Monday April 11, 2005

Where is the indication ?

For the first time since starting these grumpy old man weblogs I am breaking with tradition. I admit that I used to do the bad thing myself. My wife who has a driving license but does not drive told me one day that at roundabouts my indication was missing or I did it far to late to be of any use. After initial denial by myself I realised my wife's observations were true. So of course I know observe others doing what I used to do. I think the main error is that people do not indicate when the are about to leave the roundabout. On busy roundabouts this makes it difficult to decide if its safe to go. As decribed by me before you cannot rely on a cars position on the roundabout to be confident of its intentions. Worse still is where they indicate and leave at different junction.

I am wondering if the government is missing yet another money making oppertunity by having people take a repeat test every ten years or so. It also has a free safety improvement aspect too. At work we are thinking of having some of the lab team become first aiders trained by St. John Ambulance . For this you do have to go back every 'n' years to be retrained after the initial training. Strikes me with a car you can do as much damage as a misinformed first aider. An exam to ensure you at least can show competance on a anniversary basis might not be a bad idea.

Two more Sundials and a grade one listed hospital

Did two four and a bit mile walks this weekend. One we did ten years ago, the second a new one for us. The start of the first had us at Littlewick Green where we passed the cricket pavillion with a pretty sundial on its front. The words on the sundial read:

Tis mine the passing hours to tell

Tis thine to use them ill or well

Very apt. This walk passes three pubs on the busy A4. The first now known as the "Ring of Bells" is an average pub and food place. We crossed the A4 and headed up to Knowl Hill, then came down by the Star workings. A chimney with a white star stands proudly over the site . Despite the works the pathways have been kept open - as they should. We then walked past the "Seven stars" once a nice pub that has gone downhill. We crossed the A4 and walked up past St Peter's church to the Royal Oak that has changed hands and is a much better place for it. I had a nice brie and bacon "Pain champagne" - a sort of french roll. We then returned back to Littlewick Green by way of Lower Lovettes farm.

Sunday we started at Wokingham by the library where outside the "Water Babies" reside. He has a frog in his hand, the girl a starfish. We were soon out of the busy town along a nice straight path going south. Soon we passed the Lucas Hospital a grade one listed building built in 1665.

We were then into a forest managed by the Forestry Commission. Still dominated by firs but new plantings were of a mixture of trees which is better for the visual aspect but more importantly wildlife. We then turned north and passed by a large fruit farm where strawberries, raspberries and blackberries were bursting new growth. Overhead flew a model plane which sounded like a real jet. It was incredibly fast. I wondered how easy it was to land when the fuel ran out. We went past Ludgrove school where both Prince William and Harry were pupils before going onto Eton. We were now on a path called Luckley which has been present for five hundred years. On the right were wire cages with pheasants producing young to be blown out of the sky this autumn. We then returned into the town and passed by a second Sundial, this time one that you stand on and your body casts a shadow with the correct time.

Back home I cleaned the house and car while my wife did some 'home' work and then I made one of my excellent Shepherd's Pies which we had for dinner.