Another five years story

Five years today, the UK entered its first full day of lockdown, after the press conference held by the PM at seven the previous evening.

This was several days, even a couple of weeks behind most of our European neighbours.

I wrote about COVID most days from the middle of March 2020, and for the next 18 to 20 months. I wrote about the stories emerging that day, and as such it is a historical record, even wthout citations, as even in those early days, I doubted most of what the Government said or did.

Those two wasted weeks let the virus go unchecked, even when pubs and clubs closed, there was days notice given thus allowing more mass transmissions. Thousands, if not tens of thousands of extra people were infected and ended up in hospital, many dying.

Hospitals that had suffered a decade of austerity, had no stock of PPE, and so staff were put at risk on an hourly basis, making do with what they had, in some cases bin liners.

Hundreds of doctors, nurses and other staff were infected like their patients.

THe reality of those days is already being denied by JOhnson and other Conservatives. Its funny how vaccine sceptism was pushed by those who pushed Brexit based on yet more lies. Despite clear evidence of how masking helped slow the spread, copying data from the Spanish Flu outbreak a century before, we now have many who would not have vaccines now, even if there were a new outbreak.

The colossal waste of tax-payer money on defective, or non-existant PE still has not been ivestigated, and the COVID Inquiry, it seems, will not look into this either. Billions lost, and now the Labour Government is talking about more auterity in everything but name, cutting the cost of the care budget, that the old and disabled to you and me.

Bird flu has been detected in sheep in the UK this last week, lets hope that's where it stays. Because otherwise......

Saturday 22nd March 2015

The first day of retirement.

I will try to reduce mentions of it.

And after a lay in to ten to seven, and once coffee was drunk, we headed to Tesco for some hunting and gathering, made all the more difficult by forgetting the shopping list.

But we got most of what we wanted.

Back home for breakfast and more coffee and faffing, before the task for the day.

Not really a task, but a drive to Faversham to a nursery to see what native perennials they might have.

I am trying to drive less aggressively now I have seven days a week to indulge my hobbies, so we cruised up the A2 past Canterbury to Faversham, missing the jams in the town centre and parking near the shop.

Too early for much, but we had a chant with the owner, and he showed us what was growing in his greenhouses, so that's good, and when back from India will be perfect timing.

Nearby is Doddington, where Plantlife have established a wildflower area in God's Acre, so I thought we could take the extra ten minutes to drive through the woods to get there.

A family was inside The Beheading of St John the Baptist, which was fine, I had hoped to take some shots, but let them be.

Sadly, the tower of The Beheading of St John the Baptist has been found to be riddled with Death Watch Beetles, and so is now being repaired, and so behind scaffolding and corrugated iron sheeting.

A tragedy, as its tower is fantastic> I hope it can be saved, we left some money for the fund.

We had come to see the wild flowers, and were delighted to find carpets of Wood anemones, primroses among others, I snapped them with both cameras, and that done, we bimbled back to the car and drove back to Faversham then back to to the A2.

But instead of going straight home, we took Thanet Way, as I thought we could go via the butcher at Preston.

Again, cruising at 60 meant a pleasant drive before we turned off at Monkton then turned out over the marshes to Preston.

The shop was just closing, but we got what we needed, and had a good chat with Steve.

All very nice indeed.

We went home via the Sandwich Road, the Eastry bypass, and then home, getting back at just about one in the afternoon. And being an International Break, no Premier League or Championship footy to watch, but there was some game or the other.

We had microwaved Chinese for lunch, and then I snoozed through the afternoon.

There was football in the evening, of course. But there was Craig on the wireless too. So we had a brew, listened to some Funk and Soul, and I followed the footy until eight, when we retired to our beds.

Grandad's war record

At the end of 2019, I began the task of requesting my Grandfather's war records from the MOD.

And then came COVID.

All requests were then paused and then turned into FOI requests.

At least they then became free.

Anyway, on Friday, after two years of updates stating there was no news, I get a mail that said the link to his file would be sent.

Two hours later, it was, and although the detail of service between July 1944 and July 1945 when we fought from Brittany through Belgium, Holland to Germany by way of Operation Market Garden and the bridge at Remagen.

William Amos Beamish was born on 16th May 1915, and was the Grandson of Amos Beamish, aka "The Barnby Giant", hence his middle name.

He was one of at least 12 children, all of which grew up and lived on the Rock Estate in Oulton Broad.

Grandad met Emma Meades, and they began stepping out. But Emma's Mother did not approve of William's trade, a labourer. So, he decided to join the Amry.

To get a trade.

But the war and my Grandmother ensured that he left without a trade and left before he could become an NCO.

So it goes, so it goes.

So, from the records, which are 80% medical records, and most of those reports are for diarrhea, I have pieced together this.

03/02/1936: Attested in Norwich.

04/02/1936: Began basic training at Pirbright, Surrey.

29/04/1936: Became Guardsman IIIrd Class, Caterham, Surrey.

30/05/1936: Passed Swimming Test.

17/07/1936: Joined 2nd Batallion Coldstream Guards.

30/02/1938: Passed Signaler's Course.

29/09/1939: Embarked for France.

01/06/1940: Evacuated from Dunkirk.

23/06/41: With the rest of the Batallion, assembed at North Somercotes, Lincolnshire. For rest of summer built defences along coast n preparation for German invasion.

16/09/1941: Posted.

16/12/1941: Posted to 5th Guards Armoured Brigade.

23/11/1941 to 17/01/1942: Attended 222 Signals Course, Taunton ECTG.

17/01/1942: Guardsman Ist Class.

07/06/1943 to 26/06/1943: Attended butchery course at Smithfield Institute

29/12/1943: Passed test as Cook class III Group B.

29/12/1943: Mustered as a Cook. Extra pay.

03/02/1944: Granted additional pay. Officer Commanding Coldream Guards informed.

REDACTED UNTIL 2045.

29/06/1944: Embarked for France.

01/07/1944: Promoted to Cook Class II.

17/09/1944 to 25/09/1944: Operation Market Garden.

23/03/1945: Operation Plunder.

07/12/1945: Repatriated to UK.

17/07/1946: Relegated to the reserve.

25/07/1946: Released from service.

This is the account from the War Diary of the IInd Batallion of the Coldstream Guards for JUne 1st, 1940:



It soon became known that we were to withdraw to the beach and embark this evening.

Our supporting Artillery also knew this and they were determined to use up every round of ammunition they could lay their hands on.

The GERMANS now began in earnest to try and prevent our getting away.

Ugly rumours kept drifting in of GERMAN infiltration round our flanks.

The Carrier Platoon was therefore despatched to watch our Left Flank in the 3rd BRIGADE area by LES MOERES.

By mid-day No. 4 Company were forced to withdraw slightly from the banks of the Canal.

The whole countryside now being flooded, even if the enemy did cross he would be confined to the roads.

At about 1400 hours it appeared that the Battalion on our Right had withdrawn in the face of opposition, and No. 1 and No. 3 Companies had to form a defensive flank on their Right.

Lieutenant E.L. GIBBS Commanding No. 1 Company was killed about this time, as was 2nd Lieutenant C.A. BLACKWELL, the Signal Officer, who was attached to No. 1 Company.

At 1600 hours we were informed that the position could be abandoned at 2200 hours, and the difficult task of getting this news to the Forward Platoons began.

At 1900 hours the Adjutant led Battalion H.Q. back to the sea.

At 2100 hours we were told that Zero Hour could be put forward to 2100 hours, and about the same time the news arrived that Major McCORQUODALE, commanding No. 3 Company had been killed, and also 2/Lieutenant R.D.E. SPEED, the remaining Officer in No. 1 Company.

No. 4 Company which was the last out of the Line still had all its Officers and thus the Battalion reached the sea covered by the Carriers who took up a position on the DUNKIRK Canal until 0200 hours, when, in accordance with his orders, Lieutenant The EARL of DEVON abandoned his vehicles and immobilised them.

The Battalion reached the beach a mile or two East of DUNKIRK Mole about 0130 hours, and joined several of the many long queues already waiting to embark.

About half were fortunate enough to get off before dawn when the ROYAL NAVY ceased operating until the evening.

Those left on shore were taken back into the sand dunes and ordered to dig in.

During this day there was plenty of food, and fortunately immunity from enemy shells and bombs, though all round were remains of earlier bombardments.

Shortly after 2100 hours the party was told to march down to the Mole and was soon on board H.M Destroyer “SABRE”.

In the days that followed the remnants of the Battalion re-assembled at WALTON, near WAKEFIELD.

Friday 21st March 2025

And so, the day arrived.

As I had finished the report, I could have an extra lay in before getting up, having a shave and shower before coming downstairs to put the bins out, do the feeders and make a coffee as Jools had already left for her weekly yoga class.

I logged on, and after a couple of farewell calls, I take shots of the few receipts I had from the last Danish trip, then send them to my work e mail and create and submit my last travel expese.

I could have gotten away, I guess, with not doing it, but I thought I had better.

That gave me a couple of hours in which to stare into space.

At ten there was the presentation of the report, which took just about the whole hour, then another half hour before my farewell meeting with colleagues left in the company. I had collected shots from the 15 years of my time in the company, and talked over stuff I did at the time.

Twenty minutes and it was over.

No more to say.

I say thanks to each and every one of them, those who could not make the meeting, and those that have left the company.

Closed the meeting.

And after closing all programs, close the laptop down for the last time.

My first task as a retiree was to be on The Danny Baker Show pod, The Treehouse, yet again, regaling with tales of volcanoes and the most dangerous road in Indonesia. They were thrilled when they found out I had retired just twenty minutes before.

And then.

I put the computer away ready for the last trip to head office next week, separating stuff that is useful. Notebooks collected for a ritual (small) bonfire, then lunch of Spanish lentil stew.

Jools was having a haircut, so Scully and I watched Bangers and Cash for a couple of hours.

Jools returned, had a shower and we had a brew, before the long hour before the music quiz.

Sadly, I leap early, but err, badly. It was not Hawkwind but twas Todd Rundgren.

Off then to Jen's for a slap up supper of a Chinese takeaway, with Sean and Ange coming along, and downed with strong Belgian beer and good red wine.

Heck, there was even cake.

Which did not mix well with the beer and takeaway, but that's what having fun is all about.

Jools drove us home, already England had beaten Albania, so to bed it was. To sleep, perchance to dream.

Thursday 20th March 2025

And on to Thursday, my penultimate day at work, and one which I HAVE to finish the audit report ready for Friday.

In preparation for much redrafting, Jools was bringing home fish and chips for dinner, so I could work later, all I had to do was keep my procrastination under control.

Easier said than done.

Jools woke me from a dream where I was trapped on a wooden sailing ship owned by The New York Dolls, look I don't know how my brain works, to the land of living, and to work.

I had a coffee, then got down to work trying to make sense of my notes, working my way through, taking breaks every hour to speak with soon to be former colleagues.

Come lunchtime, Fra also done some work, we combined our efforts, and by four, it was done. Just some checking and I could could stop at half four, log off.

I made a coffee and sat with Scully until it was time to feed them and make sure the plates were warm and the kettle kept freshly boiled.

Battered sausage and chips, with brews, all freshly cooked, crispy and golden. We ate quickly, and relaxed.

I found some football to watch, Denmark v Portugal, and the Danes won 1-0 with that Ronaldo bloke having a stinker. So it goes, so it goes.

Into the sunset

It is one thirty five, and I have been retired for just over 90 minutes.

I still don't know how I feel about it.

I know, that closing down the programs on the work computer brought more emotion that I thought.

I worked, past tense, for forty years and three days, and back as a youth, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a train diver, but no idea how to make that dream happen.

It was also the height of Thatcherism, so jobs for the young were very thin on the ground.

Three years earlier, everyone in our year was asked what they wanted to do, exams and maybe apply for an apprenticeship​. I was a very young 13, and scared, rightly, of the whole wide world, and even though a dreadful scholar, I decided to do more of it, cheered on by teachers who, as my Dad correctly pointed out, were ensuring they had kids to teach thus securing their jobs.

I did an extra year in the 6th Form, not for A levels, but to resit the exams I was expected to fail, especally English language. I had been one of only two people in the year to pass the mock, but even then the school put me up for the actual exam, reluctantly.

I passed, and so the five subjects for sixth form went down to four, and so I had half the week off. And not motivated in retaking Maths and Physics, so only improved my result from a CSE 3 to a 2, which still wasn't equal to the GCE O Level.

So, I drifted through life, with no plan for next week let alone where I would end up. I was unemployed, apart from a couple of schemes for two years, before ending up in the chicken factory in March 1985, and growing into work became a QI inspector and then a chargehand.

But there had to be more to life than the chicken factory.

I was friendly with Jim, and Jim was friendly with Hunter, who had joined the RAF as an MT driver, and was having the time of his life. We both tried to join, but the trade was being phased out, so we had to choose something else. James joined as an Armourer, and when I was told the same thing, I mentioned armourer, and was told an interview would be arranged.

Instead I got a letter from the MOD saying my application to join as an armourer was successful, and I would join in July 1990.

After recovering from breaking my thumb in June, I joined in the end n September, and after going through basic and trade training, being posted to Nofolk.

I got married.

We got posted to Germany.

We got divorced.

I was posted back to the UK, at RAF Lyneham.

Met someone else.

Got married.

Got divorced Again.

Had to go on a year long training course for not really a promotion, but got to be called a technician, and came with a 50% pay rise and a posting.

Back to Norfolk.

I had five good years at RAF Coltishall, before the RAF and I decided we should go our different ways. I had a house in Lowestoft. So I went to live there, and bummed around for ten months, and then the money ran out.

Mum bailed me out, I got a job as a driver delivering chemicals, which was shit. As was the money, but meant I could pay the mortgage.

Then I was sacked.

And I answered an ad to be a geophysical engineer, as the company liked military types.

I worked there for three years, worked on the North Sea (lots), Indonesia and the Caspian Sea, as well as the very north of Norway. In winter.

I had met Jools. She looked after Molly.

We got married.

And at that point, this blog begins, or began.

All the while drifting along.

I joined Vestas, and there I stayed.

There have been good times, bad times, but all the way through, for forty years. Good people.

The best.

And some twats, clearly, but mostly good. Hopefully I was good too.

So, I will drift into the sunset, sails catching the wind, my eye on the next great photographic oportunity.

Wednesday 19th March 2025

Days to do are getting few.

And to be honest, I have given up on my chuff chart as the final day is now just the end of the week.

There is, of course, still the small matter of the six audit reports to write, and if there's time, do my travel expenses, so my time is limited.

Spring has arrived, with dawn went the last of the frosty nights, and the day warmed up, but fell back to about six or seven over night.

But during the day was warm enough to have the door ajar and if I had time, to have lunch on the patio, watching birds.

I did not have time, however.

I slept through the alarm, of course, woken by a shout from Jools and the sound of the kettle boiling.

I go down to drink and get the fog out of my head so I can work.

As it happened, I lost my mojo and track of what I was doing, spending most of the day doing the wrong things, something I realised about half three. So, eight hours wasted effort and time. It can be reused, so there's that at least.

I think I saw a Hobby fly over, though was probably a Peregrine falcon, it was being mobbed by half a dozen gulls, who then turned their attention to a buzzard.

I saw this having a mid-morning coffee, but soon work was calling me back, back to my never ending report.

I shared the report with my co-auditor at the end of the day, and logged off, feeling like an over-rung flannel, nothing left to give.

I made fritters for dinner, the courgettes now over two weeks old and barely useable, but I get enough flesh to make enough for dinner.

We have wine.

Just two days to go for me, seven for Jools, and this will be a thing of the past.

No football on in the evening, so we go to bed once Jools was back trying to install Alexa for Jen.