To-day Monday 15th October 2007 I return to my working day although there is much still to sort out before I can be said to be up to date. I rise after a night of fewer interruptions but dreams where only the mood remains. After toileting and dressing I out the waste bin out for collection and the box of recyclables and then decide to attend to the rear patio plants which have lasted amazing well given the odd weather. The blue hydrangea which was in flower when purchased last year and hen did not do much and was cut right back is now in full growth with its unusual pinkish blue flowers with lots of small buds some of which only open into open flat flowers. I must find out more about this. The surprise delight of the season has been the standard Fuchsia Red Tyrol about 3ft which was in flower when purchased in May and then lost almost all the bell flowers in the heavy down pours which caused floods. Then recovered back until losing the flowers again with tin the past month but recovered for a third time so that while not at its best is nevertheless a joy to view.
Clean the outside of window where there has been bird droppings. This is a regular occurrence at this precise area. Do washing up and have cereal breakfast. Restart computers and decide to do daily diary on lap top and play first five games of new level chess game, having recovered from blowing 55 game winning streaks and then allowing a draw. I must go out soon, there is blue sky now appearing from broken clouds to get the daily mail World War 1 next episode and a free morning paper if one is still available. Finish the five set games first.
10.25 approximately leave house for walkies having changed clothing and locked up taking the rucksack with me discarding the camera which I now take in the car after two incidents, one potential vandalism which I stopped as child with friend about ten was attempting to dislodge bollard in middle of road island which has been dislodged several times before and the more serious situation when visiting my mother I was nearly knocked down by young cyclist without lights on pedestrian path just before entrance to the ward. However I was not going to be distracted by anything other than a brisk walk to collect free newspaper, the Daily Mail and the Great War series from Smith.
It was bright but chill so I buttoned jacket but by return journey up hill it was unbuttoned and shirt had to be removed as it was wet from sweat all good signs. There was no free newspaper left at Metro station or first display point at bus station but I took one of two remaining copies from the second. At Smiths there were quantities of Telegraph freebies on display so I checked that it was here that I could collect the second disk and third episode of the Great War series. This was so and one does not need to tear out the voucher.
On way back buy 2 bags of grapes for £3 as the advertised offer of £3.30 a Kilo obviously a Community requirement, must do something about the local (Sunderland) metric martyr sometime. On way out also discover that the paper shop kiosk nest to the Pizza take away next to the taxi station has become a nail bar. This is not as isolated and odd location as first considered given that within view is three of the main nightspots and three restaurant bars. Another feature of the changing community is the number of pavement side table areas, due to the non smoking inside ban, but the extent they were being used by no smokers is an indication of the mild weather for mid October and a far better day than many in summer. Funny that. Over the weekend some cranes and construction vehicles had descended on the former cross roads at the pedestrianised town centre. Five, or so I through tall thick posts were being mounted but I cannot say that they were not there before for what appeared to be the start of the Christmas Street decorations. However to day as I walked back I counted nearly a score of these post as they extended along the area between the former cross roads a little way up to the old station entrance where the night clubs, restaurant bars and nail bar is located and along to the public library museum, lower floor area of Azda and the other pub restaurants, bars and clubs are located, as well as a little way up towards the Town Hall, but not along the main shopping street. I returned by 11.30 and it is now five to twelve.
Will I recover in time to go and see Atonement this evening at Bolden or to start work, as I feel tired, and have not net had lunch what work have you done then? The state of rebellion against my own plan and disinclination continued so I prepared a salad using a quarter of the gammon joint and watched the first episode of the world at war also playing five games of chess against computer bringing winning streak to ten. This was unsatisfactory because I did not pay sufficient attention to what is a brilliant analysis of the state of the major powers involved, Germany and the Kaiser, the French and British positions and concerns, their entanglement with the Russia, and the problems created by the decrepitude of the Austrian Empire and the problems created by the Slave peoples under the leadership of Serbia after their victory against the Turks. The most chilling memory of this episode is the warning about Serbia becoming the cause of a world war!
One thinks one knew the history, the prime causes, the sequence of events of cause and effects. The presentation issue that Europe was in 1914 governed by an acceptance of order and values, with God in Heaven, Monarchs on the thrones, fathers head of household and controlling destiny. In the main cities the aristocracy took the air in the main open spaces with their carriages, servants and fine clothes, and a wealth and power based on land ownership in the countryside. But the world had changed and new men counterbalanced this power with the wealth created by the industrial revolution, although the vast populations which had been driven to the cities by famine and hope worked hard for comparatively little reward and lived in often squalid conditions. In the UK despite national prosperity nearly a third lived in poverty and in York a fifth lived on subsistence less than that provided at the workhouse.
Across Europe the fuel for a social revolution was there. The first focus has to be on the ambitions of Germany where at a political level the three score Germanic states, many with their kings united under the Kaiser and had become the most powerful industrial nation second to only the United States, a fact which British History books once tender to overlook. This was exemplified with the Krupps factory town which provided the most modern conception of social welfare from sickness and pension benefits and the provision of homes, medicine, education and churches. This growth was reflected in the growth of population by 50% in less than five decades.
The unification was based on a militarist collectivist culture making it the most powerful military power in the world and with the state view of the Kaiser that nothing could be decided without being in the interests of Prussia and if that involved waging war so be it. I remember working in Cheshire when the Children's Regional Planning Committee was dominated by Lancashire whose officials were under instruction, Lancashire interests first and then the regional. Similarly in relation to Social Services in the North East the approach of Brian Roycroft whether in terms of local government influence in the region and nationally or within the Association of Directors of Social Services was Newcastle one and then the region and national.
Paris had become the cultural and creative capital of Europe, from Picasso the first flight across the channel and Madam Curie. However this was not France with a declining birth rate and unrest among its proletariat because of the failure to develop industrially as its neighbours. Worse were the defeat of 1870 and the loss of Alsace Lorraine. France began to fear the increasing military might and ambitions of Germany with its Kaiser.
Across the channel Britain' success was in the rest of the world, am empire where the sun never set, reflected in the India, in Africa where the dream was link the South to the North through a railway and where in Australia, Canada and New Zealand a British origin population had grown so that in total in was half that of the UK. Its power had been built through the development of sea transport and this meant naval supremacy now being challenged by German ambition. However there were internal problems which had to be addressed from the growth of Labour Party, industrial unrest especially with strikes in Liverpool, there was the militant feminism and in Southern Ireland the pressure of independence was such to threaten civil war.
So in this climate France and Britain united in the face of the German threat with the Entente Cordial. France also developed an alliance with Russian which the UK also joined. There was a balance power to West and East of Germany. However the problem was the declining role of Austria Hungarians under the 84 year old monarch who ruled by compromise and repression. Hungarians represented the Slavic people with the growing leadership of Serbia resenting Austria Germanic domination and the slaves looked to Russia for protection.
Russia was the largest state in the world in terms of land and population ruled by an autocrat ruthlessly suppressing any people's revolt. Serbia had successfully waged war against Turkey and then annexed Bosnia Herzegovina and when Arch Duke Ferdinand he5r to Austro Hungarian throne and his wife attended the celebrations in Sarajevo they were assassinated under the umbrella of Slavic Independence by a secret Serbian society the fuse for a world at war was lit.
Austria had its excuse for asserting itself once more and crushing Serbia and went to the Kaiser for support, who readily gave sensing it was time for the German people to assert their new power and wealth and also assuming that the UK, whose interests were not being threatened would remain neutral. Knowing that Russia would side with the Serbs but was likely to be immediately ineffectual the inherited German war plan was to use its forces to smash France and do this by setting aside Belgium neutrality and attack the main French army facing the German borders from behind. France while fearing something of this nature planned to smash into Germany before its army could get going. They were both right in assessing that it would take time for the massive Russian forces to become effective, although over 2 million men with endless supply of replacements they were ill equipped and ill prepared and more over lacked the kind of will required as a consequence of the autocratic but ineffective leadership of the Czar, complication but German loyalties through his wife.
There was great reluctance in the British Government to become involved in what would be a speculative expeditionary force across the channel, especially as by a twist of fate the entire British Navy over 200 ships including some 50 battleships had assembled for review at Spithead and were then sent in secret by Churchill at the Admiralty to Scarpa Flow its war assembly station.
When Austria delivered its ultimatum to Serbia it did so in the knowledge that the Kaiser was on holiday cruising in Scandinavian and the French Prime Minister was returning from a friendly visit to Russia. Although Serbia was ready to agree to almost all the terms this was not what Austria wanted and in quick sequence Germany warned everyone to stay neutral, cleverly stating that had no territorial ambitions and would respect Belgium neutrality after any war thus making it impossible when it declared war on France and commenced to enter Belgium, thus giving the UK no alternative but to issue an ultimatum which would have no effect, Britain, France, Belgium, Russia were at war against Austria Hungry and Prussia Germany and against Italy who had entered treaties with them. The lights were going out although it would take the reality of the strength and power of the German army to bring the French and British armies into the reality
They were self deceived by two factors. The first was the wave of self confident patriotism which swept both countries not just as a consequence of the press which united behind political and military leaders, but because of popular enthusiasms on the streets. The second was a heroic holding out for a time by the Belgium, army until it was forced back and the full might of the concentrated German forces moved through Brussels.
The French had one battle plan to charge in their highly visible red coats at the German army to only to be mown down in their tens of thousands, first attempting to break into Germany across the Rhine, then to the advancing armies through Belgium and then through what they hoped was a less strong centre in the forest of the Ardennes.
The British army was equally confident with thousands of trains moving troops to the ports and the across the channel protected by the British navy and from which set forth to teaching the advance German forces a lesson unaware of what had happened to the various attacks of the French. They were warned both of the size of the strength of German forces and that the French were failing but this was information which the Generals of the Expeditionary force did not want to hear. The day of reality was shortly at hand at Mons.
It was ironic that a war started by Austria to teach Serbia a lesson was being fought by the blood of French and British young men as well as those of Belgium within a matter of weeks. At first it looked as if the German plan had failed in East as the Russian armies achieved surprise with an expected attach into Prussia but just as it appeared that Prussia would be over run a German General worked out a high risk counter attack which worked and from that moment the Russian forces were driver further and further back into their homeland. It also appeared that this was the situation in France after the British Expeditionary force had offered stubborn defensive resistance and had destroyed thousands of the advancing forces. But the force was unable to maintain its situation given the retreat of the French forces. With the government retreated from Paris to Bordeaux and the General in charge ordered to defend the city, blowing up bridges and reducing buildings to rubble if necessary official information indicated that the war was being lost, although every effort was made to maintain moral at home. Then the allied commander General Joffre of France, although he could not order the expeditionary force, only make suggestions, recognised a weakness and devised a plan which was to change the course of the war. Thus ends the first four episodes of events nearly 100nyears ago, although at a time when my mother was seven years of age. The First World War did not directly affect the citizens of Gibraltar in the way it did the rest of Europe although being the naval gateway for the Empire and its most influential communications centre families would have received the same information and impressions as those given to the on the UK mainland.
I decided to watch all four episodes after deciding not to go and see Atonement. I had commenced my ongoing work, dealing with confidential records and broke off to attend to other private matters when I found that I needed to top up my pay as you go phone in order send a text. This also coincided with needing additional display files for confidential matters. The majority of confidential work is kept secure in ten large black filing cabinets but some material I will need to keep until the project is completed and then decide if it to is to be secured away, or to become available in time, after the deaths of the individuals covered, or if permission for public access is given. So I set off out fir the second time in the day, although with my car because of the need to do some heavy shopping. First I went to a car park near the shopping centre and Wilkinson's store where I was in luck and able to buy 4 50 display books enabling four sets with one artman and signature record card covering each volume. I will need more but need to do some estimating before ordering in bulk or going to other Wilkinson stores in Sunderland and Jarrow. At Azda I needed bottle water and milk plus more fruit but was and was tempted by a ready made Chinese dish offer with three small but adequate pieces of chicken breast, a little rice and a little stir fry with three king prawns and a sauce, the latter I put for too long a period in the microwave which then had to be cleaned. It was an enjoyable meal but because of its size it was necessary to supplement with one of the baked cheese topped rolls before half a pound of grapes. I suspect I will have the second roll before bedtime although I will try and make do with cereal. Because I walked and shopped briskly I achieved another healthy sweat.
I have also recovered from the disaster of the broken long chess run of 55 games, achieving 30 so far to day. The Liberal Democratic party Leader, a man of gravitas and good mind and values has had to resign because he lost the confidence of his colleagues in the face of the Conservative upsurge which threatens the possibility of his party holding the balance of power at the general election likely to be held in 2010 The new TV is playing up but I isolated the aerial from the Sky unit which enable terrestrial, digital free view and DVD playback. However I still need to work out the cause of the problem and attend to more sorting out. And of course I forgot to get the top up for the mobile first thing tomorrow when there is also Mozart in the evening at the Sage.
Clean the outside of window where there has been bird droppings. This is a regular occurrence at this precise area. Do washing up and have cereal breakfast. Restart computers and decide to do daily diary on lap top and play first five games of new level chess game, having recovered from blowing 55 game winning streaks and then allowing a draw. I must go out soon, there is blue sky now appearing from broken clouds to get the daily mail World War 1 next episode and a free morning paper if one is still available. Finish the five set games first.
10.25 approximately leave house for walkies having changed clothing and locked up taking the rucksack with me discarding the camera which I now take in the car after two incidents, one potential vandalism which I stopped as child with friend about ten was attempting to dislodge bollard in middle of road island which has been dislodged several times before and the more serious situation when visiting my mother I was nearly knocked down by young cyclist without lights on pedestrian path just before entrance to the ward. However I was not going to be distracted by anything other than a brisk walk to collect free newspaper, the Daily Mail and the Great War series from Smith.
It was bright but chill so I buttoned jacket but by return journey up hill it was unbuttoned and shirt had to be removed as it was wet from sweat all good signs. There was no free newspaper left at Metro station or first display point at bus station but I took one of two remaining copies from the second. At Smiths there were quantities of Telegraph freebies on display so I checked that it was here that I could collect the second disk and third episode of the Great War series. This was so and one does not need to tear out the voucher.
On way back buy 2 bags of grapes for £3 as the advertised offer of £3.30 a Kilo obviously a Community requirement, must do something about the local (Sunderland) metric martyr sometime. On way out also discover that the paper shop kiosk nest to the Pizza take away next to the taxi station has become a nail bar. This is not as isolated and odd location as first considered given that within view is three of the main nightspots and three restaurant bars. Another feature of the changing community is the number of pavement side table areas, due to the non smoking inside ban, but the extent they were being used by no smokers is an indication of the mild weather for mid October and a far better day than many in summer. Funny that. Over the weekend some cranes and construction vehicles had descended on the former cross roads at the pedestrianised town centre. Five, or so I through tall thick posts were being mounted but I cannot say that they were not there before for what appeared to be the start of the Christmas Street decorations. However to day as I walked back I counted nearly a score of these post as they extended along the area between the former cross roads a little way up to the old station entrance where the night clubs, restaurant bars and nail bar is located and along to the public library museum, lower floor area of Azda and the other pub restaurants, bars and clubs are located, as well as a little way up towards the Town Hall, but not along the main shopping street. I returned by 11.30 and it is now five to twelve.
Will I recover in time to go and see Atonement this evening at Bolden or to start work, as I feel tired, and have not net had lunch what work have you done then? The state of rebellion against my own plan and disinclination continued so I prepared a salad using a quarter of the gammon joint and watched the first episode of the world at war also playing five games of chess against computer bringing winning streak to ten. This was unsatisfactory because I did not pay sufficient attention to what is a brilliant analysis of the state of the major powers involved, Germany and the Kaiser, the French and British positions and concerns, their entanglement with the Russia, and the problems created by the decrepitude of the Austrian Empire and the problems created by the Slave peoples under the leadership of Serbia after their victory against the Turks. The most chilling memory of this episode is the warning about Serbia becoming the cause of a world war!
One thinks one knew the history, the prime causes, the sequence of events of cause and effects. The presentation issue that Europe was in 1914 governed by an acceptance of order and values, with God in Heaven, Monarchs on the thrones, fathers head of household and controlling destiny. In the main cities the aristocracy took the air in the main open spaces with their carriages, servants and fine clothes, and a wealth and power based on land ownership in the countryside. But the world had changed and new men counterbalanced this power with the wealth created by the industrial revolution, although the vast populations which had been driven to the cities by famine and hope worked hard for comparatively little reward and lived in often squalid conditions. In the UK despite national prosperity nearly a third lived in poverty and in York a fifth lived on subsistence less than that provided at the workhouse.
Across Europe the fuel for a social revolution was there. The first focus has to be on the ambitions of Germany where at a political level the three score Germanic states, many with their kings united under the Kaiser and had become the most powerful industrial nation second to only the United States, a fact which British History books once tender to overlook. This was exemplified with the Krupps factory town which provided the most modern conception of social welfare from sickness and pension benefits and the provision of homes, medicine, education and churches. This growth was reflected in the growth of population by 50% in less than five decades.
The unification was based on a militarist collectivist culture making it the most powerful military power in the world and with the state view of the Kaiser that nothing could be decided without being in the interests of Prussia and if that involved waging war so be it. I remember working in Cheshire when the Children's Regional Planning Committee was dominated by Lancashire whose officials were under instruction, Lancashire interests first and then the regional. Similarly in relation to Social Services in the North East the approach of Brian Roycroft whether in terms of local government influence in the region and nationally or within the Association of Directors of Social Services was Newcastle one and then the region and national.
Paris had become the cultural and creative capital of Europe, from Picasso the first flight across the channel and Madam Curie. However this was not France with a declining birth rate and unrest among its proletariat because of the failure to develop industrially as its neighbours. Worse were the defeat of 1870 and the loss of Alsace Lorraine. France began to fear the increasing military might and ambitions of Germany with its Kaiser.
Across the channel Britain' success was in the rest of the world, am empire where the sun never set, reflected in the India, in Africa where the dream was link the South to the North through a railway and where in Australia, Canada and New Zealand a British origin population had grown so that in total in was half that of the UK. Its power had been built through the development of sea transport and this meant naval supremacy now being challenged by German ambition. However there were internal problems which had to be addressed from the growth of Labour Party, industrial unrest especially with strikes in Liverpool, there was the militant feminism and in Southern Ireland the pressure of independence was such to threaten civil war.
So in this climate France and Britain united in the face of the German threat with the Entente Cordial. France also developed an alliance with Russian which the UK also joined. There was a balance power to West and East of Germany. However the problem was the declining role of Austria Hungarians under the 84 year old monarch who ruled by compromise and repression. Hungarians represented the Slavic people with the growing leadership of Serbia resenting Austria Germanic domination and the slaves looked to Russia for protection.
Russia was the largest state in the world in terms of land and population ruled by an autocrat ruthlessly suppressing any people's revolt. Serbia had successfully waged war against Turkey and then annexed Bosnia Herzegovina and when Arch Duke Ferdinand he5r to Austro Hungarian throne and his wife attended the celebrations in Sarajevo they were assassinated under the umbrella of Slavic Independence by a secret Serbian society the fuse for a world at war was lit.
Austria had its excuse for asserting itself once more and crushing Serbia and went to the Kaiser for support, who readily gave sensing it was time for the German people to assert their new power and wealth and also assuming that the UK, whose interests were not being threatened would remain neutral. Knowing that Russia would side with the Serbs but was likely to be immediately ineffectual the inherited German war plan was to use its forces to smash France and do this by setting aside Belgium neutrality and attack the main French army facing the German borders from behind. France while fearing something of this nature planned to smash into Germany before its army could get going. They were both right in assessing that it would take time for the massive Russian forces to become effective, although over 2 million men with endless supply of replacements they were ill equipped and ill prepared and more over lacked the kind of will required as a consequence of the autocratic but ineffective leadership of the Czar, complication but German loyalties through his wife.
There was great reluctance in the British Government to become involved in what would be a speculative expeditionary force across the channel, especially as by a twist of fate the entire British Navy over 200 ships including some 50 battleships had assembled for review at Spithead and were then sent in secret by Churchill at the Admiralty to Scarpa Flow its war assembly station.
When Austria delivered its ultimatum to Serbia it did so in the knowledge that the Kaiser was on holiday cruising in Scandinavian and the French Prime Minister was returning from a friendly visit to Russia. Although Serbia was ready to agree to almost all the terms this was not what Austria wanted and in quick sequence Germany warned everyone to stay neutral, cleverly stating that had no territorial ambitions and would respect Belgium neutrality after any war thus making it impossible when it declared war on France and commenced to enter Belgium, thus giving the UK no alternative but to issue an ultimatum which would have no effect, Britain, France, Belgium, Russia were at war against Austria Hungry and Prussia Germany and against Italy who had entered treaties with them. The lights were going out although it would take the reality of the strength and power of the German army to bring the French and British armies into the reality
They were self deceived by two factors. The first was the wave of self confident patriotism which swept both countries not just as a consequence of the press which united behind political and military leaders, but because of popular enthusiasms on the streets. The second was a heroic holding out for a time by the Belgium, army until it was forced back and the full might of the concentrated German forces moved through Brussels.
The French had one battle plan to charge in their highly visible red coats at the German army to only to be mown down in their tens of thousands, first attempting to break into Germany across the Rhine, then to the advancing armies through Belgium and then through what they hoped was a less strong centre in the forest of the Ardennes.
The British army was equally confident with thousands of trains moving troops to the ports and the across the channel protected by the British navy and from which set forth to teaching the advance German forces a lesson unaware of what had happened to the various attacks of the French. They were warned both of the size of the strength of German forces and that the French were failing but this was information which the Generals of the Expeditionary force did not want to hear. The day of reality was shortly at hand at Mons.
It was ironic that a war started by Austria to teach Serbia a lesson was being fought by the blood of French and British young men as well as those of Belgium within a matter of weeks. At first it looked as if the German plan had failed in East as the Russian armies achieved surprise with an expected attach into Prussia but just as it appeared that Prussia would be over run a German General worked out a high risk counter attack which worked and from that moment the Russian forces were driver further and further back into their homeland. It also appeared that this was the situation in France after the British Expeditionary force had offered stubborn defensive resistance and had destroyed thousands of the advancing forces. But the force was unable to maintain its situation given the retreat of the French forces. With the government retreated from Paris to Bordeaux and the General in charge ordered to defend the city, blowing up bridges and reducing buildings to rubble if necessary official information indicated that the war was being lost, although every effort was made to maintain moral at home. Then the allied commander General Joffre of France, although he could not order the expeditionary force, only make suggestions, recognised a weakness and devised a plan which was to change the course of the war. Thus ends the first four episodes of events nearly 100nyears ago, although at a time when my mother was seven years of age. The First World War did not directly affect the citizens of Gibraltar in the way it did the rest of Europe although being the naval gateway for the Empire and its most influential communications centre families would have received the same information and impressions as those given to the on the UK mainland.
I decided to watch all four episodes after deciding not to go and see Atonement. I had commenced my ongoing work, dealing with confidential records and broke off to attend to other private matters when I found that I needed to top up my pay as you go phone in order send a text. This also coincided with needing additional display files for confidential matters. The majority of confidential work is kept secure in ten large black filing cabinets but some material I will need to keep until the project is completed and then decide if it to is to be secured away, or to become available in time, after the deaths of the individuals covered, or if permission for public access is given. So I set off out fir the second time in the day, although with my car because of the need to do some heavy shopping. First I went to a car park near the shopping centre and Wilkinson's store where I was in luck and able to buy 4 50 display books enabling four sets with one artman and signature record card covering each volume. I will need more but need to do some estimating before ordering in bulk or going to other Wilkinson stores in Sunderland and Jarrow. At Azda I needed bottle water and milk plus more fruit but was and was tempted by a ready made Chinese dish offer with three small but adequate pieces of chicken breast, a little rice and a little stir fry with three king prawns and a sauce, the latter I put for too long a period in the microwave which then had to be cleaned. It was an enjoyable meal but because of its size it was necessary to supplement with one of the baked cheese topped rolls before half a pound of grapes. I suspect I will have the second roll before bedtime although I will try and make do with cereal. Because I walked and shopped briskly I achieved another healthy sweat.
I have also recovered from the disaster of the broken long chess run of 55 games, achieving 30 so far to day. The Liberal Democratic party Leader, a man of gravitas and good mind and values has had to resign because he lost the confidence of his colleagues in the face of the Conservative upsurge which threatens the possibility of his party holding the balance of power at the general election likely to be held in 2010 The new TV is playing up but I isolated the aerial from the Sky unit which enable terrestrial, digital free view and DVD playback. However I still need to work out the cause of the problem and attend to more sorting out. And of course I forgot to get the top up for the mobile first thing tomorrow when there is also Mozart in the evening at the Sage.
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