WHAT A VICTORY!

Just a short post after a long break, but I just have to congratulate everybody involved in the Gurkha Victory. They are very good soldiers, supportive of our men now and in the past. We owe them big time!!

Family Christmas

Just a short one, had a super christmas this year, one of the best for ages....... Lovely presents from all my family. They are superb!!!

A Crappy Journey???

Well I am not sure what they are celebrating, but for us who live anywhere near Westwood the opening of the new Haine Road has been a nightmare!! Tailbacks of 20 mins are not unknown and weekend and lunch times are the norm. I am wondering if our esteemed leader could let me know his phone number so I can ring him at a busy time and get him to experience the problems!! I can tell him................ keeping the old Haine Road open in both directions, traffic still want to use it to get to Lord of the Manor, and the traffic using the new road are getting stuck with this. Lorries are confused, so are sticking to old road, great fun. Although all the exits on the new Haine Road are supposed to be no right turn, we have the joyful fun of letting people from Ramsgate turn right against the traffic to get into the rear of Westwood Cross. The Holmes Road Entrance ( for Saga and Toby Carvery) you have guessed it, right turns across the lines of traffic to head towards Ramsgate. This should have been solved earlier on......... Saga Traffic and Toby Carvery and Westwood Cross should travel to the roundabout at the Toby Carvery Saga and Toby Carvery for the ones going to Ramsgate and traffic wanting to go to Westwood Cross ( WHY!!) should enter Antolin way via the Toby Carvery Roundabout as well. Then we wouldn't have all the fun of the right turners! And on the Turner subject...................I just hope the Credit Cruch holds its build for years and years and years, but on the other hand, has anybody thought to look at the sea side of the Winter Gardens which appears to be suffering from Concrete Cancer? We would have the best of both worlds if these two things had been considered as one!!! But then do the council do joined up thinking???

Just to put things straight.........

Some people think that I am anti foreigners of any kind living in our country.    I am very surprised that that appears to be the message I am giving out.   I have my own views regarding one far eastern country, but that is a personal and prejudicial thing.  My opinion for what it is worth is that all ethnic races and colours can be welcomed as long as they come in by the right channels and also work to the same rules as our own countrymen.  

London Marathon 2009

Thrilled to say that Simon has been given a place in the London Marathon 2009. He is running for Ronald McDonald Charities which are associated with raising funds for Hospitals to have rooms for Parents and children. This is a cause that means a lot to him as his little niece has been treated in such a place on a couple of occasions.

He has got to practise the running a bit, but as he is quite fit playing football should be ok.

Anyone wanting to sponsor him? Go to http://www.justgiving.com/simonmaple the more that sponsor him the better.

and more!

Well, what could you wish for more?   It is Monday 13th October 2008 and have been to the beach!!   Well nearly as the tide was in.   Took a drive to Minnis Bay, went for a walk to Plum Pudding Island in the beautiful sunshine, needing no coat and other incumberences.   Saw masses of Gulls and Turnstones which were finding food of some kind among the seaweed that was floating.   Very aware that the awful stench of a few weeks ago was not present, not sure if it was because the tide was in though.   Lets hope the weather continues a bit longer.

The Positive Post

On a positive side of life of the Ramblings of a 50+ woman............. Family. They make all the local upleasurables bearable.

Firstly we have the three daughters, two who live locally and one in Hampshire........ Now we went to visit her and partner Simon recently. Talk about escapism, the town they live in was bustling, all the out of town stores thriving, no signs of the credit crunch (why can't we have the same?.......Cos we have TDC!) Everything was clean and tidy. Went for lovely walks on the green wedges with the dog. If only it was Thanet. They have a superb swimming pool for all ages, including fun pool including rapids, three big tube rides etc. No time limit. Heaven for all children. Next door the Ice Skating rink and ten pin bowling and further along the road the Cinema and a Museum of the victorian age ( very interesting!)

Of course 2009 brings the family together for the wedding of Hampshire daughter. Visited the church on our recent trip, it is c1600 very small and pretty and is in a village of 2 streets...........Upstreet and Downstreet!! They must have spent a long time working those out!

Nothing beats seeing family for however long and for whatever reason........

TDC and Gripes! Part 1

No posts for a while, but have been seething internally. What is all this 'cannot afford the swimming pool' WHY ! Where has the money gone? Surely they weren't relying on the sale of the original pool in Ramsgate for development? This credit crunch cannot be blamed for the incompetence, as the Council was seen to be selling assets before this time. Thank goodness sense prevailed regarding Northdown House, but I don't believe that boarding it up will help, surely that is asking for Vandalism. The place was making a small profit anyway so it should be kept open!

Thank God also that the proposed 1000 houses in Nash Road/Haine Road seem to be on hold, another result of the credit crunch? That perhaps is good luck. Who in there right minds now wants 700+ on the Euro Kent Business Park? Who will finance this and with this credit crunch who will build?

The China Gateway............ I realise that phase 1 is a done deal really, that land is zoned for development and has been for a while. What I don't want to consider is the use of Greenfield land for phase 2 and 3. We should all be fighting this, cos lets face it, if they do it there they can do it anywhere! We will all have to watch our backs.

The Winter Gardens is falling into disrepair and we are spending stupid money on de dualling Fort Hill, just to please those intrepid few who want the Turner Centre. I am not sure that the visitor numbers for while it is in M & S warrant a new centre, lets leave it where it is and not sully the skyline.

The Lido is another problem, the developers gone bust, and more disrepair.

The Casino up for sale in Ramsgate, another prime spot left to the vandals? I have this feeling that we are going to see more boarding up of public owned properties rather than keep them maintained to the right degree.

I might just add that when I approached the council regarding the amount of litter left in the street because of split rubbish bags, I got the reply 'I can only suggest that you double bag your wastewhich has proven to stop or slow down the seagulls. Use better qualitybin bags (as the cheaper variety are thinner and easier to break) orperhaps put your bags in a conventional plastic bin until wheelie binsare delivered.' I think that says it all............

Part 2 soon!!