Dress

Today my 4 yr old grandson said: “That boy is wearing a dress, grandad.” Any one help me on this one?

Confused Radio 4

I was told on the 6th April Radio 4 6.am news that the government was putting together a team of experts to review the poposed NHS changes.  I found this quite strange as I have been previously told by Radio 4 that the changes proposed were unprecedented.  So I am puzzled as to to where these experts gained their experience to qualify them for this.

On the 6.30 am news the information was changed.  The team had been reduced (to my mind) to mere professionals!

I wonder how we listeners are meant by the BBC professionals to accept BBC news statements. At face value, or as evolving information liable to change?  Now I accept that factual information may change as a story unfolds.  But the BBC professionals do not tell us when any one item of news information is subject to review by them, and ergo possible change.  As a result, the first inclination is to take a statement as factual.

At 7.00 am the team has 3 descriptions: panel, body and forum. All well and varied. But the panel, body or forum will comprise experts. Or will it be professionals?  One announcer says experts.  Another announcer says professionals. (Song coming on here!).   But are we meant to understand that all experts are professionals and all professionals are experts, as this is what is implied?

Sloppy to say the least.

Wheelchairs on the Dales Way at Burnsall

I recently visited Burnsall in the Yorkshire Dales and was surprised to find a part of the Dales Way wheelchair-friendly. It is only for a few hundred yards but along the riverside, which is a delight, as you can see.  You can see the friendly footpath to the left.

The location of the walk is shown below.  The friendly part lies between the Red Lion Hotel/bridge and Wilfred Scar, a limestone cliff which you can see in the distance.  Great spots for picnics!

I have described the walk in the file below, with more photos so you can judge for yourself on its suitability.  Note, the full walk to Grassington can be achieved with the necessary assistance. The file needs Adobe Acrobat Reader.  To view or download, right-click  the filename with the mouse and choose your menu option.  If you have the reader installed, select Open.  If not, select Save Target As, noting or choosing the download folder.  You will then have to install the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Burnsall_Grassington_HQ

The reader can be obtained from here:

http://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/

Dales Delights

Today I spent visiting the Yorkshire Dales.  If delights weren’t enough I chanced to pass the Victoria Hall in Settle.   I looked at the events poster; a Dan Leno tribute by Vin Garbutt, Neil Innes, Bellowhead, and others.  To my surprise I found the doors open.  A lady was manning the ticket office.  I asked if I could look around.  See Photos.  I would urge anyone looking for a special break to take a look at the link.

Hope to see you there.

http://www.settlevictoriahall.co.uk/

The Brocken Spectre Society

While on Ben Nevis some years ago I was privileged to behold a Brocken Spectre, a phenonemon created by specific environmental conditions, manifest as an oval-shaped rainbow effect, with its length longest on its vertical axis. If I remember the colours were two sets of vertically symmetrical arcs. Having no expectation of seeing one we had no photographic apparatus to hand. I would be interested to know other sightings of the same and possible descriptions and photographs.

First Day As A Pension Creditor

My first morning as a pension creditor was spent at a funeral.  A grey morning with a few drops of rain.  Later I met up with the frenchman and the nephew and  celebrated my new status.  The frenchman I have known since schooldays and who has been trained to kill and lived in the Shetlands for a good few years.  He likes his shellfish but not oysters.  A car salesman in Paris will vouch for that.  He had to clean the shop window!  The nephew finishes work around 1.30 pm. So the first day passed.

The Pension Creditor Blog – Introduction

Welcome to this blog. As of Monday, 15 Feb 2010, I am a pension creditor.  I have filled in the application form, sent it off, signed off JSA as instructed, so now I am in a new position.  In this blog I will described what it is like being a pension creditor.  Check back frequently for updates.  Hopefully I can pass on what happens to me so you can be forewarned or forearmed if or when the time comes for you.

In addition I will relay daily activities of a general nature and may include descriptions, observations, or opinions as appropriate.