Arcticterntalk.org

Strike Day in UK

Well having read all the stories from Mexico, it all seems very banale here.
Monday I had an early morning start to drive to Newcastle again, a mere 350 miles, but met another doctor for a lovely lunch at Jesmond Dene hotel. The sort of posh place with napkins and waiters had bow ties even at lunch. He was telling me all sorts of stories about in the wars how the folks round here were building ships for two sides (China was one side……..cannot rememeber the other).
Then stayed overnight in Beadnell near Seahouses. I need to live here. Not now as I am too young but when I am very old and very grey ( sadly I have more grey hair than when you left). It was a long drive home the next day. Weather is still kind of nice but with thunderstorms when you least expect them. Yesterday the air traffic control tower at Gatwick was hit by lightening and for some reasons trains were also delayed because of lightening.
Wednesday was a nice day. A day I had planned for 6 months. A day at Arundel watching the cricket. Charles could not come as he had his work at Henley to attend to. Great day in the sunshine. It struck me that I was one of the youngest people there. Maybe another aged over 70 age limit applied? Got some good photos and without being boastful they were significantly better than the single photo that appeared in the Times this morning.
Brentford are back in training and have signed another player, the Swindon captain. So who knows whats in store for us this year.
Today though in the UK is Strike day. Most schools are shut and Immigration folks are on strike, the latter I have no issue with but teachers, I think it is appalling. We are all having to take pension cuts and most of us realise that we are all getting older as a socity and living longer. So pensions must reflect that. There is also the issue that Burlington school routinely refuse leave of absence for children. So for example Elena was refused official permission to have half a day off on her grandmothers 70th birthday to attend a ballet……… But seemingly this fulsome attention to education vanishes when the need to go on strike arises. there is also talk that the strikes may continue all year. Because I was a governor ( until i realised that there was no way to make any changes to anything and the whole thing is not unlike a gentlemans club ) I am CRB checked. And could if needed and asked go in and teach a class for a day. They would have interesting lessons. For example Maths would be the mathmatics of a football club.
This afternoon I am off to Scotland till tomorrow evening so hoping airports are as much fun as always.
almost forgot. Driving back from cricket at Arundel yesterday, the A3 going south from near enough the M25 to almost guildford was solid. Why? there were 3-4 skewbald ponies running down the road! No idea where they came from or how they might be caught………
Hedgepig is fine but smelly. Mistress of the house is having nasty thoughts that are almost audible. Houdini hamster is fine and continues to be far more active and enjoying his new roomate. could they live together?