Thursday Shopping!

This depressing view is how we shop today.  Romance tells us that in the past small shops were friendlier, more sociable and more human.  The last is certainly true!  The sociability and friendliness depended on the shop owner but their size at least was easier for as human to comprehend.  Today large shopping centres are geared to the rich man in his automobile, leaving a depressing emptiness outside, even if clean and safe.  The large buildings house all those shiny things we long desperately for, whether they make us happy or just fill our emptiness is another question.  Today in search of something shiny I took myself to the Stanway centre by bus, I left the Bentley in the garage.  

Now some weeks ago it came into my head to fix the broken PC, I need this in working order in case the laptop dies, dead computer means life as we know it comes to a halt, and that will never do! Struggling with this idea I was in Chelmsford, at Maplins shop, investigating a motherboard an other nameless bits on the shelves there.  My brilliant brain decided to leave it and investigate PC World and the vast stocks on their shelves, therefore I was here in their Stanway shop.  Here I discovered, via a friendly and competent young assistant, that since uniting with 'Curry's,' PC World/Currys no longer stock the inside bits for PCs, only shiny new ones.  The young lad suggests I try 'Maplins,' they stock motherboards he offers helpfully.  My slumped shoulders headed for the bus stop where I caught the next one into Colchester itself in the vain hope that their shop would be readily available in the town centre, it wasn't!  Bah!  So I wandered about, avoiding the charity and book shop temptations keeping my eyes upwards looking in case something interesting was to be found.  Several bumps into people and street furniture later I changed my approach.

      

Behind the Roman wall at what once was the edge of town stands St Mary at the Wall a redundant church that has stood here for around a thousand years and now is merely an 'arts' centre.  I suspect it will be an excellent venue according to the many big names that have appeared there, it must hold a thousand or so in the main hall.  Had it not been for the dual carriageway someone had dumped in front of me I would have had a closer look.  

This is a pub called 'The Bull.'  They have enabled even the daftest to realise this by placing a 'bull' high above the door.  This of course was what was done in days of yore when education was lacking, even the daftest could tell the difference between a bull and a Swan, as many were named.  The flags are out to tempt people to watch the 'Six Nations' rugby which is on at the moment. Sadly the sun shines on the other side of the street hence the dullness.

  

The Edwardian's liked fancy buildings!  The Baroque Town Hall was built in 1902 with a rich patron, James Paxman, paying for the tower soaring high above crowned by the statue of St Helena the towns patron saint.   Inside and out it represents the wealth the men of the town wished to impress upon the world, and bask in reflected glory themselves.  No doubt some of those men were around when Henry Charles Fehr sculpted the war memorial raised in 1923.  The usual words bedeck the memorial as the townspeople attempted to believe their war was indeed just and glorious.  Memorials raised today do not inspire such admiration I think.

I was unable to find 'Maplins,' probably because it lay on the other side of town from where I landed, so instead had a closer look at the 15th century gatehouse to St Johns Abbey, the only remaining part of said abbey.  Besieged during the English Civil War, which was not very civil as may lost their heads here, the gatehouse survives although behind lies merely a car park, and only for the use of the members of the organisation based here.  

At one time this supported a statue of either a saint or a local worthy, today it just wears away in the rain.  The siege may also have caused damage, the twin was almost worn away.  

Inside the small gate reflects the small size of people in those days, six foot tall people were unusual at the time, and I wondered about the people who peered from the windows at those waiting outside for them.  The Benedictines moved in late in the 11th century and moved out when Henry VIII kicked them out.  The Abbot refused to hand the place over and was gently hanged just outside the gate. Henry had no patience in those days.  The Lucas family took over and moved in, sadly they supported the crown during the civil war in 1648 and this led to their end and the bits of damage to the gatehouse.  The buildings inside disappeared over the years.

I was impressed by this wee house, dated 1823, clearly enlarged since and more so round the back I noticed, but remaining a delightful small cottage.  I am not jealous I state here, not jealous at all.  St John's Green primary school also drew my admiration, although I am not willing to attend there.  Built in 1898 in a kind of Dutch style it reflected the weaving history of the area and the Flemish connections from the past.  

  
As infants rarely have the ability to read I am struck by how many old schools put directions above the doors to ensure the wee ones went into the right area. Maybe they were a wee bit brainier in those day?

This area abounds in churches that date back a millennium, the disused Church of St Giles goes back to the 12th century but I am not sure what it is used for these days, signs are not obvious. The tower got my attention, that appears very Saxon in its style but it dates from around 1700ish.  As always it has been amended and added to over the years but now lies quietly surrounded by the iron railings that also go back to the 1700's.  

Behind me as I took this picture lay the main police station, the cells I believe lie behind the small square, thick glass windows I leant against, you may no better.  When this station was built in the 80's an archaeological dig discovered 371 Roman burials and this building dating from 320 - 340.  The evidence indicates this could be the earliest church building in the British Isles but further evidence is wanting.  Some reckon it is possibly a Roman soldiers Mythraeum, but they would, wouldn't they?   Ever known archaeologists to agree?  Bah!

Having wandered around the town with my money still in my pocket I splashed out on a £1.50 coffee from this man at the bus station and well worth it it was! I was intrigued as to how somebody ends up running a very successful coffee stall and it transpires this man is an ex-serviceman.  That got me wondering also.  Now he may be happy in his work, he may be making a good profit, this is a busy place to operate, and he may well make sufficient to keep his family happy but it suddenly seemed sad that a man who risked his life in Northern Ireland and Afghanistan should be running a coffee stall.  As stated he might well be happy but it seems to me men who have risked lives for the nation could be getting better treatment than they do, especially when they are capable, knowledgeable and possess that amiability we often find in such men. I am just glad he is as fit as he is, IDS would be naming him in parliament otherwise.

While admiring Coggeshall's old buildings and remembering I was going to visit there I found this cat that I noticed last time.  He slinks on the roof high above the crowd looking for birds that are not gathering in front of him.  Maybe they think he is real!  It reminds those with cameras to always look up, and check it is safe to do so, as above the shop doorways there is often something intriguing awaiting you. 

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A Day Off by Rail

The sound is a bit out....

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O Happy Day!

What a strange feeling, coming home early from the museum, after indeed a very quiet morning, and finding I had all the time in the world to myself! Having 'worked,' three days last week there was no time to sit and stare dreamily into space study, research and cogitate on the world around me.  There were a few queries, some visitors and one or two wee jobs to do but generally it was a quiet morning for me.  With the landlord's lass arriving to check the boilers as they do once a year I wished to be here when she and the plumber were busy. The aim of this was not to check the job was done correctly, it always is, but to ensure she did not notice the bits I have allowed to fall into disrepair!  I did not wish to hear grumbles, I canny stand folks who complain! However offering her tea, from my only clean cup, and noticing the plumber refusing this offer, he had one last year I reckon, this tea and chat stopped her looking around.  Why she comes must be to check as the plumber is trustworthy enough in my view, but I suspect some folks think this wise.  I was informed the folks next door are leaving, this is good as they have not been bad but have not been too sociable either, too young to relate to others.  Hopefully someone decent can afford to move in now.  

So once they left I was sitting at the laptop working out what on my 'to do' list to ignore first. The answer was easy, with all this free time on my hands I had no choice but to fall asleep for a while, and jolly good it was too!  How on earth did I ever get things done when I was working 35 hours a week?   What with work, shopping, sleeping, cooking, eating and whatever else came up I cannot understand how I got through so much with so little time.  Now I have time I do so little! Some ex-managers may make a comment here .....

AOL

The weather continues to disappoint.  Floods ruin houses of the rich and the poor, blame is passed from hither to thither, welly clad politicians pose amongst the suffering, Cameron promising to help and to spend money.  We shall see, and we shall wonder where it shall be spent.  The cynics already claim the Tory heartlands will benefit, not Somerset and the like!  We shall see.  Politicians talk but can do nothing about the weather, all seem unable to identify an honest appraisal of the situation, those that do keep quiet about it.  Another week of this is promised, high winds blasting rain again tomorrow, what is going through the minds of those already two foot deep in water I wonder?  Poor things, the immediate effect will last for several long weeks, the long term affect will never end for many.  

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Grumblings

I've just watched a 42 year old man race down a slippery slope on a tin tray at a thousand miles an hour.  Not only this but he was lying on his back, feet first, all the way!  There were great celebrations at the bottom, was this because he survived I wonder?  The commentator is getting very excited about all this, they usually do, and while a group of thickly clad men jump around emitting screams every now and then I find myself asking,"Was it worth four years of struggle for this?"  Mind you it makes more sense than the dancing on ice, what on earth makes them think that is 'sport?'  I think it's a form of suicide myself.  Football for me, on grass, not ice!  

This is a painting someone wishes to purchase for £40 million!  This is a Francis Bacon 'portrait' of a boyfriend called George Dyer.  Bacon was of course a confused, mixed up individual famous for producing a canvas of confused and distorted works which obviously led him to fame in the art world. Talent is less important there than fame!  This er, picture, was sold for £4 million once before, was sold on for over £7 million to the Mexican who owns it now and is expected to fetch £40 million, probably from some daft Russian oligarch laundering Putin's money.  The art world, like the fashion world, is one great hoax in which people with too much cash, sometimes their own, squander it on rubbish art and pontificate on its importance.  I have news for them, it ain't important.  A mess of oils is worthless, just as female outfits designed by strange and famous men are worthless.  Outside in the real world a life is available, and art and fashion play a part there, come and join us. To some extent Thatcher is to blame here, closing the psychiatric hospitals has not helped this artist, and indeed many similar others.   

     

At an auction in Edinburgh a wealthy American announced that he had lost his wallet containing £10,000 and would give a reward of £100 to the person who found it.

From the back of the hall a locals voice shouted, "I'll give £150!"

*

A  plane was shot down over Iraq and Saddam Hussain captured a Scotsman,an Englishman and an Australian. Saddam says "I'm not as cruel as George Bush says I am You will be given 50 lashes each but you can have whatever you want on your back"

The Australian goes first and asks for the finest Kangaroo hide there is to cover his back. This is granted and he receives the kangaroo hide before he receives 50 lashes. His back is all torn and bleeding but he survives.

The Englishman says "I will take it as it comes I will have nothing on my back and will be proud to bear the scars" he shouts defiantly"Stiff upper lip you know eh what" His wish is granted and he receives his 50 lashes, his back torn and bleeding, his ribs fractured and protruding, a terrible mess to behold.

"Now Jock It's your turn you have the same choice as the other two what would you like on your back" says Saddam. 

Jock replies quickly and without hesitation "I'll have the Englishman"

 *

Making wool for kilts.

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Cheap Paint on Kitchen Walls...

Kitchen ceiling, kitchen floor, kitchen sink, cooker, washing machine, kitchen window, me....... 

So glad it's just a wee kitchenette....

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Sunset

Having spent the whole day enclosed in the museum once again it was a delight to be out in the open air, even if only taking the free bus down to B&Q for a tin of paint!  The sky was wonderful, and I am afraid my picture does not capture the vibrant colours as they actually were, still it's a good shot.  Such a shame the car park and the rest of the shopping centre spoilt the view.  Such a shame also that after this even more cloud and rain storms will fall across the southern part of the nation tonight adding to the woes already encountered.  I must admit it is only tonight, once I actually took time to look at the TV pictures, that I realised how widespread the floods have been. Indeed one of the streams near here flooded today leaving my boss with an hours delay this morning.  I am even more glad to be here, slightly higher than the area round about.  What devastation the floods have caused, a combination of very heavy continual rainfall and high tides arriving at the same time.  Acres of low lying land flooded, houses also, rail lines destroyed, and only now does the government appear to be responding properly.  Of course at the moment there is little to be done but suffer until the rain stops and the waters recede.  Maybe Councillor David Silvester was right after all?

This was where I spent my day, while on my desk back home among the dust particles lay a long list of jobs requiring urgent attention, hence the trip to B&Q!  The cheapest matt emulsion they had was obtained and I will spend some of Saturday splashing it across the small kitchen as this is a quicker and more efficient way to improve the look than attempting to clean it all down!  The bad side of this is that everything else will look dim in comparison and I will then require more paint to do the East Wing.  Actually sitting putting barcodes on small toys and discussing a historic building was more enjoyable really.  Who knows what will happen next here.  The lass who bullies me is leaving and no one appears sure what will happen now.  We of course will be the last to know as always.  I'm annoyed she leaves as the place was fun, even if she fussed like a woman and panicked too often, that is my job!  Who knows who will arrive now.

So now I am attempting to return my mind to equilibrium (is that a country?) by reading your blogs and seeking sleep.  As the pic features clouds you may wish to peruse Kays blog tonight as she has a few pictures worth a look, although she always ensures she finds a way of getting into at least one of them!  To make matters worse there is no football to watch tonight, how rough can things be I ask?  In the morning, after shopping, painting and clearing up the weeks mess I will respond to blogs that require, indeed need, an answer, till then I just read and enjoy them.

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Per Adva ad Astra Mush

"Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep." 

Suffolk King Henry the Sixth, Part Two.

     WISDOM FROM 

FLIGHT TRAINING MANUALS

'If the enemy is in range, so are you.' 

-Infantry Journal-

 

 'It is generally inadvisable to eject directly 

over the area you just bombed.'

- US.Air Force Manual -

'Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword 

obviously never encountered automatic weapons.' 

- General Douglas MacArthur - 

  'Tracers work both ways.' 

- Army Ordnance Manual- 

  'Five second fuses last about three seconds.' 

- Infantry Journal -

  'Any ship can be a minesweeper.  

Once.' 

- Naval Ops Manual  - 

  'Never tell the Platoon Sergeant you have nothing to do.' - Unknown Infantry  Recruit

  'If you see a bomb technician running, 

try to keep up with him.'

- Infantry Journal-

  'Yea, Though I Fly Through the  Valley of the Shadow of Death, I Shall Fear No  Evil. 

For I am at 70,000 Feet and  Climbing.' 

- Sign over SR71 Wing  Ops-

  'The only time you have too  much fuel is 

when you're on fire.' 

-Unknown  Author-

  'When one engine fails on a twin-engine airplane,

you always have enough power left to 

 get you to the scene of the crash.' 

-Multi-Engine Training Manual-

  'Without ammunition, the Air  Force is just 

an expensive flying  club.'

-Unknown  Author-

  'If you hear me yell; "Eject, Eject, Eject!” 

the last two will be echoes.' 

If you  stop to ask "Why?", you'll be talking to yourself, because by then you'll be the pilot.'

-Pre-flight Briefing from  a Canadian F104 Pilot-

  'What is the similarity between air traffic 

controllers and pilots? If a pilot screws up, the pilot  dies; 

but If ATC screws up... the  pilot dies.

-Sign over Control Tower  Door-

  'Never trade luck for skill.' 

-Author  Unknown-

  The three most common expressions 

(or famous last words) in military aviation are: 

'Did you feel that? 

What's that noise? 

and 'Oh  S...!' 

-Authors  Unknown-

  'Airspeed, Altitude and  Brains. Two are always 

needed to  successfully complete the flight.' 

-Basic Flight Training  Manual-

  'Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a  person on the ground incapable of 

understanding or doing anything about  it.'

• Emergency  Checklist--

·        

'You know that your landing gear is up and locked 

when it takes full power to taxi to the  terminal.' 

- Lead-in Fighter Training  Manual -

  As the test pilot climbs out of the experimental aircraft, having torn off the wings and tail in the crash landing, 

the crash truck  arrives. 

The rescuer sees the  bloodied pilot 

and asks, 'What happened?' The pilot's reply: 'I don't  know,

I just got here myself!'  

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Need Sleep

Picgifs

I need sleep!  All this work and no play, the having to stay up late to watch football is grinding me down.  While aiding the museum and watching football I am being worn down.  On Monday I had to stay awake watching Manchester City being shown up by Chelsea, last night I was forced to watch Sheffield United make fools out of Fulham and being a cup tie replay meant there were thirty extra minutes being played. Tonight once again I was, under duress, made to watch Preston North End play Nottingham Forest.  This plays havoc with my sleep patterns you know, especially as once the game is over I have other things to do, a blog to write maybe or emails to send, sometimes I must read other blogs and they insist I respond, even though my mind is clearly elsewhere (if found please return to sender), or there is a game of 'TetriX' or 'Bouncing Balls' that must be played.  

To make matters worse today I was set to endure a long siesta after lunch however the lass from the museum rang and by the simple ruse of crying her eyes out forced me to go in and cover one of the new girls, others having gone off because of family illness.  Being prey to crying women I put aside my ex-army blankets decent lunch 'to do' list and found myself at the museum all afternoon. Would ya believe others are of on a razzle on Friday and I must go in and cover them also!  Jings it's like having a job!  Apart from a sarky woman when I made a mess of the credit card machine and the school party wearing us out it was quite straight forward, but did require a lot of running around. especially after we had finished with the kids when we sat and drank tea and stared at the rain lashing the window, we were unable to do anything else! Lovely bright kids, well controlled and keen, but so many at a pace to much for old folks those of us no longer working full time.  After this we busied ourselves on easy tasks!  A good day in fact, but tiring. 

Of course this means almost nothing has been done here.  The hundreds of jobs awaiting doing are still awaiting.  My desperation to do them is somewhat awaiting also.  My books are lying, each with a bookmark sticking out plaintively screaming at me to open it!  The dust is also lying everywhere screaming at me but I turn a deaf ear to that!  Now I have written this I am finding myself wider awake than when I was watching Notts Forest moving through the rain into the next round of the English Cup, is that not typical? 

Well maybe I can force myself to sleep.....zzzzzz  

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Good Health

As I proceeded in a westerly direction on leaving the museum this afternoon I was hindered in my perambulation by a man with a van.  It transpired and came about that he was offering a 'FREE' 'Health Check.'  Now normally in such circumstances I would call a constable however I quickly realised that this was an authorised NHS service.  The idea is of course prevention rather than cure, a worthy plan and one most people agree with, and then ignore!  I had considered visiting the doc to get such basic tests to ensure long life and happiness but they are too busy these days, in fact my doc has closed the door or newcomers and will only deal with those suffering a disease of some sort, idiocy doesn't count.  So I took advantage of this free check up which was all conducted by digital machinery!  
Everything was done by use of a wee hand held computer.  This calculated all the measurements he obtained including cholesterol, obtained by a pinprick on the finger, then the trained, but not professional nursing, staff were efficient.  A male dealt with me, a female for the other lot. Nothing you wished to keep secret was exposed or discussed, that is for the GP, no stethoscopes were hurt in the making of this diagnosis.   
My weight, height, waist, cholesterol, Blood Pressure like were tested and he pronounced me to be alive, much to my shock, in fact the results were much better than I thought.  By referring to a series of colour coded charts he pronounced me FAT SLOB!  This led to advice I already know on eating, exercise and not eating cheese.  This last I objected to because I must eat cheese or I die I told him.  It appears many men make the same objection but that is one thing that must decrease.  Bah!  'Porage' rules now.
I was impressed by this mobile health check idea, it reminded me of the mobile X-Ray vans that toured factories in the 50's and 60's.  A very good way to encourage good health.  Naturally a lot of people would not take advantage of this as they are afraid they will discover some illness, or indeed that they require urgent weight control.  The refusal appears somewhat sad to me but I was the ninth today to undergo this quick procedure.  Many things in the NHS require change, and NOT by privatisation through the back door Mr Cameron! The idea of a wee van stopping folks in the street and offering a free check for simple procedures can only be good.  


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Late Night Scribblings

I have a strange compulsion to write.  I have nothing to say, little articulation of my thoughts, and no readers to er, listen.

The last bit stops me from being mistaken for the ‘Daily Mail.’

As far as I can remember this desire first found life once I left school, well actually two or three years later as far as I can remember.  On occasions I would sit on a train heading north wondering if it were possible to write about the experiences, such as they were on the journey. Rarely did anything come of this, and the world rests in peace because of it. 

It flared up when Blogger came along and I decided to influence the world by putting my ill thought out opinions on line.  

No-one replied.  

It took a while to work out how to contact the world, and often times it spoke back.  It did not always encourage me to continue.

The good people still speak to me today.  The bad people either stop reading or have sadly missed the opportunity to consider my thoughtful contribution to er, literature.  They have a point I suspect.

Why do I wish to write?  I left school at 15, well 14 actually, the day before my 15th birthday, with no qualifications and a suggestion that I could get an 'O' level if I stayed one more year. That was like asking POW's if they would like to stay another year and get a qualification!  I ran away!  I did obtain an English 'O' level a few years ago through answering questions via buttons on a screen. This gave me a certificate but I suspect the one on offer in Edinburgh would have been harder to obtain!  

So why attempt to write when I have little idea of grammar, syntax (wot?), or the use of a full stop?  Is it because I have something to say?  My words tend not to change the world when I speak to people personally, however I do get a response, but let’s not go into that!  Could it just be my itchy fingers wishing to run across the keyboard?  That certainly is a phenomenon that occurs when I have been unable to use the machine for a while, I need my fix on the keyboard.  It can be worse when the PC or laptop breaks down and I have to leave the house and actually speak face to face with folks! 

No, I think I just want to write something, anything, and so I have.  Therefore I am quite content.  I have had my fix, I have spoken, no-one has listened, and I have said nothing.  Another day at the office then?

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