Neighbour News

What a good day!

The sun shone, I recycled many empty bottles, all vinegar and sauce you understand, wandered around Tesco forgetting things, and made it home in one piece, sat down at the laptop and forgot to send the many emails that were running through my head earlier.  I then eagerly awaited the new pie delivery, Steak Pies and Curry Pies from Forres, curry being an old Scots recipe you understand.  Very nice indeed, but rather mild for my personal taste.  

Still, I will manage to eat them...

A quick glance through the news reveals the Ukraine war still under way, Putin still in charge, Sovie Russia still losing and running out of ideas, and Boris still hiding the 'Russian Report' that details his and his parties connection to Russian money and influence.  Quite why he has not been charged with treason I fail to understand, oh I see, he has to bring the charges!  

Other news reveals an Oligarchs London mansion has been squatted, hundreds of police officers rushed to the scene, later in the day, surely they got a legal order, the squatters were removed, normally this takes time.  Police arrive much later at a burglary don't they?  But a friend of Boris means the Met is called out at once.  

How do we remove a corrupt government?

 

                                          John Everett Millais - Mariana
 

The woman downstairs has left.  I realised that this would happen as her boyfriend (the usual or the latest?) was around several weekends, and she had been missing all over the Christmas period.  Now this in itself means little to me, it does however, mean a new tenant will arrive and they will have to be taught how to live my way.  Tsk!  Life is full of surprises.  So, what will we have?  Can anyone afford the cost, around £600 a month?  Of course it will have to be checked, spruced up, but nothing major I reckon has occurred over the past year.  I have then a month or two of quiet and peace, except when watching football.  Here's to the new tenant.

 

Christmas Eve

 

I'm shocked!

I met the woman downstairs today and discovered it was not the woman I thought it was.  They had moved out and this one replaced them about 18 months ago.  Jings, no-one tells me anything.

Anyway, I got on well with her and her 'uncle,' and walked round the town for air.

This grubby tree was in the centre and I took a shot of the lights though I do not like trees.  These are pagan things and have no place in Xmas to me.  However, the weather, ike the streets, was too dull for anything else, so I sauntered home, passing the few folks out seeking last minute gifts, or visiting watering holes, if open, for Xmas.  I saw one or two groups, and indeed heard them long before I saw them, well watered!

Now we face the Xmas days.  Tomorrow is Christmas Day, then Boxing Day, with two days off after this for the family arguments and recovery.

Many will also be sharing Covid virus's with friends and family, I will remain in safety with my liqueurs and whisky for protection...

 

Sun, Sky and NHS

The sun was up, the sky was blue, an ideal time to walk round the corner and have the first off three visits to the NHS.  Get them in now folks before Boris sells the NHS off it to his donors.  Today was a blood test.  This meant being first in the queue of old men at ten this morning to have the delightful, efficient nurse struggle to get blood out of this stone.  She tried the left arm unsuccessfully leaving me with the conclusion that I was dead.  She smiled gently and thrust the needle willingly into the other arm in a fashion that disproved my conclusion.  Blood flowed!  

 

 

After this I wandered round Sainsburys seeking meat, some fool had forgotten to raid the freezer last night.  Thus I encountered several people of my acquaintance, including two who could not avoid me no matter how they tried, and headed home rejoicing.  Those two did not.  Thus encouraged I once again took my weary body, very weary this past week, across the park.  

There is something very enlightening and enjoyable found in crossing even a small area of green, especially when the sun is up, the sky blue, the air filled with light, and dogs taking their owners for walks wish to meet you.  It was indeed chilly however, when I first left the house the air that we breathe out was like a steam engine, but within an hour it had warmed up to freezing.  

And Winter has not started yet!

I ended up in Tesco for the things not available in Sainsburys.  They were not available in Tesco either.  However, I managed to spend money and hobble back home, clamber up the stairs for the second time, grateful I need not do this again today.

 

Ding Dong! Ding Dong!

'Hermes' at the door.  Packet collected for next door, I indicated the way around the back to Number 2 with a second.  Back up the stairs a third time after all.

It was as I laid the large red, plastic bag down I noticed the name.  

It was incorrect.  

This packet was for Number 2, not Number 5.  How stupid of me not to check the name.  Anyway, off I go, downstairs, round the back, knock on the door, and am glad that he indoors was as dumb as myself.  He never looked at the name either. His wife also spends too much online.  

Upstairs for the fourth time!  How happy I am!  My routine shattered I have lingered all day after this trying to catch up with things I keep forgetting to catch up with.

I anticipate tomorrow with great pleasure...

 

Monday Mixture

Rubbish Day.

Early weather lousy when I am out.

Sun now shines when I am in.

Washing done, drying washing done, nothing else done.

War in Israel.

Everyone blaming the 'other side.' 

Boris planning to curtail votes for Labour by using ID cards when voting.

Boris planning to curtail Judicial reviews to stop people attacking him.

Boris tightening his grip Fascist like.

Boris to ban 'Conversion Therapy' thereby making criminals of Christians everywhere who will continue to pray for healing of gays.  This because 'Stonewall' advised the government.  'Stonewall' a lobby group with many friends in high places, each willing to follow similar fascist paths as Boris.

Good news!  St Johnstone to beat Hibernian in the Scottish Cup Final soon.

 

Banging and thumping indicates John the Handyman has come to fix something somewhere.  Soon fixed, he banged and thumped his way out again.

More banging, gentle this time, almost ignored, then I glimpse a van outside and realise it is an Amazon man.  

An Amazon man, from Eastern Europe, who knocks on a door because he is scared to ring the bell in case he catches a virus!  So many do this that I miss them!  

Of course this is not for me, it is for next door.  They work awkward hours and I take in their deliveries.  She gave me some Polish chocolates the other day for being nice, and very nice they are too!

More banging, this time downstairs as the neighbour has come home and wants me to know he is there.  He is on early shift with the Polis and leaves around 2:30 am.  

Recently I was watching football in the bedroom, as I usually do, and upset him as he tried to sleep down below.  He made banging noises, which I ignored thinking it his woman cleaning the room, and next day he played loud, bad music for a couple of hours.  However he never thought of knocking on the door to inform me that he was on earlies.  Some Polis?  How would I know his hours?  Should I change a ten year routine for him?   Usually I am considerate but that evening the Dunfermline PPV was loud I admit, but how do I know he is sleeping?

Anyway, the game was drawn and Raith Rovers won the second leg.

Right, now I'm off to upset someone else...

 

Saturday Rain

Another Saturday with nothing better to do than watch football.

Outside sleetish rain is falling, and has done since late last night, occasionally turning into snow and failing to lie.  

A normal Scots day I would say, in June!

The weather also hindered the few brave enough to make for the town centre, I was not aware of excessive Saturday traffic today, and with the town apparently a leading one where the Virus is living (though whether in the streets or in Care Homes is not made clear!) people are taking great steps to avoid needless crowding.  

There was no crowding in here today.

Instead I attempted to upset people on Twitter and failed, previous Bots failed to appear and thus there was nothing to do but eat and watch football.  The first football was mediocre English rubbish, so I fell asleep, but at three in the afternoon the Heart of Midlothian appeared to thrash Dunfermline Athletic at Tynecastle Park by one goal to nil.  That was good enough for me.  

I did grumble at the needless absurd camera shots throughout the game, why did we require constant views of the Pars number 3?  Did the director fancy him?  I would think it may well be female as clearly the director did not understand football.

Anyway, this was disturbed by rumblings from below.  It appears neighbours have moved in!  Not being nosey I have no idea who they are, but listening outside it was clear they are young!

How terrible!

No doubt noise from bad music and soap opera TV will soon appear! 

However, they may be human after all, but I doubt anyone under 40 is human these days.

Look, the six O' Clock game is starting, I wonder who is playing tonight...?

 

Gardening and Shopping

Wearily to Tesco late at night for the odd things like milk and bread that we cannot live without.  Weary as I had foolishly considered myself 25 again and sauntered downstairs and weeded the front. While this was good, it requires doing and only I bother these days, it meant a lot of effort, effort being something I have not used in a while.  So by evening the walk to Tesco found new undisturbed muscular activity.  I feel it yet!  This was not helped by Tesco being busy.  It is usually quiet at that time but lots were around wandering hither and thither instead of following the one way system.  There was a queue and while the staff were excellent it took time to get through.  A lovely evening but some questioned what the steam engine noises were, it was me puffing up the road.  

   
I got a note from the neighbour, we all have them, in the house next door, worried re her Ivy plant that was reaching up to the first floor window.  This is round the back of the house and not a problem.  However having contacted the disinterested landlady I told her to cut the base and it will soon die, easy to remove then.  I offered to help her cut this, clever move it turns out, as she,a lady of many years reacted as my mother would do,she cut it herself, saw and all, because she, in her pride, does not need a man to things for her, she is not old!  Tee Hee!  She is fitter than me and I am glad.  A bit paint no loss on this house of course however today I looked again round the back and it is a bigger job than I thought.  I may have more weeding to do there.  Good exercise...maybe she will help?

Today I had to visit the ironmongers shop and came back via the park.  Several groups of two and threes were dotted around in the sun.  An occasional dad being bullied by a three year old, a couple canoodling in the shade, near naked fat girls reflected an awful lot of sunshine, and a dog walker or two could be seen.  In one part of town people sit together, in the town itself people were making great efforts to avoid going near one another.  Some are really scared of this virus and the ironmonger was wearing a large face mask, the lass at the till the usual type.  Good for them, meeting so many people today they need it.  It was very quiet in town, not helped by road works to pavements that is noisily ongoing, and most appeared to remain indoors.  The sun tempts people into the park, shops may have run out of Vitamin 'D' tablets so they undress in public and very white knees seek the sun.  Mine came home...

  

Saturday Drivel

Brexit meant so much to me this day that I ignored it completely till now.  While thousands marched peacefully through London in a proper protest MP's were to debate Boris's absurd new deal with the EU.  Of course this deal is a sham, Boris wishes either to leave with 'No Deal' as his paymasters wish, or not leave at all as his sense dictates.  The word 'sense' in this must not be misconstrued!
The banners flew, the placards, often absurd, none made by the 'Socialist Workers Party' who make placards for so many demonstrations, and EU flags were flown revealing the depth of determination to seek a second Referendum.  
Parliament ignored them.
Instead the MP's voted by 322 to 306 forcing Boris to ask for a 'Brexit delay.'  His answer is to ignore this and come back again on Monday to seek a vote on his 'Deal' Bill.  Hopefully it will become a 'Dear Bill' instead.

I shook myself awake and ventured out and about around eleven.  There was a need to investigate mobile phones and boots.  My phone died, I think 'Virgin' clammed up on it as at 'Pay-as-you-go' I hardly used it and they probably thought I was dead.  I had only used it once in 2 years.  However they are handy for emergencies, which I have never met, and I wondered if I required one that gave me more, cheaply, just in case.  Naturally I have no idea about such things.  Does the internet come with the package?  Is it separate?  How much does it cost?  Simm?  Anyway on the way round I ventured into Tesco to look at the shelf of phones on display.  Naturally there were none!  Instead all was kids Christmas presents, row after row!  So I made my way to Tesco's boots and searched the styles and prices, both were repugnant to me!
I came home.

  
Yesterday I cleaned out some stuff from under the bed.  The boxes full of cash appear not to be there which I thought unfortunate.  There was several pairs of old boots, all with holes in the soles, one of which had disintegrated while lying there covered in dust.  These filled a black rubbish bag and left the building.  That is why new boots are required.  I hate buying shoes, no matter where you look there is not something you wish for and then they do not have them in your size and then the size is not as stated!  Shoe sizes in Bangladesh or Romania are not the same as in Nottingham it appears. The rain may return before I am successful.

On my return I found the second new neighbour attempting to fill the flat with household items.  I say he was doing it but the impression I got was that Dad was doing the hard bits.  I made my salute and hid while they banged and thumped their way up and down stairs.  New neighbours are always a problem.  The new ones downstairs have been quiet so far, they appear to be early 20's and work from home, drug smuggling I suspect, and the couple next door appear young, possibly too young to be next to me!  My quiet peaceful existence may be in doubt.  However I have met them all, parents today being normal and offering decency, probably they have got rid of the brats!  We shall see how they go.  However I reckon it takes them about £67 each a week to pay for this, I hope they both have good jobs.

Work Time

Once again the street is blocked by workmen digging up the road.  The two building sites, one on either side of the road, are constantly digging up the road for gas or electric pipes to be installed, removed, re-installed or just to block the road I think.  Speaking to one of the gang this morning he spoke of planting a tent and moving in.  Eight or nine times they have been here and things change with the delay caused by this, the changes I don't notice regarding mortgages has meant three planning to buy over the road have changed their minds as their costs have risen.  The building on this side still has problems however as while the sign says 'Sold' nobody has moved in.  I suspect an agent has bought the pot and is either waiting for prices to rise and re-sell or another problem has blighted the building.  More road works next week!
Update!  This afternoon people began to move in next door!  It may be there will not be any more work at this side of the street. maybe...

The work has come inside today as the old boiler is being replaced with a new glossy one.  Since 9:30 this morning they have been working away, creating dust, much less than the man who installed the thing all those years ago created, bored holes in wall, bored holes in cupboard, upset the neighbour - who I had to deal with - and left me tired and hungry and living on two small slices of bread and honey since 7:30.  Good job I am not one to complain!, As I type I notice how dust, thin and almost imperceptible, lying across this laptop this might take several days to clear up.  Windows are wide open hoping for through wind to clear the air.  Good job it was warm.

Before they left, after they had cleared most of the debris I was given the new thermostat.  As is the way modernisation means digital instead of buttons to press or turn and this leaves me wondering how to work this 'simple' mechanism.  A quick run through before they left and I informed them I knew what to do while accepting to myself that I was lying in my teeth!  I may need to borrow an adolescent when winter arrives.  Testing the boiler proved it works and with it sitting beside me I can alter the temperature, timing probably contact the FBI and the KGB at the same time.
My routine is ruined, I am still hungry but the water boils correctly now.
What can I break tomorrow...?

                    

Saturday Slavering

Why is it clouds spread like huge angels wings high above us.  Early this morning I wandered up to Sainsburys for milk and was impressed by the huge thin cloud covering way high up.  The intervening trails left by Stansted traffic were not so impressive but even more noticeable.  I would have studied them more but the car park at that time is not a place to muse on clouds, or so some indicated.
On the way I was met by one of my neighbours, it appears she leaves tomorrow, something about money I hear.  II was tempted to say it is a shame they don't give two pence on a bottle these days as that way you would have had enough cash to pay the rent at the end of every week but managed not to mention this.
Having collected the things I went for bar the ones I forgot I then finished some of the chores of the day, or week if truth be told, and then after lunch went down to the museum to help the poor lassie who was all on her own - she said.  
Naturally there were plenty of people around, three in the office alone, and yet I was forced to waste good football watching time listening to her moaning.  I missed the Hamburg game, that is one from the German second division as you know, and instead had to work when I ought not.  However as You know I never complain. 

As I returned home I found the door open and two women wandering in and out.  Apparently one, possibly both are moving in.  Two women!  l like a quiet house and two wimmen are moving in!  Can you imagine?  Not only but they both look in early 20's so they will be noisy, full of fun an laughter and even worse have friends.  Dearie me what is the place coming to?  
I wonder if it is possible to get a shotgun licence...?

 

New People

It's that time again, the time when new people are moving in.  All morning there were bumps and bangs next door as I thought a furniture van was at work, instead it was merely women scrubbing, hoovering and cleaning the quite clean flat.  I failed to spot any of them so have as yet no idea who is moving in however a black woman arrived later for a look around, maybe it is for she?  Maybe she with the big car, parked next door cheekily, is the new tenant.  If she can afford the car what is she doing here I ask?  The problem is we have no idea what new folks will be like, noisy, quiet, young or old, and we don't want any happy young folks in here I can tell you, all that joy and life, it would be out of place.  Another misery who ignores everyone unless he has too that is what we desire.  I am sure we will know more soon enough.

There has been an envelope lying there helplessly for a day or two addressed to someone unknown.  I now everyone here yet this name is new.  It clearly was ignored by the herd of elephants cleaning next door (can I call them 'scrubbers?') and suddenly I realised the flat round the back might have a new tenant as a new car (Mercedes) lies outside (where do folks get the money and yet move here?) So as I popped out I popped round and knocked on door.  Venetian blinds closed, a sign regarding witches hangs in window and slowly the door opens slightly to reveal a darkened room where a darkened face with darkened make up failed to shine within.  I explained my mission  and found I had reached the target, or as least the targets 'partner.'  I explained why the mail came to wrong address and promised to shove it in the letterbox.  The 'Goth' for that is what it might be, accepted gleefully (is gleefully the right word?) and closed door in fear of the light.  I hastened back to my door, collected packet, obtained a cross and a piece of '2 x 4' just in case, ventured forth and posted item as promised.  As I moved away at speed a cry of 'Thank you" could be heard but I waited not and ran all the way to Tesco.

Neighbours are OK in many places however the new ones often take some time to break in.  If this black woman is moving in does she have money?  Is she honest?  Is it one of those scams where they use the flat as an address?  Or worse is she part of one of the black churches that have sprung up here?  One can never tell until they move in and start partying or getting visits from the constabulary.  No doubt now that I have been neurotic about her she will be lovely even if she is female...

Workmen

Yesterday morn I was greeted by sunshine reaching through the kitchen window, starlings squabbling over the feeders and above streaks of blue mixing with white clouds.

Today I find gray clouds cover the earth, the streets damp with rain and at eight in the morning contractors using power drills and small JCBs to dig up the neighbours paved front garden! 

How am I supposed to hear Radio 3 with that cacophony in the background?

I sit here in the drawing room filled with the emanations from the rubbish bin that has required emptying for a while as four (Polish?) workmen do their best to make as much noise as they can while attempting to ensure the job lasts long enough to claim overtime.  I notice the woman next door has not yet appeared, either she did not expect them and is hiding in the back of the house or she is back in bed with her head under a pillow trying to avoid the noise.  

It is a small front of a bungalow and this was concreted over a while back to allow cars to park, possibly she wishes to amend this either to improve the house and raise the selling price or turn this back into a garden.  Either way it ought to be done when I am elsewhere I say.

Lunchtime has passed, the work next door has not completed yet.  If you take a large tin, fill it with stones and rattle it back and forward for thirty minutes, stop for five then begin again over and over then you will begin to understand what I have endured cheerily this morning. 

In spite of this I have continued to work (HA!) and even exercised as I must in a vain attempt to put life back into this fat bloated hulk of mine.  I was encouraged in this by the nurse, an adorable ex-Stasi Commandant, who offered me a choice of one hours exercise a day or twenty four hours of death a day, tact not being an attitude taught back in Berlin.

I therefore exercised for a while, straining and stretching and aching all over.  All this while the rattling stones outside bounced in their tin.  The small JCB has piled some of the concrete into a pile to be dumped in someones back lane when no-one is about while as yet the woman of the house has not shown her face.  It did strike me that these men possibly have arrived at the wrong house while she is on holiday.  This will give her something to boast about later will it not if that is the case?

It will soon be over, sooner if I find a shotgun!

Funnily enough in spite of the cacophony to my right I found myself accidentally falling asleep after a very healthy lunch (there were no pizzas left), strange how that happened but there you are.  Then as the noise continued I found work hard to cope with and, again accidentally, came across some Euro Champs League football on BTS which I had to watch.  Endure might be a better word as games at this period of the competition are often poor and mean little, especially with teams who's name you cannot pronounce and have not the foggiest where they come from.  

This passed the time until this big green lorry appeared and I knew the noise was about to abate.  He had arrived to remove the rubbish thrown up by the workers and as he left, narrowly avoiding the woman attempting to overtake him, the sound died away.  Now I feel like I have gone deaf as there is no sound, not even from the passing traffic which usually fills the air with rubbish and loud music while they queue up in the rush hour.  The mess left behind is a wonder to behold, mud stains the pavements, loose stones and earth lie all around.  I look forward to tomorrows toil, though in the meantime I had  look to see if they had brought down any of our walls, not yet they haven't.

Monday Mump

Some time ago the small hut next door to us, used by many local organisations, was condemned because it contained asbestos.  Eventually this was sold at auction and nothing happened.  Nothing continued to happen for some time until a neighbour informed me the building had been sold once again, at a small £50,000 profit to the original buyer.  Nice for some.
Eventually plans appeared to create a three story dwelling rising high enough to block the sun and allow residents to peer into one anothers windows.  
This would not do!
I, alongside others, put in loud and well written objections. 
Our landlord had a fight on his hands as they would be on his land and he was not happy about this.  He as a retired lawyer knew what to do.
Eventually, at local council speed, the plans were blocked.
All went quiet and quite suddenly new plans appeared and were approved and I cannot recall if we had time to object. The new plaans allowed an ugly two story building, garage on ground floor with four 'Studio flats' above.
Nothing happened.
Nothing happened for some time until one day men arrived and knocked down the hut with what I thought was little care for asbestos removal.  Maybe this was a ruse?
Later men began to clear the ground.
Eventually men began to dig holes and progrees was made.
However they did not know, and were not happy, about the sewage pipe from other neighbours house.  This ran right across their site.  Tee hee, he was not happy but thought it funny.  Therefore plans had to be altered.  
Much later concrete was poured into the holes previously dug and the alterations to sewage attended to.
Lorries carrying those gray 'Breeze Blocks' so called because they allow the breeze into your house arrived and dumped them.  One man was seen to be busy mixing cement and mortar and laying a line of said bricks in appropriate places.
Then it appears they knocked down other neighbours fence in the belief it belonged to this property, the trees beside it also were theirs they thought.  Other neighbour helpfully awakened them to the situation as it happened to be, his trees, his fence, your money ta much.
Nothing has happened since.  
Other neighbour has contacted the builder and received promises but no action.  He wrote, he called, he gets nowhere.  He believes the builders company has gone bust or just got fed up with the whole thing and dumped it on the developer, whichever greedy little Tory he happens to be.
We are left wondering what will happen.  
Will a builder appear, will the site lie like some half developed for years?  Will it be sold off to another chancer?  We cannot tell but stand back in amazement at the efficient manner in which housing is developed in the nation.

I love blue flowers.
I know not why but I love blue flowers more than most other colours, bright and cheery though many be.  These small beauties, and blue flowers it appears to me are mostly but not all small, are found in a box outside another neighbours door.  She has spent all her money on alcohol and flower boxes and very pretty they look.  The number of letters that lazy postmen shove through my door for her making me walk round there to pass them on indicate how many people are chasing her for cash.  Her use of a maiden name fooled some but not all I note.  Maybe if she took all the empties back and got twopence for each she could clear her debts, but maybe not...

 

Rubble Trouble

It didn't take long to sort that lot out.  Just the flooring to go and judging by the noise at teatime I suspect that has been more or less lifted also.  In theory the archeological people are now meant to go over the ground in the hope of finding something interesting.  However this part of town has been farmland until the 1800's as far as is known so while there is hope I doubt much will be found in this ground.  If I see them searching I will make sure the museum gets whatever is recovered, not however if it is just stones!  
People here do find things in their gardens.  Iron Age, Roman, Saxon settlements were here and much has gone on since then so it is inevitable things turn up often.  Most once inhabited areas today are either built over or were farmland for about four thousand years, not much hope of the recover of things in those conditions, but the town is always eager to find something!  One day that gold coin hoard will arrive, one day.

What has arrived are new neighbours!  here I am, feeling weary and suffering from something and two young lads, gay boys it appears, are moving in next door.  I am not pleased!  The last thing this building requires is young folks, their noise and disgusting habits.  We old folks prefer our own.  It is at times like this I remember the noise from next door, downstairs, upstairs, round the back and over there, that was London life.  How silent life has been this last year or two with the considerate neighbours, especially the ones in that flat who were never there, that's considerate!  However when people move in I wish to move to that house on an island that is cut off from the mainland by two tides a day.  I suspect that would suit me although no doubt some Essex man would still attempt to land there to annoy me, are shotguns allowed?  The occasional hassles with folks in the past always makes me nervous of newcomers.  For years most of us have got on quite well and new folks always cause problems, sometimes unintentionally and occasionally deliberately.  The good Lord tells me to love them, that is treat them with consideration but I was not in that mood when they appeared today.  Ah well, it will all work for good in the end.  I'm just glad my life is so good at the moment and this disturbs me a wee bit.  It will be OK but we wait on the Lord as we piously say and hope he hears and does things our way and not his, something he is want to do!
Young folks, bah!  

Work tomorrow and the even younger folks are supposedly playing Harry Potters 'Quiddich' (?) game.  That is the game they play in the sky so how the lass is going to work that one out with thirty kids in the hall and not kill someone I await to see.  I will wait at a distance which equals the entire length of the building!   
So far there have been nothing but happy faces from kids and mums and dads, whacking one another with sticks while flying may of course change this...
Then home to growl at the folks next door, eat and fall into my bed until Tuesday.

Grumbling, me?

I saw this man early today after I dropped off a letter complaining about the new block they wish to build next door.  He was sitting glaring at me, his friend hiding under the tree, and appeared less than keen to see me.  I suppose at that time of the day it is usually mums and kids on their way to school, or returned from there ans that is why he is feared.  The minute I moved he was off.
Next door lies an old hut.  It was built as a memorial to an individual of some repute after the war and now it appear sit has asbestos within and must come down.  A developer has offered a three story building with four flats, car parking space on ground floor, windows that looks into other peoples windows just to line his pockets and I and others do not like it.  This governments approach favours such men, and we have a similar council so I do not hold out much hope here.  I wrote and complained and a very slight adjustment has been offered, so I complain again but something tells me, from listening to others, that this will go through anyway even if totally wrong.  

In spite of not eating properly, feeling rough, and unloved I returned to fill an empty space in the museum this afternoon where I dealt with hundreds of attractive young mums asking about the kids stuff over the next few weeks.  The mums are somewhat miffed that there are seven weeks of holidays ahead, the kids are delighted.  I booked one or two in for dozens of things, the kids often not getting a choice, and the mums looking to the cafe where they can hide from them for a while.
All good fun and the events begin next week.  I am glad I only do one day, well two at the moment.
Thirty kids at one go, many mums also, thankfully I just welcome them in, check the list and dump them on the others.  I m completely washed out, too tired to watch the first of the football.  Tsk!


.

Ramblings

I sit here watching the ebbing sun attempt to make its way through the fast flowing clouds.  How lovely is summer!  That's the time of the year the sun positions itself high in the sky before being obscured by rain clouds.  My delight at the brightness that shines through is matched by the delight of the birds that flit past as they head home for the night, umbrellas in hand.  I wonder whether they will be able to listen to a young couple next door scream and shout and slap one another lovingly like I can?  There is little more enjoyable than hearing a neighbours squabbles, although for a few minutes the entire town would have been listening in to this pair I suspect.  If you must disagree in such like circumstances why can folks not learn to speak firmly and quietly rather than yell?  If you like one another you will discuss frankly, not yell abuse.  If however you are just living together because 'that's what you do' then split up now because you will later.

Another chap who got it wrong was the one who turned up at the house used as a mosque for the dozen or so Muslims around here.  He got it wrong by carrying a flare, two knives and a lot of resentment.  He may well hear arguments in that prison cell, I hope he doesn't have to share it with a Muslim!  Many similar attacks have been reported elsewhere.  The murder of the young soldier by the two Muslims the other day has awoken much resentment understandably.  The attitude that 'if they don't like it here they can leave' is certainly understandable, especially after the way loud aggressive Muslim groups have 'appeared' to get away with their 'biting the hand that feeds them' behaviour.  Groups such as the 'English Defence League' and such will not die out if such people are seen to be let off abusing our troops lightly.  When situations like this arise all Muslims are likely to be at risk, and the majority appear happy to be here and cause no offence.  This situation reminds me of the man in Sheffield (?) after 9/11.  He entered a shop and bought some goods while abusing the owner because "You're lot are responsible."  His long, loud abuse reflected the feeling of many that Islam is a violent religion.  The shopkeeper however was on TV later explaining how he had pointed to his Turban and cried "I'm a Sikh!" The man was not deterred, facts cannot stop a Yorkshire mans opinion.  The difficulty is keeping a cap on retaliation while also keeping the extreme Muslims quiet.  Loud aggressive preachers who call for 'our boys' to be shot staying in the country, well provided for while fighting extradition, do not help of course.  We pander to peoples all too often, instead we must stick to what is right and speak the truth at all times, even if it is not welcome.

That Sally Bercow has suffered today.  Some time ago a suggestion was made that a one time cabinet minister in the Thatcher (BOO!) government had been involved with child abuse.  A name was mentioned on 'social network' sites and 'accidentally' during a TV programme, Sally Bercow on Twitter indicating one man in particular was guilty.  He was not pleased.  He was not pleased as he was not guilty!  Several others also implied his guilt and he instructed a lawyer to deal with them.  Apologies and small sums of money have been paid, however the Tory individual believed there was more to this with Mrs Bercow.  It must be explained that she is the wife of the Speaker of the House of Commons.  The  Speaker is a Tory MP, she a Labour Party member!  On several occasions she has opened her gob and got into trouble, this time it has cost her a lot of money.  The judge found her guilty of libel, (or was it slander? It would be defamation is Scotland) and she must apologise, pay a sum of compensation, and pay all the costs!  Just imagine how much these lawyers charge!  The web is not free from libel actions it would appear, in the same way the media is not free.  Quite right too.  But watch how you say things when naming names.

.

Local Emergency

There I was, as always, minding my own business after tea last night when the bell rang.  A bit late for round here I thought, the pubs are open.  It was one of my neighbours looking for a ladder.  None of us n this block possess such a thing, and then it dawned on me why she needed one.  The man next door was locked out.  The lock to his front door had jammed, it is the only way in, and he and his son were looking to a frozen night under the bushes in the park if nothing could be done.  Had the shop on the corner been open he would have offered the use of one of the second hand ones he sells (He makes money clearing houses) however at that time he was shoveling his dinner down not looking for folks with broken locks.  
Quite what could be done did not cross my mind.  The landlords office would be long closed, no emergency number, and John the man who does would not be rushing out in the evening to fix things.  Especially as he had probably begun the brandy after a day working!  
We cogitated, I rang the landlord anyway, no answer but an ansafone.  I cogitated again, by this time the man's son, or at least to of his friends, had decided to break in.  The one problem here was our lack of a ladder and the flat being on the first floor.  His door merely taking him to the stairs to climb upwards with no other entrance or escape.  
It was impossible to reach the window.  Standing on one another, grasping the gas pipe in the process, they attempted to climb an impossible climb.  The neighbour took action, he drove his car right along the wall, two lads climbed onto the roof, one sat ion the others shoulders and they fought their way to a position where they could break a small pane and undo the latch and climb in.  I merely fobbed off a passing police officers quizzical looks.  He was none to troubled and more anxious to get back round the corner to the station and drink his tea and write up his paperwork.  
Today John arrived to repair the lock, spend an hour looking for someone to cut a pane of glass, and then finished the job.  What excitement!  Who says we have a boring existence?  Life here is full of tension, new action daily, and if we are lucky something interesting to appear in the drains.
I find I a struggling to cope with the pace of life here.

.

Cogitating Friday

.

Cogitating Friday is just another way of saying 'nothing happened.'  That ought to read, 'nothing happened again' actually.  I cycled slowly up the old railway in the early morning sunshine, I attempted to photograph beasties breakfasting on bright yellow wild flowers but the camera is not up to this, and I shopped at three supermarkets in a bid to save cash (but not while on the bike) and I failed to save cash!


Other than that the day has slipped by without me doing anything - again!  This whole week has been a waste. I don't know why I got up on Monday, and I had so many plans.

One plan included winning the Euro Lottery and the £16,653,000 pounds on offer. However a couple in Largs decided that not only would they win this money but they would then come on to the telly and wave the cheque in our faces. I am sorry to say that this is not a good idea in my opinion. Had I won you would not know, although my paying my debts and buying a new pair of socks might have given some folks an inkling about my wealth. Some say the Lottery people give good advice and few end up depressed or in trouble because of their big win. Occasionally you read of one who will have lost the wife, family squabbles, duped by conmen, or suicide because the money has wrecked relationships, but most appear to have survived OK.
The interest on this money is 0ver £9000 daily, not counting tax obviously, but if 'Vodafone' can avoid paying almost £6 Billion in tax and pay a mere £1.25 billion and with time to pay then this couple could work something with someone.  

The man next door has not emerged, or at least I have heard no sound from him. I have discovered he owes rent going back months. Isn't life sad when someone falls apart like this? Is he having a breakdown I wonder, what can be done?  Well nothing to be honest. He will either come to himself and seek help or end up forced to find help. "There but for the grace of God" and all that. 

.