Markets... long may they live

Earlier, I visited Spalding Market. It was pleasing to see the place so busy. There's something about the market I really like - the mix of stalls, the smells and the hustle and bustle make it a wonderful place to be. Amongst the stalls of fruit, nuts and spices, fresh sea food, antiques and books was a new stall selling freshly made curry. The smell was wonderful and it had attracted quite an audience. Good for them I say! They had an idea and it worked.
There are things an open market offer that I don't think you can find anywhere else. It's a unique experience. It's fascinating to know that many markets have been at the heart of their towns and villages for many hundreds of years, often held on a set day every week of the year. Much of what is sold is produced locally. That's really what I like to see... sausages made from locally farmed pigs, bread made from local grain, fruit grown in local orchards and food from local restaurants prepared in the open.
Walking through Spalding Market, what struck me was the amount of effort the stall-owners put in to making their goods look presentable. It's no easy job. They have to endure the earliest of early starts and often the worst of worst weather. Many run their stalls single-handed, constructing their stall, unloading their goods and preparing them for the likes of me to be prodded, sniffed and squeezed. These are good people, hard working and dedicated.
Shops are closing at an alarming rate. Walking through my local towns, I see so many shops displaying signs such as 'Closing Down' and 'Everything Must Go!'... It's sad. The market though seems to carry on, almost unaffected. Yes they have the same financial pressures we all have but there's something very reassuring about the market. It makes you feel that 'everything's OK'. They are there every week, their stalls looking neat, well stocked and immaculate. The same friendly sellers exchange banter with their 'regulars'. There's a bond that you simply don't get in a supermarket or large store.
For me, markets are special and I love them. Long may they live...

Germany and Bank Holiday blues

Looking out of the window, I see a grey sky and rain. It's the kind of weather I hate, really hate. That blanket grey with no breaks in it at all and the constant rain. Horrible... but typically BBH (British Bank Holiday) weather. I've remarked previously about the effect weather can have on mood. I'm a firm believer in this and my lack of enthusiasm today I'm sure is linked to the damp grey outdoors.

Good news from our friends in Germany though.... they have decided to dispense completely with nuclear power. Now, I am actually against nuclear power - well the way we play with it anyway. I do think it has potential as being a clean energy but there are two fundamental aspects of its use that we don't understand. The first is safety and the second is spent fuel. Nuclear safety is something we don't take seriously enough. Fukushima has taught us that and Germany have conceded that because we can't do it safely then it's best to not to it at all. After all, the nuclear industry is unable to get any organisation to insure its sites - the risk being so high.

The by-products and waste fuel are things we simply do not know what to do with. We prefer the 'out of sight, out of mind option' so bury it underground, hoping it will go away. The truth is of course that it won't - it'll be there in thousands of years from now, assuming it hasn't already leaked into the soil around it.

I do think Germany have made the right decision, but in doing so, they have set themselves enormous challenges to generate energy from conventional and renewable sources. They must be confident in their ability to do this and I don't think the decision to scrap nuclear energy has been just a knee-jerk reaction to Fukushima, though I do think it was influenced strongly by it.

Something I would like to see discussed is 'Thorium Energy'. It's probably something many have never heard of but if you Google the word 'thorium', you'll find a wealth of information relating to it. There are it appears several groups dotted all over the world already playing with it and a few who claim it to be the energy source of the future - clean, plentiful and above all, safe. I won't write much about it here, I'd rather prefer for others to make up their own minds as to the merits of Thorium Energy. It does all sound very exciting though...

Back to Germany and there is no doubt the decision they have made is a huge one - politically motivated or not. I wonder how many others will follow? I suspect very few...

Dressed for the occasion

I  would certainly describe myself as observant. I always have been and I look at things others may normally miss. I observe people especially so any trip out and about brings with it a wealth of opportunity to spot the unusual looking, the under-dressed, the over-dressed or the inappropriately dressed. Today was certainly no exception and a trip to King's Lynn provided a plethora of subjects to study.
I do find myself more and more critical of clothing. My wife would normally always point out if someone was dressed inappropriately but I find myself often doing just that. I do expect people to dress appropriately. I don't hanker for top hats and tailored suits but there is a minimum level I deem appropriate for 'public display'. Sadly, there are fewer people nowadays that meet my 'minimum standard'.
The majority of people in King's Lynn today were shoppers. I knew that because they were carrying bags festooned with high street names. It was busy too - busier than I've known it to be for a long time. So there is certainly money available for spending. The shops I visited were all doing a very good trade. Why then can't people spend just a little of that money on their appearance? I was genuinely shocked by some of the people I saw today. Some displayed more flesh than was decent. Teenagers were barely dressed at all and grown men were dressed in what I can only describe as beach attire. I consider myself pretty broad minded but even I had to look twice. These people were in full public view and going in and out of shops. Surely they must have a level of self awareness or a smidgen of interest in what they look like?
I have always felt that appearance often dictates how others perceive you and affects how you are treated. I know this as I spent many many years in suits - smart suits with crisp shirts and silk ties. I would also have a handkerchief to match my tie and this would protrude appropriately from my top pocket. I looked smart and I knew it. I know for a fact that this would often affect how I was treated and and how people perceived me. In shops, the assistants would be more polite. People in the street would often give way. Above all, I felt good and I felt confident. Now I'm not saying for one second that everyone should go round in suits but I am convinced that appearance is one of those things we've stopped caring about.
For me, the suits have now gone. They went two years ago and now I would only wear one to a funeral or a special occasion. Now, I mostly wear jeans and a polo shirt. At home, I wear what I like - normally jeans and a t-shirt. But when I am out, I still like to feel smart. OK, the man in the suit has gone but that doesn't mean I should drop my standards. I'm not out to impress - I don't need to. I'm happily married and I no longer want the life of a high-flying executive. I've done that. I'm happy now to settle for 'normal'. Normal for me does though mean dressing appropriately - comfortable but smart. I know what that is. My wife is an excellent judge and I looked smart every day - I had to, it was part of the job. It's just so sad that so many do not. If people can't be bothered to make the effort then why should they expect others to do the same?
Or maybe I'm just getting old...?

School and duty of care

I was please with the open evening my wife and I attended the other night for our son's new school. All very professionally done. I do confess to feeling a little like a school kid myself. I might have had something to do with the tiny chairs we had to sit on and the classic classroom layout. The teachers there all see very friendly and passionate about what they do. I do always look for passion in people's work. It's all very well doing what you do to earn a living but when it comes to teaching and being responsible for vulnerable young children, then I look for something extra. I'm glad to say this was evident in what I saw and heard. The school is very small and therefore very focused on devoting as much time as possible to each and every pupil. It was pleasing to see the range of subjects he will be taught along with an impressive array of computers and audio-visual aids.  There are many after-school activities such as gardening club and games evening that I'm sure our son will want to get involved with. Every other Monday the school take the children swimming and there are regular trips to places of interest. Lunches are prepared by a well-known local catering company renowned for their excellent food. In fact it's so good, I may even join our son for lunch!
So we came away feeling quite confident about everything. It's a big thing when you leave your son and daughter in someone else's care and I confess to still feeling a twinge of sadness whenever he's away from us.
He starts attending reception days from 6th June until 20th June and will begin school properly in September.

Duty of care is an enormous responsibility and hugely important. Head of social services for any organisation carries with it the responsibility and accountability for your actions and the actions of your staff and all those who report to you. I therefore find it quite unbelievable that we are now being asked to feel sorry for Sharon Shoesmith and dismiss the death of 'Baby P'. It's all very well her saying she's 'not in the blame game', but I'm sorry, am I missing something? There has to be blame. A child you were paid a huge amount of money to ensure the safety of died needlessly. This is despite countless visits and knowing that the child was living in an 'at risk' environment. The attitude of this woman is simply unbelievable. What makes me so angry is the fact that she is now trying to be the person 'hard done by' and the victim of ill treatment. Excuse me but if anyone should be complaining it's 'Baby P' who has lost everything. He never had a chance to make his mark on the World.
You disgust me Sharon Shoesmith. How dare you absolve yourself of any blame. I hear the government object to the ruling of unfair dismissal. Good - I hope they find a way to bring you and your team to justice. Your job was to prevent harm to a vulnerable child. In my view, you failed in the worst way possible.  Surely that has to be wrong...?

OK, I'm glad I got that off my chest...

Serbian justice, rain and my brave little soldier

It's good to see that Ratko Mladic has finally been caught and will soon be brought to justice. The deaths this man is responsible for is incalculable and it's difficult to know what sort of punishment would be suitable. This person committed mass genocide and comparison can definitely be made with the atrocities of the Second World War. I recall the period well and the feeling of utter helplessness as day after day we were served the horrific images of senseless violence and death on our TV screens. This was happening on our doorstep, in Serbia, in Europe and it can be argued that we along with the rest of Europe and the US did very little to stop it. I believe it is a period in our recent history that we should be ashamed of but as to what is done with the perpetrators, I cannot say. It will have to be left up to the Hague though I doubt very much whether anything they do will even begin to placate those who lost sons, brothers, mothers and sisters back in 1995.

I see we have rain, and lots of it. It's actually quite welcome and for the first time in ages, the car looks quite clean. I've just returned from collecting my son from playschool and a visit to the local health center. He needed his pre-school boosters and I really wasn't looking forward to it at all knowing he was going to have two injections. I actually felt more nervous than he did. When it came to it, he actually coped with it a lot better than I thought he would. I was expecting tears but he didn't shed one, instead he just said 'ouch' as each needle entered his arm. The nurse was impressed too and gave him two stickers for being brave. As a treat for being a little soldier, we bought him a McDonald's for his dinner.

This evening, my wife and I are off to see our son's new school. He starts there properly in September. The school as I've mentioned previously is practically next door so we don't have to go far at all. It'll feel quite odd visiting a school as a parent. I recall my parents coming to see my new school many years ago, looking at displays of projects, chemistry experiments and physical education. It didn't mean much to me back then - it just all looked a bit scary and I know I didn't look forward to it at all. The opposite is true of my son - he's quite excited and looking forward to going to 'big school'. What will certainly help is the fact it's a fairly small school with less than fifty children. I hope to find out a lot more later this evening. I'll be interested in the teaching techniques that are used - not just a chalkboard or text books as it was in my day - but computers and interactive tools. Above all, I would wish for my son to feel comfortable and at ease with his new environment but I should get a feel for that later on.

The weather we're having at the moment is quite lively. I like the weather to 'do something'. I can't stand all that boring grey stuff we're so famous for. We certainly need the rain but I wouldn't have thought a few heavy showers will make much of a difference to water levels in our reservoirs.  I did find out earlier that the model railway cabin I spend much of my time in has a leak. It's always leaked down the walls due to the roof not fitting the walls properly but this time rainwater was dripping from the ceiling directly above the small village I have been creating. I don't think it will be a simple job to fix. The whole roof really needs sealing properly.
Today I started work on terraforming a small hillock which will eventually hold the other end of a viaduct I'm adding to take a line above the village I'm building below. It's quite an ambitious plan though I'm quite confident of success. I'll try to take some photos tomorrow or Saturday and upload them.

Again, I felt I had little to write about and manage to produce a small novel. I hope it hasn't been too boring but I do like to record a little of what I get up to day to day.

Oh, must mention soon about my brother-in-law. He's in hospital with appendicitis, poor chap.

King's Cliffe

Something that appears to have escaped my news radar is the plight of the people who live in and around King's Cliffe, Northamptonshire. The government have gone against their protests and the opposition of the district council to agree to the dumping of low level radioactive waste in a nearby landfill site. This has quite incensed me and I can imagine how I would feel if a decision was made for me to do the same thing here.
Quite how anyone in their right mind could justify the burial of radioactive waste is beyond me - regardless of whether it it low risk or not, it still presents a risk not just now but for future generations. I understand also that the landfill is above a water table to the contamination of natural spring water in the area is highly likely.
There seems to be total disregard for the views and fears of the local residents and the authorities have adopted a typical 'out of sight, out of mind' attitude to the whole thing - and that has to be wrong. Surely the days are gone whereby if we didn't like something, we simply buried it. Burying radioactive waste cannot be the answer. Are the authorities going to supply local residents with gieger counters and provide an alarm for radiation leakage? No is most definitely the answer. In truth, no one will actually care once it's buried. The people who will care, and who will go on caring, are the people of King's Cliffe who will be worrying for their children playing in the fields, worrying whenever they drink from the tap and worrying about how much their homes will be worth. For these people, their lives will change and all because of an ill thought money-oriented decision by the machine of government here in the UK. If it's so safe, then why isn't it being buried in London or near Sandringham perhaps? There's loads of open space there. Of course it won't - it's too risky. So why risk the people of King's Cliffe...?
I support fully the people of King's Cliffe and oppose this decision to pollute a vast area of land with radioactive waste. I would suggest that their fight should be taken to the European Courts if they haven't already done so.
Wrong, wrong wrong!

Letters and Marmite

I'm a little lost for inspiration at the moment for something to write about. I do often get like this, it'll last a couple of days and then all of a sudden I'll find loads to comment on. For this entry, I've decided to use my Apple PowerMac. It's the most neglected of all my computers. I don't know why really, after all, it is more comfortable to use. Windows appears more harsh in comparison to its warm, soft and inviting operating system. I do like typing on it but I could do with a bigger monitor. I have to look up at it as the monitor is perched up on high and I have to sort of look up to it.

Yesterday I posted two important things. The first was a Warrant of Execution request. It sounds worse than it actually is. It's a form that requests the court to enforce and order they have  already served but has been ignored. Normally you have to pay for this privilege - £200, but I have special dispensation. So that should have arrived at the court this morning. I'm wondering if they simply send the instructions to the bailiff to go and collect my money...?
The second thing of importance is my loan request. This time it was sent to the Lincolnshire Credit Union. I added a pleading letter along with copies of all the other documentary proof they needed. I'm hoping they will be in touch soon to say that they have granted my request. If so, I will be able to go ahead straight away and book my course. There is of course every chance they may say no. After all, alarm bells go off in banks whenever my name is mentioned. I do though have the funds to pay the first few months repayments so I'm hoping that will go in my favor.

Oh, a Happy Birthday to my nephew Oliver. He's 6 today and growing up fast. He's a very studious child for his age and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he ends up at university. He'll always be more studious than my son - mine just wants to enjoy himself and drive buses like his Daddy. I'd hate to force my son to learn, I enjoy his innocence and a know-it-all for a son like I would not. On that subject my wife and I are to visit his school Thursday evening. It's the school he starts in September. He doesn't have to go far - the school is about 50 yards from our home. I'm hoping that knowing he's near home will make him feel a little more comfortable when he starts 'big school', as we call it. I know feeling a long way from home made it all the worse for me when I was his age...

I've decided I really don't like Alex Ferguson. He's just another one of those odious runts obsessed by their own importance and another example of someone who thinks they can stop others from speaking freely. If you don't like what you hear about your players,  do your job and get them to behave a little more appropriately.

Marmite! Apparently the Danes have banned the import and sale of Marmite. The justification is based on the various vitamins and minerals in the ingredients. Essentially it's too healthy. OK, two can play at that game. Let's ban the import of their bacon based on additives and the factory farming methods used to mass produce it. After all, anyone ever tasted Wiltshire bacon? Far superior.

So for someone who didn't have much to write about, I think I've done pretty well. And I haven't even mentioned Obama's visit to the UK and Ireland. I did have to laugh when one of his 'beast's' got stuck leaving the US Embassy in Dublin.