As a result of adding the slide show here on the top right, I started to explore Flickr .
By clicking on an image you are taken to a larger version and the creator of the photo.
Doing this I was taken to a beutiful scene of a tree-lined road leading into the far distance.
The photo had won numerous awards and the photographer was a member of Spartacus. You can access these here, though you will have to register with Yahoo!
Well worth the effort!
Here I shall change the tag or key word for the slide show, every now and then, that draws on pictures on Flickr.
It would be great if you suggested some keywords yourselves and I'll use them and we'll see what we get!
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Whoopse - What was that I just said?
I heard myself saying that I'll have my allotment weed free in a month's time!
Well having said this, off the top of my head, I'd better look at the reality.
One month is only four weeks and this means roughly April 1st.
As I haven't quite finished digging all over and the place is covered in Couch Grass - and now I hear I may have Mare's tail - I better get cracking.
The Couch Grass roots are known as Wicks, if I've heard right. They're easy to spot and I've renamed then "White Gold" just to make me feel good about amassing a pile of them.
Mare's Tail, I'm advised is something that is weedkiller resistant and is hard to get rid of. So what do the roots look like? While I'm fishing the white ones out , I need to watch out for these.
I'm told they're the innocent looking 'dead' earth coloured roots that lurk amongst the clods of earth. These will be much more difficult to spot. Perhaps they will give themselves away by producing bright green shoots within the next month?
Well having said this, off the top of my head, I'd better look at the reality.
One month is only four weeks and this means roughly April 1st.
As I haven't quite finished digging all over and the place is covered in Couch Grass - and now I hear I may have Mare's tail - I better get cracking.
The Couch Grass roots are known as Wicks, if I've heard right. They're easy to spot and I've renamed then "White Gold" just to make me feel good about amassing a pile of them.
Mare's Tail, I'm advised is something that is weedkiller resistant and is hard to get rid of. So what do the roots look like? While I'm fishing the white ones out , I need to watch out for these.
I'm told they're the innocent looking 'dead' earth coloured roots that lurk amongst the clods of earth. These will be much more difficult to spot. Perhaps they will give themselves away by producing bright green shoots within the next month?
Will we stop and think?
Another example of uncaring people assuming that the animal kingdom is there for the amusement of humans.
Now surprise surprise we discover we are dealing with a frustrated animal.
One that has been penned in for most of its life in a concrete cell with no taste of the ocean freedom it craves.
This treatment of animals is consistent with many people's attitude to the protein they eat and the way they treat elderly relatives. (Texco Chickens and old people's homes)
Yes other people's and animal's quality of like is of secondary importance to our own needs.
We have little self-esteem so other people and animals are of little importance.
I refuse to live this way.
The Allotment calls. The plot is now nearly dug over and my body a lot fitter!
Now surprise surprise we discover we are dealing with a frustrated animal.
One that has been penned in for most of its life in a concrete cell with no taste of the ocean freedom it craves.
This treatment of animals is consistent with many people's attitude to the protein they eat and the way they treat elderly relatives. (Texco Chickens and old people's homes)
Yes other people's and animal's quality of like is of secondary importance to our own needs.
We have little self-esteem so other people and animals are of little importance.
I refuse to live this way.
The Allotment calls. The plot is now nearly dug over and my body a lot fitter!
Thursday, 25 February 2010
Praise indeed!
From someone's blog - worth a read!
"And such a wonderful place as Ulverston stays in the memory long after . . . ."
"can already feel all the tension and worry and sleeplessness all sloughing off, time for me, for plenty of walking, maybe a bit of beachcombing and maybe a couple of beers along the way..."
Followed by interesting comments about the lantern procession.
"And such a wonderful place as Ulverston stays in the memory long after . . . ."
"can already feel all the tension and worry and sleeplessness all sloughing off, time for me, for plenty of walking, maybe a bit of beachcombing and maybe a couple of beers along the way..."
Followed by interesting comments about the lantern procession.
Monday, 22 February 2010
The Town is still buzzing
I can't get over how lucky/privileged we in Ulverston were, to be visited by, not just six, but eight very very talented performers.
They have left waves and waves of 'feel good' all over the town and I suspect the surrounding district fifty miles out.
The Coro was absolutely packed in fact it was extremely full half and hour before the show was due to start last Friday night. One got the feeling that some had camped out in the freezing cold the night before in order to secure a good seat.
There was a lovely friendly bubbling of excited anticipation well before the 'curtain went up'. During the show the man behind me chortled and laughed in the most relaxed way possible.
Here we had a co-ordinated group of top performers that were encouraged to demonstrate their individual talents to the full. What a team.
What was transmitted was a group of individuals that were enjoying themselves being creative to the full. A whole range of talents were poured out. Not a minute was a boring repetition of anything that had gone before. Each player played their parts with gusto and confidence.
What's more we were treated to the full works of eight instrumentalists. The two that additions to the six above were no sidekicks either. Ulverston was being treated to the very best. A show worthy of the Albert Hall and great venues of Europe that they frequent.
The only shows that match this for me are the Manchester Camerata - when occasionally you know that every musician is there because they are enjoying themselves with every part of their being. Similarly when people we know well in real life, demonstrate that they can become characters that are hard to recognise because of the roles they play in The Outsiders.
As you see I've been really carried away by this experience. Who's going to match this by bring us another show of similar high standard in a year's time. (My memory bank of positive experiences is now topped up and will last that long I reckon).
Can we book them again for 2015 please.
Who are they?
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain of course!
They have left waves and waves of 'feel good' all over the town and I suspect the surrounding district fifty miles out.
The Coro was absolutely packed in fact it was extremely full half and hour before the show was due to start last Friday night. One got the feeling that some had camped out in the freezing cold the night before in order to secure a good seat.
There was a lovely friendly bubbling of excited anticipation well before the 'curtain went up'. During the show the man behind me chortled and laughed in the most relaxed way possible.
Here we had a co-ordinated group of top performers that were encouraged to demonstrate their individual talents to the full. What a team.
What was transmitted was a group of individuals that were enjoying themselves being creative to the full. A whole range of talents were poured out. Not a minute was a boring repetition of anything that had gone before. Each player played their parts with gusto and confidence.
What's more we were treated to the full works of eight instrumentalists. The two that additions to the six above were no sidekicks either. Ulverston was being treated to the very best. A show worthy of the Albert Hall and great venues of Europe that they frequent.
The only shows that match this for me are the Manchester Camerata - when occasionally you know that every musician is there because they are enjoying themselves with every part of their being. Similarly when people we know well in real life, demonstrate that they can become characters that are hard to recognise because of the roles they play in The Outsiders.
As you see I've been really carried away by this experience. Who's going to match this by bring us another show of similar high standard in a year's time. (My memory bank of positive experiences is now topped up and will last that long I reckon).
Can we book them again for 2015 please.
Who are they?
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain of course!
Sunday, 21 February 2010
Keeping each other warm!
Where they come from they're used to far colder weather!
Carrying Snow to Beatleland
A stitch in time saves nine !
It will take no more than five minutes to sweep off the fresh snow from the pavement outside your house now.
Doing this will prevent the snow becoming compacted by walkers and ending up as ice tomorrow morning.
By now we could be in practice for a bit of communal co-operation!
With ten minutes spent, not only will your stretch of pavement be clear but that of the next five houses as well.
Shall we have an award for the best neighbourhoods?
And remember, the salt is for public use : not your private drive.
If we sweep the snow first, very little salt is required!
Doing this will prevent the snow becoming compacted by walkers and ending up as ice tomorrow morning.
By now we could be in practice for a bit of communal co-operation!
With ten minutes spent, not only will your stretch of pavement be clear but that of the next five houses as well.
Shall we have an award for the best neighbourhoods?
And remember, the salt is for public use : not your private drive.
If we sweep the snow first, very little salt is required!
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Assisted Dying
This topic has come up as a developing issue in the previous posting.
Like the issue of homosexuality some years ago, people are "coming out" with what they really stand for.
They are saying "The law is wrong. It needs changing" and they go further and challenge society to prosecute them.
I find this very encouraging as I face a similar dilema in the not to distant future and I know what I don't want to happen.
Too many people, I find, want to ignore any suggestion of unpleasantness. They acquire deaf ears and blind vision even when it is obvious something is done. (This is happening at the moment in Ulverston over the issue of democracy in the Furness U3A - the retired people's organisation. Something I will be covering shortly).
In an article in today's Guardian, Barrie Sheldon below has highlighted the issue of assisted dying in clear terms that indicate clearly that a change in the law is essential if cruelty in dying is not to continue.
The Guardian reports:
Then, in 1982, with her health deteriorating to the extent she would soon not be able to take her own life, Sheldon helped her select the right drug, gathered enough of the pills, counted them out and left her for a weekend. When he returned on Sunday night she was not dead, but in agony. She died four days later in hospital.
"This is unfinished business," Barrie Sheldon said. "I have a burning resentment of the police, the great and the good. The politicians, legal and medical professionals allowed her birth but didn't give her the possibility of assisted suicide. This is a gross injustice and it has wrecked my life. From time to time it overwhelms me. I should have been with her. I should have done what Ray Gosling did, but the police would have put a murder charge on me if I would have been in that house."
He continues:
"This is unfinished business, I have a burning resentment of the police, the great and the good. The politicians, legal and medical professionals allowed her birth but didn't give her the possibility of assisted suicide. This is a gross injustice and it has wrecked my life. From time to time it overwhelms me. I should have been with her. I should have done what Ray Gosling did, but the police would have put a murder charge on me if I would have been in that house."
I've come across some in Ulverston that are unhappy about the way relatives are being treated here who are suffering from dementia.
It seems to me that "the system" appeared to take over with someone I knew who was dying of cancer. The wishes of the patient appeared to come second to the way the NHS believed his illness should be dealt with.
Are we being robbed of the ability of running our own lives - and deaths?
I suspect that Ulverston people are ready to discuss such an issue?
Gladys Hobson certainly is. I'm sure there are more like her.
In fact there's a group in Ulverston that will be discussing this issue in April - if you're interested, I'm sure that you would be welcome !
Like the issue of homosexuality some years ago, people are "coming out" with what they really stand for.
They are saying "The law is wrong. It needs changing" and they go further and challenge society to prosecute them.
I find this very encouraging as I face a similar dilema in the not to distant future and I know what I don't want to happen.
Too many people, I find, want to ignore any suggestion of unpleasantness. They acquire deaf ears and blind vision even when it is obvious something is done. (This is happening at the moment in Ulverston over the issue of democracy in the Furness U3A - the retired people's organisation. Something I will be covering shortly).
In an article in today's Guardian, Barrie Sheldon below has highlighted the issue of assisted dying in clear terms that indicate clearly that a change in the law is essential if cruelty in dying is not to continue.
The Guardian reports:Then, in 1982, with her health deteriorating to the extent she would soon not be able to take her own life, Sheldon helped her select the right drug, gathered enough of the pills, counted them out and left her for a weekend. When he returned on Sunday night she was not dead, but in agony. She died four days later in hospital.
"This is unfinished business," Barrie Sheldon said. "I have a burning resentment of the police, the great and the good. The politicians, legal and medical professionals allowed her birth but didn't give her the possibility of assisted suicide. This is a gross injustice and it has wrecked my life. From time to time it overwhelms me. I should have been with her. I should have done what Ray Gosling did, but the police would have put a murder charge on me if I would have been in that house."
He continues:
"This is unfinished business, I have a burning resentment of the police, the great and the good. The politicians, legal and medical professionals allowed her birth but didn't give her the possibility of assisted suicide. This is a gross injustice and it has wrecked my life. From time to time it overwhelms me. I should have been with her. I should have done what Ray Gosling did, but the police would have put a murder charge on me if I would have been in that house."
I've come across some in Ulverston that are unhappy about the way relatives are being treated here who are suffering from dementia.
It seems to me that "the system" appeared to take over with someone I knew who was dying of cancer. The wishes of the patient appeared to come second to the way the NHS believed his illness should be dealt with.
Are we being robbed of the ability of running our own lives - and deaths?
I suspect that Ulverston people are ready to discuss such an issue?
Gladys Hobson certainly is. I'm sure there are more like her.
In fact there's a group in Ulverston that will be discussing this issue in April - if you're interested, I'm sure that you would be welcome !
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