Robin with unusual feet.

I was sorting through some old photographs when I came across my friend Robin.

He was in the door-well of my vehicle.

I wondered how he managed with his unusual feet.

Bowled Over!

 

I recently purchased a new digital bridge camera. After spending a couple of days reading; and then re-reading; the manual I have been taking different opportunities to try out some of the many options for taking photographs the new computerised wonder can provide.

So, during last Sunday, I watched part of the cricket match played on my local playing field to try for some action shots.

Another spectator started a conversation with me about my camera and the facilities that it offers. Dave – I learnt his name later – was interested as he is looking for a new one to take photographs of steam-locomotives and aeroplanes.

During our chat he informed me about three forthcoming opportunities, before the end-of-the-year, to see steam-locomotives travelling along the local railway line, and advised me as to the most advantageous location to take some photographs. I was listening but was also trying to concentrate on getting some good exposures.

 

He changed the conversation to aeroplanes that regular fly over our village and in particular the Emirates Airline Airbus A380. Each day an A380 departs from Manchester Airport (I've checked and it's scheduled to leave at 14:05 hrs.), heading for Dubai, and flies over our location between 14:40 and 15:00 hrs. I admitted on being questioned that I wasn't aware of that and therefore hadn't seen it. I also commented that its flight-path is probably too high for me to notice it.

I knew I had to be home by 15:30 hrs. and checked my watch. It was 15:10 hrs. and I said to David: “It looks as if we've missed it today”. Two minutes later I was bowled over when I managed to take this photograph of the Emirates A380.

© Elliot Sampford 2014

Blackbird Waiting.

Natalie and I were delayed having our breakfast and the Blackbird was getting impatient waiting for its morning toast.

It – we are not certain of its gender as it is one of this-year's fledglings, juveniles so they all look similar – was sitting on the fence, adjacent and to the left of our kitchen patio doors, watching us eat our toast and marmalade and giving us a do-hurry-up look accompanied by a telepathic message of: I've been kept waiting: where is mine. Bolshy Blackbird – yes we've given a name because you do not call friends 'It' – then flew down to the edge of the patio so as to be in our direct line of sight.

Each morning when I'm preparing breakfast I always toast four slices of bread even though we only eat three. Why?

There is logic in what appears to be an act of madness. Those of you who don't know me may think I'm crazy; those of you who know me have probably made up your mind; but I'll explain.

We have an electric toaster that only takes two slices of bread at a time. The first two pieces pop-up after the designated period and are an enticing golden brown colour all over. The third slice if put in the toaster on its own will spring-up as an inedible charcoal-brown board. I have to toast a new third slice watching it carefully so I can manually pop-it-up when the colour is right. So that's four slices to get three and extra time and effort. Any undesirable, burnt slice would go on the lawn for our feathered visitors. So, the obvious, efficient action on round two is to make another two slices of golden-brown toast; so we and the birds all have the same quality of bread. That is not strictly true because we also give them the two end crusts – not toasted of course – one when we start a loaf and the other when we finish it three days later.

Bolshy, parents and siblings; along with the Sparrows, the Wood Pigeons, and the Collared Doves; have a similar taste in bread as us. This varies between 'Granary Original Thick Slice' and 'Seed Sensations Original' by Hovis although the latter seems to be their favourite.

When we had finished our toast we cut up the birds' slice into manageable beak size pieces and then I went onto the patio to scatter the portions on the lawn, as I usually do.

Bolshy was waiting about one metre away from me so I dropped three or four pieces in front of my friend as a personal breakfast-in-grass. I'm sure I got the look and message of: Thanks, but at little earlier in future. I can't be kept waiting, I've a busy day and I'll have to fly. Two portions grabbed into the beak and Bolshy hopped under the shrub close by to eat in private.

 

On leaving the protection of the plant umbrella two more morsels were held in the mouth before Bolshy took to the wing with the takeaway.

We will have to shower, dress, prepare and eat breakfast with more haste in future – or set the alarm for an earlier time – so our friend, Bolshy Blackbird, doesn't get in a flap again about waiting for breakfast toast.

© Elliot Sampford 2014

Illegally or Inconsiderately Parked?

Parked on 31st July 2014

Was the blue car, on the right, parked illegally or inconsiderately – or is it a combination of both these options - or neither? What do you think?

The vehicle has often been parked on this spot, which is within a staggered junction of three roads (one a thoroughfare and two residential cul-de-sacs). Its two nearside wheels are on the pavement and the two rear wheels on a traffic speed restriction hump. The location is in Lincolnshire.

The car was parked directly opposite the B of Burghley Square
 

Illegally parked?

Rule 244 of the Highway Code states:

You MUST NOT park partially or wholly on the pavement in London, and should not do so elsewhere unless signs permit it. Parking on the pavement can obstruct and seriously inconvenience pedestrians, people in wheelchairs or with visual impairments and people with prams or pushchairs (Law GL(GP)A sect 15)'.

In the Highway Code where it states 'MUST NOT' the instruction given is subject, covered by a Law, which is referred to in the parenthesis. Note that this relates only to the London area; it does not apply to on-street-parking in other counties within the United Kingdom.

The move towards Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) allows the responsibility for enforcing parking contraventions to be transferred from the police to local councils. The Road Traffic Act 1991 and Traffic Management Act 2004 authorised the option of councils to assume the responsibility and powers needed for parking enforcement within their areas. One of the aims of DPE, or CPE (Civil Parking Enforcement) as it's also referred to, was to change the majority of parking offences from a criminal offence – whereby a driver obtained a criminal record and points on a licence – to a civil matter dealt with by the issue of a financial penalty via a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) – no points and no criminal record.

Lincolnshire County Council assumed the powers of CPE in December 2012.

I wrote to the Parking Services department of the council asking for clarification of the policy, within Lincolnshire, with regards to vehicles being parked, with one or more wheels, on the pavement in areas that are not subject to regulations of yellow lines, parking bays etc.

I received the following reply:

'Unfortunately for any vehicle parked on the street where there are no parking restrictions, we would not be able to issue a penalty charge notice. Under the legislation set down by government, there is no contravention for cars (though there is for HGV's) parking on the pavement, outside of Greater London. Therefore any vehicle would be free to park in this area or on the pavement/verge next to the street. If there are vehicles in question that are wilfully causing obstruction to traffic or pedestrians this would be a police matter, as there is no contravention for obstruction under civil parking enforcement.'

Parked on 3rd August 2014

This couldn't be clearer: the parking of a vehicle with its wheels on the pavement in areas not subject to parking restriction regulations is not in it self an illegal act.

But, is that the end of the matter – perhaps not.

Three of the points within Rule 243 of the Highway Code state:

DO NOT stop or park;

• opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction, except in an authorised parking space
• opposite a traffic island or (if this would cause an obstruction) another parked vehicle
• where the kerb has been lowered to help wheelchair users and powered mobility vehicles'.

These points are not covered by an Act of Law and therefore are not in themselves illegal.

However, Rule 242 of the Highway code states:

'You MUST NOT leave your vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road (Laws RTA 1988, sect 22 & CUR reg 103)

Is it not feasible that failing to observe the recommendations of Rule 243 could result in a contravention within Rule 242. Within the letter from the LCC is the comment:'If there are vehicles in question that are wilfully causing obstruction to traffic or pedestrians this would be a police matter'.

The car was parked 'opposite …. of a junction' which is to the right; and 'within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction' which is to the rear of the car. So, could this mean that parking it at that location was an illegal act, irrespective of the position of the wheels on the highway or the pavement?

Inconsiderately Parked?

An inconsiderate action can be defined as one that is thoughtless, heedless in consideration for others.

Was the driver of the blue car mindful as to any difficulty caused to drivers of vehicles exiting the residential square, to the south of the main road, because of the limitation of a reduced turning circle. Was any sympathy considered to the problems of reduce sight of oncoming traffic from the left (east) for traffic leaving the residential road to the north? Did the position of the parked car cause an increase in the potential danger to other road users, travelling on the thoroughfare, of vehicles exiting either of the two minor roads within the junction?

Was the driver considerate of the possible inconvenience or danger to pedestrians (with or without pushchair), wheel chair users or powered mobility vehicle users because of the restricted access to the pavement, or the drop-down-kerb incorporated in the traffic-hump?

Did the driver need to consider any consequences that his parking might have on other people?

Summary

The Lincolnshire County Council has stated that the parking of the vehicle on the pavement does not contravene any county regulations. Could the Lincolnshire Police consider an illegal act has occurred in accordance with Rule 242 of the Highway Code if they deem the vehicle to have been parked 'in a dangerous position or where it causes any unnecessary obstruction of the road'.

The question of whether the driver has acted in an inconsiderate manner is not in either of the authorities remit of responsibility. Who cares? Is it only in the thoughts of other road and pavement users for a brief moment as they pass the parked car?

What do you think of the driver's action? Should there be some sort of redress against drivers who park anywhere they want? Did the driver do anything wrong?

© Elliot Sampford 2014

Natural Beauty

© Elliot Sampford 2014

I saw this scene of natural beauty during a walk round a local playing-field this morning and had to photograph it.

© Elliot Sampford 2014.

Emily's life after 'Friday the 13th'

“What are you doing, John? You can't go to work today, it's Friday the 13th!”

      “Don't be daft, Em, of course I'm going to work”.

      “But you can't, today's an unlucky day. Something bad could happen to change our lives. You could have an accident driving to work; or whilst at work. Please don't go. Stay at home. Call in sick”.

      “I'm not sick and I'm not going to skive of work because of another one of your silly superstitions,” John said, as he paused in the open doorway.

      “I'm ill. I can't get my breath. I can feel my heart thumping. I feel hot and clammy. Call in and tell them you're staying home to look after me”.

      “It's just one of your woman's power surges. I'm off: I'll see you later”. He closed the front door forcefully and started his journey to work.

       A bleary eyed Katie came down the stairs and found her mother in the kitchen. “What's with the raised voices and why did Dad slam the front door?”

      “It's your Dad being unreasonable, Katie. I asked him to stay at home today: he wouldn't.”

      “Why?”

      “Because he can be when he wants to be.”

      “No; I meant why did you ask him.”

      “Because it's Friday the 13th.”

      “Oh Mum; not that again.”

      “Today is an unlucky day. You know it is: everyone knows it is. Bad things happen . . .”

      “Don't be daft; that's just superstitious nonsense. And, before you ask, yes I am going to work later.”

      “But, Katie, it's true. When your Great-Granddad died; it was Friday the 13th of December.”

      “Yeah; but he was ninety-seven years old.”

      “Then my Dad died three years later on Friday the 13th of May.”

      “Mum; he died of lung cancer after smoking for forty-five years odd; since his teens. That’s hardly unlucky –”

      “Don't talk about you Granddad like that!”

      “Alright then; what about our Nathan?”

      “What about him?”

      “When was he born?”

      “You know when his birthday is: it's the 13th of February.”

      “And . . . what day was that?”

      “I can't remember.”

      “Yes you can. It was a Friday. Now was that an unlucky day? Careful what you say Mum.”

      “But he was due on the 14th, Valentine's day. Do you want a cup of tea?” Without waiting for an answer Emily filled the kettle with fresh cold water. She forgot the force the water came out of the tap sometimes and it sprayed over her hands. “You know what they say about someone born on Friday the 13th – they will be unlucky all their life.”

      “That's nonsense Mum.”

      “No it's not. Do you remember when Nathan broke his arm, that was bad luck.”

      “That wasn't bad luck: it was him being stupid and falling of scaffolding that he and his mates shouldn't have been playing on.”

      “And now he's unluckily in Afghanistan fighting for his life. If he hadn't had to go in the army he could be a mechanic here.”

      “Now you really are getting ridiculous. He joined the Army and the REME because he wanted to.”

     “Do you want tea or coffee?” Emily placed the cordless kettle on its stand and switched it on. She reached for the family teapot, the one her mother, and her mother before her, had used. She'd forgot her hands were wet. The heirloom shattered when it hit the tiled floor. “Damn . . . I told you all it's an unlucky day. Now will you believe me?”

      “Mum, it's just an accident: your hands were wet. If you still had the vinyl flooring it might have bounced. Anyway, the spout and the handle were chipped where you've bash it before, so dropping doesn't prove Friday the 13th is an unlucky day. It's just a date Mum: a day and a number that's all. Did you know that in Italy they say Friday the 17th is unlucky, and in Greece and Spain, and other Spanish speaking countries, they say it's Tuesday the 13th. So how does that work with your silly superstition?”

      “Don't get all smarty-pants, clever-clogsy with me Katherine.”

      “This is getting silly. I'm going to get ready for work. Yes – I'm going to work.”

      Twenty minutes later Katie left the house leaving her Mum at home alone; to cope with the imaginary looming disasters that the day would surely bring; to cope with her shortness of breath and heart palpitations of her anxiety attacks.

       Emily had no intention of leaving the house: it is too dangerous to go out. She telephoned a work colleague; “Hi Mary it's me, can you tell George that I can't come into work today as I've got that stomach bug that's doing the rounds. All being well, I'll be in tomorrow to make up my time. See you soon; bye.”

      After eating her breakfast of toast and marmalade, and drinking two more cups of tea, now brewed with the teabag in the cup, Emily decided to use her time at home to get some of the dirty laundry washed, dried and ironed. The clothes were put in the drum, the softener and detergent were poured in the dispensing tray, and the correct programme chosen. She was about to press the start button when she remembered – it's unlucky to do washing on Friday the 13th. She decided the safest thing to do was read for a while, watch day-time television for a while and drink more cups of tea.

       Lunch-time came and passed without any disasters.Whilst watching afternoon television the EuroMillions advertisement reminded her that she had forgotten to buy a lottery ticket for that Friday's draw. But, she couldn't go out of the house to get one. She picked up the telephone, selected pre-set telephone number 3 and pressed the dial button. Her call was connected. “Hello; could I speak to Katie please,.” she said. There was a long pause.

     “Hello?”

     “Katie it's me, can – ”

     “I know it's you Mum. I not supposed to take personal calls: what do you want?”

     “On your way home can you call in at the corner shop and get a EuroMillions lottery ticket for tonight please.”

     “Is that it? Is that what you called me for? Why can't you get it?”

     “You know I can't leave the house today.”

     “If today is so unlucky you won't win; so why bother about a ticket? I've got to go Mum.” Emily looked at the telephone: her call had been disconnected.

     It was late afternoon; Emily was washing-up her plates and cutlery from her lunch and afternoon tea, before starting on the dinner, when she heard a news bulletin on the television in the lounge.

     “There are reports coming in of the death of a soldier early this morning, near Camp Bastion, in the Helmand province, in Afghanistan. The Ministry of Defence are not releasing the name of the soldier until the family has been informed. But, we understand that he was serving in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.”

      She rushed into the lounge to hear more details but the announcement had ended. She became unsteady on her feet: she collapsed onto the settee. Another anxiety attack took hold of her.

      She remained on the sofa, in a state of shock until John returned home at the end of a late shift. She couldn't have heard the front door open, because her body jumped, as if shocked with a defibrillator, when she heard John say: “Hi Em, I'm home. Have you had a good day?” as he walked in to the lounge.

     “A soldier's been killed in Afghanistan earlier today. They've not given out his name but I know it's Nathan, because it's Friday the 13th. He was born on the 13th and he's died on the 13th; like all the other men in my family,” she hollered.

     “What? What are you going on about?”

     “I told you. You didn't listen to me this morning and you haven't listened to me now!”

     “Hang on Em. Have the Army been on to us and said it's our Nathan?”

     “No. But, they will be. They will send someone to tell us or they will call us.”

     “If it happened this morning then they would have . . .” The chimes of the door bell interrupted John.
      Emily couldn't hear what was being said between John and the visitor, but, she feared the worse. John returned to the lounge alone. All the remaining colour had drained from Emily's face. Her breathlessness returned.

     “It was only Bill wanting to arrange a lift to work tomorrow. It's no good you getting yourself in a state over nothing, Em.”

     “It's not nothing, you'll see, you wait, you'll see. I told you this morning something bad was going to happen.”

     “Well in the meantime when's dinner going to be ready?”

     “I can't cook dinner. I'm not hungry. If you can eat on a day like today you'll have to get a takeaway.”

     “OK. What time's Katie coming home? I'll order it for then.”

     “She won't be home tonight she's staying at Gill's.”

     “Fine; I'll order from the Golden Dragoon now.”

      John's meal arrived thirty minutes later and he devoured it with his usual gusto. After eating alone in the kitchen, he joined Emily in the lounge. They watched television, for the rest of the evening. Not a word passed between them. Emily was too fearful to talk; especially to John as he didn't listen.

     At 11:15 pm. the telephone played its digital ringtone.

     “Who can that be at this time of night?” John said.

     “Answer it John you know who it's going to be – it's the Army.”

     “Hello John Harper speaking.” He listened. He didn't reply. He ended the call. He turned to face Emily. His mouth was wide open. The colour had fallen from his face.

     “What John? What is it?"
     “That was Katie, she's coming home straight-away.”

     “Why? What's happened? I knew something bad would happen before the day ended.”

     “She bought the EuroMillions ticket like you asked. She couldn't remember our numbers so she chose a 'Lucky Dip'. She's just checked the results. We've won the jackpot! We could be millionaires!”

© Elliot Sampford 2014.

Betterware catalogue junk-mail system offends me.

A few days ago an unsolicited, unwanted copy of the Betterware Catalogue – 'Junk Mail' by any other name – was posted through my letterbox.

Today I found the following note had been dropped onto my doormat – despite the fact it was obvious I was present in the house – by the local Betterware representative.

“Sorry I missed you today when I called to collect the catalogue that unfortunately was not left outside. I very much regret that due to time constraints it is not possible for me to call back to collect the catalogue, but should you wish to place an order, please call me on: xxxxx-xxxxxx” (I've omitted the telephone number as I not offering free advertising for the local representative.)

The wording of this note offends me in two ways.

Assumed commitment.

Firstly it implied I had failed to honour a commitment – one which I hadn't made – by not placing the catalogue outside of my home. I didn't ask for it and I didn't agree to be part of an agreement to store, act as custodian of, act as a poste restante, and then return the unsolicited publication on a predetermined, but not discussed or confirmed as acceptable, day.

Time management

Secondly it implied that the time management of the Betterware representative is more important than my own personal time scheduling. I'm not interested in how busy the representative may be on the day that he (I know the gender from the name on the note) unilaterally decided that I should waste my time putting the mailshot he had put through my letter box outside my front door for him to collect.

Like all unsolicited junk mail, the Betterware catalogue went into the recycling bin on the day it was delivered. As will all future correspondence from the company. I don’t wish to, and I won't, get involved in its catalogue marketing strategy.

©Elliot Sampford 2014.

Home from Hospital.

GOOD NEWS! Natalie has come home from hospital today.

She's passed the point of needing direct medical nursing care.

What's needed now is the recovery period of improving mobility, reduction of discomfort, and rebuilding her strength. This is best done at home in our own surroundings, at our pace, and tailored to her needs. We are looking at an initial period of probably six to eight weeks. There will be regular appointments with the 'Anticoagulant Clinic' (to monitor her blood-clotting reading and determine the daily dosage of Warfarin needed, as she had a mechanical prosthesis fitted this time), and her GP Doctor for general improvement of health.

In six weeks time she has to have a review appointment with the Cardiac Surgeon.

Today has been a very tiring day for her because of the checking-out and long journey home from the Trent Cardiac Centre. As I write, she's tucked-up in our bed, under our duvet, with her head on her own pillow.

That's the combination she's been longing for since the 14th March. when she was admitted to hospital.

© Elliot Sampford 2014

The new Mechanical-Prosthetic Aortic Valve has been fitted

Natalie's operation, in the Trent Cardiac Centre, went ahead as planned, on Wednesday morning (9th), starting at approximately 08:00 hrs.

I received a telephone call from the Cardiac Surgeon, Mr. Naik, at about 2:20pm to let me know that he had done his work; the new valve is seated OK; and that Natalie was being transferred to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. The operation was more complicated and had taken longer than usual for an aortic valve replacement because it was a re-do, as they call it, mechanical-prosthetic replacing failed bioprosthetic. He advised me to wait until the early evening to check-up on her condition. I telephoned the CU at about 19:45 hrs. The nurse allocated to looking after her confirmed that Natalie had woken up from the anaesthetic and that the ventilator tube had been removed. The nurse suggested it wasn't necessary for me to drive to Nottingham last night.

I visited this afternoon. I was very pleased to see that, because of her satisfactory progress and downgrade of risk, Natalie had been transferred from ICU to the High Dependency Unit. A move in the right direction. She is obviously feeling very uncomfortable and in some pain but this is being controlled with morphine, initially, and then less potent drugs, tramadol and paracetamol, backed up with a reduced level of morphine if the other two are not strong enough on occasions. The medical staff are pleased with her condition at this time. She may be transferred back to the normal cardiac ward on Friday or Saturday.

I believe she is coping better this time round than she did in 2006.

She dozed-off (resting her eyes she called it) a couple of times whilst I was with her: it's not surprising given the stress and drugs.

That's all the news for the moment.

Follow-up article: Home from Hospital

© Elliot Sampford 2014

Transfer to the Trent Cardiac Centre.

Natalie's transfer from Lincoln City Hospital to the Trent Cardiac Centre in Nottingham City Hospital took place today – eventually.

I mentioned in my previous article 'My Wife's Bovine Pericardial Aortic Valve has only lasted 8 years!' that the Consultant Cardiologist in Lincoln had sent a priority request to the Trent Cardiac Centre at Nottingham City Hospital for an operation to replace the faulty bioprosthetic aortic valve that is neither opening or closing properly.

We received confirmation a few days ago that the 'Re-do' operation, as it is termed in official correspondence, is to take place on the 9th April, and that she would be transferred today, although we didn't believe it was written in stone. She has remained as an inpatient in the cardiac department of Lincoln Hospital until now.

It was not until 09:50 hrs. this morning that Natalie was informed that the move would definitely take place today. She was told then because I had telephoned the ward to enquire if and when the transfer was to happen and the nursing staff let her tell me.

When I popped in at 11:00 hrs., to collect any laundry and other items that she didn't want to take to Nottingham, she was already to go, bed space tidied and bags packed, and waiting for transport to be arranged.

Transport Fiasco

Transport eventually arrived approximately 6 hours and 30 minutes after she was told she was going. She left Lincoln at about 18:15 hrs. and arrived in Nottingham at 19:45 hrs.

It is important that patients with heart problems are not subjected to unnecessary stressful situations. Today's transfer and transport fiasco certainly hasn't helped Natalie's stress level. I think there has been an appalling failure in the management of the situation. This is not the first time this week that a cardiac-patient has been kept waiting until the early evening before being subjected to a long drive from Lincoln to another hospital; on that occasion a journey of probably two hours.

The one redeeming factor of today was that at 21:30 hrs. the nursing staff at the Trent Cardiac Centre allowed Natalie to use their telephone to let me know she had arrived safely, had a few basic tests carried out, and been settled in. I have not been able to visit, and give moral support to her this evening, because of the ultimately very late arrival.

 Follow-up article: The new Prosthetic Aortic Valve has been fitted

© Elliot Sampford 2014.