Updates

The Norman King has officially been de-listed.  It  was confirmed on friday the 21st, by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, that the building has lost it's grade II status. The fire had been so intensive, and the collapse inside after the fire, meant that not enough of the original building was left.  The building can now be re-developed or even knocked down.   Sooooooo  Sad.

Disappearing Betty

I now know why my picture disappeared, apparently when you have a blog on google you are also on picassa their photo sharing site.  you   are allowed so many pictures  on there,  before you  start paying similar to Flickr.  The only problem I have is  my photo's are not tagged, so their is just a random punch of pictures, just sitting there.  I will have to pay of course as I want to keep blogging, why don't they just charge for the domain site or the number of pics you put up.  I suppose I could tag some of the pictures, so that if anyone does find them they will know what they are.  It is so time consuming, and most of the pictures are up on Flickr anyway, oh well never mind eh.

And Finally last, but not least.

The wonderful Andy Williams past away on Tuesday, how sad such a fantastic performer, with a great personality, and an even greater voice.  He will be sadly missed and fondly remembered.

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R.I.P Andy

Lost Header

Well those of you who are observant, may have noticed I have lost Betty from the top of my page. When I tried to put her back I was told that I did not have enough memory left on my front page.  Not sure what this meant so went into design and onto page, apparently when you log on the front page comes up and it has  7 posts on it so it suggested I reduced the number of posts to a page, it will load quicker and, I thought oh I should be able to reload my picture, so I reduced it to three, it did load quicker, but I still got the same message when I tried to reload Betty.  So I am afraid I will have to stay Betty-less, until I can think of away round it.  If anyone has already had this problem and knows a way round it then let me know please.  If not I will have to make sure I add pictures to my posts, which I tend to do anyway as it makes it look colourful, and I don't have to ramble on for hours.

Olympics

Well it is all over for another 4 years, I will admit to never watching them before, mostly it is down to the fact of time difference, and I am rarely in when they show the highlights.  However, it was a fantastic show cost us millions, but what the heck, we do know how to throw a party.  It was so exciting to watch Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis and all the team strive to win their medals, especially the paralympics, they get second billing to the able athlete's we are told about their hard work, and I am not denying what they go through is tough, and the sacrifices they and their families have to make, but you have to admire and respect the parlympians, they have to go through the same sacrifices, and more they are often battling against extreme disabilities, the prejudices, of those living in their communities, and for the vast majority, they are coming to terms with being fit able-bodied one day, and then due to horrific accidents, waking up the next day with a terrifying disability.  I am hoping that the 'Weirwolfe' Ellie Simmons et al, coming into our homes each day and showing the strength of human endurance, will finally break down some of the narrow minded thinking that exists, and people will see beyond the disability, and to except people for who they are and not what they look like, for they are all champions.

 

      

The Norman King Dunstable

The  Norman King in Dunstable is an Inn, that dates back in parts to the 11th century.  It is alleged that King Henry 1st had a Palace Lodge built there which was known as Kingsbury Court.  This is where he stayed when going through Dunstable and used as a hunting lodge, until he built the Priory Church on the opposite side of the road, then he stayed with the Prior, but the Lodge was still used by his entourage an the nobility.  There are several old buildings still intact on the Kingsbury site, that where used as farm buildings.  In 1961 The Old Palace Lodge Hotel and The Norman King where opened, having been the farm house and the stable's.  The Norman King was separate to the hotel, being owned by different people, and it was a very popular little pub with the local's, and retained it's thatched roof and old world charm.  In 2011 it had a small fire and closed for refurbishment, It was then sold to the Palace lodge, as extra rooms and also an additional venue.  It had re-opened and on the night of August the 9th 2011 it had 50 guests and employee's staying there, when an arsonist struck and it was burnt down with guests and staff being safely evacuated.  Being a grade 11 listed building, we where ever hopeful that  it would be rebuilt, and that it would re-open it's door in all it's former glory.  The English Heritage have now confirmed that they will be submitting a report to the Department of Culture Media and Sports for review.  They will decide if there is enough of the historic fabric of the building left to deem it a grade 11, or if it has been to badly damaged by the fire.  There are hoping for a decision to be made by the autumn.  If of course it is decided to de-list, then there is no chance of it's survival, and the current owners will be able to knock it down.  Unfortunately no attempt has been made in the past year by the owner or the council to start work on it's refurbishment.  Dunstable has so few historic building's left, that it would be a tragedy for us to lose another, especially one so picturesque. 

Adverts

Are you like me and have certain words or phrases, that you have to say in a particular way, or prefix a word with another.  If I use the name Kimberley I have to say it in a flat northern tone like Victoria Wood's character.  I have my old lady voice for 'Lov-lay' and  'Ghaaastly' and my Hattie Jacques voice to vent my disapproval.  Often if it is raining I will fall into Derek Guyler and say 'I wish I'd brought my brolly'.  it is from a 1960's public information film on pelican crossings. After 30 years and no matter how many times I have explained it to him, Kevin  doesn't remember seeing it.  It was in  two parts one for the pedestrian  a man with his granddaughter, and one as a motorist, a man with his wife. Great adverts now on you tube, Kevin remembers Joe and Petunia, but not the pelican crossing adverts, here  are the links so enjoy.

'Eeh Eck! Don't make them like that anymore'

Charity shops

Isn't it amazing what little bargains you can still find in charity shops.  Normally some of them have e-bay accounts, and savvy manages, who look up what something is worth, what condition it is in before they set a price.  I find it quite amazing really, because what is given is given freely, being a charity they get cheap rent and rates, they should pass on they lucky finds to their customer.  Unfortunately everything is about making as much money as possible, so a lot of charity shops look just like normal  shops with everything itemized together, and some even colour coded, even the prices, are not much cheaper.  However you can still find bargains.  I went into one shop that had all the items nicely displayed, and in the windows items laid out to buy, at the front of the window  was a violin for £24 not bad, but on top of it where a load of little bits and bobs for 50p or so. Surely if you want someone to pay £24 for something it should have pride of place in the window, hanging or free standing, but clear of other items.  The bargains however are still there to be had so have a little roam around town and go and have a rummage, who knows what you will find.

Olympic Fun and Games

Well  the games have started and despite the problems, with the security staff, tickets not being allocated properly and  Lococ playing God, stealing the Olympic ideal and making out it is their's so that they can make more money. The opening ceremony went really well and was very enjoyable to watch.  A pat on the back time, the press and the public loving it, and everyone  in accord.  So this morning we are told that there are to many empty seats,  these are not any seats, these are the front expensive seats that the wealthy and the corporate bunch where supposed to buy. So what shall we do with all these empty seats, get in touch with the people that missed out and offer  it to them? No! How about we open a box office and let people know that tickets will be for sale, we can reduce them a little so that they will sell? No!  Oh I know all those soldiers being drafted in for security, lets tell them to fill the seats, they can sit there in their uniforms, and as they are on duty they cannot refuse? What a good idea, Lococ have done it again brilliant; and who would have thought of that one? not me.  Well they finally decided to sell the tickets on line, and I know a few people who have taken the opportunity to get to tickets, so good look to you if you decide to go.  This will be our best chance of getting all those medals, being at home with a home crowd there is nothing like it for raising moral and boosting confidence.

 Good luck Team GB