Scargill

Archive for the ‘northumberland’ Category

Lovely winter morning? Not lovely winter morning! The first of these pictures was sadly taken precisely 1,198.3 miles (1,928.5km) North of the second (hence the quality variation) mid-morning this morning. For anyone looking in while enjoying the sunshine in Southern Spain, please spare a thought for friends suffering the current god-forsaken weather in the Northeast of England.

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Life is pretty much back to normal here, I’ve still not opened up some of the packing stuff I brought back from Spain and my office is a tip but everything is working. Last weekend we went up to see Van Morrison at the Playhouse in Edinburgh and the following morning popped in to see an old friend Nigel Duncan who lives just outside the city before returning that afternoon to Northumberland.

This weekend we’ve just had a lovely stop-over with some friends in East Woodburn. They have a place in Spain and whenever we go visit they do the most wonderful tapas – we had a great night.

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I’ve put this together to make it easy to ship a link to various people – the entire world if need be until I get a road near our property fixed. Initially I was told the road was owned by Alnwick Estates, they then absolutely insisted that they’d sold it to Northumberland County Council NCC – and so it goes on – meanwhile the holes get bigger and bigger.

Here’s the location – just off the main street in Bellingham – see the pink circles… and here’s a couple of the more dangerous holes – they are by no means the only ones.

Filled up with water at night these are a danger to life and limb – not to mention car suspensions.  I’ve been writing now since the winter and such is the lack of energy of the departments I’ve dealt with – the holes are still there – despite pointing out that they are DANGEROUS.

Well, I’ve just found the email address for the highways agency – of course they probably don’t do ordinary roads, julst the likes of the A69 etc, but I can but try – I’m not getting anywhere with other people so far.   (‘ha_info@highways.gsi.gov.uk’) – here’s their website. http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=702

There are similarly dangerous holes on the road from Bellingham to West Woodburn, maybe 100 metres or more on the left just before you get to West Woodburn – we nearly took out our suspension one night in the wet – I reported the problem – nothing…..

I guess next stop the local newspapers?

Spent part of the weekend up North with friends – here are a couple of photos I took while we were there – early in the morning – amazing how spending time in the countryside can cheer you up. I’m all set for my trip to Brussels this morning – though to be fair – it’s probably warmer here than it is over there.

So, today I’m travelling from Newcastle to London then off to Brussels – back in a couple of days, got a meeting with some ESCO colleagues from around Europe to attend to. Hoping to grab a pizza from my favourite place in the square. Currently battling with a Chinese supplier to get some code that works for a little phone-type colour display. They are trying hard but I think they’re reading my emails via Google translate and we’re not getting very far!

We keep hearing about Android tablets  – what do we see in the shops or on the web that’s actually for SALE? A solitary Galaxy Tab which is selling well but is a bit on the small side and hardly “thin” – and that’s about it – other tablets are either still in the works, still using older versions of Android – or recalled. Meanwhile the iPad has it’s new operating system upgrade, new Apps updates and now there is Apple TV -  which means that thanks to the REMOTE app, you can now use your iPad or even iPhone to control your TV, browse your music selection, make playlists and more.

I can’t think of a better gimmick for parties right now than to appear armed with wireless iPad and offer to let guests make their own music selections.  It all works and the Apple TV product is cheap.

Chances of getting compatible software on an Android device in the near future? I don’t think so.. all we need now is for SKYPE and APPLE to get their act together and put Skype video on the iPhone 4.

Peter Scargill