I am still not feeling fully back to normal following my stomach bug. I think this really did hit me. My immune system must be relatively poor. On top of the stroke after-effects I think I really suffered.
Today, my wife has her U3A course in Cambridge so I have had a fairly quiet morning so far. I shall prepare lunch later and there are a few household jobs to do, but I think one has to "listen to one's body". At the moment it is telling me to go easy and don't do too much. I expect I shall soon be back to my new "old self".
Monday 19 October 2015
Sunday 18 October 2015
Apathy
I get appalled by the level of apathy in some people.
As many of you know, I was brought up as a child in Salcombe, Devon. Nowadays Salcombe is the most expensive seaside place in the whole country. The majority of homes are "second homes" and empty for much of the year. Locals struggle to afford places to live.
And yet....
When planning applications come up it is very unusual for locals to object. I write to the planning people but it seems I am a lone voice. Actually I don't know why I bother. If the locals are not prepared to use their democratic voice and if they don't care why should I? It seems apathy will result in Salcombe becoming a ghost town. Soon they will wake up to no bank, no post office, a very poor bus service and all tradesmen living elsewhere. I can see the writing on the wall, but it seems the locals do not care.
As many of you know, I was brought up as a child in Salcombe, Devon. Nowadays Salcombe is the most expensive seaside place in the whole country. The majority of homes are "second homes" and empty for much of the year. Locals struggle to afford places to live.
And yet....
When planning applications come up it is very unusual for locals to object. I write to the planning people but it seems I am a lone voice. Actually I don't know why I bother. If the locals are not prepared to use their democratic voice and if they don't care why should I? It seems apathy will result in Salcombe becoming a ghost town. Soon they will wake up to no bank, no post office, a very poor bus service and all tradesmen living elsewhere. I can see the writing on the wall, but it seems the locals do not care.
Saturday 17 October 2015
Autumn in the garden
 |
| The back garden in autumn |
Electric Cars
Electric cars have been on sale for years but today I saw my first
electric car in use. This was a Nissan Leaf. To me the electric car is not
the best solution. The range, even with new batteries, is quite low.
Battery technology is still poor and huge batteries are needed to get
quite modest ranges.
Although politically a "good idea", I feel we will see better solutions. Maybe this will be hydrogen fuel cells or power buried in the roads and paid for by the actual amount used? The latter would reduce the weight of batteries. Even with large subsidies, electric cars are expensive. We definitely need a clean, efficient alternative to petrol and diesel cars but I am not convinced by today's electric cars.
I watch the next few years with interest and wonder what motorists will be driving in 20-30 years' time.
Although politically a "good idea", I feel we will see better solutions. Maybe this will be hydrogen fuel cells or power buried in the roads and paid for by the actual amount used? The latter would reduce the weight of batteries. Even with large subsidies, electric cars are expensive. We definitely need a clean, efficient alternative to petrol and diesel cars but I am not convinced by today's electric cars.
I watch the next few years with interest and wonder what motorists will be driving in 20-30 years' time.
Friday 16 October 2015
Old shortwave interval signals
See http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15047843/SWintervalsigs.mp3
As a child, I enjoyed making simple shortwave receivers and listening to broadcast stations from around the world. These were the days long before the internet and emails. Hearing stations from across the planet was magical. Most broadcasters used interval signals to say who they were. These are some from that time. Nostalgia!
Hearing some of these sends a tingle down my spine.
As a child, I enjoyed making simple shortwave receivers and listening to broadcast stations from around the world. These were the days long before the internet and emails. Hearing stations from across the planet was magical. Most broadcasters used interval signals to say who they were. These are some from that time. Nostalgia!
Hearing some of these sends a tingle down my spine.
Tuesday 13 October 2015
FTSE 100 share index
The FTSE 100 share index fell earlier, but seems to be staging a
recovery. It may even end the day slightly up. There is still over an
hour of trading left and a few shocks could change that! At the moment (1634 BST) it is down about 0.3%.
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business/markets/europe/lse_ukx .
See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business/markets/europe/lse_ukx .
Monday 12 October 2015
Out the other side?
Last week, I had a nasty stomach bug. On top of my stroke after-effects, this really knocked me for six. Although the stomach troubles ended last week, I am still feeling "low" (tired, emotional and generally unwell) as a result of it. At long last, I feel that it is drawing to an end and I am returning to my new "old self". In the past this might have been a 48 hour bug, but in my present state I guess it takes much longer. I've been lucky in that this is the first time since my stroke 2 years ago that I have been "ill". In many ways, I have been lucky. I still feel giddy when walking and drinks are still not right, but (when I don't have a stomach bug) I feel less tired than I did.
I just want my usual speaking voice back please!
I just want my usual speaking voice back please!
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