Well the year 2011 is fast drawing to an end, and it was certainly an eventful one!
There was the Arab Uprising which is still happening in some Arab countries then there was the fall and death of Bin Lardin & also Colenel Gadaffi.
The last of the Space Shuttles was retired.
One of the sad things that happened was that My friend Major Janet Gilson was murdered while she was on holiday in Hong Kong. I knew Janet as we both attended The Salvation Army in Catford. At that time Janet was working at The Salvation Army International Headquarters Youth Department while I was also Working at The Salvation Army International Headquarters in the Savation Army's bank called Reliance Bank.
Major Janet was one of the nicest ladies I have worked with and she loved children and her love took her to Russia where when the USSR collapsed the Salvation Army took over the running of the orphanages there.
2011 also saw the end of the team that I have worked with for the past 5 years so the week before Christmas I said goodbye to two colleagues, Brian & Paul.
Both are good guys and I am sure that at some point in the future I will meet them again, but it was sad to see the backs of them.
Also this year I said goodbye to some of my other friends in Network Rail, 2 of whom are now in Australia, one in Egypt and then my friend Adam who seems to be enjoying his new life in Israel.
Also in Network Rail we gained new leadership, who within days of officially taking the reigns made their mark and changed the direction that the company was going.
The European Economic continued and as I posted in an earlier blog we will have see what the outcome will bring
There was so many other things that have happened as well that I cannot list them in my blog, but most people will know about in their part of the world!
So 2011 seems to have been a year of change, with the door closing on some chapters in world history and personal history, and then the opening of doors and chapters to new stories yet to be written!
Well readers I hope that 2012 is a great year to you all.
Happy New Year to one and all!
Saturday 31 December 2011
Thursday 15 December 2011
Only time will tell!
Well it's been one week since our Prime-minister has used his veto on the EU Treaty, and as yet the dust has not settled so it will be some time before we will know if it was the right decision.
In the case of the EU Treaty PM David Cameron was doomed if he had signed up to it and doomed if he hadn't. So either way he would have lost!
If you were to search on the Internet right now about the treaty you would fin so many articles but what I have seen and even personally feel is that as PM of the UK that Mr Cameron has made a
Mistake.
The reason being that if the UK has agreed to sign up to the Treaty then we would have been in a better position to put over the UK's point of view in Europe, but we have now undermined our position in future deals as there will probably be 26 countries overriding the 1 of course I could well be wrong but who can say or tell!
Last week in Russia Elections took place, and Vladimir Putin as expected won. Since his win there have been protests to which Mr Putin has put the blame on the USA. Anyway the protests in Russia are the biggest since the days at the end of the USSR. I gather that Russia is now going to investigate the elections to look into corruption. Of course like in so many countries there is going to be some form of rigging, but as at this point in time the results of the investigation will probably say that there was nothing to be found as the government is so strong, and its leaders are the former heads of the USSR'S KGB. So it will be interesting to see if the demonstrations gain strength and force the governments hand.
In the case of the EU Treaty PM David Cameron was doomed if he had signed up to it and doomed if he hadn't. So either way he would have lost!
If you were to search on the Internet right now about the treaty you would fin so many articles but what I have seen and even personally feel is that as PM of the UK that Mr Cameron has made a
Mistake.
The reason being that if the UK has agreed to sign up to the Treaty then we would have been in a better position to put over the UK's point of view in Europe, but we have now undermined our position in future deals as there will probably be 26 countries overriding the 1 of course I could well be wrong but who can say or tell!
Last week in Russia Elections took place, and Vladimir Putin as expected won. Since his win there have been protests to which Mr Putin has put the blame on the USA. Anyway the protests in Russia are the biggest since the days at the end of the USSR. I gather that Russia is now going to investigate the elections to look into corruption. Of course like in so many countries there is going to be some form of rigging, but as at this point in time the results of the investigation will probably say that there was nothing to be found as the government is so strong, and its leaders are the former heads of the USSR'S KGB. So it will be interesting to see if the demonstrations gain strength and force the governments hand.
Monday 28 November 2011
Yet more trips
Yet again I have been out and about. Some people will be saying "What Again!" and I'll say yes.
This time my trip took me up to the small market town of Wisbech in North Cambridgeshire.
Now normally to get there would only take a couple of hours in the car, but Friday night was a nightmare!
I had left work early as I had to pick up my new specks which meant that I was able to get a train half-an-hour earlier than I would normally. Once home I got changed had an quick evening meal washed up, packed the car and then filled it up with petrol, then we hit the road.
Initially the trip went really well with up getting up to Bishops Stortfold within half-an-hour but then everything went down the toilet as we hit the traffic jam caused by a 5 car pile up in the M11. So the only thing that we could do was to sit in the car and wait. As the accident had happened just before the A11 turnoff there was nowhere to go. In 2 hours we moved just 4 miles. The wife did all the chuntering (moaning) while we was sitting there going no-where. Let's say that she was "Not Impressed" anyway it was 10:30 before we properly stared to move and then it was stop start and we counted at lest 10 cars that had to be pushed onto the hard shoulder due to their engines overheating or breaking down. We got to my parents place for 12:30am!
In a way going to Wisbech is like going home as my mum was born there. My Grandfather was when my mum a child one of the many grounds people who worked for the council, and one of his jobs was to redesign the church yard and to design it into gardens to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, which I was given the grand tour of.
When my mum was small Wisbech used to be in the county of Norfolk. She still feels that it's Norfolk rather than Cambridgeshire. It is also the Capital of the Fen's though the people of March would prefer to make the claim. In Pre history times Wisbech was on the coast, but over time the land has been claimed back from the sea. I have included here a weblink so you learn a lot more of the area: www.wisbech-town.co.uk
Rather than my rambelings! Also here is a wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.prg/wiki/Wisbeck
So on the Saturday we went for a wander around town picking up some bits then in the afternoon spent the day at my parents place. They are not going to be living in Wisbeck for much longer as they are retiring next year and they want to live on the coast in North Wales.
Sunday consisted of yet another trip this time to the south eastern corner of Essex to the town of Braintree. Here I attach another Wiki link for you to peruse: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braintree,_Essex
It's interesting to see what the Wiki says about places and it a way when you refer to the Wiki it's like using the "Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy" as some of the entries can be wrong or out of date! So I would advise my readers to also check independent websites for further information.
Anyway the reason that we went to Braintree was so we could visit the wife's parents. So I will not boar you with what happened there other than the usable real family chit chat.
Now that we have completed 3 family visits in two weekends there are not rips to do so as a warning I
May go a little quiet, but as I can blog from my phone now you nether can tell
See ya now.
Joolz
This time my trip took me up to the small market town of Wisbech in North Cambridgeshire.
Now normally to get there would only take a couple of hours in the car, but Friday night was a nightmare!
I had left work early as I had to pick up my new specks which meant that I was able to get a train half-an-hour earlier than I would normally. Once home I got changed had an quick evening meal washed up, packed the car and then filled it up with petrol, then we hit the road.
Initially the trip went really well with up getting up to Bishops Stortfold within half-an-hour but then everything went down the toilet as we hit the traffic jam caused by a 5 car pile up in the M11. So the only thing that we could do was to sit in the car and wait. As the accident had happened just before the A11 turnoff there was nowhere to go. In 2 hours we moved just 4 miles. The wife did all the chuntering (moaning) while we was sitting there going no-where. Let's say that she was "Not Impressed" anyway it was 10:30 before we properly stared to move and then it was stop start and we counted at lest 10 cars that had to be pushed onto the hard shoulder due to their engines overheating or breaking down. We got to my parents place for 12:30am!
In a way going to Wisbech is like going home as my mum was born there. My Grandfather was when my mum a child one of the many grounds people who worked for the council, and one of his jobs was to redesign the church yard and to design it into gardens to commemorate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, which I was given the grand tour of.
When my mum was small Wisbech used to be in the county of Norfolk. She still feels that it's Norfolk rather than Cambridgeshire. It is also the Capital of the Fen's though the people of March would prefer to make the claim. In Pre history times Wisbech was on the coast, but over time the land has been claimed back from the sea. I have included here a weblink so you learn a lot more of the area: www.wisbech-town.co.uk
Rather than my rambelings! Also here is a wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.prg/wiki/Wisbeck
So on the Saturday we went for a wander around town picking up some bits then in the afternoon spent the day at my parents place. They are not going to be living in Wisbeck for much longer as they are retiring next year and they want to live on the coast in North Wales.
Sunday consisted of yet another trip this time to the south eastern corner of Essex to the town of Braintree. Here I attach another Wiki link for you to peruse: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braintree,_Essex
It's interesting to see what the Wiki says about places and it a way when you refer to the Wiki it's like using the "Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy" as some of the entries can be wrong or out of date! So I would advise my readers to also check independent websites for further information.
Anyway the reason that we went to Braintree was so we could visit the wife's parents. So I will not boar you with what happened there other than the usable real family chit chat.
Now that we have completed 3 family visits in two weekends there are not rips to do so as a warning I
May go a little quiet, but as I can blog from my phone now you nether can tell
See ya now.
Joolz
Monday 21 November 2011
Back home
Well I am back home now after my trip to Cheltenham and I have had a chance of looking up Cheltenham's history and have found that the town has existed for far longer than I realised . Infact Alfred the Great wrote about a settlement on the banks of the River Chelt and there was a monastery in the area way back in the year 803!
If you want further information on Cheltenham then have a look at the following website: http://www.cheltweb.co.uk/history
Well today is a normal day back in the office. So I am not expecting much to happen. Anyway I may well do an update later.
If you want further information on Cheltenham then have a look at the following website: http://www.cheltweb.co.uk/history
Well today is a normal day back in the office. So I am not expecting much to happen. Anyway I may well do an update later.
Friday 18 November 2011
Another Trip
Hi one and all. In my last post I was talking about my trip to Hull. Unfortunately it was not the best of blogs so sorry about that!
Well at the moment I am in the middle of yet another trip. This time I am in the town of Cheltenham. It's the second time that I have come here and I am visiting family.
Now from what I can remember off the top of my head is that Cheltenham is a Victorian town that developed around the Spa's that were found here. Cheltenham is also famous for it's race course.
From what I have seen of the town so far is that it's very similar to a fellow Spa Town of Harrogate which is in North Yorkshire.
Well getting to Cheltenham was not eventful like the last time were on the the A40 road there was a streaker running up the road in the road works and somebody drove into the back of my car when we had stopped in a traffic jam.
Well I will write more tomorrow about my trip, it's a good might from me to you.
Ta ta for now.
J
Well at the moment I am in the middle of yet another trip. This time I am in the town of Cheltenham. It's the second time that I have come here and I am visiting family.
Now from what I can remember off the top of my head is that Cheltenham is a Victorian town that developed around the Spa's that were found here. Cheltenham is also famous for it's race course.
From what I have seen of the town so far is that it's very similar to a fellow Spa Town of Harrogate which is in North Yorkshire.
Well getting to Cheltenham was not eventful like the last time were on the the A40 road there was a streaker running up the road in the road works and somebody drove into the back of my car when we had stopped in a traffic jam.
Well I will write more tomorrow about my trip, it's a good might from me to you.
Ta ta for now.
J
Thursday 20 October 2011
To Hull & Back Part 2
Hello everyone.
So how are you all keeping?
My last Blog was titled "To Hull & Back" but I ran out of time when I was writing it so I shall finnish off what I have started!
As I have said a couple of times now. To me Hull is not a bad city, and I felt sad to leave the place when I moved away back in 1987, and then when I visited 2 weeks ago. Now there was was a reason that I decided to go back, and that was all down to my mate called Adam. For the past 8 years I have been working in the same office as Adam and he too has a common background of living and growing up in Hull, also like me his parents moved away from the city about 3 years ago. Now Adam is a great chap and probably misunderstood when I first met him I thought that he was mad, but after I got to know him he turned out to be a great chap.
By the way if you are looking for another blog to follow take a look at Adam's Blog as he is taking one HUGE ADVENTURE of leaving the country of his birth to live in Israel, anyway here is a link to Adam's blog:http://adamisme-newstart.blogspot.com/
Hence the reason that I decided to take a trip to Hull. Adam was alway talking about the place, and all the new bits I just had to go back and see it for myself!
When I came home from Hull I came back via Lincoln. Lincoln is yet another great city of England with a very long history reaching back to when the Romans invaded the UK.
So the reason that we came back via Lincoln rather than the Motorways is that I visited my Grandmother. My grandmother is 94 years old an I try to visit as much as possible as she is house bound. On this trip we only stayed with her for two hours as my uncle was coming over to take my grandmother shopping.
The trip down the A15 which used to seem to take hours seem to flash by and we was in Lincoln in next to no time.
So the reason that we came back via Lincoln rather than the Motorways is that I visited my Grandmother. My grandmother is 94 years old an I try to visit as much as possible as she is house bound. On this trip we only stayed with her for two hours as my uncle was coming over to take my grandmother shopping.
The trip down the A15 which used to seem to take hours seem to flash by and we was in Lincoln in next to no time.
Tuesday 11 October 2011
To Hull and back!
Well here I am, and this is my first blog! I am writing this between watching CSI Miami on a Tuesday night just outside London.
My first entry though is not about CSI Miami, but about my trip to Hull and back.
Now Kingston - Upon - Hull is what I would call a rough and ready city. To a lot of people it is a run down place with lots of 1950's buildings in the city centre and 1960's housing estates to the north and east of the city, but for me it was home between 1983 and 1987 and it is one of the best places that I have lived.
Hull became a Kingstown when Edward the 1st gave the town a Royal Charter way back in 1299, over the years it developed and at one point was the second largest town after London.
In the 1700's William Wilberforce lived in the town he was famous for his campaigning against Slavery.
Now why does Hull look so rough and ready these day well its all thanks to the second world war where the city was 95% destroyed by Hitlers airforce when they bombed the city.
Back in the 1980's the city started to have a revival and the start of a lot of regeneration work was carried out with the building of the Clive Sulavan Way and the Freetown way.
With my parents being Salvation Army Officers we nether stayed in one place for more than 4 years and during my teenage life Hull was my home and where I had my first job.
Now last Thursday (6th October 2011) for the first time in 24 years I returned to the city of Hull propper. I had been to the outside of the city 3 years earlier, but had not seen the city centre.
On our first day there I took a walk up the Beverley Road past my old home, and the Beverley Road Swimming Pool and then took a look at Pearson's Park, and it looked so nice in its autumn colors. Then in the evening we stayed in the Hotel.
Friday 7th Oct 2011 - First day of the Hull Fair
After a restless night due to the locals being a little rowdy after their night on the town and being woken up at 4am. I went into the city centre and then down to the pier. Hull Pier was the point where the ferries from Barton on Humber used to drop off their passengers until the Humber Bridge opened. It is these days a perfect viewing point of the Humber's mouth and New Holland.
I then took a look at the old town and Holy Trinity Church.
In the afternoon, I visit Princess Gardens which in it's heyday was the main dock in the city centre, then the new shopping centres after which I retreat back to the Hotel for Dinner.
19:00 and we go to Hull Fair. Now Hull fair is the largest and also one of the oldest fairs in Europe. Infact back in 1993 the fair reached the grand old age of 700 years.
The fair is great hopfully I'll load some photo's later!
Well I mus now sign off but I will tell you more about my life and travels later.
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