Travels at Christmas 2010

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.

January 2009 Homeward day

Thursday morning with seven hours between waking up and leaving Victoria Station to commence the long journey home. I am torn between the options available. I resist the temptation to enjoy the unlimited breakfast knowing I will consume a vast quantity of the English hot cooked bacon eggs, sausages mushrooms, tomatoes plus cereals, fruit juice, croissants, toast bread and coffees. At £7.50 the cost is exceptional because the three sausages and mash hot meal with coffee is the same, and with planning some croissant Danish and fruit could be taken away for the journey.

However with fresh revolve I do not want to be counter productive and eat too much and a large breakfast will just generate more appetite later. So I said no and reminded myself that from now on I would be required to take similar decisions on a daily basis.

Yesterday I was reasonable good only having a small plate of sandwiches plus a coffee at the reception held after the humanist cremation service. It was exceptionally well done and the tragedy provided the opportunity to meet up with members of the extended family including a teenage childhood friend who I had not seen for 55 years. In late afternoon I had the three Suffolk sausages and mash with onion gravy at the O’Grady pub restaurant with still water and ice (free) followed by a coffee, and later still a packet of crisps and a kit kat chocolate bar both of which I should have said no to.

Back in my room I watched the BBC two hour Inauguration programme and the second of the BBC 2 programmes on the British view of the financial crunch. This did not add to my overall knowledge but filled in the details of the development of Hedge fund trading which is primarily calculating marginal gains based on a complex mathematical formula, buy and selling the same share or stock thus eliminating the risk of significant losses and significant gains unless through gearing vast amounts of money are borrowed to multiply the marginal gains, and where when the formula was used to stand the concept on its head and make astronomic gains without understanding that the system could rebound with the consequence of astronomic losses. This result in AIT having to be bailed out with every USA citizen carrying a $500 dollar state debt.

The programme explained how the banks managed to become involved with every loss making aspect of what had promised to make them unlimited riches personally and for all their share holders. The anger is profound, made worse by the understanding that if the system is not to collapse with even worse results it must be fixed by the very people who caused the problem. Father it is difficult to forgive then what they do.

I tried to watch the second part of Trial and Retribution but only managed the first quarter so I changed the batteries in the radio and it works so will see what happens on the coach on the way back. I will continue writing thee notes until 10.30 and then make my way to Victoria station and back to the restaurant centre for a hot cooked lunch, buying sandwiches for long journey back.

On returning home I could not go early to bed and watched the remainder of trial and retribution which was a most unsatisfactory experience although I imagine true to life. A young wealthy girl with a well intentioned but controlling mother has been seduced by a good for nothing play boy who uses the honeymoon as the opportunity to engage in drug trading with funds from his wife. The drugs are smuggled back into the UK and the playboy and his friend decide to try and sell for themselves rather than use existing distributors at the prearranged price. Cornered the girl pretends that they have run out of medication which the playboy needs and calls an ambulance, but this does not stop the organised drug dealers from stopping the ambulance which results in the accidental death of the paramedic and driver and execution of the husband. The friend then accidentally dies with disassociates s they the attempt to covert the drugs which have been hidden i sacking coverage of the imported goods. The girl desperate in grief and fear arranges a meeting with the chief distributor who she successfully run down in her car

The film ends unconvincingly with apparent acceptance that the girl did not know about the drug deal until returning from the Honeymoon and that she in effect caused he death of the husband by withholding the medication in order to save her own skin, and he was already dead when the gunmen executed him so at best the gang master would be charged with conspiracy to cause murder than actual murder. There is a lack of justice about the outcome of all this, including the behaviour of the female detective who endangered the life of a paid informant by ignoring the rules and should have lost her job as a consequence. Wasted time.
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I am filled with resolve again about get fitter and losing weight as well as getting my affairs in such order that should something happen suddenly it will be a simple matter for executors to sort everything out. Easier said than done of course.

The news is that President Obama has spoken to four Middle East leaders which could prove significant as well preparing to sign Executive Orders on the closure of Guantanamo and issued an order about Integrity in government which will ban gifts from lobbyists as well as other measures. My mood rapidly changed form mixed up and uncertain to positive with a manageable agenda.

It was then time to make my way back to the O’Grady pub for a hot lunch but a few yards from the Travel Lodge there was a Greggs bakery and on going to get something for the journey I changed my mind and purchased two small made up baguettes, one with prawns and the other with spiced chicken and two Danish type pastries one with apple and the other cinnamon. A different approach to day was settled, It was time for breakfast and I had a bacon roll and tea at the platform waiting room. I had placed my bags by a vacant seat on one of settees but between getting my order and returning a young woman had come in a taken the seat ignoring the baggage and the other occupant had failed to advise that it was taken, obviously delighted to have a young woman sitting by him instead of an old fat man. Understandable but meant I had to place by breakfast down elsewhere and move my bags and then just as I had done that a train arrived and the young woman departed together with the two others occupying the other settee. So I moved everything over again but it trying to manage bags, roll and tea I spilt the tea all down my shirt. It was hot and wet. I eat the roll more hurriedly than was desirable and then took everything including the half drunk and spilt tea into the gents where I change shirt and returned to finish the tea.

I made my way to the top floor of the shopping centre one side of Victoria station given to a food court. Here at one end is the O’Grady sport pub with on either side restaurants, a Cafe Rouge and a Pizza place and Steak House. Further along there is Burger King and McDonalds, Subway and such like as well as toilets, In addition to the seating specific to a restaurant there was communal seating. I moved into the McDonalds seating area which I knew from previous experience was large and where one could usually find an out of the way table to relax and eat bring in. The area has been made over since my last visit in the latest Mac D livery which included four areas of armchair seating and other areas of double bench leather look alike seating as well as the conventional tables for four or two. I was evidently not the first to have discovered this facility as two businessmen, a younger one leading the other worked out something over a computer. Two others had their computers with them which suggested wireless availability and others looked as if they were relaxing enrooted. Someone did come by to clear and clean tables but there was no pressure although as I left around midday the number of vacant tables had considerably reduced. I read a chunk of the Audacity of Hope and then enjoyed the prawn baguette and Danish. I decided against a drink. It was raining hard on reaching the station so getting to coach station without getting wet posed a problem until I remembered that I could continue the length of station undercover along the first floor shopping centre which was angled tot he street level at the far end. I waited at the entrance until the traffic lights change to cross over the road to the Colonnade and second block of offices and small shops with a covered passage way which took one to the junction across from the entrance to the Coach station. Again I waited under cover and the lights enabled a quick move into the station. I checked the departures board to confirm that the coach for South Shields would depart from one of the bays at the far end of the station. As I travelled along one side it was evident that either the credit crunch was having its effect, or travel on a Thursday in January was limited. There were waiting seats everywhere and this was reflected on the coaches where the half past twelve departures appeared about a third full. I was able to find two seats by the entrance door into the coach parking area, There was just one instead of the two coaches for South Shields and Sunderland. The Newcastle coach had left at 12.30 although we did meet up again at Middlesbrough our first official stop. We were also less than half full. This was an older vehicles and less comfortable than on the outward journey. Instead of coffee I enjoyed a large glass of orange fruit juice when we stopped around 5.30 for 6, having consumed the second baguette. From Sunderland to South Shields I was the only person on the coach. I had not considered it cold in Croydon and central London but at out stop it was colder although I managed several walks around the pleasant walkway by the coach and lorry park as I felt I needed the exercise and some fresh air. It was even more cold at South Shields although not unpleasant.

The house however was distinctly cold as and it got colder as the evening progressed. I unpacked sort of, looked at the post and some of the accumulated emails some 45 items and checked out MySpace. I enjoyed soup and a roll, a banana and some water melon and then a coffee.

At ten I watched the second in the What happened series and this time Mr Peretti was examining the relationship between Dodi Al Fayed and Princess Diana. The programme was quite explicit about the son of the owner of Harrods and the Paris Hotel which his son left with Diana on that fatal night. I was much more impressed with this programme than that dealing with Paul Burrell. To understand Al Fayed and his son one understands the cultural background and the parental expectation and hope and the sons response. Irrespective of how Mr Al Fayed made and used his billionaire status wealth there is no doubt he both worshipped his son and was I believe also disappointed that the son did not share his drive and ambition in business. He became a very rich heir with a monthly cheque not dissimilar form today’s top footballers and film stars.

Shy, wealthy and with good looks Dodi found himself able to date some of the most beautiful and well known women in the world but also appeared unable to sustain a relationship and indeed there was evidence presented that he would date more than one individual at time without the two women being aware, or full aware of the situation. At the root of the tragedy was the wish of both father and son to be accepted within Anglo American society, especially Britain where Mr Al Fayed had bought the most famous store in the British Isles, Harrods. He was also one of the first ‘outsiders’ to acquire a football club and with ambitions of conquering all before him, appointing Kevin Keagan at one time. His mother was also a wealthy woman in her own right, sister of a Turkish billionaire arms dealer. Dodi received an appropriate education for someone with his background and also attended the Sandhurst military academy. He used the family wealth to finance and co-produce several recognised films, including the Oscar award winning Chariots of Fire and Hook. But the impression is that these were no more than divertissements. He appears to have been driven to find ways to please his father while remaining himself and he also is said to have hankered for fame, although I suspect this was only a means to find love for himself rather than his wealth and social position. At the same time there is evidence that he used his wealth to buy his place in society, always being prepared to take up the cheque. The film suggested that he enjoyed Cocaine because it made him feel more of a personality in his own right, but again the suggestion is that he was also a provider socially for friends and acquaintances along with the champagne and the caviar.

The programme suggests that he very serious about a relationship with the model Kelly Fisher with evidence that he had become engaged after a relationship spread over two summers and that she was on one yacht while Dodi was entertaining Diana at the same time on another adjacent. The available evidence is that Mr Al Fayed on meeting the Princess at a Charity event invited her to holiday with her sons which she accepted, and arising from this arranged for her to meet his son. The programme suggests that it was the combination of parental ambition and drive for personal fame which drove the relationship to begin and for Dodi to dump the model.

The sudden dramatic death of his only son was a devastating blow to his father and the programme suggests that the claims of a British Royal inspired assassination and erection of a flamboyant statue of the couple at Harrods together with the claims made at the Inquest have to be viewed a parental scream about what happened. I was left feeling sad about the both of them despite the disgraceful misuse of wealth. It also puzzling that the Princess should take up with such a man given her own commitment to the welfare of others. Perhaps she hoped his wealth could provide her a financial basis independent of the British establishment and to gain objectives. Such a relationship was entirely inappropriate for the mother of a future King, let alone a marriage.

Watching the programme meant I missed the opening half hour of Question Time, something which I have now done and which instead of discussing the inauguration of President Obama concentrated on the revelation that staff at Northern Rock were being paid 10% bonuses because they were repaying the government loan at a faster rate. In order to achieve this the bank has been asking customers to move their mortgages to other lending institutions and foreclosing quicker than other banks. Understandably the general public is horrified about the continuation of a culture which rewards people for doing their job more effectively than before although this only exposes the naivety and stupidity of the general public for not understanding the financial and economic system of the country. No one in government or the three main political parties is saying that we ought to opt out of the capitalist system and become a third world authoritarian communist state, to seriously attempt a social justice democracy. We live in a global competitive at times ruthless capitalist economy dependent on an effective and expanding financial services and where London City and Wall Street are two of the principal centres. You have to pay people the going rate to recruit the best and the more competent and to unpleasant things. Clearly there will be and has to be under a limiting of the bad debts and this means getting back money as one can, limiting and reducing the cost of existing lending and restricting new lending. It is the government‘s job to ameliorate the social consequences of the system putting itself right again. In a Party Political situation it is almost impossible for the government to tell the truth without the opposition being able to exploit coming up go a General Election However the by pretending ignorance or evading real questions as did Carolyn Flint any sympathy for the position of the government not just ebbed but turned away in a torrent, She was hopeless and Gordon needs to find something for her to do out of the media spotlight as quickly as possible.

The Late Night‘s politics show was enjoyable as Diane Abbot could not contain herself nor did Rageh Omar on the world wide impact of President Obama and Kwame Kwei-Armah on the President as a role model. Although all three were euphoric their analysis was will be considered and I heard nothing to challenge or disagree with, Mr Portillo was very cautious which was puzzling and I detect jealousy among certain sections of the White British population. I was not ready for bed and watched the second episode of Trial and retribution. A mistake but in had been a long and full day.