Walking high

In September my cousin and I walked to Culmstock Beacon in Somerset where heather, gorse, horses and views were splendid.

Electing to Vote

I admit that perhaps my thoughts, feelings, knowledge or lack of it, combined with not fully reading, or fully understanding  the media, has led to a situation where I cannot vote today in UK.  Even though I am not politically-minded I am appalled by the difficulties and apparent unfairness that exists within the UK electoral system. As for attempting to complain then that is another story!  HOWEVER, in my belief, it is not totally my fault!
I registered online within the deadline on 21 April 2015 at apx 17h30.
It annoyed me that I was required to put my last UK address where I was last on a UK electoral roll ten years ago.   As a result of ... not understanding at the time what the potential implications might be... I received three emails.. one was automated. The next was at 20h.. maybe automated: 

Please find attached confirmation of your recent application to register as an overseas elector. If you have not already put in place an absent vote arrangement please read the following:
-          If you are living overseas and you are therefore unable to attend at a polling station in the ******* area, you will need to put in place an absent vote arrangement. (If you have recently sent in a form for an arrangement and have had confirmation that this has been processed, please ignore this email)
-          At this late stage, the absent vote arrangement is as follows: 
o   Vote by proxy – the deadline to submit an application form to vote by proxy is at 5pm on Tuesday, 28^th April. Applications are available from the link below. The form must be printed so that it can be signed by hand, but can then be returned electronically by email. Your appointed proxy would need to be able to attend at your usual polling station for the address you are registered in connection within *******. Once appointed, you can advise them of how you wish to cast your vote and they will attend and be issued with your ballot papers on your behalf.
-          Proxy application form: I have removed the link.

I replied that I knew no one in that area and therefore it seems that although I was within the application time-frame I cannot be allowed to vote!

Then at 21h30 I received another email which was from a person or automated:

 Although you were within the deadline to register which was at midnight, leaving your registration until the evening of the final day meant that it would not be data-checked and processed by our team until the following day. This is not a problem with regards to processing your registration, as the original application was submitted before the deadline and so could still be processed the following day after the data-check, but as the postal vote deadline was at 5pm today and you had asked for a form to be sent to you by post, there was then no time for this to be done. Had your application been submitted prior to the evening of the final day then we could have posted the application form to you.

At this late stage, the only available absent vote arrangement is a proxy arrangement. This is where you appoint someone to go along to the polling station on your behalf. It would need to be someone who could attend at the polling station in ******* on your behalf, they do not have to live in ******* themselves but they would need to be able to get to the polling station here on 7^th May. If you know of anyone who would be willing to travel to ******* to cast your vote for you then they can be appointed by you using the attached form. Were you to have applied earlier, you could have put in place in a proxy arrangement for someone who lived further afield and then they could have subsequently applied for a ‘postal proxy’ arrangement where your ballot paper was sent to them by post, but as the deadline for this was also today and as you had not applied or put in place the proxy arrangement, there was no opportunity for anything like this to be put in place.

I am very sorry that the options are now so limited; unfortunately the election deadlines are fixed in Law and once they pass we are unable to do anything other than offer you the available alternatives.

I was pretty miffed!!!   I found it too difficult to absorb whilst I was traveling and trying to read it all on the ipad presents me with challenges especially when I want to keep away from internet!

Since then I have spoken to the same person at the District Council on two occasions and even attempted to speak to someone at the Electoral Commission but it is my belief that he hung up on me when I said I wished to make a complaint.  He said I had to complain to the Returning Officer at ******* but she had said I needed to complain to the Electoral Commission. He obviously did not like me saying that!!!

I am not quite sure of the facts or if I have the truth, but I read a headline in a newspaper for expats that said Ballot papers for UK expats in France have been delayed...  .... .....  I must find out more!

hmmmm me thinks they don't want our votes...  

The country is going to the dogs ... The  people who wish to be chosen to run the Government of England seem to act like fighting cats and dogs...  who wants to hear all that... and look at the expense wasted which could have gone to a charitable cause.   (I know there is currently a French political story of hostility in the Headlines.)   Why can't they just get on and listen to the people... and accommodate all peoples!!!!!!! Then negotiate for the average / common good? Some may say this is the purpose of voting... but it isn't fair according to seats or votes!!!
And another thing....
Why is there so much private tutoring existing at huge costs (with stupid people to pay such astronomical fees) and more Free schools planned with unqualified teachers when there wasn't much wrong with the educational system before the National Curriculum and that dread OFF word?
I have a BAD EXPERIENCE OF a FREE SCHOOL who said for two terms that my granddaughter had S.E.N. as she was unable to read!!! Her maths is even better than her reading ... aged 7! Then within one month of a new school her reading was assessed at above average.   Ok we know that her writing and verbal expression is still below level but she is very creative.  She is in a class of 30 plus with a huge range of abilities, cultures, some with disabilities but all being given attention, care and love. No stigma to class or culture there, as there was in the Free School with its untrue accusations about me and my daughter and grand child and other parents too... A NIGHTMARE!   That complaint still is being thought about! I backed off at the time as my daughter was trying to get out of the school.
Back to the UK and Elections!
Why can't Health, Hygiene and Medical Treatment of injured and unwell people be done in an effective manner with everyone following Florence Nightingale!?  I am aware it is more complex than this!
Why are there unacceptable waits for an ambulance - a family member with a broken pelvis waited overly long on a Bank Holiday? 
Am I being too simplistic?  Let's keep it simple. 
Let's make VOTING fair for freedom, equality, humanity and the good of the common family of Hu-MAN beings... for sisterhood and brotherhood. 
Why can't they start to work with each other instead of sniping all the time!
I have been saved from making a choice and I know which colour I was about to vote for even though it may not do much good!
BUT  I am still like a dog with a bone... moaning that I have not been able to vote.
Why in the 21st century can we not be able to vote using the internet, smartphone or whatever? 
My RANT is feeling better!!!
I don't expect anyone to answer my questions...I am of simple intelligence and do not understand politics, economics, social and global issues! 

An Unexpected Chance Encounter

happened at Southwold, East Anglia,  my ancestral town...a place where my soul is much at rest and 'at home'.  I offered to take a friend and her friend, as her car was only a two seater, and my plan was to abandon them and go for a stomp.  It didn't happen!!  We shared croissants and coffee in The Crown, then strolled the promenade where I was stopped by someone calling my name enthusiastically.  Although she wore dark sunglasses her voice was not to be mistaken.   OMG a former colleague whom I have not seen for eleven years.  However, she and her husband were chatty and friendly, without enmity and it appears they knew not what had happened to me or the treatment I had received.  After about half an hour another colleague passed us by and I called out her name!  Both were with their husbands, both meet regularly and are good friends.  How peculiar!  More gossip and information.  More knowledge at that school where I worked for 23 years. More about those who since my demise have also suffered mentally, emotionally, were gagged as I had been, and generally had a worse than poor experience in education. I jovially said 'all we need is for another teacher to arrive' but was told that she rarely goes out and will not speak about the school as she is dreadfully hurt!  Although I was nervous, I managed to stop tears by laughing. I was astounded by the chance encounter.  Maybe it was necessary for the healing!  I  feel empowered to address the issues of the way that I was treated, with the County, not completely by the County but one woman in particular,  but have other things to do. I was grateful for my early retirement and freedom from a very sickly school. It destroyed me, but like the sun I am rising!

The Gunton Arms

I thought my lunch at The Gunton Arms was over priced, priced for the hooray Henrys. £16** for the main course.
(Postscript 1**: see below as I now think this is good value: I didn't wish to alter my  first opinion but am always ready to be corrected.)
It was only roast beef even if it was an Aberdeen Angus in it's lifetime.  Even though it had been cooked there in the hearth!  However, it was delicious and the veg were exquisite! Watch out though, for afterwards I discovered that the potatoes had been cooked in Goose Fat and that does my intestines no good whatsoever!  Fortunately, although I felt terrible four hours later, the maladie passed!  But of course, to eat at an establishment like that one is to enjoy the ambience which was superbly excellent so gold star for the sympathetic renovation.  Loved it! 
Therefore, on reflection, it has been wrong of me to carp on about the price. Read to the end of this posting before I am judged!!!
The lesson for me is that I may form an opinion which is not necessarily a judgement and be open to reviewing it later as the thoughts arrive in the mind.
Pity the wind was inclement and it seemed wandering around the park was prohibited. Nice to see the deer in the park and not on the plate!
I rather like my "Still Life of Cooked Carrots" amongst the Damien Hurst, Tracey Emin and other artists.   I love the play of light and tone which reminds me, maybe, of a Rembrandt?
I also had a marvellous dessert of rhubarb and custard, a bottle of Pinot Grigio and coffee.. so it wasn't as if I was watching the pennies.
The moment for me was to be taken there by a very dear friend with the pleasure of her company.

(Postscript 2 ** However, walking into town, a new "eating place" has opened and by the look of the menu I would not call it a 'restaurant' .. it also has the name of what I thought the bar sur la place was called, so at this moment in time I do not know if it is the same 'entreprise'. However, a quick scan of  the menu reveals a plate of Andouillette and salad and chips at 16e and a plate of kids food 9e ....so I have now redefined my above comment for the pricing of Roast Beef in England... I have been quite out of touch with prices and flinch when my pension can only go so far... eating out CAN be  a huge heaven or hell... and when I have travelled anywhere, sometimes, there have sure been some hellish meals!! One of the worst was an omelette in Portugal!)
So let's go to The Gunton Arms again and again!

A Walberswick lunch

My friends took me to The Bell Inn. I thanked them for their support and hospitality. I had Smoked Haddock in a cheesy sauce but the last time I had this, which was several years ago, it arrived with thick slabs of dark brown granary bread which was much healthier than the appalling toast on this occasion! The fishy choice seemed less and a deception to the eye in the shallow dish! Maybe because this was a starter and last time it was just an option from the specials board! Still it was nice and so un-French!

 The ladies had interesting decor...

 ... the huts and the sea remained as Walberswickian as ever...but I still wasn't getting a robust walk!

Briefly in The West Country

In addition to Dorset where another cousin was not at home (this is their porch)

I stopped to have a fine lunch of pigeon breasts on what seemed to be half a muffin soaked in juices, a glass of Pinot Grigio, a glass of Bumbleberry juice and a glass of water.  I was driving and it was hot. I returned to my cousin's house but she was still not there. No, I hadn't planned to disturb her from 'much to do' on my account. They have sold their house. It was a risk I took and the journey was not out of my way 'en route' to my next staying place, before I trundled across Bulbarrow Hill. I love it up there!
Amazing countryside once one gets off the red routes! Oooooooh and the views.... I just wanted to pause, but it was single lane and as I had caught up with a tractor trailer, one just could not stop! In addition to Somerset, Devon and Dorset,  I'd journeyed across England from East to West, visiting my mother and brother on the way. It was a great drive on motorways past Coventry and Worcester, past the Malverns and down to Taunton.  Took me three and a half hours and then an hour to find a hotel with a vacancy! I would like to explore that country north of Bristol and south west of Birmingham and maybe even into Wales.  I would like to appreciate and explore more of the British Isles.

Branscombe

My dearest cousin took us to Branscombe in West Devon.
Like fronds of fern I felt unfurled as I imbibed a glass of crisp Chardonnay in the inn, whilst warm sunshine beat the keen breeze.

We wandered past creamy-cup-yellow primroses not yet paling into insignificance.
The West Country is a renowned region for primroses of which there are two varieties.

We looked in awe at rock formation on a Jurassic coastline constantly under erosion. No time to climb the steep hill, as I had done before. I remember when I had to be pushed on the base of my spine... but now I could do it solo, I know!

We sat enjoying the sea incoming, which dared our toes to keep us seated as it beat at pebbles, as we watched it ricochet along a beachline, spring tide breaking stone upon stone.

To the Dorset Sea

We drove in a very nice 'my colour electric blue' Lotus Elan (1991 I think!.. well it was J reg) without great suspension, but suspended I was.  It could do a ton whilst I kept extremely relaxed with regular breathing, heart not quite in my mouth!  I even had a test drive! Safe! Told it was 'school rules' and if I crashed it, I would have to pay. Fair do's. 

After a walk through sheep downs showing the vestiges of Roman vineyards (!!! yes, in England!!!)  we came upon Dancing Ledge.  The historical and geographical information on my return with the assistance of 'the fount of all knowledge' is fascinating!In the old quarry, evidently one of the Dr Who films was taken.  The notice on other grilled and barred entrances said that Greater Horseshoe Bats were in the caves. It was a fascinating place to be with what appeared to be its own micro-climate. I would love to return and do the coastal walk! Such a beautiful experience assisted by a half pint and a Pinot Noir in an English inn!

Captured with my zoom...Maybe a Meadow Pipit?

Dancing Ledge, Dorset

A Native Bluebell Wood

This was a first for me and oh, oh, oh so magical. We were trespassing (perhaps) in an ancient Dorset pheasant shooting woodland but who could resist treading amongst native bluebells, celandines, wood anemones with their six or seven petals, amongst gnarled and twisted trees dead or in leaf, amongst sunlight streaming between shadows on probably the warmest UK April day! Scents crushed underfoot arise with a  hint of wild garlic mixed with a luscious aroma of canola / oil seed rape from the surrounding fields.  Transported, transfixed heavenwards,  I wished to lay me down with bluebells 'round my hair listening to birdsong in woodland.  A long strip of ancient land left alongside a lane was wide enough to feel concealed within that habitat.  Oh to be lost in a bluebell wood whilst they are in bloom.

bluebells in a blur