There is news to impart so here I am sat waiting for my car to cost me a fortune as it is serviced and gets a set of new boots – time on my hands I think therefore why not share a few views and make a couple of announcements – it’s time to do a blog. I can’t escape the assistance of Bonnie the kitten who is now, astoundingly, 6 months old and currently recovering from surgery as she’s had her “bits” done. She’s a funny little thing, black domestic shorthair – a moggy if ever there was one but she is very special as she was born with a deformed stump of a tail that is only about 2 inches long with a full 90 degree kink in it. We love her and she does seem to get on all right with all of the other cats except for Bella but then she doesn’t really get on with another living thing; she lives in her own little world but is contented enough to do so. Bella is the kind of cat that dogs (as a red setter once found out to its cost) are afraid of but not for the first time I digress.
BELLA in 2007
So what of the news, firstly I am to be a grandfather which is a bit of a shock although I see no good reason why it should be. I am very critical of my skills as a parent as my sons would no doubt agree but now there’s a chance to do better. I am really pleased by this news and it has caused me to reflect on the times of my life. For a large part of it we all lived in fear of nuclear holocaust and then more recently global warming, climate change, population growth and the totally unfathomable scourge of international terrorism. In my life I’ve lived through at least three major recessions, strikes, strife and not a little poverty at times. Why would you want to bring a child into all that and the answer quite simply is they are the hope. We survived and so will they to hopefully improve things and see an end to war and poverty. I was ever the eternal optomist.
What of other news – well I suppose I should talk of the Navigation and in particular the legacy of our project. The charity we have talked about and discussed at length came a step very much nearer the other evening. We are now at the point where we have a constitution which is agreed except for a couple of relatively minor points which require tweaking. The charity will be formally born on November 22nd 2011 at a meeting to be held at the Burgh Reading Room starting at 7.30pm and you are all invited to attend. This is in time for the 2012 anniversary and one of the first acts will be to organise the event next August to mark the closure to navigation following the flood in 1912. This charity will promote and improve a footpath along the river and will also do conservation work to help preserve the environment, history, flora and fauna of this our river along the length that was once navigated by the working boats. We have formed a sub-committee to help organise the event on Coltishall Common on August 26th 2012 where we will be joined by the Wherry Albion to celebrate what once was but also to look forward to ensure this beautiful jewel in Norfolk’s crown is kept as perfectly as it can be. If you wish to help or take part please email me on stu.wilson100@btinternet.com. We really do live in the most momentous of times.
On top of all this the reality of my own looming retirement came a bit closer this week when for the first time I had to identify a possible date for that event. Thankfully it’s still a small number of years away.
Our beautiful River BURE - a few years ago at Oxnead copyright Chris Goddard
