Resting

Happy am I as my week is over and tonight I sleep!  I slept ast night but by the time I got home tonight it appears to have worn off.  I wish it wouldn't do that.  No need to check the clock in the morning, no need to iron a shirt, no need to wash, just be a normal slob for a while and catch up on the things not done.  I note the fruit and veg from Saturday has already turned a strange mouldy colour, the rubbish is piling up in each room of the Palace and the things dropped on the floor on Monday await putting in their place, I'll do that tomorrow. 

Another Armistice commemoration day comes to a close.  For days people have been buying Poppies, placing pictures like this on the web, talking about soldiers and groups, teams, companies andgovernment national and local have been talking about remembrance. 
I wonder how long this will last?
The remembrance acts have a shallowness about them.  Those who have served or have family who served are not shallow, the general population is however.  Certainly the plight of returning soldiers has been highlighted again, we will not forget so easily as before but the population in general will become tired of remembrance when other problems press them hard.
I wait and see...

Now there's a strange thing, silence.
For a few moments there was no noise, nothing.
No cars drove past, no kids screamed in the park, no aircraft high above, nothing.
Silence.
Even more astonishing the constant bang and flash of fireworks close by or in the distance ceased.
A repetitive drilling a while ago has stopped, silence reigns.

Now the occasional cars are passing by.  Normal service might be resuming. 
How strange that in the evening sudden silence can disturb as it is so unusual.

Tired & Weary

On Duty

I was on duty again today escorting ladies to and from the talk on Embroidery that we had today and then offering them drinks and cake.  This meant I walked a thousand miles back and forward, never complaining about my knees nor the suffering I endured.  No one I must indicate asked whether I suffered anyway as it happens.

There was a talk, then the exhibition was opened, drinks were offered and the visiting multitude inspected the works newly hung on view.  I never had time to look at them, just a moment to take a picture and find the lights reflecting everywhere making that difficult.  The girls had a good time however and they were all very pleased.  

I just had lots of washing up as my assistant had to leave when washing up time approached.  Typical female trick!   I am worn out and weary, have not eaten enough and now have to watch a football game.  Life is so trying I get no time to myself.

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Braintree Remembrance 2015

Just before two this afternoon a thousand or so souls gathered to pay respects to the war dead.  The number is similar to last year when there was more emphasis in the media as that concerned the centenary of the beginning of the Great War however the desire to remember has not faded as yet.  

The 'Four & Twenty' gathered to lead the paying respects which followed the usual routine of short service, a word, a hymn, a prayer and the laying of wreaths this year by at least 25 groups.  The bugler, a young female, played the last post, flags dropped, silence reigned, and at the bugle call the standards arose again.  This type of ceremony occurred throughout the United Kingdom today sometimes with similar crowds and at others only one or two people attended.  The local dead were not forgotten.
It is important to remember why these events take place.  Politicians cause wars, not soldiers, they merely fight them.  On two occasions world wars took the lives of millions and the entire nation was involved it seems to me that on both occasions the war had to be fought to prevent Germanic hegemony over Europe.  Freedom was indeed at stake on both occasions and these deaths must not be forgotten nor the freedom they fought for lost.   It is interesting that some of the most ardent opponents of fighting wars tend to be soldiers, they after all know the cost.

Local groups attended in great force today.  I was not aware so many belonged to uniformed organisations today.  Certainly the majority were primary school age but there were many in the teenage age groups in other organisations.  It is likely that many of these will continue on into the armed forces, learning a wide variety of skills, travelling the world, encountering strange experiences and of course shooting people.  In the end that is part of the job.

 

Two of the men present served after 1945.  One saw service in Iraq during the First Gulf War then found himself posted to the Balkans.  He was lucky enough to have two chances to die!  The other served in the RAF with Bomber Command and saw action during the Suez Crisis of 1956, another Prime Ministers Middle East mistake.  Both were worthy men and both ought to be remembered while living just as comrades may be remembered when dead.  We tend to forget 'Our Boys' when they leave the services and let them rot, this should not be.

A cross section of the district is represented here.  Not just from the town but  from the villages round about.  Many would attend their local Memorials others may have gathered here.  In some villages the memory of the departed has long gone.  Where once the locals knew one another and those in the villages around today the incomers, running from the big city, drive in and shut the doors rarely meeting the neighbours.  Supermarkets are close by and all deliver to your door.  The need to go out is limited, meeting places close, at east one pub will remain open but others become Indian restaurants or housing.  Many of those who left a hundred years ago would not recognise the towns they grew up in today.

All paid full attention, mostly...

What goes through the mind of a young man in service uniform when standing at a war memorial remembering men such a she who died.  There is no way he can see the world as we do, no way he can comprehend what soldiers have gone through as yet, and at the back of his mind must be the thought that if he continues along the army way he too could be come a casualty. 

A soldiers thoughts.

German Prisoners

When first I saw you in the curious street
Like some platoon of soldier ghosts in grey,
My mad impulse was all to smite and slay,
To spit upon you—tread you 'neath my feet.
But when I saw how each sad soul did greet
My gaze with no sign of defiant frown,
How from tired eyes looked spirits broken down,
How each face showed the pale flag of defeat,
And doubt, despair, and disillusionment,
And how were grievous wounds on many a head.
And on your garb red-faced was other red;
And how you stooped as men whose strength was spent,
I knew that we had suffered each as other,
And could have grasped your hand and cried, "My brother!"

Joseph lee, 4th Black Watch.

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My Saturday Evening Post

Spam Art

During the past couple of weeks I have begun to relieve around 20-30 spam a day from clearly one crook.  He uses several names as addresses and changes them almost daily.  Among the names are  @cisco.com, @excellentcalls.net, @life.net, @claims.co.uk, @SYNTAX_ERROR and around thirty others.  Some contain my first name, others offer the usual trash.  This sort of thing happens now and again and I suspect it is the same people responsible from times past.  No idea what they are after, I doubt anything they sell is genuine, and I have not clicked on them to see what they offer.   However it is annoying to get so many constantly from the same crowd of crooks.  Sending millions of these worldwide is fine if people respond but how many actually do respond?  I suppose someone somewhere does or they would not bother.  Surely folks would realise they are chancers?
I came upon this piece by a spammer telling folks how to grab the unwary's attention.  Sugar
This may be someone selling legitimate items unlike my visitors but non the less I could do without so many at one time.  These are easily deleted by the system but it does annoy having to link each name. 

As you may be aware my opinion on 'art' and much of what is offered as 'art' is far from what can be called appreciative.  Similarly the enormous time squandered on 'wimmen' when it is not required can cause some a reaction however the Edinburgh Evening News, a rag that died many years ago has informed those still bothering to read it about an exhibition of wimmin artists at the National Galleries of Scotland.
Now I do like portraits and this one caught my eye.  It is by one Dorothy Johnstone and this, and indeed many of her other pictures, are well worth a look.  One or two of the other girls mentioned look quite interesting also but some are clearly mental, like so many other 'artists!'  So much did I appreciate this that if I lived in the capital city I would pop along and see this for myself, even paying at the door if required.  Some of these girls did have a fair bit of talent and this must be worth seeing.

Easy Reading

Sitting at the desk during quiet times yesterday I took to reading the 'Kellys Directory' of 1926.  These were large nationwide directories that appear to contain everyone and everything about a town anywhere in the nation.  These are great helps when looking into the past as they list all the office bearers of all organisations, the local dignitaries and most ofnthe population.  A brief description of the town is given, the main buildings, churches, places of interest, then the office bearers, private citizens and tradesmen.  An wider number of people are listed at the rear of the book, the 'plebs' I suppose.  
Havinggone through the war memorial searching for people I love this book as it lists the relatives of many and other names that crop up in day to day queries at the museum.  Some folks relax with drinking, some jogging, others take long walks or spend their money is shops, I find myself reading an out of date directory.  What does this say about what my life has become?
Today was the third day in a row I have worked.  Not just that but they forced me to work at lifting things also!  I only went in to help with the tea and buscuits at the end (all of which this lot of visitors snaffled I must say!).  This was a local history group from some distance away who came for a lecture on 'Magna Carta'  and a guided tour of the museum.  As they were talked down to I was seen humping and carrying things my knees thought too heavy.  My back now agrees but the lady in charge merely muttered 'wimp' and 'shut up' quite a lot.  
Yesterday was lazier as I went in for the afternoon shift and little of note occurred.  That is why I dug out the directory.  Such a useful book if looking for people in the past but I fear their uses ended after the war.  Modern communication, telephone books for instance I suppose ended their purpose.
They tell us much about the importance of some citizens, and on occasion their self importance.  It reveals also how individual shps are replaced by supermarkets and other devices.  Trades once common disappear as do streets and all those mentioned.  Their descendents however can be seen in the streets if the eye is open.

As I write a battle is occurring outside.  Explosions rent the air, acreeching rockets climb into the sky spilling silver or coloured starlets around, larger ones explode like 'Jack Johnsons' from the Great War while nodoubt younger children enjoy the spectacle that takes place in the back garden while their dog and cat hide under the sofa.  I await the weekend with trepadation as that is when large organised events wil take place, oh goody.
But as someone observed today why is it now called 'Bonfire Night' instead of 'Guy Fawkes Night?'  That was how we knew it for so long, and we used a lot less fireworks in thsoe far off poorer days.  Have people forgotten the reason for this needless excitement?  This guy Guy tried to blow up the House of Commons when the Kingw as in attendance, an act of terrorism that would be condemned today by the majority.  Mind you when Prime Ministers Question Time is taking place maybe, just maybe....
Anyway we would not like such an event to actually occur so why commemorate this one?  So many years ago, so many folks who no nothing of the King or his ideas, the intentions of Fawkes and his mates, and probably would have opposed him if they knew him at the time.  Still, a few fireworks, a bonfire, and an accident or two are things most people would wish to experience once in their life. 

Museum Railways

Today was the first of three half days at the museum.  The usual Tuesday went in the way of the usual Tuesday, busy one minute, quiet the next.  All went reasonably well until a teacher of a visiting school asked a question about a question on the paperwork the kids were going through.  The question asked 'When did the railway arrive here?' but the notice with the answer has gone! I began scribbling a notice to erect in a noticeable place but instead fell asleep as I often do in the late afternoon.  '1848' is the answer you are looking for by the way.  The railways were the reason the UK expanded during the 19th century, with such improved traffic factories could send their goods directly into towns, foodstuffs arrived in towns and cities within hours rather than days improving peoples health as the vegetables were fresher, coal was transported by rail to home and factory ensuring improved production and warmth, and goods were taken direct to the docks for forwarding around the world.  The economy grew because of the railways as did peoples time off, one day holidays took folks to the seaside for a new outlook or a hedonistic few hours, seaside resorts became popular and more so as holiday times lengthened.  Our railway station still has an hourly service to Liverpool Street and this ought to be improved in many folks minds, whether it will be is a question however.
The fact that we have a beautifully made model of a 'Britannia' Class 700014 'Iron Duke' shows that railways were important, even if that engine never ran near here, it would be too big in any case, but the leaflet I made for it is wrong anyway!  I mentioned it occasionally ran as the 'Golden Arrow' and for some reason wrote 'Green Arrow,' naturally rail buffs have pointed this out!  That needs rewritten also. 

The steam engine and two carriages seen in this 1955 film is typical of the type of train that trundled along our local lines for many years.  The connection to the main line brought local people within an hour or two of the big city or slightly less of the coast.   

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Foggy Cat

This was the third picture I took of this cat this morning.  He was sitting on the tin roof involved in a stand off with a black cat that lay curled up on a hut roof beneath him just out of picture.  It may be they had been positioned like this for some time.  This as I say was the third shot and his expression indicates he was getting miffed by my interest in his doings.  I say 'his' but it could easily be a female cat, that looks is the look many a mother has given her offspring.  I have no idea where this cat or indeed the other cat came from.  This may belong further down the road, I often see a cat cross the busy road there in spite of the heavy traffic.  The black one was hidden to well to get a proper look.  All around us the world continues and we know nothing of it.  The pets that keep us company and always are so doting towards us can also enter the wild world whenever they wish.  The varied relationships between them remain unknown to us.  Some cats may travel several miles claiming the land around as their property, this clearly means trouble as so many live in close proximity.  Yet I suppose once they have avoided the roads the park is a great place for them to spend their day.  Birds, passing dogs, other cats, squirrels, rats and I notice a few rabbits now have found a dwelling in the park.  Occasionally a Roebuck will pass through late at night.  

The fog forced me out in an attempt to obtain a decent picture but sadly few were available.  However I did find many bushes covered in these soaking wet spiders webs.  These were hanging over many bushes and I wondered about the fate of the poor spider hidden somewhere in the bush awaiting his breakfast.  Just how do wee beasties survive in such conditions.  The fog/mist by the way lessened as the day wore on but did not evaporate completely and remains again tonight.  The creatures the spiders aim for must be lacking in numbers just now or has the very mild November weather fooled them into thinking it is a differing month?  

By the way as this is November that means Christmas is just around the corner!

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Cycing, Football and Mist

The morning sun shone through the mist like light shining through my brain as I wake in the morning, everything is dim.  I trundled down to St Paul's for an excellent morning and back in what was by now bright sunshine (this is the 1st of November) just in time to watch the wee team (Hibernian) defeat the Blue Bigots (Rangers) by two goals to one.  This naturally is the only time I wish them to win anything however the arrogance, ignorance and plain contempt the 'Auld Firm' (Celtic & Rangers) show for the rest of Scottish football forces such a response from me.  It is not surprising to notice that while clearly in charge the wee team then allowed the blue bigots back into the game, it's more natural for them to lose than to win so I suppose not knowing what to do when winning is not a surprise.  However I suspect the media tomorrow will have blamed the referee, the seven penalty claims turned down and the fact that the grass was green for their teams loss, anything to satisfy the Huns who will want to read an excuse.
I followed this up by burning my dinner, I must adjust that oven, and falling asleep.  The usual midday activity.  I then watched Southampton defeat Bournemouth in an English game that was nowhere near as interesting as the first one.  While doing so I microwaved my tea for safety!
It was rotten!

However the stress of watching two games has worn me out and my mind id finding thought difficult again.  This I realise is not unusual.  So here is a chance to get on the bike and go visit the country.

Grumbling a Wee Bit

Nothing exciting happening these days.  The halloween wagon is well under way.  Shops full of rubbish  that lasts for one night and few people understand the occasion and fewer still the reality of spirits.  We turn this into a kids playground opening their minds to the occult and its many dangers.  Much better what we had as kids,a party ducking for apples in basins of water and trying to eat treacle tarts hanging from the ceiling with hands tied behind our backs.  I canny mind the other activities.  Sad to see so many churches fail to understand the problem also.

The Poppy parade is however well under way.  People today comprehend the need and are willing to pay and wear poppies.  One or two things do annoy however.  One is the demand that everyone wears them.  The whole point of fighting for freedom is to ensure people can decide for themselves whether to wear them or not.  TV companies are bad at this as those who appear MUST be seen to wear a poppy in case the TV company gets a bad name, that is not right!  
Another point that annoys is the remembrance being turned into an event.  Instead of remembering people are wearing fancy poppies that cost money, TV channels offer elaborate poppies for women to show off and some events are less for remembrance than for get togethers. This is fine for ex-servicemen meeting up but for too many the real reason is forgotten.
From what I have seen of the Legion members these days few participated in the Second World War but many were in Korea, the forgotten war, Malaya fighting Communist insurgents, and those 'end of empire' conflicts when nations became independent, sometimes peaceably.  It is forgotten that British troops were in action somewhere in the world in every year since 1945 except 1958.  There was always some problem somewhere.  Today many ex-servicemen were involved in another forgotten conflict, one that most people today do not wish to remember - the Irish situation.  Many were shot in the back, blown up and maltreated while attempting to separate at preserve a divided nation that did not wish, and some say still does not wish, to keep the peace.  I sometimes feel we should be considering local memorials to those men who fell after 1945 and ensuring their names are not forgotten by being blended in with the armistice remembrance.

What do you mean I'm a grump?  Try these then if you wish....

I understand some of you find an advert on the page blocking things.  I do not see this as I use AdBlockPlus and the ads don't show here.  I will look into it and see what I can do.....

Research

I was offered a small pack of letters and info one of our regular visitors found among his fathers paperwork.  These concerned one or two chaps who's names appear on the High School Memorial and some other bits from the second war.  Today I got around to checking out the two brothers who fell, one with the London Regiment north of Beersheeba and the other while with the Canadian Cavalry.  The one with then Canadians had emigrated at 18 years or so to Canada and enlisted at 21 at Calgary.  he went on to have many adventures in France and by October 1918 must have been longing to get the war over and done with.  The Canadian Division ended the war at Mons in November 1918 the place British forces first encountered the Germans in 1914.  It was south of there that our man was killed, the letter claims killed outright but who knows.

His brother enlisted Jan 1915, entered war in France during June 1915 with the Essex Yeomanry.  Most Yeomanry were country boys and their father ran a farm not far from here.  

During the Battle of Arras during April 1917 the village of Monchy was situated on high ground giving a clear view of the surrounding area and therefore a desperate fight evolved to capture this village.

The Essex Yeomanry along with another squadron were instructed to make for the village and join troops already attempting to occupy the ground.  In the charge to make the village they came under heavy machine gun fire from the enemy trenches.  Once in the village the survivors helped take possession and with the crowded conditions and under fire a decision was taken that the two squadrons should charge forward against the enemy to clear the area.  This they did while the enemy had already taken opportunity to set defensive positions.  The cavalrymen suffered from murderous machine gun and rifle fire causing heavy casualties.  A courageous and foolhardy attack

Our man was one of the many seriously wounded but Monchy was held.   However shrapnel in his brain left him paralysed with no speech.  Hospitalised 18 months and sent home but later returned to hospital in Holborn where he died 27th November 1918, one month and a day after his brother. 

A third man mentioned and on the High School Memorial was with the London Regiment as they fought the last Gaza battle, their part being attacking Beersheeba, and in the days following chasing the Turkish forces up the Hebron road.  This included some tough fighting, Turkish forces often being far stronger than they are given credit,and at a place called Huj he was wounded in the shoulder and died a few days later of his wounds quite unexpectedly.  He was Batman to the 2nd Lieutenant and about to go for a commission himself.  Knocked down while under shellfire as they attacked the strong point.

So I have sat here all day scouring sites and wishing it would stop as my head is exploding!  Worse still I did not have my siesta and what remains of my brain is slowly turning into mush.  I am glad I searched for this however, the question now regards why did this mans father have these letters and other information?  I suspect he was the one organising the memorial himself.  Anyway I am off to rinse out my skull. 

Nothing Happened

Nothing happened again today.  The teeming rain forced the citizens indoors except for the poor souls who had to work outside.  Judging by the buzzing noise for nearby someone was busy chopping trees somewhere in spite of the weather.  The postmen had to work as well as lucky folks driving vans and buses but the majority stayed indoors.  I know this as when the rain eased off around eleven I scuttled up to Sainsburys and found the locals arriving as I left.  Thousands off them rushing out to fill their well stocked cupboards and complain they have nothing to eat or money to spend!  

As the sun hid itself I wandered about trying to capture a red sky but was left with peely wally pink instead.  When I sit here from the window I see glowing red skies yet when I venture out it is always a faded sky that greets me, Bah!  I wandered round as the darkness began and attempted this pic of the back of the town hall and library next door.  One man standing there made clear his thoughts that the round library was not in keeping with the surrounding buildings but it was built anyway!  He was right of course.  In fact as I looked I realised just how much wasted space there is in the building, vast acres of nothingness.  A bit like this blog...

Instead of rebuilding the library in a more suitable form I took a picture of the museum shop in the darkening evening.  It didn't quite work either.  No doubt as I look at the camera I will find settings I should have used for such pictures.  It's fun mind.
Not much else happened, I hope your day was better than mine.

Hot House

Jenny has been keeping an eye on a fire in Finchley Road and I wondered if this was the building I once lived in.   In 1975 I moved into a sad little room at the back, taking the opportunity when it arose to move sideways into a sad little room with a window later.  However I do not think this is the block I lived in, there is an entrance next to the yellow sign which is now closed but used to be wide open for all and sundry to enter. I think that was the doorway graced with my presence.

I lived there over the window, glad to have accommodation I could afford, happy to ignore the window in the bathroom that would not shut whatever was done to it and content to listen to the mice wandering about the floor as the skirting board left at least an inch space for them to pass through.  The main problem was the train station underneath.  Right outside the back the four lanes of busy Underground trains ran all day well into the night.  The high pitched women's voice constantly giving out "This train is for Amersham, stopping at...." all day and changing with each arrival and then back again to the Amersham message.  How easily I could have shot her!  
The entrance was at the back and once inside it was the only way out.  This meant if you were on the top floor you were stuck if fire broke out, and as with all badly maintained buildings, especially aged uncared for ones, that was always a fear.  
Most of these today are offices but it may be some still house rich peoples, poor peoples cannot live in London these days!  I canny mind what rent I paid to the chap on the top floor with the Sten gun on the wall but it was affordable.  There again I was only earning £35 a week.  Today I suspect I may have to pay around £4oo a week for such a position.  At least it looks like it may have been done up but when I was there the block was not glorious.  Somehow I don't expect this block to be in use for a year or so.
Having looked closely I note the new building to the right of the building and it appears the block I lived in may well have been demolished and replaced.  I went through the entrance way and I think it was the second door along we lived at.  Now it is the back end of Sainsburys!  At least it looks safer.

Medieval Day

We took our museum De Lorean vehicle and went back to 1215 on Saturday.  King John appeared, anxious to ensure the taxes were being collected, and graced us with his presence, a presence that required countless cups of tea I noticed.  This burred and hurried picture shows him with one of his Knights who revealed the art of dressing in armour and after the picture was taken how to use a sword and kill said Knights in armour.  To do this he obtained a volunteer from the audience, a brave 10 year old, who was then the subject of thrusts, jabs, assaults and so on to ensure we got the picture.  The lad never moved a muscle but I did.  

 

The kids then put on parts of the armour and learnt a great deal about knights in shining armour from that alone.  Most came to both sessions and I reckon it was one of the best judging by the kids and parents reactions.   

One chap described the workings of the local Mill, the use made of 'Tithe Barns,' two of which exist nearby, and allowed folks to taste the Rye bread of the medieval day as well as the Spelt bread used by the rich.  I supplied jugs of water to prevent choking on the Rye bread as it was somewhat dry Rye.  The difference in basic foodstuffs over 800 years is hard for some to accept.  The rich had what they needed, mostly by hunting, and the poor got what they got!  The Conservative Party work on similar principles today.

This table gave off a magnificent fragrance!  The variety of herbs and spices used in those days is astounding.   The lass told those interested what the various herbs were used for, healing in some cases, making food edible in others and even cleaning the teeth!  Some would have only been available for the richer folks, others would have been grown or searched for by the peasants as and when.  Most lived off the land so they would be raised with an awareness of what was possible from that which grew around the place.  

The Knight in shining armour (which has to be cleaned daily or it rusts as it is steel, think of the work the yeomen had maintaining a Knight?) appears big and brave and the Essex Knights were very rebellious.  After King Johns failure in the French wars these chaps revolted bringing about the Magna Carta and civil war that soon followed.   Soon after the publication John, an able administrator if lousy warrior, got the Pope, who did not like him, to annul the Carta.  This led to war with the nobles.  The brave Knights however were not so brave when John's loyal nobles defeated them up north somewhere so when John came to Essex looking for them they hopped it to London where it was safer, the city being anti John also.  The reason for the uprising?  Money!  John taxed them too much and they disliked it.  After he died however all settled down, they kept their lands and everyone went back to hating the French.

  
It was a very good but somewhat long day and my knees being unhappy with me by the end.  Large numbers passed through, asked questions, bought books or pictures signed by the authors/artists, understood medieval life, searched through an archaeological dig, examined a skeleton (plastic) and had a jolly good time.  I am not sure whether the orange stuffed with cloves in a decorative manner will actually keep away the plague but it went down well with some.  
I missed the football, had to drag my weary body to the shops for eatables and arrived in the smelly abode worn out and glad I am not sleeping on straw or having to run after a Lord or King.  Climbing all the stairs in a Norman 'Keep' is hard work I can tell thee.  I have done it once and I am not keen to do it again.  I am however keen on sleeping since then and wish to develop this as a hobby.

 
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