25 Years Since The Great Storm
Today marks twenty-five years since the Great Storm. I wrote about my personal experiences of the storm here.
One point, is today the BBC is reporting from Sussex. In Suffolk, we probably got it as bad as anywhere, with a lot of the county without power for two weeks and forests like Rendlesham were completely devastated.
But of course, at the time, the BBC didn’t have a local radio or television station in Suffolk. Yet again, another example of Suffolk being left to its own devices.
Ipswich Launches Campaign Against Cheap Super Strength Alcohol
Ipswich is an independent town in the very independent county of Suffolk and it has always been thus for both of them. Today though it is reported, that they are launching a campaign to ban cheap super strength alcohol. It’s all here in the East Anglian Daily Times. I heard of it on Radio 5 and they said it was the first town in England to do so.
Let’s hope it all succeeds in its objectives.
I suppose the real problem is to get all of the small off-licences to comply.
An Insult To Ipswich and Suffolk
The Tour of Britain cycle race starts this morning in Ipswich. The BBC radio traffic reports placed Ipswich in Norfolk.
They did correct it later. Or in fact, they didn’t repeat it again.
But yet again Suffolk is treated badly by the media. As it is by government, where more funding always goes to North Anglia.
The First English Beans Of The Summer
Today I bought the first English beans of the summer. From Suffolk of course! I used them to cook fish with beans and peas.
I used Carluccio’s lemon olive oil again and it gives a subtle lemon flavour to the fish.
If Scotland Votes For Independence, Where Do Orkney And Shetland Go?
Only now, with the referendum on Scottish Independence now being seen on the horizon, do people start to think about the real problems of the vote and what happens afterwards.
This article in the Guardian lays out the problems of the northern islands. This quote is given.
All the Shetland ever got from Scotland was dear meal and greedy ministers.
It may be true and I have heard something similar all over Suffolk, as people always feel that other areas of the UK get better treatment. In Suffolk’s case that usually means Norfolk.
Somehow, we must find a better way to spend taxes all over the UK.
Twoses and Threeses
I was on a bus today and thought a family opposite had triplets. They were actually a pair of twins and a singleton.
I was reminded of the old Suffolk words of twoses and threeses for twins and triplets respectively.
Does anybody else use these words?
Was The Torch A Day Late?
Yesterday was July the Fourth or Darrell’s Day in Suffolk, when the Dutch tried to invade in 1667.
So surely the torch should have visited Felixstowe yesterday, rather than today.
Danny’s Vision
Danny Boyle‘s idea for the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony will probably work and it’ll certainly be different.
But I have one gripe. The horses doing the ploughing should be Suffolk Horses or Punches. As someone, who has spent probably three-quarters of his life in the county, could I say otherwise. I think though, that the colour of all chestnut might be wrong, although of course they are slightly smaller than Shire horses, but probably with a better temperament for the Olympic stadium. Have a look at this Suffolk Punch parading at Portman Road, before Ipswich against Burnley.
The Suffolk Show is Cancelled
In all the years, I’ve lived in the county, I’ve never known the Suffolk Show to be cancelled because of the weather.
But it has been this year. It’s reported here.
Where’s The Beef?
The proverbial question only had one answer today and that was in the Northgate Arms on Southgate Road about a mile or so north of the infamous Silicon Roundabout.
I had mine with just a few vegetables and a glass of wine.It was definitely worth the walk down the road.
The best beef I ever tasted was some home-killed beef from a farmer friend in Suffolk. But then killing your own is illegal, as it was then, so I suspect that route to good beef is probably closed now.
But then if you want good meat, the less stress the animal gets the better!
The Anonymous Widower 