Alt.Mustardland

Do we need to start a new page for a new Calender...?
Yes, Pooteration is getting to me . Must get Pootermender who seems to have gone AWOL before last week's Bank Hol.
Must sort out this retirment Lark. Need some cash flow before I go gettingyre Repairs. I found a firm in the Midland who can make 1953 Tyres. It feels so odd not having a task to do: Still getting odd dreams about What?who/where I'm supposed to be addressing.
Oh, I'm rambling again .. Back Later.

I'm midway between using Blunders' laptop to get access to the printer and casting off this one. The problem is the Macafee firewall which won't let me send docs to the printer on this laptop and problems with getting the Windows firewall to switch on.

Because I knew the electrical people would be turning off my power, I got them to move their 3 large vehicles out of my drive so that I could get to my pedicure on time. I had to get a flat tyre sorted out, after the RAC had been last night to change the wheel. It turned out to be a combination of a funny rim and a tyre valve. So when I got back I went on the bed and slept most of the afternoon.

The weather forecast alleged that there was a 10-20% chance of rain today so I left the washing out. It's been rinsed again several times. The met office usually gets it right so we'll see what happens tomorrow.

Well. Yes - actually it was the Sussex Coast with the Mist/Clouds/Poison. The Essex coast is usually Poison free.
Yes I know what you mean about Industrial Noise - The first Time I did a contract in The Tractor Factory (it was called Ford in those days) The racket was err a racket. .. And the smell from the Spray shop. Since then of course, UK gave its Production to EU - The last place I was there The Casting and Machining half of the Factory all stood idle (Basildon's famous Cooling Tower - The Mushroom in the sky - is still prominent but unused) - - The place just has 300 bods as an assembly shop for whatever Brand-name and components wants to Fiat wants to use. Some one ..??.. parked the industrial area behind a Hill - The Park became a Park and "Tree bank" for planting elsewhere elsewhere - to Hide it from Homes and sports, BUT, The council still invoked an order to stop the Paint-spray smells. Hence different materials. and Filters in the roof above the Spray shop...

'Agricultural' smells are quite common and, oddly enough only give rise to complaints when they change or, there's a change in wind direction. This is because we become accustomed to smells and, sometimes noise. I worked for many years in in the paint industry. Many paints for industrial use nowadays are water-based but back then they were solvent-based producing very strong odours. People visiting the plant would often ask "How do you put up with this smell all day.?" Of course we were so familiar with it that, we masked it out and weren't aware of it. However, if someone walked past wearing perfume or aftershave, it was immediately noticeable.

I guess that we learn to ignore the familiar but, the unusual heightens the senses and creates suspicion and even fear.

As for events of the Essex, I believe that people were simply enjoying the warm, sunny weather when the sea fret descended. The temperature would have dropped quickly and as we know, mist and fog has an aroma all of its own.

Afraid Ships got too big to go into london, so perhapa that is why beaches are relatively clean (or at least APPEAR to be clean) Oil and Gas of course. - those odd commodities that are never seen. Yes, I've met Farming smells. I used to operate "Rambles" (our gang of four used take turns to operate the Norh of London Monthly ingress of fresh air). After one particular well rehearsed route, I found on the actual day, that an overpowewring odour from the Turkey sheds - I didn't know it was a Turkeyshed - I can't imagine how the Turkey coud stand it.
My geography is poor, and I actually believed that yo hived nearer the South coast that The Severn..

We sometimes have a warning that nasty plastic deposits are landing on the beach. Since the Bristol Channel is fairly busy with cargo ships, we take it seriously and don't take our dogs on the beach. We warn other dog owners of the same thing. The nicest beach we can use all the year round has a causeway with a short or long drop at the end depending on what the sea feels like doing. So I haven't taken a walk there for quite a while. There is another, but I tend to use the coast path away from the beach. I haven't noticed any strong smells except when the farm decides to empty its slurry pit on the fields over the road and there is quite a bit of leakage. It is strong, but I don't mind a bit of methane occasionally. I'll ask the new landlord (a woman) if she'd consider investing in a methane digester to power the milking parlour or the house. If I get to meet her one day.

Yes, Brian. My strong believe is that no one will find a Definate cause.

GLO, the whole thing may have some basis in fact. It's possible that a tank carrying some chemical substance vented tanks a little was off shore.

However, we've all witnessed the suddenness in which a sea fret/mist can descend. On such occasions the temperature can fall quickly, maybe just two or three degrees but, if people have been enjoying warm sunshine temperatures appear to plunge in minutes. The atmosphere can change suddenly.

It just needs one person to claim that there's is an odd smell or, of feeling nauseous and a form of Chinese whispers takes over. Before you know, the change in atmospheric conditions, hearing people complain of being unwell and a type of panic takes over. It's a totally natural reaction.

I don't blame the people 'affected'. On the contrary, their brains are processing information that they rarely come across.

Nowhere near me, So I know only what (local) cousin-in-law tells me. Seems that a mist/fret/sea mist ... who knows? had drifted off the sea into Birling (if Memory serves .. Birling is a low level gap in the cliffs down to the beach... .. I'n going to be careful about the locals .. In the past there were locals blaming the French releasing Nuclear exhaust water into the Sea ... (the Power Station over in France Supplies UK: - Bit of Cable to Dungness B), and the locals suddenly stopped complaining .. CEGB found no leaks. .. So I am sceptical that the French were involved. Local Police Boss investigating the other Agencies - Wrong wind direction for coming from france: Nobody had actually captured it, so no way to analyse: Coast Guard Suggests wind-flow suggested the Shipping Lanes.. Thoughts are to trace the Vessels at the time and hope that a friendly recipient would report the Manifest loaded against the contents that arrived...

Finding the mysterious 'toxic gas cloud' very difficult to rationalise. This is becauseI have a worked for two employers where large numbers people have reported feeling unwell due to 'a strange smell' in one case and, 'poisonous fumes from a chemical fire' in another.

In the first instance, over a hundred shop floor staff reported feeling unwell due to a smell emanating from a warm-air heating duct. The really strange elements of this event were that, the heating system wasn't on, no two descriptions of smell agreed and, it only ten perc not of staff who were affected.

Regarding the other occasion, there was indeed a chemical fire. I was the only trained chemist working at the company and, I was Health and Safety Manager. Tens of people living near the factory were reportedly taken to the local hospital, allegedly suffering from exposure to the fumes. This included several people who lived a couple of miles up-wind of the site who could not have come into contact with any products of combustion.


The problems began when the local radio station (WM) reported the fire. The presenter at that time was one Ed Doolan, running a phone-in. Some idiot called in to say that, as chemical engineer who could say that the main combustion product of the chemical was 'Mustard gas'. This alarmed the Australian Doolan, to such an extent that he said on air that he'd asked the radio station bosses to evacuate the building and close the station down. They had apparently responded by locking him into the studio. Even so he continued to broadcast alarming messages warning people to keep their windows closed. The main line railway line that ran at the back of the factory was closed and, aircraft diverted away from Birmingham Airport. All of this was reported live on the radio at which, people began dropping like flies and the West Midlands Ambulance Service reported a huge volume of calls.

Sadly, like the first instance about it was shown to be mass hysteria. As was confirmed by the HSE investigation reported: the only combustion products that the chemical in question could produce were water carbon dioxide and a tiny amount of carbon monoxide, the wind at ground leval was extremely light and these combustion products had climbed to an altitude of over a thousand feet where there was a little more wind which had broken up these substances and, no-one receiving hospital treatment had been kept overnight!

The move to the bungalow, that these days is the embodiment of Castle Cravat. As I wrote previously, it met all our initial expectations. We chose the wrong time to sell, the Autumn of 2009. The Papers were beset with news of 'toxic loans', financial collapse and, the deterioration of the housing market. Luckily we lived on an estate where there is a high demand for properties and, a consequent premium on selling prices. There was some fall in value but, less than expected. We were also warned that we wouldn't sell our home; depressed market, no-one buying etc. However, there is research that virtually all homes sell before they have forty viewings. Ours had 33.

We hadridiculous offers; £20K of guide price, some clown who was concerned about mine shafts and, a woman who would only view if we put our cat outside. Oddly enough, 'Catwoman' made the first offer that we deemed acceptable. Having received that, we headed down to this bungalow to view. It was fine so we made an offer. Sadly, Catwoman withdrew her offer. Fortunately, the couple who owned the bungalow said that they would reserve the property for us, providing they didn't receive an that matched their guide price. Glad to say they didn't and we had a firm offer a couple of weeks later.

Our final bit of fortune came in the form of a very small chain. The couple we were purchasing from were buying a brand new property and our purchasers were moving out of a rented property.

I'm glad your cousin's widow is unaffected by the miasma, GLO. I expect the children will be back at school soon so that should reduce the nuisance value a little. Have you any preferences as to colour/paper? I've gone as far as buying paint, but will have to get someone in to do it. My attempt on my previous bedroom now study shows an uneven band of pink round the ceiling/wall interface. I may have a little paint left for the handyman to fill in. I can't do much when I'm hobbling round. Irritating, but at least I can get someone competent to do it.

My grandfather came down to Lynton/Lynmouth in the aftermath of the flood and was horrified to see how bad it was. He went home and raised funds to help. His own donation was substantial, but my recollection is of my mother's version of events. Our first house which was the one I sold to come here, we found by driving round the area late at night at the end of the year. OH was most interested in a 3 bed semi that was soundly built, but it was a bit dull. It cost us £22,650 which was of course as far as we could stretch. I did get something back when we left our flat which was a co-ownership flat, and from the initial deposit of £250, I got £1,100 back. It didn't get paid until after we moved out so couldn't form part of the transaction.

I found this place when I came to visit Blunders and we agreed early on that these places would be too small for both of us. It is about 2 minutes walk door to door, and he was very hospitable in the purchasing process. I got it for the stamp duty ceiling price after the vendors reduced the price, and although I finally offered more, they stuck to their decision. Very decent of them, I thought. In fact since it was 18 months after my initial offer and my house had been off the market for 6 months. I did say that once it went back on, I would not mess about and would definitely sell for the best offer I could get. I wanted to insulate this place, and install solar panels. This wasn't possible because of the trees casting too much shade, but I had an air source heat pump instead.

So the deals went through in a gentlemanly manner. I had no patience with gazumping. While the vendors are entitled to get the best deal they can, I don't think they should accept an offer they are willing to stick to, but keep the bidding open. We told our vendors in 1980, that we would not pull out, but if they wanted a better offer they shouldn't accept ours. They were nice people and took us at our word. OH wouldn't give notice at the flat because he thought it needed redecorating but wouldn't do any decorating himself. In the end I repapered the kitchen with predictable semi-competence, and we were off.

Have Cotacted Cousins Wife (should say, Widow). It seems that whatever blew into Sussex from the Sea escaped here.
Not much Happening (other than Pesky kids Playing outside my door - hence desire to move?)
Fancy doing something constructive ... I'll investigate re-decorating.

Of course, I recall reading of the 1952 flood on the East Coast. I also recall one close to Rwth's current home, Lynton/Lynmouth if memory serves.

Of course finding a new home is a difficult and tortuous process at the best of times. I regard my OH and I as really fortunate. This is our third home since we were married in 1961 and all three were lucky finds for us.

At the time we found our first home 'gazumping' had just entered the vocabulary. Homes we're becoming exceptionally difficult find and, expensive to buy. Few estate agents were involved in the process back then. Homes were privately advertised in the local paper a Wednesday. From personal experience, I can confirm that the paper could be obtained from the paper's head office as soon as the first edition was published at 12 Noon. A few minutes could be taken to select a few interesting properties. However, after heading for the nearest telephone box, it was disappointing to find that the homes in question had already gone.

Even where a property was still available, could be viewed, be subject to an offer from the purchase, there was a phone call from the vendor the following day to say that someone else had made an increased offer. When we started looking a two bedroom semi-detached home in a reasonable were selling for £1800 to £2000. We finely purchased our first home for £3600! I'm sure that the prices in the larger cities exceeded even this. We were fortunate that, when we went to view the house the middle-aged couple actually took a liking to us and, even rejected a subsequent offer greater than ours and, in cash.

Our second home was in Sedgley and, was a four bedroom house where we brought up our family. We were high on a hill overlooking the Severn Valley. From the living room window we could clearly see the Malvern Hills. From the rear bedroom windows it was possible to see the Wrekin. We were right on the Western edge of the West Midlands conurbation with 'the countryside' just a matter of a few minutes walk away. The school on the estate was excellent and, there were good local services too.

As our children grew up and began to leave us for homes of their own, we decided to pursue a long held ambition to buy a bungalow. We started out with certain aims: to live on the estate where we already lived and were happy, to have a good view and, to have bedrooms at the rear of the property. We moved around two hundred yards.

As I say, we've been really very fortunate.

When I first came down here, and before that, I decided that living in a 3 bedroom house in a city was a waste of a good house that a family could live in, so when I found this place, I was really pleased with it. It's quite small but it's big enough for me. It's a pleasant part of the world so I'm happy. The people who bought my house already have a baby, so I've achieved something for the housing market.

It's been dry for a couple of days and I must get watering tonight. The plants I bought in pots are wilting. It looks like being dry until the hurricane gets over here. I don't think it can have much water left now. But no doubt there are more surprises in store.

Well Brian: I think many peoples mind of Essex Coast is the Flood - Usually called 1952, but it was overnight on New Year, so the bodies didn't show up until the Clearance in Jan/Feb.
OK. Very Brief.. About 1,000 of which 350 were UK (remainder in Netherlands) High tides/winds/poor wartime Sea defences, except for Military Defences re Thames Estuary where the High build Anti aircrat/Navy stopped the floods escaping from the Essx Marshes.

I'f like to livr further away from London, but not too enthusiastic about the Flatlands (The Naturalist have and will want to flood the reclaimed Farmland...) - One of the flooded Hulks is believed to be Darwins Ship, The Beagle, is Sunk when demoted to Smugglers Picket duty.. Oh I'm rambling again.. However... The two "New Towns" are now too crowded for my liking, but as I have no successoors I feel inclined to find somewhere more pleasant, and put some spending money in my wallet.. Just thinking alloud at present.

GLO,
Sadly I am not at all familiar with Essex and it's coastal regions. In fact, the East Coast is a bit of a mystery to me. Had holidays in Kent and Skegness as a kid but that's the extent of my knowledge of the eastern side of the country. I suppose that living in the West Midlands, Wales and the rest of of the West of the UK is easier to reach.

Quiet day here. A few jobs around the bungalow and our garden. Tomorrow as it may be dry, we will empty the conservatory out into the back garden and give it a thorough clean. It's a job that we've been meaning to do for a little while but, has been deferred due to the recent rains.

Enjoy your evenings and your tomorrows.

Yes, being able to see things happening is quite wonderful. Maybe imagining it is just as good - better since your imagination is clearly well up to it. OH's description of an amateur production where the throne began to swing to and fro very slowly, and when the messenger ran up to say that "The King your liege is not dead but lives, my Queen", Her majesty who was quite wooden said "Oh. great. joy." was so vivid I could almost see it happen. A friend's description of Yates' Wine Lodge in Peterborough or further East, which had a palm court orchestra was fairly interesting. Every note was almost in tune and when they were asked to play the Jealousy Tango they managed a few bars before morphing into their usual repertoire.

I'm not going far this weekend. We are close to the route to North Devon and Cornwall. Crossing the main road seems the only option.

Just t6hought of something to a previous visit in Clacton. Clacton had an Outstation from Colchester General Hospital - i think the area Health Authority was called "Twin Rivers" I had to find out what happened in the Receptionists/Secretariat in Clacton. One Medical Sec was a very nice young woman was an Amatuer Actress.

They were Playing Dickens "David Copperfield" The pretty youn woman was playing Copperfields First Wife, "Dopy Dora".

I wish I'd have been able to get away that Evening (but I had work in Colchester).The play needed a lap dog, so that Coipperfield could ooh and ahh because dora had held the dog close to her and Copperfield needed to feel the closeness..... It seems that the lapdog was AWOL, So the Directors St Bernard was forced into Service. The Director was Busy Directing so a runner was sent for the dog.. The St Bernard objected and lay down in the Middle of Jackson Road... Whilst Dora had to make do with an inarticulate bundle of clothes I really wish I'd been there.

Wasn't seeking a house at present, but wanted a lurk into the area

Twas some years that Alan retired to Frinton .. Eileen something was his nemesis (Would Her surname be Fowler???).

North of Essex, but inland a bit sounds like nicer m- fraid Memory not what it was.. Maybe round by the Steam Trains... or By the Village with the name including "Castle", but I want another look... (and maybe a look at up-to-date bus map?). Not planning on any moves yet .. Perhaps I can rent a cage in Colchester Zoo.

Was also thinking of another day at my Childhood home (Just forra look, not moving there). Afraid Last time I ventured into London, I slipped on Station steps and did myself a mischief...