Walking in the dark

This is a thing I love doing.

Obviously people in Towns with street lights everywhere never experience this . But those of us that live in the country that can walk away from artificial lighting can enjoy this experience. It's surprising how much you can see when your eyes get used to it. Townies who are convinced you can't see resort to a torch. But sadly if you do this you miss out on all the fun.

More later.

An Experiment in Fasting

I recent stumbled on a TV program on horizon on the benefits of fasting :
"Eat, fast and live longer"
The whole program is on Youtube :

which I watched again last night.

The idea of 'fasting' intrigues me, so, before I go any further I'm going to fast for two days and find out what it's like. By fast, I mean limit my calorie intake to 500 cals/day. Next step is to find out what I can eat to stay within that.

I've only fasted once in my life I think and that was when living on my own I was so involved in what I was doing that I didn't get round to eating for 36 hours - I felt fine.

So here goes, starting this morning. I shall confine myself to fruit, apples (the whole lot, oranges and the odd banana which I understand has a fair number of calories and the lovely vegetables that I grow in the allotment.

I suspect the most difficult thing will be to not think about it - but then I've a busy couple of days coming up and I'm on my own!

I shall report back here as I go through till Monday morning: interesting journey.

I'm starting off with an apple, orange and a coffee - 126 cals that's a quarter of my total .

It's 13:00 and I've been playing flat out in the Market Square at chess between 10 and and 12:45, losing all three games, having a drink of chocolate.

Feeling shattered, but that could be a number of reasons, most of them psychological - worrying about fasting. ("I knew a guy who dropped dead of exhaustion" kind of remarks!)

I'm reverting to the familiar, I need to relax in the 'normal' by having a 500g bowl of soup.

Kite making project coming up with parents and kids, at 2 pm, need a lot of mental and physical !

I shall then be having beetroot, cabbage, carrot as a salad - how about some ham?This could be for supper - we'll see how many calories it all adds up to!

Had a very active time making, designing and running around flying kites in Ford park. Five adults with six seven kids of various ages arrived at 14:00 and enjoyed themselves until 16:30 - sun was out the kites flew - we ended up with a few tangles which I really enjoy sorting out.

All went home very happy with their 'new' kites and string to join the growing band of kite fliers.

Now I'm off to a party when I've recovered - I'm short on sleep having woken up at 5 am. Left for party at 6:45pm after a lie down.
Here I only had a third-full glass of red wine and topped up with water. I think that because I went with the intention of doing this and not even looking at the food this worked.
I then went to Natterjacks to meet someone who had been away for the day and played the piano for 15 minutes - I'm getting better! Here I had several cups of an infusion at about 2 cal per small cup.

On returning home I had fun preparing myself a low calorie meal of lovely cabbage 125gm , two small tomatoes and about  20gm of tongue.
Today I had an orange and apple with Barleycup. I'm now about to have a bowl of soup (it's familiar) after some hard work at Mill Dam Park digging.

I'm feeling fine though perhaps a little strained but not sure where this comes from.

Had a different home made soup - the familiar again, did some sitting down jobs (untangling kite string), some shopping at Booths, some standing up work and supper which was the same as last night.
It's now 9pm and I've been trying out some new chess software and I feel fine - I'm not giving a thought to food and perhaps because of this I feel fine. Now what's the next job on the list : stick a link on my Facebook page.
It's now 8am on Monday morning and I've had breakfast. I don't feel at all ravenous, in fact I rather like the high fruit breakfast so I've repeated it with a little muesli. This 'fasting' hasn't been particularly difficult and I'll gladly do it again as what food I had was delicious. I'm pretty sure that I stayed within the 500 calorie limit. It would be easier to tell what it really feels like if it became part of my routine. And no. I'm not looking forward to a slap up meal!

It's now evening of the first day after the 'fast' and I feel completely back to normal. I had a reaction this morning whilst doing fairly vigorous work down at the allotment: I felt a but giddy and faint so I sat down and took it easy. I felt the need to eat something so I ate a raw beetroot - which took some doing but it did seem to make a difference. I haven't noticed a desire to eat more than normal to make up for the food not eaten in the two days. I conclude I must have lost weight probably body fat.

In future if I repeat this two day fast I will make sure that I don't have a day of vigorous exercise the day after.

I'm now reflecting on why I would do this again as I'm not convinced that in my case I will gain much: I'm already quite slim and I come from parents who both lived into their nineties and one close to a hundred. At least I feel that if there was a benefit I would incorporate this two day 500 calorie fast into my week as I found the food I did have was delicious and didn't have an undue hankering to eat beyond the 500 limit.

How can this blog be improved ?

To me blogs could be a valuable alternative/compliment to the press.

They provide an alternative to what can be a very biased press. One would not remove bias but it could be a very varied source of bias. I am often accused of being opinionated; to which I reply "What do you expect what is written is my opinion". Furthermore I deliberately write in a way that might provoke others to speak up and 'print' the result as long as it is 'constructive' criticism coming from someone who identifies themselves. Comments like the following are ignored. "You fucking stupid git. Your views are just farts sounding out of your arse" (Though, far more colourful than this - I don't seem to have this talent)

How could an Ulverston Blog work?

There is already the provision for different people with different views to express their views: as you will see each post gives the name of the person posting it so that each author would be clearly indentified. What they write says a lot about themselves and they have to live with it.

I shall be trying to persuade people in the town to participate in a neutrally named blog eg The Ulverston Blog, that would initially be open to anyone. To my way of thinking this could work well and gaurd against the time when the operators of our local press decide that it makes no sense commercially; something that is close to happening here in Ulverston already with reporters who don't know Ulverston writing from their office in Barrow.

We could provide interviews of people and happenings of interest. - Some of my Youtube interviews like the ones on Rhubarb and Custard - the doll's house shop -  have clearly boosted trade.

We could learn more about what politicians are seeking to do and achieve, so that they would become more re-electable.

Ulverston has a long tradition of generating a disproportionate amount of news relative to the population with approximating five times as much news/per head coming from what happens here ( a figure pluct out of the air). It is even conceivable that a blog could in the future pay for some in depth investigative editorial content.

How about it?

Will anyone join me in trying out a new mock-up to explore this possibility?

Isn't it great when you feel highly motivated.

This is an extremely valuable experience .

You walk around with a very positive smile lurking behind your face ready to pop out with the slightest provocation. It's the exact opposite of depression and it's a million dollar feeling.

Not the best of tunes but it's certainly got 'bounce' - come on Rita you could do better - but do you ever feel like this? To compose well , it has to come from 'the soul'. (Which reminds me - Where's that Christmas present you promised us with you mandolin).

So why am I feeling this way? That's a tricky one. It could be because I'm doing quite a lot with lots of different people and what I'm doing is going well: Chess in the Square, Kites in the Park, Discussions on several fronts with SLDC officials, Raised beds at the allotment, Supporting pottery and candlemaking, Playing my clarinet and piano, Story telling, Campaigning, Writing, Being helped to buy stuff on the Internet with Paypal and quite important, Steering clear of the totally draining submissions to ineffectual politicians (realising you can achieve far more without them).

Long may this feeling continue - but of course this is just a high - lows are waiting round the corner but they are part and parcel of these highs.

Depressing and mindshattering BBC reporting

I you're fed up with the continuous hype coming out of the mouths of our BBC reporters on the Olympics, then don't worry, you're definitely not alone. Lots of my friends are sickened by it too. It's very difficult to prevent those inane reporters not ruining the whole games with their mindless chatter.

Over and over and over we get repeated a message of how such and such British competitor is about to work absolute wonders as they approach this or that event. It's all Team GB this and Team GB that, Gold gold gold. Isn't the games supposed to be a celebration of human endeavour - not just those from Britain. All the time we're made to hear how many medals are won or just missed. People who achieve 'only' bronze are made to feel disappointed even though realistically they knew from the start that they were up against world champions that had never been beaten.

Our reporters are a shambles. What they do achieve is a Gold every time for repeating and repeating a lot of crass verbiage.

I suspect that he only way one can really enjoy what is happening is to switch the sound off. Sadly I often turn away in disgust and find something 'sane' to do - like clearing out the rubbish that has been waiting to be tidied for weeks. Otherwise I'd be going insane with frustration of coping with all the emotional downside of the way I'm being made to view what I'm sure is really a great series of events with people  from all manner of nations performing awe inspiring feats of will power and physical prowess.

Along with many of my age I can remember my amazement at watching in 1972 a slight young girl/woman perform very precise and scary manoeuvres on the Horizontal Bar - her name - Olga Korbut of the USSR. Would she have made the same impact if she had been accompanied by the present day crass reporting? - we'd be lucky to catch a glimpse of her nowadays - we'd be faced with in depth analysis as to why Team GB were at the bottom of the rankings - not a celebration of a truly amazing individual.

At this moment we are having Bradley Wiggins being rammed down our ear holes for the hundredth time who allegedly is to become the greatest British Olympian of all time. What will happen if he becomes a brilliant second?

True to form just now: Jonathan Edwards, to someone destined for Gold who came in 12th - after detailed psychoanalysis - "We'll tomorrow, you've a similar event - a chance to redeem yourself" - No wonder the country's in a mess ( sorry, I'm jumping the gun - disqualified - very few have admitted that we're in a mess -  that has yet to dawn on most of us - meanwhile the Euro crisis rumbles on with more ultimatums to Germany and disaster for the UK is predicted round the corner).

Let's look forward to six weeks time when perhaps the real world has caught up with us and we can take real pleasure in the mundane. Yes Kite Making is definitely on the agenda - I'm already in the throws of making a Delta kite which will be ready to fly tomorrow at the latest.

Media Hype

Have you noticed that you come away disappointed every time you watch the Olympics.

It's because the media build up our expectations that we're always going to do better than we do.

Greek philosophers learnt that we will always feel good if we expect the worse.

Switch off all the bloody talk and just watch and cheer. - Weren't the French swimming relay amazing last night ?

Does it really matter ?

If we don't win a single Olympic medal.

I'm reminded of the depression that hit the country when Germany beat us in the final of the world cup. Success in football was the most important thing in a lot of people's lives.

Doesn't that say something about the kind of people we are if this kind of failure is that important?

The brash reporting of the cycle race suggested that the commentator believed implicitly in the abilities of 'team GB' as though they were all powerful, all knowing competitors. Lets be ready to applaud the other sportsmen - whoever they are.

Surely we have more important things in our lives than the results of the efforts of a few hard stretched sport's men and women?

It's sad to find that the people in charge of television don't agree - but then I barely watch the box never-the-less there are a few programmes that help me maintain my sanity - it seems I'll have to manage without them - shouldn't be difficult.

Now where's my saw, drill, screws and spade : I'm off to the park to put some more pottery up and shift some compost!

The Olympics

The Olympics for me is a big distraction and could easily stop me spending time doing what I really want to do. I find it bewildering that we are willing to put all this energy into something that is so remote from our daily lives. It is sad that the sport that is being promoted is in fact very unhealthy. People push their bodies and mental abilities to extremes that I consider to be unhealthy and have little to do with leading a balanced and rewarding daily life.

There are many activities that we could get involved with if we wanted to but instead we become couch potatoes and watch others through the box.

The excuse is that it's going to inspire our young people. Surely there are lots of lesser things we could do here in Ulverston that with great satisfaction rather than this remote form of participation. Surely a dedicated adult can do far more to inspire youngsters to engage in say football, swimming, rock climbing than a remote David Beckham etc.

Like the news, these remote activities just become entertainment by others who become celebrities, when we could gain far more by getting involved with what happens at the end of our road with John Smith and Mary Brown. Great if we all got involved with activities using our bodies and a very few went on to greater things but instead we have all this media hype that encourages us to do no more than watch from our sofa or perhaps for a few, make the big effort go to a happening to watch the Olympic flame go by - wow. This for me is such a low level of involvement that I prefer some hard physical work down at the allotment or as I did this morning play chess in the rain at Market Square or as I did yesterday go to Potfest in the Park at Penrith and after a lovely chat with the creative artists, some of whom had travelled all the way from Poland and France and the Netherlands and buy their work. At the same time chase down information on how I could also be creative in my pottery to the benefit to the rest of the town at some happening in the future. Or as I did the previous evening, play my clarinet with another musician on the piano in the Old Friends to the pleasure of others in the pub who could join in by singing. Or as I did on that same day, have a lively discussion with seven others about how we cope with being hypocrites. Or as I did a week ago tell stories and play the piano to complete strangers to Natterjacks. Or as I did a week ago helping others make wax candles for the Candlelit Walk or as I did a week ago put up pottery made by locals previously that I had fired, in Mill Dam Park  or as I did ten days ago have a lovely informative time as to the interests of a three year old as she explored the wide variety of the town's shops.

No the latter activities are far far more involving and demanding so that I'm glad to abandon the television set for the very rewarding experiences of : helping others make wax candles; growing vegetables; making pottery with others; playing chess with others and practising my clarinet and piano both for my own enjoyment and that of others.

So like Christmas, I'm looking forward to the world to return to 'normal' after the Olympics even though normal means coping with the very real problems of coping financially, coping with the effects of Global Warming, coping with the increasingly depressing news in the real newspapers. At least this is 'real' life which you can touch with your hands and hear directly with your ears, see directly with your own eyes and taste with your mouth, even though it can be a struggle that makes you test the limits of your capabilities. This then leads to real solid satisfaction of dealing with challenges where you can succeed with tremendous satisfaction - albeit at a mundane level.

Here's to 'normal' down the road activities. Lets get rid of most of our technology and return to the fields and enjoy life as much as the Nepalese appear to.

I'm aware that my remarks could be seen as negative. Let me put it this way:
Will we feel depressed/dispirited if we we don't win a single medal as long as we enjoyed joining in and enabling an excellent games to take place ? Will we become any less of a great nation? Any less great people and individuals. Surely a lot of hype of Olympic torch mania can only lead disappointment. Intuitively it all makes me feel most uncomfortable and ask "What has this to do with taking care of the less fortunate; with doing something about the thousands of people who are living a struggling life in sheds at the bottom of people's gardens"

Olympic torches and real life sheds don't match up as the same society. Something is askew somewhere. Roll on a bit of time for us all to come to our senses - a bit of time for real life situations to sink in and for us to engage with the struggles in the our real world.

Reading the papers

Is not good for one's mental health.

We get two papers : The Guardian and the Independent 20p "i". I continue to encourage this high expense because:
1. Having a physical sheaf of paper enables me to read in a multitude of physical positions - In bed, in a comfortable arm chair, standing transfixed at the front door, having just picked them up or even sitting on the loo - which no time dates back to my happy times as a 18 month old when my crab like adventures under furniture and from room to room, were the highlight of the day.
2. Despite the doom and gloom that is commonplace to the media these days there occasionally comes a much needed breath of fresh air of someone being positive.
3. Lastly, one has access to people who may be echoing the things that are bouncing around one's embattled head that provide relief. They have a brilliant way of expressing one's own thoughts in a way that is convincing. They even have thought combinations that are truly "outside the box" experiences and take you into a new world of possible thinking.

I have just read such an article - brilliant.

May I commend to you Matthew Norman's thinking on Vince Cable - God willing our next government head of pragmatic "common sense"action.

". . . all you really needed to know about the absolute despair in Western democracies about the competence of elected politicians. "

Vince comes across as a person who has sussed out how to hold on to deep well thought out wisdom and use it fearlessly and persistently. He has a deep seated belief in himself - a quality that I am struggling to foster in my own thinking - for me,  a Herculean task.

Explanations and being positive

We all like to understand the present and the future, yet some explanations are difficult to accept.

The continuous rain that we are experiencing in the UK is due to the shifting of the jet stream to the south leading to the cntre of low pressure and hence rain being centred on the UK.

Main people will resent the explanation that this is most likely due to the effects of Global Warming so is there any point in mentioning it?

We are faced with a series of difficulties in our lives today and this will continue for ever until we, the human race become reduced to a very small number. With the nature of we humans being what it is, there is no point getting depressed about it, this leads in misery and inaction.

What we can do is make the most of a bad situation that won't improve. It's a time when some of us are developing very enjoyable relationships will others we trust. There are small groups of people forming that delight in being supportive to one another and it's a great feeling being part of them. They are based on trusting the others of the group to have the best interests of the group rather than that of the individual.

There are plenty of opportunities to offer and accept friendship with totally reliable people. The more difficulties that individuals experience , the more important the group becomes in keeping the rest in the group bouyant and enjoying the challenge of living in difficult times.

If you aren't part of such a group, you could set about finding one and joining in with the very satisfying work of being totally reliable and offering as much support to the others as you are capable of.

Times are hard - it is possible to enjoy them!

The secret of a contented life

Sounds twee, doesn't it!

Well I reckon I've discovered it.

The thing that is bouying me up time and time again in recent months is to:

Like yourself

Not only is it true on a personal level, it's true I believe on a national level.

We as British citizens need to like ourselves for being British.

This will not mean that are a soft option or that we overextend ourselves in what we attempt.

It means that all the time we take care of ourselves with the right balance of hard work and relaxation, of campaigning and celebration for what we have been able to achieve.

If you're intrigued by the above then take the time to read this section of The Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell.

Here is a description of a community that liked itself in a very meaningful way with the result that their health is amazingly good.

This encourages me to continue to work to build a caring community here in Ulverston.

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.

Confined to my house

My body is fighting some kind of 'flu so I'm not pushing it too far.

So what lovely things can I do (snivel, snivel) ?

My brain is clicking along fine so:

1. Bone up on my chess so that I can give Peter Hanks a shock when we meet again at the Stan Laurel; after my winning three games in a row and one resounding victory that totally amazed me when I was all over him, he has now come back strong and is beating me again.
This cannot be allowed to continue, so while he's away playing in tournaments I'm preparing a surprise attack. He knows that I refuse to play any evening other than Tuesday evening when I play until midnight (and ply him with beer while I have coffee - I also enjoy a malt whisky which I just sniff and drink when we've finished playing). What he doesn't know is how much effort I put into my next ambush where I may innocently give away a small piece only to descend on him like fiends from hell - I love living dangerously and risk all - knowing that if he survives I'll be in mortal danger - I being my personification in the form of my king.

2. Write this blog. Youtube is getting me a bit of recognition - some surprise successes.

3. Practise my clarinet. I watched the program on The Famous 'cellist Rostropovich last night - what you can achieve with a musical instrument if you are really really good- meaning 'able to convey emotion effectively'.

4. Tell another story from my past using my web cam.

5. Plan ahead on my various people projects - aimed at bringing groups together to enjoy themselves working together.

6. Having a little dig at some of the issues here in Ulverston

7. Put together some of the filming I've done for another item on Youtube.

8. Oh Yes - the minute I feel up to it, to pop out of the house, on my next cheeky project of painting the town red with another poke at 'the establishment'.

Having said this I'll be in Mill Dam Park with friends tomorrow Sunday, arriving between 10:00 and 10:30 - there are a number of jobs to be done in readiness for our first consignment of Bedding Plants from David's Market Stall next Thursday - maybe see you there.

New thoughts on the supermarket issue

It's good to have fresh insights on this issue.

Apparently the argument that providing a supermarket here in Ulverston would save lots of people going to Barrow is a false one. Many go to Barrow because they work there or need to go there for other reasons.

So having one here is rather unnecessary except for the few who would alternatively travel there specially for their shop.

I notice that Sainsbury is being very underhand in its reporting.

They are quoted as saying:

“It was very clear from our recent public exhibition that many people would like more choice and competition and would welcome the opportunity to do their main food shopping in Ulverston, rather than travelling to other towns.”

What exactly does the phrase "many people" mean ? It could well be true but it could also mean that these people are in the vast minority.

When I visited their exhibition in the Lantern House, first they admited that very few people had been - two of us were the only visitors there for the last 90 minutes of their show.

During that time they made another misleading statement:

"We have had people saying that they would be quite happy to walk into town and shop in the town having parked in our store"

This could no doubt be true but it only requires two people to say this for it to be true.

I personally I can't believe many people would want to drag their shopping all the way back from town up Daltongate, can you?

For me the big issue is the one of having somewhere convenient and inexpensive to park.

No one appears to want to take on this issue and yes it's a hard nut to crack.

This is compounded by the problem presented by supermarkets that offer free car parking which then disuades people from using shopping in town.Yet the experience of shopping in Ulverston itself is by far a richer experience emotionally. This is the way that friendships are maintained and developed.

When you walk around the town centre you repeatedly see small groups of two and three chatting and catching up on each others news. Because a supermarket depends on attracting a large number of people then the chance of meeting your friends and having a chat is decimated. How often do you have a chat with other shoppers in a supermarket?

How often do people drop in for a coffee in a supermarket whereas in Ulverston many cafes thrive because they provide such a friendly environment. We have Poppies where you are almost bound to meet one of your friends and similarly : The Peace Cafe, The Rose and Crown, The Farmers, The Hot Mango, The Old Ulverston Tea Rooms with the plants stalls outside.

The great diversity of shops is the way people enoy the social interaction that this promotes and as far as prices are concerned this mix in fact leads to great savings  with the likes of Smith and Harrisons, Brocklebanks, The Cheap Shop on New Market Street all of which undercut larger stores and supermarkets.

What shopping in town does mean is that it takes more time. However there are many people who have this commodity in abundance and need people contact to keep them bouyant. Increasingly, sadly, people are out of work. I bet if you surveyed towns with or without supermarkets for levels of depression you'd find places like Ulverston would be far healthier and happier places. The thirst for the cheapest price is often a mistaken treasure both supermarkets and the internet rob us of people interaction and good friendships. All it needs for us to have remote learning and working more at home and we're moving towards not enjoying life because we are all cut of from each other socially.



I've just returned from talking to Ralph Spours who is a very reluctant listener. When you are aware of John Gray's philosophy you can understand why.

We are all basically selfish. So what's in it for Ralph?

He has a good business that is relatively untouched by the issue - there's a big market in selling property to people looking for ' the better life' in a town like Ulverston even more when times are difficult and there is unrest in the cities. He has a certain standing in the town with his close circle of mates at the Farmers Arms.

I was there to float the idea that the solution for Ulverston's Car Parks might not be through the councillors but rather for the business community to buy the right to run the Car Parks themselves and show that more money can be made with more enlightened businesslike charges which would then make money for themselves.

I got the typical reaction from some who is not used to new ideas: throwing up what he saw as an insurmountable problem - that of supervising the car parks. - You mean Ralph that you think that our car parks are supervised? I think local pressure would be far more effective a way of getting people to pay the charges. Isn't it time for us to take charge of running our car parks - after all don't we own the land in The Gill and Stockbridge Lane Car Parks anyway.

No I'm afraid Ralph is part of the Cap Doff brigade from the way Ulverston used to be run which illustrates that we're still thirty years behind the times.

So where does one look to find people who have the guts to take on a difficult problem that many shy away from. I must admit I don't have the simple answer which is rather depressing but calls upon me to find so fight from somewhere. But then depression is the order of the day when the drummed up hype for nothing in particular dissipates.

Does the example of towns like Wrexham work? They have set themselves the target of having their car parks 85% used and adjust the fees until they achieve this.

They have come to terms with the thought that car parks are designed to park cars and if they are not doing this something needs to change.

stabbed man dies in street

DETECTIVES are appealing for information after a man was allegedly stabbed to death in the street  on Monday.
The victim flagged down a police van containing three officers in Ulverston Road, near the junction of Forest Road, at about 5pm.
The man, who was aged in his 30s, was suffering from stab wounds. The officers gave first aid until the Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance arrived.
However, despite their best efforts, the man died at the scene.
Police are not revealing the identity of the victim until his next of kin has been informed.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remained in custody without charge at the time of going to press.

The incident caused traffic problems in the area as police carried out an extensive evidence finding operation. A spokesman  said: “We do regret any inconvenience caused, however, the primary concern was for that of the victim.
“The man had flagged down a passing police car and had obviously walked some distance, which all became part of what was a very large crime scene.
“We had to keep that area cordoned off for some time to allow for the maximum collection of forensic evidence.”

Since the incident on Monday, officers have carried out reassurance patrols in the area, as well as leaflet drops and a briefing to local people explaining the procedure police have had to go through.

Note: Ulverston Road is a relatively quiet road leading off a heavily used road that I know in Walthamstow North London.

Not somewhere I would have expected the above to happen when I lived there eight years ago.

Could this kind of thing happen in Furness in the next ten years?

Evewright's Walking Drawings in Cumbria

An image of horses on a beach in Cumbria is to go on display in London's Royal Academy.

Some lovely art work here at Evewright's Studio  - well worth a visit.

Watch the videos here!

Is it just me ?

There seems to be a lot of hype and hypocrisy around.
 Olympic and Royalty hype.
 Royalty and London Property Market hypocrisy.
The hype is everywhere the hypocrisy less obvious and open to interpretation.
Is it me or is it real that the economic wish to make money has encouraged everything royal to the fore. Shops celebrate - with a view to boosting sales.

On the London Property scene the Government turns a blind eye as the European rich bring their cash to a 'safe haven'.
We seem to criticise the Greeks while at the same time welcoming their cash and this precipitating chaos back home. This I really believe has the knock on effect of raising house prices as those at the most expensive in London are snapped up by Europeans. This at a time when the poor desperately need their mortgages to be reduced.

 Even many of the rich are feeling very uncomfortable whilst the 'middle classes' are beginning at long last to revolt.
Could it be that the costs of the Olympics will be the large straw that breaks the camel's back so that the 'average' Briton cries
 "Enough is enough."
"Let's find an alternative to this pseudo democracy"
 Several of my friends are suggesting that we've lost our way with concerns about money whereas close relationships with other people are what really count.

 My experience this week with the need to shift tons of compost in a hurry illustrated the depth of feeling people can have for each other as the strive hard to do what they see as worth while and ignore the crazy world of our television sets and Facebook.
 Actually doing things - not just talking - with others gives far more satisfaction than many of the activities we spend our time on.

 I'm finding I'm becoming increasingly casual about the need for money as my priorities change in favour of people.
They for me provide real security.
Totally dependable, reliable committed friends.

1,500 postings and still going

Today I reflect on my priorities in life.

At 77, I have the luxury of being able to spend most of my time entirely as I wish. I have enough cash, a good roof over my head and a great partner.

So what are my priorities.

Well I'm still puzzling over what makes a satisfying life.

First has now become : to enjoy myself to the full.

I've taken a long time getting here but I may have arrived (!)

For life to be really fulfilling I want to be very confident and totally focussed on enjoying myself.

I then become a relaxed easygoing person who people can cope with.

We can all get on with others who are pottering along, enjoying getting on with their own life.

I want this to be me!

The pottering along bit may be a problem for others. My "pottering along" doesn't fit most people's concept of the expression. But then that's their problem and not mine.

This is the big thing that I'm trying hard to learn - to let others get on with their behaviour and not take it on board as my concern.

So what am I doing as I explore a "satisfying life"

More and more I'm turning to creating music. It's a fantastic way of expressing my emotions. Emotions are a big part of my life.

So number one is to become the best clarinet player ever. Setting a high goal doesn't bother me - it seems obvious to put everything you've got into something when ever you do it. Practically speaking it's not possible - though one can tweek the meaning of "best". There are always little niches that one can explore where very few others have been. You can become the best in a very narrowly defined area.

I've been the best in the world in a narrow area before, so feel that I know the ropes.

Coming second is to improvise on the piano very well and that's coming along very nicely.

That will have to do for now as I have a meeting with the pots at The Railings to repair so of the damage to the planters therelast Sunday night , I believe.

My what a lot of hype

I can't believe the amount of excitement that a simple flame being carried around the country can generate.

If you visited another country in for instance deepest Mongolia and thousands of people got all excited and waved and were happy because a

flame

 was being carried from A to B.

You'd be wondering about the mental health of the population - maybe it was the hidden radiation that was affecting their minds.

Seriously though I'm concerned about the pressure British athletes are taking on themselves as they compete. How can Jessica Ennis cope with the expectations of millions of armchair sports enthusiasts.

Now there's an explanation - the radiation isn't  nuclear generated but comes out of those boxes that glow in the night. "Get a life" could be a message worth contemplating.

And then  coupled with this, these armchair enthusiasts actually stir themselves to go waving flags and having street parties over an old lady who rarely says or even does anything of interest but is alledgedly having a birthday or is it an anniversary, you'd wonder what traumatic experiences they'd all been through or was it total boredom over the past ten years that is suddenly finding a release?

Crazy crazy crazy is the word that comes to mind.

Now I'm looking forward to shifting 5 tons of compost next Thursday morning - maybe on my own - now that does seem mad - just to see some flowers grow - well now who's suffering from radiation and had some traumatic experience that has unsettled his mind.

And bloody well time too

A miniscule amount of intelligence has emerged from the controlling Lib. Deb. management on the subject of Ulverston Car Parks.

And I imagine Cllr Willis will be expecting us to be grateful.

Not on your life. The controlling Lib. Dem. SLDC councillors have been sitting on the Stockbridge Lane Car Park issue for literally years - probably five.

It's a sign of their disastrous financial management that our car parking in Ulverston is in such a mess.

It's also a reflection of our inept Ulverston Councillors that they got away with this situation for all this time.

I wouldn't be surprised to find that Multi Cllr James Airey ( until recently Town, District and County Cllr  with his wife a District Councillor too, power power power) will be claiming the credit being a close runner up to out of town Cll Willis for allowing common sense to struggle to the surface of this mire filled pond.

I was at the SLDC meeting in Kendal eighteen months ago where council charges were discussed  and far from showing the fire that Cllr Tom Harvey from Grange can breath,  James like a pet poodle, gently nuzzled up to the powerful arrogant Kendal Lib. Dem. councillors and looked up lovingly into their eyes and whined "Please, please. Couldn't your most worshipful and illustrious important people be good enough to smile more kindly on us very deserving Ulverston folk. Please please, pretty please."

 Not exactly his words maybe, but you get the drift. Cllr Hodgson was a bit gruffer and Cllr Jenkinson was her polite affable ladylike self with a poorly put together argument based on Lancashire charges.

By contrast Grange Councillor Tom Harvey, on another issue at that meeting, came across as a German trained Doberman and had to be restrained. He was persuaded to be quiet by a deal being struck off-stage away from the prying eyes of the press.

It's time for some rational but emotional, fighting Cllrs to stand up and represent us - and who do we have stepping forward but well meaning but hardly effective, Cllr Helen Irving.

At the Town Council level Cllr Norman Bishop-Rowe can't been seen to be cooperating with members of the public and for a long time hid the fact that the Stockbridge Lane car park income was only the paltry sum of £4,000 per year  which represents I seem to remember a measly 2p /hour per car park space.

It's unbelievable how much ammunition that our Cllrs are hoarding in their precious briefcases instead of loading it into the Sten guns they should be aiming and firing at the controlling SLDC management. What is it ? It costs SLDC £400 / per week to operate each loo under their control?

They spend months digging up the really good cobbles in Market Street ( that don't need touching) and leave us with the shambolic ones further down the street. Leaving an Aimey foreman who is doing the work to describe the actions of Cumbria County Council as crazy.

Just to remind you:-

There are some new kids on the block and let's hope they can string two punchy words together and fight the Ulverston Cause more effectively than those in the past.