Alt.Mustardland

GLO, there is little chance of us attending a Teddy Bear's Pinic today. We set off earlier with every intention of covering a few miles of the South West Coastal Path. Sadly, though reasonably warm we were driven back mid-morning by a persistent heavy drizzle. Discretion being the better part of val...

Sadly, like GLO I'm not a swimmer. Enquiries about an Aquarobics class, intended to lead adult non-swimmers into swimming. However, when I called about it I was told that, as a man I couldn't join. It wasn't advertised as females only and, I did feel like a letter of complaint was due. Couldn't be b...

EB, I'm really pleased that Wellsy is putting about in the pool. Please pass on my best wishes to her. She sprang to mind a couple of days ago when, I began reading 'The Subtle Serpent' by Peter Tremayne. It's one of the Early Sister Fidelma mysteries. In this story Fidelma was asked to investigate ...

I was concerned about Wellsy too. Her spell in hospital is new to me also.

Both, I still believe that the 'sidelining of local authorities began under Thatcher and has been ongoing under every other administration ever since. During the early 80s, the Thatcher government not only compelled LAs to sell council houses but, they also introduced LMS (Local Management of School...

Rwth, I have long been concerned that since the early years of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister there have been moves to reduce the role of local government. Currently this manifests itself in the encouragement that central government is giving to schools to become academies, receiving their fund...

We're not in Birmingham. Our LA is Dudley.

Must confess that despite my left wing political leanings, I have never had much truck with unions. Briefly a member of one but, didn't like be told what to think about a certain issue.

Have to say that I get increasingly frustrated with the actions of local authorities. Our own changed political hands last year from Labour to Conservative. After several years of "We have to cut this and that!" even threatening eighteen months ago to charge schools for crossing wardens, s...

Only a few schools re-opened hereabouts, our granddaughters' Catholic Primary being one of the exceptions. Mind you the weather this morning and all of yesterday kept the local kids indoors.

GLO, it's St Ives in Cornwall. Actually, we're staying in Carbis Bay, an hour's gentle walk from the harbour at St Ives. There's the Barbara Hepworth studio and the Tate St Ives. Option of trips to Penzance/Lands End (possibly not), Falmouth and St Just. Alternatively, we can take advantage of our w...

It must be September, we're back to picking up our granddaughters from school again. A new class in the case of the eldest. The summer school holiday seems to go just as quickly as when I was a kid at school! The weather appears almost Autumnal hereabouts except it can't be described as cold it has ...

Yes September. It's the start of 'meteorological Autumn' though I doubt we'll see much in the way of 'mists and mellow fruitfulness' yet a while. Today has been a pleasant enough day. Had a good brisk walk this morning. Then went out and bought a new car. Should explain that I'm not a 'car fanatic' ...

'Agricultural' smells are quite common and, oddly enough only give rise to complaints when they change or, there's a change in wind direction. This is because we become accustomed to smells and, sometimes noise. I worked for many years in in the paint industry. Many paints for industrial use nowaday...

GLO, the whole thing may have some basis in fact. It's possible that a tank carrying some chemical substance vented tanks a little was off shore. However, we've all witnessed the suddenness in which a sea fret/mist can descend. On such occasions the temperature can fall quickly, maybe just two or th...

Finding the mysterious 'toxic gas cloud' very difficult to rationalise. This is becauseI have a worked for two employers where large numbers people have reported feeling unwell due to 'a strange smell' in one case and, 'poisonous fumes from a chemical fire' in another. In the first instance, over a ...

The move to the bungalow, that these days is the embodiment of Castle Cravat. As I wrote previously, it met all our initial expectations. We chose the wrong time to sell, the Autumn of 2009. The Papers were beset with news of 'toxic loans', financial collapse and, the deterioration of the housing ma...

Of course, I recall reading of the 1952 flood on the East Coast. I also recall one close to Rwth's current home, Lynton/Lynmouth if memory serves. Of course finding a new home is a difficult and tortuous process at the best of times. I regard my OH and I as really fortunate. This is our third home s...

GLO, Sadly I am not at all familiar with Essex and it's coastal regions. In fact, the East Coast is a bit of a mystery to me. Had holidays in Kent and Skegness as a kid but that's the extent of my knowledge of the eastern side of the country. I suppose that living in the West Midlands, Wales and the...

Rwth I have to say that, I've held off buying a blood pressure machine for reasons closely allied to your experience today. I'd do a daily reading, noting any fluctuations and wondering what these might indicate for the coming hours. Likewise, any slight feeling of things not being 100% well would h...

Afternoon everyone. It's been busy here at Cravat Towers. Had our granddaughters for two days. They certainly take some entertaining. Low boredom threshold when on holiday from school. They are back with us tomorrow and due to stay overnight too. The plan to entertain them tomorrow is to take them i...