Misty Return

A bright and misty morning greeted us today.  The unsmiling gathered at the supermarket ready to grumble and complain.  None noticed the brightness high in the sky above the trees, none gave thanks that they could walk to the shop, at least walk from their car to the shop.  

While the sun began to lessen the mist it remained happy enough to allow the mist to envelope parts of the town in an acceptable fashion.  The Victorian heights of the old school with the old Town Hall behind reflected the one time generosity of the wealthy who lived and ruled here in past times.

This pigeons forefathers passed down the story of how these roosting places once gave of heat and smoke.  Today, they stand stark and cold yet decent places for a fellow to clean his feathers and stare at the world going past beneath.

 

Jane Barlow/PA Wire

Alec Salmond returned home today from North Macedonia.  he was seen off by a military escort, provided by the government, and proper diplomatic respect was paid to the man.  On his arrival at Aberdeen no government official was on hand to welcome the one time First Minister, nor was a representative of the SNP available to attend.  

His wife ad family, his piper playing a lament, and I believe Tom Hunter, the man who provided the aircraft to return his body as the SNP government refused to do this, was in attendance.

The media spent much time reminding the world of Alec's faults, in an effort, guided by the British State, to erase his memory, his ability, and his worth to Scotland.  The English Prime Minister will continue to attempt to make Scotland once again, 'North Britain.'

This will not succeed.

Chilli Mist

So pleased with myself for getting out at around 9 am this morning and spending an enormous amount of cash in Sainsburys.  This was not because I bought too much, it was because they have been going around the shelves increasing the shareholders payout.  There was 10p on tins here, an increase there, and all this surrounded by shelving claiming 'special offers,' none of which were.  Even their reduced stuff is to expensive.  The supermarkets have us under control.  They tell us what to eat, what to buy, how to live, if we do not keep our eyes open.  They will not give Sainsburys staff bonuses at Christmas but they will give big payouts to shareholders, the very shareholders who refuse to vote for staff bonuses at Christmas.  There are more Tories in this world than you thought.

A mere saunter around the white, frosted park was a change for me.  I have not been getting out lately, again.  The bright sun shone through the mist glistening of the frozen branches, warming the puffed out chests of the pigeons sitting high in the trees, satisfied, I think, with their breakfasts.  I suspect it was freezing, or just above this morning.  I ought to have worn the 'Tam O'Shanter' as it would have prevented my weak head from being frozen.  However, wearing this scruffy beard has certainly been an advantage this morning.  

  

Of course I am now worn out, my 'Chilli stew' was not chilli enough, the sun remains shining as the cold draft comes through the old window frames, and I want to go back to bed.

Nothing changes...

The Dankness...

 

A Monday holiday as Boxing Day was Saturday.  The mist has hung around all day, though some sun appeared.  Dankness now reigns.  The thin covering of snow like frost that greeted us this morning may return tonight.  Thankfully, here in the 'warmest part of the country' we avoid the worst.  

That sums up today.

The world appears stunned that it must endure another day off.  A few dawdle across the park, a few dogs sniff and bark, a few new bikes appear, and a few new scooters, boots and hats also.  All prized assests, at least until familiarity breeds contempt.  Shiny things do not remain shiny for ever.  

So, to find sunshine I look at US Railways on 'Virtual Raifan.'  Naturally, the first one was in Canada and the snow already three inches deep!  Tehachapi, California, 'where the sun always shines,'  was suffering a monsoon, and Chehalis, Washington State was covered in mist, again.  Maybe it is not so bad here after all?

This appeared on Twitter the other day.  I cannot prove the facts offered, I do not recall who published this, however I did think it looked accurate...

How interesting that the 'free press' in the UK is considered less believable than that found in Albania, Ireland, Turkey or North Macedonia!  I do not see Russia on there, maybe there is a reason?  

This tells us how much we need a 'free press,' as well as indicating some nations may trust their press and not notice the failings?  Social media, with all the 'fake news,' has taken the place for many.  What is on offer there may be more attractive, more honest or indeed more futile, however, that is where young folks find news.

I wonder if Rupert Murdoch owns papers in North Macedonia?

Mist, Tesco and Max

The mist was hanging around as it does in bleak winter days so I decided that before I eat my 'Murdoch's Pork Pie' for lunch I had best wander out into it and give the world the benefit of my appearance.  What would I see?  I saw mist!  Lots of it.  Indeed as I strolled along, overcoat wrapped around, hands hanging loose to catch the freezing air, the mist appeared to thicken.  It changed moods all morning disappearing for a while at siesta time and now being gently blown away by the breeze. 

The warmth of the locals was also out in force, one man muttered, almost, a greeting as he, even slower than me, passed in the opposite direction, women crossed the road to avoid me, men heads down stared ahead, tough like, as they passed.  Only one woman almost greeted me while she waited with an impatient dog for me to pass.  All were well wrapped up while wishing they were indoors.

few, apart from those with a camera, would be cheered by days like this.  

 

I so enjoyed trailing the streets I went back to Tesco tonight.  I was not intending to buy, I just wished to change an LED lightbulb.  John, the landlords man, insisted I use LED bulbs as they are brighter, cheaper, longer lasting.  However, the one I bought the other day was a screwfit not bayonet fit, I forgot to look!  The girl told me "upstairs and change it, and I will fiddle the till," or something like that.  So, off I goes, no escalator, so another stair to climb slowly, behind someone almost as slow as I.  No straight swop, so two slightly different bulbs bought and then slowly down the stairs again.  Those stairs are higher than they used to be!  A quick change at the desk, an extra £1 paid and off I rush.  However, an old woman was slowly struggling along in front, how I wished she would hurry!  Funny, how people waited for me as I struggled up and down the stairs but I wished to rush past another.  What a git!

Back home I replaced the bulbs and discovered that they are indeed brighter.  I also discovered how difficult it is to fix them in with grubby, dust covered shades on them.  Well, one shade, the bedroom one accidentally ripped apart as I worked on it. Still, I have bright light, cheaper also they say, and electric is the higher of the bills that rip me off.  

I heard on an old tape how Victoria, once queen, scribbled a diary daily.  Before Albert appeared she apparently read some, wrote a letter, ate at 7:30, then 'sat on the couch' with two Ladies-in-waiting.  What a life!

I thought life here was boring, no wonder she grasped Albert when he came!

 

Now I must go to Max the Dog in California to stop someone feeding his dog whisky.

 

Lazy day...

The dank mist hung around this morning worrying the birds as they sought breakfast.  I watched from the safety of my bed until breakfast for me dragged me sleepily into the kitchen where for once plenty was to be found.  
However tiredness would not leave and instead of going out to change the world, buy needful things and potter around I soon went back to bed which turned out to be the best idea.  Quite why I got up in the first place has puzzled me ever since.

I returned to enquiring re churches.  I had an email from the museum concerning a man who is researching churches of old.  This had me searching for books, most of which I could not find, and will force me to search the library, not very good, to see if any books there can help.  
Some churches go back to the days of the Saxons, the man requesting information has all info on that he says and I now have to look for the info that I canny find.  I keep finding things he probably knows, but will get again, and will have to dip into history for the growth of churches since the reformation.
This could take time...
Otherwise I have merely attended to the disappointing football results and will then return to bed where my mind lies...

   

Up on the Roof.

The need for fresh air and sunshine forced me out today.  This was good as the light was bright and the townsfolks were meandering about, some showing off their new bikes, scooters and clothes, others seeking shiny things in the shops now open.  

I soon found myself on the top floor of the large car park from where I thought I may get a picture or two of the town.  Here I noticed windows dirtier than mine existed though to be fair it is difficult cleaning windows through those bars.  

    
Old cottages in the distance once used by weavers they say.  Narrow houses now but large windows for the time.  The attic, now divided, once ran all along the roof space allowing for long bales of cloth to be laid out.  A good example of the craft that once flourished in this area for hundreds of years.

I was much taken with the sign saying "Pedestrians: Way Out" and pointing to either direction.  There are no stairs and this means the only way out is through the 'window' on either side.  I went on further myself...

 
The low lying sun leaving a kind of blue haze in the distance caught my attention.  Such a sun is wonderful, bright, cheery and blinding at times.  So bright that my sister a few days ago left a shop, was blinded by such sun and walked into the closed door!   This left her flat on her back being attended to by the staff who it must be said treated her well, this was in Livingstone.  They fussed while she just wanted to go home.  At home everyone laughed, I laughed, and at the doctors he laughed, she just suffered a bruise or two and hurt pride, but she is used to that.  

In among the Victorian and mock Victorian chimney pieces on show we can see the benefits of being a country town, the masses of trees in the distance.  These lie among the farmland that developers are desperate to turn into concrete and mass money in offshore accounts.  Most of the populace are not so keen.  The town has grown from 30,000 to 40,000 in the 20 years I have been here and lost some of its innocence with the introduction of 'London overspill' and the like.  A type of less friendly person is appearing and this affects us all.  People are less likely to speak in passing as they used to do though many still do and 'old folks' constantly complain about the changes, as they do.

 
The mist does create colour changes which I love.  Darker nearby and lightening with each item in view as it heads off into the distance.  Some were complaining tonight that driving was difficult with the mist, I suspect it will be worse first thing in the morning.  Not too much traffic just now mind.  Next Wednesday I suspect before life as normal returns.

While standing there on this near deserted open top floor of the car park I noticed the pigeons suddenly take flight as if aware of a predator of some sort.  Two flocks took off in different directions, joined immediately by all other hangers on, yet remarkably quickly settled down once again.  I could see no obvious enemy so it may have been a false alarm.  It does show however that being a bird is not an easy life.  The weather, lack of food and predators mean you are forever looking around for danger.  We are much safer that we realise, a bird is constantly afraid.  

 
Pointing a camera at a bright sun offers a dark picture.  I could have fiddled with it but could not be bothered decided this was a decent enough image.  I found it strange having come from Edinburgh and having lived 20 or so years in London finding the town so flat.  This was one of the few high places from which to see the town, the Town Hall roof is another and one day I will get up there, but being able to look south and see a few roofs fading off gently into the distance was strange to me.  It still is to some extent. 

A Foggy Day in ...

The mist descended today to remind us it was January.  After a quick stroll to Tesco I ventured out into the dank climate to remind myself that I ought to have stayed indoors.

I spent time indoors where the warmth was preferred scanning in pictures for my niece.  This done I also added some old fotos that I will annoy you with later.  It is amazing how long it takes to search for and then scan a few photographs.  The ones you seek are in the last album you search through and the ones you remember as near perfect are as far from that as I myself am.  That is quite far...

Amongst the old photos was this one.  A mostly red brick building with a great deal of fancy brickwork indicating the wealth of the company that created this artistic façade of green, gold and silver tiles in 1903.  What was once a Gas & Electric engineers company is now a mere art gallery, the 'Woolff Gallery.'  At the time I took the picture, probably on my way home through the back streets rather than by bus as this was quicker in the evenings, the street contained many interesting buildings which I ignored.  These can be seen on Google maps however.  The business died a while back and the art gallery moved in and changed its name to T.J. Boulting, which makes sense.  Many buildings in London, and indeed elsewhere, carry adverts still that go back into the distant past and it requires the head craned upwards all the time to find them.  Not far from Oxford Street this area is called 'Fitrovia,' this includes the 'Fitzroy Bar' once frequented by Dylan Thomas.  One cartoon featured this bar with one of those Blue Plaques given to the famous this time situated under a table in the bar with "Dylan Thomas Lay Here" inscribed thereon.

Miles away from there but down the road from the Maida Vale Hospital where I spent many a happy hour and occasionally worked also stands Lords Cricket Ground the home of the MCC whoever they are.  Outside the ground stands proudly this mural created in 1934 featuring sportsmen of various talents, clearly not something seen by cricketers of recent years.  Not that those who played cricket in the past held to high standards either of course.  The noble sportsmen, portrayed as something you may expect to see on the Parthenon rather in St Johns Wood, speaks volumes for those who created this mural.   The sculptor was Gilbert Bayes.

All that sunshine in London and we wake up to this!  In spite of the mess that London offers there is a wealth of interesting streets to walk down, history, people, events, many of which I would avoid at the time can be imagined all around.  If only most of the population were out when I pass through.

Gloom to Bloom

After two days of sunshine the weather improved enough to begin the day with thick mist.   It was not just the mist that was thick, this thicko decided to get on the bike and look for a place where the sun was cutting through said mist, I didn't find it.

My knees were aching anyway so I did not think this would make them worse, it may improve things in the long term, so of I trundled discovering how low the tyres could get yet still carry my bulk.  Again I enjoyed the quietness of the streets before the town came alive, again I listened  to the birds serenading me, again I could not see them for the mist.  I did see the occasional not very happy individual dressed for Saturday overtime, how I miss those days?  One or two cycled past not too keen to get in on time, Saturdays are often less urgent than week days in some warehouses, the bright Hi-Vis vests seen long before the wearers were.

 
Watching the park opposite I often see a Blackbird defending his patch.  Other Blackbirds, Thrush's or whatever that arrive are swiftly confronted as he protects his land.  This morning as I crossed the road this one was sitting surveying the quiet morning, it was clear this was the owner of the land.  He sat not six feet away from me, not moving, not fussed, quite confident in his self as I took a few shots of him.  He is certainly not a young one and as I made my way across the park I could see him still sitting there quite at peace.  I suppose breakfast was over, the intruders dispatched, the traffic still quiet, few people around so now was the time to sit and watch.  

   
By the time I got home and recovered from my exercise I noticed the mist tinning and soon the sky was blue, the sun shining and I was trapped here filling out forms!  Much of the rest of the time was trying to work out if I had a virus on the laptop or not.  Three devices claim I did not, yet I am sure something has arrived.  I did break away from the laptop and the football long enough to cross the park and deliver one form to the Council offices.  Everywhere people were acting as if it were summer!  Are they mad?  

My knees ache...

Lost in a Misty Haze

My mind is lost in a misty haze each day at the moment.  Jumping up out of bed I noticed the world was in such a haze also.  The misty haze arriving when the temperature was below zero left fields cold and white and early risers not much better.  
I notice Theresa May has become a misty haze also.  When asked four times if she had been told of the failed test of the Trident nuclear missile she failed to answer, possibly a wee bit of misty haze there I suggest.  There is also a misty haze when she is asked about Brexit, EU negotiations, cost, and organisation of trade debates with the world and EU and indeed everything else.  Is she up to the job?  

 
Mondays have changed as each week I am now committed to a meeting at St Paul's when I ought to be enjoying my siesta.  This of course need not hinder my siesta as I can shout my mouth off even if asleep.  However we work our way through the bible making use  of a book called 'The Story,' well they do I read the good book myself rather than a cut down version.  This is good in that I get to know people better and in several cases they already loathe the sight of me, so normal situation appears.  
The problem is time!  This means getting up, waking up, eating and going out at lunchtime missing lunch.  So lunch is early, alongside breakfast to save time, and then I have to prepare my little head and walk down there is the freezing cold weather, not that I was complaining however my knees were!  By the time we finish and I stutter home via the park looking for a picture or two it is time to eat.  So my day has been eat, talk, eat and now ty and scribble something in a blog.  Not easy when you are glaikit like me.

   
One advantage of the cold is the public gardens are free of children, mums consider their child too precious to go outside in the cold which is good - for everyone else.  However with no kids offering peanuts the beasties have to dig for the many treasures they hid when times were good.  Whether they actually find what they hid or whether they are just grubbing around is unclear to me but several were at it when I approached and none appeared to be successful.

Something very attractive about the sun shining like it does but also very difficult to capture.  Nothing else I tried worked so this is all I can do to catch the sun.  
Scenes such as this, with birds and beasties grubbing all around make me forget the worries of the day and the sights are important when sitting indoors for hours at a time.  When stuck inside for hours it is important to walk amongst something green and see blue sky, or gray sky as it usually happens to be round here.  There is something within us that requires time in the outdoors among greenery and animal life.  I think combining this with the seaside is even better for our mental health, the sights refresh the mind and allow us to think freely, expand the mind somewhat and in truth are just enjoyable if nothing else. 

Longer Days

The longer days started well.  Wandering up to Sainsbury's for the things forgotten last time out I noted the rising mist against the slowly rising sun.  How lovely to be out there in this weather.  This however was not the attitude of the workmen unloading their vehicles across at the building site.  A more grumpy tendency was noticeable as they heading into the old school they were turning into expensive flats.  I considered smiling but avoided this as unpleasantness in the morning is unwise.

At Sainbury's I obtained lots of things, some of which I went for, and yet again forgot to make use of the reward vouchers, I have about £8 that would have been useful this morning.  I suppose this will be even more useful when January kicks in.  British Gas (overpriced) sent me an email informing me i had won thousands of points on this voucher system.  Hmmm, sounds good.  I was tempted to click on the link to my account but hesitated and went to that through my own link.  Nothing there as yet I noted.  This does appear to be British Gas as they send such things often, it is on an email account in which spam is rare, and my first name is given, however while cheered by a gift I await the points being added (in 10 days) to see if this is genuine.  If not I delete, if it is true then lunch is served!

On a serious note I was kept awake last night by the Police helicopter choosing my bed to hang over for what appeared to be hours.  In fact there was a fire in a nearby street which left two dead and house destroyed.  The cause will be uncovered in due course.
This sad incident has revealed much in the town.  Traffic has been affected, it occurred on a main road, and people have been leaving tributes.  Now traffic problems in these circumstances just have to be borne, the tributes and attitudes revealed do not.  
It was something not done in Scotland, a Presbyterian nation, the leaving of flowers at an accident spot.  To me it still appear 'Romanish' and even worse synthetic.  People die and flowers, teddy bears and gifts arrive but the victims will never see these, why do it?  It is not done for the victims, it is done for the people leaving the gifts.  When incidents happen people grieve and this is good and understandable.  However you do not know these people and in life may have resented them if you did so why do this?  You do this because you ache, not they.  This is not 'Love your neighbour.' 
Photographs of the firemen at work have appeared on the local facebook page.  Many are complaining these ought to be removed.  I object!  Publishing photos shows to us what occurred and those girning appear unable or unwilling to accept reality.  The nation once was renown for the 'Stiff upper lip' and just 'getting on with it,' today we must sentimentalise all events, death, accident, war memorial, you name it.  The minutes silence once rare at football grounds is now compulsory at all events even when the incident is neither local nor connected in any way with the football.  Some events are worldwide but these are few, the death of Brazilian footballers recently was one, but while all mourn these men there is no minute silence for Syria, no mention of the dead in the Congo, no concern for hunger elsewhere.  
The emotion is a false one, limited in scope and spurred on by young folks who cannot face life  with 'tough love' and must live in a soap opera daily.  This cannot be allowed to continue.  We all feel emotion at such times but this needs control.  Once footballers stood silently at a minutes silence, now they must place arms around one another,once we faced life's tragedies now we must emote them.  It is not right!  Compassion does not mean removing hard pictures, it means doing something about it.

As I crossed the roaring cascading water that is the local river I noted a wee beastie running over the traffic cone helpfully planted near his home.  I could not make out what it was but suspect it was a water vole as I canny think what else would live there.  He was well fed mind.  The ducks appeared to ignore him, they were playing football with a large green ball kindly donated by someone, and I thought that this wee burn could be made attractive if the time and money was there.  As it is several trees were removed and houses built.  Above this section a block of flats now stands and the tenants passed me by dreaming of paying off mortgages in the 2030's if they are lucky.

 
For once I have rendered the sun as it was tonight!  As it slipped down behind the crumbling 1960's estate it gave off such a glow that I had to catch it.  The passing public did not notice this great sight, their eyes were on lesser things like Christmas, evening repast or drink!  How often we miss such sights because small things obscure our vision.

It's Been Dreich Today.

Collecting the fruit and veg (eat mangos before they go off by 5 O'clock) in a dreich misty day again.

It was the same yesterday.  At least it keeps the park free from adolescents all day and all night.

However while Thursday began misty by lunchtime I could keep my window open all day and not freeze.  This is December!  Who says there is no global warming?  

The Friends of the Museum hold a raffle each Christmas to raise money for the museum and rip off daft people who pay 50p for a ticket, books of 4 tickets are available.  Naturally at this great draw there are many prizes, around 40 this year so I was keen to get my hands on one.  Naturally being there I participated as did all others in picking occasional tickets from the large black bag in which someone had placed them having spent the day folding them first.  Naturally I got nothing!  The fact that four people obtained two prizes each, one at least who wins every year, did not annoy me, although it annoyed others.  Instead I approached them and asked if they would share a Lottery ticket with me on the biggest Million Pound draw, naturally they refused!

Instead I returned to work on one of the village war memorials, although this is not really a village these days.  Black Notley lies a wee bit to the south of the town but few realise that much of the town actually comes under the village itself.  It took me a while to grasp this.  That is why several men who fell in two wars appear not on the main war memorial but on the Black Notley one.  The village remains a village, much larger than in times past, but the few streets and huddle of houses of 1914 are now large estates of council, or ex-council homes.  
This is a memorial I worked on a few years ago.  I obtained the basics, printed it off as I ought, and then lost the link!  So when someone mentioned their ancestor was one of the men here I looked again and discovered the loss of link.  In fact three other village links have gone west.  I gave one to the lass at a villages museum and forgot about it but in fact I must have deleted the links, all the gathered information and lost everything.  I now must start them all again!
Good job the villages were small...Bah!