Sunday, 26 December 2010
Friday, 24 December 2010
Wednesday, 22 December 2010
21/12/2010 - 22/12/2010, Snow, Vince Cable, Free Speech, Gordon's Achievements
Still the snow and freezing temperatures continue. There was some "expert" on TV News today, saying is was reduced activity on the Sun causing a mini ice age. So much for Global Warming. I suppose we are still to blame for it, it must be all of those people going to Spain for their holidays and using all of the sunshine up.
Vince Cable exposes himself as the shallow little weed he is, boasting of his "power" to a couple of under cover journalists posing as giggling slappers. How pathetic, hope he does better on Come Dancing.
Topically, given the snow outside, we have a little warning about Climate Change (have you noticed it is now called Climate Change and not Global Warming):
Or, same video, different message
and definately the best of Gordon Brown:
Vince Cable exposes himself as the shallow little weed he is, boasting of his "power" to a couple of under cover journalists posing as giggling slappers. How pathetic, hope he does better on Come Dancing.
Topically, given the snow outside, we have a little warning about Climate Change (have you noticed it is now called Climate Change and not Global Warming):
Or, same video, different message
and definately the best of Gordon Brown:
Monday, 20 December 2010
18/12/2010 - 20/12/2010 Snow, Harrier Jump Jets, Brian Hanrahan
The snow returns.
This time it is southern England which gets the worst of it, and both Heathrow and Gatwick collapse under the strain. The Television News is filled with pictures of people stranded and sleeping on floors as if they were refugees in some third world country.
We have snow, but it is only about 1" - 2" deep. It is bitterly cold however.
Felt I had to put food out for the birds, in the back garden, I even sacrificed some of my peanuts and raisens for them, and that is a major sacrifice!
But, much to my disgust, most of the food was eaten by these greedy pigeons, which definately do not look under nourished to me, in fact they look as if they would make a decent pigeon pie!
The poor little sparrows and blue tits were left to forage for the leftovers.
Went to the "Stags Head", to deliver Christmas presents and more food to Anthony, I thought there might have been a nice cheerful fire on, given the weather, but no such luck, it was almost as cold inside as out. To cap it all my bus did not turn up, and I had to get a different one, meaning a longer walk in the snow and cold.
The end of an era, Brian Hanrahan died today. One of his best remembered reports I am sure is the "I counted them all out, and I counted them all back" comments about the Harrier Fighter planes in the Falklands war. The Harriers themselves came to an end of course just a few days ago.
We are an amazing country, we had a forty year (yes thats right, 40) lead in vertical take off technology, and we have managed to fail to capitalise on it, only we could achieve that.
This time it is southern England which gets the worst of it, and both Heathrow and Gatwick collapse under the strain. The Television News is filled with pictures of people stranded and sleeping on floors as if they were refugees in some third world country.
We have snow, but it is only about 1" - 2" deep. It is bitterly cold however.
But, much to my disgust, most of the food was eaten by these greedy pigeons, which definately do not look under nourished to me, in fact they look as if they would make a decent pigeon pie!
The poor little sparrows and blue tits were left to forage for the leftovers.
Went to the "Stags Head", to deliver Christmas presents and more food to Anthony, I thought there might have been a nice cheerful fire on, given the weather, but no such luck, it was almost as cold inside as out. To cap it all my bus did not turn up, and I had to get a different one, meaning a longer walk in the snow and cold.
The end of an era, Brian Hanrahan died today. One of his best remembered reports I am sure is the "I counted them all out, and I counted them all back" comments about the Harrier Fighter planes in the Falklands war. The Harriers themselves came to an end of course just a few days ago.
We are an amazing country, we had a forty year (yes thats right, 40) lead in vertical take off technology, and we have managed to fail to capitalise on it, only we could achieve that.
Saturday, 18 December 2010
16/12/2010 - 17/12/2010 Technology, Drugs
If you have a credit or debit card, dont we all?, here is a little item to give you sleepless nights:
Now, I am about to say something I never ever thought I would say, and that is "Bob Ainsworth has said something remotely sensible". I simply did not think it possible, but he has said it, make all drugs legal.
It must be obvious to everyone by now, that, just as the Americans found with prohibition of Alcohol in the 1920's, prohibition of drugs is just not working and will never work. All we are succeding in doing is making some criminals very very rich.
Portugal has apparently legalised drugs, without the country becoming a cesspit, so why don't we give it a try.
Never mind the prescription idea proposed by Bob, just package the stuff as we do for tobacco, and make it freely available, complete with taxes of course, just like tobacco and alcohol.
Friday, I have the flu, well, what men call flu, a bit of a cold if you are a woman. So I do what all sensible men do and stay in bed for the day. No soldiering on, no moaning about how dreadful I feel etc, just go to bed and stay there, no trouble to anyone.
Now, I am about to say something I never ever thought I would say, and that is "Bob Ainsworth has said something remotely sensible". I simply did not think it possible, but he has said it, make all drugs legal.
It must be obvious to everyone by now, that, just as the Americans found with prohibition of Alcohol in the 1920's, prohibition of drugs is just not working and will never work. All we are succeding in doing is making some criminals very very rich.
Portugal has apparently legalised drugs, without the country becoming a cesspit, so why don't we give it a try.
Never mind the prescription idea proposed by Bob, just package the stuff as we do for tobacco, and make it freely available, complete with taxes of course, just like tobacco and alcohol.
Friday, I have the flu, well, what men call flu, a bit of a cold if you are a woman. So I do what all sensible men do and stay in bed for the day. No soldiering on, no moaning about how dreadful I feel etc, just go to bed and stay there, no trouble to anyone.
Wednesday, 15 December 2010
13/12/2010 - 14/12/2010 Sunderland, Greggs, Electric Cars, Media
Monday.
The week starts well.
Harriet Harman wants to open Post Office Branches all over Africa so her constituents can collect their benifits more easily.
Teresa May is considering banning Terry Jones from entering the UK.
Who is he I hear you say, exactly, just ignore him and no one will ever even know he was here, but no by banning him, or threatening to, we give him publicity.
The big news is the Stocholm suicide bomber, and his possible links with Luton. It is clear the "Authorities" have no idea of his comming and goings, despite their databases. More evidence, if any were needed, of our porous borders.
I must admit the only thing which interests me is which benifits were he, his wife, and children getting, whilst he was travelling back and forth between here and Sweden. I wonder did we provide the tickets too?
The BBC website tells us:
"Meanwhile, British police have been searching Abdaly's house in Luton. His wife and children are reported to live in the UK, although their exact whereabouts are not known"
Just trace where the benifits are going and you will find them Sherlock.
I reluctantly agree to go Christmas shopping.
As if that is not bad enough, we go to Sunderland. It is the city which time forgot, one of the most depressing places you can ever go.
Why are there so many branches of Greggs there?
Tuesday
The price of electric cars is to be subsidised by £5000, by the "Government", ie us tax payers.
A little video about the Nissan Leaf, courtesy of the BBC website.
It may not save the planet, but I suppose it will keep people employed at Nissan's Sunderland Factory, and hence may help brighten up that blighted place.
Realistically, these things are not going to catch on until the range is increased to something sensible (like 300 miles) and/or the charging time is reduced from the current 8 hours to about 8 minutes.
At present the 100 mile range and 8 hour re-charge time mean they would only be suitable for short journeys about town, but at £29,000 who can afford to have one as a runabout?
The video makes much of their "carbon free" credentials, but that of course is only if you ignore the power stations necessary to generate the electricity to charge them. They even had to build a whole new Electricity Sub Station (or whatever they are called), to power the plant making the batteries at the the Sunderland Factory.
As with most things, I am sure they will work eventually.
It is our habit to try to get some exercise, in the form of walking or cycling, everyday. Today is no exception and we set off for our daily walk, desptite the not very promising weather.
About five minutes into our walk, Kathleen realises we have not bought any gift tags for Christmas presents, "so what" I hear you say. Our plans are changed and doing our bit for the environment we decide to walk to Jarrrow and get the bus back.
Needless to say, once we have reached the point of no return, it begins to pour with icy rain, and we both get thoroughly soaked, but Kathleen is happy, she gets her gift tags for 99p and a new brush for the washing up (21p). So with this added spurt to the UK economy we head for the bus.
The evening is taken up with St Bedes Carol Concert, an enjoyable event as always. They are even famous enought to have some of their music for sale on Amazon.
As usual, Google comes up with information on St Bedes the church, and the surrounding area.
The week starts well.
Harriet Harman wants to open Post Office Branches all over Africa so her constituents can collect their benifits more easily.
Teresa May is considering banning Terry Jones from entering the UK.
Who is he I hear you say, exactly, just ignore him and no one will ever even know he was here, but no by banning him, or threatening to, we give him publicity.
The big news is the Stocholm suicide bomber, and his possible links with Luton. It is clear the "Authorities" have no idea of his comming and goings, despite their databases. More evidence, if any were needed, of our porous borders.
I must admit the only thing which interests me is which benifits were he, his wife, and children getting, whilst he was travelling back and forth between here and Sweden. I wonder did we provide the tickets too?
The BBC website tells us:
"Meanwhile, British police have been searching Abdaly's house in Luton. His wife and children are reported to live in the UK, although their exact whereabouts are not known"
Just trace where the benifits are going and you will find them Sherlock.
I reluctantly agree to go Christmas shopping.
As if that is not bad enough, we go to Sunderland. It is the city which time forgot, one of the most depressing places you can ever go.
Why are there so many branches of Greggs there?
Tuesday
The price of electric cars is to be subsidised by £5000, by the "Government", ie us tax payers.
A little video about the Nissan Leaf, courtesy of the BBC website.
It may not save the planet, but I suppose it will keep people employed at Nissan's Sunderland Factory, and hence may help brighten up that blighted place.
Realistically, these things are not going to catch on until the range is increased to something sensible (like 300 miles) and/or the charging time is reduced from the current 8 hours to about 8 minutes.
At present the 100 mile range and 8 hour re-charge time mean they would only be suitable for short journeys about town, but at £29,000 who can afford to have one as a runabout?
The video makes much of their "carbon free" credentials, but that of course is only if you ignore the power stations necessary to generate the electricity to charge them. They even had to build a whole new Electricity Sub Station (or whatever they are called), to power the plant making the batteries at the the Sunderland Factory.
As with most things, I am sure they will work eventually.
It is our habit to try to get some exercise, in the form of walking or cycling, everyday. Today is no exception and we set off for our daily walk, desptite the not very promising weather.
About five minutes into our walk, Kathleen realises we have not bought any gift tags for Christmas presents, "so what" I hear you say. Our plans are changed and doing our bit for the environment we decide to walk to Jarrrow and get the bus back.
Needless to say, once we have reached the point of no return, it begins to pour with icy rain, and we both get thoroughly soaked, but Kathleen is happy, she gets her gift tags for 99p and a new brush for the washing up (21p). So with this added spurt to the UK economy we head for the bus.
The evening is taken up with St Bedes Carol Concert, an enjoyable event as always. They are even famous enought to have some of their music for sale on Amazon.
As usual, Google comes up with information on St Bedes the church, and the surrounding area.
Sunday, 12 December 2010
09/12/2010 - 11/12/2010 Tesco and Snow, Nemo Cake
Tesco continue to be unable to deliver the goods, literaly.
It turns out, according to them, my parcel is stuck in Droitwich, Worcestershire, where to the best of my knowledge there has been no more than a dusting of snow.
Now they have sent me a new tracking number so that I can "track" my delivery online, problem is it is clearly the wrong number, because all it tells me is "the tracking number does not match your post code".
Don't you just love technology.
For lovers of Father Ted:
Friday, and still no parcel, Tesco are clearly not upto the job. Today they even sent me an online questionaire, reference my recent purchase. I looked forward to expressing my dissatisfaction, but the questionnaire did not work, oh joy!
Saturday, the thaw continues, we have hardly any snow now, isn't the English weather amazing, 24 hours ago we had 12" of snow lying on the ground, today just a few stray heaps of dirty snow.
Dana has been exercising her cake making skills, for Daniel's Christening tomorrow (Sunday 12th Dec).
She is incredibly good at these things and, given his obsession with Nemo, has made a Nemo themed cake, quite amazing.
I hope it tastes as good as it looks, based on past experience I am sure it will.
I included these photographs, because I was impressed (yet again) by Dana's cake making skills, this of course led to mentioning the Christening, and made me recall that it is at St Johns Church, Westerhope.
That led to my speculative search on Goolge for "St Johns Church Westerhope", which gave me this website, which gives an excellent overview of Westerhope.
I know an earlier post pointed out that Google does not have all of the answers, but you have to be impressed by those it does have!.
Nemo must be the cartoon character of the moment, because Gabriel has a Nemo themed bedroom!
Parcel arrived from Tesco, only four days late, so I can stop moaning about that now.
It turns out, according to them, my parcel is stuck in Droitwich, Worcestershire, where to the best of my knowledge there has been no more than a dusting of snow.
Now they have sent me a new tracking number so that I can "track" my delivery online, problem is it is clearly the wrong number, because all it tells me is "the tracking number does not match your post code".
Don't you just love technology.
For lovers of Father Ted:
Friday, and still no parcel, Tesco are clearly not upto the job. Today they even sent me an online questionaire, reference my recent purchase. I looked forward to expressing my dissatisfaction, but the questionnaire did not work, oh joy!
Saturday, the thaw continues, we have hardly any snow now, isn't the English weather amazing, 24 hours ago we had 12" of snow lying on the ground, today just a few stray heaps of dirty snow.
She is incredibly good at these things and, given his obsession with Nemo, has made a Nemo themed cake, quite amazing.
I hope it tastes as good as it looks, based on past experience I am sure it will.
I included these photographs, because I was impressed (yet again) by Dana's cake making skills, this of course led to mentioning the Christening, and made me recall that it is at St Johns Church, Westerhope.
That led to my speculative search on Goolge for "St Johns Church Westerhope", which gave me this website, which gives an excellent overview of Westerhope.
Parcel arrived from Tesco, only four days late, so I can stop moaning about that now.
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
05/12/2010 - 08/12/2010 Quantitive Easing Explained
An amusing explanation of "Quantitive Easing", ie politicians speak for printing money.
Sunday, we acquire a travel cot (on loan), so Daniel or Gabriel will not have to bring their own if visiting for an overnight stay.
Monday is a productive day, spend the morning shopping for foodstuffs for Anthony, and in the afternoon, walk to Jarrow in the snow, it is a beautiful crisp winters day.
We visit brother-in-law, Kevin, who has recently had his second knee replacement operation. Decide to leave when the district nurse arrives to remove the staples holding the wound closed, I don't like blood and gore, not even someone elses!
Walk from Jarrow to Fellgate. While in Jarrow we had picked up an Argos catalogue, I can now tell you they are bloody heavy after you have carried one for a few miles! We visit sister-in-law Val, who has recently left hospital after a hernia operation. We are quite the visitors of the sick today.
By the time we walk home from Fellgate, the sun has gone down and it is bloody freezing.
Wednesday, and still the snow is here. No more has fallen now for about 24 hours, but nor has any of it melted.
Scotland is paralysed.
Here South Tyneside Council cannot empty the dustbins, because it is not safe to bring their refuse wagons out, and Tesco Direct have failed to deliver my purchases. However, full marks to IKEA, they managed to deliver to a neighbour using a 10ton truck. Perhaps their Swedish connections helped.
In the meantime, I am so bored waiting in for Tesco to deliver, and avoiding Coronation Street, I am reduced to trawling the internet for amusement, hence:
Sunday, we acquire a travel cot (on loan), so Daniel or Gabriel will not have to bring their own if visiting for an overnight stay.
Monday is a productive day, spend the morning shopping for foodstuffs for Anthony, and in the afternoon, walk to Jarrow in the snow, it is a beautiful crisp winters day.
We visit brother-in-law, Kevin, who has recently had his second knee replacement operation. Decide to leave when the district nurse arrives to remove the staples holding the wound closed, I don't like blood and gore, not even someone elses!
Walk from Jarrow to Fellgate. While in Jarrow we had picked up an Argos catalogue, I can now tell you they are bloody heavy after you have carried one for a few miles! We visit sister-in-law Val, who has recently left hospital after a hernia operation. We are quite the visitors of the sick today.
By the time we walk home from Fellgate, the sun has gone down and it is bloody freezing.
Wednesday, and still the snow is here. No more has fallen now for about 24 hours, but nor has any of it melted.
Scotland is paralysed.
Here South Tyneside Council cannot empty the dustbins, because it is not safe to bring their refuse wagons out, and Tesco Direct have failed to deliver my purchases. However, full marks to IKEA, they managed to deliver to a neighbour using a 10ton truck. Perhaps their Swedish connections helped.
In the meantime, I am so bored waiting in for Tesco to deliver, and avoiding Coronation Street, I am reduced to trawling the internet for amusement, hence:
Sunday, 5 December 2010
03/12/2010 - 04/12/2010 Christmas Fun, Blocked Roads
Another 3" of snow last night, and this morning it is reputedly -10C, certainly feels much colder than it has for the past eight days of snow.
I go to the trouble of clearing the drive yet again, and putting the wheelie bins out to be emptied, not that I am confident of seeing refuse collectors anytime soon!
The sky is absolutely clear, and bright blue we have a flock of about 12 gold finches are feeding on the conifer tree at the end of the drive, goodness knows what they are finding to eat in this freezing weather.
One of our regular Christmas events is to attend the annual "Christmas Do" at St Josephs, the church Kathleen attends. One of the stalwarts of the organisers, Denzil, always arranges (if that is the right word) a rendition of "The 12 Days of Christmas", in which each table are given a verse to "sing".
I noticed this little video on Patently Rubbish's blog, in which Christmas comes to the Food Court of a Shopping Centre, not that the efforts at St Joseph Christmas Party, are nearly so professional:
Not quite so festive but never-the-less topical:
Nicked from "Grumpy Old TW**" website , but very appropriate all the same as we slip and slide out of our estate, with not a sign of any attempt by the Local Council, to clear any of the 12" of snow which blankets the streets.
Finally a couple of festive photograph for today, Gabriel after his first visit to a Christmas parade in Windsor, although by now, it looks as if they have retired to the warmth of a coffee shop.
I go to the trouble of clearing the drive yet again, and putting the wheelie bins out to be emptied, not that I am confident of seeing refuse collectors anytime soon!
The sky is absolutely clear, and bright blue we have a flock of about 12 gold finches are feeding on the conifer tree at the end of the drive, goodness knows what they are finding to eat in this freezing weather.
One of our regular Christmas events is to attend the annual "Christmas Do" at St Josephs, the church Kathleen attends. One of the stalwarts of the organisers, Denzil, always arranges (if that is the right word) a rendition of "The 12 Days of Christmas", in which each table are given a verse to "sing".
I noticed this little video on Patently Rubbish's blog, in which Christmas comes to the Food Court of a Shopping Centre, not that the efforts at St Joseph Christmas Party, are nearly so professional:
Not quite so festive but never-the-less topical:
Nicked from "Grumpy Old TW**" website , but very appropriate all the same as we slip and slide out of our estate, with not a sign of any attempt by the Local Council, to clear any of the 12" of snow which blankets the streets.Touching on a whole host of recent happenings, from the effect of public spending "cuts" on front line services vs Diversity Outreach Coordinators to David Cameron's Happiness review, there is lots of reading here, which all makes a lot of sense to me.
Saturday, and the Metro between Pelaw and South Shields is not running, the same as last Saturday. They are doing "Essential Maintenance", why choose one of the Saturday's leading up to Christmas?, South Shields is already dying, without cutting off the transport links too.
I get a lift to South Shields to visist the Stag's Head, with son Anthony. The pub is much busier than usual, but the rest of the town looks it's usual desolate self. On the return journey, I miss the bus to Boldon, so take the "metro replacement" bus, which takes me on a meandering route, to Heworth, so that I can get the metro home.
Finally a couple of festive photograph for today, Gabriel after his first visit to a Christmas parade in Windsor, although by now, it looks as if they have retired to the warmth of a coffee shop.Thursday, 2 December 2010
01/12/2010 - 02/12/2010 Wikileaks, FIFA, World Cup, SNOW
Wednesday 1st December, we attempt to get the Metro to Newcastle, Christmas shopping, what joy. The snow has disrupted the Metro, signals are frozen or some such rubbish. We take the car. The upside is, hardly anyone has made it, so parking is easy, and the shops are empty. Not such jolly news for the retailers of course.
Thursday, still snowing. In between falls, I clear the drive yet again.
The snow continues, as if that is not bad enough, the news is consumed by:
I can only assume that a staff member from BBC Newcastle lives there, hence the interest.
Wikileaks, was boring to begin with, is anyone surprised to hear that diplomats spend a lot of their time engaged in tittle-tattle?. Plus big surprise Prince Andrew thinks the Yanks know nothing of Geography, and the French are quite happy to bung a bribe to win a lucrative arms deal. That is what we all think, and I would have thought he (Prince Andrew) has just gone up in most peoples esteem for thinking likewise. So what if he launched a patriotic, expletive laden tirade in front of some American "diplomat", they export their expletive laden films and TV programs to us, so they can just take it for once.
Now we hear that Julian Assange, the founder of wikileaks is "in hiding" and in fear of assination attempts, has anyone (other than his mother perhaps) noticed his absence I wonder?
FIFA and the World Cup, oh the worry in case our free press (Panorama) have upset FIFA and they take their ball home.
Do we really want to stage the World Cup, given our performance this year?
We will probably be knocked out in the first round, and then have to be nice to all of those teams left in, it would be just our luck if Scotland won it or worse still Wales.
Thursday, still snowing. In between falls, I clear the drive yet again.
The snow continues, as if that is not bad enough, the news is consumed by:
- The weather, well the snow
- Wikileaks
- Englands World Cup Bid
I can only assume that a staff member from BBC Newcastle lives there, hence the interest.
Wikileaks, was boring to begin with, is anyone surprised to hear that diplomats spend a lot of their time engaged in tittle-tattle?. Plus big surprise Prince Andrew thinks the Yanks know nothing of Geography, and the French are quite happy to bung a bribe to win a lucrative arms deal. That is what we all think, and I would have thought he (Prince Andrew) has just gone up in most peoples esteem for thinking likewise. So what if he launched a patriotic, expletive laden tirade in front of some American "diplomat", they export their expletive laden films and TV programs to us, so they can just take it for once.
Now we hear that Julian Assange, the founder of wikileaks is "in hiding" and in fear of assination attempts, has anyone (other than his mother perhaps) noticed his absence I wonder?
FIFA and the World Cup, oh the worry in case our free press (Panorama) have upset FIFA and they take their ball home.
Do we really want to stage the World Cup, given our performance this year?
We will probably be knocked out in the first round, and then have to be nice to all of those teams left in, it would be just our luck if Scotland won it or worse still Wales.
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
28/11/2010 - 30/11/2010 Google's infallibility, Snow
- Where can I buy a replacement flushing syphon for the toilet cistern.
- How do I fit the replacement flushing syphon.
- What was that brightly coloured bird I saw in the garden.
- What is the significance of the place name Brockley Whins.
- All about squirrels.
Now, I would have guessed that Claude Presbyterian Church was in a place called Claude, but Google tells me it is actually in Caledon, Ontario, Canada, plus lots of other interesting information about the place.
Sunday we wake up to more snow.
So overnight we have had another 3.5", now in our back garden we have 10" of snow lying, with another 4" forecast for today and tonight.
This is like the winters I remember from my childhood. In weather like this we children would be off to the nearest hill with our sledges, or for the poorer ones among us, with pieces of cardboard, to slide down the hill.
This has not changed too much, there are a number of children out sledging, but in this relatively affluent area, they all have shop bought sledges, no pieces of cardboard in sight.
One thing which has changed, is the small number of people who clear the snow from their path, and from the footpath outside of their homes. In my childhood, only a few lazy individuals failed to do this. People would also clear the snow for elderly or infirm nieghbours. Not now it would seem. In our street of eleven houses, only myself and one other bother to clear their path.
Monday, the snow thaws ever so slightly, and only another 1" falls, the weather forecast is for strong winds, which if they arrive, will make things unpleasant.
Kathleen tries to get me into the Christmas spirit, without success, I hate this time of year with all of it's false cheer.
Saturday, 27 November 2010
24/11/2010 to 27/11/2010 Snow, Snow and More Snow
Wednesday afternoon is spent painting the bedroom walls at Tanya's flat. It is a light colour to cover a dark colour, so it definately going to need two coats, what fun. Do you detect my enthusiasm is waning?
In the evening the snow starts, how I hate winter!
Birthday wishes are sent by text, although the more traditional flowers and card have already been dispatched.
We awake to a good three inches (OK, 7.5 cm for you metric types) of snow lying.
According to the news, the East coast of England is effected most, no doubt this will bring the whole area to a shuddering stop.
More painting, at Tanya's flat, on for the second coat now, so at least I get the satisfaction of it begining to look good.
There is no heating on in the place, so I am painting with my coat and scarf on!
As if decorating is not enough, Tanya's iron has given up the ghost.
I suspect the flex is broken, but being a Morphy Richards it has "tamper proof" screws to encourage you to buy a new iron, not very environmentally friendly.
I borrow a suitable tool to overcome the "tamper proof" screws, but it is not the flex, The lights come on but it does not get hot, so it looks like the element has gone, it is destined for the great iron graveyard.
Friday, and still it is snowing.
A sign of getting old, I wimp out of my usual Friday night trip to the Grey Horse, on the basis that the weather is bad. If you bear in mind, I get a lift there, and a taxi back, that is pathetic old person stuff isn't it.
Initially I amuse myself on the Internet, reading about Squirrels (both Red and Grey). This obscure interest being fired off by a conversation with a neighbour, which included mention of the fact that, despite the prescence of quite a large number of trees nearby, we have never seen a squirrel in the garden. I never cease to be amazed at the sheer volume and variety of "information" you can find on the internet, about just about any subject under the sun.
Later we amuse ourselves watching TV. Since Friday night TV, in common with most nights, is crap and consists of non-stop soaps, this involves scrolling through the list of stuff we have recorded at some point in the past in the hope it may be watchable.
The first three films we begin watching we have already seen, and I cannot stand watching something I have already seen, but we eventually while away the evening with:
- the new version of Reggie Perrin (not as good as the old version in my opinion, but still quite funny).
- a documentary about how the landscape of Scotland developed, interesting only for the fact that the presenter managed to tell us how climate change in the 1400's killed off thousands of trees (not many aircraft, power stations or cars around in 1400 according my understanding of history), whilst still admonishing us humans with the present "climate change" scare stories.
Not very successful, in my opinion.
Athough the the falling snow flakes are well defined.
I reason that the setting for "Snow Scene" probably means day time snow scene so I switch the setting to "night scene", but the exposure time is clearly too long for a hand held shot by someone shivering in the snow, with the inevitable blurred result.At least you can see the garden, and I suppose it could be regarded as being artistic, if you were being kind.
I round off with a couple of shots, using "night scene", in the front street, where there is good street lighting, but the results are not much, if any, better.
Clearly, if I am to take this photography lark seriously (which I am not), I need to learn at least how to use the camera I have.
There must be a setting which allows you to adjust the exposure time manually (I think), or perhaps the answer is to use the night scene setting but with the camera on a solid surface, instead of in my shaky hand!
Before giving up, I work my way through the bewildering list of menu settings available, firing off a few shots to try out the results, nothing startlingly good (or bad) I am afraid.At one point I think I have found the setting for adjusting the exposure time, but no, it is the setting for "delayed action", shots, presumably to allow the photographer to get in the picture him/her self.
Interest wanes, and I end up with a shot to show off our decorating efforts, in the Lounge.Saturday, the snow continues to fall.
Kathleen decides to go Christmas shopping in Sunderland with Dana and Claire.
Are women totally insane when it comes to shopping?, I would have thought that six or more inches of snow was a perfect excuse to give it a miss!
So, I dig out the car, and clear enough snow so she can get into it without crampons, before dropping her off at the metro station.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Decorating and DIY (still)
Friday 19th November 2010
Painting the lounge continues, I am on duty painting the edges whilst Kathleen is wielding the roller to paint the large areas.
I realise the differences and similarities between working with Tanya and working with Kathleen.
Kathleen,
Tanya,
I marvel again at the things you can find on Google, I not only find where to obtain the spare part (Plumb Center), but also how to dismantle the toilet cistern and fit the part.
Monday 22nd November 2010
Still decorating, it is looking good, but I am heartily sick of it now.
Painting the lounge continues, I am on duty painting the edges whilst Kathleen is wielding the roller to paint the large areas.
I realise the differences and similarities between working with Tanya and working with Kathleen.
Kathleen,
- is like a tornado, she does not wait for anything for more than 30 seconds. If you have not finished your bit, and she wants to be in that space, then you had better move.
- Lids are not securely replaced on paint tins.
Tanya,
- pours paint in trough ready to begin, then picks up mobile phone and makes a call to discuss how much painting, she is about to do, with one of her friends, no actual painting happens.
- Lids are not securely replaced on paint tins.
I marvel again at the things you can find on Google, I not only find where to obtain the spare part (Plumb Center), but also how to dismantle the toilet cistern and fit the part.
Monday 22nd November 2010
Still decorating, it is looking good, but I am heartily sick of it now.
Thursday, 18 November 2010
Decorating
Monday 15th November 2010
The decorating continues.
To be fair, it does not involve me, we are having new (UPVC, no painting required) internal doors fitted today, by two very hardworking Polish door fitters.
They arrive at 08:30, with all of the equipment they need. No mobile phone calls, no disappearing to get some missing item, and one short tea break, brings us to 13:00 and they have removed and replaced ten doors.
While they are fitting doors, I dig out the berberis hedge in the front garden.
Tuesday 16th November 2010
Chop up the berberis hedge and put as much as possible into the "Green" waste bin.
Wednesday 17th November 2010
Visit B&Q, for paint (so Kathleen can begin painting our lounge), and laminated flooring for Tanya's kitchen.
Lay flooring in Tanya's kitchen, pretty neat measuring on my part even if I say so myself.
I estimated 10m2, it comes in packs of 1.7m2, so I bought 6 packs (ie 10.2m2), and I ended up with only half a plank left!, close!
Just a little finishing off to do in the Kitchen, and then the bedroom, then that will be it.
Thursday 18th November 2010
I go to the cycling group. First time I have been since April! Very enjoyable, but cold. We do about 12 miles.
After lunch, I do some painting, to atone for enjoying myself.
Kathleen breaks the flush mechanism in the toilet, another job to do. I use the ever trusty Google to locate spare parts, but they are out of stock. Hopefully they will have them tomorrow.
Yes, I know I am a miserable old sod, but is anyone else sick of hearing about William, Kate, the Engagement and the Wedding?, it has taken over the news on all channels, is nothing else happening in the world?
The decorating continues.
To be fair, it does not involve me, we are having new (UPVC, no painting required) internal doors fitted today, by two very hardworking Polish door fitters.
They arrive at 08:30, with all of the equipment they need. No mobile phone calls, no disappearing to get some missing item, and one short tea break, brings us to 13:00 and they have removed and replaced ten doors.
While they are fitting doors, I dig out the berberis hedge in the front garden.
Tuesday 16th November 2010
Chop up the berberis hedge and put as much as possible into the "Green" waste bin.
Wednesday 17th November 2010
Visit B&Q, for paint (so Kathleen can begin painting our lounge), and laminated flooring for Tanya's kitchen.
Lay flooring in Tanya's kitchen, pretty neat measuring on my part even if I say so myself.
I estimated 10m2, it comes in packs of 1.7m2, so I bought 6 packs (ie 10.2m2), and I ended up with only half a plank left!, close!
Just a little finishing off to do in the Kitchen, and then the bedroom, then that will be it.
Thursday 18th November 2010
I go to the cycling group. First time I have been since April! Very enjoyable, but cold. We do about 12 miles.
After lunch, I do some painting, to atone for enjoying myself.
Kathleen breaks the flush mechanism in the toilet, another job to do. I use the ever trusty Google to locate spare parts, but they are out of stock. Hopefully they will have them tomorrow.
Yes, I know I am a miserable old sod, but is anyone else sick of hearing about William, Kate, the Engagement and the Wedding?, it has taken over the news on all channels, is nothing else happening in the world?
Sunday, 14 November 2010
Andrea Bocelli Concert O2 London
Tuesday 9th November, 2010.
We set off in the campervan, to drive to Gary and Susana's house, in Windsor.
Pouring rain and very windy, with periods of bright sunshine in between. Weather as only Great Britain can produce.
We stop off for coffee, at a Costa Coffee.
Aptly named I would say, it certainly "costa" lot at £5.10 for a cup of coffee and a hot chocolate, got to say however, hot chocolate was excellent.
We arrive at 3:30pm, how Gabriel has grown since we last saw him!, he now has two teeth.
He is his usual happy self, as you can see here, and seems pleased to see us.
Gary and Susana were there too of course.
We are well fed as always by Gary and Susana, the meal rounded off with a piece of Date and Walnut cake made by Kathleen.
A very rare commodity, a cake made by Kathleen that is, but it was very nice.
Wednesday 10th November 2010
After breakfast, I have a spell teaching Gabriel how to use a spoon. A little premature perhaps since he is not yet eating "real" food, but it is never too soon to learn.
We walk to Windsor with Susana and Gabriel.
Gabriel in his buggy of course, and needless to say he falls asleep en-route.
We leave them to go and have a coffee with Susana's friend, Brenda, while we return to the house, and set off in the campervan.
South around the M25, past Gatwick and to Abbey Wood Caravan Club site, where we are booked in for three nights.
After yesterdays rain, it is a nice surprise to find the weather bright and sunny, but it is very cold.
Hopefully, you can just see the grey squirrel (middle of the photograph). There are dozens of them running around the site.
There was also a Jay, the first one I have ever seen in the UK, but I was not quick enough with the camera, and it flew off, leaving only the squirrel in view.
Clearly a second career as a wildlife photographer is not going to happen.
It is amazing to think we are within Greater London, this site is even within the Low Emmisions Zone (LEZ), but it is peaceful and quiet, with plenty of space and fine mature trees.
One of the attractions of staying here was the proximity to the railway station, which should allow us to get to the O2 easily, and also into central London to amuse ourselves during Thursday and Friday before the concert.
We obtain directions to the Railway Station from Reception, and walk along there to check out our travel options.
We find we can buy a Day Special for £6-50 (each) which will give us unlimited travel for one day on Trains, buses and Tube. This seems like a good deal to me, but Kathleen cannot resist the possibility of doing it for free, using her Senior Citizen bus pass.
We are advised the journey time to Central London, on the bus is 2 hours, 30 minutes on the train, That is enough to convince me, the train is the way to go!
After leaving the Railway Station, we walk on towards the Thames, finding a surprise within the concrete jungle, in the form of this Lake (Southmere), complete with swans, ducks, geese, sailing dinghys, and radio controlled model boats.
We walk for three hours in total, quite enough to burn off the Date and Walnut Cake, but we do not actually make it to the Thames!
Instead we return to the van for Spaghetti Bolognaise and a cosy evening of music, crosswords, reading and internet.
Thursday 11th November 2010.
A very windy night, with pouring rain, but we sleep soundly despite it all, surfacing at 8:00am to switch on the fire to warm things up, before emerging for real at 8:30am.
The weather has not improved.
After breakfast, we make use of our free bus passes to travel to Greenwich on the number 180 bus. I know people are always moaning about London Transport, but I think it is excellent (when they are not on strike that is).
Greenwich is a pleasant place, more upmarket than Abbey Wood, from what we see anyway.
From Canon Street, we hop on a Tube to Regents Park. The plan is, weather permitting to walk across Regents Park, then along the Regents Canal, until it joins the Grand Union Canal at "Little Venice".
We set off in the campervan, to drive to Gary and Susana's house, in Windsor.
Pouring rain and very windy, with periods of bright sunshine in between. Weather as only Great Britain can produce.
We stop off for coffee, at a Costa Coffee.
Aptly named I would say, it certainly "costa" lot at £5.10 for a cup of coffee and a hot chocolate, got to say however, hot chocolate was excellent.
He is his usual happy self, as you can see here, and seems pleased to see us.
Gary and Susana were there too of course.
We are well fed as always by Gary and Susana, the meal rounded off with a piece of Date and Walnut cake made by Kathleen.
A very rare commodity, a cake made by Kathleen that is, but it was very nice.
Wednesday 10th November 2010
We walk to Windsor with Susana and Gabriel.
Gabriel in his buggy of course, and needless to say he falls asleep en-route.
We leave them to go and have a coffee with Susana's friend, Brenda, while we return to the house, and set off in the campervan.
South around the M25, past Gatwick and to Abbey Wood Caravan Club site, where we are booked in for three nights.Hopefully, you can just see the grey squirrel (middle of the photograph). There are dozens of them running around the site.
There was also a Jay, the first one I have ever seen in the UK, but I was not quick enough with the camera, and it flew off, leaving only the squirrel in view.
Clearly a second career as a wildlife photographer is not going to happen.
One of the attractions of staying here was the proximity to the railway station, which should allow us to get to the O2 easily, and also into central London to amuse ourselves during Thursday and Friday before the concert.
We obtain directions to the Railway Station from Reception, and walk along there to check out our travel options.
We find we can buy a Day Special for £6-50 (each) which will give us unlimited travel for one day on Trains, buses and Tube. This seems like a good deal to me, but Kathleen cannot resist the possibility of doing it for free, using her Senior Citizen bus pass.
We are advised the journey time to Central London, on the bus is 2 hours, 30 minutes on the train, That is enough to convince me, the train is the way to go!
We walk for three hours in total, quite enough to burn off the Date and Walnut Cake, but we do not actually make it to the Thames!
Instead we return to the van for Spaghetti Bolognaise and a cosy evening of music, crosswords, reading and internet.
Thursday 11th November 2010.
A very windy night, with pouring rain, but we sleep soundly despite it all, surfacing at 8:00am to switch on the fire to warm things up, before emerging for real at 8:30am.
The weather has not improved.
After breakfast, we make use of our free bus passes to travel to Greenwich on the number 180 bus. I know people are always moaning about London Transport, but I think it is excellent (when they are not on strike that is).
Greenwich is a pleasant place, more upmarket than Abbey Wood, from what we see anyway.We wander into Greenwich Park, but the weather is not too good, so we spend an hour or two touring the "old" Royal Observatory, very interesting and all free.
We do the Meridian Route, and see the meridian line and Flamsteed House, built in 1675, where the first Astronomer Royal, John Flamsteed, lived.
All very impressive especially the Octagon Room, Harrison’s Sea Clocks, and of course the Greenwich Meridian.
It is actually possible to see the O2 from here, it looks very close, but fortunately we resist the temptation to walk there, since it is not as close as it looks, and subsequently it rains rather heavily!
The views from the hill on which the "old" Royal Observatory stands are very impressive, you can see across the River Thames to Docklands, the lair of the evil Bankers who, our leaders tell us, have caused the recession.
At lunch time, we search in vain for a place serving baked potatoes, to satisfy Kathleen’s requirement for “healthy” fast food, but end up with a meatball sandwich (in brown bread) from Subway, very palatable.
We then head for the pedestrian tunnel under the Thames.
But when we emerge on the north side of the river, there is a deluge of rain, so we simply return through the tunnel and shelter in a Starbucks for a coffee and a hot chocolate.
When the rain eases a little, we move on to the Maritime Museum (also free). Here we are impressed by how many exhibits actually originate from the North East, including, a tug boat built in South Shields, a model of the Austin and Pickersgill shipyard at Sunderland and a battle ship (model of) built at Vickers Naval Yard in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Friday 12th November 2010
We buy our Day Pass, and head for Central London.
We are not city people, and do not plan to visit museums or tourist spots, unless the weather is poor. So far it is dry and mild.
I think it is quite amusing how almost every city with a canal or river has an area called "little Venice", when of course most of them are nothing like Venice!
Regents Park is quite delightful, the squirrels are so tame they come right up to you and get up on their hind legs to beg for nuts to eat. We do not have any nuts with us, so this one is not impressed and scurries away.
We continue across Regents Park, making the obligatory toilet stop. What is it with women, they have to stop at every toilet!
Regents Park is quite delightful, the squirrels are so tame they come right up to you and get up on their hind legs to beg for nuts to eat. We do not have any nuts with us, so this one is not impressed and scurries away.
We continue across Regents Park, making the obligatory toilet stop. What is it with women, they have to stop at every toilet!London definately has some magnificent parks, indeed I think for a city of this size the amount of greenery and open spaces is quite remarkable.
We eventually reach Regents Canal, and walk along the towpath to the west, ie in the direction of "Little Venice".
This is another haven of peace and tranquility in the middle of the city, at this point, the canal is below street level, so, as you walk along you cannot even see the buildings all around you.
The towpath is deserted, just a few walkers like ourselves, a couple of cyclists and a couple of joggers.
We pass London Zoo, and even get to see some of the birds for free, as we pass the aviaries which back onto the canal.
We see only one barge sailing along, it is a working barge, carrying coal, calor gas cylinders and containers of diesel fuel.
We eventually reach Regents Canal, and walk along the towpath to the west, ie in the direction of "Little Venice".
The towpath is deserted, just a few walkers like ourselves, a couple of cyclists and a couple of joggers.
We pass London Zoo, and even get to see some of the birds for free, as we pass the aviaries which back onto the canal.
We see only one barge sailing along, it is a working barge, carrying coal, calor gas cylinders and containers of diesel fuel.We have brought sandwiches for lunch, so we stop at a seat along the way and eat our lunch.
Then on to the point where the Regents Canal joins the Grand Union Canal. Here there is a large basin, where presumably in days gone by, barges manoeuvered as they passed from one canal to the other.
Now there are barges which have been converted into cafes, and even puppet theatres.
We stop for a coffee, but I cannot resist the home made soup and crusty bread, delicious.
The place is full, and we must wait for a seat.
We eventually leave the canal, time is getting on, and we must begin to head back toward the station.
We cross St James Gardens, heading toward Whitehall, past the duck pond, which a sign tells us was built in the times of Carles II, to lure wild ducks, to be caught for the king's table.
We spend a while in the grounds of Westminster Abbey, where there are very touching display of small crosses, each with a poppy, to commerate the dead in the various conflicts of past and present.
On past Hourse Guards Parade, and Kathleen risks being bitten or kicked in the name of art, as she poses alongside one of the guards on horseback.
Soon we are on the train, being adventurous we use a different station, Charing Cross this time, and we make our way back to Charlton. Here we take the bus to the O2.
We arrive at about 5:00pm, before the crowds as we are about to discover.
We find somewhere to eat, choosing a place called Garfunkles. The meal is fine, except for Kathleen's dessert, which is billed as a strawberry sundae, but is totally lacking in strawberries!
We emerge to find the whole place is full of people, they are like swarms of fish as you see them on wildlife programs on TV, all scurrying in the same direction. Here Kathleen, bravely goes against the flow and crosses the milling crowd.
Soon we are inside the O2 venue, and are treated to a truly wonderful performance by Andrea Bocelli and the supporting cast.
A really enjoyable evening with three "encores", before we leave to head back to Abbey Wood.
Saturday, it is pack up and go home, the end of a really enjoyable trip.
Sunday, 7 November 2010
November 5th - November 7th 2010
Friday, attended a wedding (a nephew on Kathleen's side, Daniel, marrying Emma). Wedding ceremony was in St Paul's Church, Jarrow. A beautiful old church, some parts of which date back to 635AD. The bride looked stunning as they usually do.
Evening "do" was at a place called "Close House". A bit of a trek, it is near Heddon-on-the-Wall, but ideal for us oldies. There is a nice room with a blazing log fire, to sit in away from the noise of the music. Yes I know, bah humbug and all that. Food was good too!
Enroute home (we were being driven by Dana), we had to collect Emily and Lauren (they had been to a pop concert). The excitement was we saw not one but two foxes as we drove through urban Newcastle-uopn-Tyne.
Saturday, a lovely day, a lot of which we spent walking.
We just went in the immediate area near where we live. A circuit, initially by the River Don, past Bockley Whins Metro station, into the not so scenic Brockley Whins housing estate, then into Low Simonside, still not so scenic, then under the A19 beside the Tyne Tunnel, to walk alongside Jarrow cemetry, and then back towards the Robin Hood Pub.
This part is quite scenic, you are still in the not so attractive Jarrow, but you would not know it as you can see, particularly if you avert your eyes from the odd supermarket trolley, discarded in the stream which is the River Don.
Having drunk a little too much last night, we avoided the pub and headed past Primrose, still in a more scenic part.
Eventually under the metro line, at Fellgate Metro station and back through Hedworth to the Boldon Lad Pub, again carefully avoiding the temptation to go in (not too difficult in the case of the Boldon Lad!), and home.
Now here is a thought. "Brockley Whins" is an odd name, I wonder what the origin of that is?
Sunday dawns another beautiful day.
More walking, this time on the edge of Boldon, taking in Downhill Lane and back via Boldon Colliery, and then Sunday Lunch, surely the most enjoyable meal of the week.
A little gardening, I am in the process of removing a small hedge. It is going to be a drawn out affair. Not so much the work involved in digging out the individual shrubs (although the first one was a monster, which broke the spade!), but more in the need to dispose of the results. I have resolved to dig out one shrub per week and consign it to the "green waste" bin. The object of the exercise is to remove the need to trim the hedge, it is all about work reduction now.
I return to the search for information about Brockley Whins.
My initial efforts, ie a search on Google, have not turned up anything really. There was a railway accident there in 1870, in which 5 people died and 57 people were injured. There is a report, including a list of the dead and injured. There is even a "Reay" in the list of injured. Finding out about "Brockley Whins" is clearly going to take more than five minutes.
A little more persistence, and I discover, there has been a mainline railway station there since 1839. Quite why there was a station there, is another mystery to me. True there is a lot of housing development in the immediate area now, but that has all been built in my life time. Surely in 1839 the station must have been in the middle of nowhere?
The station was apparently renamed Boldon Colliery in 1925, at which time I suppose the coal mine at Boldon must have been in full flow. It was renamed back to Brockley Whins in 1991, and become a Metro Station in 2002. Now only Metro's from the Tyne and Wear Metro stop there.
Interesting (?) as this may be, it does nothing to explain where the name came from.
I had thought that the term "Whins", related to coal mining, but it would appear I am wrong, hardly surprising, since I am a man.
No it would appear the word "Whins" is of Scandinavian origin, and means "Gorse", akin to Norwegian kvein bent grass. This is not a total surprise since many colloquial words in this region are of Scandinavian origin, dating back to the days when the Vikings were the Football hooligans of the day, and raped and pillaged their way through the area.
I do recall, in my youth, the immediate area was extensively covered in gorse bushes, or at least the area which, at that time, was not covered in spoil heaps from the colliery. So perhaps this is the origin of the name.
Before the colliery closed, and the surrounding land was "reclaimed", we (as children at the time) used it as our adventure playground, climbing the spoil heaps, and sailing on the pit pond in home made rafts. All long before the days of computer games, television in every house and of course "Health and Safety"
Evening "do" was at a place called "Close House". A bit of a trek, it is near Heddon-on-the-Wall, but ideal for us oldies. There is a nice room with a blazing log fire, to sit in away from the noise of the music. Yes I know, bah humbug and all that. Food was good too!
Enroute home (we were being driven by Dana), we had to collect Emily and Lauren (they had been to a pop concert). The excitement was we saw not one but two foxes as we drove through urban Newcastle-uopn-Tyne.
We just went in the immediate area near where we live. A circuit, initially by the River Don, past Bockley Whins Metro station, into the not so scenic Brockley Whins housing estate, then into Low Simonside, still not so scenic, then under the A19 beside the Tyne Tunnel, to walk alongside Jarrow cemetry, and then back towards the Robin Hood Pub.
This part is quite scenic, you are still in the not so attractive Jarrow, but you would not know it as you can see, particularly if you avert your eyes from the odd supermarket trolley, discarded in the stream which is the River Don.
Eventually under the metro line, at Fellgate Metro station and back through Hedworth to the Boldon Lad Pub, again carefully avoiding the temptation to go in (not too difficult in the case of the Boldon Lad!), and home.
Now here is a thought. "Brockley Whins" is an odd name, I wonder what the origin of that is?
Sunday dawns another beautiful day.
More walking, this time on the edge of Boldon, taking in Downhill Lane and back via Boldon Colliery, and then Sunday Lunch, surely the most enjoyable meal of the week.
A little gardening, I am in the process of removing a small hedge. It is going to be a drawn out affair. Not so much the work involved in digging out the individual shrubs (although the first one was a monster, which broke the spade!), but more in the need to dispose of the results. I have resolved to dig out one shrub per week and consign it to the "green waste" bin. The object of the exercise is to remove the need to trim the hedge, it is all about work reduction now.
I return to the search for information about Brockley Whins.
My initial efforts, ie a search on Google, have not turned up anything really. There was a railway accident there in 1870, in which 5 people died and 57 people were injured. There is a report, including a list of the dead and injured. There is even a "Reay" in the list of injured. Finding out about "Brockley Whins" is clearly going to take more than five minutes.
A little more persistence, and I discover, there has been a mainline railway station there since 1839. Quite why there was a station there, is another mystery to me. True there is a lot of housing development in the immediate area now, but that has all been built in my life time. Surely in 1839 the station must have been in the middle of nowhere?
The station was apparently renamed Boldon Colliery in 1925, at which time I suppose the coal mine at Boldon must have been in full flow. It was renamed back to Brockley Whins in 1991, and become a Metro Station in 2002. Now only Metro's from the Tyne and Wear Metro stop there.
Interesting (?) as this may be, it does nothing to explain where the name came from.
I had thought that the term "Whins", related to coal mining, but it would appear I am wrong, hardly surprising, since I am a man.
No it would appear the word "Whins" is of Scandinavian origin, and means "Gorse", akin to Norwegian kvein bent grass. This is not a total surprise since many colloquial words in this region are of Scandinavian origin, dating back to the days when the Vikings were the Football hooligans of the day, and raped and pillaged their way through the area.
I do recall, in my youth, the immediate area was extensively covered in gorse bushes, or at least the area which, at that time, was not covered in spoil heaps from the colliery. So perhaps this is the origin of the name.
Before the colliery closed, and the surrounding land was "reclaimed", we (as children at the time) used it as our adventure playground, climbing the spoil heaps, and sailing on the pit pond in home made rafts. All long before the days of computer games, television in every house and of course "Health and Safety"
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