Happy New Year

This is going to be my last blog of 2010, I will be at a party on new years eve, so unable to get to the computer. Iam going to reflect on the year. yes I know I have done it already, but I have had a few days away from work so been able to reflect on things, as well as add to my photography collection, To see those have a look at my photography site, Calumbus's photographic adventures, its mainly pictures of buses and coaches, but it helps to tell a story.



There are lots of people I wish to thank, for many different reasons, The two I want to thank the most are Philippa Robinson and Simon Bramley, I know there have been times this year where you both felt like throttling me, when I have had my mad moments, but you have been there. Ohter people to thank are Faye Kelly, Dom Spencer, Annamarie Cope and countless others for being friends. All you guys in your own ways have helped the in the journey of life, and my life so far has been interesting.

This next bit is the first thing iam going to write for 2011, which is a new start for me, after the tubulent year of 2010, it has been a good year for some people, and a bad one for others. So what delights do we have to look, well not doubt we have more government cuts to look forward to, the fuel prices have are rising, and I can understand why people run their cars on dodgey fuel. VAT goes up pretty soon too, so it looks like being tight for lots of people.

Some people have likened the first few months of the coalition to the early years of Thatcher, the jury is still out on that one. I dont trust the coalition, but as long as they dont wreck my job or the industry i work in, I will be happy.

So at this very early of the year, I am look forward to the coming months with optimism, so here is to 2011. Lets hope it will be a good one

Boxing Day, The actual first part of Christmas is over

So I write this and the intial part of Christmas, IE christmas day and boxing day are over, it is now the few days in between before new year, and I can say good ridence to this year. So what have I got instore for the next few days? i'm not sure, prob just making plans for next year.

So what has been in the news for today, well our wonderful chancellor, the Rt hon, toffee nosed, public school educated tosser who has not lived a day in the real world, George Osbourne, announced that he was cutting funding to a reading programme, which is totally disgusting, although later there was a uturn. Come on George you dormatory knuckle shuffler, we have kids who's reading and literacy are so bad that when they move up to senior school the skills are those of a 5 year old, or is that the long term plan, dumb us all down, so we can all be controlled. as they say knowledge brings power, power is a threat to those who already pocess it. It just winds me up. There is no imagination, if you read a book, you are create the image in your mind, however on the tv, the image is already there, so in some ways the power of imagination is gone. I really hope this coalition fails then we can elect a proper government. For the record I dont really like politicians, but if someone comes to power who will run the country for the best intentions of the people, then he/she will have my full support.

Right I feel gorged on food and drink, my real celebrating is on friday night, when we we all say bye bye to 2010, doesnt seem 5 mins ago we were ringing in the new year. Anyway talk soon

Jingle Christmas and all that fuddle

I am writing this at around half 5 on Christmas day. Just having gauged myself on a load of food, with the family, well 2 other members, as My dad came out of hospital and cant really eat, my youngest brother being called out on an emergency job, and the other brother sleeping off the excesses of the previous night. The one Ronnie is on the telly, makes a change from only fools and horses.

So I am sat here and the night has set in, and yes I am thinking what the bloody hell was that about. We have had the Queens speach and Liz this year was banging on about sport, and some other thing but I wasnt really paying attention. Pope Benedict was going on about world peace, well he should have thought about that before joining the Hitler youth. He is still causing controversy, as people still feel bitter and offended other the Paedophile priest scandal. I dont subscribe to his particular brand of religion which is very hierarchical, and goes against the original teachings of Jesus Christ.

So there you have it. only another 365 days before the next christmas day, so we all better get back down the shops and get ready for the next one. As I write this we have the delights of the Doctor WHO christmas adventure, followed by East Enders, oh god no if there is one thing to put you in the wrong mood for christmas then it is this programme. Wonder who will die christmas, it beats me, how anyone can live on that square. They are very trusting as everyone is in everyone elses house. The all have each other numbers on the phones, and the blood line and family is more complicated than that of some interbread community in hicksville Alabama USA. The only differance is there are no pigs on Albert Square.

So on that note can I wish everyone a happy Christmas. Talk soon and take care.

Tuesday 21st December 2010

So, I am sat at home writng this, the temperature out side is freezing, and that is it being warm, it has been the shortest day in the year. This means the nights start drawing out and the days get longer. It was interesting driving to work this morning, yes the car is back on the road, but due for replacement in the new year, I saw the lunar eclispe. It was interesting to look at in the sky as the day was breaking.

So, the last bits of christmas shopping is currently being done, and the christmas drinks and parties are in full swing, So in a matter of days, those presents will be ripped open paper chucked all over the floor, the gift will be looked at then quickly forgotten Then comes boxing day the start of the sales, when everyone can buy those items they got for christmas, but for half the price.

So after all this when it is time to go back to work, everyone has put on pounds due to the food, everyone is hungover, then the credit card bills come in, and everyone thinks bollocks, i'm skint. So they will work hard to get the money back in the account. Then it is a few months off, where we work, go on a holiday, come back, maybe be take in a few weddings, evenings out, well you get my drift, then the evening draw back in and the leaves start falling, then it is the countdown to christmas again.

So I am counting down the days until the end of the year, looking forward to next year, and the adventures I'm going to have. Cool bring it on.

So anything been going on in the world well not really, apart from the country freezing, travel caos. So on that note I am going to get back to top gear talk soon

The end of the year is nigh

Ok, its another excuse for me to have a moan at life and society, more of that shortly. So I left you after doing a couple of late night jobs, I did a half day to get me back into working days. Heres one for you, how do you make a day for a load of primary school kids, turn up to do the job in a double decker. It was comical, I doubt whether most of them had been on a double decker before. Yes there are kids out there who havent even been on a bus. For me they were my main form of transport for many years. probably why I developed an interest in transport.

I have heard that the cuts axe is well and truely swinging, as some councils are amalgamating functions such as payroll, So the country is going to get in to more of a mess, as the government has to find benefit payments for all of those they are going to make unemployed. The days of the Nation spending money it didnt have are over. The defence of the country is to lose the Harrier's aircraft carriers are to be sold, and we are to share resources with France and the USA. yikes, so if they were to turn on us we are screwed, could happen, never say never. It means that there is an increasing hold. So what about the Bankers who caused the mess in the first place, well they are being left alone, but when half of them possibly went to the same public school as George OSbourne, our "wonderful Chancellor", then they will be left alone.

It is increasingly likely that government agencies such as VOSA could be put into the private sector for management, I did hear that the same could happen with the police, which to me would be madness, So they will all have targets to meet, so the inspectors and officers will be looking for a reason to prosecute. If you want to see the effects of privatising a police force, watch the film Robocop, when Detroits police for has been sold to weapons manufacturer OCP.

No It is ok to privatise some industry, but leave the agencies in the hands of the public. So after a very eventful 2010, and the drama's still continue, I'm not talking about them at the mo, save to say they involve family and friends, this is still being played out, I am looking forward to 2011, and I hope it is a positive year, we will have to see on that one. I am now working on my 5 year plan. More about that another time. Anyway Talk soon.

Wednesday 15th December 2010

It is only 10 days until Christmas, then it is a couple of days of forced festivities a few days off then it will be New years day, After that it will be getting used to the new year and settling down, with the nights gradually drawing out.

I am looking forward to having a few days off work, to have a much needed break, but alas my mind never stops, I am constantly taking things in. So lets see what next year will bring.

So what have I been up since I last blogged, well, I have been very busy indeed, I have been to Stratford upon Avon, whilst their I had a go at some evening photography, the results can be seen on the sister site, photographic adventures. I also did some shuttle work around the EMCC, in Nottingham. It made a change, even though I had very late finishes.

When I was driving back I heard something on the radio, which turned out to be an advert issued by the home office, basically saying if you see something suspicious then report it. I alarmed me, and is a very sad sign of the times we live. I tend to more associate this sort of thing with an East European Starsig culture from the cold war years, Something which people fought 2 world wars and many other conflicts, to stop. Welcome to 1984 the world according to Orson Wells. It interests me to see what will happen next, we will see.

So What would I like for next year, hmm I'm not sure, as quite alot has happened in the last 12 months, I know I worry too much at times, but we can all be guilty of that. So Lets think positive and I will leave you on that thought.

Now here this

A recent newspaper article got my attention, it involved a 12 year old boy, the prime minister and the anti terrorist laws.

I would read the article, your self, which is on the daily Mirror website, but I found it disturbing, and over the top. It left me thinking what the hell is going on, are we having our freedom of speech taken away in the name of the laws there to protect us. Now The constituency where this event just happened to be that of that educated two faced twit, David Cameron. This kid is too young to vote, but I hope that by the time he is 18, which is roughly when the next election is, unless the coalition fails fingers crossed, he does the right thing and votes against him.

Clearly the threat of arrest was over the top and designed to scare the kid. No wonder people are taking to the streets to voice their concern. I look at it this way these people are our future, and I dont condone violence, but I can see their point. This kid and the students are our future. Other news is that some right wing extremist pastor, from some part of the USA where they probably marry their cousins has been invted by the EDL to talk about Islam extremism. They are on about not allowing the guy in the country, mind you threatening to burn the Koran had some thing to do with it.

So My conclusion the world is going mad, but at least X factor has finished, so I dont have to read about someone who is forced upon us just because Simon Cowell says so.

Well not long til the end of the year now, and I cant wait. So on that note I'm off. talk soon

The December gloom

The long shelved novel I was writing is set around this time of year, I suppose I could go out and observe it.

I originally got the idea for the novel back in my college days, circa 1997. I originally set it during the aftermath of a wild party, with everyone recovering from hang overs, waking up in the mess, well you get the idea, I'm sure plenty of us have been to wild parties in our time, where we wake up and find a stranger asleep in the bath, beer cans everywhere, the bed would have several notches on it. and so on. The story was written in the aftermath of the groundbreaking TV serise This Life, which was about a bunch of 20 somethings living together
.
My up dated version was resurrected during 2007, well just a brainwave, but I added lots to it, I based the main character on myself, a then happy go lucky chap who got done down in lots of things but always ended up smiling. I started writting again in 2008, as a way of coping with a relationship break up. The opening scene was set during a Christmas get together, with work colleagues, but the main character didnt really want to be their as he felt like a fish out of water. He just wanted a special person back in his life. However he gets a phone call which sends a shiver down his spine, and has an emotional effect. The story then goes back to 6 months previous to explain the events up to this Christmas gathering. I might get back to writing this next year. I have lots of other things to do first.

The other book I am working on is my life story, which I have mentioned in these blogs before. So plenty to be getting on with. I might take the camera out and record the night life, just to give me some ideas.

The website is coming on, and hopefully with the resurrection of the car, I will be mobile again. So there you go

more crazyness,

Now I have heard it all, Health and safety going totally over the top, Apparently christmas crackers have been redesignated lowgrade fireworks, so if they are sold to under 16 year olds then the sales assistant could be liable for prosecution. What utter bollocks, what next, baning cap guns that kids play with. getting rid of bubble wrap, banning walking on icey pavements because someone could slip and fall over. There is a lack of common sense in this world, due to another American import, the compensation culture.



Other things, well not alot has happened really, got up, went to work came home. The road conditions have been horrible, as all of the road salt deposits itself on the paint work of the traffic, roll on the spring, or even better the summer. WOnder where I will be in life in 6 months time. Who knows, but I will be enjoying things. so there you go, short and sweet for tonight, night all

Wikileaks and all that

Well the talking point, is the Wikileak scandal, as well as the 50th anniversary of Coronation Street, but more of that later, even though I didnt see it.

So wikileaks, the whistle blowing web exposing secret documents and other info. Now I absolutely love this sort of thing, I personally do not like politics in any form, as you all know, and the day someone comes to power to Govern the country, for the people, instead of lining the pockets for their mates with peerage and knighthoods, gets my vote.

So what has Wikileaks exposed, well a load of incompetance, as normal and huge wastes of tax payers money. The other things exposed are conversations between leaders and spindoctors slagging other countires off, and calling one another behind each others backs, just like a load of school boys in the palyground arguing over who has the biggest todger. Obviously America has to have the biggest, well everything else they have are bigger, ego's wasteliners cars etc.

So the founder has been arrested over allogations of rape in Sweden, funny how its all come up since the site came to the attention of the media. It is funny also that the Swiss bank account of the founder has been frozen, where all the other accounts belonging to dodgey politicians, gangsters, actors and other corrupt tosspots, remain open. It is the establishment and the power mad, megomaniac control freaks trying to shut the site up. Well I tried logging on the other day, but some bastard had took it down, so what about my right for knowledge, I know lets dumb it down. Lets watch X factor.

Talking about TV programmes, who watched Coronation Street, well I didnt, but I heard abit about the plot, basically a big row starts, and ends with a bolserwood tram falling on the Kabin, It was the 50th anniversary episode, and I suspect this was written in to the story line, to out do East Enders, which celebrated its 25th anniversary earlier in the year. Apparently there were power surges at 9pm, when 14 million kettles were clicked on to make a cuppa.

It was very cold this morning, to the point of being semi painful with the windchill, I soon thawed out though. I do miss the car though, but that problem will be sorted soon hopefully. anyway enough of this bollocks, I'm going to watch telly now, night. TTFN

Monday 6th December 2010

So it is 18 daysish, before christmas, the shops christmas sales campaign, is in full force, go in to any town centre and you will see decorations, a tree, lots of flashing lights. You will no doubt see the float from the Rotary club, and the brass band of the salvation army playing "we three kings" with the elderly women rattling the donation tins. Certainly the town centres are busy at the moment, and the local economy is being boosted.

So, What have I been up to I here you ask? well not alot really, just got up, got ready and went to work, by taxi, as no buses run at half 5 in the morning. Coming across the meadow just outside Loughborough it was down to -11, bloody cold indeed, it was cold moving buses round to get mine out for the morning school run.

Coming home, it was foggy, and I arrived home about 8ish, I have a later start tomorrow, so I can go in on the bus. In some ways I am looking forward to having some time off during christmas, not because it is christmas, nope, I need to recharge batteries, regroup, and start off afresh. To be honest people ask me, " what do I want for christmas?" I usually dont know, I dont really want anything materialistic, Christmas is supposed to be a happy time, but, to me it is a time for reflection, a time to remember those who have departed. A couple of people left my everyday life during Christmas, and one special person came back in to my life during christmas, which was one of the best presents someone could get.

I know I keep talking about awakening the giant with, becoming aware of the world them. I do believe that we are all individual, unique, special, we all have something to contribute to life, Thats why, I disagree with lots of things that go on in life, be it politics, consumerism etc. Now we can all go on about these things until we are blue in the place, there is one very important thing and that is freedom, which does exist to a degree, although we are all slaves to money, as without this we can not survive. How many of us can actually say that we are free in our mind and spirit, the answer is not alot. People call me a fence sitter, as I dont jump onto bandwagons, and I dont care for being part of the clique. I like to earn my respect by my own merits. I like to look at both points of view. If you look at news reports of the conflict in Afganistan, some reporters are pro american, and some are pro afgan, I like to get both sides and make my mind up from there. As Robbie and Gary say in their song, " there are 3 versions to this story, mine and yours and the truth". again I leave you on that one. TTFN

sunday 5th December 2010

Well I have made a final decision about my car, I am going to get rid I think, If I repair the fault, then something else is likely to go wrong. The timing is brilliant, I was hoping that if I kept it going for to the end of the year and maybe trade it in. I was quoted a stupidly high price to replace the igntion barrel, I might actually try one other place and if it is high then it is time to get shut, I must admit the car has served me well, but anyway. It is amazing that when you are temporarily without a car, your freedom and ability to travel diminishes. Not for long I hope.

Work on the website is progressing, trying to get a professional look to it, so I can make it attractive to visitors. I have been talking lots about awakening the giant within, yes we can all achieve great things. Just a case of opening our minds and believe in ourselves. Something I need to learn to do.

So I wonder what the week has in store for me, well I know I have a couple of busy days ahead for me. The snow has thawed out a little, but this will bring another selection of hazzrds in the form of black ice, The icey spell looks like it is going to continue for the foreseeable future. So, we enter the final few weeks of 2010, the shops are going to be very busy indeed for the next couple of weeks, with people rushing round trying to fit in the christmas shopping. It is funny we spend all this time rushing round, have a day off, then it is the sales where shops that have over ordered certain products are left with stock left over, which they need to shift quickly, so the sales start. More money is spent as people think that dishwasher is half price I better get it. The greed factor kicks in yet again.

One final note is the Wikileaks scandal, which is basically telling people what they already suspected. The founder of the site finds himself on the run, is he a journalist or is he a criminal, I dont know, but sometimes I do feel the establishment does need challenging, no that I am condoning wikileaks, but challenging things, and questioning things does change life for the better. Just look at the way children question things, as they grow up they push boundaries, as they find their feet in this world. This world will be theirs very soon as each generation moves aside for the next one. I will leave you with that thought

The final month at long last

We enter the last month of 2010, It has been an interesting sort of year, which has had many highs and lows, I will begin with January, The interview with vosa, which had me attend, I was then backed in to a corner by the interviewer, who had made assumption of me, before I had even entered the room, my crime, was doing my job, and lets just say some of the things the interogator was accusing me of were damning. It was for paperwork issues at my former employer. I held my ground, whilst he was trying to crack me. It was the typical tactics used by a man who thought he was still in the police force. Now a piece of advice I will give to anyone who is interviewed under caution, is never say ANYTHING, whilst that tape is not rolling, You could accidently say something innocently which will be turned on you. I came out of that interview feeling physically sick. He I come into this industry to be treated like that, no I hadnt. I had a long drive home that night. After the interview followed months of waiting and worry, when the court is involved it is amazing how much stress is involved, and I tried to hide my feelings from friends and members of my family. The Vosa scenario was the talking point round the yard for weeks, the affect it had on me was catastrophic, I lost confidence in myself and my capabilities, I just wanted to vanish, and felt maybe things would be better that way.



After 3 months, the court papers arrived, and for some reason a copy of my statement was ommitted, so in effect I could not prepare myself, one of my colleagues had copies of invoices. We all found a solicitor to represent. A date was set, And when we attended the hearing it was delayed, and postponed to another date, much to our disgust, all nine of us just wanted to get it over and done with, afterwards, we got drunk in the pub, 2 weeks later the second date was set, we all attended, and received the fine. And that was it done and dusted, Vosa admitted to us that employer was the real target, and the had to prosecute us, to strengthen their case against him. I knew I had to move on at this time, for my sake. So apart from costing me financially, what other damage was caused?, well it broke up a team of people, who had shown commitment, it destroyed the relationship between that team and the employer. There is also family strains that are brought in to the equation. For me personally, It made me go right back into me shell, It affected 2 of my closest friendships.

I found new employment in August 2010, and so far I am enjoying the job, however, I work away from Nottingham, so I dont get to see my friends as often as I wish, This sometimes gets me down. I know 2011, has got to be a better year, and in future I refuse to put my employer before anything else.

One last thing before I go, Before all of this shit exploded, I was in the process of putting together a business plan, to set up a coach business, I was getting somewhere with it all, I had got useful information from the banks, as to getting funding, I was getting contact details with the new enterprise people, about gaining grants, The whole incident destroyed that too. I know I could be a giant if I allowed myself to be. I just need to find the spark, that will start the awakening. We can all achieve things and be what we want to be, we just need to have the balls to do it. So there you go. Lets do it, lets prove some people wrong.

December let it snow let it snow let it snow!!!!!!!

So we are now in December, Much of the east Midlands is blanketed with snow, driving has been interesting, my car decided to throw a wobbly, by deciding not to switch off when I arrived at work on Monday morning. The problem is the ignition barrel, I would have sorted it out but you cant exactly bump start in the snow, tried to locate the location of the starter motor so I could short it and get it started.



Work has helped with the loan of a truck for a couple of days, I have the weekend off, so hopefully I can sort the problem out, and it is decision time for the saxo, at the mo, I am thinking of trading it in for another car in the early year, a real part of a new year a new start approach to things, If it lasts until the end of the year I will be happy.

In some ways I hope the snow remains until the weekend, so I can get some nice pictures, I'm not even attempting to go to the bus this weekend, it will be very cold in the building, my main priority is to mend the car and start my move back to Long Eaton, long story.

before I go, driving in the snow reminds me of an incident that happened earlier in the year, when I was doing a school run, through the villages of Hickling, and Kinoulton. The road was very icey indeed, but as long as you kept the speed down, you didnt have any problems. I picked up the first 2 kids from Hickling and proceeded to Kinoulton. The gears on the coach went floppy, but you could put the coach in to gear, I was trying to limp the coach to school, then sort it out. Anyway, I picked up the second lot of kids, including an older kid who was very snotty, and basically got on all of our nerves, I pulled away, and I was proceeding along the road when the car infront decided to suddenly stop, I stopped the coach without sliding, but the coach would not engage gear. There was no way the coach was moving, plus I was on a corner, and nothing bigger than a land Rover discovery could get through.
I alerted the office, or atempted to alert them, but no mobile signal. I found a payphone but it only took cards, ( it is a sad sign of todays society, as most phone boxes get broke in to by theiving pikey twats or other scumbags who ruin things for everyone else), I rang reverse charges and the company would not accept the call, so I tried again, and they did on this occasion, one slight problem, the fitters were attending to another brake down. ETA at least 1 hour. Just as I walked back, well more slid back to the bus, another coach approached from the opposite direction. I warned the driver not to come down to the coach as he would not pass. and low and behold he got stuck on the ice. We both had a good laugh about it, and he did me a coffee while we waited for the fitters and someone with rock salt. I was brought a replacement coach, and got on with the rest of the route to see if there were any kids waiting. I got them to school at 10AM so only a couple of hours late. Shit happens

Anyway TTFN