A Rant From France
I received this comment last week and feel it should be posted.
Hello Anonymous,
I came across your blog whilst doing my daily research regarding wind farms.
I live in rural France and now have six x 140 metre high wind turbines…….one of which is under 600 metres from my home.
The value of my property has dropped by around 40%? Exactly how this percentage is arrived at I do not know. I can say the estate agent I asked to come and see my property was “shocked”! by the size of the turbines and the close proximity of them to my home.
He was also amazed that I was not getting any money for having them so close to my property.
He declared that I had a lovely home, beautiful garden and extremely attractive gite, he then said what a pity about the windfarm…….getting people to come to the house would be the biggest hurdle as the turbines loomed from every angle over my property,enough to put most people off before they even got here. He felt ( and I can only agree) that given a choice most people would not choose my property over a property without a wind farm so close. Now how bloody obvious is this!!!? For goodness sake…….so here I am with a blighted home, with a mortgage, with noise issues. I am just one of many in this situation.Our neighbours host the turbines on their land and receive around 25,000 Euros a year plus, the village 2.5 kilometres from where I live also receives around the same amount. I have received absolutely nothing apart from a complete change of circumstances as to how I now live my life. There are of course worse things in life then having a wind farm next door but it is the way “we” are simply overlooked and referred to as selfish! that I cannot understand.People need to “wise up” as to just how crushing it can be to have turbines so close to them.I am forever reading about people not understanding why turbines can be so unpopular……it is only the people who have to live next to them who really know why.Visiting a wind farm is not anything like living with one and yet again and again groups of people are taken on a visit for a couple of hours so they can make an “informed” decision about having a wind farm near them………please everybody wake up! bit of a rant I suppose.?
All I can do is sympathise!
My views on wind farms are detailed here.
It Was Busy On The Cable Car
The Emirates Air-line was busy today, as the picture shows.
It Was Busy On The Cable Car
The caption says “Pharmacists – North London” if you can’t read it. It’s one of a series they show to the waiting passengers.
I suspect it was busy because of the clear weather. I took this picture looking towards the Heron Tower.
Looking Towards The City From The Emirates Air-Line
The Heron Tower is the one left of centre with the mast on top. There was also a good view of the Olympic Stadium and the Orbit.
The Olympic Stadium And The Orbit
My picture could be better though.
The Greenway Is Open Again
The Greenway is now open again after the Olympics and I walked it from Hackney Wick station to Pudding Mill Lane DLR station, taking these pictures as I walked.
I had a coffee at the ViewTube on the way. It’s changed hands, but it’s still as good as ever.
Sensible Grab Rails
I mentioned here, that the Transpennine Express trains didn’t seem to have enough things to hold on to, when they are crowded. I took these pictures today in London.
I suppose they were extra and the Treasury didn’t want to pay for them. But on a crowded train, they are a necessity.
London Is Going T*ts Up
Judging by the Christmas adverts everywhere, it certainly is.
You see them on bus stops, buses and inside Underground stations.
Is This An iBus?
This is a bus I certainly won’t get.
Is This An iBus?
As a real programmer, I’m seriously allergic to adverts an d especially Apple products.
Virgin’s Second Class First Class Offering On Saturdays
I travelled up and down to Manchester in First Class. To say it wasn’t crowded would be an understatement.
Empty First Class On Virgin Trains
I have no problems with the seats or tables, but the food at weekends leaves a lot to be desired for a coeliac like me.
I’ve noted before that Virgin don’t have anything gluten-free except drinks and it gets worse as bananas have been deleted.
If Hull Trains can do an excellent gluten-free meal,surely Virgin can!
As it was because the train was late into Euston, I could have had a problem, but despite being rather bare, Marks and Spencer provided something good.
I don’t think I’ll be going First Class on Virgin so often.
U and Non-U Coaches
I took this picture yesterday coming back from Manchester.
U and Non-U Coaches
There used to be a lot of humour based on U and non-U English, but I haven’t heard any for some time.
It’s all about how class defines the words you use.
I suspect the coach labeled U, is one of the new ones added to lengthen the train.
Train Announcements
I was coming back this morning on the Overground and got these two announcements.
The Next Station is Wapping
and
This Station is Wapping
It looked fairly small to me.
Perhaps they should think more carefully about station names.
Platform Edge Doors
I travelled on the Jubilee line this morning and the line has platform-edge doors in the central section around Canary Wharf station.
According to this web page, Crossrail will have them too in the centre section.
Now I know that in theory they are a good way to stop suicides and accidents with drunks, but do they just just move the problem elsewhere?
After all, the preferred way of suicide in the 1950s was to put your head in a gas oven. Suicides continued despite safer North Sea gas.
I suppose we won’t make station platforms totally safe, until all lines have platform-edge doors. But that would be rather expensive.
The Anonymous Widower 