Visitor from Thailand
Had someone called Phillip turn up yesterday - all the way from Thailand.
He was in the UK for a few days and the only place he wanted to return to was Dungeness - having not seen the place since a child some 40 years ago. This is typical of the feeling people have for the area and how they are drawn back. Evidently Phillip returning next year for a longer stay..
Monday 19 September 2011
September 19th and a beautiful sunny day
As in the past September does bring good weather not enjoyed by the rest of the country. Although typically windy the air is warm and it is Dungeness at its best. Quiet, now summer holidays have finished, and quite tranquil with the aroma of Ozone flooding through the open patio doors - lovely
As in the past September does bring good weather not enjoyed by the rest of the country. Although typically windy the air is warm and it is Dungeness at its best. Quiet, now summer holidays have finished, and quite tranquil with the aroma of Ozone flooding through the open patio doors - lovely
Broadband - still not available!
60 miles from the capital of this little nation and we cannot get a broadband signal - well I can - at .45mbps but I am the last of the line. Others have to rely on mobile phone connections - and they leave something to be desired. Being made aware the local council had funds made available to 'speed up' speeds in rural areas I wrote to our local councillor. Had quite a speedy reply but nothing positive well maybe if you consider tenders have been put out for a provider who can supply 90% of the area with at least 5mbps and the remainder with 2mbps. I suppose an improvement on .45 or nothing at all.
We shall see.
We have been privately canvassed from a company providing satellite cover but at a price. Even Monks on the highest plains in Tibet get better service. I suppose it is our fault for deciding to remain in a third world country!
60 miles from the capital of this little nation and we cannot get a broadband signal - well I can - at .45mbps but I am the last of the line. Others have to rely on mobile phone connections - and they leave something to be desired. Being made aware the local council had funds made available to 'speed up' speeds in rural areas I wrote to our local councillor. Had quite a speedy reply but nothing positive well maybe if you consider tenders have been put out for a provider who can supply 90% of the area with at least 5mbps and the remainder with 2mbps. I suppose an improvement on .45 or nothing at all.
We shall see.
We have been privately canvassed from a company providing satellite cover but at a price. Even Monks on the highest plains in Tibet get better service. I suppose it is our fault for deciding to remain in a third world country!
Life Boat Memorial
A memorial standard (flag) has been presented to the Dungeness RNLI station this week in memory of the late William (Willie) Richardson who died last November. Willie served with the RNLI for 45 years and the standard is a symbolic reminder of a person whose heart always focused on helping others and saving lives at sea.
For our overseas readers the RNLI is the Royal National Lifeboat Institute which is funded by public donations and having numerous lifeboat stations around the UK coast. Always in need of funds!!!! And on that point a local lady has left a fortune to the National Institute with over £1 million being left to Dungeness. This will fund the purchase of a new lifeboat and launching station within the next couple of years.
A memorial standard (flag) has been presented to the Dungeness RNLI station this week in memory of the late William (Willie) Richardson who died last November. Willie served with the RNLI for 45 years and the standard is a symbolic reminder of a person whose heart always focused on helping others and saving lives at sea.
For our overseas readers the RNLI is the Royal National Lifeboat Institute which is funded by public donations and having numerous lifeboat stations around the UK coast. Always in need of funds!!!! And on that point a local lady has left a fortune to the National Institute with over £1 million being left to Dungeness. This will fund the purchase of a new lifeboat and launching station within the next couple of years.
Airport Expansion - to be or Not To Be
Finally the latest public enquiry has ended and whether the go ahead will be given is in the lap of the gods or how large the brown envelopes will be.
It is a great pity those against the expansion moved to the area knowing there was an operational airport in existence. But EU protected slugs aside it is now the dicky bird brigade who do not want the lesser spotted blue tit having to find a new home. We had the same arguments over the proposed wind farm - expecting poor little birds being chopped to pieces in the revolving blades. Its amazing that a little birdie can get out of the way of a motor car travelling at 70 mph yet will commit Hari Kari in the sails of an electricity producing windmill.
Good job these people weren't around when motor cars first came into being!
If an company or individual wants to put £30 million pounds into the local economy then they should be welcomed with open arms. It is not likely any sizable airline will be a success here but at least let them try.. Human beings and their survival must come first.
Oh and that David Wimble - one of the latest elected district councillors, head of the Marsh Community radio station and the editor and co owner of the (much praised by me) 'Looker' magazine (see links) has been massaging facts in support of the airport expansion. David you are not the messiah you are just a naughty naughty boy (apologies to 'Life of Brian'). Stick to facts and the truth - you wont get tripped up then and of course if you tell the truth you don't have to remember what you said!
Monday 28 March 2011
Off Again
No not me - broadband - just when I thought everything had been fixed it went off last Friday and came on, albeit stutteringly, half an hour ago. Thanks for various responses to obtianing a better broadband coverage. We are actively seeking funding through local government grants but that seems long winded. We have been advised that the local exchange could be 'upgraded' for £100,000.00 but no-one will confirm what difference this would make. We still have the copper wires with a maximum 6.5 kms suitable to carry a reasonable broadband signal (all of 1/2 meg if we are lucky). BET (broadband enabling technology) could stretch this to 12 kms at a cost of a thousand pounds per line. A far cheaper option if local funding is thinly spread. We shall see.
Monday 21 March 2011
Broadband - or lack of it
How we get lost when the technology we have become to rely on isnt there any more. Broadband went off over 2 months ago and has only just been re-established albeit at a paltry 1/4 meg - well what can one expect we are over 60 miles from the capital of England.
Credit where credit is due though to BT's Open Reach team. They spent a lot of time on my line even though my service provider is not BT. Finally they replaced the copper wiring to the largest diameter wire they could find and low and behold 'back on line' - that nice thick copper cable should also act as a good conductor for lightening strikes - can't have everything I suppose.
There are numerous villages and small hamlets throughout the UK that are in excess of 6 kilometres from the local exchange, who also do not benefit from the fibre optics of the 'big boys' and simply cannot get broadband. Local Parish councils do have funds from central government to assist rural communities in 'speeding up' broadband speeds - but it would be useful to be able to get it in the first place. We understand there is something called BET - Broadband Enhanced Technology which, whilst costly to an individual is or should be free if there are over 15 subscribers wanting the service. Anyone know anything more about this?
Anyway spring is here (for today) lots of sunshine, clear blue skies but still only 8 degrees. Downside of the clear skies is the site of all the vapour trails frome the aircraft taking the lucky ones to sunnier climes in Spain and beyond.
Credit where credit is due though to BT's Open Reach team. They spent a lot of time on my line even though my service provider is not BT. Finally they replaced the copper wiring to the largest diameter wire they could find and low and behold 'back on line' - that nice thick copper cable should also act as a good conductor for lightening strikes - can't have everything I suppose.
There are numerous villages and small hamlets throughout the UK that are in excess of 6 kilometres from the local exchange, who also do not benefit from the fibre optics of the 'big boys' and simply cannot get broadband. Local Parish councils do have funds from central government to assist rural communities in 'speeding up' broadband speeds - but it would be useful to be able to get it in the first place. We understand there is something called BET - Broadband Enhanced Technology which, whilst costly to an individual is or should be free if there are over 15 subscribers wanting the service. Anyone know anything more about this?
Anyway spring is here (for today) lots of sunshine, clear blue skies but still only 8 degrees. Downside of the clear skies is the site of all the vapour trails frome the aircraft taking the lucky ones to sunnier climes in Spain and beyond.
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