And a what great kind of people they are.
They are for the most part very people oriented with a great sense of fun and living life to the full. They are people of all ages, sizes, backgrounds and seem to generally fit for their age. They love acquiring learning, sharing and developing skills of older generations. They are motivated to put in hours of practice for the pure joy of doing things because they want to. They are for the most part fit mentally but also fit physically.
These are :
The type of person that worked together during the last world war to raise morale when the country was in imminent disaster from being invaded by the Germans.
The kind of people that set sail in their small boats to bring back the troops when they were being driven into the sea in Normandy.
The kind of people that, when faced with adversity instead of wingeing and complaining, get out their musical instruments, write a song about it or narrate a story of knights performing heroic deeds to raise our spirits and 'laugh disaster in the face'. Others use a craft or art to add something worthwhile to our lives.
The kind of people that go out of their way to help others when needed
They bring a breath of fresh air to the town in contrast to the sad commercialisation of the town by people hell bent in promoting 'festivals' that make money.
They encourage people like themselves in our community to take activities like the Lantern Procession out of the hands of power seeking individuals and return them back into the hands once again of a community group.
They see through the hype from government encouraged Royal celebrations,
Olympic torch relay nonsense,
Football and Tennis mania and even the
'Cumbria in Bloom' farce
They encouraging very local 'bottom up' activities by little groups of nobodies who get together without 'official guidance' and do their own thing.
They are good at conveying a strong message in the subtle ways of song writing, poetry, fiction, art and craft - the things we all value.
These are the kind of people and activities that are going to be needed in the future years
when the bulk of the population who follow the Red Top Media continue to blame others for the mess we are heading for
because of Global Warming,
because of Economic Disaster,
because of the Population Explosion,
because of Ethnic Cleansing and turmoil taking place in countries like Northern Ireland, Syria, Lybia, Egypt, India, Afghanistan, Iraq etc and
because of the "What we need is growth " Brigade at a time when the world's resources are stretched to the limit.
In contrast to people here in Ulverston who seek to find fault with any attempt to be positive, they just get on quietly and make music, dance, make beautiful things and celebrate the good things in life.
Hopefully a bit of their positive outlook will rub off and encourage each one of us.
Long live the Traditions of the past as they are carried forward by the young people of the present here thankfully in Furness
Showing posts with label battlers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label battlers. Show all posts
Saturday, 14 July 2012
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Maria shows us some true qualities of character
As did her opponent.
Sharapova wins but both demonstrated true fighting spirit to the end.
Inspiring to watch. Qualities we all need in difficult times.
For me, to see the program last night on the 'cellist Rostropovich and now Sharapova, once again tennis champion in real life.
Can we see more people who demonstrate these qualities of character around us?
This ability to battle against the odds does not just happen overnight but is developed small block by small block over a lifetime.
I'm privilege and encouraged by seeing these qualities in a few of the people around me and it's tremendous.
Thank you to all the battlers.
Those that stand by and sneer - just go and run off down your miserable burrows where you will end up when Life gets a little harder for you.
This demonstration of real life qualities is a great antidote to the hype that is repeatedly being washed over us at present - Olympic Torch then Royal Celebrations and now Soccer Euro 2012.
In the background real misery of people being persecuted with unfair treatment by the priveleged moneyed groups of self interest.
If you're a fighter - take courage - and keep your pecker up - you are inspiring others by your example - an example we all benefit from.
Sharapova wins but both demonstrated true fighting spirit to the end.
Inspiring to watch. Qualities we all need in difficult times.
For me, to see the program last night on the 'cellist Rostropovich and now Sharapova, once again tennis champion in real life.
Can we see more people who demonstrate these qualities of character around us?
This ability to battle against the odds does not just happen overnight but is developed small block by small block over a lifetime.
I'm privilege and encouraged by seeing these qualities in a few of the people around me and it's tremendous.
Thank you to all the battlers.
Those that stand by and sneer - just go and run off down your miserable burrows where you will end up when Life gets a little harder for you.
This demonstration of real life qualities is a great antidote to the hype that is repeatedly being washed over us at present - Olympic Torch then Royal Celebrations and now Soccer Euro 2012.
In the background real misery of people being persecuted with unfair treatment by the priveleged moneyed groups of self interest.
If you're a fighter - take courage - and keep your pecker up - you are inspiring others by your example - an example we all benefit from.
Thursday, 15 March 2012
Stan of Dalton
An amazing man - an amazing project.
Possibly the only one of its kind in the UK:
An organisation that grew out of one man's vision and has been doggedly pursued for the last 35 years by Stan and his group of volunteers. One that is thriving with a turn over of over £1,000 per day in these financially difficult times.
In 1976
"My wife nearly knocked me off my chair and said, " you ought to volunteer" "
Volunteer he did, back then - and he's been working hard ever since - and is still going strong.
Watch both these videos if you want to learn from someone who takes on a vision and not only achieves it but takes on more and more visions into what is possible.
If the vision was to dig a tunnel under the atlantic to New York - Stan would be the one to have in charge if he were persuaded it was a good idea ( may I correct that if Stan's wife had thought it was a good idea and was able to persuade him). I suspect Stan's wife is an equally impressive person - I wonder how much of him she has seen over the years.
I sought out this impressive man over a week ago - one of the people behind the community Baths-Leisure Centre- Cafe´- and now playground project in Dalton. He agreed to be interviewed.
I've now allowed the week for censure to pass and am now making the interview public.
It comes in two halves. Here's the first:
And here's the second.
Here is a view of the park Stan was talking about with the Leisure Centre and Swimming Pool /Cafe´in the distance.
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Ulverston Tourist Information Centre
A successful resolution?
I guess I have a somewaht different perspective to the official line - "Thank you Kendal - grovel, grovel, - thank you, thank you, Graham Vincent for rescuing us"
It was a great insight to spend four market days talking to the people at the Market Square resulting in more than 400 signing a petition, 200 pledging money - with a few actually saying "as much as it takes" and with 18 volunteers committing themselves (James Airey to his credit added his name later).
The TIC really mattered to them.
I believe it matters to most of us.
We have lots of other issues that really matter to us. In order of stength of feeling I would place:
1. Control over the car parking policy, especially over land that Ulverston people own or have been bequeathed - The Gill and Stockbridge Lane respectively.
2. The running of our toilets
3. The running of our markets
4. The running of our Town Hall - which we do not own
5. The running of our Coronation Hall - which we do not own.
6. The maintenance of our streets.
7. The enforcement of Dog Fouling legislation
8. The enforcement of Car Parking legislation
True the order above may be at fault. - Speak up with your pet concern
The crunch line in all these is that -
We have no control over the above and we resent theis - Kendal in the form of local government does.
There are many towns where they do not have the same situation:
Grange has control over its TIC, its Town Hall and equivalent of the Coro.
Settle has control over its Market - something it fought hard for.
Now, as Grange are at present battling over - with this control comes responsibility.
Control requires management, enforcement, policy and maintenance. It's hard work.
It also requires financial commitment - Grange raises money through local rates to run their responsibilities - which can be seen as unfair - they pay twice - to the SLDC for other town's TIC and in addition for their own TIC.x
However what it has is pride.
If you visit the Grange Council Management there is a completely different atmosphere to that at Ulverston - there is no us and them - being kept at a distance, I find here - keep your nose out - we know what is best for you - that you've read about here, at the Town Hall.
At Grange there's a real buzz of involvement. Their secretaries have time for you, the, in addition to the work commitments, organise fund raising activities like the recent Bay Walk. Their councillor, Tom Harvey, speaks up forcibly for Grange instead of the wimp behavior from our councillors - Janet Wilkinson, Colin Hodgson and James Airey - that I witnessed at the recent Cabinet Meeting that made me furious and led to the 'Wimps with no Balls' comment over their handling of the Stockbrige Carpark issue - which I still stand by - made by me recently here.
My point is:
We need to claw back control of the things that we consider important to the town.
This requires hardship - both financial and commitment of time - but from my contact on the Market Square - this what many (most?) Ulverstonians want.
Ulverstonians want their sense of pride back.
They want things like their Town Bank Clock fixed quickly when it appears a simple matter of a severed cable.
Councillors for the most part are out of touch with this sense of determination.
I get the dismaying response from Jenkinson and Bishop-Rowe and others that "Kendal would never allow that" and "I've tried and it can't be done". What a defeatist attitude.
Then to top it all there's this "leave it to us- we know best - if we can't do it - you certainly can't" which I've proved wrong several times.
So TIC : missed opportunity in my view - we were heavily let down by the grand talking Paul Jarvis of Ulverston Community Partnership when in my view he had a viable commitment for Ulverston to take over the TIC and he avoided it. Neither did James Airey persuade him to change his attitude.
With an attitude like this, in the long term, we are sunk.
We will end up, as a thriving business man in the town predicts - a ghost town - a pale reflection of the leading Town in our area a century ago when the iron industry thrived under the Kennedys only a century ago.
With control over our TIC a sense of the community fighting together to make this the best TIC in Cumbria, could have resulted and with it could have come control over a tourist web site that is so essential.
What may happen next is that the TIC is vastly trimmed down in manpower to fit the needs of the Coro Hall itself (under the mismanagement of a notoriously badly managed district council - in the bottom 15% in the country - who find it costs some £300 per week to maintain a toilet) so that it no longer operates effectively.
The next step in my thinking that would be a big one but thoroughly within the town's capability is the take over of the whole Coronation Hall operation.
We've enough enthusiasm for the activities here from a very wide area to help this do well in spite of cutbacks.
It would then be our Coro run for the benefit of our societies and performers and the people who risk putting on shows. We have the potential of a really successful operation here.
Why leave it in the hands of Kendal and the SLDC to be messed around with.
Fighters - please step forward.
Are you one?
I guess I have a somewaht different perspective to the official line - "Thank you Kendal - grovel, grovel, - thank you, thank you, Graham Vincent for rescuing us"
It was a great insight to spend four market days talking to the people at the Market Square resulting in more than 400 signing a petition, 200 pledging money - with a few actually saying "as much as it takes" and with 18 volunteers committing themselves (James Airey to his credit added his name later).
The TIC really mattered to them.
I believe it matters to most of us.
We have lots of other issues that really matter to us. In order of stength of feeling I would place:
1. Control over the car parking policy, especially over land that Ulverston people own or have been bequeathed - The Gill and Stockbridge Lane respectively.
2. The running of our toilets
3. The running of our markets
4. The running of our Town Hall - which we do not own
5. The running of our Coronation Hall - which we do not own.
6. The maintenance of our streets.
7. The enforcement of Dog Fouling legislation
8. The enforcement of Car Parking legislation
True the order above may be at fault. - Speak up with your pet concern
The crunch line in all these is that -
We have no control over the above and we resent theis - Kendal in the form of local government does.
There are many towns where they do not have the same situation:
Grange has control over its TIC, its Town Hall and equivalent of the Coro.
Settle has control over its Market - something it fought hard for.
Now, as Grange are at present battling over - with this control comes responsibility.
Control requires management, enforcement, policy and maintenance. It's hard work.
It also requires financial commitment - Grange raises money through local rates to run their responsibilities - which can be seen as unfair - they pay twice - to the SLDC for other town's TIC and in addition for their own TIC.x
However what it has is pride.
If you visit the Grange Council Management there is a completely different atmosphere to that at Ulverston - there is no us and them - being kept at a distance, I find here - keep your nose out - we know what is best for you - that you've read about here, at the Town Hall.
At Grange there's a real buzz of involvement. Their secretaries have time for you, the, in addition to the work commitments, organise fund raising activities like the recent Bay Walk. Their councillor, Tom Harvey, speaks up forcibly for Grange instead of the wimp behavior from our councillors - Janet Wilkinson, Colin Hodgson and James Airey - that I witnessed at the recent Cabinet Meeting that made me furious and led to the 'Wimps with no Balls' comment over their handling of the Stockbrige Carpark issue - which I still stand by - made by me recently here.
My point is:
We need to claw back control of the things that we consider important to the town.
This requires hardship - both financial and commitment of time - but from my contact on the Market Square - this what many (most?) Ulverstonians want.
Ulverstonians want their sense of pride back.
They want things like their Town Bank Clock fixed quickly when it appears a simple matter of a severed cable.
Councillors for the most part are out of touch with this sense of determination.
I get the dismaying response from Jenkinson and Bishop-Rowe and others that "Kendal would never allow that" and "I've tried and it can't be done". What a defeatist attitude.
Then to top it all there's this "leave it to us- we know best - if we can't do it - you certainly can't" which I've proved wrong several times.
So TIC : missed opportunity in my view - we were heavily let down by the grand talking Paul Jarvis of Ulverston Community Partnership when in my view he had a viable commitment for Ulverston to take over the TIC and he avoided it. Neither did James Airey persuade him to change his attitude.
With an attitude like this, in the long term, we are sunk.
We will end up, as a thriving business man in the town predicts - a ghost town - a pale reflection of the leading Town in our area a century ago when the iron industry thrived under the Kennedys only a century ago.
With control over our TIC a sense of the community fighting together to make this the best TIC in Cumbria, could have resulted and with it could have come control over a tourist web site that is so essential.
What may happen next is that the TIC is vastly trimmed down in manpower to fit the needs of the Coro Hall itself (under the mismanagement of a notoriously badly managed district council - in the bottom 15% in the country - who find it costs some £300 per week to maintain a toilet) so that it no longer operates effectively.
The next step in my thinking that would be a big one but thoroughly within the town's capability is the take over of the whole Coronation Hall operation.
We've enough enthusiasm for the activities here from a very wide area to help this do well in spite of cutbacks.
It would then be our Coro run for the benefit of our societies and performers and the people who risk putting on shows. We have the potential of a really successful operation here.
Why leave it in the hands of Kendal and the SLDC to be messed around with.
Fighters - please step forward.
Are you one?
Monday, 13 September 2010
The Monday Interview - Anita - Ale Wife of Ulverston's Micro Brewery
So where are you?
The site of Ulverston's old cattle market.
And what makes a good beer?
Anita Garnett and Paul Swan (son of the strict and imposing Glaxo 'boss' for Pen Extraction ) have set up their brewery - The Ulverston Brewing Company - on the site of the Old Cattle Market across from the bus station and Peter's Kiosk.
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
EXASPERATED
Geoff,
Some time ago I sent you emails about getting a bench moved in Cross St . I corresponded with Jayne Kendall and John Bath at Capita.
I thought it would be a simple matter that could be done in a week or two i.e. to move a bench about 50 yards so that old people can sit with their shopping until a taxi appears.
First I was told the seats were in store, then was told the Probation service would <> them - how long can it take to paint a bench ? Now the Probation are <> to cope with this huge job.
Four months later we are no nearer and the only person to have been any help is Norman B-R.
Even he cannot get things moving because now the GPO think it is a security risk to have seat under their window.
I bet you are glad you didn't get elected as I'm sure this typifies local government. IT IS SO EXASPERATING .This type of thing is bound to have an effect on elected councillors .
I agree with you this is why I'm resorting to just doing the job myself when ever I can and ignore local government and councillors - hence The Gill Banks project and coming up that at Lightburn Park. Maybe the public will begin to feel the same. Even councillors like Colin Williams face evasive action when he comes to try and get rusting lamposts repainted.
The system is going to pot - or has it always been like this with bureaucrats taking control and we're just beginning to notice?
Some time ago I sent you emails about getting a bench moved in Cross St . I corresponded with Jayne Kendall and John Bath at Capita.
I thought it would be a simple matter that could be done in a week or two i.e. to move a bench about 50 yards so that old people can sit with their shopping until a taxi appears.
First I was told the seats were in store, then was told the Probation service would <> them - how long can it take to paint a bench ? Now the Probation are <> to cope with this huge job.
Four months later we are no nearer and the only person to have been any help is Norman B-R.
Even he cannot get things moving because now the GPO think it is a security risk to have seat under their window.
I bet you are glad you didn't get elected as I'm sure this typifies local government. IT IS SO EXASPERATING .This type of thing is bound to have an effect on elected councillors .
I agree with you this is why I'm resorting to just doing the job myself when ever I can and ignore local government and councillors - hence The Gill Banks project and coming up that at Lightburn Park. Maybe the public will begin to feel the same. Even councillors like Colin Williams face evasive action when he comes to try and get rusting lamposts repainted.
The system is going to pot - or has it always been like this with bureaucrats taking control and we're just beginning to notice?
Sunday, 19 July 2009
Friday, 26 June 2009
Sports Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe is the embarrassing one.
He clearly has not been following the progress of tennis over the last year.
It is he and the ignorant British public that are letting the side down in putting phenomenal pressure on our tennis players particularly the women.
They are not 'underperforming' except at Wimbledon. Everywhere else in the world they have steadily been climbing up the rankings and Sutcliffe does not appear to know this. With the insensitive reception at Wimbledon, I wouldn't be surprised if some of them quit!
" 'Embarrassing' results must improve, says Sutcliffe
Sport England will later this year consider the future funding of grassroots tennis following government warnings that the sport could see a cut if more elite talent does not emerge.
The sports minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, said the Lawn Tennis Association should look to success stories in cycling, rowing and swimming for lessons on how to bring talent through the system. The familiar post mortem on British failings at Wimbledon, with nine of 11 players in the singles draws crashing out in the first round, was given added legs by Sutcliffe's suggestion that the LTA could see its funding cut if matters do not improve.
Sutcliffe said the failure is "embarrassing" but also sought to clarify his remarks"
It is he and the ignorant British public that are letting the side down in putting phenomenal pressure on our tennis players particularly the women.
They are not 'underperforming' except at Wimbledon. Everywhere else in the world they have steadily been climbing up the rankings and Sutcliffe does not appear to know this. With the insensitive reception at Wimbledon, I wouldn't be surprised if some of them quit!
" 'Embarrassing' results must improve, says Sutcliffe
Sport England will later this year consider the future funding of grassroots tennis following government warnings that the sport could see a cut if more elite talent does not emerge.
The sports minister, Gerry Sutcliffe, said the Lawn Tennis Association should look to success stories in cycling, rowing and swimming for lessons on how to bring talent through the system. The familiar post mortem on British failings at Wimbledon, with nine of 11 players in the singles draws crashing out in the first round, was given added legs by Sutcliffe's suggestion that the LTA could see its funding cut if matters do not improve.
Sutcliffe said the failure is "embarrassing" but also sought to clarify his remarks"
Friday, 22 May 2009
Keothavong
This wonderful battler from London's East end is hitting out again!
I draw inspiration from people like this.
I'm impressed bythe statement:
"Keothavong does not have her coach with her in Warsaw, as she sometimes likes to have "anti-social" weeks when she does everything for herself."
I know the feeling!
Watching her hit the hell out of Venus Williams a while back showed (for a few points) what she is made of.
Forget Andrew Murray for a while and "watch this space". Here I predicted a Brit Woman in the top 30 by Wimbledon last August!
As her technique and canniness improves, so will her progress.
Pity her name isn't Smith and then we'd all be behind her. Bear in mind a bit of "foreign" blood does us good.
BNP take note - a lot of you owe your fighting spirit to foreigners - the Vikings, the Normans and now maybe the Poles - no idea what Anne's background is - does it matter.
Maybe some battlers will get into Parliament this next time round and stand up to "the System".
I'm meeting some equally inspirational people here in Ulverston.
Last night I was talking to someone who I felt was almost enjoying the challenge that life had thrown at her.
She was living life "on her own terms" and others had better work with her or else feel the brunt of her energy.
Not everyone makes the headlines.
Those that do often don't deserve it - it's amazing what papers can do to sell themselves.
I digress!
Sunday, 5 April 2009
Celebration
A celebration of Chris Thorp's life.
At the Lantern House , Monday, April 5th, at 2.00 pm.
He will be there in the form of the influence he had on the people who knew him.
I'm looking forward to it.
A chance to tune in with the spirit that he has left behind in the many that I've not yet met.
.
At the Lantern House , Monday, April 5th, at 2.00 pm.
He will be there in the form of the influence he had on the people who knew him.
I'm looking forward to it.
A chance to tune in with the spirit that he has left behind in the many that I've not yet met.
.
Sunday, 31 August 2008
Are you ready to become a fighter !
See below!
This young woman is determined to take herself up the tennis ladder. See The Guardian Article
"Keothavong should be inside the world's top 70 when the next rankings come out but on the evidence of the way she has played at Flushing Meadows there is every likelihood that she will reach her goal of breaking into the world's top 50, possibly by the end of this season."
How about the top 30 by next year's Wimbledon - any takers - a fiver?
Born and bred in Hackney - she knows how to fight - like me, I suspect, she enjoyed a good scrap as a kid!
"Keothavong grew up playing park tennis at Hackney Downs Park and Highbury Fields. She also enjoys kickboxing . ." see Wikipedia
Here she draws the condescending comment:
"That's nice stuff - it really is beautiful"
from the American commentators at Wimbledon as Keothavong thrashes Venus Williams!
. . . Well not quite . . .
but she gives Venus a good run for her money. Now when those hard hitting shots start going in - consistently - watch out everyone! Worth a watch if you wish to empathise with someone slogging against the odds.
Now you feel ready to tackle any task . . . washing up . . . mowing the lawn . . . here you come!
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