Good and Bad

In my last blog I wrote that my partner and I were recently in the news. What started as a tiny article on the inside pages of a free newspaper suddenly became headline media all around the world resulting in journalists and TV companies constantly on the phone wanting to know more. Facebook and Twitter buzzed and before we knew it we were receiving messages from people in New York City, Dubai and Melbourne Australia.

And all because it was something nice to read about for a change.

Far too often you hear about shootings, stabbings, muggings rape and death. We are told about how a soldier is killed in Afghanistan whilst on routine patrol, or how a gang of teenagers stab another of equal age in cold blood, just because they were wearing a certain kind of shoe.

Turn on the TV and watch any scene in any episode of Eastenders and what have you got? Depression, doom, gloom, shouting and an utter contempt for anything that resembles part of the English language with their ever present key phrase of “What’s goin on?”

The residents of the Chatsworth Estate in “Shameless” glorify drug use, sex in public and the knocking back of several pints til they are wasted beyond the point of being able to stand up, let alone have an “intelligent” conversation. If in fact there is any form of intelligence on there.

Computer games promote war, violence is good. Theft and prostitution are now entertainment. Spill the blood, harder and harder like and addict needs their next fix. The scale rises and the killings increase.

So why did we suddenly become the centre of the entire world’s attention? From newspapers to websites everyone wanted a piece of our story. As the world turned and new people were waking up the news continued. We were commented on both good and bad. Our faces were in print, on the web and on TV. We were talked about in offices, factories, schools and on the radio. People came up to us and offered us food, drinks and invitations to events. They were happy, they were smiling and they wanted to meet us. And all this just because someone noticed how my partner and I say goodbye to each other in a loving and caring way as we both go our separate ways off to work every morning.

To coin a phrase, every generation blames the one before. Sadly it would seem that childhood is now lost on the innocent ones and that before the age of just 6 years old most infants will have witnessed enough violence, bad language and sexually explicit material that in days gone by would have lasted someone an entire lifetime. You can’t wrap someone up in cotton wool but you can at least let a child be a child. Life is harsh and can be cruel but is it really necessary to subject someone so young to life in the adult world before their time? Is it any wonder our little darlings are turning into little demons?

In one sense I wonder, is it too late to turn the tables back to times gone by when love thy neighbour meant more than jumping into the sack with the girl next door. Discipline and punishment are now words long forgotten in the English language. The do good PC brigade waded in with their big size 12 boots and told us all to reason with a youngster when they do wrong – send them to a naughty step and let them think about their actions. Well quite frankly I’ve had enough of listening to them as clearly it would seem that their approach to getting a child to understand an inappropriate action is not working.

In the past a child would have been smacked as a form of discipline, before then they would have been sent up a chimney but seeing as most people nowadays use central heating then the chimney option you can sort of rule out. I was smacked as a child when disciplined, as were so many others of my generation and we turned out ok. We learnt the difference between right and wrong, we learnt to respect others and we learnt that if we were good then the chances are you could get into the sack with the girl next door. It’s true that you shouldn’t beat a child – or anyone for that matter to within an inch of their lives but reasonable chastisement to allow the developing mind to understand what is right and what is wrong should in my opinion be reintroduced.

Unfortunately for all the good things that the great big internet has brought to us over the past 25 years the equal and exact opposite has happened too and that imagery which is so readily available to one and all can have a corrupting effect on young and old alike. Maybe one day enough people will think the same as me and start to lobby the politicians, the decision makers and the ones with the ability to make the changes, happen but until then I fear that we may be on an ever decreasing spiral. As Stephen Spielberg’s ET once said, Be Good, so come on people this is the start of the 21^st century, let’s all make a small change to ourselves but a big change to humanity.

Wingwalker.

15 minutes of fame

The starangest thing has happened to Laura and I over the past week, Its been a bit surreal and pretty mind blowing.

 

 

It's been an interesting 8 days. Starting off last Tuesday with a text to the Metro newspaper that someone sent in about us and how we say goodbye to each other at London Bridge station. This prompted a few responses throughout the week which ended up with Laura and I appearing literally all over the global media. Yesterday we became headline news appearing on the front page of the Daily Mail online, we were talked about on BBC breakfast news, Loose Women and a whole host of radio phone ins. Then it went viral and by last night thousands of people were commenting on us as we appeared in newspapers and websites right across the planet. People from New York City to Dubai to Melbourne were talking about us and sending us messages (both good and bad). Facebook and Twitter went mental and by ten o’clock this morning if you Google our names together we took up not 11 results but the first 11 pages!!!

 

 

Things are starting to ease off a bit now and the 15 minutes of fame is coming to an end - although there are still more journalists who keep wanting to interview us. We think that some of the comedy news programs may still pick up on things such as Russell Howard, Mock the Week, Have I got News for You and Graham Norton so we are just waiting and seeing what happens. Its been quite a nice feeling despite some very nasty comments publicly said about us but we knew that we were going to be in the public eye and so have taken the rough with the smooth.

 

 

To see any of the articles just Google David Walker Laura O'Meara without quote marks and see for yourself. However, the photo's were all done for camera and we are note entirely like that at the station.....Honest :-)

In case you are too lazy to search, here's a link for you  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2130788/Couple-kiss-London-Bridge-station.html

Wingwalker

On the water

Bless me Father for I have sinned as it has been nearly three weeks since my last blog.

The truth is I've had writers block coupled with a series of late nights, early mornings and tiredness I've not been able to pinpoint one particular subject to write about. So here are a few short things that have been on my mind lately.

Volunteering.

Recently my fiancee and I helped out in an anual event that we have now done for the past three years, The Devizes to Westminster Canoe Challenge http://www.dwrace.org.uk/ this is how the organisers describe it in their very own words...

The Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race starts in Devizes, Wiltshire and finishes just downstream of Westminster Bridge in London, opposite the Houses of Parliament. The race has been held annually over the Easter Weekend since 1948.

The race is 125 miles long and has 77 portages. The first 52 miles are along the Kennet and Avon Canal, the next 55 miles are on the River Thames and the final section is on the tidal portion of the Thames.

The race is a severe test of skill and stamina which produces a memorable sense of achievement for those successfully completing it. The non-stop version of the race is the longest non-stop canoe race in the world.

We take part in the finishing stage either helping to get the canoeists out of the water at the end or in the radio comms hut co-ordinating the specialist teams of safety boats, First Aid crew and everything else in-between. Its a big event which is enjoyed by an enormous amount of people.

For us, to volunteer our time and help others for non payment is what we do. The cameraderie of other like minded individuals all joining together to make the event a success is enough of a reward and to see it all come together is quite awesome - although the free bacon butties and steaming cup of coffee by the River Thames as Big Ben strikes a stupid hour on a Sunday morning is not bad either.

Sadly though I feel that this country is divided in two and that the gap is getting wider. There are the do-ers and there are the takers, and it seems to me that more people are now on the take than to give up their spare time for just a few small hours every now and then to help others for a worthwhile cause. Of course there is always the other side of the coin where a large portion of society do volunteer to take part in an activity, whether it is helping out backstage of a theatre through to cleaning a few weeds in a community garden, and to those people you have my admiration. So give yourselves a pat on the back.

Oxford V Cambridge Boat Race

Keeping with the nautical theme did anyone see the farce that was this years Oxford versus Cambridge boat race? Every year the crowds in their thousands line the banks along the River Thames from Putney to Mortlake, joined by millions of others around the world as they watch it live on television. 2012 sees the 158th race which was first started in 1829 and is widely known as being one of the oldest sporting events in the world.

This year started off like so many others in times gone by. The hype, the hysteria and the last minute preparations before the two teams of rowers move up to the start line. Interviews are done with the press, previous champions talk to camera crews and the bantering between the two teams and their rivaling supporters starts to rise.

And then they're off!

Oxford start with a narrow lead but are shortly caught up by Cambridge. The two cox's shout words of encouragement and various demands to get the most out of their teams whilst the crews themselves slog out the battle between their opposite numbers. Concentration, skill, endurance and seven months of hellish training all come down to this very point. They fight. They row. They are in the zone.

Neck and neck they travel, the speed is now increasing as they turn round one bend and then another. Cambridge take the lead but this time Oxford catches them up. More shouting, more encouragement, the excitement is building up. The crowds go wild, screaming from the embankment, people in their homes are shouting at their televisions in support of their team. An ariel shot from an overhead news chopper shows the two teams fighting it out between them still level as they go over the half way mark and then.........

Cambridge stop, their paddles flat in the water. Oxford stop, they too have put their paddles down. What's going on?

The next thing you see is what first appears to be a man overboard, yet he is wearing a full wetsuit. Who is he? Why is he there? And more importantly, what's he up to?

Well the answer to all three is that he's a bit of a plank! A narrow minded protester getting his 15 minutes of fame who will eventually end up one day being subject to a question on Who wants to be a Millionare.

The race starts again from where they started. Over thirty minutes have gone by and the crews are tired, wet and cold. They start again but barely ten seconds into the race Oxford lose a paddle due to being too close to Cambridge's boat. Now, seven men are doing the work of eight but of course its all in vain as Cambridge being at full strength and speed zoom off to the finish line and become victorious.

A minute or two later and Oxford cross the line also. Exhausted they slope back into their seats and try to work out what has happened over the previous hour. However, all is not well as their bowman Dr Alexander Woods is seen collapsed and has to receive medical attention. He is taken to Charing Cross hospital but was allowed home the following day.

As a mark of respect in relation to Dr Woods unknown condition at the time, Cambridge decide not to have the usual pomp and circumstance trophy giving ceremony as the mood is now sombre and somewhat completely different to just a short time beforehand. The boats are brought out of the water, TV camera's are turned off and everyone goes home. Hopefully next year will be just as dramatic but this time for all the right reasons.

For anyone who missed the boat race you can see a clip of the main incident here... http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rowing/17645929

Wingwalker.

Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink

According to the experts we are rapidly heading towards a water drought. After two consecutive years of unusually low rainfall London, the south and south east are becoming quite heavily affected with low water levels in reservoirs and now according to the news this morning, parts of Yorkshire too.

The first you get to hear of it is when the press start to scream those ever immortal words, Hosepipe Ban, usually around the first or second of January. Britain wouldn’t be Britain if we didn’t have Easter Eggs on sale at Christmas, our daily fix of Countdown and the annual Hosepipe Ban by the water authorities. Now don’t get me wrong, water is a powerful commodity and something that every living creature on the planet needs to have so to preserve its reserves is quite rightly an important thing. But when we are literally surrounded by the stuff being based on this little biddly Island just off the coast of Europe, why on earth has no-one come up with a cost effective solution yet to purify sea water into drinking water?

Of course we as individuals can all do our little bit to help prevent water wastage such as water your plants with dirty dish water, turn off the tap when brushing your teeth or for the best fun of all, bathe with a friend, wayhey! I’m sure that there are plenty of other top tips and if anyone cares to share them on here then be my guest, but one thing that miffs me the most about the water companies and their message for us to do our bit is how much wastage is caused by their leaking pipes contained within our ancient underground network.

At the bottom of my road the pavement has been dug up for nearly three weeks due to such an incident. The tiny trickle of water that had made its way to the surface and gently down to the roadside has caused quite a lengthy “repair” operation – let alone what I also assume to be a costly repair bill. However, the boffins at Thames Water have come up with a clever little gizmo called the Leak Frog which they are saying is detecting where leaks are happening around the home and helping to point out where repairs may be necessary to an individual homeowner.

So far, of the 70,000 homes fitted with these devices, over 2100 have had repair work carried out which they say has saved around 10 million litres every day – or in other words, enough to fill up an Olympic sized swimming pool four times over. And that's a lot! For more information on the Leak Frog, click on this link http://www.thameswater.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/corp/hs.xsl/13995.htm

And finally, I always seem to be amazed or amused depending on your viewpoint how when natural spring water that is full of all the good things and none of the bad things taking thousands of years to develop will suddenly have a best before end date just two months after you have bought it.

It’s madness!

Wingwalker

Who killed Frank Foster? Part 2

Well. I didn’t see that one coming!

It was his mum, Anne (Gwen Taylor) she killed him. Phwoooaaarrr the story line got hotter last night as it was revealed that Frank Fosters own mother accidentally killed her son after finding out that he did in actual fact rape Carla Connor.

The revelation came after the funeral for Frank where Sally Webster went to pay Anne a visit at her home to see how she was. Sobbing in a back bedroom, Anne is found clutching a vital piece of evidence, a watch belonging to her late husband which Frank was wearing at the time of the rape. Delirious and overcome with grief, she spills all to Sally, but realising that she is now in the presence of a murderer Sally makes a run for it only to trip up on the landing and knocks herself out.

Instead of calling for an ambulance, Anne decides she has to get away, out of the country and fast! She throws everything into a couple of suitcases and is just about to walk out of the house when none other than Carla appears at the door wanting to know answers to questions about Frank and the business in the long running saga you can only get in soap land.

At first Anne tries to remain calm and takes Carla through to the kitchen but then Sally’s mobile rings as her former husband Kevin tried to contact her. Anne makes a futile attempt to try and answer it but is unable as the phone is locked. Realising that the phone has come out of Sally’s handbag Carla starts to search the house calling out for her but this makes Anne her flip her lid and she draws a kitchen knife on Carla blocking her way. Ooooo it gets better…

Now Carla is trapped and looking straight down the blade of a 12 inch carving knife. Anne is getting more and more distressed and I must say she played her part very very well. She starts to wave the knife around and relays to Carla that it was she who killed her son by accident as she grabbed the bottle of whiskey and struck him over the head with it just at the top of the stairs.

Meanwhile…

Kevin decides to go round to the house after finding out where Sally had gone to as it is unusual for her not to answer the phone. He arrives at the front porch and see’s through the window Anne trapping Carla with the knife. Quick as a flash he runs round to the garage where by sheer fluke it happens to not only be open but also has an inter connecting door to the house…..which is also open. He creeps inside and with the aid of Carla they both over power Anne who drops the knife and falls to the floor in a gibbering wreck. Carla calls for the police and an ambulance and as the credits roll you think to yourself, oh Kevin, you’re my hero…

Wingwalker.

Who Killed Frank Foster?

In the fictional town of Weatherfield supposedly located within the suburbs of Manchester, Coronation Street's resident bad boy Frank Foster, played by actor Andrew Lancel, has just been found murdered in his factory which he jointly owned with Carla Connor.

Frank has had a colourful and varied past. His exploits include alleged rape, extortion, playing the field and generally being all round Mr Nasty. The list of people who have a good motive for wanting to see Frank shift off this mortal coil seem to be ever growing. So lets have a look at the key suspects.

Carla Connor  - (Alison King)
Carla used to be engaged to Frank until the relationship broke down where she accused him of rape but at the trial he was found not guilty giving her an ideal motive. Since then he has tried to cheat her out of her share of the factory adding fuel to the fire. The murder weapon is a whisky bottle covered in Frank's blood and her fingerprints.

Peter Barlow - (Chris Gascoyne)
Peter recently left his wife and son for Carla after a short affair with her. He is a registered alcoholic who has fallen off the wagon and back hitting the booze hard again. On the night of the murder he gets blind drunk, shouting his mouth off against Frank and turns up the next morning with grazed knuckles, unknown blood on his shirt and severe memory loss. Unfortunately for him it is found that he bought the whisky on his credit card.

Sally Webster - (Sally Whittaker)
Recently jilted and embarrassed publically by Frank, we find Sally next to Frank at the foot of the stairs of the factory covered in blood.  We know that she went to confront him after hours but what happened next?

Kevin Webster - (Michael Le Vell)
Sally left husband Kevin of over 20 years due to his love child but he still has feelings for her and was angry about her relationships. He wants to win her affections once more......slightly odd way of showing it though.

Michelle Connor - (Kym Marsh)
So far Michelle has been very much in the background playing the supportive friend and manager of the factory. At the moment you see very little of her with just the occasional scene of her and Carla or the factory staff. We have just found out that she stole the contract that Frank used to deceive Carla into signing away her share of the factory to him as without the paperwork there is no deal.

In the classic whodunnit style the writers of this poular British TV soap that has now been running for over 50 years, have come up trumps yet again with a ratings winner pulling in over 8.5 million viewers on the night of Frank's death. The Police have certainly got their work cut out especially as at the end of tonights episode (March 12th) Peter has gone to them and supposedly handed himself in. It's too soon after the start of the investgation for it to be wrapped up and we the viewer just know that there is more yet to come. This jigsaw is not yet complete and I get the feeling that something quite significant is missing which will only be revealed when the time is right. My guess is that it will be none of the  above but is in actual fact the smooth talking fraudster Lewis (Nigel Havers) for reasons yet unknown. However, my dearly beloved disagrees with me and thinks that Rita's (Barbara Knox) new found happiness with Dennis Tanner (Philip Lowrie) is about to be shattered as you are never happy for long in soapland.

What do you think?

Wingwalker

What do you search for?

Here's a quick one for you...

You look for something on a search engine and it comes up with the results based on the keywords you have written. Then auto suggestion kicks in and you start to see things you didn't actually really want. Suppose you have just recently got engaged - the next thing you see are adverts for baby clothes, toys, prams and everything you can think of, rather than wedding rings, dresses, flowers and cakes etc.

You go out in your car and you rely on your satnav - or crapnav as some people I know call them. You enter the destination you want to go to and you are lucky if it takes you from A to B without going through Z, P, T, J and R first.

In the past you bought an automated telecommunicatatatron device - or telephone as it used to be called in the olden days to make a call and speak to one another. Then someone came up with the idea of sticking a camera on there.....a camera, who would have thought of that? Then came "Apps" and before you know it, BOOM, you buy a phone to listen the radio whilst playing Angry Birds. Making a call is now a secondary requirement.

At what point are we going to "like" something on Facebook before it comes back to you with suggestions of what else you may like. Some people like knitting whereas others like porn. However it may be a little while yet before we see pictures of scantily clad sexy people dressed in your favourite knitwear.

Hmmmmm...

Wingwalker.