Rock Stuff!

Can't believe it's been over a year since I last posted on here!  Well, folks, I'm about to change all that.  And the reason?  My wonderful holiday in New England...

It was a fantastic holiday.  I flew to Boston, travelled up to Canada, then back down to New York.  On the way I saw the most spectacular countryside, met some lovely people, and had myself a whole lotta fun!

That holiday was the antidote I needed to get over the grief I'd been coping with through the summer.  In June two very, very special people in my life died within a week of each other, and it took some getting over.  When you've loved people for most of your life it leaves a huge gap you think will never be filled.  So I didn't know what to expect from my holiday... Until I fetched up in a little place called Bath in New Hampshire. 

Bath is the home of The Brick Store, the oldest general store in America - or so it's claimed, and it was there I found myself waking up again!

For all of you who know me well, you know how much music means to me.  And The Brick Store is owned by Mike Lusty, the drummer with the band The Rocking Chairs.  Next to the general store is an ice cream parlour, and next to that is an art shop. 

The ice cream parlour is a sight to behold.  The walls are covered in old original 45s, and it's the real deal.  Yes, they do sell ice cream!  It was there I bought a CD by The Rocking Chairs.  Naturally I got it signed by the three members of the band who were around! 

Little did I know it then, but the healing process had begun!  It suddenly all came together in Times Square in New York.  I stood there that first evening, and I came alive!  For the first time in many months I began to feel happy.

OK, that's enough of the sad stuff...

Since coming home I've listened to The Rocking Chairs a lot!  They are good!  Rock and roll as it should be played.  After that I dug out CDs I hadn't heard for months and since then the music hasn't stopped in my house!  Music has always enhanced my mood, and really good rock music does it for me every time.

This week has been the Rockiest week so far.  Tuesday I went to see The Vampires of Rock at the New Theatre, Hull.  Fantastic, amazing, ear-splitting stuff.  Then on Wednesday there was Steve Jones' show on Rhondda Radio, that was terrific.

I must mention here that Steve had a 'big finish' lined up just for me - which I can't thank him enough for.  I'd sent Rhondda Radio a present.  They're community based and rely on donations to keep going.  Anyway, as a special Thank You, Steve played MeatLoaf's 'Bat Out of Hell' specially for me - the complete 9 minute version!  Now that's rock!

He knows I love MeatLoaf and there was nothing better he could have played for me.  I'm always asking for a MeatLoaf request, and sometimes I'm lucky, but this came out of the blue.

Friends, eh!  I love 'em all to bits, and I know they really are friends.  They've seen me through the tough times this year, and I give them my heart for their love and support, I am truly grateful...

I've also been tuning in to another on-line radio station, Aiiradio.  My friend, Brian Dade, has 4 shows on there during the week, and there's a very lively chat room in operation at the same time.  It was during one of Brian's shows I 'met' a guy called Bill Horncastle who was born in Hull, now lives in Market Weighton and has his own show on Market Weighton Radio!  He knows Skeffling, too, and I'll be investigating that further...

So there you go...  I can't get away from music, musicians, DJs and so many lovely people associated with music.  It's been with me all my life, and long may it continue... 

Meatloaf - the REAL one!

Being big fans of Meatloaf my friend, Sharon, sent me a link to Meatloaf’s page on Facebook. It was well worth looking at and after I'd listened to the music I clicked on the Like button, as you do. Now here's the exciting bit - a few days later I got a message from the man himself. Meatloaf had posted a message on my Facebook page! Then, at the weekend, he sent me a really lovely picture of himself from his personal Blackberry.


The fantasy would have been complete had I not known that exactly the same thing was appearing on several thousand other Facebook pages, including Sharon’s!

My brush with the music biz didn’t end there either.

For the past couple of weeks my son, Paul, has been on Facebook raving about his friend, Stephen Jones’ radio programme on Rhondda Radio. It’s called ‘The Old Grey Beard Show’ and is broadcast on Tuesday night between 8 and 10pm. So, curious to know what it was all about, I tuned in and was seriously impressed.

Next morning I sent Stephen a message on Facebook to tell him how much I enjoyed the show and would be tuning in again next week. I also happened to mention that if he did requests ‘Two Out of Three Ain’ Bad’ by Meatloaf would be nice.

You can imagine my surprise when, an hour later, I got a reply from Stephen. He said if he’d known I was listening he’d have given me a mention and he was working on playing my request next week!

Can’t wait for Tuesday. Rhondda Radio is, of course, a local radio station which you probably won’t pick up unless you live in the Rhondda. You can, however, tune in on your PC as I did. The web site address is: www.rhonddaradio.com.  It's on 87.8fm if you want to give the radio a try.

If you like Rock, you’ll love The Old Grey Beard Show.

Oh yes, one other thing... Whilst all this excitement was happening I gave up smoking on Monday...

Passwords

Last week the Webmaster reminded me, rather sternly I felt, that I had not posted anything since February.  Having been duly reprimanded, I am now making amends.

Wherever you go on the web you have to enter a password.  Yes, that wonderful word which give you access to just about anything - provided the computer at the other end recognises your password!  And that's where the problems begin.  I shall explain...

Last Thursday I wanted to make an appointment at the doctor's and, having signed up to this facility, and having ordered repeat prescriptions without any problems, I accessed the website, put in my user name and the password, expecting to be logged in.  That's when my optimism left me.

Your user name or password has not been recognised.  From the flashing cursor and empty field it was the password which had not been recognised.  I tried again.  Your user name or password has not been recognised.  Several tries later it was obvious I wasn't going to get access however nice I tried to be.

Next morning I rang the surgery, and was given a new password.  No explanation as to why the old one hadn't worked.  While I was on the phone I made the appointment, which I felt somewhat defeated the purpose, but there you are.

This isn't the first time it's happened to me.  When shopping on-line Visa Verification sometimes comes into play and you have to enter a password.  On six separate occasions this wonderful system refused to accept my password and I had to create a new one.  Last time it happened I got stroppy and put in the password it had just refused to accept.  D'you know what it said: You have used this password before, choose a new one.  Now if it knew I'd used it before why did it need another one? 

We're told we must never write down our pin numbers or passwords in case someone steals them.  So if we mere mortals are expected to remember passwords, why can't computers? 

If anyone can explain why computers forget passwords, please let me know.  I'm fed up having to come up with a new one because some unseen computer is having a senior moment!

WE WON!

   By WE, I mean Skeffling!
   A few weeks ago we learned Skeffling had been entered for a Microgeneration Award which is sponsored by the Energy Saving Trust.  The awards were for local efforts to make the planet greener.  Then we learned we'd actually been nominated for one of the awards.
   That's when it started to get a bit exciting.  We received an invitation for two people from the Parish Council to represent the village and attend the dinner where the presentations would be made.  It was eventually decided that James Robinson and myself would go, although we didn't think we stood a chance of winning.
   Paul Hudson, the weathrman from Look North, was the speaker and also presented the awards.  When it came to our category and we saw the list of nominees, which included The National Trust, we really thought a big organisation would get it.  So you can imagine our shock and amazement when they announced SKEFFLING HAD WON!
   I have to say James looked totally stunned when he collected the award on behalf of Skeffling.  But what a wonderful endorsement for all our work at making Skeffling a greener village.  It wouldn't have happened without all the hard work done by everyone in the village.  Yet when you look back to the beginning of our campaign to 'go green' we have achieved a great deal.
  Most houses now have compost bins, all the revenue from the glass, paper and aluminium recycling has created a children's playground, the wind turbine and energy saving measures have made the Village Hall completely self-sufficient, and there are so many other things too numerous to mention.
   And the Skeffling community has done it all!
   So give yourselves a big pat on the back and be proud of your achievements.  Not only is Skeffling now firmly on the world map, all our hard work has been recognised by receiving a very prestigious award.
   Put simply, when it comes to being 'green' we're the best village in Yorkshire...
  

Computer Probs!

  My New Year's resolution was to write a blog at least once a week.  Then my computer threw a strop and I had to relegate it to the bin!  Which meant buying a new one.  Ouch!
  Tom set it all up for me, and it worked OK, but the printer didn't and the internet connection was flaky.  Then my NEW computer decided to throw a few childish tantrums which needed more of Tom's expertise.  Still didn't have a printer.  It totally refused to recognise the new computer and obviously wanted the old one back.  They'd been friends for years!  Bless...
  Tom sorted that out, and the computer decided it really did like it here after all and settled down, finally making friends with the printer.  It now works and so does the printer.  Even the internet connection has decided life's not too bad after all and is working.
  Oh, the joys of modern technology.  Wonderful when it works, soul-destroying when it doesn't!
  All I can say is thank you Tom.  Thinking about it there are quite a lot of computers and laptops in Skeffling that Tom's expertise is keeping going!  In fact, quite a few of us would be lost without him.
  Maybe now I can get back to a normal routine, and, hopefully, it'll get warmer soon. 
  If I haven't said it before, Happy New Year everyone...

Tesco.com

If you've read Tom's latest blog on Skeffling Chatter you'll know he's given a big pat on the back to lots of people who keep our lives running during this dreadful weather.  I did add a comment he'd forgotten our Postie.  But there's someone else I forgot.  The lovely man from Tesco.com who's just delivered my shopping!

To be honest I'd find life very difficult without my regular shopping order.  Carrying heavy shopping on the bus is not an option these days.  I just can't do it.  So shopping online is the perfect answer, and they've never let me down in the 7 years I've been doing it.

So, once again a big Thank You to Tesco.com, and especially all those people who deliver our shopping in all sorts of miserable weather.  They're always on time, too. 

If you haven't tried getting your shopping this way yet, it's worth it...

Snow, Snow, Snow...

If you've looked at the Community Website Noticeboard, you'll see Skeffling News won't be arriving through your letterboxes this month.

Sorry about that, but it's a question of distribution.  It's not easy wading through all the snow in the freezing cold, so I'm opting out this month.  Hopefully the snow will have gone by next month and Skeff News will be back to normal.

Hopefully there'll be some news for the February issue.  If you've got a story, or want to share a particular viewpoint with other readers, please let me know.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

It's 2010!  From all of us at the Community Website hope you have a really good year. 

Last year brought more than its fair share of worries and problems to a lot of people in Skeffling.  Yet I firmly believe every cloud has a silver lining.  I'm not the only one either.  I've had loads of messages on Facebook today saying a heartfelt good riddance to 2009.  And now it's the 1st January, so lets make this year rock!

If you'd like to send New Year greetings to someone, or a list of New Year resolutions you're bound to break, put them on Skeffling Chatter.

One thing I would like to do is say a huge THANK YOU to all you readers of LOVE ZONE.  I do appreciate your support and I hope you keep coming back.

Another big THANK YOU to everyone who visits the Community Website.  It hasn't been going a year, but it's getting visits from all over the world. 

So what's waiting for us all in 2010.  Well first of all you've got to remember to put 2010 on your letters and cheques instead of 2009.  That'll take a few weeks.  And believe it or not our days really are getting longer!  Not long now until spring and all those beautiful flowers will be blooming again. 

There you go.  That's one resulution to start the New Year.  Be optimistic.  It's well worth a try...

It must be nearly Christmas!

I know this because most people I meet are rushing around with frantic looks on their faces. Plus I got a Tesco order last week and there were a fair few bottles in amongst the food. I've also been wrapping presents and sending cards to family and friends far and wide.

Yes, it's nearly Christmas!

It was very disappointing not being able to have our annual Carol Service at St. Helen's, but the Village Hall Committee came up trumps yet again. On Monday, 21st December the Village Hall will rock to the sound of carols being sung with great gusto and feeling. This will be followed by hot drinks and mince pies. But I don't think Santa's coming. Well, he'll be busy in elfland putting the finishing touches to all those little treasures kids will find under the tree on Christmas morning.

Wonder who services his sleigh!

There seems to be loads going on in our little corner of the world. Bernard will be accompanying revellers in Easington Square on Thursday night for a good carol singalong. Followed by refreshments at the White Horse. On Saturday the Withernsea Ladies Choir will be singing at Easington Community Centre, and on Monday we've got our Carol Service at the Village Hall.

And they say nothing happens around here.

Have you seen the tele schedule for Christmas? Hope you've put plenty of DVDs on your Christmas list. You're going to need them! There's obviously nothing happening in teleland over the holidays. Maybe all the Julie Andrews films have finally worn out.

There are two films I shall be watching on Christmas Day, if I manage to stay awake after my dinner and bottle of sparkling Pinot Noir. First off there's Kiss Me Kate with Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson and Ann Miller, followed immediately by White Christmas. I've seen this film so many times, but it's always worth a look. Do you cry at the end when they open the doors and it's snowing? I do. Hope Santa remembers to bring me a box of tissues this year...

I'm A Celebrity....

Last week Tom nagged me rotten because I haven't posted a Blog for weeks. Well, I told him, I've got nothing to rant about. Life's good. I've spent a week in Wales meeting relatives and having a good time with friends.

Then, just now, it happened! Like a lot of other sad people I know I was watching I'm a Celebrity... and there she was -Kim. To call her manipulative is being polite. To call her a control freak is being nice. She had poor Sabrina in tears and why? Because Sabrina, through a democratic vote, won the right to do a bush tucker trial. That wasn't good enough for Kim, however. In her manipulative opinion Sabrina shouldn't do it, Jimmy White should.

She argued her point voraciously, refusing absolutely to listen to any one else, and totally ignoring the fact Sabrina had won democratically. She kept on until everyone gave in just to shut her up. So Jimmy did the trial and Sabrina was left in tears. Who does that woman think she is. Do as I say or you're not playing! Bet she was fun in the playground at school.

And what is her claim to fame? Cleaning mucky peoples houses and washing George Hamilton's underpants! That'll look really good on her CV!

I have to sympathise with George. He's had affairs with some of the most beautiful women in the world. Elizabeth Taylor for one, beauty queens for a lot more, and where does he end up. Sleeping with bossy Kim in a broken down old caravan in a jungle! At least he gets his knickers washed!

Well, how's that for a rant. Stay tuned. It's X-Factor tomorrow. Mind you now the terrible twins have gone there's not a lot to say about it really.

Bonfire Night

Yes, Tom, I totally agree with your Blog about bonfire night. We're really lucky in Skeffling to have such a dedicated Village Hall Committee.

As for the addiction bit! Charmain has certainly spread the word about the jigsaw website. It does get addictive, but it's fun, too!

I'm off to Wales on Monday to search for ancestors, so this week has been frantic getting three more stories on Love Zone. These are for you regular visitors who have read the others! Hope you like these. I must admit starting the website was a bit daunting, but now I'm loving it. It's opened up a whole new world and much more interesting than just using the internet for doing my shopping.

Has anyone seen the Appeal in Skeffling News about Captain Duncan. If anyone's got any information please share it with us. It looks like being a really interesting story.

I'm off to pack for Wales now, or I'll be wearing the same clothes all week!

Wind Turbine Farm

For those of you who received the leaflet regarding BTs proposed plans for a wind turbine farm in Skeffling, you'll know all about this. For those of you who didn't, BT want to erect 5 wind turbines in the field on the edge of Main Road.

Skeffling Parish Council have written strongly opposing this wind farm, the main argument being that our area is slowly being 'industrialised'. We've got an ever expanding gas site, there will soon be about 80 wind turbines offshore, and a pipeline running from Easington right through our area. On top of all this the Environment Agency want to flood an area of Skeffling so that the 'bods' and 'woms' will be protected.

Easington Parish Council have also written opposing the proposed wind farm, as have Roos who are theatened with a wind farm of their own.

I sent copies of the letter from the Parish Council to Cllr. Richard Stead and Graham Stuart MP. This morning I received replies from both of them supporting our objections most strongly.

Then I heard that BT have finished their investigation and are proposing to submit planning permission.

Any objections you have, please leave a comment. These can then be passed on to the relevant people. Whether you're for or against another wind turbine farm in our area, I'm sure others will be interested in your comments.

2009 Autumn Spectacular

The 2009 Autumn Spectacular at Hull City Hall was in aid of: The Echoes Foundation, The British Heart Foundation and the Oncology Department, Castle Hill Hospital.

Charmain, Jean and I went to the concert on the 19th October specially to see Ti Amero. We weren't disappointed! They sang three songs, the last of which was Unchained Melody. They sang it in English and Italian and there wasn't a dry eye in the place.

Our one complaint was the sound balance. It was truly awful. The music was very audible, but the voices got lost along the way. The Westfield County Primary School Choir from Cottingham had obviously rehearsed their song for weeks, and put their hearts into their performance on the night. Unfortunately 30 or so little ones couldn't compete with the paino accompanyment and their voices were drowned out.

During the intermission quite a few people mentioned the sound quality, (mouthy me being one of them!) and the second half was vastly improved. The message had obviously got through. Could I suggest that a sound check before the performance might be the way to go.

That aside, the evening was great. There were lots of artists, singers, dancers, choirs, and, of course, the fantastic Kingstown Scottish pipe band. Everyone, artists and audience alike, knew someone who one of the charities represented, which made the evening all the more poignant.

As its an annual event I'm already looking forward to next year's show.

Love Zone

Haven't had a minute to post a blog lately - I've been seriously busy working in my new website!

I'm really excited. It's been up and running since last Thursday, and I've already had some very complimentary comments.

Big, big THANK YOU to Tom for all his invaluable help. He's made a success of the Skeffling website, and, if you remember, he offered to help anyone else set up a website. Little did he realise what a challenge I'd set him! He's been very patient. I hope I've at least been a nearly good pupil.

Another big THANK YOU to Shauna who's done all the graphics and is responsible for my fabulous logo. She's a very talented young lady, and is going to do me a series of 'cute people' to illustrate some of the stories.

I'm really looking forward to improving LOVE ZONE, and posting lots more stories. I also hope you'll enjoy reading them.

On Monday, Charmain, Jean and I are off to City Hall to see Martin Jackson appearing with Ti Amero. We'll be getting some retail therapy before the concert, naturally...

For the curious among you, you can visit LOVE ZONE right now!

Nursy Julie...

Thought this might give you a laugh!

As you can see Nursy Julie is administering first aid to Martin Jackson via an unpleasantly large syringe. After his 'treatment' Martin was able to sing two octaves higher!

Marie Curie Cancer - Update

Julie Newsam has asked me to give everyone who donated to Marie Curie Cancer a big, big THANK YOU, on behalf of the 8 lady 'walkers'. They were overwhelmed and delighted by your generosity.

And a big, big, CONGRATULATIONS to them!

Those girls did so well! Their midnight walk over the Humber Bridge raised a massive £500 in sponsorship money, and it's still coming in!

They left Skeffling Village Hall at 10.30pm, to travel to Hull. Before they left, a 'donations' bucket was put at the door, and you wonderful, generous people, chucked in £22 and some change. That was in ADDITION to the sponsors.

For those of you who have been following my blogs you'll know that 8 lovely ladies dressed up as 'doctors and nurses' to do the 3.3mile midnight walk over the Humber Bridge to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer.

So, thank you ladies. Good Job!

Martin Jackson Concert

WOW!

At his Concert on the 26th September at Skeffling Village Hall Martin proved he's not just a magnificent singer, he's an all round entertainer. He can crack jokes in the middle of songs without missing a beat, and when he decided to help Dot with the raffle she went all of a dither!

Thank you , Martin, for a terrific night.

If you want to see him again, he's on at Hull City Hall on Monday, 19th October. It's the Autumn Spectacular 2009 in aid of THE ECHOES FOUNDATION and THE BRITISH HEART FOUNDATION. It starts at 7.30pm. Tickets £12, concessions £10. Box Office: 01482 226655

This time Martin will be appearing with Ti Amero, so it'll give his fans a chance to see yet another side of his talent.

Marie Curie Cancer Walk

Saturday, 26th September was a very busy day for Julie Newsam of Skeffling.

As well as cooking some of the low calorie puddings for the Martin Jackson Concert that night, she helped prepare Skeffling Village Hall for the social evening, then took entrance money and started selling raffle tickets!

You'd have thought by then she'd be ready for a long sit down with a glass or three of wine to enjoy listening to Martin Jackson.

Not on your life!

At 10.30pm Julie, daughter Vicky, and a lot of friends left the Village Hall to take part in the Marie Curie Cancer walk over the Humber Bridge which began at midnight!

Dressed as Doctors and Nurses (we won't go into that) they left the Village Hall to resounding applause and set off for Hull.

The Humber Bridge is 3.3 miles long, and when they got to the other side they had to walk all the way back again!

I was assured, VERY firmly, by one of the ladies, that they were doing the walk SOBER!

Congratulations, ladies, you did a wonderful job for a very worthwhile charity. Once all the sponsorship money is in, I'll let you know how much they raised.

A full update will be in the October issue of Skeffling News.

71 Bus Route

It was two months ago that I started writing to people about the appalling state of the buses on the 71 bus route to Withernsea.

As well as posting a blog, I wrote an item for Skeffling News, and letters to the Holderness Gazette and Hull Daily Mail. From all of this I rather optimistically thought Peter Shippe of EYMS would have responded to the complaints.

But of course he didn't. He's a busy man. He doesn't have to travel on the 71 bus to Withernsea. Indeed, if he ever did venture this far out of Hull he'd do it in the luxury of a safe, warm car!

Us passengers, on the other hand, look like facing yet another winter in a rickety old drafty rattle-trap of a bus which seems to be in the garage for repairs at least once a week!

In pure frustration I have, again, sent a letter to the Gazette in the hope that Mr. Shippe will dig deep into his conscience and at least reply this time.

Better still, I'd like Mr. Shippe to leave the comfort of his office and spend a few hours on the 71 bus and talk to the passengers. It's a faint hope, but I think it's about time he saw for himself the low standard of vehicle he's allowing to go on the road. It doesn't even have safety belts! So much for passenger care.

In the column just left of this Post you'll find a poll. Please use it to register your feelings on our bus route.

The poll will run for a month, and the results WILL be sent to Peter Shippe.

It'll be interesting to see how long he can go on ignoring us!

I Was Frisked!

I've been to a lot of airports in my life, including several in America, and through all the various security procedures in operation, I have never been frisked!

Then I went to Leeds/Bradford...

There was no problem till I walked through the metal detector and it 'pinged'.

Like phantoms in the night I was suddenly encircled by three security guards, two male and one female. One of the male guards demanded my shoes then stood with the other one, about two feet away from me and watched while the female guard frisked me!

"Hold your arms out," she said crisply with a suspicious gleam in her eye as she began the procedure.

I'm glad she was wearing gloves! And I won't go into the embarrassment I felt at this public body search!

While I was suffering in silence through this 'frisking' procedure my 'friends' were hiding round the corner laughing their socks off!

When the female security person had finally finished frisking my body she tapped my watch, which had a metal strap, signifying to her male colleagues that their fun was over where I was concerned. Miraculously they disappeard as silently as they'd appeared. Not so much as a by your leave, or, you can go now!

I just hope that little escapade livened up their day - it didn't do much for mine. And that was only the START of the holiday!