tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82624523234079944212024-03-06T00:46:07.310-08:00Bookshelves and Brown AleRandom Musings Of a Man From the MidlandsHoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.comBlogger222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-15210698366594718482015-08-15T07:32:00.000-07:002015-08-15T07:37:38.096-07:00Reggae on the Rocks - Live in Nottingham 2 August 2015<br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">Not so long ago I got the chance to see a live show by Nottinghams` Reggae on the Rocks, a band I`ve wanted to see for some time.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: cyan;">Along with a number of other bands, they were appearing at an event to publicise/raise funds for Maggie`s, a cancer-related cause based at Nottingham City Hospital</span> <span style="color: cyan;">( </span></span></strong><a href="https://www.maggiescentres.org/"><strong><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">https://www.maggiescentres.org</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: cyan;">).</span></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">ROTR played a short set made up of covers of classic reggae tunes, starting with the Abyssinians` Satta Massagana and ending with the Psalms` Joy in the Morning, two personal favourites of mine. You`ll readily see that they`re not afraid of a challenge as only a band who were very sure of themselves would attempt these two.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">Other artists` whose tunes were covered include John Holt, Toots and the Maytals and, rather surprisingly, Jesse J (a reggae re-working of the chart hit `Price Tag` which worked well ). </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">This was an early afternoon appearance and I gather the band had played live the previous night before making a lengthy journey home. Under the circumstances they could have been forgiven the odd slip but in fact they never faltered and the musicianship was impeccable throughout. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;">To their credit, the band was well-received by an audience that (I suspect) was largely unfamiliar with their material. Much of the credit for this is down to the communication skills of singer Luke, the ideal front man for this type of show.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The band giv</strong><strong>e the impression they see themselves as ambassadors - for reggae, for Nottingham and, on this occasion, for the Maggies charity. In that respect they were entirely successful.</strong></span></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: cyan;">ROTR can be found here ;</span> </span></strong><br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.reggaeontherocks.co.uk/"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">www.reggaeontherocks.co.uk</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></strong><br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMQZqFbPh5U"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;">www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMQZqFbPh5U</span></a> </strong><br />
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<strong> </strong>Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-47741262677963983922015-08-09T08:06:00.001-07:002015-08-14T13:27:30.536-07:00Review - Joan Champion - Incidental Murder - London, MacDonald - 1946 ?<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Joan Champion - Incidental Murder - MacDonald - Undated Hardback - Undated, but said to be from 1946 </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">I imagine book reviews are far from fashionable these days but I don`t plan to let that discourage me !</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Joan Champion`s tale of secret tunnels, murdered men with false identities, espionage, intrigue and much else is sometimes confusing, at other times just plain daft. Nevertheless, I have to admit I`ve become attached to it.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">It`s not for everyone - most modern readers will feel it lacks pace and I can`t imagine anyone thinking it`s an example of great novel-writing. Still, it has a certain charm.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">In just one area it has accidentally become modern is in the personality of one character, Thea, a plain clothes policewoman. Attractive, assertive, determined and intelligent she is clearly a great deal more focussed than central character Dan.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"> I very much doubt that this was a contrived effect on the part of the author, but it is interesting, and unusual for the time. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">One particular scene seems particularly in tune with modern tastes. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">As the story progresses, Dan becomes more and more interested in Thea in a way that has nothing to do with Police work. Shortly after the two have had a brief encounter with a pair of villains, Dan is left musing on his love interest, reflecting that his ideas about "the sort of domestic hearth scene that he had always associated with the married state" may have to be revised if he takes up with this forceful female. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">She turns to him and asks if he`s "wishing the same thing I am" . By now he knows her well enough to respond "somehow I don`t think so." How right he is ! While he`s been reflecting on his romantic aspirations towards her, she has been wishing that one of the villains had tried to hit her with a spanner he was carrying. "Then we`d have had something to grab him for. " !</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Dialogue like that from a character like Thea, is so de rigeur these days it`s pretty much a cliché. In 1946 it must have been very unusual. I could only speculate why Champion introduced this element - unless anyone knows more than I do ?</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">This book may test your patience a bit in places but overall, it`s a good read, and one you should be able to pick up cheaply online.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">P.S.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">I believe this was Joan Champions` only book and as far as I can tell I`m the first person to post anything about it on the internet. If anyone does know anything about the author I would be interested to hear from you. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">P.P.S. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">If you are fond of vintage detection, you may like to visit another pet project of mine, The Sexton Blake Blog ( http:thesextonblakeblog.blogspot.co.uk ) . Unfortunately it`s been neglected in recent times but I hope to do something about that soon. </span></strong>Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-69115665189600898432015-07-02T12:45:00.001-07:002015-07-02T12:56:07.177-07:00Action Mesothelioma Day 2015<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">For some years now I`ve used this blog to publicise Action Mesothelioma Day, which this year falls on 4 July 2015.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">I was prompted to start doing this by the death of a friend who had worked with asbestos in years gone by.</span></strong> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Unfortunately, this year I`ve not given the matter the attention I should. However, I would like to provide a few links which may be helpful to anyone seeking to know more about asbestos and asbestos-related diseases ; </strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.mesothelioma.uk.com/"><span style="color: yellow;">www.mesothelioma.uk.com</span></a> </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.junehancockfund.org/"><span style="color: yellow;">www.junehancockfund.org</span></a> </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.hasag.co.uk/"><span style="color: yellow;">www.hasag.co.uk</span></a> </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.asbestossupport.co.uk/"><span style="color: yellow;">www.asbestossupport.co.uk</span></a> </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos"><span style="color: yellow;">www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos</span></a> </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://ibasecretariat.org/index.htm"><span style="color: yellow;">http://ibasecretariat.org/index.htm</span></a> </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">I do apologise for my lateness in posting something this year but hope these prove useful to anyone with an interest.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Best,</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Nick </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-48924067011829840202015-04-14T07:33:00.002-07:002015-04-14T07:35:15.336-07:00A Hiatus<br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-size: large;">As you may have noticed, in recent times this blog has been undergoing a hiatus, an interruption, a delay and a lack of continuity.</span> </span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: cyan; font-size: large;"><strong>I hope some time to be able to resume blogging here but I don`t know when that will be.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: cyan;">In the meantime, you can keep up with Hoonaloon Collectables, the business which Mrs Nick and myself run, by using these links ;</span></strong> </span><br />
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<a href="http://hoonaloon.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><strong>http://hoonaloon.blogspot.co.uk</strong></span></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><span style="color: cyan;">and/or</span></strong> </span><br />
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<a href="http://stores.ebay.co.uk/hoonalooncollectables"><span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><strong>http://stores.ebay.co.uk/hoonalooncollectables</strong></span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-84222503620680947882014-11-23T02:42:00.001-08:002014-12-23T13:04:52.531-08:00From Sexton Blake to Joshua Dillard ; A Man from New Zealand and a Nineteenth Century Detective <br />
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<strong>Semper Novus Quid Keith Chapman. This blog is always pleased to hear from the excellent Mr Chapman, a great literary survivor whose career began at the <em>Sexton Blake Library</em> and continued through the <em>Edgar Wallace Mystery Magazine</em>, publisher Odhams, assorted magazines, newspapers and comics and ultimately to <em>Black Horse Westerns</em>.</strong><br />
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<strong>Despite recent health problems, our lad is still going strong and still productive. Recent actvities include <em>Witchery ; A Duo of Weird Tales</em> (as <em>Keith Chapman</em>), and e-book re-issues of <em>Peace at any</em> <em>Price</em> and <em>The Lawman and the Songbird </em>(as <em>Chap O`Keefe</em>).</strong><br />
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<strong>As luck would have it, he`s recently been intervieewed online and the results can be found at </strong><a href="http://tommcnulty.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">http://tommcnulty.blogspot.com</span></strong></a><strong> . Part One (<em>Sexton Blake Library</em>, <em>Edgar Wallace Mystery</em> <em>Magazine</em>) was posted on Saturday 8 Nov 2014 and Part Two (<em>Black Horse Westerns</em>) was posted on Friday 14 Nov 2014.</strong><br />
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<strong>In a recent e-mail, Keith drew my attention to his character <em>Joshua Dillard</em> , a Pinkertons` Detective ( a profession once pursued in real life by writer Dashiell Hammett ) whose adventures are chronicled in <em>The Lawman and the Songbird</em> and many others ;</strong> <br />
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<strong>"You could say that after all these years I`m still trying to fly the flag for hardboiled mystery, albeit my detective <em>Joshua Dillard</em> , unlike <em>Sexton Blake</em>, operates only in the 19th century !"</strong><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;">The handsome young fellow on the left of this picture is Keith `Chap O`Keefe` Chapman, at</span><br />
<span style="color: cyan;">that time editor of the Edgar Wallace Mystery Magazine. He is showing the proposed artwork for an edition of the EWMM to Wallaces` son and daughter.</span><br />
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<br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-33191169991065921232014-08-10T10:18:00.002-07:002014-08-10T10:57:40.358-07:00Jamie Joseph - Nottingham Riverside Festival 3 August 2014<br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>Each year around this time I`ve been in the habit of reviewing the bands that appear at the Beeston Summer in the Square (Music in the Square) season, an series of events that has attracted a varied assortment of artists, ranging from covers bands ( Joe Strange, JT4, 60s R Us), blues man Raphael Achache, jazz songstress Jeannie Barton, the African vibes of Bana Congo and Les Elus, eclectic folk people Carmina and many, many more.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>Sadly, Broxtowe Borough Council is not putting those events on this year but fortunately my life is not a total cultural wasteland as I recently caught a live set by Derby-based soul dude Jamie Joseph.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"> Jamie Joseph</span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>It`s a funny thing about me and soul music - I`ve seen and enjoyed a number of pretty impressive soul acts live, including Edwin Starr, Martha Reeves and David Ruffin but I rarely listen to it at home. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>You might think that having seen some seriously soulful live shows I wouldn`t be impressed by young Jamie and his band. You would be totally wrong.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>I don`t usually review anything that`s not fresh in my mind but I`m making an exception as it`s pretty easy to recall the sheer range of his voice, which can find it`s way from growling low notes to higher-pitched, more sensitive phrases without apparent difficulty. `Apparent` may be the key word, however, as at the end he was hampered in addressing a few words to the audience by the fact his speaking voice was playing up.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>I`ll be honest and admit that most of the material he performed was unfamiliar to me and a lot of the time I had no idea which songs were covers and which were originals. Nevertheless if you`re looking for soulfulness coupled with commitment, Jamie`s your lad !</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>On the Web ; </strong></span><br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJk9hgQopeo"><span style="color: yellow;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJk9hgQopeo</span></a></strong><br />
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<a href="http://vimeo.com/62543125"><span style="color: yellow;"><strong>http://vimeo.com/62543125</strong></span></a><br />
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<br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-41080205770574235962014-07-22T13:45:00.000-07:002014-07-22T13:53:54.878-07:00Take4views Exhibition - D H Lawrence Heritage Centre - Derbyshire Artists <strong><span style="color: cyan;">The D H Lawrence Heritage Centre was formerly known as Durban House and is best known as the place where the young D H Lawrence was sometimes sent to collect his dad`s wages, and for the well-organised campaign against it`s proposed closure some time ago (see `Save Durban House, Eastwood` posted 17 Nov 2010 at</span> </strong><a href="http://angpav.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">http://angpav.blogspot.com</span></strong></a><strong> <span style="background-color: cyan;">).</span></strong><span style="background-color: cyan;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>In the event a solution was found whereby Nottingham University took over the running of the site from the local council and the venue is now considered something of a success.</strong> </span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">This is the first time I have visited in quite a while. My first impression was that little has changed. The staff are friendly and helpful, the admission fee is reasonable and the heritage exhibition seemed much as I remembered it.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">The standing exhbition refers to Lawrence, his friends, family and associates. There are pictures of Lawrence and his associates `The Pagans`, including W E Hopkin, a reproduced 19th centry classroom and more in the same vein. Perhaps inevitably, part of the display refers to Lawrence`s essay Nottingham and the Mining Countryside.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Of particular interest to me was a display of books and records relating to Lawrence`s work including a book about the Lady Chatterley Trial edited by C H Rolph (C R Hewitt).</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">One proviso I would make if you`re considering a visit, I personally would not take a particularly young child as there are a number of small, portable items on display within easy reach of young hands and in my experience only the most saintly of children will resist the temptation to do something unexpected with a plastic carrot given the opportunity !</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">On now to the Rainbow Gallery, on the same floor as the heritage exhibition, where we encounter the work of four local artists ; <span style="color: yellow;">Janice Allen</span>, <span style="color: yellow;">Martin Sloman</span>, <span style="color: yellow;">Karina Goodman</span> and <span style="color: yellow;">Ruth Gray</span>.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;"><span style="color: yellow;">Karina Goodman</span> is a painter of landscapes who had only a small number of works on display compared to the others. It would have been helpful to have a wider range of her works available. I hope she will forgive me if I say the few that were to be found didn`t really appeal to me. Then again, artistic appreciation is an unpredictable aardvark and my taste may not be yours.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;"><span style="color: yellow;">Martin Sloman</span> is a painter with ten years` experience. In general I would say he is more than competent in a variety of styles but this comes at a price and one is left with no clear idea who he is artistically. Having said that, his Venice by Night is absolutely stunning and one of the high points of the exhibition.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;"><span style="color: yellow;">Ruth Gray</span> is a professional freelance artist. Some of her street scenes can look a bit wooden (an exception is the excellent Heading to Nuthall After Rush Hour) but she makes excellent use of colour in some of her others, particularly Evening Puddles at Belper Tennis Club, Lanterns and Candles at Ashbourne and Autumn Impression at Matlock Bath.</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>For me the star of this show is <span style="color: yellow;">Janice Allen</span>, a self-taught artist who describes herself as motivated by "enthusiasm and the desire to paint". My personal favourite of hers was On the Top (Winter Freeze)</strong> <strong>though I thought it would have been better placed elsewhere in the exhibition as it`s one where you need to stand back a bit to see it properly. Others that impressed me were Amber Glow, Amongst the Trees and Sense of Solitude. Whether she is technically the best artist to be found here I don`t know, but her passion for painting really shines through. Would appeal to lovers of nature and the great outdoors, which is probably why I like them.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">If you do visit the DHLHC, don`t forget to have a look at From Eastwood to the World by Nottingham-based artist <span style="color: yellow;">Dr Ala</span> <span style="color: yellow;">Bashir </span>, a very striking work which overlooks the stairs. This was of particular interest to me personally as in fact I own a painting by a Nottingham-based artist named Bashir. I suspect that`s just co-incidence however. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Take4views runs until 24 Aug 2014. The DHLHC can be found at </span><a href="http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/dhlheritage/index.aspx"><span style="color: yellow;">http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/dhlheritage/index.aspx</span></a><span style="color: yellow;"> </span></strong><br />
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<strong> </strong>Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-37235863384213794482014-06-24T12:43:00.000-07:002014-06-25T02:11:46.324-07:00Action Mesothelioma Day 2014<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGE_Hloj9och2UGVsb-7SR5rAVm_Oz_mHVBmjFT2KUro1_EaPaVXaJgTkz4_Nu6PWZdoaBgXGB7C4keMct8eqR9Wkbiv0b7mKHHtkyKfLFIG_ZnOInzfHBes-4wZC86qen80GdA03rmKA/s1600/meso+day.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGE_Hloj9och2UGVsb-7SR5rAVm_Oz_mHVBmjFT2KUro1_EaPaVXaJgTkz4_Nu6PWZdoaBgXGB7C4keMct8eqR9Wkbiv0b7mKHHtkyKfLFIG_ZnOInzfHBes-4wZC86qen80GdA03rmKA/s1600/meso+day.png" height="59" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong><em>A few years ago one of my friends died as a result of exposure to asbestos whilst working as a roofer during his mis-spent youth.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>For that reason I like to do my bit each year to pubicise the annual Action Mesothelioma Day.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>This years` event takes place on Friday 4 July 2014 and there will be various activities up and down the country.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>For more information contact either Debbie Neale or Jill Lemon via </em></strong><a href="http://www.mesothelioma.uk.com/"><strong><em><span style="color: yellow;">www.mesothelioma.uk.com</span></em></strong></a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9Lj-jymgJoEibHyEe14fsaJZcf1LP1NbzTfhPvwlWHrI02MMCtAPC8HK7ja7ikAerkihXtJdVwpLIYy4uhjGoBGUzBWKepK5f3dloio-0-ZRn2pYTgm5L7igfVmYDCD1vbLPvYoioTs/s1600/meso+day.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS9Lj-jymgJoEibHyEe14fsaJZcf1LP1NbzTfhPvwlWHrI02MMCtAPC8HK7ja7ikAerkihXtJdVwpLIYy4uhjGoBGUzBWKepK5f3dloio-0-ZRn2pYTgm5L7igfVmYDCD1vbLPvYoioTs/s1600/meso+day.png" height="59" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-9198616131272040842014-06-24T12:01:00.003-07:002014-06-24T12:21:14.277-07:00Commonwealth Interlude<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KNDhq1t6tRd9IxqkObWfHfWuOVf8bJfAjWaVljOHuAXW9PyhkpyQ_XLkGZlsBD_rmLkKqXB9EfqQRVaaM_4VSZxoHl9rUhMZ_WkmtCSoocwoElkAFLhBIF-AzaUD18nXFFeOYUFoPcQ/s1600/commonwealth+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KNDhq1t6tRd9IxqkObWfHfWuOVf8bJfAjWaVljOHuAXW9PyhkpyQ_XLkGZlsBD_rmLkKqXB9EfqQRVaaM_4VSZxoHl9rUhMZ_WkmtCSoocwoElkAFLhBIF-AzaUD18nXFFeOYUFoPcQ/s1600/commonwealth+3.png" /></a></div>
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<strong>I`m guessing for most people if you mention the Commonwealth they think of the Commonwealth Games and little else. They may have a vague idea that it`s some kind of international forum with little relevance to their lives.</strong></div>
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<strong>In fact for many people nothing could be further from the truth.</strong> </div>
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<strong>A recent newspaper article* makes the point very well ;</strong></div>
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<strong> " While the Commonwealth Games are heading to the UK this summer, businesses in the East Midlands are heading to the Commonwealth." </strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtI6Cug-8ntEMLcYFfRaFvF1L8SXBIRA8FafAs0IOmpQZRY0BSdX_ZFG7kNsyYiO8rcUEmuvHnq61xhx0K0r-WYtDSBygDjs_cZFCumanlIukjGjbEculWYMz4kqHAcyhAZ42-MsBNBk/s1600/commonwealth+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtI6Cug-8ntEMLcYFfRaFvF1L8SXBIRA8FafAs0IOmpQZRY0BSdX_ZFG7kNsyYiO8rcUEmuvHnq61xhx0K0r-WYtDSBygDjs_cZFCumanlIukjGjbEculWYMz4kqHAcyhAZ42-MsBNBk/s1600/commonwealth+1.png" /></a></div>
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<strong>The article goes on to look at the value of exports from the East Midlands to the Commonwealth during the period April 2013 - March 2014.</strong></div>
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<strong>The bigger players are hardly surprising - exports from the region to South Africa were valued accounted for £147.1 million, and Australia accounted for a further £239.5 million.</strong></div>
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<strong>Exports to Kenya came to £27.2 million , not too surprising perhaps as this is not so far different to the previous years` figure (an increase of around 12% as I recall).</strong></div>
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<strong>Two Commonwealth countries had increassed their level of imports from the East Midlands quite dramatically ( in percentage terms ) - exports from the E Mids to Cameroon increased by 26.4% to £2.1 million and the figure for Pakistan was even higher - a 30% increase to £36.6 million.</strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokQR82XADgXY-HfBLw1mahPvyZTGMsZAUdx6DAAu53TZUGPYsm0S_1zkgIOHDto4qkAW6tWZqH3z8jikJyGtYLK8E45K0eITiJekkY9XFaOPftvwZ9ahk01XM6qyL5hGtA7JH7FJTB9A/s1600/commonwealth+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokQR82XADgXY-HfBLw1mahPvyZTGMsZAUdx6DAAu53TZUGPYsm0S_1zkgIOHDto4qkAW6tWZqH3z8jikJyGtYLK8E45K0eITiJekkY9XFaOPftvwZ9ahk01XM6qyL5hGtA7JH7FJTB9A/s1600/commonwealth+2.png" /></a></div>
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<strong>Now that`s just the figure for the East Midlands, a relatively small part of the UK as a whole. You might argue that the figures will tend to be high for a region with a heavy manufacturing presence, and that other regions may produce rather different figures. It`s worth remembering though that the E Mids is quite diverse -Lincolnshire is very different to other parts of the region for instance.</strong></div>
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<strong>Of course, The Commonwealth is not<em> just</em> about business, anymore than it is <em>just</em> about culture or <em>just </em>about sport and athletics.</strong></div>
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<strong>Lists of Commonwealth-related organisations** contain an extraordinary array of different organisations and interest groups. With a range of interests that include boxing, architecture, paediatric gastroenterology and museum administration, there`s certainly quite a bit to go at ! </strong></div>
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<strong>Without wanting to re-tread old ground, here are a few Commonwealth-related links you might find interesting ; </strong></div>
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<strong>Global (Global Briefing) - <a href="http://www.global-briefing.org/"><span style="color: yellow;">http://www.global-briefing.org</span></a> </strong></div>
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<strong>Commonwealth Foundation - <a href="http://commonwealthfoundation.com/"><span style="color: yellow;">http://commonwealthfoundation.com</span></a> </strong></div>
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<strong>Commonwealth Countries League - <a href="http://www.ccl-int.org/Index.aspx"><span style="color: yellow;">http://www.ccl-int.org/Index.aspx</span></a> </strong></div>
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<strong>Commonwealth Business Council - </strong><a href="http://www.cbcglobal.org/"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">http://www.cbcglobal.org</span></strong></a> </div>
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<strong>Any grouping of nations is bound to be prone to the odd falling-out, and the Commonwealth has seen a few of these in its` time. </strong><strong>However that may be its` pretty clear the ties that hold the Commonwealth together have proved pretty durable overall. </strong> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNOqmeCvm1qev2HJzkOTDC-eZqIOyhetuaBroSTVS1lmQ8zB7q4wm78hhyphenhyphensOKt-TL-_XOC-Zzbeou47b70qMPYApvGXNhRm8ZR3ajXJk_7JTlKMgNJ9q1gDktg1w4NkOAK-1QhXMRoSo/s1600/commonwealth+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfNOqmeCvm1qev2HJzkOTDC-eZqIOyhetuaBroSTVS1lmQ8zB7q4wm78hhyphenhyphensOKt-TL-_XOC-Zzbeou47b70qMPYApvGXNhRm8ZR3ajXJk_7JTlKMgNJ9q1gDktg1w4NkOAK-1QhXMRoSo/s1600/commonwealth+4.png" /></a></div>
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<strong><em>* Unsigned - Regions` Exports to the Commonwealth Soaring - Nottingham Evening Post 9 June 2014 </em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>** These links will lead you to two useful lists ; </em></strong><a href="http://thecommonwealth.org/our-organisations"><strong><em><span style="color: yellow;">http://thecommonwealth.org/our-organisations</span></em></strong></a><strong><em> , </em></strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Family"><strong><em><span style="color: yellow;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Family</span></em></strong></a><strong><em> .</em></strong> </div>
Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-59989888981627750492014-05-31T08:34:00.000-07:002014-06-05T08:03:02.351-07:00Some Viaducts I Have Known <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbJipVY0IXGk2H0Rpl8yiLoL3z1b-qfgV4BZUae8ePho_Uxd-8DmyyHlHAjrmTVgdRJ0u4IRAFzXawXcleoKqMf4Hk8TdQ7AwDbbm1k-UURHfz4PnCqsXNhmO5Ijk9UafvxGEA0QFUr4/s1600/16042014(015).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXbJipVY0IXGk2H0Rpl8yiLoL3z1b-qfgV4BZUae8ePho_Uxd-8DmyyHlHAjrmTVgdRJ0u4IRAFzXawXcleoKqMf4Hk8TdQ7AwDbbm1k-UURHfz4PnCqsXNhmO5Ijk9UafvxGEA0QFUr4/s1600/16042014(015).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ddx73t6AVTBAKBWekLn_P7HF8L_UIibiPphpmV-3Z7-2jqQlsM7p4xb_YXUnqZbVadU_tka5O0cP1AmwwgFW2JH05SypEE3zJEkm0GjomeqJOyYIsqmPDLiU109Wb6_QCUbmVI-Sotk/s1600/16042014(017).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ddx73t6AVTBAKBWekLn_P7HF8L_UIibiPphpmV-3Z7-2jqQlsM7p4xb_YXUnqZbVadU_tka5O0cP1AmwwgFW2JH05SypEE3zJEkm0GjomeqJOyYIsqmPDLiU109Wb6_QCUbmVI-Sotk/s1600/16042014(017).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Here are pictures of a couple of viaducts I have bonded with. Above is Larpool Viaduct, Whitby, the top photograph taken by self, the lower photograph taken by Mrs Nick.</strong><br />
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<strong>Below are pictures of Bennerley Viaduct on the Notts/Derbyshire border. I am always surprised to see how sombre Bennerley Viaduct looks in pictures as it is near my home and I have nothing but happy memories of visiting it with family and friends.</strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-G2E0ziD0gr8QB9XyY32oEPf0W85iCoIg0dS8J0Ez2rjfWVWS8w-op7OZ95RTnWAEeKD4_U9A-YTfEJjiuwvZBHs98U9kVWB-wpPMNx_8EFpDKOM1bwpsESwfAyhI1ylhKs2_urs1GjU/s1600/100_0645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-G2E0ziD0gr8QB9XyY32oEPf0W85iCoIg0dS8J0Ez2rjfWVWS8w-op7OZ95RTnWAEeKD4_U9A-YTfEJjiuwvZBHs98U9kVWB-wpPMNx_8EFpDKOM1bwpsESwfAyhI1ylhKs2_urs1GjU/s1600/100_0645.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbBM_mY6Q2JtVyFHBmqfcdJieK2KtQi2kuDtJyJEul8M4FzyLjdtY5v3f5pvJmrjREaFE364Gd7YvMjNJo5beSRVe2TMEWVGukeKPhFKMFOYL9nW4GWLPtRQoHqAU5yzdocx5k_yaB8E/s1600/100_1869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMbBM_mY6Q2JtVyFHBmqfcdJieK2KtQi2kuDtJyJEul8M4FzyLjdtY5v3f5pvJmrjREaFE364Gd7YvMjNJo5beSRVe2TMEWVGukeKPhFKMFOYL9nW4GWLPtRQoHqAU5yzdocx5k_yaB8E/s1600/100_1869.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<strong>Should you wish to enlarge your experience of the nations` viaductical delights, here are some links you might like ; </strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.railwaypaths.org.uk/"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">www.railwaypaths.org.uk</span></strong></a><strong> </strong><br />
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<a href="http://transportheritage.com/"><a href="http://transportheritage.com/find-heritage-locations.html"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">http://transportheritage.com</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color: yellow;">/find-heritage-locations.html</span></strong> </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.forgottenrelics.co.uk/"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">www.forgottenrelics.co.uk</span></strong></a> <br />
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<br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-58176154526939137752014-05-31T08:32:00.002-07:002014-05-31T08:33:41.569-07:00Walter Tyrer 1900 - 1978<br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Many crime fiction buffs will no doubt share my fondness for the adventures of fictional sleuth Sexton Blake.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">For what it`s worth, I never think of those stories as being `retro` and I don`t appreciate them with any sense of `post-modern irony` or wotnot. I leave that sort of thing to others.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Vintage crimestopper Blake was interpreted by many different writers over the years, one of my favourites being the late Walter Tyrer.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">I`ve posted reviews of Walters` works here, there and everywhere but only recently have I been able to provide a potted biog.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">To see the result of my efforts, look for `Walter Tyrer ; A Writers` Life, posted a couple of days ago at</span> </strong><a href="http://thesextonblakeblog.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">http://thesextonblakeblog.blogspot.com</span></strong></a><strong> .</strong> <br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"> <strong> Walter Tyrer (1956 publicity shot). Thanks to Ray Elmitt for</strong> <strong>providing this.</strong></span> <br />
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<br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-64995462188234917242014-05-21T00:51:00.003-07:002014-05-21T03:21:52.081-07:00On and Off the Rails<br />
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<strong>I`m having a long-overdue sort-out of my old photos and today we`re going with a railway theme.</strong></div>
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<strong>Above are pictures of steam trains at Matlock Town </strong><strong> ( more info from </strong><a href="http://www.peakrail.co.uk/"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">www.peakrail.co.uk</span></strong></a><strong> ).</strong></div>
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<strong>Below are pictures of abandoned railway materials near to Bennerley Viaduct. I see these often and always wonder if some group of railway enthusiasts couldn`t find a use for them. They`re doing no-one any good where they are.</strong></div>
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<strong>I`ve had a quite look around the web, and unsurprisingly there are a bewildering array of sites catering to rail buffs.</strong></div>
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<strong>For a useful overview of heritage railway sites, click here ; <a href="http://www.uksteam.info/links.htm"><span style="color: yellow;">www.uksteam.info/links.htm</span></a> .</strong></div>
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<strong>Also useful is <a href="http://www.rail.co.uk/"><span style="color: yellow;">www.rail.co.uk</span></a> .</strong></div>
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<strong>There are numerous camnpaign groups, including the national campaign Action for Rail ( </strong><a href="http://actionforrail.org/"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">http://actionforrail.org</span></strong></a><strong> ) , the Skipton-based SELRAP ( </strong><a href="http://www.selrap.org.uk/"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">www.selrap.org.uk</span></strong></a><strong> ) and The Campaign for Better Tranport ( <a href="http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/"><span style="color: yellow;">www.bettertransport.org.uk</span></a> ) who campaign on issues around HS2, for lower train fares and, in partnership with a number of local groups, for the re-opening of a number disused railway lines. </strong></div>
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<span id="goog_1800618706"></span><span id="goog_1800618707"></span><br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-84262621503512248312014-04-27T12:46:00.001-07:002014-04-27T12:46:52.434-07:00Evolution Evolving in Derbyshire<br />
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<strong>Jonathan Powers - Evolution Evolving ; Part One - Dr Erasmus Darwin</strong> </div>
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<strong>"Was `Evolutionism` then in the Derby air ?" asks Jonathan Powers in his work on the life and times of local lad Erasmus Darwin, noting that proto-`evolutionists` Robert Waring Darwin and Herbert Spencer were also "linked to the same Midlands industrial town."</strong></div>
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<strong>He goes on to comment that others have argued "that this `evolutionary perspective`...was a by-product of the belief in technological progress which accompanied the industrial revolution - spreading from centres such as Derby, the Derwent Valley and Coalbrookdale to what became the great manufacturing cities of the Midlands and the North" but goes on to outline his own similar-but-different take on these matters ;</strong></div>
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<strong>"This perspective also influenced the<em> character</em> of their evolutionary views which...were distinctly and unrepentantly progressivist."</strong> </div>
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<strong>I am currently part way through this fascinating booklet - I shall be posting a review online in due course, though not necessarily on this blog - and have to say that JP`s enthusiasm for his subject has rubbed off on me, so I thought I`d take advantage of a spare ten minutes to give it a quick plug.</strong></div>
Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-67749964717259225882014-03-15T09:52:00.002-07:002014-03-16T13:48:51.272-07:00Walter the Wordsmith<br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>This blog is always happy to hear from writer and editor Keith Chapman. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>Once a member of the editorial team at the Sexton Blake Library and later editor of the Edgar Wallace Mystery Magazine, Keith now writes westerns in the Black Horse series under the name Chap O`Keefe and has recently been involved in re-issuing his O`Keefe titles as e-books ( </strong></span><a href="http://www.blackhorsewesterns.com/feb14"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">www.blackhorsewesterns.com/feb14</span></strong></a><span style="color: cyan;"><strong> ).</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>His main reason for contacting me was not to plug his own works, but to discuss a recent discovery he had made concerning Walter Tyrer, a writer we both admire.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;">Walter Tyrer circa 1956</span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Tyrer cut his literary teeth writing schoolboy fiction and later turned his hand to romance, westerns and detective fiction. It is his work in the latter category that interests me, in particular the many stories he contributed to the Sexton Blake Library in the post-war period.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">While many regard him as something of a `pulp` writer (not necessarily in a bad way), I personally feel that Tyrers` Blake tales are works of great craftsmanship, featuring as they often do an array of outlandish characters and giving full rein to his rather quirky sense of humour. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">That`s enough background details. We return now to Keiths` missive. Going through old papers relating to his tenure as editor of the Edgar Wallace Mystery Magazine, our man had discovered correspondence and a short story from one J T Lang, which was a pseudonym used by Walter. The story is believed to have remained unpublished, probably because Micron, the firm which employed Keith and at that time published the EWMM, was about to go under. There is also evidence that Mr Lang/Tyrer had had some difficulties obtaining payment from Micron for stories already published, which may also have been a factor.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">To his credit, Keith decided to see to it that this story (it`s a suspense/crime story called A Professional Job) saw the light of day. Clearly it was necessary to establish who, if anyone, held the rights to Walters` works. Steve Holland at Bear Alley ( <a href="http://bearalley.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: yellow;">http://bearalley.blogspot.co.uk</span></a> ) was helpful and provided general advice but it was beginning to look as if the trail might go cold.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Just then an almost-forgotten memory emerged from the dark recesses of my tiny mind. Some time ago, author Ray Elmitt had contacted me via another blog of mine, <a href="http://thesextonblakeblog.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: yellow;">http://thesextonblakeblog.blogspot.co.uk</span></a> . He had been researching the history of his home and had found that it had previously been the address of a fellow-writer - Walter Tyrer. At around the same time he had some contact with Walters` daughter Jennifer who had paid a visit to the house. Could he help ?</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Indeed he could, and the upshot of this story is that Walter Tyrers` two daughters have raised no objection to this previously unavailable work being brought into the public gaze. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">The purpose of this article is not to over-emphasise my own miniscule contribution to the matter, but to pass on the information that , due largely to the efforts of Keith (Chap O`Keefe) Chapman, A Professional Job will soon be appearing both online and in print courtesy of David Cranmers` webzine <a href="http://www.beattoapulp.com/"><span style="color: yellow;">http://www.beattoapulp.com</span></a> . </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: cyan;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: cyan;">I`m sure Keith would join me in thanking Ray Elmitt and Walter Tyrers` daughter Jennifer for their warm support and enthusiasm. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">It goes without saying that it is enormously gratifying to see this story book brought out of the shadows, and to have played a part in that, however small. Any enquiries would be best directed either to David at his site, or to Keith c/o <a href="http://www.blackhorsewesterns.com/"><span style="color: yellow;">www.blackhorsewesterns.com</span></a> . </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: yellow;">NOTE</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">The black and white photo of Walter Tyrer circa 1956 was supplied by Ray Elmitt. The other illustrations are of Tyrer SBL titles from my own collection. Although A Professional Job is not actually a Sexton Blake title I thought they would give a bit of added interest. Anyway, I`ve gone on far too long and I`ll shut up now. </span></strong><br />
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<br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-762342489360605782014-03-14T01:43:00.000-07:002014-03-15T07:57:47.854-07:00The Detection Club - The Floating Admiral - HarperCollins - circa 2011 (reprint) <br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">The Detection Club<span style="color: yellow;">*</span> - The Floating Admiral - HarperCollins - Circa 2011 (reprint)</span></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">I assumed unquestioningly that I would enjoy this book, which just shows how wrong you can be !</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">The book was published in 1932 and the idea was that a number of members of the Detection Club</span> ( </em></strong><a href="http://martinedwardsbooks.com/detectionclub.htm"><strong><span style="color: yellow;"><em>http://martinedwardsbooks.com/detectionclub.htm</em></span></strong></a><strong><em> ) <span style="color: cyan;">would each write a chapter and that it would presumably showcase the talents of the various members of the group.</span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong><em>For myself, I thought it would be interesting in that it brought together under one cover both household names (Christie, Sayers)and others less well-known (Victor L Whitechurch) or indeed largely forgotten (Milward Kennedy). The fact that I already own a number of collections of crime fiction short stories from that era which perform exactly the same function never occurred to me !</em></strong> </span><br />
<span style="color: cyan;"></span><br />
<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">To my surprise, I felt that some of the `household name` contributors under-performed, and I have to single out Agatha Christie for particular criticism here. By contrast, Henry Wade and Freeman Wills Crofts both seem to have gone to some trouble to try to get the thing back on course.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">The story reaches it`s nadir during Ronald A Knox`s chapter. Ronald makes use of a technique used by a number of detective story writers of the period, that of having the detective sit back and reflect on various points concerning the case which remain unresolved. There is nothing wrong with this in principle, it helps the reader recall what has happened and gives them some idea, hopefully where the story is going.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">In Mr Knoxs` case however, the detectives` ruminations run to 39 numbered paragraphs occupying around 25 pages !</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;"> At that point I very nearly threw the book across the room. Instead I persevered but it got no better. I am not at all surprised that Anthony Berkeleys` closing chapter had the heading Clearing up the Mess.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">Give it a try if you want, but I strongly suggest you borrow a copy before forking out good money for this.</span></em></strong> <br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>The dust jacket of the modern reprint features a rather undistinguished illustration of a rowing boat adrift on a river. The hardcover, however, features a reproduction of the cover design for the first edition (above). Not to modern tastes, and not especially to my taste, but interesting nonetheless.</strong> </span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span> Members of The Detection Club who contributed to this volume ; Canon Victor L Whitechurch, G D H Cole , M Cole, Henry Wade, Agatha Christie, John Rhode, Milward Kennedy, Dorothy L Sayers, Ronald A Knox, Freeman Wills Croft, Edgar Jepson, Clemence Dane, Anthony Berkeley.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">In addition to her own contribution, Dorothy L Sayers contributed an Introduction and G K Chesterton added a Prologue. The modern reprint features a Foreword by Simon Brett.</span></strong><br />
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<br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-3068314287014110942014-03-08T13:24:00.001-08:002014-03-08T13:50:45.515-08:00Agatha Christie - Parker Pyne Investigates - Harper Collins - circa 2011 (reprint)<strong><span style="color: yellow;">Agatha Christie - Parker Pyne Investigates - HarperCollins - circa 2011 (reprint)</span></strong><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>"For 35 years of my life I have been engaged in the compiling of statistics in a government office. Now I have retired and it has occurred to me to use the experience I have gained in a novel fashion. It is all so simple. Unhappiness can be classified under five main heads - no more, I assure you. Once you know the cause of a malady, the remedy should not be impossible."</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>So does Parker Pyne introduce himself and his work to prospective clients. You will readily appreciate that, while he does on occasion undertake a bit of sleuthing, he is not by any means a detective per se.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>The first story in this collection was a definite winner to my mind but I was not at all sure that Pynes` actvities really would merit a whole book of stories. Maybe it would have been better for Ms Christie to quit while she was ahead where Mr P was concerned ?</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>The next story did not seem as good but I persevered and I have to say, Agatha was right and I was wrong. It`s true there are a couple of stories that I didn`t much care for, but taken as a whole the collection works.</strong></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">It is necessarily a touch old-fashioned (the book first appeared in 1934). It may not be to everyones` taste but if you fancy trying something a bit different you may wish to do what I did and borrow a modern reprint from your local library. </span></strong><br />
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<br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-10981767369898825372014-02-23T10:17:00.004-08:002014-02-25T06:37:46.743-08:00February Round-Up<br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Once again I`m blogging belatedly, but hopefully, these few items may be of interest.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Local author Neal James is offering a helping online hand to budding authors by ioffering them the chance to have a short story published on his website. Regular visitors to this blog may recall that Nottinghams` W W Morgan does something sinilar.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">To learn more, click here ;</span> </strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.ambervalley.info/newsarticle.asp?newsid=1378"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">http://www.ambervalley.info/newsarticle.asp?newsid=1378</span></strong></a><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Staying with the written word, last month this blog was happy to make the acquaintance online of Sienna Mae Heath, a resident of LeHigh Valley (Pennsylvania/New Jersey, USA), an admirer of Robert Louis Stevenson. Among her other accomplishments, Sienna is a freelance contributor to local newspapers The Morning Call and The Express-Times. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">To see a selection of her writings, use these links ;</span> </strong><br />
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<a href="http://connect.lehighvalleylive.com/user/smheath/posts.html"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">http://connect.lehighvalleylive.com/user/smheath/posts.html</span></strong></a> <br />
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<a href="http://www.heartizen.com/smh.htm"><span style="color: yellow;"><strong>http://www.heartizen.com/smh.htm</strong></span></a> <br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">I gather she is also writing a novel inspired by her experience of living in Europe and the UK. Hopefully, we`ll have more on that at a later date. </span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Changing tack slightly, back in the UK, the organisation Sense About Science has launched a campaign known as Ask for Evidence which claims to hold companies, public bodies, politiciansd and commentators accountable for the claims they make. The campaign is supported by the British Humanist Association.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">For more details ;</span></strong> <br />
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<a href="http://www.senseaboutscience.org/pages/a4e.html"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">http://www.senseaboutscience.org/pages/a4e.html</span></strong></a><br />
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<a href="https://humanism.org.uk/2014/01/09/bha-supports-ask-evidence-campaign"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">https://humanism.org.uk/2014/01/09/bha-supports-ask-evidence-campaign</span></strong></a><strong> </strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">We end by turning full circle and returning to the Midlands where the Leicestershire town of Hinckley is home to a campaign to save the Old Regent (aka Flutters) , a 1920s art deco theatre-turned-cinema-turned bingo hall. Now standing empty, the Old Regent faces an uncertain future due to plans for a car park.</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Learn more by using these links ;</span> </strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-25868478"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-25868478</span></strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">www.leicestermercury.co.uk</span></strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.hinckleytimes.net/"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">www.hinckleytimes.net</span></strong></a><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">The photos of the interior of the Old Regent/Flutters are by photographer Michael Hess, and is used by permission of</span> </strong><a href="http://playingbingo.co.uk/"><span style="color: yellow;"><strong>http://playingbingo.co.uk</strong></span></a><strong> . </strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Use these links to see more photos by Mr Hess, including more of the interior of the Old Regent ;</span> </strong><br />
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<a href="http://playingbingo.co.uk/creative-corner/photography/michael-hess/index.php"><span style="color: yellow;"><strong>http://playingbingo.co.uk/creative-corner/photography/michael-hess/index.php</strong></span></a><br />
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<strong><a href="http://playingbingo.co.uk/creative-corner/photography/michael-hess/hinckley-flutters-bingo.php"><span style="color: yellow;">http://playingbingo.co.uk/creative-corner/photography/michael-hess/hinckley-flutters-bingo.php</span></a></strong> <br />
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<br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-36644314158071749252014-01-09T12:59:00.000-08:002014-01-09T13:05:32.811-08:00Hello and Welcome to 2014 !<br />
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<strong><em>Slightly belatedly, Happy New Year to all our readers (assuming I have some left after such a long lay-off !).</em></strong> <br />
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<strong><em>As you may have gathered, the closing months of 2013 were a busy time for us and therefore blogging went on hold for a time.</em></strong><br />
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<strong><em>A quick catch-up seems in order.</em></strong> <br />
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<strong><em>As a general thing I`m not all that interested in topical plays and have even less interest in plays that feature actors best known for their TV work. However, November found me travelling to Nottingham to see Ben Miller (Death in Paradise, Armstrong and Miller) in the Duck House, a play about the MPs expenses scandal of a few years ago.</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>The plays` blend of satire and farce worked well and produced many laugh-out-loud moments. The main weakness came in a superfluous closing address to the audience by Miller, still in character as a terminally half-witted politician. It was not apparent at first that he was still playing a part and in fact some of the audience misunderstood the situation and heckled him !</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Back in the real world, The Ramblers continue to meet with some success in their campaign for a coastal path. Visit <a href="http://www.ramblers.org.uk/onecoastforall"><span style="color: yellow;">www.ramblers.org.uk/onecoastforall</span></a> to learn more.</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has been highlighting the role played by women in World War One. To learn more, click here ; </em></strong><a href="http://www.cwgc.org/media/162247/etaples.pdf"><strong><em><span style="color: yellow;">http://www.cwgc.org/media/162247/etaples.pdf</span></em></strong></a><strong><em> .</em></strong></div>
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<u></u><strong><em> This blog has been effusive in its` praise for that august periodical The Nottinghamshire Walker. Sadly, that worthy organ ceased to be appear during 2013. However, all is not lost as it made a partial return in the form of a special issue at the end of last year. </em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>Features include ; Des Whicher Remembered, HS2 ; Its` Effects on our Rights of Way, The Changing Countryside. In addition there is much in the way of `news and views`including updates on the Sherwood Forest Project and local campaigns such as that waged by Worksop Ramblers in a bid to save paths threatened by a proposed new Tesco.</em></strong></div>
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<strong><em>I`m sure a spare copy can be found if anyone wants to see it ; try </em></strong><a href="http://www.nottinghamramblers.org.uk/"><strong><em><span style="color: yellow;">www.nottinghamramblers.org.uk</span></em></strong></a><strong><em> .</em></strong> </div>
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<br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-23606135614875951772013-10-25T09:52:00.002-07:002013-11-09T00:08:57.633-08:00Catch a Fire ? #2 <br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;"><em>I`ve always quite fancied doing one of those articles where you present two different views of an issue and let the reader decide which they prefer.</em></span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;"><em>As it happens, the chance has just come up.</em></span></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">As I`ve already mentioned , proposed cuts to the Fire and Rescue Service in Derbyshire are proving to be an emotive issue locally<span style="color: yellow;">*.</span> </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;"><em>For more information on the proposals, including a consultation document outlining the proposed changes, and a reference document providing more information and background reasoning, click here ;</em></span></strong> <br />
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<em><strong><span style="color: cyan;">This also gives you the chance to respond to the consultation and there is information on the six consultation events taking place throughout the region during November.</span></strong> </em><br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;"><em>For details of the FBU campaign against the cuts, and the reasoning behind their opposition, click here ;</em></span></strong> <br />
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<a href="http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-derbyshire-fire-rescue-service-cuts"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-derbyshire-fire-rescue-service-cuts</span></strong></a> <br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;"><em>As you`ll notice, the FBU also provide a link to the DFand RS Consultation and encourage people to respond.</em></span></strong> <br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">That`s enough from me on this subject, now it`s over to you.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: yellow;">Footnotes</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">For a bit of background ; </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;"><span style="color: yellow;">* </span>Nick Osmond - Save Heanor Fire Station - this blog, 25 Oct 2013</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;"><span style="color: yellow;">*</span> Nick Osmond - Catch a Fire ? - this blog, 11 Oct 2013</span></em></strong> <br />
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<br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-1390364610298356592013-10-24T14:31:00.000-07:002013-10-25T02:36:38.518-07:00Save Heanor Fire Station<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">Not so long ago I mentioned the possible closure of Heanor Fire Station as part of a parcel of cuts to the Fire Service in Derbyshire (`Catch a Fire ?`, this blog, 11 October 2013).</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">There is now a fledgling campaign against the closure.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">Particularly good was an eloquent letter to the local paper ( </span><a href="http://www.ripleyandheanornews.co.uk/"><span style="color: yellow;">www.ripleyandheanornews.co.uk</span></a><span style="color: cyan;"> ) by a local resident which appeared under the heading `Vital Community Role for Fire Crews` in the issue dated Thurs 24 Oct 2013. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">Like me, the writer picked up on the strong sense of community prevalent among the retained firefighters of Heanor , giving details of various activities undertaken by the crew locally. One in particular may be worth highlighting here ; </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">"When Coppice Primary School were celebrating their 60th anniversary the local fire crew came to our summer fair event with their fire engine and four crew members. They did this entirely voluntarily giving up their own time to support our event and more importantly to let our children experience a fire engine close up." </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">There is now a Facebook group , `Save Heanor Fire Station`, begun by firefighter Alistair Patrick, who points out, tellingly, that the Heanor crew have experience totalling over 100 years between them. In that context I would just re-iterate my earlier point that an area like this with a heavy engineering presence throws up situations, e.g. chemical spills, rarely if ever experienced by crews elsewhere.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">A problem with the Facebook campaign is that it does not really show up on most search engines. You can be sure the Fire Authority will be checking online to assess strength of feeling on the issue and at present there is little to see by just making general searches. That is why experienced campaigners usually use a blog or website in addition to social networking sites. This article is my own humble contribution to addressing this issue !</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">It is early days yet and I understand a petition is being circulated locally, which may generate more media attention.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">I`m not a Facebook type of guy myself, but the FB campaign is an open group headed `Save Heanor Fire Station`. I`ve mentioned this before, but here are some other links that may proves useful ;</span> </em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><a href="http://www.fburegion6.co.uk/"><span style="color: yellow;">www.fburegion6.co.uk</span></a></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><a href="http://therfu.org/"><span style="color: yellow;">http://therfu.org</span></a></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><a href="http://www.ripleyandheanornews.co.uk/"><span style="color: yellow;">www.ripleyandheanornews.co.uk</span></a></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><a href="http://www.ambervalley.info/"><span style="color: yellow;">www.ambervalley.info</span></a></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">It is worth mentioning that two other stations in Amber Valley, Crich and Alfreton, are also facing possible closuure. I assume their will be grassroots campaigns organised in those areas too, but I`m not aware of any details.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em></em></strong><br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-10889924779358331422013-10-18T07:35:00.005-07:002013-10-18T07:39:18.945-07:00Sir Fabian Ware KCVO KBE CB CMG<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong><em>Anyone who was interested in my posting(s) on the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission not so long ago may be interested in a new book, David Crane`s Empires of the Dead, which tells the story of the CWGC`s founder, Major General Sir Fabian Ware</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong><em>To learn more, click here ;</em></strong></span> </div>
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<a href="http://www.cwgc.org/media/144955/interview1.pdf"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">www.cwgc.org/media/144955/interview1.pdf</span></strong></a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">On the Web</span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://www.veterans-uk.info/remembrance/ware.html"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">www.veterans-uk.info/remembrance/ware.html</span></strong></a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;">Other Commonwealth organisations ;</span></strong> </div>
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<br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-40486450944186142822013-10-16T03:19:00.002-07:002013-10-16T03:19:21.117-07:00A New Bookshop for Nottingham ?<br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong><em>This blog has always had a lot of respect for Ross Bradshaw of Nottingham`s Five Leaves Publications.</em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong><em>For that reason, it was interesting to learn of his latest proposed venture, an independent bookshop in the city centre. </em></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong><em>To learn more, click here ;</em></strong></span> <br />
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<a href="http://www.nottinghampost.com/Independent-book-shop-fresh-chapter-retail-city/story-19922880-detail/story.html"><strong><span style="color: yellow;">http://www.nottinghampost.com/Independent-book-shop-fresh-chapter-retail-city/story-19922880-detail/story.html</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color: yellow;">#!</span></strong><br />
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Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-69848333752513597912013-10-13T12:26:00.000-07:002013-10-14T04:48:12.998-07:00Public Service, Social Purpose ?<br />
<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">Now for something more topical !</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">A number of online sources have reproduced a recent article by Cat Hobbs on the provision of public services..</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">The first part of the article concerns itself with her support for a Public Service Users Bill and distrust of the government`s Open Public Services initiative. That part of the article need not detain us, except to note that at some points she seems in danger of undermining her own organisations` campaign <span style="color: yellow;">*</span>.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">The part I wish to highlight comes later ;</span></em> </strong><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>"Public services need to be run by people who care about people, and - crucially - who are given the time they need to do a good job. </strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>This social purpose is often found in the public sector, and it can also be found in democratically controlled and accountable co-operatives, mutuals, social enterprises and voluntary organisations. The Social Value Act made it easier for Local Authorities to outsource with social purpose in mind.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><strong>Any organisation that delivers public services must be responsible to service users in a clear and concrete way. We believe that when co-operatives, mutuals, social enterprises and charities play a role in delivering public services, robust safeguards should be in place to protect the public interest. They must be accountable to service users, all profits must be re-invested in improving the service, there should be an asset lock to keep public money safe, and the service must revert to the public sector if the organisation fails."</strong></span><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">I make no apology for having edited her text in quite a big way to bring out the points I wanted to emphasise, but I`ll provide a link to the full article for those who want it<span style="color: yellow;">**</span>. </span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">She goes on to promote a set of "guidelines on what a good public sector mutual should look like", produced jointly by Co-operatives UK and the TUC</span><span style="color: yellow;">*** </span><span style="color: cyan;">.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">My own thinking is that we do need to break out of the stale left versus right, public versus private debate which so fascinates our politicians and pundits and look at the question of whether things could be done in a more innovative way in future. This seems as good a place to start as any.</span></em></strong> <br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">For those new to the whole question of co-operatives, mutuals etc (and I`m no expert), a good place to start is </span></em></strong><a href="http://www.thenews.coop/"><strong><em><span style="color: yellow;">www.thenews.coop</span></em></strong></a> .<br />
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<strong><span style="color: cyan;"><em><span style="color: yellow;">*</span> Cat is Director of the organisation `We Own It`, which is laying great stress on the fact that there is overwhelming support from Conservative voters for two of it`s key proposals ( <a href="http://weownit.org.uk/public-service-users-bill"><span style="color: yellow;">http</span><span style="color: yellow;">://weownit.org.uk/public-service-users-bill</span></a><span style="color: yellow;"> </span>)</em></span></strong><br />
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<em><span style="color: yellow;"><span style="color: yellow;">** </span><span style="color: cyan;"><strong>Cat Hobbs - `Lets Co-operate for a Public Sector Users Bill - Co-Operative News, Unknown Date</strong></span> </span><span style="color: cyan;"><strong>but circa Sep 2013</strong></span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: yellow;">*** </span><strong><span style="color: cyan;">Anthony Murray - `Co-Operatives UK and TUC Team Up to Protect Public Sector Mutuals - Co-</span><span style="color: cyan;">Operative News, 23 August 2013</span></strong></em> <br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">**** Apologies for the lack of proper links, but the Co-Operative News web site kept freezing ****.</span></em></strong> <br />
<br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-71042885534177690392013-10-13T08:12:00.001-07:002013-10-13T08:12:36.782-07:00Jazz Femme Jeanie<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">This blog has already mentioned jazz singer Jeanie Barton. This youthful chanteuse has already built up quite a following in the area, working with local hepcats such as keyboard player Bob Hudson.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">Anyone wishing to see Jeanie live can catch her play a guitar-and-voice set at Beeston Jazz Club on 6 December 2013 with six-stringed strummer and picker Matt Chandler.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">Details here ;</span> </em></strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.beestonjazz.co.uk/"><strong><em><span style="color: yellow;">www.beestonjazz.co.uk</span></em></strong></a><br />
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<a href="http://jeaniebarton.com/"><strong><em><span style="color: yellow;">http://jeaniebarton.com</span></em></strong></a><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: yellow;"><a href="http://www.mattchandlerguitar.com/"><span style="color: yellow;">www.mattchandlerguitar.com</span></a> </span></em></strong><br />
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Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8262452323407994421.post-40661932586435600392013-10-13T05:43:00.000-07:002013-10-13T05:47:47.143-07:00This Month`s Good Cause - Friends of Victoria Park, Ilkeston<br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">The other day I was walking through Ilkeston, Derbyshire when it came to my mind that I`d forgotten to update<span style="color: yellow;"> `This Month`s Good Cause`</span> yet again.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">A couple of minutes later I noticed a poster advertising the <span style="color: yellow;">Friends of Victoria Park</span>. As the name implies, this is a historic local park and as it happens one that has happy associations for me.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">The <span style="color: yellow;">`Friends of...`</span> thing is a great tradition that I wholeheartedly approve of - you can be a <span style="color: yellow;">Friend</span> <span style="color: yellow;">of West Norwood Cemetery</span>, <span style="color: yellow;">of Cromford Canal</span>, of numerous museums, theatres, nature reserves and who knows what else. It`s all good.</span></em></strong><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">For these reasons, and because it makes life easy, <span style="color: yellow;">The Friends of Victoria Park, Ilkeston</span> (<a href="http://www.friendsofvictoriapark.com/"><span style="color: yellow;">www.friendsofvictoriapark.com</span></a>) are , somewhat belatedly, <span style="color: yellow;">This Month`s Good Cause</span>.</span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><strong>Footnote</strong></span><br />
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<strong><em><span style="color: cyan;">The idea behind</span> <span style="color: yellow;">TMGC</span> <span style="color: cyan;">was that each moth I would select a good cause that might interest people.</span> <span style="color: cyan;">I`ve attempted to strike a balance between the national (</span><span style="color: yellow;">Brake ; The Road Safety Charity</span><span style="color: cyan;">), the</span> <span style="color: cyan;">local (</span><span style="color: yellow;">Friends of Cromford Canal</span><span style="color: cyan;">, </span><span style="color: yellow;">Derbyshire Blood Bikes</span><span style="color: cyan;">) and the international (</span> <span style="color: yellow;">Anti Slavery</span><span style="color: cyan;">, </span><span style="color: yellow;">Commonwealth War Graves Commission</span><span style="color: cyan;">). </span></em></strong><br />
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<br />Hoonaloon Collectableshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12555714371054226781noreply@blogger.com0