A Day at the Braintree Museum

This horror, feigning sleep but actually busy kicking mum in the back, came today to wear me out.  Three years (almost) and full of energy.  The intention was to visit a local heritage railway, however, the traffic alterations had made them double back, and I was not keen on my niece driving around too much on strange roads.  So, I convinced them to visit the museum as this was just around the corner and I knew he would love it.

The exhibition concerned the local Fire, Police and Ambulance operations down through the years.  It is a fantastic display with lots for kids to do, and he was soon taking over the fire station.  There are many old items from those who served as 'retained firemen,' sometimes for many years.  Bits and bobs of equipment, some for obvious use and others which make you wonder!  

 

 

I particularly liked the model fire engines on display, such as this pre-war engine, and the WW2 gray versions, usually staffed by those who had a full-time job during the day also.  They had some call-outs round here. 

 

Fire, Police and Ambulance were enjoyable, but when he found a wee shop he was in his element, shopping is a thing for him.  So, we had to spend some time while he bought his shopping, though no money appeared to pass by, and then dad and I disappeared into a darkened room to colour in pictures.

 

Hunger forced us into the adjoining café, where we scoffed toasted delights and the little 'un bounced on the seating.  By this time he had got used to me and was happy to make me read a 'Mr Nosey' book to him, before he ate.  Then it was home and playtime at the holiday cottage for him and brandy and bed for me.  

A good day.

Food and Ambulance

Last night I had the pleasure of a visit from my favourite Great Nephew!  He has a dew days of and motored down to Duxford to see the great airfield there, the vast collection of aircraft and the tanks at the far end.  Even he found it much larger than he thought.  It is a great huge space.  

I did not go.  

Twenty or so years ago I was there twice, both time with an attractive young woman, and we both found it exhilarating and tiring at the same time.  The 'Battle of Britain Ops Room' a room where part of the  Battle was directed from, the Fighter Collection, USAF, several aged passenger liners and the large Tank collection at the far end make it a great day out.  It cost him  around £30 however.  These places are not cheap.

When he arrived, eventually, he found following my clear directions difficult, I fail to comprehend this as there are only two main roads in this town, he arrived and we set off  down the road for dinner.

The 'Yak & Yeti' is a Ghurkha themed restaurant which turned out to be quite quiet, apart from those collecting their online orders, or taking them to the customer.  Cleary the place is popular.  

Our hot stuff was very good, the Ghurkha lager also excellent, far better than the stuff the yobs drink, and as he paid, in spite of my desperate pleading to pay, the evening went very well.  

It has been many years since I saw him, and most of the others, one day I will make it up there, and not for a another funeral!  

After he had left, I sat here attempting to sort the day out in my little head when there was a knock on the door.  This means it could only be the downstairs woman.  I heard some chatter down there and thought they were discussing who should take the dog out last thing.  

It was very different.  

I had not realised an ambulance was standing outside the door.

He had begun to have a stroke, the conversation was about calling an ambulance, he not bothered, she worried.  The ambulance came, told him he was going with them, and off he went.  No arguments with them.  

She came up to inform me of this problem.  One he has had before, and the lass was understandably worried.  She remained here, probably for the best, and this afternoon I can hear him return to the fold.  No doubt I will here soon about the result.  

We can worry about global warming, WWIII, Freeports, and who will replace Sunak, but for most of us it is the reality of life that matters, strokes, arthritis, leg breaks, schools, and holidays are more relevant.  As always, great happenings are occurring all around us, but it is where we are and what is happening to us that is really important.

Stieglitz

A Torpor Day

 

I have been in the Island of Torpor for the past few weeks.  A virus has limited my energy, given me one uncomfortable night, and left me brain dead.  Some of course would question the last bit by asking "How can you tell," but I ignore these people.  Little has been done in my ken, not helped by little stimulation in the world around us.  With a pretend PM pretending to PM, and two hopeless pretending replacements mouthing to the Tory gallery (Omitting the bit about selling off the NHS which almost all of their listeners require), and holiday season meaning everyone else is away leaves no interest for us.

I could inform you of the goings on at Dundee United, the 'Courier' podcast is indeed very good.  I could inform you of the trials and tribulations at the Heart of Midlothian, the 'Scarves around the Funnel' podcast is also good.  There again I could speak, again, of a trip to Sainsburys late last night for bread and exhaustion, but I will forego that.  

Today the torpor was interrupted by having to post the one year olds 1st birthday card, repost neighbours mail that came to us, and dump the rubbish bag.  Such excitement!  

This however, was at least accompanied by the arrival, again, of the Ambulance Helicopter.  The Big Orange One landed over the road, missing the parks occupants, and quickly gathered a crowd of onlookers.  These were not voyeurs seeking to watch the sick, merely folks interested in the sight of such a flying machine so close by them.  Indeed, a noisy flying machine at that.  

Such beasts often cross our airspace.  The Ambulance often accompanied by an even more noisy police one, usually late at night with glaring searchlight, and often the idle rich pass over in their private, possibly self piloted machines.  Depending on orders we also catch many Apache helicopters on army manoeuvres, as well as the even noisier Chinooks, those great big and very useful American built machines.  Of course we will not mention the 'escaping fuel' problem, one which caused over 400 US machines to be grounded will we?  No.  At least they do not have prestigious aircraft carriers that break down because someone forgot to 'grease the propeller shaft do they?  Tsk!

A Quiet Wee Town.

This is indeed a quiet wee town, ideal for rearing small children and resting older folks.  Teens and twenties might feel aggrieved at the lack of enjoyment, hence the 'Boy racers,' high pregnancy rates and single mums, and a few wee neds in town centre.  It remains however quiet and safe.
This morning I safely cycled to St P's where I enjoyed a morning service while avoiding arguing with Vicar 2, indeed I only fell out with one woman which is near a record for me and that when helping dry the dishes which I need not have done.  Cycling back the quiet road, and most are quiet during this holiday period, I searched for nourishment, found a stream for the poor Aberdeen v Rangers game followed by the poorer Manchester City v poor Chelsea game, ate, snoozed and awaited the Hibernian v Motherwell game at six pm.
While this was going on I heard the police helicopter overhead.  It is easily recognisable as it circles around noisily while keeping an eye on some event way over there.  Busy with the games I took little notice.  Later I heard it back again but once more my attention was distracted by important issues, until half time that was, then I had a quick squint and forgot it.
It transpires the quiet wee town had seen a fire in a field in one part of the town, possibly deliberate possibly accidental, and an accident at a major turning possibly caused by the driver watching the smoke from the burning field rather than the road which has caused much blockage to traffic.   It transpires that a car knocked down a 'moped' rider in his 50's, 'moped probably means 'Scooter,' a 'Vespa' type I guess as lots have them around here during the summer. In fact the road was only opened at 8:30 pm so much police work there.  This required another helicopter, the ambulance version, which landed and collected at least one person.  
However the police helicopter was required to show itself once more as not far from me a police operation was underway with the usual plethora of police cars we normally never see and armed officers in attendance.  Someone it transpires had taken possession of a Crossbow, an instrument of death that I believe may be illegal to own, caused an 'affray' says the media and wandered across to the other side of town, near me, where the gentlemen of the law overtook him and asked him nicely to decease his affray, pass over his crossbow (and knife) and assist them with their enquiries.  More blocked roads, good job this is Sunday, more nosy people taking pictures for the local press, more flashing blue lights, more police saying nothing except the bare  minimum while we all follow facebook and Twitter to discover who the bad man was.  Oh yes and there have been sightings of Wallabies wandering the streets, owners unknown!
I think I may stay in tomorrow and do housework... 

Another Day of Joy and Happiness. Bah!

Life was hard enough today.
Weary after running around for a couple of days yet ended up all day at the museum.
People off on a 'Jolly' and too few left to hold the fort on a very busy day.
To cap it all as I tried to photograph the new shop setup the camera failed - the battery was dead!!!
I mused on murder but decided this was not acceptable...

The day got worse.
Three members of staff, there are only four, were out today at a trainign session, three at one time!
This left the manager who is not up to organisigthings he rarely organises. 
Jn did come to help, but was grumbling like a sinking sailor about it all.
My replacement did not know she was my replacement so went to the hairdresser so she did not arrive.
Over eighty people did however for our very interesting talk, eighty!
Had I gone at one as I ought there would be no-one to man the till.  
Had Peggy not remained until three we could not deal with all the folks arriving, and arriving all at once as they do!  She worked late, and very well, but I had also to help organise the things forgotten for the talk, chairs, tea, etc.  
Then in the middle of it all it appears a woman collapsed and an ambulance had to be called.
This is an elderly generation of visitors and they understood the sudden ending and knew it could easily have been them!  So they went home (eventually).
I got home late, tired and lacking interest in life.
Because of the battery I got NO FOTOS!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

No time to post...

Anything sensible....

Today was to be a quiet day.  A late rise, about seven, a bath and it's not even Sunday, a big breakfast, make lentil soup, write things on history and sleep. The bath and soup occurred, but not at the same time, and a call from the museum took away my Saturday morning, but most of the other stuff did not get done.  How come?  

'Private Eye,' did fall through the letterbox and offer me another dose of corrupt MP's, bankers, businessmen, and local Councillors, to cheer me up.  There were some aspects of Cromwell that possibly had an advantage over what is called 'democracy.'

However I did work out all my Christmas needs and began to fill out the Christmas cards already! It may be that I have spent so much time in Tesco that I have been influenced just a bit too much by them!  

The shock of the day came when my sister told me my niece (49) has decided to have a stroke. Naturally this worried me, I thought I may have to spend money travelling north for a moment!  I think however she will be OK.  It appears to be mild, if there is such a thing, and in a few days we will have a better idea of the problem.  Damage does not look to bad and she talks well enough considering.

Tsk!  The things people do to you!  

I had planned such a skillful post for tonight also, now I have forgotten it.  More rubbish to follow tomorrow!

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A Boring Picture...

That, says you, is a boring picture.  Aye, agrees me, but I like it.  I like it because the sky in the background looked good, the autumnal trees show their colours and it shows that I was once again wandering across the park.  It has been almost three weeks since I done this.  Three weeks since what some women call a 'wee chill,' and all men agree is a serious bout of 'Man-Flu,'  laid me low and ruined my life.  It's ridiculous that something that used to come and go in three days takes almost three weeks now.  Can it be the virus is changing, or is it my health failing?  The muck that fills the skies unseen cannot be doing us any good, it also may well be changing the way virii adapt.  What a great difference a day makes.  Yesterday I attended the museum but was far from awake.  I sat there staring into space rather than doing anything, disturbed only when a few stragglers entered.   I was glad it was quiet, but the museum needs visitors.  Today however I was almost alive and raced out slowly to peruse the market and keep my cash in my pocket.  I did however notice a lass drop a bit paper.  As I arrived on the spot it turned into a £5 note, this meant running at least seven steps to catch up with her. I still have not recovered!  

In an attempt to find a prettier picture I ventured out this afternoon, eyes peeled for enticing sights.  Sadly few appeared under this ever darkening gray sky.  However the falling leaves can produce interesting pictures, however whether this is one is debatable.  

As luck would have it the foto opportunities enlarged as a poor soul required aid from the first response unit.  This has parked in the bay as he ought but the following ambulance just stopped in the centre of the road.  Probably a woman driver I would conclude myself.  The traffic behind may grumble as it is impossible to pass, but most will accept this.  Hopefully the patient will survive, the trip to the nearest hospital is fifteen miles away!  However in spite of the Tories desperate attempts to sell the NHS to their friends it exists still and the cut down ambulance service still manages to save lives in spite of them. Sometimes we forget just how lucky we are to have an ambulance at the other end of a phone.  We take such benefits for granted, benefits not always available, nor so efficient, elsewhere. 

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