Sauntering Through the Day

Against my better judgement I sauntered very slowly across the park this morning.  The bright sunshine hid the very cold eastern wind which chased me across the pathways.  Needing to phone my sister, who lost her husband about two months ago, I thought I would do this as I walked, trying to cram several jobs into as short a time as possible.  Naturally, I could not get the thing to connect, others clearly managed this as I could listen to the price of their goods delivery if I chose to.  Irked, I continue on to the second job which entailed pushing a letter for the parks/environmental officer regarding the music at the weekend.  I was nice about it, this time, and suspect there will be no more events this year as summer has departed.  However, that said I thought it worth while indicating the voices of the residents around here concerning the punk, and especially the base of the 'rave' type music.  

My knees had decided that a 10 minute saunter was too much, however, I had to continue towards Tesco for one or two things, and this without a list of what was needed.  Most of the needed was bought, and much that was not required followed.  I will have the list next time!

From there I limped into the museum for Honey.  I like to buy that in there, along with a grossly overpriced jam and birthday card, just to help keep the place going.  Nothing here will be wasted and it helps so the £16 I spent was worth it.  

After that my day is complete!

Except the blog, with nothing to say, an email of complaint to the vicar, calling my sister and having my ear bashed for 30 minutes, and whatever else I have forgotten.  

I might even wash later... 

How nice to see fruit appearing on these trees.  The trees have been up a few years now but this is the first sign I have seen of fruit.  They may just be Berries but they look more like fruit to me.  Maybe the size fools me.  Good to see anyway.  Lots of trees have been planted in recent years, the original ones were planted in the second half of the 29th century, and some look as if they are soon to leave us.  A couple have already gone and one huge fir has begun to die from the top.  The need for more to look big and brave in 20-50 years time is becoming urgent.  Well done the council for planting them.

Spring Rain Holiday

I'm beginning to think May is the wrong month in which to have May Bank Holiday. Mist and cloud greeted us this morning, rain followed, umbrellas are seen, damp streets and damper people pass by.

Have a nice day!

The council have taken to planting trees for one reason or another in the park, in 70 or 80 years these will be well worth looking at, today they are somewhat young.  These few were planted a couple of years ago and now are sprouting these wee purple flowers.  Not easy to see properly as the cloudy day hinders photography, but they look delightful.  No ide what they are but when the trees develop and increase I think they will look very good across the park.  The later trees remind me of those we see across France in Great War photos lining the roads.  They will be good in another 50 years.

 

 

Being a slow news day, as always, I spent some time watching lucky people travel about on steam trains!  Why they can make it while I only watch, full of jealousy, from afar I know not.  The steam gala included many large and small engines, some from afar, running back and forward, sometimes via the guards van, and all camera clicking men, and they were mostly men, were clearly enjoying themselves.  I could see that by the way none of them smiled and all appeared to ignore one another.  Tonight some volunteers will be working late emptying out all the ashes and preparing one or two engines for their return to home stations.  Lucky they!

The Park and Happy Dog

I took my cheery personality for a walk this afternoon.  The bread and milk had run out, and so I sauntered via Sainsburys across the park.  It was a cold but bright day, the lowering sun blinding as I moved across the car park, yet the chill was without wind and bearable.

Carrying my overpriced goodies in my 'Tesco' bag I limped my way towards the park, cheerfully avoiding the hundreds on parent escorted children heading home.  I note the kids have to walk to school, a good mile or more for many, and car use is discouraged here.  

The morning had been a slow one, tiredness from the walking yesterday hitting home so a wander across the green acre, blue sky, occasional aircraft passing by, was refreshing.

 

The best part of the day was the man walking his wee Bulldog. I have met him before with his previous Bulldog, and he clearly likes them.  As we passed close I mentioned that he could not be in a hurry, the dog searching through every second blade of grass.  The dog then chose to sniff me, quickly losing interest and returning to check the path nearby.  They say having a dog makes life better, cleary it makes this man's life better, and clearly the dog is well fed, out for a walk as soon as the man gets home from work, and happy as can be.

I suggest I will never be as happy as a dog taken for a walk across a park used by many other dogs.

Snow

A short blast of snow falling at a slant threatens to bring the nation to its knees again.  A short while ago large noticeable snowflakes fell slowly, then the wind heightened, hats blew off, coats were tightened, and misery shone on the faces.  

I watched from the window.

That picture was taken 10 minutes ago, and already all has cleared.  I suspect several accidents have occurred in the region, but so far no sirens have sounded.  Quite how this lot would cope with the A9 in January I know not.

I still remain indoors hugging the heater drying the washing.

I am very glad it was not similar to this yesterday when I hobbled down the highway.  Kirk was quiet, as it is at this time of year, he traffic today is back to normal and Kirk will be similar next week.  It was good to see the faces, be surrounded by all the women, one at a time again, and speak to those who mattered.

However, I left early as my mind was clogged up.   It has been this way for a while, a remnant from the Covid of a month or two ago.  In November I usually have Xmas sown up, but this year it was slow, thinking apathetic, and it was finished by desperation, not thought.  Apathy remains.  Reading is hard, concentration often lost, and I followed nothing during the service.  This was awkward as I was reading the OT passage!  Gen 1:1-5.  I noticed I was losing concentration as I read this short passage!  I am amazed I did not fall asleep!  I ran off home soon after closing and limped through the rest off the day.

Some things held an interest but concentration soon lapsed.  

Maybe I should hire a nurse...?

 

Much later, Tsk!  Forgot to finish this...

 

Shakespeare Café, Braintree

Shakespeare Café

Having risen at the usual time, even though it is a Monday Bank Holiday, I sat lamenting my life for a while at the laptop, including lamenting the fact that the spare laptop would not switch on last night, and downed coffee in a vain attempt to waken up.

By 9:30 I decided to venture out into the chilly sunshine and cross the greenery in the park.  The need for a small bit of green is within us all, though not if it is growing on the wall.  So, off I trotted, passing only a couple of dog walkers, and a young dad proving eh is a 'modern man' by walking the two Labradors along with a pram.  The dogs were too much under control, but dad will think he is 'strong.'

I wonder what my nieces would say to him?

Slowly hobbling up the hill I decided to breakfast in the 'Shakespeare Café.'  You will note the spellchecker ensures 'café' is always spelt correctly!  This was indeed a good idea.  Not long after 10 ish I was served by one of the two friendly staff.  These places make it easy today, the menu has set breakfasts etc, and all you do is choose one and ask for 'Set 2 please.'  This gave me a decent sausage, two eggs, on fried bread, two bacon, two hash browns, a wee bowl of beans, tea and two thick slices of bread, all for £9 plus small tip.

As I ordered it did not sound much, but in time a large plate appeared and I realised just how much there was here.  By the time I looked at the two toasts I thought I might not finish it all!  But I did!

A very good clean café, with friendly staff, usually lots of customers, today I arrived when it was quiet, and I certainly intend to make use of this place again.  Neatly laid out, tidy, well cared for and I suspect a great many regular customers.  I recommend this place!

Of course, now I am stuffed I can hardly move.

After this, I carried my increased bulk into Sainsburys, chatting to a Labrador pup guarding the owner at the door, and picking up a bag of wee orange things without a label thus holding up the ever growing queue at the other end.  I blethered my way out of their unspoken fuming, and ran for the door.

Altogether it has been a good morning, now to see what can go wrong with the day.

As I left the Kirk yesterday I sauntered along a road I have not walked for years.  The long way home took me past things often noticed but never pictured before.  The old museum habit of taking shots of anything remotely of historical interest has not died.  So, the school sign, declaring it was Essex built in 1929 somewhat boastfully is taken.  Not a school anymore, but still used for kids in some way. 

At the bottom of the hill stands the 1930s pub 'The Oak.'  Now long changed use it stands on the busy  corner.  This picture shows how much things have changed in just over 100 or so years.  

The 1930s building stands slightly to the right of this ancient one.   Judging by the motorbikes and the fashions in the picture this may be around 1914 time.  The distant houses have gone, industrial use now, but at first sight, apart from the rickets, 60 hour weeks, and low pay, life appears more leisurely. 

Only those who know their history would realise this lonely, and probably unused light appears to be part of the original 'Lake & Elliot' factory.  Most buildings remain, all in some sort of use, but only one such as I would jump to a conclusion, probably wrong, that this is ancient.

I limped home, getting slower as I moved, wondering if anyone tends these plants that appear to grow wild at the side of the road?  Possibly the council tend them, but I have never seen any action here.  Still, this is better than another fence, however well painted.

Ottoman Odyssey, Plus...

This is an interesting book.  

Alev Scott roams around the former Ottoman Empire speaking to as many as possible, at least those who would speak, about their life today, and their intriguing double life.  A double life in that so many are born in one country yet long to be 'at home' in another.

From Turkey, a nation she finds herself banned from re-entering, and the complex population, including some Afro-Turks, descendants of one time slaves, living at the poorer end of Turkish society.  Few Turks know of their existence.  We meet Greeks in Turkey and Turks in Greece, though the majority were 'exchanged' during the conflicts of the 1920s, a conflict begun by Lloyd George!  The descendants often confused as to where home lies.  Armenians, with much to grumble about, and the confusion of Cyprus and the politics involved there.  

Many do not realise how much of the Balkans was Ottoman controlled, only the war of 1912 saw them pushed back to the area around Istanbul.  This leaves a confused area behind.  Some loyal to Turkey, and Erdogan ensues such loyalty by large spending in some areas, many strong opponents.  No matter who is in charge the Balkans will always be filled with a variety of conflicts, large and small, usually between close neighbours.

What is clear is the variety of religious and language divisions in the Middle East, in this case emanating from the Ottoman Empire. For many this was no problem, Muslim, Christian and Jew, went their own way worked, ate, lived alongside one another, under whatever controlling body.  Rarely did strife break out.  Since the end of the 'Sick man of Europe,' after the Great War, the conflict intensified, thousand died in battle and massacre on both sides, many removed from homes lived in for generations, as the area is purified.  

This is a good book, it gets close to those who's families were forced to move, to people seeking a return that is never going to be possible, and an underlying image of the majority willing to just get on with their lives no matter who the neighbour is.   

This is a good book for getting to the people on the ground in the one time Empire, real people, not the high up's.  It is well worth a glance.

As the threatened rain had not started, it awaited the afternoon to arrive, I dumped my bag  by the door after returning from Sainsburys and wandered across the park.  It was good just to walk around the green area.  Not the greatest in the world, but a lot of green trees, leaves, bushes, grass, and as such is just a wee bit refreshing for the mind.  

I also met a young lass with two dogs, one friendly the other not so.  He, now 11 years of age, was interested only in chasing the ball she flung via one of those long plastic throwers things.  For an 11 year old dog he was full of life, and I suspect will be for 3 or 4 more.  The other, one of those hairy imitation 'Chow' type dogs, lovely to look at, and keen to meet people.  I suspect at home he sits on the couch on top of the lassie.  The other will just dump himself on the floor and ignore everyone.

Some colour to be seen, but the cheap camera I was using found the grey cloud cover difficult to defeat.  Most wildflowers appear hidden now, the Springtime brings them out, but these days we only have a few around.

Albert Goodwin - Venice

Quiet Saturday

Not a great start to a day that has not started greatly.  Overcast, with patches of blue peeking through, wind blowing tepid air in my face as I staggered drunkenly up the road.  My intention was to head for 'B&M' and obtain one or two things for the kids, and something for myself before the crowds arrived.  

There were no crowds, and there were no items I wanted either.  All those toys and not one suitable for either of them.  What I wanted, a new small clock, was not to be seen either.  At one time thousands of these wee clocks were to be seen in such stores, not one can be found today.  Have they all run out? Did the ship sink on its way from China?  Who knows. 

I wandered back across the park as the weather began to spitefully rain on me.  Even the dogs there this morning ignored me.  

This exciting life continues...

 

 

Isn't it always the way that when you buy cards for birthdays and the like there is not a suitable one in the drawer!  I have just looked through a pile of cards and not one is suitable for the purpose I have in mind.  Why is this?

If I trawl round the appropriate shops, at least three here, I will not find one that fits today.  There will be billions that will fit next week, but will have gone by then, but today there is nothing.

It is because of such major traumas I am now insane.

 

Is it just me or is nothing happening just now?

The media appears empty of real news, Sunak made a statement yesterday which has disappeared quickly, and even Boris spouting in the Mail' has drawn little response.  Have we all given up?

The only excitement concerned Farage.  

Making an appearance on TV bemoaning being locked out of UK ,was intended to gather support from his Blackshirt followers.  Instead, it has sponsored rumours about his Russian money, with Twitter offering many photos of him with Russian ambassadors and the usual crew of Brexit ner-do-wells.  Little sympathy has been on view, this, in spite of a spirited defence by all the usual rich right-wing faces filling the right-wing media.  

Poor little rich lying nazi.

 

Daffs are a Drug

You will realise that as the £1 bunch of Daffodils in this old pint mug have overnight responded to the failing light through the window, I will now fill the page with Daffs?  So far two have opened out, and the rest are beginning to follow.  Not bad for £1 from Sainsburys, and they brighten the place up no end.

In the park opposite the council daffs are standing green and ready to open.  This too brightens the area.  A swathe of bright yellow fills the sight, and brightens the heart.  That I suppose is why people steal them rather than paying £1 at Sainsburys.

Flowers are amazing things, so slight, so colourful and of huge variety.  They work also, making use of the bees to keep the world going.  Do they breathe pollution in and oxygen out like trees?  They certainly make the world a better place.

The park was full of youth this afternoon.  I have no idea what was occurring, I thought it was a drugs fest at first, or a gang fight as in days of yore, but instead it all appeared organised, well run and left me with absolutely no idea what was going on.  Most have since dispersed, youth feeding time calls, and those left gathered in small groups teenage style will no doubt disappear soon.  

The past year has seen few gather here to take drugs and hang out.  Each year the faces change, age catches up with them, and in recent years there has been little noise or problems.  Action has been taken to remove one drug hiding place, now someone wishes to build flats there!   Those that are doing deals must be doing them elsewhere these days.  

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...

A Trudge to Get Bread

As expected we rose to a white landscape this morning.  Slow traffic edged its was along the highway, occasional workers coughed and muttered as they slipped their way past.  Occasional dogwalkers muttered also while trying to find a clear spot for the dog.  Clearly, not all succeeded.  

Much against my better judgement I joined the cheery throng, once the schoolkids had passed by.  Whether they were off to school or off school I knew not, but I let them go first.  By the time I got fed, dressed and had my boots on, the traffic was beginning to flow normally.  Clearly the majority had remained indoors and only the workers and the desperate went out.  I needed bread... 

To get bread I trudged through the snow, being reminded of how hard this could be.  A few inches lay there, pathways already clear down the middle of the path, and at the side areas where children had sought to be the first to leave their footprints in the large white expanse in front of them.  Who can blame them?  Did we all not wish to do that?  And some of you still do!

One man, dressed for the front room, hurried across the park, pulled out his phone, took a quick picture, and ran away back from whence had had come somewhat guiltily.  The rest of us, warmly wrapped and slow moving, ignored him.  Most offered a rueful remark as we passed one another, one woman annoyed at being 'called in' to work when she wanted to take pictures also.  How cruel life is.  I bet her pictures would be better thought out than mine.

At the far end I snapped a shot from an area dominated by the early, and frozen, dog walkers.  I have taken such shots for years yet little changes.  To think that once this was a school ground, and before that a rich man's house?  Before that it appears to have been a field, an old painting shows this in the 1800s with a cow happily wandering about.  All things must change.

 

I had hoped to see the birds behind the church but clearly they were struggling for food at the moment.  None bar an occasional wood pigeon flew by, and they were not stopping.  I wondered how they would feed themselves today, though I suspect peoples gardens would be places to find free offerings in this weather.  Not much I can do to help these days.

My route took me past the freezing Town Hall and the old water fountain, it no longer works of course, but there are less horses, pigs, sheep, cows and buyers these days.  Bottled water appears uppermost today.  Council workers were spreading grit around the area, clearing a safe path, and working up a sweat.  Sadly, we have no equipment that allows me to do this here, just an old stiff brush which merely spreads the stuff and makes it slippier!  I will not tell you how I know this.

The only splash of colour comes from the Post Box.  Note the 'Sat' for Saturday tag, indicating nothing was collected that day.  I suspect it was not collected today either.  Vast quantities of mail fills the Royal Mail offices, little of it finds its way to me however!  I am all in support of the striking workers, however, Royal Mail and this grubby government are not willing to do the deal, the failing attempt to turn the people against the strikers has not yet led to a climbdown by government or their men.  I note however, the nurse will not strike in Scotland as the government their has found a solution to the problem.  Why can the English not do the same?  Simple answer, they do not want a solution, they wish to sell off the NHS to their American friends, line their pockets, and care nothing for the people.

Keir Starmer and the 'Tory Two' Party has failed the workers by refusing to back them, calling for an end to strikes, and even claiming it is impossible to pay the NHS staff more.  This is no longer the Labour Party, this is a man desperate for the top job and he will say anything to get it.  It is time for Starmer to go, he could do nothing when the failing Boris was PM, he failed to remove Liz, and now fails with the latest failing PM, it is time for Keir to leave the show and allow a member of the Labour Party to take over.

Saturday Queuing

Walking through the cold north wind back from Tesco I cogitated on the people seen slowly walking by the Queens coffin.  A never ending TV channel allows us to see the mourners pass by, sometimes hurried by the men in black coats.  All ages appear, a surprising number of children have waited for hours to see this event.  All colours, all ages, all types appear.  Of course MPs and others have privileged entrance, no queuing amongst the plebs for the Rees-Moggs of this world.  David Beckham made an appearance, a publicity stunt clearly, and one that will bring in more cash to pay his wife's debts.  No doubt also that she thought up the idea.  While 45% of Scots claim to wish a republic, 36% a monarchy, in England the proportion is much higher.  No doubt the Brexiteer mob are among the most loyal, the Tory Blue everywhere like to consider they may one day touch that royalty themselves.  Fat chance really.  Today, many pass through the ancient hall, few knowing its History, almost none knowing the queen except for media images and possibly a handshake once upon a time.  But they have come, endured the wait, bossed by the controllers, stand for a moment, bow gently or almost touching the floor, curtsey or salute, or just nod the head and wander thoughtfully on.  Some cross themselves in a variety of manners, others blow a kiss, while servicemen bearing a row of medals from various wars stand tall, adjust their caps, stiffly salute, and march on.  The serviceman's loyalty to the crown is deeper than many realise, this is built into them during service.  The queen herself would enjoy the attention and the show of loyalty.  She would understand also those who wish not to attend, unlike the media whose coverage continues to be sycophantic.     

Edinburgh, Autumn and Football

Louise Rayner - John Knox's House, Edinburgh

A quick glance at this picture and you may think the scene has not changed much in all these years.  This picture, painted in the later 19th century, is full of life and depicts what is supposedly a normal day in the life of the great city of Edinburgh.  We see the High Street, or 'Royal Mile,' as it is known as it leads from Edinburgh Castle down to Holyrood House, has always been a bustling place.  The painting portrays the locals, with a few workers of many kinds included.  The better off by now having moved down into the 'New Town' long since, we can tell the small tenement dwellings are occupied by those standing around in the street.  None are ashamed of hanging out the window and participating in the conversation, none are ashamed of washing hanging from the windows, neither activities being seen done today.  

However, this month Edinburgh endures, sorry, welcomes, the Festival.  An orgy of high class entertainment for the paying public.  Alongside this come the 'Fringe,'  this is an orgy of artists seeking fame and fortune, alongside those from previous generations who made it here in the long forgotten past.  This comes with a plague of leaflets no-one reads, mostly scattered about the streets or pinned to any available post, also unread by passers-by

Add to this mix the Dustbin men are on strike for a week!  This means wheelie bins overflow, rubbish piles up, and none gets collected.  The tourists flooding into Edinburgh, while the locals flood out if they can, get the benefit of Brexit Britain in their face, and certainly up their nose.  An excellent idea of the Binmen to make clear what is happening in our country today, low wages, high energy bills, and Brexit failures flood the nation, and the government, in Westminster, has gone on holiday!  As I keep telling the Brexiteers, "You voted for this!"  But they refuse to accept reality.  "This is not the Brexit I voted for!" Is their cry, though there never was any other on the table.  Lies and devious politicians, backed by very rich men abroad has brought the nation to its knees.  And Brexiteers refuse to accept this.  Trains, docks, Royal Mail, and dustmen on strike, and Brexit continues to make problems.  

Boris is on holiday.

400 miles away from all this I sit watching August slowly disappear from us.  Already 22 days in and leaves are falling from the trees.  Possibly this is encouraged by the dry ground, the heat heavy upon us this year, possibly just normal Autumn approaching.  

The sun still shines, though now through much more cloud, and slowly heads towards the west.  Women take their dogs across the quite safe park, enjoying the sun while standing gossiping about their neighbours with others like minded.  The impatient dogs snuffle around the fallen leaves and sun browned grasses always finding something to keep them busy.  

The rush hour now struggles past the door, music of an awful kind emits from one, a ringing phone from another.  Rap, with a capital 'C' passes by at three miles an hour, followed by the airport bus, hydraulic brakes squealing like a crying child.  Every evening the same people, the same slow struggle towards retirement.  Others, often retired, foolishly shop at Sainsburys in time to meet the rush hour.  They have done this for several years, why?  Have they never considered an early morning or late night shop?   I suppose getting up, checking the pills, finding breakfast, walking the dog, and then it is too late for shopping.  In the evening they would not wish to miss the 'Bread & Circuses' provided for them by broadcasters dulling the brain and hindering thought.  

I avoid such TV yet find my mind is dull and thought hindered.  Having exercised, twice early last week, then twice worked in the front to clear the mess I found my self very tired and aching much from Thursday onwards.  Even today, after a trip to Tesco, my body aches.  This, I must say, has nothing to do with the money saving offer on a bottle of 'Jameson's Orange Whiskey'  that was going cheap last week in Tesco.  Irish whiskey does not just possess a wrong spelling of 'whisky,' it is also only 30%, which tempts some to drink more than they ought.  Especially when watching football.  My neighbours now know I was watching football at the weekend.