me. Yet I knew - I was really certain that all I had to do was to go to sleep and very soon something in me surges through me - I roar like a lion and throw the bedclothes off and cry Right! If this doesn't happen and I don't feel good in the morning I just lie there and wait bed clothes over my head - Having been through the previous experience many years ago I KNOW I'll be feeling good eventually ! It's a very reassuring feeling.
I'll stop there.
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Politicians
Listening to an out-of-sight television whilst cooking, I was convinced it was a comedian taking off Cameron. Then I looked - it WAS Cameron - couldn't believe the rubbish sailing across the airwaves, with hundreds of people applauding - the party faithful. Then followed his dedicated MP supporters justifying every word of rubbish . Me gobsmacked with incredulity.
It's the same watching Labour in action.
It's the same watching Lib Dems in action.
And even it's the same when watching UKIP and The Greens.
Can't any of them realise that we'd appreciate some straight honest talking with out exaggerated claims every other sentence.
It's the same watching Labour in action.
It's the same watching Lib Dems in action.
And even it's the same when watching UKIP and The Greens.
Can't any of them realise that we'd appreciate some straight honest talking with out exaggerated claims every other sentence.
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Climate change - what hope with politicians in charge?
Will scientifically illiterate politicians, who express personal views as though they were the views of the general pubic, be our 'democratic systems's downfall?
See today's papers.
See today's papers.
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