Scary crash on nasty bend near Tesco's.

Barriers smashed to pieces over the years and very dangerous. © W.PARRY 2012

On the evening of the 18th August 2012 i decided to go and have a couple of hours fishing with my dad on the canal just below the market.

I had been there about 40 minutes when I heard a tremendous racket and breaking plastic noises coming from the back of me. When I looked back i could see a red scooter and its driver skidding across the road and coming to a stop in the gutter.

I immediately got up and ran across to the scene shouting to my dad "call an ambulance". As I got to the driver, he stood up in a dazed state. I think my dad noted this and did not call an ambulance after all, I asked the driver are you ok? He had his helmet on and said yes I think so. He had ripped his trousers, and the arm of his jumper. He had damage to his helmet where his head had hit a very dangerous looking broken stump. I am sure that his helmet went a long way to saving his life. I said "your helmet as saved you mate", at which point he took his helmet off. He was a young lad, with an L plate on the bike. He stated that he had only had the bike for two weeks and that he thought he had took the corner too fast. By now he was in pain and limping. I insisted that he look what damage was done to his leg. He rolled his trouser up to reveal a nasty bruise and a cut. He could hardly walk and said his foot was very painful. Again I made him remove his shoe and look, as shock can make some people not realise the extent of their injuries. He looked like he had a broken foot, and said so himself.

We stood his scooter up and he managed to start it. I asked if he was ok or did he need to borrow a phone to call someone? He said he was ok. He then said I don’t know what I will do as the scooter was his only transport to work. I said mate you’re lucky to be alive, so thank your lucky stars and don't worry about the bike! I pointed out the sharp wooden spike that his head had hit. He then looked at the damage to his helmet.

The young lad rang some family members who turned up after 15 minutes to escort him home.

That particular bend on Silver Street, (which is where the road runs parallel with the canal) has had numerous crashes on it over the years. In fact the reason there is a sharp wooden stump which the guy hit, is because previous drivers had hit it. Most of the wooden barrier is smashed or missing, and it’s about time the council did something about it.

There are no warning signs, and the road markings are almost invisible.

Ho, and we blanked on the fishing!!

The stump that almost claimed the life of a young motor cyclist. © W.PARRY 2012

The notoriously bad bend on silver street. © W.PARRY 2012

Look at that spike of wood, just waiting to impale some one. © W.PARRY 2012

Making candles at Millfield Junior mixed infants school.

 Tonight I decided to light a few of the many candles my good wife has accumulated over the years.

While doing so I had to remove some of the excess wax at the top of the candle. This was a scented candle which immediately cast my mind back to my early years at Millfield school.

Now I can't remember what the teachers name was that took the candle making lessons, may be Mrs Cradock? I do remember however that we used to take the lesson in the foyer of the school. I always thought that it was a strange place to hold a lesson!

It was a scent called sandalwood if I remember that invoked the memories tonight. i used to bloody love that smell. If I remember correctly there were at least 10 scents that you could choose from, but my good mom always ended up with a sandalwood candle. I am sure she loved and cherished each one regardless of the scent I chose.

I can't even begin to imagine any of today's schools paying for candle wax and wicks. Those sorts of lessons don't fit in with today’s curriculum do they?  

it would be nice to know if any of my old school mates remember the candle making, so ahoy there ye oldie chandlers get in touch with me.

picture courtesy of one brown cow.

Burning the candle at both ends!

I must admit that I am feeling the pace of these last few days. 

I am currently completing a three week training course which will enable me to sit my domestic gas exams. I will then be able to work on gas appliances in domestic properties as a competent and qualified person.

Considering I have been in the trade for 15 years, I think it’s about time I got it sorted.

I am also trying to run my day to day job once I get home, as well as during my lunch break. Once I have caught up on my day to day stuff it’s time for revision, and then I fall into my pillow.

Unfortunately for me I seem to have an overactive brain (not over effective, just over active) which often seems to process things while I sleep. Last night I woke at 3.05am thinking "crap! I didn't sort that email out about the keys". As hard as I tried I could not go back to sleep, finally getting up at 3.40am and sending some poor individual an email. I am sure they will think I am bonkers when they get it as it will say sent at 3.40am 15th August 2012.

On the first day of our course the tutors name was Dave, he was a matter of fact type of guy. He got his message across in a fairly effective way. The day seemed to take forever though, and that bloody huge clock on the wall in front of me is really annoying.

The second day started with a new tutor, by new I mean different. This guy’s name was John, he is a semi retired ex British gas employee. John introduced himself and informed us that he was 71 years young. He then went straight in to asking who wanked? Yes you read it right "which of you men wank"? A few tentatively raised their hands. He then said "ok, all of the wankers sit on that side of the room and all of the Liars sit on the other side". Well that certainly broke the ice, and was a sample of what the day held for us. He had a well rehearsed joke ready for every conversation we had. It did make the day go by fairly quickly, and also broke the ice between the candidates.

I am the oldest person on the course and have the least field experience, as I am not a gas fitter by trade.

It appears that I am managing to hold my own, and may be ahead of one or two of the candidates. I must admit that trying to burn the candle at both ends is difficult, and may take its toll later this week.

Still, it could be worse; I could be living in Syria!