Thursday 31 May 2012

Chip on the Shoulder

I've had one of those unfathomable experiences while out shopping today. A lady with two dogs was on the island in New Road, waiting to cross to where The Paddock joins that road.

Noticing that one of the pooches was interested in saying hello to me, I gave the group some space when I reached the island, as I realised that the last thing their owner needed was to have to separate one (possibly both) of her charges from me when the moment came to cross the eastbound lanes. There isn't much of an opportunity to do so per cycle of the traffic signals!

However, when that moment came, I got from her an over-the-shoulder parting comment suggesting that I "had an issue with dogs". Her voice, general manner and specific body language demonstrated a very clear (and large) chip on that shoulder.

It was tempting to respond, but I let it go.

Of course, as anyone who has known me for a while will be aware, dogs are my friends, as these shots from a PDSA Open Day in Gillingham a few years ago illustrate.

Anyway, it reminded me of how the most innocuous actions, remarks or whatever are jumped upon by those with an (often highly dubious) agenda, and helped immensely if they too have a shoulder-mounted chip – the bigger the better!

That way they can make it seem as if there was something 'bad' about the individual they wish to target (and note that word wish in there!) when anyone knowing that person would realise – just as those who know about my lifelong friendship with dogs – that it was nothing of the kind.

It is a very Left-ish thing, as I and others have demonstrated numerous times through real-life examples we have reproduced on 'blogs such as this, and very childish, tantrum-like in fact.

Witnessing it in the street, especially when directed against myself, is a good reminder of that; and perhaps if the same were to happen to one of those making on-line accusations and smears in the way I have outlined above, it might just embarrass them enough about their attitude and they could even learn from such an experience. That would be a good thing!

Monday 28 May 2012

Cuxton and Borstal River and Rail

I shot the more than 50 clips for this video (not all of which were included in the final product) on Saturday just gone – 26 May 2012 – at Cuxton and then, after walking across the M2 motorway bridge, took a few shots in Borstal.

While at Cuxton I unexpectedly encountered local Labour councillor Tristan Osborne, who showed me his latest toy – a tablet computer – very excited he was about it too and who can blame him?

Anyway, I have now edited the video together, adjusted the sound throughout to minimise the wind noise effect without losing the wanted sounds, and uploaded the finished work to my YouTube channel. Here it is...

Saturday 26 May 2012

Naughty Drivers!

Despite the signs, road markings, and cautions during the early weeks of the Chatham Waterfront 'Bus Facility's operation, drivers are still driving through there, which they have no right to do. It has now been in operation for around six months.

This web page on Medway Council's website illustrates the danger that at least some of this drivers present, complete with short video clips from the cameras on the site. I don't fancy having any avoidable hazards there, and certainly not this one, so I hope that all those caught on camera are dealt with in a strong enough way to act as a deterrent for the future.

If all else fails, I suppose that elevating barriers could be installed, something like the fixed one-way one at the nearby Richard Street car park's exit but these ones to be operated by coded signals from authorised vehicles ('buses and taxis).

There'd have to be a suitably narrow way through for bicycles, which are also allowed – though I can't see why they are permitted anyway: there seems to be no valid reason for this.

Tweet of the Day – 26 May 2012

It's Eurovision Song Contest evening, and as usual I have been ignoring most of it. This tweet from one MazyDavy, though, caused me to switch it on for a couple of minutes...

"romanian entry is techno waybuloo with comedy bagpipes"

Y'know, after listening carefully to the Romanian entry, I think he has a (good) point!

Friday 25 May 2012

Pi in the Sky

Well, that's what it looks something like on RyanTeck's world map "tracker" of Raspberry Pi computers. They're almost everywhere in the world now – and they've been going out for only a few weeks.

As I write this, North America has the greatest number of Pis, currently approaching 2,000 registered on the map as being located there – by the looks of it, mostly in California, though the numbers seem to go awry when I zoom in for the more detailed figures, so I can't confirm this.

There are also some 1,400 registered in Europe.

It's all happening out there, and this tracker map will be one to watch in order to gain insight into how this little device is storming around the globe as fast as they can be produced and tested.

I bet even Acorn Computers never anticipated anything quite like this when they firstly invented the ARM processor that in a later incarnation would become the heart of the Pi, and secondly even when they jointly formed a company to take their invention into other markets, which has resulted in billions of the things going into mobile 'phones, set-top boxes, tablets and other items needing a low power consumption state-of-the-art processor chip/chipset.

It's a rare example of a British invention actually making it in the world market; and the Raspberry Pi in turn looks set to follow in its own CPU's 'chipsteps'.

Monday 21 May 2012

Paper.lie

I have noticed for some time, as I have reported here before, my name appearing on Twitter as being a 'contributor' to on-line pseudo newspapers produced by the paper.li site. I am then credited within the linked on-line publication. It seems that all one has to do is sign up for this and it then automatically produces something that resembles a newspaper on a daily basis, and many of my followers have done so.

I see these 'dailies' mentioned every day when they are produced by for someone I follow on Twitter, and occasionally from others when I am listed as one of those (indirectly) responsible for one or more "top stories" in their edition-of-the-day. In practice, it is rare indeed that it is something I have written myself that is featured in the 'newspaper', but something I have re-tweeted and even then it's invariably from a link, as that's how the stories are garnered.

The problem is that this is in effect a lie: I did not write the material seemingly being attributed to me by association, nor does it necessarily mean I hold any views that are expressed in the linked material – I might have been pointing to it as a model example that makes a point.

For example, there are some pieces written by Lefties that are so obviously crass and ill-informed, not to mention often from a different planet, that they are amusing for the rest of us to read and a useful reminder of the warped way Lefties think. I don't tweet with the intention of having it picked up and re-used in this somewhat different way.

This example has two 'from' me of which one such extracted link I have not even visited: it merely copies to my followers a point that another was making and whose Tweet I re-tweeted – nothing more. The result at paper.li is at best misleading by having my Twitter ID (with its link) attached to it, and I can foresee similar scenarios arising that would be a lot worse than that. That just happens to be the most recent instance: there have been plenty of others.

The whole idea of these fake newspapers is no doubt flattering to the ego of someone who subscribes to them, and probably makes one feel important and significant by having these things in one's name – indeed, their site's 'sales pitch' is very much along those lines. However for those of us having our own efforts in effect misrepresented it is no fun at all. I wonder how many examples of my own have occurred but I haven't been aware of them...

The whole project is severely flawed and often misleading, also of doubtful worth as some of the ones I have seen have been nothing more than dead ends. One of 'my' own, over the weekend, led to a paywall barrier so that was all that appeared in the 'newspaper'.

If the subscriber were to have the ability to check the draft and delete or add to it before it is published, and did so every time, then perhaps there'd be very little potentially contentious and obvious dud material and attributions included. Whatever the get-out clause might be, and the excuses that can be made, in reality it is a poor facility and no-one who wishes to retain their integrity in the public perception should touch this facility with the proverbial barge-pole.

Sunday 20 May 2012

A Walk in the Gardens

Town Hall Gardens, that is. That's the name of one of the public green spaces that we have here in Chatham, adjacent to the Great Lines where the naval memorial stands.

I walked around the gardens earlier today, and took some photographs. As usual, clicking on any on the images below will display a larger version.

 I have previously shared photographs of other such open spaces, such as Victoria Gardens, and will shortly be uploading a video of the Great Lines Heritage Park (as it is called these days), so in effect this is another in that occasional series.

First, here is a general view looking across Rope Walk from Whiffens Avenue...


This way in is about two-thrids of the way up Whiffens Avenue, which is a fairly steep hill, as can be seen...


This is set into one of the inside walls of the entrance archway...


Looking south-east...


It's actually quite good here, raised above the busy Brook to its south/south-west.


At the eastern corner, near the steps leading up from King Street...


Friday 18 May 2012

Chatham Naval Memorial

A few days ago, on the first decent weather day after the news of the metal theft at the Chatham Naval Memorial on the Great Lines, I went up there with my camcorder and took a series of shots. I thought I'd better capture it now, in case any further damage was done in future.

I have now edited these shots together and put the result to music (Vaughan-Williams' Fantasia on Greensleeves), and it is now up on my YouTube channel and embedded below for convenience...

(Note: it apparently isn't available in all countries, despite what YouTube have today stated to me specifically regarding this video.)

Thursday 17 May 2012

Bond Moves

This table shows the yields from the UK and some nearby countries' government ten-year bonds, both as they were at the time the Coalition Government took over in this country and as they are now...


It is interesting to note that they were all three-point-something back in May 2010, with the UK the highest at 3·97%, and now the UK is the lowest at less than half that percentage.

This shows that we (and the Netherlands) are considered to be dependable by the international markets and can be trusted to repay our debts. In turn that reduces our interest payments, helping bring the national debt situation under control.

We are still in the deceleration stage, with news today that the deficit (the rate of worsening of our debt, if you like) is now significantly lower than it would have been if Labour had still been running things – a full 25% lower, in fact.

Although it isn't quite as simple as that, and there are also the various traps and fait accompli engineered by Gordon Brown that will continue to have an impact on our attempted recovery for some years to come, there can now be little doubt that Britain is at last unambiguously on the road to (eventual!) recovery.

Those of us who went through the 'eighties will recall the similar pattern that lesser situation followed, then as now taking a number of years to fully turn around. This time, it's considerably worse, as has been well reported during the past two years or more, though some seem to have forgotten since then.

Well, I for one haven't, and am watching our progress. It's slower than it might have been, owing to (a) compromises to ensure Lib Dem MPs' support and (b) the Eurozone crisis that is having some fairly serious knock-on effects for us here in Britain. We'll get there, though, and it is obvious that external observers and the like are confident too, including the various ratings agencies.

Jim Henson Went 22 Years Ago

Can it really have been that long? The legacy he left, though, remains with us today, and rightly so. Long may it continue!

I first encountered Jim Henson's Muppets on TV in a pantomime story they did back in the very early days, two or three years before their British television series came into being.

It was the sheer humanity of Kermit, Rowlf, Zoot, Animal, Miss Piggy and the others that struck me then and made me determined to look out for them from then on – as I often do with up-and-coming talent.

Some might dismiss the Muppets as nothing more than light entertainment; but right from the outset they have shown that they are so much more than that.

It is why I never use the word "muppet" as a term of derision: I have too great a respect for the true Muppets ever to make that mistake!

Wednesday 16 May 2012

Pudsey and Ashleigh – The Final

Mission not-so-impossible for these two, methinks.

UPDATE: the video has been blocked here, but click below and you'll be offered a link for viewing at YouTube...



They won!

Bus Spotting

I have been asked what I did before the new Chatham Waterfront 'bus facility was there, to keep my patrician's eye on our local 'buses.

Well, of course, there was the visually very restricted Pentagon-based 'bus station of old; but I found the best place was where I still stand today (indeed, I did earlier today!) which is at the stand adjacent to Chatham Railway Station.

My exact vantage point is next to Stop C, which is the one that leads south along Chatham Maidstone Road, from where I can see south as far as the laundry...


...north to The Cut and even spot the 'buses approaching along New Road before turning right at the filling station, as well as those coming from the Waterfront facility. I can even catch sight of those turning left out of The Cut and not coming my way at all...


...also, by looking west, what's in and what's departing from the three stops...


...if anything(!) It's the best spot that we've always had while I've lived here.

Okay, I don't actually make a point of going out at random times to watch the 'buses – I am there only when I am waiting for a No. 101 or 176 headed in that southward direction, as for my trip to ASDA today. For me, it's just making use of an opportunity, along the lines of: "I was standing there anyway!"

Saturday 12 May 2012

The Very Big Picture

This is the most important post I have ever written, building on some earlier posts that I never dared to take all the way. Now, though, the time is right to do so. Atheists need read no further, as they can have no clue about what is really going on in our world – it simply isn't possible without understanding the context.

Because this is a statement from me, more than anything else, and not intended to be a debate, exceptionally I am not accepting comments on this post.


Have you ever wondered why all these bad things that happen in the world are so prevalent, and why they go near-enough unchecked in practice, even in societies such as ours? Brian Gerrish has part of the answer when (in interviews) he has indicated – and sometimes illustrated with actual original documents he and his group has acquired – how organisations such as (predominantly) Common Purpose have their 'graduates' sabotaging public services.

The Common Purpose Mind Map diagram shows a huge and complex structure of interlinked and complicit orgnaisations and their particular lines of activity. I have linked to this before; yet it is worth reminding ourselves of the subversive and criminal nature of at least some of these outfits and their practices.

I have also mentioned such matters as New Labour's implementation of the treasonous Frankfurt School policies that are designed expressly and solely (and obviously when one looks at them with hindsight) to destroy a society and its culture from within. This, as I have said before, explains why getting rid of the death penalty for treason was such a high priority for the new Blair government in the late 'nineties, even though it was hardly consistent with their stated policy direction that was supposedly to be dealing with the country's urgent and vital needs.

The Mind Map, though, tells us much more than this, as do other sources and national and world history for at least the last century. It indicates that this is all too big and long-term for a single human lifetime, and when all put together it also points to a specific agenda that only one entity in the whole of existence would be pursuing anywhere near this strongly and single-mindedly, especially over such a long time-span.

Let's take a couple of examples: it is now blatent that the powers of government have for years been specifically targeting and marginalising adherents of one religion – Christianity – with a slightly less hostile approach to the Jews. This isn't just in this country (though it is very strong here and worsening all the time) but elsewhere in the world. I have been sent first-hand reports from a number of countries in the last couple of years and the trend is very clear.

Most recently in Britain, blogger Archbishop Cranmer has been challenged (incorrectly, on a number of substantive points) by the Advertising Standards Authorityfor carrying an advertisement that invites signatories to a petition. Note that he didn't create the advert, it just happens to be on his 'blog (and no doubt many others), so why is he the target? Good question!

The complaints and reaction show that a highly specific anti-Christian-morality agenda is at work here, and its targeting is even more blatent than most other such attacks on (specifically) God's people and their support of/for His word and stipulations.

Many people have cottoned onto to some or all of this, as these two comments from another site, reporting the Cranmer business clearly show, quite apart from those at his own site. 

The clues are all pointing one way...

Another example: the promotion of certain other faiths, and the covering-up of their people's criminal activities by classifying them in other ways (often in a way demeaning to a whole continent!), is in effect encouraging some of the most vile activities by the lowest of the low. This is mostly done by much of the big media, also aided by the legal structure in this country.

Along with some of the basest of the Frankfurt School policies, such as their 'sexualisation of children' policy that we saw implemented by New Labour, the results are as we have seen in recent news as one instance, but that is just a tiny fraction of what is going on and which is more-or-less condoned in Britain nowadays.

Ponder this: it is very hard to see how Islam could possibly be the word or will of God (it's not consistent with His known nature e.g He NEVER gave us licence to harm one another in any way and we are ALL the same in His eyes; it is the word of one man uncorroborated by independent others; and that man was a warlord who continued un-transformed, unlike those who truly come into close contact with God) and probably never was. Indeed, there was no reason for an "update" to the New Testament, and one that contradicts it at that!

These are easy tests that anyone can apply, in light of Jesus' warning that others would come in his name (or his father's):  God made sure that dozens of independent witnesses would testify within each Testament of the Bible, showing not only His own truth but guiding how we can assess those who were yet to come.

This has nothing to do with me: anyone can work it out for themselves, as many have already done...

Note that what is happening today is a continuation of extant policy that, no doubt, is almost inextricably intertwined in Gordon Brown manipulations combined with EU stipulations. That's the most likely way it was engineered – as it was definitely wanted by Blair and Brown as part of that now-proven set of Frankfurt School policies they implemented almost in full during their time in office.

Others have covered this in detail, and I have previously linked to some revealing posts by the likes of James Higham, Barking Spider and Anna Raccoon on these and related matters. Thus the body of evidence is well established and beyond reasonable challenge – indeed, I don't think there has been any serious attempt to challenge any of those bloggers' own contributions to this big debate, let alone my own.

Thus we see, in all of this (and there is plenty more I could cite), that the underlying agenda at the back of it all is an anti-Christian and anti-God's morality thrust, driving everything either directly or (sometimes) not so obviously through indirection.

Remember: there is only one entity in existence with this exact all-encompassing agenda, and only one who knows as an absolute certainty that Christianity is the only accurate and complete religion on Planet Earth!

It's all much too big, too complex, too long-term and too all-consuming to be another other than the devil himself behind it, using a Boskone-like network structure to deliver via (predominantly) the oh-so-compliant political Left, whose language he speaks. They are very easy to bring and keep on board, as all Lefties are either evil themselves or just very gullible and easily conned into doing the wrong thing if the sales pitch is sufficiently convincing – which it always is, of course

Others are also targeted, and some end up up being conned too, though perhaps not to the same degree. There will also be a (comparatively smaller) proportion of corruptible non-Lefties. That is human nature; and in any sufficiently large body of individuals there will always be some.

The left, though, steeped as they alreay are (and probably always have been) in self-interest, deception, manipulation and – no doubt in many cases – several base desires from the universal Lefty staples of theft and dictatorship to those lowest Frankfurt School aims, are a ready-made body of devil's disciples, whether or not many of them even realise that's what they are. It is no coincidence that the world's (especially non-military) dictatorships are almost universally Left-wing regimes, and Lefties are also responsible for most of the oppression, "disappearing" and actual mass-murder in the world.

So yes, the political Left are (unsurprisingly) Satanic in nature – and I could list dozens of other big clues, but they're easy enough to work out for yourself – but let's get the dog wagging the tail here: they are servants of Satan, not the other way around. Thus the left doesn't have to be Satanic, but it tends to be because it's such a close fit and those driving the movement around the world are the right type to fill those shoes. We can all, I feel sure, immediately think of several we had already realised are that evil, for a start.

If I were to write a book, I'd have the room to go into many more facets, examples and real world anecdotes from current and recent history that'd make this comprehensive, rock solid and beyond sensible challenge. I hope I have come close to that even in this not-too-long post.

The bottom line, though, is that ALL Lefties are working for the devil, knowingly or otherwise, and there is NO exception whatsoever. That's why no truly decent person can ever support them in any way, under any circumstances. There is no wriggle room on this one!

Of course, they are labouring under a misapprehension, that by destroying our society and culture they will be making way for a glorious Socialist revolution in which they will become the New Elite. They have the precedents of such as the former Soviet Union on which to draw. However, in reality, almost everyone was living in a state of perpetual fear of the very, very few at the top of the tree. All others were expendable minions; and especially with the EU planned to be the "new USSR" with Britain merely a district within that structure, no-one here will be any higher than a (single) governor or equivalent.

I have known all this for years, which explains my attitude towards the Left and why they never fool me. I know their true nature, and it is vile! There is absolutely nothing decent, honest or worthwhile about them, no matter how well it is presented. It's always a con, so don't be taken in if you do not wish to become, in effect, a Satanist yourself!

Thursday 10 May 2012

And now for the weather in Scotland

I'm sure I've seen the BBC's new weatherman somewhere before.

Here's an excerpt (all that is available to embed here)...


He certainly enjoyed his one minute of fame in this new job, even though there's still little sign of any "reign" for himself...

Wednesday 9 May 2012

Queen's Jubilee Beacons

While I am on the topic of the Queen today...

Now that applications for beacons to mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee have been processed, we know where they are to be located locally. I am concentrating on just the four Chatham ones (plus one just over the border at Gillingham Pier), which are to be sited at:
  • Victoria Gardens (close to my home)
  • The Great Lines
  • Luton Recreation Ground
  • Capstone Farm Country Park (not shown on my map)
They are to be lit on 4 June 2012 at 1015 a.m. and (I assume) will burn for the entirety of the four-day period of celebration.

It is notable that there are no beacons at all in Rochester itself, though there is to be one in north Strood, across the river. I can understand there might be issues in the tourist areas and near listed buildings, but surely something high up, say on one of the Borstal open spaces, could have been done...

Monday 7 May 2012

LMHR Final Day

As I try to do every year, today I popped into the Medway Love Music, Hate Racism event, to find out how it was doing.

As it coincided with the Sweeps Festival in Rochester just down the road, also the second (last) day of "the Rocket" Ronnie O'Sullivan's world snooker final, and the weather here was dreary with some rain, it didn't seem to have the best of chances.

Indeed, it was quite a lot smaller and also quieter (visitor-wise) than, say, last year, which had benefited from warm sunny weather.

Because of the wet conditions outside, I decided to duck into the RAFA Club and see ace local blogger Alan W Collins, who was running the bar there as usual during these events.

It's also easier coping with taking drinks outside than from the Command House pub' where one has to cope with the fairly steep steps...

It was strangely quiet in the RAFA Club, where in previous years some acts had performed in there during this event, as a kind of secondary stage. Today that was not so, apparently owing to a sudden and almost last-minute change of attitude by the police regarding the strict interpretation of the venue's licensing specifics.

Now, I have no objection to the folks in blue doing their job; but waiting until a few days before an event to notify the Club that they weren't allowed live performances this year meant that there was no time to apply for a temporary licence. It all seems rather odd! It will not be allowed to happen again in future years, I was told.

Anyway, in the end the whole event had gone "all right", according to its organiser, Vince Maple, councillor of this parish (okay, we aren't actually parished here, but the old saying seemed apt) despite these licensing/clashing/weather issues.

Note the gazebo and what it was about: it's a regular feature of these events to have this or something very similar, as well as at least one political party of easily-guessed leanings. It is a clue to the real purpose of these events...

As for me: I had originally intended to go to the Sweeps Festival myself after this, but didn't fancy what is really an entirely outdoor event in the prevailing weather conditions, so headed for home instead.

On my way home I was approached by a (slightly tipsy!) army veteran who clearly wanted someone to talk to, and mentioned my camera. He turned out to be six years older than I am, had served twelve years in the Army, and now has a similar heart condition to mine so also finds it a struggle going up Ordnance Street as I have found during this past year, ever since my incident of April last year.

He headed into Chatham Station and I proceeded home, but I was pleased to have had the brief encounter – something that tends to happen to me quite a lot, often with people I know but sometimes – as on this occasion – with complete strangers.

It's all part of Chatham life!

Pudsey the Dog

Not Pudsey the Bear...

Saturday 5 May 2012

Bus Station Delights

One of the many joys about the new Chatham 'Bus Facility, which is now several months old, is that as a 'bus enthusiast (though nowhere near as much as I am a rail enthusiast!) I now have a much better view of "who's in".

Since moving to Chatham over fifteen years ago I have devised pet names for the 'buses, both the series and (in some cases) for individual vehicles – all based on their licence plates.

Thus the route 101 'buses are "Gin fifty-eights" as their licence numbers all start with GN58, and within that series are "Busy" (GN58 BSY), "Bite" (GN58 BTE) and others.

This isn't so easy to personalise with, say, the "Pumpkin class" single-deckers (named after the P*** MKN vehicles, but also encompassing the identical P*** LKJ and "Puff Pack P** FPK series, though not the different-design P***APM -numbered "Pap-ums") though at least the single-decker versions of the GN04 s ("Ga-know fours") include such delights as "The Judge" (GN04 UDJ) which is so often on route 145 and rarely on other routes, and "Udder" (GN04 UDD).

It all helps me to keep mental track of what is coming, going and on what routes, without having to become a "spotter" complete with notebook – something I have never done in my life.

When the 'bus station was in the Pentagon Centre, it was actually very difficult to tell much of what was happening, as parked or waiting 'buses were often in the way, and there wasn't room to step back and thus have a longer viewing time. Also those corners limited one's viewing time and warning of an approach, which was inaudible if a 'bus nearby had its engine running.

Now, though, it's vastly better! In fact, I have been known to take a small diversion on my travels to sneak a quick glance at the facility's activity, perhaps on my way into the Pentagon for shopping. It really is very good indeed for 'bus watching, as well as all the other benefits it has brought, which are considerable.

Indeed, the inside word is that the public are much more in favour of the new facility than the more dishonest political movements (yes, that means you, Medway Labour!) would have us believe. My understanding from as-yet unpublished data is that the public are in favour of it by quite a large majority. All it took was a few months to adapt to the change, and they are now mostly on board.

Medway Labour can always find a dissenter or three, especially when their own stance is so well known, and they will no doubt find ways to skew their own 'surveys' to get the result they prefer (I can think of several easy methods that I am aware have been used in the past) but properly conducted professional polls will always count for far more, and that I gather is what is now on file somewhere within the council.

I expect some former users of the dark and dingy old Pentagon-based facility no longer go via that route/method; but by the looks of the current usage (and I was very familiar with the Pentagon's levels of activity at all times of day) they are relatively few, or have been mostly offset by new users. The nett change appears to be fractional, though we shall need to await official figures from the various 'bus operators after an appropriate period to find out what the actual overall impact has been.

No doubt the full results of both the satisfaction survey and the usage statistics will appear in the next report on the subject of the 'bus facility to come before the Cabinet or full Council. I shall be interested to study those figures and the rest of the report...

Meanwhile, I am enjoying the new facility, and – by the looks of those I spot as I (frequently) breeze through all of the main waiting areas and some of those in Waterfront Way – so are the public-at-large. I haven't found anyone grumpy there since a little less than three weeks after it opened, which is very encouraging.

Friday 4 May 2012

Kiddy Corner Update

I have added an item or two, and rounded up others already housed around the flat, and gathered them all together. This warranted a new photo, so here it is...


As you can see, I now have in the display based mostly on children's television programmes (clockwise from top left):
  • Lau Lau from Waybuloo
  • Will from W.I.T.C.H.
  • Rosie and Raggles from Everything's Rosie, on the twooter
  • a Chuggington face-cloth
  • Barnacles and the octopus from Octonauts
  • Pikachu from Pokémon
For good measure I have also included a model of one of the Western diesel-hydraulic locomotives of which a few have been preserved, as I have occasionally shown on this 'blog.

I still need a Makka Pakka with Og Pog, and "a bird or two" from 3rd and Bird, and possibly the Farmyard Bunch from Big Barn Farm to make this little greeting for visitors complete.

Wednesday 2 May 2012

Kiddy Corner

I have started building up a small collection of characters from my favourite children's TV programmes, and these are arranged as a display just inside my front doorway. This is what I have so far (I'm still missing a Makka Pakka with Og Pog, and perhaps a Muffin, Samuel and/or Rudy)...


Love Music, Hate Racism

It's that time of year when the annual LMHR event occurs in and around The Command House pub' in Chatham – yes, the place featured in Pub Dig on BBC-TV recently – this Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

I try to get along to the event for a little while each year, and especially to (try to) talk to the barman in the RAFA Club opposite, which hosts some of the proceedings. I know him well...

It can be too noisy for speech, though, so I'll try to time it for an interval between the performances inside the club.

Do come along if you're nearby, this coming (long) weekend, and feel free to add your impressions in the comments. I shall be posting something about it myself, afterward, but am wondering how many of those who go along have any more idea of what it's really all about than what we are supposed to believe.

It will be interesting to read others' findings, and I don't mean what Rory might find in the ground...