Budget Eve

Firstly, I've added my Twitter feed to my blog. It's constantly updating and provides snippets of my day to day activities and thought on the events of the day. It basically runs as a supplement to my blog.

Tomorrow is budget day here in the UK and we will discover just how much more difficult our caring government is going to make our lives. For some people, things can't get much worse. I heard earlier today on the radio how some are unable to eat properly having to restrict themselves to just two meals a day. Others are unable to travel finding the rising cost of fuel prohibitive. And at my regular Tuesday support group, I heard how life becomes more difficult by the day with benefits just barely covering the cost of basic necessities. So I'll be watching tomorrows budget statement with interest, as will I suspect many around the UK worried about how they will pay for the next week's food, the car repairs, the phone bill, their electricity charges and gifts for their child's birthday. A detrimental budget statement tomorrow will I fear provoke a public backlash as I really feel the majority of people will simply not be able to cope with any more hardship...

Thank you Mum!

It's Mothering Sunday here in the UK and we celebrate today our mums and everything motherhood. We did the visits early today depositing cards and gifts. My son had made his own card at school and I bought for him some chocolates and a cupcake, much of it he managed to eat himself.

My son has just one more week at school and then it's the Easter break for two weeks. I can't believe how quickly Easter has come round again, but saying that the chocolate eggs have been in the shops for months.

I'm still enjoying Tween and I'm tweeting more often. In fact one of my tweets was re-tweeted this morning. It was to do with my purchase of some more records at a charity shop yesterday. It was picked up by a charity group and re-tweeted. I don't mind at all, in fact I was quite chuffed that someone was paying notice to my occasional tweets.

My son won't stop growing. We took him to have his feet measured yesterday afternoon and it transpired his feet have grown a whole size in just a few months. He is now a 1G, forcing us to buy him a new pair of school shoes. It's a shame they can't make shoes that can be extended... it would save a fortune.

OK, short update today. I have to be in a writing mood, and I'm not, but more perhaps tomorrow when my head will hopefully be clearer. I'm definitely coming down with something, I woke up feeling like crap this morning. I'm sure I'll feel better tomorrow...

Wednesday Round-Up

I've never been a prolific tweeter. I have a Twitter account but I've never really seen the fascination in tweeting my every thought and action. Recently though, I have begun to tweet a lot more. I was never very comfortable with Tweetdeck, a Twitter client for the PC. It was far more chunky than it really needed to be and often overloaded the processor preventing other programs from running. So I set about trying to find a bit of software that did the same thing but at a fraction of the size. Eventually, I found it. It's called Tween and I think it's quite popular in Japan where it was created. Anyway, I've installed it and I'm mighty impressed. It does all I need it to do without placing any strain on my PC. It does remind me somewhat of the old IRC clients of old. It is basic, fast and simple. Perfect.

Really shocking news today regarding a coach crash in Switzerland claiming the lives of 28, 22 of which are children just 11-12 years of age. It is shocking to comprehend the enormous loss of young life and the level of grief and despair amongst the parents and families of all those involved. As a parent, I can only imagine the pain and agony of losing a child and I know it is something I could never recover from. God rest their souls.

In a blow for justice and common sense, I see today that the MOD have again failed to recognise that illnesses in nuclear test veterans are in any way linked to the hideous explosions they were forced to witness in the 1950's. I find it ridiculous that the MOD can absolve themselves of any responsibility for the health of these ex-servicemen and I hope that they continue their fight at the European Courts. They deserve better.

We are told we're running out of water. Of course it's not the first time. I remember water shortages in the 70's and having to get water from a tank at the end of the road. But that was a long time ago and we're being told that unless we get at least a month of constant heavy rain, the situation will become critical. I'm fortunate enough to have a water butt in the garden which collects rain from the roof guttering. In one heavy shower, the butt can fill, and that's an awful lot of water. It really does show how much is wasted and I wish I had another, but they're not cheap. The next couple of months will decide how severe the restrictions will be. I hear that the first large scale desalination plant is coming online to supply parts of London and it does lead me to question why, given the fact we're surrounded by water, this isn't already done by the country's water suppliers...

Not with My Back & Musings on a Tuesday

With every bout of gardening or more rarely, decorating, comes the inevitable bad back. I've suffered with it for years and despite this I continue to push it to its limit and beyond. Today I am paying the price for my over-exertion. It's always the same - a day's gardening and a week's suffering and recovery. For anyone who doesn't suffer, it's difficult to understand. My wife is sympathetic as I groan and wince with every movement. But it's impossible to describe pain. You just learn to live with it and accept it as another limitation, which I do.

Like many, I have been appalled by the recent senseless loss of life in Afghanistan. Of course I refer to to the reported losses though I'm fully aware that there are countless numbers being lost on a daily basis, many of whom are innocent and literally the victims of ill-judged foreign policy. I don't really do politics, I don't have the time and frankly causes so much division in society. Instead, I remark on what I see as a failed mission for which its justification changes on a near daily basis. The longer we keep our people there, the more of them will sadly be lost, never to return to their families.
There is much talk currently regarding the gun-ho attitude of US troops and the atrocities committed by them in the name of 'American values'. Linked to this is the 'special relationship' we here in the UK are supposed to support and be proud of. I for one am beginning to question this relationship and wonder how much longer we can go on justifying it.

I attended my support group meeting earlier today. The talk was varied as normal but was more downbeat, covering such topics as financial hardship, benefit payments and employment support allowance. We also discovered that one of our members is a sufferer of IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). It took great courage for her to open up to the group and I wonder if her tears were in part caused by the relief she must have felt in being able to discuss it. Just like depression, IBS is another illness that's been dragged into the open and is finally being discussed and better understood. I did also discover that a woman I had previously seen on many occasions driving erratically is in fact her.
Another of our members informed us that following a recent assessment of their illness, their employment support allowance is to be withdrawn forcing her to seek employment. Having spent some time in her company, I am in no doubt of her inability to work and fear that she is yet another victim of failed government health policy and unfair assessment.
Today was certainly a day of discovery. I informed the group of my visit to the bank and its outcome which I suppose could be called progress of sorts. After all, we still have our home.
The journey home was uneventful apart from finding that the car direction indicators stop after so many seconds use. I noticed this at a junction while I waited to turn left. The same seemed to happen when turning right. I suspect it may be a relay - the thing that does the tick-tick-tick sound. Sometimes these get hot and wear out. I remember having a similar problem with an old Volvo.
I stopped off at my parents on the way home. I'd received a couple of letters from Eon for their electricity incorrectly addressed to me. They've been doing this for a long time despite numerous requests to fix it. Once again I was met with a locked door and having to rouse them by repeatedly pressing the doorbell until one of them heard it. This does much to rile me and this was evident when I finally arrived home.

Weather today has been miserable, a blanket of grey and damp. I really had hoped to be able to spend some more time organising my plants for the Spring, but it wasn't to be sadly. Maybe tomorrow will be more conducive.

Finally for now, there could be no better advertisement for gay marriage (for which I am a supporter) than the site on the TV news today of David Cameron and Barrack Obama walking almost hand in hand toward the Whitehouse, jackets slung over their shoulders.

Back in the Saddle & Other Stuff

A bright Sunday morning and a positive feeling to the day. A real wrench from my slumbers this morning and Mirtazapine induced dreams. Deep dreams where all things are possible and where people and feelings are so real. It's a difficult thing to describe unless you've been there. My wife resents the fact that I get to sleep more than her. Our son has her up at around 6am and I know she wants to pull me from my bed but she knows that I do more than just sleep, it's more like a semi-coma. To forcibly remove me from this will often result in the onset of a deep low for the rest of the day. I hate this but that's the way it is. I'm much better if I'm allowed to make the step from my fantasy world to the real world myself. That's the way things are and as long as my doctor prescribes it, that's the way it will be for some time to come I suspect.
In my not-so-private life lately, the time came to confront our bank and go cap in hand to our local branch int he hope they would allow us drastically reduced payments toward our mortgage. My wife came with me despite the fact everything is in my name. We both felt like 'lambs to the slaughter' as we approached the bank and took a seat in the waiting area. I sat there wondering if the people wandering in and out had similar problems. I wondered if they were comfortably well off or had recently won the lottery. I sat there creating imaginary worlds for each person I saw. We both sat for some time feeling like common criminals with our dirty little secret. We didn't speak much, apart from remarking to each other how sweaty our palms had become.
To cut a long appointment short (it lasted over an hour), we were met with more sympathy than I thought we would be. In fact the advisor we met with was very understanding and very helpful, in fact credit to her for putting us at ease and for helping us come to a suitable arrangement. We're paying less than required, a lot less, but there's no other option. I think they could see that. They could also see that to anything else would cause considerable distress and probably make my illness worse than it is. It's a three month arrangement and of course can't go on indefinitely as we're paying nothing off the amount we owe. But it's salvation and for that I'm glad and grateful for their help, something I never thought I would be saying about a British bank in these times.
Something I am looking into is a rather large pension fund I'm sitting on. It's a pension I started paying into when I began working and it contains enough money to pay our mortgage or sort out the small mound of debt we have. Normally I wouldn't be able o do a thing with it until I am 55 but there may be a way of transferring the fund to our bank and in doing so may be able to use the fund to help us with our current problems. I've no idea if this is possible but we're going to seek some independent advice. I don't hold out much hope but it seems ridiculous that I'm sitting on a large pot of money and we owe money, but life is never this simple is it.

The problems in Syria are ongoing with more reports of atrocities and mindless violence. It really does seem to be turning into a repeat of the Kosovo crisis and the inactivity on the part of the UN and International Community to do anything to stop it. One glimmer of hope is the visit by Kofi Anan though I'll be surprised if this makes any difference to the mindset of those hell bent on perpetrating crimes against their own people.

Remaining on the international stage, I see that Putin has been re-elected President of Russia. No one should be surprised at this, it was a foregone conclusion and frankly any amount of voting wouldn't have affected the outcome.

I have another application to complete. It's for a council position and as they're not looking for any specific skills or experience, I've decided to go for it. It's one of those council-generated forms where you don't send your CV but essentially replicate it and explain why you feel you're suitable for the job. I much prefer sending my CV and a covering letter, but that's the way they want to do things. Again I hold out little hope given the current job climate. I was though delighted to hear that my sister has landed a job at a nearby hospital. It's only part time but it's something and I'm sure she'll do very well. In addition, she's always got something wrong with her so she'll be working in the right place!

I've re-discovered podcasting this week. Iain Lee produces a weekly podcast called 'The Pocket Radio Show' which I am finding very entertaining. Iain used to broadcast on Absolute Radio and has been on TV for many years. I've also started listening to Bayley's Banter, another podcast from an Australian who audio-blogs his daily life. And of course I continue to listen to Richard Vobes, the grand master of them all who has been podcasting for as long as I can remember.

I need to start work in the garden and I simply cannot put it off any longer. I have a load of pots that used to have things growing in them. There's now some kind of green fungi. I'm sure I have some onions and garlic somewhere too. My father gave me a load of seed this morning for various herbs and tomatoes so I'll try to get some of these planted today. I also have some hot peppers which I'll try to grow in the conservatory. I failed abysmally last year - perhaps I was too late.

It's a year on from the disaster in Japan and it feels like only yesterday that we witnessed the horrific scenes of whole towns being swept away on a huge tsunami and the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl. I wonder if anything so massive had befallen us here in the UK whether we would have coped so well.

It was good to see my sister and her family earlier today. We don't see enough of each other and it was great that our son was able to stay and play for a few hours. I'm going to attempt some more of that job application now. I simply have to be in the right frame of mind and 'in the zone' if I'm going to make a good job if it. There's no rush to get it submitted as the deadline is 26th March but I'm keen to get if done this week.

Right, blog updated. I'll update as things come to mind.

Richard Carpenter

Another sad death... and so local. So much talent being lost...

Richard "Kip" Carpenter (1933 – 26 February 2012) was an English television screenwriter, author and actor who created a number of popular British television series, the best known internationally is probably Robin of Sherwood.

Born in King's Lynn, Norfolk, Carpenter attended the Old Vic Theatre School before starting an acting career by working in rep. He appeared in occasional films, but was mostly active on British TV in the 60s as a character player, on one occasion opposite Tony Hancockin one of his last shows for the BBC, commonly known as "The Bowmans".

In 1969, Carpenter created Catweazle, the children's series about an unfortunate wizard from the 11th century who is accidentally transported to the present-day. This changed the course of his career substantially. During the 1970s, he wrote the series The Ghosts of Motley Hall(1976–78), Dick Turpin (1979–82), parts of the series Enid Blyton's Famous Five and Doctor Snuggles and seventeen episodes of The Adventures of Black Beauty for ITV companies; and Cloudburst, The Boy from Space and The King's Dragon as part of BBC's Look and Read (1967–2004) programme for schools, some episodes of which he also presented.

In the eighties came the historical adventures Smuggler and its later antipodean-based follow-up Adventurer and between them, the lavish HTV production Robin of Sherwood, which ran for three series. Carpenter then worked on a number of series for children and families in the nineties (The Winjin Pom, Stanley's Dragon and Out of Sight), some of which (The Borrowers, The Return of the Borrowers, and The Scarlet Pimpernel) were based on classic novels.

Carpenter wrote novelisations of many of the early series he created: Catweazle, Cloudburst, The Ghosts of Motley Hall, Smuggler, Robin of Sherwood (two books), and two books ofDick Turpin. Carpenter died from a heart attack on February 26, 2012 at the age of 78..

Remembering 9th February 1996

I don't really know what prompted me to recall this day. My mind often wanders and I remember past events in my life that have particular significance. On this day, 9th February 1996, the IRA broke its cease fire and detonated a huge bomb at Canary Wharf in London. On the same day, I had travelled to London to meet my pen-friend at the time and spend the evening. She lived not far from Canary Wharf and her flat overlooked the location with stunning views of the office buildings and the River Thames. I had spent hours driving the ten miles from my own home in South London desperately trying to locate her address. I recall her trying to direct me via my mobile phone as I drove round and round. At one point, I drove through Canary Wharf as I became more and more frustrated at my inability to locate her home.
Eventually I did locate the block of flats she lived in and we met properly for the first time. We had arranged that I spend the night, so we ate and settled down to an evening on the sofa in front of the TV. Since arriving, I had admired with envy the view from her flat. It was stunning and all the major London landmarks could be picked out from her towering vantage point.
It was at about 7pm when we both heard a huge thunderous roar. This was followed by the curtains blowing in to the lounge where we were sat and a distinct feeling of movement as the tower we were in swayed with the pressure. Unaware of what had happened, we looked in the direction of the noise and saw immediately a huge plume of smoke rising from the site of Canary Wharf. This was very soon accompanied by the sound of sirens and we were able to make out the blue lights as the emergency services begain to rush to the scene. Something big had happened and we both knew it was bad, very bad. As we watched, the TV news reported a large explosion at Canary Wharf. It wasn't immediately attributed to a bomb, but it wasn't long before this was confirmed. To think that just a couple of hours before, I had driven through the site of what was becoming one of the worst attrocities to hit the UK. It made me tremble just thinking about it.
All evening we were able to watch the frantic response to the tragedy from our vantage point. It was a very strange feeling to be so close to something so big unfolding just a mile away.
Thankfully we have been free from such acts of terror for some time and I hope it stays this way, but this is my memory of witnessing such an event a little too close to home.