Yesterday I learnt that the cooker would be delivered between 7am and 11am which meant setting the alarm for 6am, and because the internal alarm clock did not operate I had a rude awakening, and it is many years perhaps even decades since that I had that feeling of unnaturalness as I forced myself up, dressed, toileted and faced the cold dark dawn. Alas my effort was again in vain because when the delivery vehicle came, an enormous creature almost the width of the back lane, the driver took one look at the existing cooker and declared that the one I had purchased could not be fitted. The problem was the lack of sufficient space between the eye level grill and the half cabinet above. It was a little while before the gas installation fitter arrived separately and he confirmed that the cupboard would have to be removed which would alter the balance of the units. My feeble protestations that the cooker had been serviced by British Gas Twice without complaint were discounted. The choice was to get a cooker with a lower grill or remove the offending cabinet. I settled for replacing the cooker, which I did later afternoon and although the one purchased was more expensive, there was no additional charge for the coming out, disconnection, connection and removal of the existing unit and everyone was most helpful which cheered me up no end.
Yesterday evening I received an email from the Great North East Railway Line advising that it was launching a new improved on-line booking system, and that using the system would give an additional 10% discount on the fare selected. Plus the first 5000 using the system and spending over £15 would be given a first class return journey ticket to anywhere on their network during January after the New Year. One of the past problems with GNER has been its complicated pricing structure with about a dozen different types of tickets, some where a railcard reduces cost by a one third, and where now there is a 10% for on-line booking. However there are restrictions on the number of concession seats, times of travelling and penalties if you miss the specified train. Under the new system if you type in the travelling dates you get a grid which enables you to get the lowest price combination for the time of day to suit. I had cancelled my last visit to London which coincided with my mother entering hospital and was fortunate to get the committed money back which included accommodation and a ticket to Lords. I was able to book four nights at Croydon for a third of the standard price and then return travel for between a half and a third of the standard fare, and a return first class voucher which could be worth over £200 although only business travellers tend to pay this price.
Feeling pleased with myself I decided to take in the penultimate performance of Atonement at Bolden Cineworld where I had a voucher via my credit card for a free adult ticket. There was time to complete a letter, although could I find a photograph to be included, and then to stop in town for a copy of the Mail and the next episodes of the Great War DVD , then rushing to buy the ticket and decided to treat myself to a few sweets, had to be few given the in-house price at cinemas and took my seat. I thought there was a longer gap than anticipated before the film commenced and the audience was larger than expected and when the film commenced I was not sure if I was at the wrong screen or this was an extra.
Anyway the film looked fun so I stayed with it. Afterwards I realised that I had followed the two people before me in the queue who had said I thought number four listed film which was Atonement. When in fact they must have said Screen 4. And the film? An adult fairy tale with genuinely funny jokes especially from Robert De Nero who appears about midway and then Ricky Gervais who I have not found funny, especially at the Concert for Diana. His cameo role produced out loud laughter from me. Although the film has been declared suitable for those of 8 years and older, it is the Harry Potter dimension of nasties, but with more romantic and less romantic themes as well as bad witches, and unscrupulous baddies, but highly suitable for old fogies, especially those who like old fashion story type films where the contemporary cleverness tricks are an integral part and not the other ways round. For some reason I thought the film was called Starburst but when I could gain no internet reference I checked again and it is Stardust.
By coincidence the Great War was the last subject of BBC's Who do you think you are with 4 times Olympic Gold Medal Rower Sir Matthew Vincent, although the loss of three of his father's relatives, all boys who were just out of the public school Winchester, and whose fate I will return shortly. It was then attention was turned to the background of his mother than the history took an extraordinary, unbelievable turn. One of his mother's ancestors worked for one of the most important trading companies in China at the international trading quarter of Shanghai which was a self governed area separate from both the Chinese and British Governments and where the head of the founding company was the major player in the opium trade for India to China and which had some 10 million Chinese people addicted and led to the two Opium War about the right to trade in the stuff. His mother's ancestors who also became influential in the company and chaired the governing council was thought to be related to the founder and therefore to the opium trade. There was relief when it was discovered there was no direct connection and that he conformed to a political request to begin the closure of the 1500 dens, although he balanced the lost revenue from the quarter shut down by allowing the increase if the number of retail outlets, so that in effect the number of users and the trade continued at about the same level as before. This was not ethical even given the times and attitudes, as Matthew recognised.
This individual was however traced to a Sir George Anson 1769- 1849 who was one of Wellington's Generals in the pre Waterloo, Peninsular War, achieving fame and recognition in three important battle victories. Because he was a knight at the period, in genealogical terms he is a gateway back, in this instance to the Catholic Howard family, one of whose relatives was Catherine Howard beheaded by Henry the Eighth. The ancestor was the traced raced back through several Kings of England, Edward 1st and William the Conqueror.
Earlier in the evening I watched, then slept through and then watched once more, episode nine of the Great War on the disastrous campaign in the Dardanelles, Gallipoli. This was an attempt by the government to have a go at the Turks who were known to be sympathetic to the German and had absorbed two of their war ships rather than in turn them for the duration of the conflict. A naval fleet was sent to bombard the coast and take Constantinople. However by the use of underwater mines and submarines the navy felt was force to run back to its safe harbours. An expeditionary force of Australian, New Zealand and British forces was assembled, at first some 70000, but eventually had to be quietly removed leaving over 100000men dead, most of them Turkish and 21000 British and Irish and with a significantly higher number wounded and an even greater number sick. One of Mathew's great uncle Laurence Pinsett, died at Gallipoli aged 19 years. Great Uncle Philip was even younger at 18 years an artillery spotter pilot who was shot down and killed. Another great uncle had been the head boy at Winchester but his entry in the school record was brief, died on the Western Front it what was the first use of tanks by the allies. The lack of information in the school record led Matthews search for additional information and the discovery that the young man had committed suicide on the battlefield. Matthew then discovered that a book of memoirs had been published by one of the survivors of the battle who is picture with his great uncle and where he gives an account of their involvement. As commanders of the new eight men tanks they were ordered to take an exceptionally fortified enemy position and the writer of the memoir revealed that he had been forced to turn back although his friend had broken down on the way, repaired the vehicle and then attempted to carry out the mission, but breaking off in the face of the defence barrage which included armour piercing bullets. The "suicide" of the officer has to be viewed in the context than men were ordered into attacks knowing that a high percentage were expected to die be wounded, and required not to return unless they achieved the stated objective. He was still a very young man in an untested in battle very primitive vehicle hot, confining vehicle. recently in Iraq a young man in an under fire tank, without regard for his personal welfare brought his colleague back to safety or which he was awarded one of the few Victoria Crosses since World War Two where the recipient lived to tell the tale. It has taken 90 years to learn that there is no sense let alone glory in self sacrifice, but in doing everything to save ones and he lives of colleagues to be able to fight another day. Nor should children be asked to atone for the sins of their fathers, mothers and ancestors. Who our ancestors were is important because they help us learn and understand who we are, but we all need to learn to live according to our own standards and beliefs and to atone for our own sins and not for those of others.
Yesterday evening I received an email from the Great North East Railway Line advising that it was launching a new improved on-line booking system, and that using the system would give an additional 10% discount on the fare selected. Plus the first 5000 using the system and spending over £15 would be given a first class return journey ticket to anywhere on their network during January after the New Year. One of the past problems with GNER has been its complicated pricing structure with about a dozen different types of tickets, some where a railcard reduces cost by a one third, and where now there is a 10% for on-line booking. However there are restrictions on the number of concession seats, times of travelling and penalties if you miss the specified train. Under the new system if you type in the travelling dates you get a grid which enables you to get the lowest price combination for the time of day to suit. I had cancelled my last visit to London which coincided with my mother entering hospital and was fortunate to get the committed money back which included accommodation and a ticket to Lords. I was able to book four nights at Croydon for a third of the standard price and then return travel for between a half and a third of the standard fare, and a return first class voucher which could be worth over £200 although only business travellers tend to pay this price.
Feeling pleased with myself I decided to take in the penultimate performance of Atonement at Bolden Cineworld where I had a voucher via my credit card for a free adult ticket. There was time to complete a letter, although could I find a photograph to be included, and then to stop in town for a copy of the Mail and the next episodes of the Great War DVD , then rushing to buy the ticket and decided to treat myself to a few sweets, had to be few given the in-house price at cinemas and took my seat. I thought there was a longer gap than anticipated before the film commenced and the audience was larger than expected and when the film commenced I was not sure if I was at the wrong screen or this was an extra.
Anyway the film looked fun so I stayed with it. Afterwards I realised that I had followed the two people before me in the queue who had said I thought number four listed film which was Atonement. When in fact they must have said Screen 4. And the film? An adult fairy tale with genuinely funny jokes especially from Robert De Nero who appears about midway and then Ricky Gervais who I have not found funny, especially at the Concert for Diana. His cameo role produced out loud laughter from me. Although the film has been declared suitable for those of 8 years and older, it is the Harry Potter dimension of nasties, but with more romantic and less romantic themes as well as bad witches, and unscrupulous baddies, but highly suitable for old fogies, especially those who like old fashion story type films where the contemporary cleverness tricks are an integral part and not the other ways round. For some reason I thought the film was called Starburst but when I could gain no internet reference I checked again and it is Stardust.
By coincidence the Great War was the last subject of BBC's Who do you think you are with 4 times Olympic Gold Medal Rower Sir Matthew Vincent, although the loss of three of his father's relatives, all boys who were just out of the public school Winchester, and whose fate I will return shortly. It was then attention was turned to the background of his mother than the history took an extraordinary, unbelievable turn. One of his mother's ancestors worked for one of the most important trading companies in China at the international trading quarter of Shanghai which was a self governed area separate from both the Chinese and British Governments and where the head of the founding company was the major player in the opium trade for India to China and which had some 10 million Chinese people addicted and led to the two Opium War about the right to trade in the stuff. His mother's ancestors who also became influential in the company and chaired the governing council was thought to be related to the founder and therefore to the opium trade. There was relief when it was discovered there was no direct connection and that he conformed to a political request to begin the closure of the 1500 dens, although he balanced the lost revenue from the quarter shut down by allowing the increase if the number of retail outlets, so that in effect the number of users and the trade continued at about the same level as before. This was not ethical even given the times and attitudes, as Matthew recognised.
This individual was however traced to a Sir George Anson 1769- 1849 who was one of Wellington's Generals in the pre Waterloo, Peninsular War, achieving fame and recognition in three important battle victories. Because he was a knight at the period, in genealogical terms he is a gateway back, in this instance to the Catholic Howard family, one of whose relatives was Catherine Howard beheaded by Henry the Eighth. The ancestor was the traced raced back through several Kings of England, Edward 1st and William the Conqueror.
Earlier in the evening I watched, then slept through and then watched once more, episode nine of the Great War on the disastrous campaign in the Dardanelles, Gallipoli. This was an attempt by the government to have a go at the Turks who were known to be sympathetic to the German and had absorbed two of their war ships rather than in turn them for the duration of the conflict. A naval fleet was sent to bombard the coast and take Constantinople. However by the use of underwater mines and submarines the navy felt was force to run back to its safe harbours. An expeditionary force of Australian, New Zealand and British forces was assembled, at first some 70000, but eventually had to be quietly removed leaving over 100000men dead, most of them Turkish and 21000 British and Irish and with a significantly higher number wounded and an even greater number sick. One of Mathew's great uncle Laurence Pinsett, died at Gallipoli aged 19 years. Great Uncle Philip was even younger at 18 years an artillery spotter pilot who was shot down and killed. Another great uncle had been the head boy at Winchester but his entry in the school record was brief, died on the Western Front it what was the first use of tanks by the allies. The lack of information in the school record led Matthews search for additional information and the discovery that the young man had committed suicide on the battlefield. Matthew then discovered that a book of memoirs had been published by one of the survivors of the battle who is picture with his great uncle and where he gives an account of their involvement. As commanders of the new eight men tanks they were ordered to take an exceptionally fortified enemy position and the writer of the memoir revealed that he had been forced to turn back although his friend had broken down on the way, repaired the vehicle and then attempted to carry out the mission, but breaking off in the face of the defence barrage which included armour piercing bullets. The "suicide" of the officer has to be viewed in the context than men were ordered into attacks knowing that a high percentage were expected to die be wounded, and required not to return unless they achieved the stated objective. He was still a very young man in an untested in battle very primitive vehicle hot, confining vehicle. recently in Iraq a young man in an under fire tank, without regard for his personal welfare brought his colleague back to safety or which he was awarded one of the few Victoria Crosses since World War Two where the recipient lived to tell the tale. It has taken 90 years to learn that there is no sense let alone glory in self sacrifice, but in doing everything to save ones and he lives of colleagues to be able to fight another day. Nor should children be asked to atone for the sins of their fathers, mothers and ancestors. Who our ancestors were is important because they help us learn and understand who we are, but we all need to learn to live according to our own standards and beliefs and to atone for our own sins and not for those of others.
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