Wissy's blogspot

100 countries have visited my blog!

2012-01-31T21:21:00.000Z

Today i had a visitor from the 100th country to register in my flag counter. That country was Azerbaijan. Who would have thought that my little blog would have reached so many people?

The Azerbaijan flag.

Map of Azerbaijan.

Fresh Start? - Part 3.

2012-01-23T15:38:00.001Z

So, after my Jobcentre visit i prepared to look for another job. Confident that i would get alternative employment without too much trouble and also confident that my leg pain would recede, i started to search in earnest.

I went online and subscribed to various job sites. I subscribed to the Government job site on jobseekersdirect.com. I went and bought all the local papers and started to trawl through all the situation vacant columns.

There wasn't much available, but after 14 days i had applied for five possible jobs. I only got one reply and that was for meter reading. They wanted me to start immediately and it involved a lot of walking during the working day. Unfortunately i had to turn the position down. The pain in my back and leg had got much worse and i could hardly walk at all.

I returned to the doctor who put me on much stronger pain killers and made an appointment for me to have a MIR scan and to see a back consultant at my local hospital. After a further wait with the pain now bordering on the unbearable, i had the scan and then saw the consultant a few days later.

The consultant informed me that i had a disc profusion and was in urgent need of surgery on my spine. He explained that one of my discs had degenerated and the gel interior had escaped and solidified causing the spinal canal to become narrower. This in turn was pressing on the sciatic nerve which was why i was having so much pain in my lower back, buttock, shin and foot. The consultant said that my condition was serious as it had been going on for some time and i was duly booked to have the operation less than three weeks later.

I informed the Jobcentre that i was to have this operation and that the recovery time was six to eight weeks. They immediately took me off Jobseekers allowance as i could not accept any employment if it were offered and put me on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) which meant that while i was recuperating i would not have to prove that i was actively seeking employment. Sounds good, but i needed an income to help pay the bills!

The operation has now taken place and eight weeks later it's mid January 2012. I have improved albeit slowly. I still have pain in my foot and toes with occasional pain in my shin and back. I have had physiotherapy and have just enrolled in a spinal stabilisation course which lasts for four weeks. I had my first class this morning.

The consultant says that still having pain is expected and should go in severl months. It is possible that the nerve has been irreparably damaged. It is just a waiting game now. Meanwhile i am back on Jobseekers allowance and back looking for work. I have an interview on Friday so wish me luck.

Chilled out cat!

2012-01-16T10:03:00.000Z

This is my eldest cat Bailey. He wanted to help me with my work on the computer the other day. He is one chilled out cat!

Fresh Start? - Part 2.

2011-12-16T17:31:00.001Z

Registering as unemployed was a bit of an ordeal. Completing an online questionnaire to apply for job seekers allowance (JSA) took the best part of 45 minutes. I found the questions quite upsetting in that you had to provide the most personal of details. Whether it was just me being over sensitive i don't know, but i read into the questions an underlying sense of blame from the authorities for my predicament. I felt as if i was on trial, guilty until i could prove my innocence as it were, that everyone who was applying for JSA was trying to cheat the system. I know it's silly, but that is how i felt. I felt demeaned. This after working full time since i was 18. and having taken nothing from the system in all that time.

After completing the forms i got a telephone call with an appointment to meet with my "personal adviser" at my local JobCentre Plus office. In the few days between completing the online application and the appointment at the job centre i had picked myself up a bit to the point where i regarded my redundancy as an opportunity to make a fresh start, possibly change careers (although i have no idea what i could do) and be excited about where my future may lead. I went to the adviser interview with a positive attitude.

It wasn't as bad as i had anticipated after getting past the initial embarrassment of being signed in by a suited gentleman that looked like a bouncer and being sent upstairs, then ushered through a locked door to another large office and told to wait until my name was called.

The assessment with my "personal adviser" went ok. She went to auto-pilot asking me questions about what had happened, what i wanted to do and what sort of employment i was looking for. I had to sign a declaration that i was actively seeking work and was given a booklet into which i had to enter everything that i was doing in my attempt to find work. Where i was looking, what web sites i was looking at and registering on, newspapers and magazines,employment applications,responses and follow-ups with results. I was to bring this for scrutiny at the jobcentre every two weeks. I was told that i had been accepted for Job Seekers allowance and that i would receive £67.50 a week paid fortnightly. Goodbye Mr. Wissy and good luck.

To be continued.......

Fresh Start? - Part 1.

2011-12-08T11:33:00.000Z

I haven't blogged since October so many apologies for that, but i do have an excuse. The last quarter of 2011 has not been kind to me.

First of all i developed a really intense pain in my back and buttock which continued down my lower left leg and into my foot. My foot and toes were numb on the top but very painful underneath. The closest that i can describe the pain was like when i had a tooth abcess a few years ago. Almost unbearable at it's worst.

I went to the Doctors who said that i almost certainly had sciatica. She prescribed painkillers and said that it would almost likely clear up on its own accord. I could walk only a short distance and the condition made me walk with a limp. I was unable to drive so was unable to work. I felt weak and feeble. It was impossible to get comfortable whether i was sitting, standing or sleeping.

Then the second bad bit of news.. My company closed and i was made redundant at the beginning of October. I had worked for this company for over 34 years. Although i guessed that redundancy was a possibility, when it came, it was a still a shock to the system. At the age of 56 i found myself unemployed and feeling really rough due to the sciatica which was not improving.

For the first time in my life i found myself hobbling into the JobCentre to sign on for jobseekers allowance. I had become a statistic of the recession.

To be continued.....

Wordless Wednesday ~ Tower Bridge.

2011-10-19T22:05:00.001+01:00

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The sleeping sand maiden.

2011-09-29T13:16:00.003+01:00

We were walking along the South Bank in London the other week and came across by chance this sand artist sculpting a sleeping woman in the sand on the banks of the Thames. I thought it was very clever and beautiful. When we returned a couple of hours later the artist's efforts had been washed away with the next tide. Such a shame.

Molly takes over!

2011-08-02T15:57:00.003+01:00

I would like to introduce you to Molly the latest addition to our family. She is just over six weeks old and is no bigger than my hand. For one so small she creates a large amount of mayhem as her aim in life is to play play and play! We love her to bits! Ever since we lost Kenzo we have wanted to get another cat to be company for Kenzo's brother Bailey. The time never felt right until now. I'll let you know how Molly and Bailey get on in another post. It might be love at first sight or fireworks!

We were thinking of calling her Dell ....

.... or shrub!

What a poser!

Always ready for a game.

Wordless Wednesday ~ "Parkland life and death"

2011-05-04T10:27:00.000+01:00

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Water Meadows and Mill Pond.

2011-05-03T11:43:00.002+01:00

Over the Easter weekend we went down to Salisbury to see my son and his partner. The weather for April was glorious with a lovely deep blue sky and very warm temperatures. We decided to walk over the water meadows and have lunch at The Old Mill Hotel which is in West Harnham a small village to the south of Salisbury. Here are a few photographs of our walk.

Wonderful views of Salisbury Cathedral in the distance.

Circled by the rivers Nadder and Avon the water meadows are a designated site of scientific interest and are home to beautiful marsh flowers and a great variety of wildlife including otters. The water meadows were a favourite of the famous painter John Constable who painted many of his paintings of Salisbury Cathedral from here.

Local inhabitants!

Meadow grasses which made a lovely rustling noise in the breeze.

We ate at the Old Mill House which is a 16th century Tudor buiding built as England's first papermill later becoming a popular coaching inn. It was so warm that children were playing and paddling in the water. No health and safety here thank goodness!

Paddling in the mill pond.

From the mill pond to the cathedral.

Wordless Wednesday ~ " The Bluebell Wood".

2011-04-27T10:21:00.001+01:00

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Wordless Wednesday ~ "Daffodil Meadow"

2011-03-30T14:00:00.001+01:00

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Important news flash from the BBC.

2011-03-30T09:51:00.001+01:00

I was driving into work this morning listening to a very interesting discussion about the troubles in Libya on BBC radio when the announcer interrupted with a "News Flash". Oh dear i thought, not another tsunami or maybe the nuclear reactor in Japan has exploded putting the world at risk.

No, Ed Miliband has announced that he is to marry his long term partner Justine Thornton. (For those of you not in the know, Ed Miliband is the UK opposition Labour Party leader).

I'm so grateful that the BBC thinks that is should suspend everything and make us immediately aware of this most important news. I'm so glad the our national broadcaster is getting it's priorities right. Pathetic.

Wordless Wednesday ~ " The Archer's View".

2011-03-02T12:00:00.001Z

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Save Our Forests. We won..... I think.

2011-02-18T16:13:00.004Z

Further to my previous post regarding the government's proposed sell off of some of our ancient woodland and forests I was very pleased with their decision to shelve the sell off and even stop the proposed "consultation period" which was just a typical political blatant delaying tactic.

I applaud the government for listening to the people for once (who said petitions don't work?) and owning up and saying that they got it wrong and saying sorry. Maybe i'm being naive, but however much the opposition parties are trying to make political points from this turn around, it is refreshing that the present leaders have listened to the experts and public opinion (unlike the previous government - remember Home Information Packs) and changed their minds.

Olympic Cycling Road Race

2011-02-14T14:41:00.000Z

Great news received this week that the mens and womens olympic cycling road race route will be in my county of Surrey and that part of the route will take the riders through my home town of Woking. What an opportunity to watch an Olympic event for free on my own doorstep! I feel so priviledged and proud that this is happening. Who would have thought!

The men's and women's events will take place in late July 2012 with a test event due to take place in mid August this year. The men's race distance is 250 km (156 miles) and the women's race is 140km (87 miles). The Mall near Buckingham Palace is the start and finish point and the course will pas through six London boroughs before heading into Surrey. The route is very scenic taking in the glorious Box Hill and some of the best Surrey countryside. Honestly, i can't wait.

Proposed cuts to the National Health Service.

2011-02-09T10:21:00.000Z

The British Medical Association has weighed in on the new Prime Minister David Cameron's health care proposals.

The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.
The Gastroenterologists had a sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.

The Obstetricians felt they were all labouring under a misconception. Ophthalmologists considered the idea short-sighted.

Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Paediatricians said, "Oh, Grow up!"
The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it.

The Surgeons were fed up with the cuts and decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.
The ENT specialists didn't swallow it, and just wouldn’t hear of it.

The Pharmacologists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the matter...."

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.
The Anaesthetists thought the whole idea was a gas, but the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.

In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the arseholes in London .

Save Our Forests - sign the petition.

2011-01-28T15:38:00.001Z

The British government plan to sell off hundreds of square miles of publicly owned forests in England to landowners and companies on 150 year leases.I don't want to get into politics. I'm apolitical but this subject is close to my heart. The government is being very clever. They are using spin and a charm offensive to say only commercial woodland not ancient woodland is being sold off to private commercial concerns.

The worry is that the proposed sales would be unregulated and that the sold woods and forests would not remain open to walkers and riders or that the new owners would be able to charge for access or even turn some into housing estates. What is interesting is that the proposals only affects England, not Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Funny that.

If you feel as strongly as i do sign the petition here.

Running again - almost.

2011-01-25T16:54:00.001Z

I have finally started running/jogging/shuffling/walking again after almost six months having had a minor foot injury. I still don't know what the problem was except that i had shooting pains in my foot and ankle when i ran. I could walk ok, as proved during our holiday in Cornwall where i walked miles and miles with only the odd "twinge", but the moment i tried to run ....ow!

Anyway, as i said i've started again allbeit slowly, but this time i'm determined to build up to the point where i can at least run 5K without too much trouble. My goal is 10K but that is some time off. I find it hard to motivate myself to get up and run in the mornings because it is still darkish and cold. However the reward once i'm out there is running around our local lake. Beautiful even in winter.

Wordless Wednesday ~ "Shadows"

2011-01-05T17:00:00.000Z

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Wordless Wednesday ~ " English Telephone Box".

2010-12-22T14:14:00.001Z

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Polperro and Looe - Part 2.

2010-12-14T15:38:00.000Z

Continuing on from my previous post, we took the very steep climb out of Polperro past the brightly painted fishermen's cottages and re-joined the coastal pathway heading east towards Looe. This part of the pathway heading down towards Talland Bay is beautiful with lovely views of both the sea and the sloping farmers fields.

Walking towards Talland Bay - stunning views.

The pretty hamlet of Talland Bay has two small beaches with plenty of smuggling history. Only a couple of years ago a gang was arrested trying to land a large haul of cocaine into the bay from a boat offshore!

Once past Talland Bay the coastal path gets much more ardorous and tricky with the pathway undulating up and down the cliffs. The distant views of the coast and headlands are spectacular.

Horses grazing on the sloping fields just outside Talland Bay.

Me on the coastal path. This section was relatively flat....

.... and this section was very steep!

Looking east with Looe and Looe island nature reserve in the distance.

We rounded a headland and there was Looe.

Looe is situated on both sides of the River Looe. The two towns are joined together by a bridge across the river. In medieval times East Looe and West Looe were separate towns. East Looe includes the harbour and the main shopping centre. West Looe is quieter but also has shops, restaurants and hotels. They are joined by a seven arched bridge, built in 1853. This replaced a much earlier bridge from the 15th century and there are still buildings of this period in the town. It has been a holiday resort for more than 200 years, and has relayed more heavily on the tourist industry since its pilchard canning factory closed in the sixties. Looe is still a major Cornish fishing port and boasts England's only remaining day fishing fleet.

Looe harbour.

Boats at Looe left high and dry by the outward tide.

The bridge separating East Looe from West Looe.

Wordless Wednesday ~ "The Haven".

2010-12-08T11:58:00.000Z

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Wordless Wednesday ~ "Sleeping Giant".

2010-12-01T14:32:00.000Z

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R.I.P -Leslie Neilsen

2010-11-30T14:17:00.001Z

Rest in peace Leslie Neilsen. You will be missed.
Click the link below for a taste of his genius.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2Y2RCD40hE&feature=related

Wordless Wednesday ~ "Little lost lamb".

2010-11-24T11:49:00.000Z

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Wordless Wednesday ~ "Fruit and Veg".

2010-11-17T09:30:00.000Z

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Polperro and Looe in Cornwall.

2010-11-15T09:51:00.000Z

Polperro from the coastal pathway.

As stated in my previous post we have just returned from a short stay in Cornwall to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. I had only been to Cornwall once before many years ago and then only explored the north of the county and mainly from the inside of a car as the weather was so lousy. This time we wanted to go to the south coast so we booked a small bed and breakfast hotel midway between the two fishing ports of Polperro and Looe.

The narrow lanes with high hedgerows.
We had to lie flat against them to let passing vehicles pass.

We chose well. The hotel was beautifully placed within a couple of miles of the south west coastal path so we had the opportunity of some walks direct from the hotel without driving anywhere. The South West Coast Path is a national trail with some 630 miles of superb coastal walking. From Minehead on the edge of the Exmoor National Park to the shores of Poole Harbour in Dorset it is the best way to enjoy the wonderful coastal scenery, wildlife and heritage of the south west of England.

We were determined to sample and walk a small part of this great trail, so on the first morning of our stay, fueled by a hearty cooked english breakfast we set off to walk the coastal route to Polperro and then continue along the coast to Looe and then back to our hotel. A distance of about 10 miles.

We started off walking along very narrow tracks with high hedgerows. If a vehicle appeared, which happened infrequently, we would have to press ourselves firmly into the hedges to enable it to pass. These hedgerows were amazing and would have been very pretty in the spring/summer as they were full of flowers and plants. Once we cleared these tracks we were by open fields with a view of the sea in the distance. Traversing the fields we followed the walkers signposts and suddenly found ourselves walking along a small lane lined by coloured fishermen cottages high on the cliff leading down into Polperro.

Walking down the steep hill into Polperro.

One of the most prettiest villages in Cornwall, Polperro is set in a cliff ravine with a an enchanting jumble of cottages, each one unmistakably the work of a Cornish fisherman. This peaceful fishing cove was once a thriving centre for the area's smuggling. The narrow streets are traffic free and there is a lovely sheltered harbour and quay. Although quite commercial with a thriving tourist trade, we were very taken with the beauty and history of this quaint fishing village. We were lucky enough to take a small fishing boat out of the harbour to see Polperro and the beautiful neighbouring bays from the vantage of the sea.

Waiting for the tide to come in by Polperro harbour.

On our return we explored the village, browsed the gift shops and had a relaxed and refreshing coffee before retracing our steps and walking up the incredibly steep hill to re-join the coastal path and head towards Looe via Talland Bay. I will relay details of the rest of our hike in my next post.

Fishermen's nets by the quay.

Interesting carvings above a shop in Polperro.
Note the Cornish black and white flag.

Wordless Wednesday ~ "Hill Horses"

2010-11-10T09:00:00.001Z

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Cornwall

2010-11-05T17:34:00.013Z

We have just spent a few days in the south of Cornwall celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary (blimey!). We wanted to do a lot of walking on the coastal pathway and to explore the coastal villages and fishing ports. The weather for late October was kind to us and we had a wonderful time. I will post more about our short holiday in more detail in later posts. Meanwhile here are a few photos which show the beauty of the scenery and coastline that is found in the the lovely county of Cornwall.

The coast near Looe.

Approaching Talland Bay.

The fishing port of Mevagissey.

Lantic Bay near Polruan.

Beautiful light near Polperro.

Fowey viewed from Polruan.

Wordless Wednesday ~ "Which Way Up?"

2010-11-03T09:58:00.000Z

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Wordless Wednesday ~ "The boy and the dolphin".

2010-10-20T10:42:00.001+01:00

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Wordless Wednesday ~ "Ye olde shoppes".

2010-10-13T17:21:00.001+01:00

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Wordless Wednesday ~ "A river runs through it".

2010-09-29T13:41:00.002+01:00

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Salisbury Cathedral - my first ever visit.

2010-09-27T17:52:00.000+01:00

Last Sunday i went to visit my son and his girlfriend who have just moved into an apartment on the outskirts of Salisbury in Wiltshire. Salisbury is a well preserved medieval city with historic streets and alleyways. It also boasts the finest medieval cathedral and largest medieval close (80 acres) in Britain.

A view of the spire from the cathedral close.

When we approached the cathedral i was awestruck the shere size of the building. It is immense and very imposing. It was built in just 38 years (AD 1220 - 1258). The spire was added between AD 1310 - 1333 and is the tallest in Britain at 404 ft (123 metres). The cathedral has the oldest working clock in the world (AD 1386) and the best preserved of only four Magna Carta (AD 1215) on display in the Chapter House. Unfortunately (but quite rightly) we were not permitted to take photographs inside but hopefully the few photos that i was able to take outside demonstrates the pure magnificence of this amazing structure.

There are 67 statues on the west front.

Close up of the statues.

Part of the cathedral cloisters.

The cloister lawn.

The medieval close is also interesting in that it boasts a great array of English architecture dating from the 13th century right the way through to the 20th century. Some of the houses were designed by Sir. Christopher Wren. The original houses were given to the senior clergy, priests, canons and clerks who were recruited to serve in the newly constructed cathedral. Here are some photographs of just three of the magnificent houses that front the cathedral close.

Arundells. Home of former Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath.

The Hungerford Chantry on Choristers Green.

Wren Hall - circa 1714.

Here are some interesting facts that i got from the cathedral's web site.

The spire weighs 6,500 tons yet it only has foundations of 4 feet. It is still standing thanks to the thick bed of gravel beneath the cathedral which supports the immense weight.

70,000 tons of stone were used to build the main cathedral.
28,000 tons of oak were used to construct the roof.
420 tons of lead covering 4 acres were used on the roof.
The spire leans 27.5 inches (69.85cm) to the south.
The clock has "ticked" more than 5 million times since it was first built.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit Salisbury and the cathedral make a point of going. You will not be disappointed.

Battle of Britain Parade

2010-09-20T18:29:00.003+01:00

I was privileged to attend the Battle of Britain parade at Brookwood Military Cemetery which regular readers of this blog will know is one of my favourite places to visit. The parade this year was more poignant because this is the 70th anniversary of the "Battle of Britain".

The cadets prepare to lay crosses at the graves of the fallen RAF airmen.

As always the parade was well attended with plenty of Air Training Corps cadets (one of which was my youngest son), Royal Air Force personnel, members of the public and proud parents. It was gratifying that a few veterans of the conflict (all in their late 80's and early 90's) were also able to attend. The Air Training Corps is made up of cadets aged between 14 and 18 and it was a wonderful to see so many of these young people devoting their spare time to honour the dead and living who participated in the Battle of Britain.

The cadets line up in front of the RAF memorial.

Here is a video of the march past. Sorry for the picture quality.

Wordless Wednesday - Sunset over Westminster.

2010-08-18T15:06:00.001+01:00

Wordless Wednesday ~ A bridge in London.

2010-08-04T10:06:00.001+01:00

I'm a very naughty blogger!

2010-07-01T12:42:00.003+01:00

Yes, i know i haven't added anything to my blog for a few weeks. It's not good enough and i'm sorry. I'm a very naughty blogger! However, i do have a partial excuse.

I am continuing with my running/jogging/shuffling regime. I now jog twice a week very early in the morning so as few people as possible see this purple faced wheezing excuse for an athlete passing by. I hate meeting other joggers and walkers because instictively i feel that i have to speed up and cutail my rythmic grunting noises to give the impression that i'm a fit veteran runner! One day maybe, but not at the moment.

However, i am making an improvement, albeit slowly. Very slowly. I jog the same route (i think it's just under 4 miles) and i time myself every run. My times have improved. At the beginning i had to stop several times. Then i alternated between jogging and fast walking. Now, the last couple of times i have gone out i have completed the route without stopping. Only a few weeks ago i thought that was impossible. So, deep down i am really pleased with my progress.

I just wish i could breathe better when i run. I smoked quite heavily for over 35 years so the legacy is that my lung capacity is not brilliant, but hopefully this will improve as well. I'm glad that i forced myself to start running and know that i will continue barring injury.

Is jogging good for you?

2010-05-05T12:09:00.004+01:00

It's an age thing i know, but i've noticed over the past few years that my girth is gradually increasing in size. It's not a beer belly, but it is certainly well rounded and her indoors has been dropping a few hints lately, so i have finally decided to do something about it. I'm not a gym person (not yet anyway) so i have started jogging for the first time in what must be over 20 years.

I am taking it seriously. I even went out and bought some jogging bottoms. However i haven't bought a pair of running shorts yet. I think i'm embarrassed about showing off my legs! That could be why i prefer to run when in the dark when there are not many people about.

I'm running (by running i mean shuffling) in old trainers that are over 5 years old, so i must make the effort and buy a new pair. I did have a look in town the other day but was overwhelmed by the choice and the range of prices and i didn't know what sort of shoes would be best for me. I would appreciate any help or advice on that from anyone.

I have decided for the moment to jog over the same route and time myself so that i can judge whether i'm getting faster. I think my route is around three miles. I've been out four times now and with a mixture of jogging and fast walking i'm out for about 35 minutes. I'm taking it slow, jogging for three or four minutes, walking for a minute, and then jogging again. I'm finding it very hard. I've no stamina, i am breathless and my legs are very heavy. Hopefully things will improve as i go along and get a bit fitter.

But, am i doing the right thing? Some people have told me that i shouldn't jog because i could damage my joints and i would get fitter and loose weight by fast walking instead. The trouble is i want to be able to jog. I want to have the stamina and fitness to go running pain free for an hour or so. What do you think?

H.G.Wells and "War of the Worlds" part 3!

2010-04-20T14:32:00.000+01:00

I have in the past mentioned in this blog the connection of H.G.Wells with my home town of Woking(link here) . He wrote his most famous novel "War of the Worlds" whilst living here in 1898. He based his novel of an alien invasion from Mars in and around Woking, Surrey and West London. Much of the landscape and areas he described in the book were real places that he came across on his long walks and cycle rides in and around the town.

Having extolled his novel I thought it would be a good idea to get a copy and read it again, the last time I read it was a in picture book form when i was about eleven or twelve. Anyway i'm glad i did. I found the novel fascinating and quite refreshing, very easy to read and for me knowing and recognising the streets, villages and landmarks quite a surreal experience. He even mentions the Mosque. If you haven't read "War of the Worlds" do yourself a favour and get hold of a copy and enjoy!

Early life in my home town.

2010-03-29T14:15:00.002+01:00

The above photograph which i took the other day in one of our local woods may just look like a heather covered mound of earth to you and me, but believe it or not it is evidence of early life in Woking. It is in fact a tumuli or a Bell Barrow built by Bronze age man around 1500BC.

Bell Barrows are buriel monuments (not chambers), thought to be for important members of the community maybe chiefs or elders. Bell Barrows are rare nationally and are even rarer in Surrey. The existance of this one indicates that Woking was probably an important site for early Bronze age man, but nobody knows why. All i know is that i find it quite incredible that Woking was inhabited over 3500 years ago. Quite humbling really.

The Shah Jahan Mosque.

2010-02-16T16:33:00.007Z

Woking is the home of the Shah Jahan Mosque. Built in 1889 by the Orientalist Dr. Gottleib Wilhelm Leitner, the mosque was the first purpose built mosque to be built in Northern Europe. Leintner surprisingly, was a Hungarian Jew who as a child had studied at madrassah schools in Istanbul and who memorised large parts of the Quran. Later he worked as an interpreter for the British Raj (he could speak eight languages) and became a Professor at Kings College London before moving to the University of the Punjab.

He came back to England and in 1883 began the Oriental Institute in Woking. The mosque was built to cater for the worship and spititual needs of the Muslim students at the institute and quickly played a vital role in the establishment of Islam in Great Britain. It also became world famous on account of its publications and missionary work in the early part of the 20th century. Up until the 1950's the Shah Jahan was the major Islamic centre in the United Kingdom and welcomed famous dignitaries from around the world on official visits, but by the 1960's the mosque's status had declined, and instead served as a place of worship for Woking's and neighbouring Muslim populations.

Today, the Shah Jahan mosque is the cultural and spiritual centre for Surrey's Muslims. Hundreds of followers visit the Shah Jahan to pay homage to their faith and to accommodate this, the mosque's 70 person capacity has been supplemented with two nearby prayor halls, which can hold up to 600 people each if necessary. Now a grade two listed building the mosque is very welcomong to visitors and offers guided tours for groups and schools.

I think the mosque is one of the most beautiful buildings i have seen. Its traditional Indo Saracen design has a dome, minarets and courtyard. Geometric patterns and Arabic calligraphy are used for decoration. On my recent visit i was unable to go inside the mosque as prayers were almost due to start, but i have been invited back by the very friendly Imam and will do another post with photographs. I can't wait!

The Muslim cemetery

2010-02-08T15:59:00.013Z

Last Sunday i was a bit bored and restless and in need of some fresh air so i decided to re-discover an old haunt of mine - The Muslim Burial Ground on Horsell Common. This disused cemetery occupies the most unlikely of locations being surrounded by trees and set well back from the main road into Woking. I used to take my chidren when they were young to this part of the common and was surprised to find this relic of Woking's past. Not many people visiting Woking are aware of it's existence or historical significance.

The domed entrance to the burial ground.

The Muslim Burial Ground was built in 1917 when many troops from the Empire were fighting in France during the First World War. The site was chosen because of it's close proximity to Britain's only mosque at that time, the Shah Jehan Mosque in Woking (more of which in my next post), and it's structure emulates many of the mosque's features, including the minarets, arches and the majestic dome.

Hidden from public view by the trees of Horsell Common.

Indian army soldiers wounded fighting in France during 1914-16 were treated in England in special hospitals along the south coast including the famous Brighton Pavillion. Those who died received burial rites according to their religion. There were special cremations for Hindu and Sikh soldiers. After concerns were raised that Muslim soldiers were not being buried according to their preferred religious customs - most importantly facing in the direction of Mecca, the sacred city of Islam, the War Office stepped in and purchased the site as a special burial ground. On completion, the burial ground received 19 burials of Indian Army soldiers and a further five during World War Two. The soldiers served in different regiments but most were recruited from small villages in what is now Pakistan.

Part of the original wall showing the arches and corner minaret.

In 1921 the War Graves Commission took over its upkeep. Local people remember it had a yellow gravel path, iron gates at the entrance and two inside seats for visitors. Unfortunately by the 1960's the cemetery was suffering vandalism due to its isolated location so reluctantly the decision was taken in1968 to remove the bodies to the Military Cemetery at Brookwood.

Now a grade two listed building the burial ground is an overlooked memorial to the Indian Army soldiers who gave their lives during the two world conflicts. In need of much work and attention it is now under the care of Horsell Common Preservation Society which is working with Woking Borough Council and the local Muslim community to find ways of funding its restoration and preservation. Lets hope they succeed.

Moss and Fungi.

2010-02-02T15:08:00.007Z

Whilst i was out walking the other day in a local wood i came across these trees which had some type of moss growing up them. I thought how attractive this was. A little later i discovered a tree with fungi growing from its trunk and later a stump with a different fungi sprouting from it. It occured to me how much we miss when we are out on our day to day business, It's surprising what's out there when we look hard enough. Nature truly is wonderful.

Collective nouns - imput required!

2010-01-22T18:41:00.005Z

If any of you have read my entire blog you will know that i have a thing about collective nouns and their unusual names. It all started when i was lucky enough to witness a "murmuring or a murmuration" of
starlings See the blog here. on a trip in Somerset. A murmuration is a large flock or flocks of starlings that contains literally thousands of birds. When they fly together before roosting time they look like a constantly moving swirling cloud producing a myriad of fantastic shapes in the sky.

Other collective nouns have been for a group of blondes. The suggestions so far are a "peroxide" or a "dither" of blondes.Apologies to any blonde ladies reading my blog! Just a bit of harmless fun.

A dither of blondes? Or a peroxide of blondes?

Other collective nouns requested have been for a group of lifeguards for which a "lush" of lifeguards has been suggested. I quite like this. Lush in this instance is English/Welsh slang for attractive or fanciable.

A "lush of lifeguards.

The final collective noun sought is for a load of bicycles which i photographed after a triathlon in Wales. So far nobody has come up with a suggestion for this one. The only one i can think of is a "spoke" of bicycles. Not really any good!

A "spoke" of bicycles.

If you have any suggestions for any of the above collective nouns leave your ideas in the message section.

Winter Wonderland!

2010-01-14T12:17:00.001Z

Living in England, particularly in the south as i do, snow is not too common. It usually snows a few times during the winter, settling probably only a couple of times and is almost always gone after a couple of days. This year we have had heavy snowfalls and frozen temperatures that have now been with us for almost two weeks. As usual the snow caused traffic chaos with many people, including myself, unable to get into work. The snow was so dense i couldn't even get out of my cul-de-sac.The authorities gritted the main roads which immediately got clogged up with traffic as nobody could use the side roads. Absolute gridlock!

The scene from my front door. Notice the uncollected refuse bins!

The upside to all the mayhem was stunning scenery along my usual walks and a welcome silence with fewer vehicles on the roads. It was also nice to see loads of children outside playing in the snow and listening to their laughter, when usually they are all indoors using the playstation or watching television.

Snow and blue sky along the canal towpath near to where i live.

Today the temperatures have gone above freezing and a big thaw has begun. There is slush on all the roads and huge puddles everywhere. No doubt there will be floods as a result bringing more mayhem to parts of the country. That's the trouble with our climate - one extreme to the other and difficult to predict.

The frozen canal. Notice the trees on the opposite bank weighted with snow drooping into the ice.

A slippery walk up to one of the locks.

A snowy treescape.

The Snow Car.

2010-01-11T14:24:00.000Z

We were out for a walk in the snow last week (more photos and a separate blog to follow) when by chance I came across this really clever snow sculpture of a Mini in one of the streets near my home. Although it was beginning to thaw the amazing detail was still discernable. For some reason it made me smile and feel uplifted. I just had to take a photograph and share the moment with all of you.

Let this be a lesson to you.

2010-01-08T15:01:00.003Z

Between Christmas and New Year my computer somehow got a virus. Not your normal spyware or adware, but a really malicious Trojan Horse. It affected my internet explorer and ability to get on the internet.

But the worst it did was to target my photographs which i had stored purposely on a second hard drive in my computer. It has completely wiped out over 2500 of my digital photos and destroyed that drive to such an extent that it needs replacing.

I had been lulled into a false sense of security as i had not had any trouble from viruses or their like for a few years. Consequently i had not been backing up my files as often as i should have and am now suffering.

Let this be a lesson to us all. Learn from my mistake. Back up your data as often as you can!!

Put a sock in it!

2009-12-12T14:46:00.001Z

On our recent walk Matt and I had occasion to cross close to the runway of little Fairoaks Airport. We happened upon this wind sock which at the base had a memorial to someone recently departed. I took a photo because I was drawn by the array of colours in the picture. Pity I captured our shadows as well!

Crossing the edge of the runway you have to duck to avoid the landing aircraft.

H G Wells (again) and unusual trees.

2009-12-08T10:48:00.021Z

Last Sunday me and my eldest son Matt went for a lazy five mile walk part of which was over Horsell Common, which if you have read my previous post on H. G. Wells and his book War of the Worlds, was where the Martians first landed with their intention to take over the world. During our walk we came across an area called the sand pit. This was the exact spot depicted by Wells as the first landing area of the Martian spacecraft.

Horsell Common is an amazing place with plenty of different species of trees, scrubland and heath. There is also an abundance of native wildlife.

The Sand Pit as depicted in The War of the Worlds.
(picture from War of the Worlds music website)

The Sand Pit, Horsell Common.

Part of the sandy soil had been washed away and eroded over the years to expose the root system of several of the trees. This did not seem to affect their growth because they all appeared healthy and flourising. They obviously have a tremendous survival instinct.

One of the glorious trees.

The intricate partly exposed root system.

Remembrance Sunday.

2009-11-14T12:45:00.015Z

Last Sunday I had the priviledge to attend the Remembrance Day memorial service and parade in my home town of Woking. The service was conducted in the open air in the town square in front of the war memorial for the fallen of the First World War.

There was an amazing turnout with attendance from all branches of the military, the police, the fire service and local civic dignatries as well as the public. I was particularly impressed that there were many young people there to show their respects and wearing their poppies with pride.

I suppose that the death of our soldiers in Afghanistan keeps reminding people of the futility of war. At 11 am there was a minutes silence for reflection followed by the playing of the last post on a solitary bugle. I found the whole experience very moving.

The impressively attended Remembrance Day service in Woking Town Square in front of the First World War Memorial.

The Lady Mayor in full regalia arrives for the service.

The poignant inscription on the War Memorial in Woking town square.

The various wreaths of poppies laid at the foot of the memorial. My son Josh in air cadet uniform is in the background immediately to the left of the memorial.

Woking and H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds.

2009-11-14T11:14:00.033Z

My home town of Woking has long been associated with H G Wells. Wells lived in Woking for several years, during which time he wrote his classic novel of alien invasion, The War of the Worlds (1898), much of which is set in and around the town. For the 1998 centenary of the publication of The War of the Worlds, the Borough Council chose to mark Woking's connection with both author and book by commissioning a sculpture representing the book's most striking image: the Martian Fighting Machine.

The Martian Fighting Machine - The Tripod.

The Woking Martian sculpture was created by artist Michael Condron and unveiled in April 1998. It consists of three elements: the Martian Fighting Machine, the Martian Cylinder and the Bacteria.
The Martian Fighting Machine sculpture represents one of the vast metal tripods from which the invading Martians wreaked havoc with their deadly Heat Ray. The chrome-plated stainless-steel sculpture is 7 metres (23 feet) tall with legs 17 centimetres (7 inches) in diameter. It is depicted advancing from the direction of Horsell Common, the landing site of the first Martian Cylinder. As you can see, the detail on the underside of the tripod is amazing.

The underside of the Martian Fighting Machine.

The detail is extraordinary.

The Martian Cylinder.

The Martian Cylinder represents the first of the projectiles that carried the Martians to Earth, landing on Horsell Common which is just outside Woking town centre. The cylinder element of the Woking Martian depicts the cylinder embedded in the Common, with multi-coloured bricks representing layers of soil thrown up by the impact.

In The War of the Worlds the Earth's bacteria proved the downfall of the Martians. The concourse between the FIghting Machine and the Cylinder features a number of inlaid mosaics depicting the bacteria. The final one, fittingly, shows a microbe slithering up a leg of the Fighting Machine. I think overall that this is a superb sculpture telling in detail the story of the Martian landings. However, i'm sure that many people who have never read the book or seen the film (not the Tom Cruise Hollywood version) walk by and have no idea what they are seeing. Anyway, if you have cause to visit Woking and come across this, you now know the story behind the sculpture.

Wanted. Another collective noun.

2009-11-10T16:23:00.006Z

The aftermath of a triathlon at Porthcawl.

My obsession with collective nouns continues apace! We came across these athletes after they had finished a Triathlon. My question is what is the collective noun for a large group of bicycles? My humble offer is a "spoke" of bikes or bicycles. If you can come up with a better expression leave a comment. I am still looking for additional collective nouns for lifeguards and blondes.

Nature's architecture.

2009-11-10T15:59:00.006Z

Concluding my visit to South Wales (honest) we came across this tree in the grounds of Margham Country Park. It had the most unusual trunk that I have ever seen.

Over time it had, for some reason, divided itself into five separate smaller trunks (trunkets?) to form a beautiful dramatic natural wooden sculpture that for me conveyed movement and the fight for light, space and survival. What do you think?

I just love the natuaral curves of this tree.

Architecture for all.

2009-10-21T15:43:00.019+01:00

Following on from my previous ramblings concerning our visit to South Wales, I always try to take photographs of anything that takes my fancy. I particularly like buildings (see previous post), trees, colours and texture. Below are a few of my photos that I would like to share with you.
Plenty of colour. Cottages at The Mumbles.

The spire cought my eye. A lovely house in The Mumbles.

The pier at The Mumbles.

I loved the intricate ironwork on the pier.

Bathing huts overlooking the beach at Langland.

Much more traditional. The picturesque Tudor-Gothic style Victorian Mansion House at Margam Country Park.

Part of the 12th century Chapter House at Margham Country Park.

Memorial to the few.

2009-09-28T15:13:00.030+01:00

My youngest son Josh is a cadet in the Air Training Corps (ATC) and his squadron was asked to participate in a memorial parade to remember the Battle of Britain as part of the nationwide commemorations. The parade was held at the RAF shelter in the Commonwealth war graves section of Brookwood Military Cemetery, one of my favourite places as told in a couple of my previous blogs (here and here).

The flags in front of the RAF shelter.

For those who are not familiar with the Battle of Britain, this was the air battle over southern England in the summer of 1940 that helped to deter the threat of a German invasion of Britain following the fall of France and the Dunkirk evacuation earlier that year. Their great deed was summed up admiradly by Sir Winston Churchill in his famous rousing speech when he said that "so much was owed by so many to so few".

The service was attended by veterans of the Aircrew and Royal Air Force associations, ranking RAF officers, members of the Air Training Corps and the Lady Mayor of Woking together with members of the public. The Salvation Army band provided the music for the service, hymns and formal march past.

The top brass prepare for the march past.

The march past by the Air Training Corps.

I was quite moved by the occasion. It was good to see the old veterans proudly bearing their campaign medals mixing with the young ATC cadets. It hopefully means that their sacrifice will not be forgotten and the young appreciate what they did for their country.

As part of the commemoration the cadets had to lay small crosses at the graves of the RAF personnel killed during the second World War. Josh was given the task of laying crosses at the graves of two brothers buried side by side. I think he found the experience quite moving and hopefully was proud to be taking part. I certainly found the whole episode quite poignant.

Laying the crosses at the graves. Note the headstones together denoting the two brothers killed in action.

The brother's headstones with memorial crosses.

The cadets show their respects. Josh is middle front.

Goodbye Kenzo.

2009-09-22T15:21:00.011+01:00

It is with regret that I report the death of one of one of our beloved cats. It happened three weeks ago but it's only now that I can share this post. The death of a pet is always difficult to deal with, but in Kenzo's case it felt worse for me as I found his body in the road on my way to work. He had gone out late the previous evening but didn't come to our calls as he usually did. We weren't unduly worried as he occasionally did stay out at night and sometimes jumped in through the bedroom window in the early hours.

Kenzo in relaxed mode.

When he didn't appear the next morning I was uneasy, but thought maybe he had got locked in a neighbour's garage or shed and would turn up eventually as if nothing had happened. I left for work and saw him laying at the side of the road. I was in instant denial, trying to convince myself that it was someone else's cat, but it was him. I lifted him up, gently put him in the car boot and drove home to tell the dreadful news to the family. That evening we put him to rest in our garden close to one of his favourite dozing places.

We miss him terribly. He was only two years old. Such a short life, but he had such an effect on us. He was handsome to the eye and had such an infectious miaow. He just talked and talked to you! It was so disarming. We had him as a kitten at just a few weeks old together with his brother Bailey. They adored each other and played and slept together. Bailey, we can tell misses Kenzo. He went very quiet the day after. He is a bit better now, but not back to his normal self. He must feel very lonely. Why do pets do this to us? It really hurts when something like this happens. We will never forget you Kenzo.

Kenzo sleeping with his brother Bailey.

Tacky or cool?

2009-09-09T11:13:00.012+01:00

I love architecture. I love unusual buildings both modern and old. I'm no expert, I just like what I like. I also like diversity. When in Porthcawl I noticed two buildings only a few yards from each other. Both possessed character but in quite different ways.
The first building is a block of apartments called Esplanade House which is right on the promenade by the seafront. It's architects won a major Welsh housing award in 2006. The judges praised it's mix of "humour, charm, intellegence, populism and solid architectural pragmatism". The locals hate it and have dubbed it "the bottle bank!

The "bottle bank" in Porthcawl - tacky or cool?

I personally haven't made up my mind yet. It's prominent port hole openings and bulging facade seem to completely ignore the cream coloured facade of Porthcawl's promenade, but I don't quite hate it. It has something about it. The building is attention grabbing and prominent and has created alot of debate and discussion since it was built. Maybe that is what the architects intended and Porthcawl needed.

The other building is more traditional. It is The Grand Pavillion. Built in 1932 it dominates the seafront and boasts a classic thirties facade and distinctive octagonal dome. Originally a dance and concert hall in the war years, it is now a theatre and plays an important part in the town's social life. I adore art deco buildings like this, but maybe this too caused dismay to the traditionalists when it was first built.

The imposing facade of The Grand Pavillion.

The octagonal dome and galleon weather vane.

Porthcawl - a Welsh seaside town.

2009-09-05T10:09:00.015+01:00

During my recent trip to South Wales we stayed with friends just outside Porthcawl and visited the town several times. Porthcawl developed as a port for coal exports during the 19th century, but it's trade was taken over by the more rapidly developing ports of nearby Barry and Port Talbot. However, despite this decline Porthcawl re-emerged as a very popular sea-side resort particularly favoured by the coal miners and their families from the Welsh coalfields. However, as with many resorts Porthcawl has suffered a decline in its holiday trade over recent years, especially since most of the south Wales Valleys coal pits have now closed. So Porthcawl is having to adapt to survive.

Today the town boasts a lovely promenade with views over the Bristol Channel and several nice beaches one of which we sampled, being encouraged by our friends to do a bit of body boarding in the surf. This was something I had never tried before, but thoroughly enjoyed, even if the sea was a might cold!

I just adore the subtle light in this image of my wife in the surf.

Catching the waves. Three of us in the sea at Porthcawl.

Boats of many colours. The small harbour.

An embarrassing condition!

2009-08-28T17:46:00.004+01:00

During our South Wales weekend we visited the lovely seaside village of Mumbles near Swansea. Whilst walking with our friends along the promenade I came upon a small sailing dingy with a very unusual name. I would love to know the story behind the naming of this craft! Something to do with sand, salt or dare I say it, a case of crabs perhaps!

I couldn't resist taking this photo!

A "Lush" of Lifeguards?

2009-08-27T10:58:00.008+01:00

We have just been visiting South Wales (more in another blog) seeing old friends and whilst walking along the beach at Langland I took this picture of a group of young lifeguards.

Lifeguards on Langland Bay beach.

Following on from my search for the perfect collective noun for a group of blondes,I wandered what a group of lifeguards would be called. My friend's teenage daughter, finding the group of men very attractive and "hunky" came up with the term "Lush" which in modern young English speak I am reliably informed means good looking and desireable. So a group of young lifeguards is henceforth known as a Lush of Lifeguards! Unless, you blog reader can come up with anything better.

Test cricket at Lords

2009-08-05T09:59:00.027+01:00

Queuing to get into the ground. The match was a sell out as always.

As previously mentioned I went on my annual visit to Lords cricket ground to watch the first days play of the Test match between England and Australia. To the uninitiated a Test Match is an international cricket match which lasts five days. The Test series of matches (usually five or sometimes six matches) between England and Australia are collectively known as "The Ashes" and are passionately fought for.

The term "Ashes" was first used after England lost to Australia - for the first time on home soil - at The Oval (another London cricket ground) on 29th August 1882. A day later, the Sporting Times carried a mock obituary to English cricket which concluded that: "The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia".

The concept caught the imagination of the sporting public. A few weeks later, an English team, captained by Ivo Bligh [later Lord Darnley], set off to tour Australia, with Bligh vowing to return with "the ashes"; his Australian counterpart, E. Murdock, similarly vowed to defend them. During that tour a small terrecotta urn was presented to the England captain by a group of Melbourne women. The contents of the urn are reputed to be the ashes of an item of cricket equipment, possibly a bail, ball or stump. Whichever side holds the Ashes, the urn normally remains in the Museum at Lords.

The packed stands eagerly await proceedings.

Lord's in my opinion is a truly magical place and has long been seen as the 'Home of Cricket' and the game's spiritual 'headquarters'. Cricket has been played here since 1814. But its importance is not merely historical. In practice it remains, to this day, perhaps the most important single place in world cricket. Lord's is the setting for some of the best cricket in the world. It hosts npower Test matches and NatWest-sponsored one-day internationals plus most of Middlesex's home games, some historic fixtures (such as Oxford v Cambridge universities) and the village and club finals.

The hallowed earth that is Lords cricket ground.

The slip fielders hoping for a catch.

This is the media centre at Lords-known as "the Cherie" a reference to Cherie Blair's unflattering smile! Very unfair.....not!

The imposing pavillion.

Andrew Strauss celebrates his century.

The postscript to this post is that England defeated Australia in this Test to take a 1-0 lead in the Ashes series. It was the first time that England had beaten Australia at Lords since 1934!

Blondes and more blondes.

2009-07-20T13:40:00.013+01:00

I just had to share these photos with you. At my recent visit to the first test at Lords we were wandering around during the teatime interval and came across these lovely ladies at the NPower tent. I have never seen so many blondes in the same place at the same time. I have to admit that they did turn my head.

Afterwards we were trying to come up with a suitable collective noun for a group of blondes. The best we could come up with was a 'peroxide of blondes'. Has anyone got a better description?

Value for money?

2009-07-17T15:07:00.008+01:00

Yesterday I went to Lords cricket ground in London to watch the Test match between England and Australia (more about that in a later missive). However two instances brought it home to me how much hotels and bars in London take advantage of their customers.

Whilst waiting to meet my fellow cricket pals and catch the train into London I decided to treat myself to breakfast at one of our local cafes. Being brave and putting any health concerns on hold I ordered the full English breakfast. This consisted of two rashers of bacon, two sausages, baked beans, fried egg, fried bread, coffee and toast. Fantastic, and all for less than £5.00. Excellent value for money I thought and very tasty!

My hearty English breakfast

Compare this to my experience at lunchtime in London in a very mediocre bar in a large hotel close to Lords cricket ground. Ordering just an ordinary (and foul tasting) beer together with a gin and tonic, I was astounded to be charged £12.15! I appreciate that London is more expensive than elsewhere but I think that this is an absolute rip off. What do you think?

I nearly fell off my bar stool whenI got this bill for just two drinks.

Walking the Wey.

2009-07-13T14:04:00.011+01:00

Newark Lock on the canal.

Carrying on my theme of walking the locality and seeing things that you would not normally see, I went on a walk through the villages of Ripley and Pyrford taking in part of the Wey navigation canal on the way. The navigation has much history being officially opened in 1653. For nearly 200 years the Wey Navigation route linked the area with London, until it was superseded by the railway. The canal by providing almost 20 miles (32 kilometres) of navigable water connecting the county with London, ensured that Surrey became one of the wealthiest and most influential areas in Britain. A legacy of the navigation canal are the towpaths that were built for the horses, carters, and bow-haulers that used to work the river and it was along these that I walked early one morning.
Narrow boats moored along the canal bank.

Even at an early hour there was activity on the waterway. I encounted several joggers, various dog walkers and the odd angler. Along this stretch of the canal many narrowboats are moored and as I walked several passed me going up and down stream. This part of the canal system is owned and maintained by The National Trust and everything is kept in fantastic order for the enjoyment of everyone who cares to walk the towpath.
The 'Anchor' pub at Pyrford lock.

Alongside the Wey Navigation Canal set amongst water meadows are the remains of Newark Priory. The priory was founded in the early 12th century by Augustinian Canons, or ‘Black Canons’ with descriptive reference to the black hooded cloaks and cassocks they wore. The Priory in its heyday was a significant complex of buildings surrounding an important church. The Black Canons went on to found the St Thomas’ and St Bartholomews’ hospitals in London.
The ruins of Newark Priory

The priory, which at its peak was home to a community of 200, fell into ruins after it was sacked on the orders of Henry VIII at the Dissolution, and having been systematically stripped for building materials over the ensuing centuries all that now remains is part of the great church.

Just up a hill from the priory is the delightful 12th century Church of St. Nicholas with its tranquil interior and original red ochre frescoes. Built of ‘puddingstone’ and dressed with ‘clunch’ the church’s wall paintings depict scenes from the flagellation and the Passion c.1200. The Church of St.Nicholas was built around 1140 AD and is a fine example of a complete Norman church. Just out of interest the name Pyrford originates from the ancient Saxon language ‘pyrianforde’ meaning a ford by a pear tree or orchard. On a personal level this is the church where I got married!
The 12th century church of St. Nicholas at Pyrford.

An English scene - cricket on Ripley village green.

Woods, fields, Stanley and Elvis

2009-06-15T14:20:00.019+01:00

Last Sunday the weather was glorious so i decided to take myself off for a walk in the nearby village of Pirbright. I had found details of the walk on a website somewhere and had long wanted to try it out. I parked up by the beautiful village green and set off towards the parish church.

I love churchyards as any readers of my Blog would probably have gathered! I love the history and stories associated with the headstones. Pirbright churchyard did not disappoint. There, in the shade of some trees was a large and magnificent headstone belonging to none other than Henry Morton Stanley. Who? you may ask.

Well, as every British man or woman of a certain age will tell you Stanley was quite an interesting character. He
was born John Rowlands on 28 January 1841 in Denbigh, Wales. His parents were not married, and he was brought up in a workhouse. In 1859, he left for New Orleans. There he was befriended by a merchant, Henry Stanley, whose name he took. Stanley went on to serve on both sides in the American Civil War and then worked as a sailor and journalist. In 1867 Stanley became special correspondent for the New York Herald.

Two years later he was commissioned by the paper to go to Africa and search for Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone, of whom little had been heard since 1866 when he had set off to search for the source of the Nile. Stanley reached Zanzibar in January 1871 and proceeded to Lake Tanganyika, Livingstone's last known location. There in November 1871 he found the sick explorer, greeting him with the famous words 'Dr Livingstone, I presume?' Stanley's reports on his expedition made him a household name.

When Livingstone died in 1873, Stanley resolved to continue his exploration of the region, funded by the Herald and a British newspaper. He explored vast areas of central Africa, and travelled down the length of the Lualaba and Congo Rivers, reaching the Atlantic in August 1877, after an epic journey.Failing to gain British support for his plans to develop the Congo region, Stanley found more success with King Leopold II of Belgium, who was eager to tap Africa's wealth. In 1879, with Leopold's support, Stanley returned to Africa where he worked to open the lower Congo to commerce by the construction of roads. Competition with French interests in the region helped bring about the Berlin Conference (1884-5) in which European powers sorted out their competing colonial claims in Africa.

Stanley's efforts paved the way for the creation of the Congo Free State, privately owned by Leopold.In 1890, now back in Europe, Stanley married and then began a worldwide lecture tour. He became MP for Lambeth in south London, serving from 1895 to 1900. He was knighted in 1899. He died in London on 10 May 1904 and was buried here in the churchyard at Pirbright where he had his home.

I carried on with my walk following the signpost for public footpaths, clambering over wooden stiles and through kissing gates, going over fallow fields, over farm land, paddocks and into dark woods. A really varied landscape over only a few miles.
A small hillock on the edge of a meadow.

One of the many stiles. This one leading into dense woodland.

One of the many beautiful houses encounted during my walk.

Nearing the end of my walk i passed over Pirbright Common and found myself walking along a narrow track past some old nurseries. I turned a corner and had the fright of my life. There leaning against a wooden gate was a very realistic looking scarecrow dressed up as Elvis Presley. I don't know if it scared the birds, but it sure scared the hell out of me!

Elvis is alive and well and living in Surrey.

Lest we forget....Part Two

2009-05-22T15:03:00.030+01:00

Brookwood Military cemetery is one of my favourite places and i made another visit there last weekend.I particularly wanted to spend more time wandering around the American and British Commonwealth sections which i had neglected to do on a previous visit.

The American cemetery is set amongst beautiful woodland.

The American Cemetery is the only American Military Cemetery of World War 1 in the British Isles. 468 war dead of the USA rest here. Most of those buried died in Great Britain or it's surrounding waters. They include victims of the SS Tuscania which was sunk by a German submarine on February 5th 1918 off the west coast of Scotland. Additionally, the names of 563 Americans who gave their lives in the service of their country and whose graves are at sea are inscribed on the walls of the chapel. Most served with the United States Navy or United States Coastguard including 114 from the US coastguard cutter TAMPA which was also sunk by a German submarine in the Bristol Channel on September 26th 1918.

The construction and care of this 4.5 acre site is the responsibility of the American Battle Monuments Commission, an agency of the United States government. The adjacent World War 1 and World War 2 cemeteries and monuments were developed and are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.The gravestones of Privates Penberthy and Reed.

I always find walking among the gravestones quite poignant. Looking at the inscriptions i wander who was Private Arthur E Penberthy of Illinois or Private Walter D Reed of West Virginia? What are their stories. What did their families go through when the learnt of their son's or brother's death in a war thousands of miles away in a foreign land?

A distant view to the American Military Memorial Chapel.

I walked further until i was in the Commonwealth part of Brookwood Military Cemetery. Here there are graves of hundreds of British, Canadian, South African and Indian soldiers from both world wars. This section i find most moving, not only because of the beautifully kept and verdant grounds, but because reading the incriptions of the dead servicemen reminds me how young these brave men were. Most were only in their early or mid teens.

Along each row are small flowering plants and shrubs.

Row upon row of war graves.

In the British cemetary it really re-inforces how young these men were and what responsibilities they had on their young shoulders. Just two examples i noted from the inscriptions. The first read "Sergeant G. F. Barker-Benfield, Pilot, Royal Air Force. Died September 1941. Aged 19".
The second read "Sergeant R. C. Livings, Wireless operator/Air gunner, Royal Air Force. Died May 1941. Aged 18. These were just two of hundreds buried here. Again, what are their stories? It made me shudder to think that two of my children are these ages. All they appear worry about is their Facebook page, computer games, clothes, and having a good time. Just two generations ago boys of their age were fighting for their lives on a daily basis. How or indeed would teenagers cope if called upon to fight for their country?

The Free French Forces cemetery.

Spring is here!

2009-05-02T09:53:00.013+01:00

I've never been much of a gardener. Don't get me wrong, i love my garden, but i was never one to prune and pot and weed. My idea of gardening was to mow the lawn and occasionally cut the edges!
However nature has been calling me recently (is it an age thing?) and i have begun to notice the shrubs dotted around my garden and in particular the sheer beauty of the individual buds and blossoms that have appeared over the last couple of weeks.

I have had only a modicum of interest before, but now look in wonderment at the intricate designs, colours and perfections of the flowers and petals of the shrubs dotted around my garden. Isn't nature wonderful!

I am posting a few images to share with you. I admit that i don't know the names of the shrubs, but hope that i can convey the splendour and magnificence of nature that we see, but sometimes fail to notice every day.

On my doorstep

2009-04-14T12:42:00.019+01:00

Low bridge and lock gate

Within a four to five minute walk away from where i live is the Basingstoke Canal. I use the canal for convenience for walking to the nearby village of St. Johns or the much longer walk into Woking if i don't want the hassle or expense of parking the car. Like most locals i tend to take the canal for granted. However the other day i went out for another of my walks and this time took my camera with me. This gave me a chance to take my time, take a step back and look at the canal from a totally different perspective.
A view along the tow path

I hadn't appreciated the beauty and living landscape that was literally on my doorstep. The day was damp, slightly misty and still. There was hardly anyone around apart from the odd jogger. I just wandered along taking the odd photograph of anything that interested me.
Interesting shapes and contrasts

Reflections in the water

Spring daffodils on the canal bank

When i got home and uploaded the photographs i had taken and had a really good look at them i realised how lucky i was to live close by and have access to such a beautiful environment the beauty of which up to now had generally passed me by. I hope the scenes that i have posted convey just how beautiful this man made stretch of water is.
An unusual angle!

An lovely plaque attached to one of the bridges

Another of the many lock gates along the canal

Lest we forget.....

2009-03-23T15:04:00.021Z

Row upon row of war dead

A few weeks ago i needed a good long walk to get my thoughts together and decided i'd take a walk around Brookwood cemetery which although only a couple of miles away i had never previously visited. Wow, what had i been missing!

A short history. In 1850 Parliament ordered the closure of the more crowded churchyards in London and a search was commissioned for a new site of sufficient size and splendour to serve the burial needs of London for at least 500 years. To meet these demands Brookwood cemetery was created in 1854 covering over 2000 acres and situated only 25 miles from the centre of London. Every effort was made to ensure that the cemetery was beautiful and restful so there was a wealth of exotic shrubs planted by some of the leading gardeners from Kew Gardens. When it first opened Brookwood was the largest cemetery in Europe.

A distinguishing feature of Brookwood cemetery was the cemetery railway with coffins and mourners conveyed from a private station adjacent to Waterloo station in London, down into the cemetery. The funeral trains stopped running after the private London terminus was bombed in April 1941.

Brookwood cemetery incorporates an impressive Military Section which is run under the supervision of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Each section has its own special area which can be identified by the impressive national monuments in memory of those who died for their country. Perhaps the most impressive monument of all is the Brookwood Memorial, unveiled by the Queen in 1958 in memory of the allied war dead who fell with no known war grave and whose names are carved on panels of green slate inset upon the faces of the supporting piers.The Czechoslovak cemetery

The Polish war dead memorial

There is even a Latvian section

Walking around Brookwood cemetary is not depressing, in fact i found it to be uplifting. Ambling amongst the war graves reading some of the inscriptions was humbling and focused the mind on the very young men who died in the name of freedom, most far away from their own homeland.

Grave of a Victoria Cross holder

Away from the war cemetery there are restful Glades of Remembrance for those who preferred cremation and various burial sites for different faiths, denominations and countries. I walked for over three hours and could have stayed all day. I kept discovering different sites and unusual graves. There is even a Greek Orthodox church within the grounds. If you ever get a chance to visit, do so. It's a fantastic place full of history.

Part of the Muslim section

The Glades of Remembrance

Snow and more snow (or don't kids do the funniest things!)

2009-02-17T15:16:00.020Z

Waking up to snow

Snowbound at home

Last Monday morning we woke up to a heavy snowfall which to the rest of Europe would have been regarded as a mere smattering, but bought havoc to the usually snow free South of England. No snow ploughs, no grit on the roads, absolute chaos. The authorities said that if your journey was not really necessary then do not travel and stay at home. The schools were closed so the children were at home so (very reluctantly of course!) i decided to take a day off work and stay at home too (who am i to go against the authority's wishes).

Anyway, snow always brings out the child in me, so within a few minutes me and the thirteen year old were outside throwing snowballs and taking photographs. Believe it or not this was the deepest snow that the thirteen year old had seen so for him it was quite an experience. For me it was wonderful just watching him enjoy himself so much.

Snow glorious snow!

After a while i began to feel the cold and went indoors for a hot drink and some warmth and was replaced by my wife and daughter who set about building a snowman (as you do) on the front lawn. I have to admit that they made a pretty good job of it.
The daughter and the snowman

The youngest son, who was still outside then declared that he wanted to strip off and run in the snow, presumedly to prove his manliness (is that a word?) or to perform some ancient rite that thirteen year olds have to do.
Stripped for action.

Later during the morning the snow stopped and the daughter's boyfriend arrived. Upon hearing of the youngest son's exploits they decided to get in on the act and take photographs of themselves so they could show their friends. Personally i think Facebook has a lot to answer for!
Cool dudes in the snow

Cooling off!

A "murmuring of starlings" for New Year!

2009-01-07T14:57:00.007Z

May i wish everyone that comes across my posts a happy and prosperous new year. I hope that the credit crunch/recession doesn't treat you too badly.

I had a fairly quiet family Christmas this year. No major expensive presents because of the financial situation. Saying that we didn't miss the lack of gifts one bit and had a lovely relaxed time.

We spent a day and night at my sister-in-laws in Somerset over the holiday and had a great get together. We have visited them several times now at New Year and as they live right out in the country, it has become a sort of tradition for us all to enjoy a really long hard walk. This year we parked the cars in one of Somerset's nature reserves and walked through the reserve and on until we were at Glastonbury where we had a refreshingly hot drink before retracing our steps back to our parked cars.

On the way back we were privileged to witness the arrival of millions of starlings returning at dusk to roost in the reed beds overnight at the nature reserve. Their display before landing was quite spectacular. It was like a swarm with different moving clouds going this way and that. I'm told that when they fly together in such large numbers it is known as a "murmuring of starlings". Quite delightful.

My first experience of Cyprus

2008-11-10T15:21:00.018Z

A photo of my daughter in Paphos taken by my son.

I have just spent a week in Cyprus with my family attending my nephew's wedding. It was my first experience of Cyprus and the first time i have been abroad in over three years. We stayed near Paphos in an area known as Coral Bay. The weather for late October/early November was pleasantly warm with a couple of days extremely hot which leads me to conclude that it would definately be too warm for me there in the summer months.

My first impressions of the island were not good. There was a lot of unfinished building work which made the place feel very untidy and stark. Maybe the credit crunch and downturn in property sales was having an effect. I hated Coral Bay. It was just a manufactured tourist area. Nothing Cypriot about it. The shops and restaurants were surprisingly expensive which, it seemed to me, only had the intention of separating the tourists from their money.

On the way to Polis in the Cypriot countryside.

However, the local Greek Cypriots we came across were lovely, friendly and helpful. I'm sure my first impressions are a little bit unfair because we did not get the chance to visit the central and eastern parts of the island. Also, it was late , very late in the season and the land was parched and dusty. I would love to go back with more time to spend, maybe in the spring, and discover the real Cyprus.

Stunning scenery in the Trudos Mountains.

I did enjoy the holiday though. I enjoyed the experience of foreign travel again. I enjoyed the flying and airport even though it was stressful. I enjoyed the people watching. The wedding was a fantastic joyous occasion and I enjoyed being with my wife and children as it will probably be the last time we will take a holiday together as a family.

My Grandfather Hamlet - Full of Surprises

2008-10-14T14:03:00.013+01:00

Sometimes when researching family history the unexpected comes along that opens up an intriguing new line of enquiry that is so mysterious that it becomes an obsession. So it has happened to me this week.

I've been delving into my family tree and family history for a number of years mostly with success but with some frustrating disappointments. My grandfather, Hamlet was born in Portsmouth in 1888. I found him on the 1891 cencus living with his parents, brothers and sisters. His parents both died within two years of each other leaving Hamlet an orphan at the age of around five. However, frustratingly i could not find him on the 1901 census. Where had he gone? What had happened to him? The next time he turned up was as an 18 year old in the Navy records. But, what was he doing before then?

Several years went by until out of the blue i got an email via the "GenesReunited" website from somebody researching "British Home Children" saying that he had come across the unusual name of Hamlet Wisdom in the Canadian registry of British Home Children and could he be my ancestor?

This is a quote from the British Home Children online directory
"About 100,000 British Home Children (alleged orphans) were sent to Canada and Australia by over 50 British Child Care organizations. These 4-15 year old children worked as indentured farm labourers and domestic servants until they were 18 years old. The British Child Care organizations professed a dominant motive of providing these children with a better life than they would have had in Britain, but they had other ignoble and pecuniary motives. They rid themselves of an unwanted segment of their society and profited when they sold these children to Canadian farmers."

After a bit of online research i found out that Hamlet was in care with Portsmouth council and then for whatever reason been selected by the Bristol Emigration Society to be sent to Canada. The records show that he was sent from Liverpool on the SS Lake Megantic in June 1900 (aged 12) to Quebec and onwards to Saint Johns, New Brunswick. I then looked on the Canadian 1901 census and found him listed as a lodger with a family called Secord. It looks to me that they were part of a farming community. The records say that he returned to England in the winter of 1903/4 (aged 15). The question now is why and how did he return? It was very unusual for these children to return. Where did he get the money for his passage? Who did he travel with? Intriguing questions which i am determined to find out.

My father knew nothing of these events. He was young when Hamlet died and no information was passed down. Personally i just wonder what it was like for a child to be orphaned, taken into care and then sent alone to a far off country. An adventure or purgatory?

I'm a prize winner! (at last)

2008-10-13T13:50:00.011+01:00

I'm an avid follower of all things Czech so i always read the online English pages of Radio Prague for a day to day insight into whats happening in the Czech Republic. They feature many interesting articles on daily news, life, culture, history, literature and music amongst other things that i really enjoy clicking through their pages. Every month they have a competion, usually to recognise from clues a famous Czech (living or dead) and you are invited to email in your answer.
Last month i was trawling through as usual and came across the competition. They were asking to name a mystery Czech born person who was a refugee rescued by Sir. Nicholas Winton from Nazi Death camps, taken to England and became a respected film producer and director.
I couldn't believe it. I actually knew the answer! It was Karel Reisz who directed "The French Lieutenant's Woman" starring Meryl Streep and Jeremy Irons. So i dutifully emailed my answer expecting to hear nothing as i have never won anything in my life!
Anyway, i couldn't believe it when a couple of weeks later i received an email from Radio Prague imforming me that i was one of the winners and that they would send me a small prize. Consequently i am now the proud owner of a light purple "Radio Praha" T shirt and a really interesting "History of Prague Radio" booklet.

The Gazzunderers have it!

2008-09-26T17:04:00.003+01:00

Well, the bastards exchanged and completed today. I'm so relieved and pleased for the clients, but part of me didn't want them to have it. They have won. They have got what they set out to do. They have their bargain and screw everyone else.
Again though i can't believe the cheek of the woman. After it had completed she got her solicitor to ask us if we would deliver the keys to her solicitor's office. No way! So the father came in to collect them - all smiling, no mention of what happened. Oh how i hate them!

The ultimate guzzunder continued...

2008-09-25T12:44:00.006+01:00

The bastards have asked for another 5% reduction siting 'financial advice'. Had to bite my lip again. Rang the clients who can't believe the cheek of these people. We said no way to them and said exchange and complete tomorrow at the agreed price or the sale is off. Not a threat, just fact. Email back from them saying they would proceed, worded as if they're doing us a favour. I really want to tell them to f*** off now regardless, but the client wants the money as soon as possible. Watch this space to see what happens tomorrow.

The ultimate gazzunder.

2008-09-22T16:12:00.007+01:00

As an estate agent times are very difficult at the moment what with a lack of sales, prices falling and a general lack of confidence in the property market. However you try to do the best for your client and keep smiling.

I always try to see the best in people and like to think that i am professional and honourable with my dealings with both vendors and purchasers. I pride myself in remaining calm and respectful even in the most stressful and trying of cicumstances. However today i nearly lost it. Let me explain.

We are selling a vacant bungalow for an aged client who has gone to New Zealand to be with her sister. Her property is her only asset and it needs to be sold to pay for her care and nursing fees. She gets no financial assistance and must provide for herself.

Several weeks ago we accepted a very low offer from a purchaser on the understanding that the sale would proceed very quickly. This they agreed to do. After a few annoying delays (i won't go into the details, but they really dragged their feet) we were informed by their solicitors that they were ready and exchange would take place at the end of the week. The day before exchange of contracts was due the buyers demanded a 15% reduction (citing the fall in property prices) or they would withdraw from the sale. This equated to a reduction in price of £55,500! An enormous sum.

Our clients were understandibly furious at the timing of the demand and really wanted to call their bluff, but because they needed to sell suggested a reduction of 10%. After a bit of negotiation we got the sellers and buyers to agree a 12.5% reduction as long as contracts were exchanged very quickly and confirmed to all parties accordingly.

This morning we get an email from the buyers saying that they will not now agree 12.5% but insistant on the original 15% reduction. It was take it or leave it or they would withdraw and proceed with an alternative property. After much soul searching the clients have agreed to this further reduction. We hope to exchange at the end of this week. Then the buyers had the cheek to ask if they could have access to do some re-decoration between exchange and completion. Of course we said no way.

I personally feel awful about the whole affair. Our poor client has been taken advantage of by a very unscrupulous buyer with no conscience or scruples. They are totally dishonourable and contemptable, but what they have done under the English system of house purchase is not illegal. So, unfortunately it is the system that ultimately is to blame. There should be something in place to stop this happening - but what.

One thing is for certain, these horrible people have undermined my faith in business morality and made me a harder and more sceptical person than i care to be. Bastards.

We become London tourists

2008-09-10T11:09:00.027+01:00

I've recently taken my annual holiday and having to watch the pennies decided that we would spend it at home and take the odd day out. Although i only live just outside London i had never been to Tower Bridge or the Tower of London. So, we caught the train into Waterloo station and decided to walk to Tower Bridge. We went to the London Eye (heaving with people, organised chaos!) and walked over Westminster bridge to The Embankment. When you go on foot you see so many interesting and different things. Off the embankment just after the tube station we stumbled across a small park. We went in and were amazed to find a lovely secluded area with a bandstand, statues, trees and lawns. Very restful and well used by the locals. Further along we bought some fruit to eat on our journey from a stall. Very nice and tasty!

We continued along the Embankment taking in the lovely Thames views and the "Eye" on the opposite bank. We walked as far as the Millenium bridge and wandered across to the south bank and the Tate Modern. I was really impressed with the Millenium bridge. What a structure and again superb views looking up to St. Paul's cathedral, (which i have promised myself to see on another visit). We spent about an hour looking around Tate Modern. Not really enough time but it gave us a good taster for another visit. We left the Tate and continued on the south bank surprised to find plenty of newish restaurants and shops that we didn't know existed. There were lots of people there, a nice mix of Londoners and tourists. Very vibrant and buzzing. We stopped and got a snack and a drink here before continuing on with our walk. We just sat for an hour and people watched as they passed our table. I expect that this area is very popular in the evenings for people looking for a good night out.

When we had finished we wandered along the river past converted warehouses, the new London council offices (wow!) and even an open air theatre until all of a sudden we were at Tower Bridge. It lived up to my expectations. What a lovely sight it was. We climbed the stairs and walked slowly over the bridge. There was a Tower Bridge exhibition which was in the upper part of the bridge. I would have loved to have gone up but time was pressing as we had to be home by the early evening.

Over the bridge we went to be opposite the Tower of London. We couldn't see much of course because of the high walls. The place was teeming with tourists of all nationalities queuing to get in. One day i'll take a tour of the Tower when it's less busy.

We were getting tired by now.and didn't fancy the long walk back to Waterloo so on a whim we bought tickets for the "Clipper" which stopped at a wharf just along from the Tower. The trip back to the London Eye on the Thames was an unexpected delight and capped off a wonderful day. The Clipper experience has given us a novel new and easy way to travel when we go to London. We now plan to become "tourists" again as soon as possible and explore the City of London area. I'll let you know how we get on so watch this space.

If you can't laugh at yourself.........

2008-04-18T13:29:00.007+01:00

I came across this cartoon by mac in The Daily Mail which is just brilliant and made me laugh out loud. Things may be bad but it is always possible to have a giggle at adversity and keep smiling.

Times are tough.

2008-04-14T15:49:00.004+01:00

Recently i have been thinking more and more about old age and retirement. I'm beginning to worry about how on earth we are going to cope and pay for our non working years.

We are both in non pensionable employment (big mistake)and have to make our own arrangements for pensions and retirement income. Trouble is we have no disposable income to plough money into pension plans. We are too busy trying to pay the mortgage and household bills and we are meant to be middle class professionals.

Everything seems to have shot up in price recently. Our monthly expenditure is now beyond all reason added to the fact that i work in the property market, mostly on commission. A very bad combination at the moment! Reduction in income with higher bills. Result sleepless nights and worry.

My own fault i know, but i'm beginning to resent people that have company pensions, particularly final salary pensions. I'm finding myself getting really annoyed with some people moaning about their situation when thay have good pensions waiting for them and have good savings. They do not realise how well off they are.

I have suddenly become what i used to hate - a moaner. It's funny what a lack of money can turn you into isn't it?

Working conditions.

2008-03-27T10:07:00.013Z

Here are a couple of photographs of the ceiling in my back office at work. We had a leak a number of years ago (yes years!) which has never been fixed properly and now you can see the result. The water slowly drips through the ceiling causing icicles composed of i know not what. The paint is peeling as the problem spreads with dust falling from time to time.

I wander what exactly the dust is composed of and what i'm breathing in. Not to mention the damp. Should i have to put up with this? My boss (who works at another office) is aware of the problem and has had a couple of roofers try to fix the leak without success. The last try was several months ago. Since then he seems reluctant to try again because of the cost. Should i have to put up with this? What should or can i do?