There's a lot of moaning minnies around who complain that our country (and this will be the same in many countries I'm sure) is going to the dogs, lacks manners, doesn't respect this or that blah blah blah. Well. it's the little things that far outweigh what those moaning minnies perceive. As I was out walking this afternoon, there was an elderly couple waiting to cross the road; she was much more infirm, stooped and had a stick. They waited patiently and the traffic continued to trundle by. Just then a little hatchback came along and the driver stood on the brakes, allowing them to cross. And because he'd stopped on one side of the road, then the traffic on the other side felt obliged to stop and let the couple cross. And off they tottered with a cheery wave.
It made me smile, and I felt reassured there was good in the heart of at least one of my fellow creatures
Monday, 21 January 2013
Monday, 14 January 2013
Funny. Or not.
America. Please stop describing very humourous things as 'too funny'. They are either funny or they are not. I might allow you 'very funny' but that's as far as I'm prepared to go. So please, just stop.
Now go about your business.
Now go about your business.
Saturday, 12 January 2013
Peter's Immutable Law of Opening Tablet Packs
When opening a new pack of tablets. the pack will always be opened at the end that has the instructions folded over the bubble pack.
Monday, 7 January 2013
To Dream The Impossible Dream
I've just spent a little bit of time making lists under 3 headings - Places To Go, Things To Buy, and Things To Do. These aren't incredibly aspirational or worthy things like climbing Everest, or buying that dream home in the New Forest but simple more readily achievable things like travelling from Glasgow to Mallaig on the train (reputedly Britain's most beautiful train journey) or undertaking some marine mammal rescue training.
Now then. Having spent many hours listening to speakers talking about aiming for the stars and 'if the dream's big enough the facts don't count', is it so very wrong to have these lowly aspirations? Surely to have SOME dreams is better than not having any at all? Am I doing myself down by not having those astronomically high ambitions or are Susan Jeffers' book and 'The Magic of Thinking Big' (and loads of other books) no better than door stops?
Discuss.
Now then. Having spent many hours listening to speakers talking about aiming for the stars and 'if the dream's big enough the facts don't count', is it so very wrong to have these lowly aspirations? Surely to have SOME dreams is better than not having any at all? Am I doing myself down by not having those astronomically high ambitions or are Susan Jeffers' book and 'The Magic of Thinking Big' (and loads of other books) no better than door stops?
Discuss.
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
A New Year's Day Walk In Gosport
A New Year's Day Walk In Gosport, a set on Flickr.
Just 3 shots from a breezy, chilly but sunny New Year's Day walk around Gosport
Friday, 28 December 2012
Memories and Loss
A couple of days before Christmas, some flowers were delivered to the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. Each year a lady leaves a floral tribute to the crew of HMS P48, a Royal Navy submarine sunk in the Second World War, and her brother in particular.
Coincidentally, another lady visited just after Christmas. Her god father was Able Seaman Miller who, along with Lieutenant Low was posthumously awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal (which later became the George Cross). An account of his actions on HMS UNITY can be found online:
"Lt. F. J. Brooks. RN (On the first day of his first patrol, on his first command) was lost in an accident in the North Sea, while operating out of Blyth. (ack. Ron Biddle). In collision with Norwegian SS Atle Jarl. At 1730 on 29-April-1940, Unity sailed from Blyth for Norway. The weather was poor, with visibility down to 300 yards as Unity moved out of the harbour; in the main channel, where the Norwegian ship Atle Jarl was proceeding inbound on her way from Methyl, Scotland to the Tyne, visibility was down to 100 yards: Neither vessel was aware of the other until the submarine spotted the ship at 50 yards and on a collision course. At 1907 a prolonged blast of a ship’s siren at 50 yards was heard on Unity's bridge. There was just time to shut the bulkhead doors and order the engines astern before the Atle Jarl smashed into the submarine. The order to abandon the submarine was given at 1910 and Unity sank only five minutes after the collision.
The order to abandon the submarine was given at 1910 and most of the crew made their way topside and were crowded on the bridge. HMS Unity had taken an angle of 25 degrees and sank within four-five minutes. Although all the members of HMS Unity, bar the 1st Lt., Lt JNA Low RN and AB Miller, escaped from the stricken vessel, Leading Seaman James Hare and Stoker 1st Class Cecil Shelton were not picked up by the crew of the Atle Jarl during the subsequent search. A subsequent investigation revealed a breakdown in internal communications between the Submarine and the fact that the Methyl-Tyne convoy had not been due off Blyth until at approx 1930.
Four men were lost - Leading Seaman James S HARE P/JX 145574; Lieutenant John N A LOW; Able Seaman Henry J MILLER P/J 55387; and Stoker Cecil SHELTON P/KX 91083.
Lieutenant Low and Able Seaman Miller were the two men on duty in the submarine control room. When the order to abandon ship was given by the submarine commander they were instrumental in helping almost every member of the submarine to escape. Lt John N. A. Low RN and AB Henry J. Miller were each awarded a posthumous Empire Gallantry Medal, later (Sept 1940) exchanged by their next-of-kin to the George Cross."
(Source: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-sea/20681-hm-submarine-unity-ss-atle-jarle.html)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Unity_(N66)
http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3385.html
As far as the ladies are concerned, it's touching that someone should be remembered for so long after their death. It also shows, perhaps, how traumatic, how scarring it can be to lose someone in such violent circumstances, and where there is no grave or memorial. The Area of Remembrance at the Museum takes on that role for many people it seems.
Having read of the actions of Lt Low and AB Miller, I find myself wondering if I could do anything as selfless and as brave. Of course our actions are always tempered by the time and the environment and I'm sat at home watching telly. So who knows?
Coincidentally, another lady visited just after Christmas. Her god father was Able Seaman Miller who, along with Lieutenant Low was posthumously awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal (which later became the George Cross). An account of his actions on HMS UNITY can be found online:
"Lt. F. J. Brooks. RN (On the first day of his first patrol, on his first command) was lost in an accident in the North Sea, while operating out of Blyth. (ack. Ron Biddle). In collision with Norwegian SS Atle Jarl. At 1730 on 29-April-1940, Unity sailed from Blyth for Norway. The weather was poor, with visibility down to 300 yards as Unity moved out of the harbour; in the main channel, where the Norwegian ship Atle Jarl was proceeding inbound on her way from Methyl, Scotland to the Tyne, visibility was down to 100 yards: Neither vessel was aware of the other until the submarine spotted the ship at 50 yards and on a collision course. At 1907 a prolonged blast of a ship’s siren at 50 yards was heard on Unity's bridge. There was just time to shut the bulkhead doors and order the engines astern before the Atle Jarl smashed into the submarine. The order to abandon the submarine was given at 1910 and Unity sank only five minutes after the collision.
The order to abandon the submarine was given at 1910 and most of the crew made their way topside and were crowded on the bridge. HMS Unity had taken an angle of 25 degrees and sank within four-five minutes. Although all the members of HMS Unity, bar the 1st Lt., Lt JNA Low RN and AB Miller, escaped from the stricken vessel, Leading Seaman James Hare and Stoker 1st Class Cecil Shelton were not picked up by the crew of the Atle Jarl during the subsequent search. A subsequent investigation revealed a breakdown in internal communications between the Submarine and the fact that the Methyl-Tyne convoy had not been due off Blyth until at approx 1930.
Four men were lost - Leading Seaman James S HARE P/JX 145574; Lieutenant John N A LOW; Able Seaman Henry J MILLER P/J 55387; and Stoker Cecil SHELTON P/KX 91083.
Lieutenant Low and Able Seaman Miller were the two men on duty in the submarine control room. When the order to abandon ship was given by the submarine commander they were instrumental in helping almost every member of the submarine to escape. Lt John N. A. Low RN and AB Henry J. Miller were each awarded a posthumous Empire Gallantry Medal, later (Sept 1940) exchanged by their next-of-kin to the George Cross."
(Source: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-sea/20681-hm-submarine-unity-ss-atle-jarle.html)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Unity_(N66)
http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3385.html
As far as the ladies are concerned, it's touching that someone should be remembered for so long after their death. It also shows, perhaps, how traumatic, how scarring it can be to lose someone in such violent circumstances, and where there is no grave or memorial. The Area of Remembrance at the Museum takes on that role for many people it seems.
Having read of the actions of Lt Low and AB Miller, I find myself wondering if I could do anything as selfless and as brave. Of course our actions are always tempered by the time and the environment and I'm sat at home watching telly. So who knows?
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
Christmas Under The Sea
As has happened for the past 50 years or so, there will be at least one British submarine at sea today. The ships' company won't get boxes from The Sun, a mention on the BBC or additional minutes on their Paradigm cards. If they're lucky they will get their 40 word Familygram from home, which may have been censored; they certainly won't get the chance to talk to their families. They will be at 15 minutes notice to fire their terrible weapons against which ever foe they are directed. Their routine will be unchanged from any other day.
Spare them just a fleeting thought.
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