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DAD IN 2015
Find more photography from me in my Photo Index.
Saturday 17 October 2015
Turkey: Dim Cave, Alanya,
Images from Dim Cave, Alanya, Turkey. September 2015.
Find more photography from me in my Photo Index.
Find more photography from me in my Photo Index.
Monday 12 October 2015
Public, Councillors, and Developers: Think! Before You Plant!
Only this last week I was contacted by a householder upset at the lack of light to their home because years ago a tree was planted too close to a home. This tree will be dealt with eventually by CBC, but at the moment not during the next 12 months, according to an update to me from the relevant CBC office.
The public, councillors, and developers clearly need to be educated about the effects of trees when planted near homes.
Friday 11 September 2015
Turkey: Mahmutlar Attacks On Kurdish Businesses - 8 Sept 2015
While the world watched the progress of refugees across Europe, at my resort in Mahmutlar, Alanya, was subjected to terrorist attacks on Kurdish businesses, several being burnt out last week, or otherwise ransacked and trashed. Notes from my diaries.
8 September 2015
Location: Mahmutlar, Alanya, Turkey Map
3am this morning I heard gunshots in the street. Quietly at first, and then, closer and closer, louder and louder followed by the sound of car horns and the screech of tyres. I understand they are protesting about Turkey's involvement in Syria and the loss of life on the Turkish side. Some young Turkish soldiers were killed in northeastern Turkey the other day (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34183797) , by terrorists, they say, and blame Kurdish businesses for supporting those terrorists. I don't know the truth of that, but my inclination is to believe only that these business retail people were doing only what any other business retail people do, and that is to struggle to make a not-easy living.
https://youtu.be/kbjaXWLFWTA this video by Alanya Tv, caption reads translated from the Russian, , "Published on 8 Sep 2015
Some of emissions in Mahmoud's neighbourhood was burned by an angry crowd and the Duo." :
8 September late evening.
About 10 mins ago a march of people waving Turkish flags, cars flashing indicators, and tooting horns just went past the apartment. 21:44 local time. They were making a lot of noise peeping horns, shouting slogans, and heading off in direction of centre of Mahmutlar.
9th September
This video below has the caption, "Published on 9 Sep 2015
9th September at 2am . In a sign of the eviction of Kurds from Turkey. From Alanya to Mahmutlar all facilities owned by the Kurds were ..." , appears to have been filmed sometime after the motorcade, and the marchers that preceded the motorcade, went passed our apartment:
Walking about the area later in the day I saw these sights:
Jasmin's Garden restaurant burnt out here in Mahmutlar, near Alanya. Across the road from that an electrical shop has been smashed up.
Walked further down to Barbarossa Street, and to the left, a shop and restaurant both destroyed by fire, by the side of "Dostlar" restaurant.
Over the road, a clothing shop and general goods store were trashed, later seen advertised for sale. Moving down Barbarossa towards the central gardens, evidence of intermittent shops and restaurants smashed up or that had been put on fire. JJs popular restaurant was OK, but the clothing shop opposite, 'Melisa Bazaar' stock was destroyed. Brothers restaurant was OK, but a general knick-knack and gift shop next door attacked and a lot of stock was damaged.
It was suggested to me that about 10 restaurants and stores in Alanya and the same number in Mahmutlar - all Kurdish-run businesses, were attacked last night, in retaliation for the killing of several young Turkish army/policemen near the Azerbaijan border.
10th Sept
A dozen or so vehicles went past the flat about 11:30pm last night in Kargicac direction, beeping horns etc. Later, while I slept, at about 1:30 this morning some 50 vehicles accumulated between the school road and the road by the former Jasmin Garden Restaurant. All flashing lights and beeping horns., before they moved off towards Mahmutlar's centre. Dad said he watched it all.
Cycled further downtown this morning. A furniture store (image below from video) and a few smaller shops I hadn't seen before, had been trashed/ destroyed, presumably the other night. Some signs of clear-up operations. Almost certainly all Kurdish businesses.
Caption reads, translated, "Published on 10 Sep 2015
Footnotes:
What newcomers will see will be intermittent damaged businesses. Maybe they will wonder what happened there. Maybe they will just blink and just pass by enjoying the sunshine. A few will start searching for more information and find other videos on YouTube of troubles in this region for many months previous.
8 September 2015
Location: Mahmutlar, Alanya, Turkey Map
3am this morning I heard gunshots in the street. Quietly at first, and then, closer and closer, louder and louder followed by the sound of car horns and the screech of tyres. I understand they are protesting about Turkey's involvement in Syria and the loss of life on the Turkish side. Some young Turkish soldiers were killed in northeastern Turkey the other day (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34183797) , by terrorists, they say, and blame Kurdish businesses for supporting those terrorists. I don't know the truth of that, but my inclination is to believe only that these business retail people were doing only what any other business retail people do, and that is to struggle to make a not-easy living.
https://youtu.be/kbjaXWLFWTA this video by Alanya Tv, caption reads translated from the Russian, , "Published on 8 Sep 2015
Some of emissions in Mahmoud's neighbourhood was burned by an angry crowd and the Duo." :
8 September late evening.
About 10 mins ago a march of people waving Turkish flags, cars flashing indicators, and tooting horns just went past the apartment. 21:44 local time. They were making a lot of noise peeping horns, shouting slogans, and heading off in direction of centre of Mahmutlar.
9th September
This video below has the caption, "Published on 9 Sep 2015
9th September at 2am . In a sign of the eviction of Kurds from Turkey. From Alanya to Mahmutlar all facilities owned by the Kurds were ..." , appears to have been filmed sometime after the motorcade, and the marchers that preceded the motorcade, went passed our apartment:
Walking about the area later in the day I saw these sights:
Walked further down to Barbarossa Street, and to the left, a shop and restaurant both destroyed by fire, by the side of "Dostlar" restaurant.
Over the road, a clothing shop and general goods store were trashed, later seen advertised for sale. Moving down Barbarossa towards the central gardens, evidence of intermittent shops and restaurants smashed up or that had been put on fire. JJs popular restaurant was OK, but the clothing shop opposite, 'Melisa Bazaar' stock was destroyed. Brothers restaurant was OK, but a general knick-knack and gift shop next door attacked and a lot of stock was damaged.
It was suggested to me that about 10 restaurants and stores in Alanya and the same number in Mahmutlar - all Kurdish-run businesses, were attacked last night, in retaliation for the killing of several young Turkish army/policemen near the Azerbaijan border.
 |
| Windows smashed in. This is off one of the roads down from Ataturk Cad. Slogan translated reads: "The brotherhood stubborn. Stubborn to Peace" Nearby, in Baris Cad, a couple more shops smashed up (unphotographed). |
10th Sept
A dozen or so vehicles went past the flat about 11:30pm last night in Kargicac direction, beeping horns etc. Later, while I slept, at about 1:30 this morning some 50 vehicles accumulated between the school road and the road by the former Jasmin Garden Restaurant. All flashing lights and beeping horns., before they moved off towards Mahmutlar's centre. Dad said he watched it all.
Cycled further downtown this morning. A furniture store (image below from video) and a few smaller shops I hadn't seen before, had been trashed/ destroyed, presumably the other night. Some signs of clear-up operations. Almost certainly all Kurdish businesses.
Caption reads, translated, "Published on 10 Sep 2015
Morning, September 10, specifically prokatilispo Mahmutlars and made a video. It's not so bad, as many wrote."
Footnotes:
What newcomers will see will be intermittent damaged businesses. Maybe they will wonder what happened there. Maybe they will just blink and just pass by enjoying the sunshine. A few will start searching for more information and find other videos on YouTube of troubles in this region for many months previous.
Saturday 15 August 2015
Dunstable: 83 Year Old Lady Fined For Having Her Dog in A Playground
This story emerged on Friday this week. It concerns a lady of 83 walking her dog around a park, getting short of breath and needing to sit down for a rest. A dog warden, employed by, and enforcing rules laid down by Central Bedfordshire Council, saw her, and apparently told her she could sit there for 5 minutes but nevertheless slapped her with a £50 fine, and if not paid in so many days time, the fine escalates to £80.
The park in question is in French's Avenue, Dunstable. It's a playing field with one goalpost strategically set so that 2 kick-arounds can go either side simultaneously. A cinder track goes around the grass, and 5 adult play features are scattered around it to encourage people to exercise. In one corner of the playing field is a children's play area that has railing all around it. The playing field has no seats in it, although there is a backless bench and a bench with a back inside the children's play area.
Cllr Budge Wells was asked to speak on behalf of the Council on the JVS show.
Well, clearly the dog should have been tied up on the railings OUTSIDE the play area before the lady went to sit down INSIDE the play area. But at some times one's health is the most pressing need. And the need to rest was clearly uppermost in her mind. The dog warden ought to have had more consideration for the lady's welfare. She's hardly going to be an out-and -out trouble maker at her age, that needs to be told to toe the line. The correct approach should have been for the dog warden to take the dog out, and tie it up outside while the lady rested. And then remind her of the signs when she left.
1. This fine needs to be cancelled. Here's the petition: https://www.change.org/p/central-bedfordshire-council-central-bedfordshire-council-we-demand-you-cancel-the-fine-issued-to-gwendoline-goring
2. People need to write to Dunstable Town Council and request that a seat or seats are placed around the cinder track. Judging by the amount of new housing in the immediate area, there should be a little bit of S106 money in a pot somewhere. Here's the email address: info@dunstable.gov.uk
3. For the stress the lady has been put through, she should be treated to a dinner out, or at least a bunch of flowers.
17/8/2015 UPDATE: FINE CANCELLED: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02ygjm6 and skip to 2:30
18/8/2015 UPDATE: I have received an email from Dunstable Town Council that states, "Alan,
Thank you for your email to David Ashlee ... I can confirm that the Town Council will be placing benches in the Frenchs Avenue Public Open Space as part of a wider initiative to renew and replace park furniture across a number of sites in the coming months." Grounds and Environmental Services, Dunstable Town Council
The park in question is in French's Avenue, Dunstable. It's a playing field with one goalpost strategically set so that 2 kick-arounds can go either side simultaneously. A cinder track goes around the grass, and 5 adult play features are scattered around it to encourage people to exercise. In one corner of the playing field is a children's play area that has railing all around it. The playing field has no seats in it, although there is a backless bench and a bench with a back inside the children's play area.
Cllr Budge Wells was asked to speak on behalf of the Council on the JVS show.
Well, clearly the dog should have been tied up on the railings OUTSIDE the play area before the lady went to sit down INSIDE the play area. But at some times one's health is the most pressing need. And the need to rest was clearly uppermost in her mind. The dog warden ought to have had more consideration for the lady's welfare. She's hardly going to be an out-and -out trouble maker at her age, that needs to be told to toe the line. The correct approach should have been for the dog warden to take the dog out, and tie it up outside while the lady rested. And then remind her of the signs when she left.
1. This fine needs to be cancelled. Here's the petition: https://www.change.org/p/central-bedfordshire-council-central-bedfordshire-council-we-demand-you-cancel-the-fine-issued-to-gwendoline-goring
2. People need to write to Dunstable Town Council and request that a seat or seats are placed around the cinder track. Judging by the amount of new housing in the immediate area, there should be a little bit of S106 money in a pot somewhere. Here's the email address: info
3. For the stress the lady has been put through, she should be treated to a dinner out, or at least a bunch of flowers.
17/8/2015 UPDATE: FINE CANCELLED: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02ygjm6 and skip to 2:30
18/8/2015 UPDATE: I have received an email from Dunstable Town Council that states, "Alan,
Thank you for your email to David Ashlee ... I can confirm that the Town Council will be placing benches in the Frenchs Avenue Public Open Space as part of a wider initiative to renew and replace park furniture across a number of sites in the coming months." Grounds and Environmental Services, Dunstable Town Council
Thursday 13 August 2015
Those nuisance Calls
ME: I had a call from a long-distance-sounding person this morning (you know what I want to say but I don't want to be challenged for racial stereo-typing).
HIM: I am from the Windows servicing company and he was going to sort out my computer problem.
ME: I don't have a computer, I said.
HIM:Oh, I understand, maybe you have an Apple?
ME: Yes, and a banana or two in the fruit dish.
HIM: Well, do not worry, we are the Apple servicing company.
ME:You said you were Windows. Make your mind up.
HIM: We do it all , Sir.
ME: What is the name of your company?
HIM: Yes. We are technical company for Apple.
ME: Oh good, I said, because when I rang you yesterday you said you were coming round to fix it. What time are you coming round?
HIM: That is all right Sir, we are going to fix it now.
ME: I could drive it round to you this morning.
HIM: We are fixing the problem.
ME: Oh. okay. Are you driving round this morning or this afternoon?
HIM: We are fixing it now. But first I need your card details.
ME: What card details?
HIM: In order to get the servicing details You need to pay us ninety pounds.
ME: Are you sure you're aware of my computer problem? It won't switch on.
HIM: Our technical servicing will be coming on now to fix it, but in order to get the service we need the card details.
ME: Ok, hold on. I will have to go and find my cards. Can you call back in ten minutes?
HIM: No problem, we will wait. We will stay on the line.
ME: ... left him waiting awhile.
Gave him false numbers, for the card, several times.
A technical guy came on the phone, asking me what I could see on the screen. It's all black, I said. The problem is I can't switch it on.
HIM: Don't worry, we will fix it now, he said. Can you see the cursor?
ME: No it's black, I can't see a cursor.
Well this nonsense went on awhile.
The first man came on again wanting to recheck my card numbers. More pallava over the fictitious sequence of numbers.
Then he wanted my date of birth.
ME: Why do you need my date of birth?
HIM: Because I am telling you all the servicing details that will be coming to you for the paperwork need to have your name and details on.
ME: I asked him for his date of birth.
HIM: Why do you want that?
ME: Well, it's only fair, if I tell you mine. Do you think you might fancy me or something?
HIM: Can you give me your card numbers again?
ME: Let's talk about the weather. Do you have a nice view, today?
HIM: It's very sunny.
ME: Oh right. Are you in New York?
HIM: It is a very nice day. Do you have your card numbers?
ME: You're just chatting me up. You do fancy me, don't you? Do you have a girlfriend at all or is it just men you like to chat with?
HIM: err...
ME: What time is Delhi time now?
HIM: I will be leaving soon. When we have fixed your computer.
ME: Oh right. Do you think if I put the plug in it might come on?
HIM: I see.
ME: Well, you're leaving soon. Perhaps you could buy an ice cream and have a good old lick?
HIM: I am not wanting a lick, I am wanting your credit card number...
... This could have gone all day, I suppose, but eventually I told him to get a life and hung up.
People who work to expose scammers are called scam baiters. Over 95 per cent of global scam calls originate from India. Specifically they spawn from in and around Kolkata and New Delhi.
Monday 3 August 2015
Bees: Hey! Buzz Off Pesticides Companies! We Need the Bees!
Wow. Bayer, BASF and Syngenta are suing the European Commission to overturn a ban on the pesticides that are killing millions of bees around the world. A huge public push won this landmark ban only months ago -- and we can't sit back and let Big Pesticide overturn it while the bees vanish.
Last summer, 37 million bees were discovered dead on a single Canadian farm. And unless we act now, the bees will keep dying by the millions. We have to show Bayer now that we won't tolerate it putting its profits ahead of our planet's health. If this giant corporation manages to bully Europe into submission, it would spell disaster for the bees.
Please join me in signing the petition to tell Bayer, BASF and Syngenta to drop their bee-killing lawsuits now.
http://action.sumofus.org/a/bayer-bees-lawsuit/13/?sub=mtl
Thank you.
Sunday 2 August 2015
Home Rentals: Local Councils Out-Priced By London Councils
Isn't it ridiculous? Councils in London can afford higher rentals to house their homeless families in Luton, thereby pricing Luton out of the local market, and forcing Luton to send their homeless people further north where it's cheaper for them.
There's a hint there, for Luton people who think they might be homeless soon. Make a good case to the London Councils of why you're actually homeless in London. Then, they might just send you to Luton!
Successive governments should have built more houses.
You don't have to be sleeping rough to be homeless. You are homeless if you don't have any right to stay where you live or if your home is unsuitable for you. Anyone expecting to be made homeless should make arrangements, fast. The best place I know of to start looking for advice is at Shelter.
There's a hint there, for Luton people who think they might be homeless soon. Make a good case to the London Councils of why you're actually homeless in London. Then, they might just send you to Luton!
You don't have to be sleeping rough to be homeless. You are homeless if you don't have any right to stay where you live or if your home is unsuitable for you. Anyone expecting to be made homeless should make arrangements, fast. The best place I know of to start looking for advice is at Shelter.
Friday 31 July 2015
The Allure of Black Squirrels in Houghton Regis: A Rare Sight to Behold
I suppose people who live there are accustomed to black squirrels, but I think this is the first time I've ever seen them. Two were darting about on this tree that is close to a roof in Dell Close, Houghton Regis when I spotted them this afternoon.
Another place to look is 'Rabbit Lane', the cycle/footpath that runs from Cemetery Road to Porz Avenue on the western side of Houghton Hall Park. I've seen one there is November 2016, although it scurried away before I could get my camera ready.
Another place to look is 'Rabbit Lane', the cycle/footpath that runs from Cemetery Road to Porz Avenue on the western side of Houghton Hall Park. I've seen one there is November 2016, although it scurried away before I could get my camera ready.
Monday 27 July 2015
Time to Renew My Royal Mail Opt-Out
Anyone fed up with Royal Mail pushing unaddressed mail through their door can opt-out.
Apparently, my 2 years of opting out have now expired, so that explains why the postie is cramming more crap through my door.
Yes, I know it's a job creation scheme, for the leaflet designers, the printers, the bulk deliverers, the postman, the bin-men, the recycling centre sorting people, and paper-makers, but to be honest, it's mostly absolutely unwanted by anyone in my household, so I prefer to opt-out.
Bear in mind that the Royal Mail don't deliver election material, so you should still get that if you opt-out.
And also bear in mind that Royal Mail reckons that 75% of junk mail doesn't actually come from them. So you might want to invest in a "NO JUNK MAIL" sign for your letterbox, and then jump out on the first people that ignore that sign, to give them a piece of your mind, so that they get the message.
The process involves going to Royal Mail website, writing to an address, waiting while you receive back gumph explaining the process, and then filling out a form, and post it back to them. So much for being simple!
To save a bit of time, you could download the paperwork they sent to me click on the link in that to download the OPT-OUT FORM, fill that in and mail it off.
Once you've opted out, RM should send you a sticker saying OPTED-OUT which you need to put somewhere near your letter box - after all, the poor old postie can't be expected to remember EVERYONE who has opted out.
Tuesday 7 July 2015
Central Bedfordshire Council: Polling day questions finally answered
I posted a series of questions to the Returning officer at Central Beds Council at the beginning of June. Today I got a response. I find the answer to question 1 particularly worrying.
1. During the May elections I was informed that some voters were able to go into a polling station, give their name, and get ballot papers, even though they had no polling card on them, and neither were they asked for any other form of identity. What is the correct procedure for the staff at a polling station to follow in the event that a person does not have a polling card?
RESPONSE: The system currently still works on trust with or without the poll card. The poll clerk should repeat the line entry as it appears in the register and the elector confirms that they are that person.
2. During the count of ballot papers, boxes for Tithe Farm and Parkside were clearly visibly unattended for a long period, and open, at the rear of the tent. Why were they not attended and kept locked at all times?
RESPONSE: I have spoken with the Manager who administered the count within the marquee and he assures me that the ‘open mixing’ boxes were always in view should anybody have attempted to tamper with them.
3. Why were counting staff kept waiting for long periods, apparently waiting to count votes when there were many boxes piled up waiting to be counted?
RESPONSE: Until the supervisor has clearance from the central control that the verification figure or the count figure has been reconciled with the number of ballot papers issued at the polling station then there will always be a small period of time when the counters ‘appear to be doing nothing’. Quite often the central control requests that a recount takes place and therefore that process would be carried out before the next box is issued.
Friday 1 May 2015
Shortcuts
These are some of the permanent shortcut URLs I have set up:
Journey Planner
http://is.gd/houghtonregis
For journeys by train or coach to or from most towns in Great Britain
You can plan journeys from and to a postcode, a postal address, a town or village, a named station or bus stop, or a point of interest.
http://is.gd/houghtonregis
Houghton Regis Places Map
Saturday 21 February 2015
Central Bedfordshire Council: Where to Hold Planning Meetings, And When?
Is it to far to go for local people to attend Development Management Control meetings at Central Bedfordshire Council?
I'm not really sure if that is a genuine concern or just an excuse.
Public transport between Houghton Regis and CBC's offices at Chicksands is not easy, but it is possible. A journey by car is much easier. If people have real concerns they'll do what it takes to get there if they feel it is important to them.
There are usually several applications to be heard from all parts of Central Bedfordshire. Theoretically, it should be possible to have the councillors decide all the applications in towns local to each town affected, but I'm not convinced this would be a practical or a good use of councillors' or officers' time carting all their maps etc around.
It might however, be practical and sensible in certain circumstances to have more meetings at localised centres, such as at Watling House in Dunstable for applications affecting Dunstable, Houghton Regis, Toddington and possibly Leighton Buzzard.
The meetings might be held in the evening to facilitate attendance by people who work during the day, but this could mean they can go on until very late, and if you happen to be a councillor for say, Sandy, that means a long late night journey home. And public transport might be even more of a challenge at that time of day.
The other beef often expressed is that "councillors who don't know an area shouldn't be deciding planning matters that don't affect them".
It should be borne in mind that the councillors on that committee are offered to be shuttled around Central Bedfordshire to visit application sites prior to their meetings, so they often get access to private land that is not always afforded to the general public, so actually, they can be more informed about aspects of the applications than local people. You also need to factor in that they will have built up knowledge of how planning works, what is a planning ground for an objection and what is not.
I would hope that most councillors would want to be seen as consistent in their approach, after all, similar applications requiring decisions may be made in any part of Central Bedfordshire.
Friday 20 February 2015
Building developments around Central Beds versus LBC And A "Duty To Co-operate"
An Inspector has said that he "considers the co-operation between Central Bedfordshire Council and Luton Borough Council in particular has fallen short of the required level."
He is now recommending non-adoption of the Development Strategy Plan for Central Bedfordshire.
Cllr Nigel Young has responded saying, "I cannot and will not accept the Inspector’s conclusions that it is ‘inevitable’ for the area to meet all of Luton’s unmet need. We genuinely feel his findings are at best misguided, if not perverse, and next week I will be seeking the support of the full Council to call for a judicial review of the process."
Well, I think the next CBC Council meeting will call for a judicial review, but it's six of one and half a dozen of the other. LBC have not co-operated with CBC. At the development meeting I attended last week the 2 parcels of land in Houghton Regis off Bedford Rd were for determination as part of the overall scheme for Development. An LBC planning officer attended to verbally object but admitted they had not made written objections during the consultation period and that their councillors had not discussed the applications; it was just their planning officer objecting. As far as their ideas on planning go, he apparently wasn't even clear as to how he was to get back to Luton, as our Houghton Regis Town Clerk ended up offering him a lift back to Clophill so he could catch a bus.
The Inspector's decision will make it harder for local councils to resist other housing schemes that come forward.
By allowing building to go ahead off Bedford Rd on land that actually does include a minimum of some green stretches to broadly fit in with the aspirations of the HRN Framework Plan, CBC planning dept could argue they are doing their best to keep to the plan.
With that plan now being classed as unsound due to insufficient cooperation with neighbouring local authorities, developers could just argue back (with expensive QCs) saying that there should be no hindrance to their building. After all, they've long been saying that the Green Belt will be rolled back to the line of the A5-M1 link and assuming that it does get rolled back, then there would be nothing to stop developers from arguing the case to fill up any remaining plots. CBC would have no plan to fall back on that says "This is how many homes we said we'd build, and we've now reached that limit".
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