10.00 pm 5.7.2007.No sooner do I recover from one experience away from my home that I arrange another, as this morning my ticket arrived for the Final of the Friends Provident one day competition at Lords in mid August. I immediately investigated accommodation and found that there was nothing available at a discount in central London but less than half price was available at the new central Croydon accommodation, situated within a short walking distance of either East or West Croydon stations. I booked for four nights. In the event that the one day match cannot be completed on the Saturday then it continues on the Sunday. I travel down on the Thursday, thus I have the Friday for other activities, possibly the Sunday/
I then investigation the transport options and was able to travel by train on both journeys and also order a greater London travel pass ticket for the first day. By going on the same train as before (11.30) it will be possible for me to return to central London for the cinema, theatre or concert, on the Thursday evening if I wish. Again by booking immediately I was able to obtain a fifty percent reduction on the standard return fare. So everything was quickly organised, but I will leave until later, consideration of how I will use any additional time. I have still not investigated what happened to the Saatchi.
It is approaching the fifth birthday of the Baltic. I purchased the Newcastle regional morning newspaper because there is a significant feature about the new owner of Newcastle Football Club and about his intentions, However inside the paper there is also a feature about alleged differences between the Director, the third since the opening, and members of staff, and that the Board had recently been changed. Such developments are peripheral to my life and I no longer feel guilty that once having held an important role in the local community I feel under no obligation to involve myself, nor I think would involvement be welcomed by those who hold responsibilities today. It is their time and burden.
It was sunny and warm earlier so I made a quick picnic of two soft rolls filled with lettuce and prawns and a banana, and put the new rucksack to further use. This purchase, made on impulse, has proved a major triumph. I include the weatherproofs and hat, and afterwards know that it will be wise to include a small towel, perhaps even a spare shirt depending on the length of distance and time that I will go out. I will make this a regular event with either rolls or a made up salad.
Today because the decision was taken after midday I headed straight for one of the benches overlooking the mouth of the Tyne River, with the remains of the Tynemouth Prior bathed in sunshine on the opposite bank of the river. It was a joyous lunch, especially because of a communication received shortly beforehand. I had also enjoyed listening to the CD of George Melly, deciding to purchase another from Amazon together with the book written by his wife.
The steep steps down the hillside to the lower park walk or across the road to the car park, picnic area and river mouth have been transformed in two ways. In addition to the attractive repaving, there are attractive light installations and barriers to prevent accidents, and the side banks have bee replanted with a mixture of shrubs and flower arrangements which are surprisingly well designed for an area rarely used because most people enter the park and journey to the hilltop by different routes.
I have not made the lower walk before which goes around one side of the beautifully manicured bowls pitches and the bowling club itself, discovering what looks to be a scented and raised garden, although again this in an out of the way corner of the park. Leaving the park I am amused to find that the Pier Theatre, (although some distance from the Pier) will be hosting a play called Role Play over the coming week. I have not been to this theatre before, in all my thirty years in the area, and this deficiency will be remedied. I then pass the fish and chip restaurant and the smell is delicious and I half regret having had the salad rolls. Well when I have reduced by a half a stone, I will have a treat.
A month, is it already as long as month, I told visitors that there were 100 swans on the boating lake in the Victorian designed Second Park. It is very difficult to count the swans who scurry to a bank whenever there is the prospect of being fed and then swim away at a pace elsewhere. The clouds are gathering and I self congratulate the decision to bring the showerproofs, especially as I need to replace the small umbrella. Nevertheless I walk around counting swans but because of those hidden among the shrubs and trees on the island and their swimming speed I settle for a total of between 85 and 90 and decide to do another count another day.
I walk along the length of Ocean Road and then the pedestrianised town centre to Wilkinson’s where I hope to find the umbrella and a couple of pints of milk. I ask an assistant about the umbrella and we have a grand tour, passing from assistant to assistant but eventually I find the container with full length sporting umbrellas in one corner among the stationery section and the small ones at the opposite end of the store immediately on entry and easily missed. The umbrellas are all of different sizes and prices. The one I want has no price bar code and an assistant takes one from a similar but not same umbrella for £2.99 and I decide on a second, a mini for £.75.The mini will fit into any pocket or handbag and is amazing value.
On the return journey I stop at the fruit and veg stalls tucked under the Metro station, the market being closed on Thursdays, in order to buy a pound of cherries. This is cherry eating month as the prices become reasonable. I adore the large deep red sweet cherries which can be purchased at a premium at Marks and Spencer's. I settle for the less expensive for most days and get the M and S quality once a week. I divide into two portions, eating one as mid afternoon tea and the other intended for the morrow after the evening meal of a cheese pasta bake with spinach, because I am too lazy to prepare the fresh pineapple and water melon, but I will do so in the morning. This evening I enjoyed a glass of Tallowood Creek Shiraz, product of an Italian born family in the Riverina area of New South Wales, Australia.
I broke off making these notes to listen to the under 25 version of Question Time which accepting the atypical audience contained more intelligent comment than the entire seasons of programmes since the last such event. The programme was then followed by an exceptional edition of the weekly political round up where for once all three outside contributors had something of importance to say. The first had married into the Bin Laden family and what she said confirmed my judgement that those against becoming religious and cultural Muslim, or who wish their children and grand children to have the choice have a long term and major fight on their hands, and it is a fight which the democratic west will have difficulty in sustaining, but where Russia and in time China, will have the right and political systems to combat the threat more effectively. One cannot fight those who have no political objectives with politics and those who think so are dangerous fools. That is why resolving the Palestine and Israel question is only important, outside the countries and peoples directly involved, in reducing one cause which acts a recruiting agent, but there will be other causes across Africa, Asia and South America which will be exploited. It is a war almost impossible to fight because the enemy has the cover of an important religion with quality ideals and cultural values and those engaging have been trained and will continue to be trained to function under cover for long periods and thus when they rise up and act, and to some extent the actual blowing up is not important, but it is undermining confidence between races, religions and communities. The allegation that those perpetrating the recent failed terrorist attacks are doctors who with others worked for the National Health Service is the real success of the operation because from now, whenever anyone goes to see a doctor trained or born in a Muslim country then there will be caution and suspicion.
I think that the only effective way to stop the movement from growing and of pushing back the threat will come from Muslims taking action, especially young Muslims. They have to engage in proactive opposition to the level of a lifelong crusade, as will Catholics and Jews in saying no those within their religions who preach that their faith is the only true faith and that everyone else are non believers who need to be forced to believe or be exterminated.
There was an excellent contribution by a metrologist and presenter that the natural consequence of global is increase precipitation and flooding. There was a healthy discussion about the failure of the London based media to understand the impact on Hull in particular and the North Generally. The political elite were too busy changing guard in preparation for the next general election and the media remains London area blinkered.
The third contribution identified the significant political ups and down of the week and the Ming Campbell’s joke about Gordon Brown's open door being a trap door was the highlight. Gordon's gaff about only being P.M for five days will live to haunt him given that he wished for the job since childhood and has been plotting and planning for over a decade since Tony was elected party leader. The slip undid the otherwise excellent performance on taking office and when commenting on the terrorist attempts and constitutional reform.
I then investigation the transport options and was able to travel by train on both journeys and also order a greater London travel pass ticket for the first day. By going on the same train as before (11.30) it will be possible for me to return to central London for the cinema, theatre or concert, on the Thursday evening if I wish. Again by booking immediately I was able to obtain a fifty percent reduction on the standard return fare. So everything was quickly organised, but I will leave until later, consideration of how I will use any additional time. I have still not investigated what happened to the Saatchi.
It is approaching the fifth birthday of the Baltic. I purchased the Newcastle regional morning newspaper because there is a significant feature about the new owner of Newcastle Football Club and about his intentions, However inside the paper there is also a feature about alleged differences between the Director, the third since the opening, and members of staff, and that the Board had recently been changed. Such developments are peripheral to my life and I no longer feel guilty that once having held an important role in the local community I feel under no obligation to involve myself, nor I think would involvement be welcomed by those who hold responsibilities today. It is their time and burden.
It was sunny and warm earlier so I made a quick picnic of two soft rolls filled with lettuce and prawns and a banana, and put the new rucksack to further use. This purchase, made on impulse, has proved a major triumph. I include the weatherproofs and hat, and afterwards know that it will be wise to include a small towel, perhaps even a spare shirt depending on the length of distance and time that I will go out. I will make this a regular event with either rolls or a made up salad.
Today because the decision was taken after midday I headed straight for one of the benches overlooking the mouth of the Tyne River, with the remains of the Tynemouth Prior bathed in sunshine on the opposite bank of the river. It was a joyous lunch, especially because of a communication received shortly beforehand. I had also enjoyed listening to the CD of George Melly, deciding to purchase another from Amazon together with the book written by his wife.
The steep steps down the hillside to the lower park walk or across the road to the car park, picnic area and river mouth have been transformed in two ways. In addition to the attractive repaving, there are attractive light installations and barriers to prevent accidents, and the side banks have bee replanted with a mixture of shrubs and flower arrangements which are surprisingly well designed for an area rarely used because most people enter the park and journey to the hilltop by different routes.
I have not made the lower walk before which goes around one side of the beautifully manicured bowls pitches and the bowling club itself, discovering what looks to be a scented and raised garden, although again this in an out of the way corner of the park. Leaving the park I am amused to find that the Pier Theatre, (although some distance from the Pier) will be hosting a play called Role Play over the coming week. I have not been to this theatre before, in all my thirty years in the area, and this deficiency will be remedied. I then pass the fish and chip restaurant and the smell is delicious and I half regret having had the salad rolls. Well when I have reduced by a half a stone, I will have a treat.
A month, is it already as long as month, I told visitors that there were 100 swans on the boating lake in the Victorian designed Second Park. It is very difficult to count the swans who scurry to a bank whenever there is the prospect of being fed and then swim away at a pace elsewhere. The clouds are gathering and I self congratulate the decision to bring the showerproofs, especially as I need to replace the small umbrella. Nevertheless I walk around counting swans but because of those hidden among the shrubs and trees on the island and their swimming speed I settle for a total of between 85 and 90 and decide to do another count another day.
I walk along the length of Ocean Road and then the pedestrianised town centre to Wilkinson’s where I hope to find the umbrella and a couple of pints of milk. I ask an assistant about the umbrella and we have a grand tour, passing from assistant to assistant but eventually I find the container with full length sporting umbrellas in one corner among the stationery section and the small ones at the opposite end of the store immediately on entry and easily missed. The umbrellas are all of different sizes and prices. The one I want has no price bar code and an assistant takes one from a similar but not same umbrella for £2.99 and I decide on a second, a mini for £.75.The mini will fit into any pocket or handbag and is amazing value.
On the return journey I stop at the fruit and veg stalls tucked under the Metro station, the market being closed on Thursdays, in order to buy a pound of cherries. This is cherry eating month as the prices become reasonable. I adore the large deep red sweet cherries which can be purchased at a premium at Marks and Spencer's. I settle for the less expensive for most days and get the M and S quality once a week. I divide into two portions, eating one as mid afternoon tea and the other intended for the morrow after the evening meal of a cheese pasta bake with spinach, because I am too lazy to prepare the fresh pineapple and water melon, but I will do so in the morning. This evening I enjoyed a glass of Tallowood Creek Shiraz, product of an Italian born family in the Riverina area of New South Wales, Australia.
I broke off making these notes to listen to the under 25 version of Question Time which accepting the atypical audience contained more intelligent comment than the entire seasons of programmes since the last such event. The programme was then followed by an exceptional edition of the weekly political round up where for once all three outside contributors had something of importance to say. The first had married into the Bin Laden family and what she said confirmed my judgement that those against becoming religious and cultural Muslim, or who wish their children and grand children to have the choice have a long term and major fight on their hands, and it is a fight which the democratic west will have difficulty in sustaining, but where Russia and in time China, will have the right and political systems to combat the threat more effectively. One cannot fight those who have no political objectives with politics and those who think so are dangerous fools. That is why resolving the Palestine and Israel question is only important, outside the countries and peoples directly involved, in reducing one cause which acts a recruiting agent, but there will be other causes across Africa, Asia and South America which will be exploited. It is a war almost impossible to fight because the enemy has the cover of an important religion with quality ideals and cultural values and those engaging have been trained and will continue to be trained to function under cover for long periods and thus when they rise up and act, and to some extent the actual blowing up is not important, but it is undermining confidence between races, religions and communities. The allegation that those perpetrating the recent failed terrorist attacks are doctors who with others worked for the National Health Service is the real success of the operation because from now, whenever anyone goes to see a doctor trained or born in a Muslim country then there will be caution and suspicion.
I think that the only effective way to stop the movement from growing and of pushing back the threat will come from Muslims taking action, especially young Muslims. They have to engage in proactive opposition to the level of a lifelong crusade, as will Catholics and Jews in saying no those within their religions who preach that their faith is the only true faith and that everyone else are non believers who need to be forced to believe or be exterminated.
There was an excellent contribution by a metrologist and presenter that the natural consequence of global is increase precipitation and flooding. There was a healthy discussion about the failure of the London based media to understand the impact on Hull in particular and the North Generally. The political elite were too busy changing guard in preparation for the next general election and the media remains London area blinkered.
The third contribution identified the significant political ups and down of the week and the Ming Campbell’s joke about Gordon Brown's open door being a trap door was the highlight. Gordon's gaff about only being P.M for five days will live to haunt him given that he wished for the job since childhood and has been plotting and planning for over a decade since Tony was elected party leader. The slip undid the otherwise excellent performance on taking office and when commenting on the terrorist attempts and constitutional reform.
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