Some News!

First of all, you will recall, last week I wrote about Parkrun and my taking part in it. I have been contacted by BBC East to see if I would be interested in filming an item about Parkrun and blind participants. Watch this space for developments.

Now for an update: you will remember, a couple of weeks ago, I complained about our refuse collectors depositing emptied wheelie-bins in the middle of pavements, thus creating obstacles for disabled people to negotiate.

This elicited a reaction from the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk within days. Barry Brandford, the Council’s Waste and Recycling Manager, contacted me and we walked around the village after the binmen had been on Thursday last.

Mr Brandford arrived in the village early enough to note that the householders had placed their bins correctly and neatly. He was, however, dismayed that the binmen had been less than obliging when placing them back after emptying. He recognised that there was scope for improvement. He would bring it to the attention of the service provider, Serco, and remind them of their duties.

A big thank you to Mr Brandford for his time and understanding. I would also like to thank Councillors Alistair Beales, our local ward member and Leader of the Council, and Sandra Squire, Cabinet Member for Environment and Coastal.

The next authority in my crosshairs is Norfolk County Council’s Highways Department. The condition that the pavements are in is, in general, a disgrace. They could be considered dangerous. In some places they are impassable thanks to being overgrown with vegetation.
Cllr Squire and Mr Brandford have promised to bring this to the attention of the county council.

As usual, watch this space.

Blind Tip of the Week

Some of us have stored lots of voices away in our memory banks, and will know you as soon as you open your mouth.

Due to surrounding noise from many sources, though, such as traffic, music, machinery or general hubbub, we might not hear you properly so it never hurts just to say who you are.

It saves an embarrassing pause while we try and work out who you might be. Even worse, we might think you are someone else, whom you can’t stand, and you feel insulted by us.

Singapore: Onto Fort Canning!

Just finishing off at Fort Siloso. Included in the representations, eyeing each other across the table at the Ford Motor Company, were the leaders of the two forces, General Yamashita, the victor, and General Percival, the vanquished. If only Percival’s intelligence had been better who knows what path the war in Asia, or around the world for that matter, would have taken.
Yamashita later confessed that he was fearful the British and their allies would eventually discover the truth in the numbers and would not sign the surrender.

On the way out of Fort Siloso, we passed the little vegetable garden which, even today, is probably much like it was back then. I couldn’t help thinking, that as the new prisoners left Sentosa, they would have glanced at the garden in exactly the same way I was.

I was going back to a luxury hotel, whereas they were off to Changi Prison and, who knew, what future. On reflection what we witnessed this day has to go down as one of the best battlefield tours I have done and, what is more, it was absolutely free. Love a freebie!
Our last full day dawned in Singapore and we headed off, on foot, to Fort Canning Park, originally Bukit Larangan, or Forbidden Hill, in Malay. We really hadn’t planned our visit as meticulously as we might have.

We wandered around rather aimlessly. But my word, what a treat! We viewed the site where Stamford Raffles had his residence on the island, which subsequently became the official home to the Governor-General, although it was significantly altered over the years.
Near to this site there had once been a lighthouse, taking advantage of the natural 48 metres above sea level to warn shipping of impending doom.

From here we came across the impressive old officers’ quarters. Just standing outside on the terrace, you almost breathed the opulent times of a colonial past. I am sure that the officers and, when sometimes accompanied by, their wives, would sit here of an evening and enjoy a sundowner or three.

Equally, they could stroll along to The Raffles Hotel for a Singapore Sling and, who knows, when unaccompanied by their wives, a Singapore Grip as well.

The building has now been turned into a first-class museum which highlights the history of the site from as far back as the Bronze Age right through to the British Occupation.

It was the final attraction of the day that blew us away. The piece de resistance, the tour de force or the jewel in the crown, however you wish to describe it, I can’t beat those three: The Battlebox.