Bills Posts

I do have an actual journal. There are one and a bit volumes of it. I’m about two thirds of the way through the second volume. It’s taken me quite a while to get here. The first volume was started on May 29th 2014. I have had a couple of goes at keeping a diary, but they have never been good, I start out with good intent, but fail after only a couple of days. The journal was different. I didn’t do it every day, only when I felt the urge to write. In places it can be a little bit repettetive. I think it hides a deeper frustration that exists today – what to write.

Even today, there are times when i re-cover what I was writing about. But having a paper journal is also a useful record of things like the details for a move for example, or monitoring stress. On the other hand, there is a fairly detailed amount of planning for a model railway. there ‘s even a. track plan and the start of a parts list.

Then there is the amateur radio side of things. In February 2015, I was thinkning of buying a radio scanner. I did a bit of research and came to a conclusion. It’s all recorded there, and every so often it is nice to look back.

Now, tthere is one area where I have been a bit fussy. The books I use for journalling – in this case I’m using a Moleskin notebooks, 13x21cm, they really are quite good quality and a pleasure to use.

I’ve walked most days this week. The last couple of mornings especially the walks have felt really quite good. Although the weather is cooling down, I made sure I was wrapped up comfortable. The #Breakfastclubs for each morning have been very enjoyable with a range of topics being discussed. The goodness, is just a feeling.

The writing hasn’t been too bad this week I think. I was definitively partly inspired by Gilbert White, and his journals. I’m becoming increasingly determined to buy his book, A Natural History of Selborne, when we visit his house, which we will do before the end of the year.

The thought then occurs to me that Mr. White’s journals cover the years 1768 – 1792. Some entries are very basic, for example; the entry for 30 September 1783; Lovely weather, red even, true Michaelmas Summer. That certainly describes this morning. The questions coming to me; Are there people using Gilbert’s journals for research today? How useful are the journals of somebody like Gilbert white from 200 years ago?

There is another question; What should be journaled today, that will be useful in the future? Given the technical ability of today, and all of the science that is being done is there any point in journalling at all? It’s strange isn’t it? I could barely think of anything to write about and yet by the end of this is a whole new query to explore.

There was something about this mornings walk. It was just a feeling that it was a very pleasant walk. It was nice to see the Crane Heron at the waters edge, I did get a picture, but it flew off before I could get closer. I like seeing the foxes in the car park, I hope they do OK.

I made a change to my route, I occasionally do this I walked down the high street rather than along Stokes Road. Bob was sat with some friends, outside Greggs. I paused for a chat.

The gentleman in the picture is one of the street cleaners (OK, so that’s stating the obvious). I said good morning to him, and he then took the opportunity to ask me what I was up to. He was quite interested. I took the opportunity to thank him for keeping the streets of Gosport clean.

It was just a very pleasant walk. Sorry, this one is a bit brief.

Orion was very clear as I left the house at around 6AM. I didn’t take this picture from there. There’s a couple of points on the morning walk where the street lighting is a bit less annoying. Not too bad, you can even make out that the sword is not just stars.

For as long as I can remember in my day books, I’ve had a problem tracking and cross referencing notes. I am really bad at organising, but I like being organised. That’s a condition that I so rarely attain. Anyhow, I found Bullet journalling. In theory that should do the job. Mostly. Trouble is, I haven’t had the discipline to keep things going. Should I have another go?

An entirely different form of journalling; I had ordered a copy of The Journals of Gilbert White. First glimpse is that this is not a book to read cover to cover, rather to dip in to. His journal or more of a simple chronology of events of nature, but describing it as such is to do him an injustice.

This morning, on my walk I saw two Cranes (Herons?) chasing each other off the end of the Haslar Marina and there were three foxes in the Cockle Pond car park. Just relaxing, not chasing anything. There wasn’t anything happening in the ponds themselves – not that I could see anyway. nonetheless, it was a very nice walk.

The two doors are No.s 16 & 17 North Cross Street. I’ve just spent a bit of time trying to find out when this was built. I’m guessing, but I’d say the 1960’s or 70’s. I don’t really know though.

The thing is (sorry to say this) but I’m not interested in the building. What I am saying is that at some point, it might have been this one or the preceding building or earlier than that, an archeological dig was done before construction began.

Now, I got excited when I read on a website that evidence was found during the dig of people living in the area during the post-medieval period. I thought that has to be ages ago, so I looked it up. Can you imagine that I was a bit disappointed to find that the post medieval dates are between 1485-1750.

At the late end of the range, Gosport would be probably a bit squalid, but well on it’s way to becoming an important town, having played its role in the civil war.

On the other had, it doesn’t look as though much was happening in 1485. Both Alverstoke & Rowner were quit well established, but Gosport was a merest glint in someone’s shut eye.

Of All of the shop closures along Stokes Road perhaps one that I feel saddest about is the tailor Kong Cheung. I have no idea why he closed, It could be anything. I really can’t tell you why I was sorry to see it go, I never used it.

Whenever I go in to town on a lunchtime walk, there always seems to be a lot of people around. On Tuesday & Saturday, it’s market day. Now I wonder how that markets of today compare with those of 20 or fifty years ago?

Perhaps the fruit and veg stall is one of the most traditional All down the street I can hear the lady that runs the stall hollering out her “Come on, last bunch of bananas, only one left.” They seem to do quite good business. I hope so.

Then there’s the chap next to the Post Office. I think the shop is called the Amsterdam. He mostly sells vaping stuff and phone cases. I bought a case there not long back. When I go past He’s often outside laughing with people. I bought a case and a screen protector from him. He strikes me as a chap with whom it’s a pleasure to do business.

Another shop I miss is the sweet shop. Where can I buy my weekly dose of Coconut Mushrooms?

On Friday I had my Covid Booster at 1450 and my flu jab at 1630. On Saturday, I go up Saturday and felt rough, very fatigued and I ached whenever I moved. I went outside once, otherwise I spent nearly all day sat in the lounge.

All that meant that I didn’t go to the Alverstoke Michaelmas fayre which is frustrating because this annual event is really quite good.

Anyhow, my wife went, and she came back with a present for me, a book ; Soldiers of the Queen (Gosport as a Garrison Town) by Lesley Burton and Beryl Peacey. I have suspended my normal reading list for this book.

I’m only a part way through this book but I love the picture that the authors have painted of the town; they describe how as the military came in the prosperity increased, employment was good, shops were busy the social life excellent. These were the early days in Queen Victoria’s reign, and before the Palmerston forts were built. Lesley and Beryl paint a picture of a town full of vitality. It was really nice to read.

I’d quite like to have the ability to write something like that.

I have just done a quick check of all 768 previous posts and there are four where I mention this thing called locality, and I think it is No. 302, and even there I don’t really talk about it much.

It all started one misty morning in May 2015. All of Cunard’s queens were departing in formation. I was stood at the waterside at Gilkicker Fort waiting for them. What I do remember was that initially it was misty and very cloudy and the Red Arrows were due to fly over them. Luckily by the time the Queens appeared, the sky and mist had cleared. It really was a spectacular departure.

The point of was though that this was just after I had spent a bit of money on a radio scanner which I still hadn’t worked out how to use. But within the year I will be a licensed radio ham. But that’s another story. The thing here was that I had a number of interests and hobbies that were coinciding;

• Photography
• Amateur Radio
• The local area (history)

Using an application called DayOne, I spent some time setting up a framework, which I called “Locality” I had set the parameters as the eSolent from East to West. I must admit, I am thinking of changing that to a 50 mile limit from where we live – I say that because it is the distance we can travel without having to seek a re-charge for our EV, plus a bit of a safety margin. Actually, 50 miles covers quite an area (I’ve just done the calculation, it’s around four thousand square miles and that is only half the circle, because we are on the coast.

I included hashtags in the title. Hashtags are supposed, amongst other things, to make searching for topics much easier. For some some reason I stopped using them, but I can’t remember why. I need to have another look at them – They don’t affect the reader as far as I am aware.

I think I have spent about an hour sat here looking at the screen, thinking about writing about writing. I enjoyed the time at Pagham we had a good trip especially the photo gallery at Petworth. I’d like to go to more exhibitions like that. I’d also like to go to more art exhibitions as well.

Then this week, I’ve really enjoyed writing about the conker trees. I did a little bit of research about what it takes to be a naturalist of course, a degree is involved and possibly post-grad stuff. But then I read something that I googled that boiled down to; Go out and observe something, write about it. That’s it. Well, obviously that’s not it.

When we drive north on the A3, there’s a big roundabout just to the north of Petersfield. The second exit has a sign it’s one of the brown tourist signs pointing to Gilbert White’s house. I’ve lost count of the number of times we drove past it and I asked the question “Who’s Gilbert White”. One day, I actually got around to googling the name. Well, what a world that has opened.

One of the next things on the cards is a visit to the house. I’m going to say that Gilbert White’s most well known book is The Natural History of Selborne. I have had a few opportunities in book shops to buy a copy, and of course I could buy it anytime off Amazon but I have resisted because I want to buy it at the house. I’ve compromised, I’ve bought a copy of his journals, and am in the process of arranging a visit to Selborne. I’m getting quite excited at the prospect.

Now, that wasn’t too difficult, once I got going, it was straightforward. Trouble is, it took me almost an hour to get started, with two abandoned attempts where I had started but didn’t like what I had written. But I’m quite happy with this. All I need to do now is re-read and resist the urge to publish straight away.

Today, 22 September 2022, is the first days of autumn. Tomorrow morning at 0203 the night and the day, will be the same length, from tomorrow onwards, until the spring equinox, nights will be longer than days.

Another thing that changes is the weather. Moving into Autumn means cold fresh mornings – quite nice, I like a cold morning. I just need to find my flat cap, to keep my head warm.

Another thing that gets nicely clear is the night sky. Now, I am very taken with the idea of star gazing. The only problem is the cold, that tends to act as a bit of a deterrent. The other thing is comfort. Now I do have an idea in mind, but I don’t want to say just yet.

Quite a few posts ago, I Spoke about my level of awareness of the night sky mainly around it not being good enough. It’s definitely the time of the year to get out and watch the stars.