To- day, Tuesday December 28th 2010, I am celebrating the best Christmas for more than decade and possibly one of the best ever. The main reason is that I did not spend it alone, involving a journey of some 180 miles, something of a challenge given the continuous atrocious weather conditions.
There was heavy snow falls in most parts of the United Kingdom with few, if any, areas escaping some snow and the extreme cold condition with temperatures below minus 20, colder that in parts of the artic and the Nordic countries. However it was significantly colder is Moscow according to someone who was working there recently.
Because of the severe weather warnings for the Christmas period I took the precaution of booking an early morning one way rail ticket for the Thursday before Christmas with an early morning of 8.30. At under £30 this meant if I was able to us my car, the first preference, then there would not be any great financial loss. Until this summer the idea of making a train at Newcastle by 8.30 was out of the question but after approaching 100 early morning swims the time posed no problem.
I am already looking back over a year when I managed my finances badly and have left myself in a restricted position for the next two to three years. I will begin the New Year cautiously.
The travel omens were not good first with mounting chaos at the UK’s premier airport, Heathrow, Greater London. In fairness to the travel companies it was reported they wanted to communicate to passengers not to travel until checking with them that their particular flight was going ahead but the management at the airport are then reported to have indicated the belief that they had learnt from the situation which developed in late November and would be able to cope.
In the event although one runway became quickly available there were few flights, if any, because most of the parked planes were locked into their station due to the failure to clear snow and ice below them. There was several days of chaos with some passengers sleeping rough within the airport terminal unable to return home because of traffic chaos and unable or unwilling to obtain temporary accommodation unless arranged by their travel agents/flight companies. There was mounting pressure which led to the Government offering to provide troops and the Chief Executive announcing he would not accept the entitled performance bonus this year. That other airports found themselves in similar situation here in the UK, in Europe and over the past 24 hours, in North America, was of little consolation to those coming home for Christmas, visiting relatives around the world or just getting away for the holiday period.
There was also chaos on parts of the rail network, with those using the fast trains to Europe hardest hit and for a time, significantly, on the East Coast Line with various problems which prevented most travel for 24 hours. This posed a challenged for me given the variable road conditions where suddenly you could become engulfed in blizzards, ice and freezing fog. However there appeared to be a respite on Wednesday morning so a week ago I hastily got myself prepared with a view to setting off as soon as it was light the following morning, preparing to take a wrap around, soup and coffee as well as food in case of some major delay.
In the morning I checked the road conditions and according to local news the way out through Durham County along the AIM was good and there was no reports for Yorkshire. However the weather report mentioned that heavy snow, falling over the south and west had reached the midlands, my destination, so reconsidered starting off and staying at the Days Inn Wetherby, or the Travel Lodge Sheffield Donnington. No sooner did this plan unfold the clouds covered the previously blue sky and first flurries commenced of what quickly became a blizzard and that was that for the day.
In the evening British Rail sent an email to say that although the line from Newcastle to London was now clear, it was not from Doncaster to Newark, my train destination, and from where I was to be collected by car for the rest of the journey. The email advised that I would be able to use my ticket for a direct train but within a short time of the original departure. The options was a train just before 8 and then one about 9. I arranged everything for an early start leaving the decision to order a car until the morning.
As it was dry and I was well organised I set off just before 6.45am down the hill, missing a Metro train as I reached the end of the platform but another came within 15mins and I was in Newcastle at the main line station by 7 40. A train to London about that time was cancelled so those passengers awaiting were advised to get the next scheduled for 7.52 the one I was to take. This in turn was delayed because of a local train and did not arrive until 8.15 by which time those travelling on the 8.32, my original train, were also arriving. Despite the arrival of three sets of passengers I was able to find a seat among those in the buffet car which also meant I was able to quickly get a hot coffee.
Sitting opposite was someone who driving from his home at Wark the vehicle left the road and went into a hedge at some 20 miles an hour damaging both rear light indicators and the rear bumper. The car was drivable to Hexham station where the train was caught to Newcastle onward to his central office at York although as area manager his patch stretched from Dundee to Hull. He was relaxed notifying the right people of the accident, arranging for a replacement vehicle and having contact with his family. We swapped bad weather stories and he admitted that when it happened he had wondered how it would end.
There are two aspects of the holiday which I will mention. I attended a nativity service in a Church of England which is clearly endeavouring to attract families with children of all ages. The pews have been removed and replaced by comfortable cushion chairs. There were two large screens on which the words of the hymns were relayed and instructions given to parents to usher their children to where the play was being enacted. There was also a full audio system for the small choir and musicians and hand mikes for the vicar and a woman who orchestrated the play with ongoing responsibilities for the children/family aspect of the church. The church was more American in style than evangelical revivalist and I was torn between feelings of admiration and uncomfortableness reflecting the usual struggle between heart and reason.
The second note is praise for those in the planning authorities which allowed the village to grow to the extent it has become an ideal countryside community with more than adequate local facilities such as a primary school, round the clock mini supermarket and a community which encourages the best aspects of village life without claustrophobia. The village grew primarily with a development of the chalet bungalow and two storey dwellings of the lodge type mixture of brick and wood with upper floor windows inserted into the elongated roofing. While each property has off road garaging to the front there are pleasant walkways between the rear gardens which lead to the various older public pathways which dissect the village or circumnavigate its eastern boundaries with the surrounding farmland. While these properties on this side of the village are all of a similar construction the remaining new development comprise individually styled executive housing.
I left open the day of return to take account of the weather but is looked good for the Monday, after the Boxing Day and I selected a train departure around mid morning anticipating that I might have to make the two hour journey without a seat. It looked this would be the situation as more and more people came to platform coffee and snack stop which also led into the waiting room. Shortly before the train arrived I had an important decision to make. I could make my way to the far end of the platform where the first class compartments would stop in the knowledge that for the payment of £20 I would find a seat, or take a gamble and position myself just under cover from where I was located and hope that by going into the open area just before the train arrived I would be able to place myself by an entrance door into a compartment and find a newly vacated seat. This happened although I was not alone with the same idea but seized the first vacant seat by the luggage area, leaving mine by a doorway. The seat was booked between London and Edinburgh and I assumed that it was vacant, sitting down without asking the adjacent young man if someone was away at the buffet car or toilet.
My confidence was rewarded. Others were not so lucky and were left standing although majority of those getting on at subsequent stops were also seat successful. I and the others nearby were entertained by a large colourfully dressed woman, perhaps in her early thirties, who at one point explained that she was a watch fanatic who could not bear to be without the knowledge of the precise time. The dial and wrist strap matched the colour of her top, skirt or dress and she explained that while she has seen one of a similar style for £160 she had purchase this one for under £30. Some eight of them in different colours! She loved to spend money on clothes and jewellery and he accompanying husband gave her a weekly allowance to do so.
She was on her way to a family wedding and met up with a first cousin, a slim and very attractive young women a dozen years younger together with the brother of the girl and her boyfriend. During the journey I learnt much about their present and past lives.
The Metro journey home was comparatively quite until at Hebburn a man entered with a whippet like dog who was instantly attracted or threatened by another creature already sitting nearby at least quadruple its size. The arriving animal began to let out some blood curdling cries which were responded by the other animal until its owners ensured it quietened. This contrasted with the other master who made little effort and which confirmed my impression that potentially vicious dogs are owned by vicious or potentially vicious people. Although the pavements were covered with slushy or compacted snow the roadways were clear and therefore as it was not raining I was able to trek my way home without the additional expense of hiring a car. I was pleased to find everything in order at home, including the one card I had had expected but had not arrived before departure.
Although I could have stayed up to watch the start of the fourth Ashes Test in Australia I missed the opportunity forgetting that a start on Boxing Day meant midnight on Christmas Day. I say could of in the sense of there was opportunity to do so, but I was long asleep by the start of play although I did wake around 2 am and could have gone down to witness the final collapse of the Australian first innings at 98 runs. The wicket was lively as prepared and England was fortunate to win the toss and admittedly it had quieted down by early afternoon when the away side commenced to bat. However by the close of pay England had amassed over 150 runs without loss. The issues was whether they could survive another lively wicket at the start of play the following day
The following morning of the match there had been some reverse swing which resulted in the loss of the openers Cook for 82 and Strauss for 69. But Trott commenced another fine innings and batted the rest of the day and following morning to end undefeated with 168 runs. Prior gave him excellent support with 85 and so did Peterson with 51 although he was the innocent cause of an incident which has probably ended the Test match career of Ricky Ponting the Australian captain. He has been one of Australia’s best batsman and has captained the team to its position as consistently the best in the world of cricket. It is his failure to make any runs this season which has contributed to the dramatic decline although this takes nothing from the fact that all the batsmen with perhaps the exception of Collinwood have performed brilliantly, and Collingwood has been brilliant in the field and bowled well when required.
Now for the incident in which the Australians claimed that Petersen had snicked a ball which passed closely to one side of his bat. The replay suggested he had not touched the bat. The Australian appealed against the not out decision and the celebrated when they saw a white spot on the bat which before close examination suggested that the bat had made contact with the ball. However closer examination indicated that this white spot was on the opposite side to where the ball has passed. It was conclusive evidence that the original decision was correct and should stand.
It is understandable that in such circumstances without the benefit of close examination of the technological evidence he would question the umpire. However he lost his cool and commenced a prolonged disagreement with the umpire, then with Petersen and then with the other umpire, unheard of in cricket, especially at this level and meriting a yellow or red card. In the event he has been fined 40% of his match earnings after some apology although it was not as fulsome as the circumstances required. His reputation has been badly damaged although he could have commenced rehabilitation had he batted well after England ended the third morning all out for 513, a lead of over 400 runs. Australia commenced well as anticipated on a flat wicket in hot sunshine, scoring at 5 runs an over for the first 10. Then at 53 one opener ran out the other, but still there was a determined look about the Australian batting and then the flood gate opened with the second wicket for 99, third at 102 and fourth at 104 with two more falling before the close of play. As midnight approached here in the UK the 7th wicket fell before something of a rally involving Haddin and Siddle but when the 8th fell at 258 the end was close, in fact no further run was scored and when the 9th went it was all over because the injury to Harris meant he was unable to bat and the celebration could begin.
To retain the Ashes in Australia and to do so emphatically has resulted in national jubilation and humiliation in Aussi land where local supporters did not take up their seats leaving the area to travelling Brits and those in Australia who still identify with their original homeland. However the series is not won until the final game next week where a draw will be sufficient to achieve this. It is time to catch up on recent films experienced before the New Year,
There was heavy snow falls in most parts of the United Kingdom with few, if any, areas escaping some snow and the extreme cold condition with temperatures below minus 20, colder that in parts of the artic and the Nordic countries. However it was significantly colder is Moscow according to someone who was working there recently.
Because of the severe weather warnings for the Christmas period I took the precaution of booking an early morning one way rail ticket for the Thursday before Christmas with an early morning of 8.30. At under £30 this meant if I was able to us my car, the first preference, then there would not be any great financial loss. Until this summer the idea of making a train at Newcastle by 8.30 was out of the question but after approaching 100 early morning swims the time posed no problem.
I am already looking back over a year when I managed my finances badly and have left myself in a restricted position for the next two to three years. I will begin the New Year cautiously.
The travel omens were not good first with mounting chaos at the UK’s premier airport, Heathrow, Greater London. In fairness to the travel companies it was reported they wanted to communicate to passengers not to travel until checking with them that their particular flight was going ahead but the management at the airport are then reported to have indicated the belief that they had learnt from the situation which developed in late November and would be able to cope.
In the event although one runway became quickly available there were few flights, if any, because most of the parked planes were locked into their station due to the failure to clear snow and ice below them. There was several days of chaos with some passengers sleeping rough within the airport terminal unable to return home because of traffic chaos and unable or unwilling to obtain temporary accommodation unless arranged by their travel agents/flight companies. There was mounting pressure which led to the Government offering to provide troops and the Chief Executive announcing he would not accept the entitled performance bonus this year. That other airports found themselves in similar situation here in the UK, in Europe and over the past 24 hours, in North America, was of little consolation to those coming home for Christmas, visiting relatives around the world or just getting away for the holiday period.
There was also chaos on parts of the rail network, with those using the fast trains to Europe hardest hit and for a time, significantly, on the East Coast Line with various problems which prevented most travel for 24 hours. This posed a challenged for me given the variable road conditions where suddenly you could become engulfed in blizzards, ice and freezing fog. However there appeared to be a respite on Wednesday morning so a week ago I hastily got myself prepared with a view to setting off as soon as it was light the following morning, preparing to take a wrap around, soup and coffee as well as food in case of some major delay.
In the morning I checked the road conditions and according to local news the way out through Durham County along the AIM was good and there was no reports for Yorkshire. However the weather report mentioned that heavy snow, falling over the south and west had reached the midlands, my destination, so reconsidered starting off and staying at the Days Inn Wetherby, or the Travel Lodge Sheffield Donnington. No sooner did this plan unfold the clouds covered the previously blue sky and first flurries commenced of what quickly became a blizzard and that was that for the day.
In the evening British Rail sent an email to say that although the line from Newcastle to London was now clear, it was not from Doncaster to Newark, my train destination, and from where I was to be collected by car for the rest of the journey. The email advised that I would be able to use my ticket for a direct train but within a short time of the original departure. The options was a train just before 8 and then one about 9. I arranged everything for an early start leaving the decision to order a car until the morning.
As it was dry and I was well organised I set off just before 6.45am down the hill, missing a Metro train as I reached the end of the platform but another came within 15mins and I was in Newcastle at the main line station by 7 40. A train to London about that time was cancelled so those passengers awaiting were advised to get the next scheduled for 7.52 the one I was to take. This in turn was delayed because of a local train and did not arrive until 8.15 by which time those travelling on the 8.32, my original train, were also arriving. Despite the arrival of three sets of passengers I was able to find a seat among those in the buffet car which also meant I was able to quickly get a hot coffee.
Sitting opposite was someone who driving from his home at Wark the vehicle left the road and went into a hedge at some 20 miles an hour damaging both rear light indicators and the rear bumper. The car was drivable to Hexham station where the train was caught to Newcastle onward to his central office at York although as area manager his patch stretched from Dundee to Hull. He was relaxed notifying the right people of the accident, arranging for a replacement vehicle and having contact with his family. We swapped bad weather stories and he admitted that when it happened he had wondered how it would end.
There are two aspects of the holiday which I will mention. I attended a nativity service in a Church of England which is clearly endeavouring to attract families with children of all ages. The pews have been removed and replaced by comfortable cushion chairs. There were two large screens on which the words of the hymns were relayed and instructions given to parents to usher their children to where the play was being enacted. There was also a full audio system for the small choir and musicians and hand mikes for the vicar and a woman who orchestrated the play with ongoing responsibilities for the children/family aspect of the church. The church was more American in style than evangelical revivalist and I was torn between feelings of admiration and uncomfortableness reflecting the usual struggle between heart and reason.
The second note is praise for those in the planning authorities which allowed the village to grow to the extent it has become an ideal countryside community with more than adequate local facilities such as a primary school, round the clock mini supermarket and a community which encourages the best aspects of village life without claustrophobia. The village grew primarily with a development of the chalet bungalow and two storey dwellings of the lodge type mixture of brick and wood with upper floor windows inserted into the elongated roofing. While each property has off road garaging to the front there are pleasant walkways between the rear gardens which lead to the various older public pathways which dissect the village or circumnavigate its eastern boundaries with the surrounding farmland. While these properties on this side of the village are all of a similar construction the remaining new development comprise individually styled executive housing.
I left open the day of return to take account of the weather but is looked good for the Monday, after the Boxing Day and I selected a train departure around mid morning anticipating that I might have to make the two hour journey without a seat. It looked this would be the situation as more and more people came to platform coffee and snack stop which also led into the waiting room. Shortly before the train arrived I had an important decision to make. I could make my way to the far end of the platform where the first class compartments would stop in the knowledge that for the payment of £20 I would find a seat, or take a gamble and position myself just under cover from where I was located and hope that by going into the open area just before the train arrived I would be able to place myself by an entrance door into a compartment and find a newly vacated seat. This happened although I was not alone with the same idea but seized the first vacant seat by the luggage area, leaving mine by a doorway. The seat was booked between London and Edinburgh and I assumed that it was vacant, sitting down without asking the adjacent young man if someone was away at the buffet car or toilet.
My confidence was rewarded. Others were not so lucky and were left standing although majority of those getting on at subsequent stops were also seat successful. I and the others nearby were entertained by a large colourfully dressed woman, perhaps in her early thirties, who at one point explained that she was a watch fanatic who could not bear to be without the knowledge of the precise time. The dial and wrist strap matched the colour of her top, skirt or dress and she explained that while she has seen one of a similar style for £160 she had purchase this one for under £30. Some eight of them in different colours! She loved to spend money on clothes and jewellery and he accompanying husband gave her a weekly allowance to do so.
She was on her way to a family wedding and met up with a first cousin, a slim and very attractive young women a dozen years younger together with the brother of the girl and her boyfriend. During the journey I learnt much about their present and past lives.
The Metro journey home was comparatively quite until at Hebburn a man entered with a whippet like dog who was instantly attracted or threatened by another creature already sitting nearby at least quadruple its size. The arriving animal began to let out some blood curdling cries which were responded by the other animal until its owners ensured it quietened. This contrasted with the other master who made little effort and which confirmed my impression that potentially vicious dogs are owned by vicious or potentially vicious people. Although the pavements were covered with slushy or compacted snow the roadways were clear and therefore as it was not raining I was able to trek my way home without the additional expense of hiring a car. I was pleased to find everything in order at home, including the one card I had had expected but had not arrived before departure.
Although I could have stayed up to watch the start of the fourth Ashes Test in Australia I missed the opportunity forgetting that a start on Boxing Day meant midnight on Christmas Day. I say could of in the sense of there was opportunity to do so, but I was long asleep by the start of play although I did wake around 2 am and could have gone down to witness the final collapse of the Australian first innings at 98 runs. The wicket was lively as prepared and England was fortunate to win the toss and admittedly it had quieted down by early afternoon when the away side commenced to bat. However by the close of pay England had amassed over 150 runs without loss. The issues was whether they could survive another lively wicket at the start of play the following day
The following morning of the match there had been some reverse swing which resulted in the loss of the openers Cook for 82 and Strauss for 69. But Trott commenced another fine innings and batted the rest of the day and following morning to end undefeated with 168 runs. Prior gave him excellent support with 85 and so did Peterson with 51 although he was the innocent cause of an incident which has probably ended the Test match career of Ricky Ponting the Australian captain. He has been one of Australia’s best batsman and has captained the team to its position as consistently the best in the world of cricket. It is his failure to make any runs this season which has contributed to the dramatic decline although this takes nothing from the fact that all the batsmen with perhaps the exception of Collinwood have performed brilliantly, and Collingwood has been brilliant in the field and bowled well when required.
Now for the incident in which the Australians claimed that Petersen had snicked a ball which passed closely to one side of his bat. The replay suggested he had not touched the bat. The Australian appealed against the not out decision and the celebrated when they saw a white spot on the bat which before close examination suggested that the bat had made contact with the ball. However closer examination indicated that this white spot was on the opposite side to where the ball has passed. It was conclusive evidence that the original decision was correct and should stand.
It is understandable that in such circumstances without the benefit of close examination of the technological evidence he would question the umpire. However he lost his cool and commenced a prolonged disagreement with the umpire, then with Petersen and then with the other umpire, unheard of in cricket, especially at this level and meriting a yellow or red card. In the event he has been fined 40% of his match earnings after some apology although it was not as fulsome as the circumstances required. His reputation has been badly damaged although he could have commenced rehabilitation had he batted well after England ended the third morning all out for 513, a lead of over 400 runs. Australia commenced well as anticipated on a flat wicket in hot sunshine, scoring at 5 runs an over for the first 10. Then at 53 one opener ran out the other, but still there was a determined look about the Australian batting and then the flood gate opened with the second wicket for 99, third at 102 and fourth at 104 with two more falling before the close of play. As midnight approached here in the UK the 7th wicket fell before something of a rally involving Haddin and Siddle but when the 8th fell at 258 the end was close, in fact no further run was scored and when the 9th went it was all over because the injury to Harris meant he was unable to bat and the celebration could begin.
To retain the Ashes in Australia and to do so emphatically has resulted in national jubilation and humiliation in Aussi land where local supporters did not take up their seats leaving the area to travelling Brits and those in Australia who still identify with their original homeland. However the series is not won until the final game next week where a draw will be sufficient to achieve this. It is time to catch up on recent films experienced before the New Year,
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