Gas Fridge Explanation & House Buying in the 1980's – Has Computers Increase Conveyancing Speed?

This is more of a memory of my early days in what was then, my new house, I will have had the house for 25 years on the 1st March 2010, though a lot of work was required, from a damp course, electrics and new windows. It all cost around £1,500, I paid £23,000 for the house. I may get it finished soon, I did change the bathroom suite a few months ago, though from the mid 70's it was not one of the dark colours.

The the buying was a bit different. Looked at the house in September, signed the contract in November, but the vendor did not want to exchange until the property in London was sorted out. Though I expect as I was offering £1,000 less than the asking price, she wanted to get more. Though a house up together including full decoration, would have been no more than £27,000. I received a phone call at work on the 28th February (not a Leap Year) saying they want to exchange contract on that day. I had asked to complete at the beginning of the month, as it worked out better for the mortgage payments. Yes they said, it could be done on the 1st March., one day from exchange to completion, could they do it today? No computers or on-line searches, I just had to sign a form that was put through the door, that I signed, had witnessed, (by the donor assistant). In those days one person dealt with you from when you reached the bed to when you left, so you/ they chatted. Now you are set-up by one person, then they deal with someone else . When your light flashes someone comes to deal with it, so it would be harder to do this now, but of course time is expensive so to cut costs in many Government and companies time between (now everyone is a customer) and the staff.

It is now harder to have a local solicitor, Blake Lapthorn moved out of Gosport, I moved to Chidlows, John Chidlow died and Churchers took on the clients, my Deeds for my house are with them, but the Deeds could be anywhere. There was no cost to store them (though I asked for a photo copy when I paid off the mortgage).

I understand the old maps in the Local Studies Centre are being sorted out with an index, mostly if not completely by a volunteer from the Friends of Gosport Museum a Mrs M Ventham, so if you would like to see the history of your house or the plot around it, visit the Local Studies Centre in Walpole Road, you will also find a cabinet of old photos there as well.

Anyway, when I bought the house there were some items left, not all the items that were agreed, though the only item I was annoyed about was the taking of the fitted gas fire in the front room. Though I did contact the solicitors, but it seemed all the Vendor had to do was ignore her solicitors letters. So the front room became a shed for a couple of years while I did up the house.

My sister and her boyfriend came round, he had heard that when I moved in a Gas fridge (Gas as in methane etc. not gas Oxygen etc.) had been left (unfortunately with items left in it), so he asked how a Gas fridge worked, when you associate Gas with heat, how does it make things cold. I went in to explaining it and even now do not know if he wanted to know or just winding me up. I noticed my sisters and brother in the room were looking at each other. I used to get in to these things, you are suffering now, but at least I can say it and no one has to hear/ read it. Ian

Money Whinge and Gosport.info

I have put a note about the Money Whinge and Gosport Open Source Software blogs the second has been closed and I am updating the items from Money Whinge to put here. I found doing more than one was too much, most of the items had some link to Gosport, so will update the items and in time delete that blog. I hope that it will mean that if you have something to say that has even a small connection to Gosport, you will feel that you can add it here.

I have had to change to 'moderation' as I have had some games and other comments, nothing to do with Gosport, just adverts for other web sites, as 'Anonymous' if you have something to say an dI delete it, please email me with your comments and yours and/ or your comments link to Gosport and I will add it unless it is a direct comment about a local person. I do not want anyone chucking bricks through my window. Ian

Carbon Footprint & Climate Change in Gosport.

With all the Climate Change conference stuff I thought I would put down some of my thoughts. Some may call me a 'sceptic', I do think the climate is changing, as it always has. There may even be some effect due to human activity, but all the stuff around it.

With parts of Gosport below sea level (6 feet I understand) though there seems to be a lot less flooding in parts of Gosport compared to when I was young, this may be due to raising the ground level such as at Priddys Hard and perhaps Forton Rec (now seems to be called Forton Park). It may be due to all the work at the sea walls at Stokes Bay, Lee-on-the-Solent and the Ferry Gardens, it has had other names, but I am sure that this is the one most people who have spent some time in Gosport will know it by that name. If Climate change was to cause sea level rise Gosport would notice.

I do agree that better use of resources should be made, but why waste all the time talking and making agreements that can never be enforced on countries, though I am sure some Governments will use the excuse of these agreements to make rules, laws and controls on some of their population. If the human factor is a problem why have a meeting where 35,000 delegates attend, plus all the others that will go to report, deal with security an so on.

I have looked at a number of Carbon Footprint calculation web sites, put in my details and the results were in the range of just over 10% to just over 50% of the UK average, so how useful are they? I never learnt to drive so do not own a car, I use a wood fired stove to run my central heating and some of my winter water heating. I bought my first energy saving bulb around 20 years ago, and now have a selection of different types from the straight 40w bulbs through to bulbs made up of a number of LEDs, you can see the earlier item for details. I have also planted 10 semi-dwarfing fruit trees in my garden. So I hope the negative I put below, does not mean you will think, I will not do what I can, in particular if it may save me some money in the long term.

I do get annoyed when the Council will not collect some waste for recycling that I feel should be able to be, such as batteries and 'tin' foil. The Guides at the Salvation Army used to collect it for Guide Dogs for the Blind, 'creating the joke,'blind dogs for the Guides'. I am sure there are good reasons, but feel the aim is to make the recycling system as complicated as possible so if the recycling rates are low it is the householder fault. Where they change the rules to make it easier, they reduce the items that can be recycled. I am sure there are good reasons, but it strikes me that they do not think of the problems and pasts of householders. I am sure many families have the problem of getting all the members of the family to put the items in the correct bin or are able to control what is put from the pavement. Also I do gardening for mostly retired people, 4 in their 90's and most of the rest in their 80's. One lady sorted all the different items, eg paper, tins, plastic in different bags and ended with a label on the bin about mixed waste. She was upset and said, that she won't sort it out for them'. Which is what they want, but all they saw was bags in the recycle bin and did not use their brain to see what had happened.

I feel rather than spending large amounts working out what may happen to the climate or having meetings to work out what limits should be put on. The problem to my mind will be a shortage of resources as the increasing population of the World becomes better off (or better off in relation to the UK), the UK needs to work out what it will need to do produce the energy, or reduce the energy required to the amount that it will be able to afford to import. The economy could be improved to bring in more, apart from the fact that UK Governments love wasting our money, no not by on public spending as much of that goes back in to the UK economy, but by giving it to other countries in the form of financial speculation, falling out of the ERM in the Conservatives case or selling half the UKs gold reserves at $240 an ounce, now at up to $1,200 an ounce in real terms 3-4 time as much. Yes they did sell the 3G mobile licences for £22 billion but of course to UK mobile companies, so they could not afford to build the masts. It was OK though as overseas mobile companies could buy up he UK companies at less than they paid for the licences and were allowed to share the cost of building the masts. So they have done what the UK well English Governments in the later years have done what they have done since the early 20^th centenary, make the UK/ England worse off to the benefit of other countries. If it was to the less well off countries I could not complain as many people do give to those countries. Yes £800 million over 10 years to assist regarding climate change, but billions doing all sorts of things to much better off countries over the last 100 years. I have a list, but am sure you could come up with with some.

This will only work if help is arranged to fund energy and resource conservation also UK energy production, not based on a current cost benefit but based in the future. If not when the time comes the Government will have to deicide if it will ration to those who need or to those who can pay. It will mean 70's power cuts. Just think how much could be done back then with no electricity and what could be done now. I feel they have no belief that energy use will be reduced, so when it all goes wrong future Governments will say it was because, 'no one saved the energy in the past'. Governments always blame everyone, even when a proportion of the population is the problem. I feel Tony Blair was most guilty of this, like a teacher holding the whole class to detention because of the actions of a few in the class. I will stop there, but will drop other similar items in the blog, more or less, depending on your thoughts.

I feel the 'Global Warming - Climate Change' thing is just a smoke screen to hid what should be done. Mind you it does give the TV and radio something to make programmes about, though if they say anything against Global Warming all hell breaks out. Ian

Meetings Of Interest in Gosport - Gosport Museum & Gosport Tourism

In the past I have been to School Parliament and School Council meetings (at Brune Park 1972 - 78) Gosporteers, St John Forton PCC and many smaller committee meetings. This week I booked to go to a couple that in one case have never been to and another, I have been to but not this format.

Though on Monday I should have gone to a Gosport Voluntary Action network meeting at 12pm, unfortunately, I arrived at 2pm, I would say that it is due to my hitting 50, though at times I mix up dates and since my fake Folio Fax in the 80's and my Psion Clone in the 90's I have not found a good way to organise my life. I have tried diaries, but also used computer calenders, I hoped Google Calender would work, but I leave things off one or the other. I now have a cheap Netbook and hope I can use the Google calender, I tried to connect at the Discovery Centre, though easy to find, I asked for the password, but the person at the desk was not confident and quick to say, ' we can't help you'. She did get two passwords and was not sure which one, OK I am too much of a coward to go back but I am at the Friends of Gosport Museum party on the 11th December in The Studio of the Discovery Centre there are plenty of spaces just £1 including tea/ coffee etc and find out about Gosport's Muesum on the Mezzanine ask for Ian.

The Joint Museums Management committee (including Gosport & Hampshire Councillors of all parties, believe it or not mainly agreeing and complimenting the Discovery Centre, Museum Services staff and the Friends of Gosport Museum. Becoming a member of the 'Friends' costs just £5 per year and you can do as little or as much as you want, from volunteering to help with the Gosport collection, on the committee to coming to event organised by the FGM.

The other was the Tourism Forum, again finding out not necessarily what will happen, but what is being looking in to. I can say about the new Discover Gosport Web Site don't forget to see the Aliens Landing in Gosport, also the plans for the Discover Gosport brochure. Other stuff came up, white water rafting etc., to see more is come to the meeting, or to read the, 'twisted negative' stuff in The News. Ian

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Ghost Walks return in 2010 at Explosion!

Explosion! The Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport is pleased to announce that its popular Ghost Walks will shortly be returning to the Priddy’s Hard site. The Museum has five walks planned for early 2010, these are on Wednesday 20^h of January, Wednesday 27^th January, Wednesday 3^rd of February, Wednesday 10^th of February and Wednesday 17^th of February, all beginning at 6.30pm from the Museum Coffee Shop.

Members of the public will once again be able to discover the fate of former workers in a guided twilight walk through Priddy’s Hard, led by Edwardian Coroner, Edgar Goble.

Tickets for all of these events are available by calling 023 9250 5600 (£5.00 per person, includes Tea and Coffee from 6.15pm). More information on these and other events can be found by visiting www.explosion.org.uk. We advise that all tickets are purchased in advance due to increased popularity.

Incandescent Light Bulbs

I understand that the British Government with the EU are going to ban the sale of incandescent light bulbs in 2010. Now that is OK, I do not have any in my house now but there are problems with the new low energy bulbs.

I have some that are over 15 years old with no noticeable reduction in light output, whereas the bulbs that I have added over the last 5 years either do not last more than 2 or 3 years or their light output drops, I would say in a few months. I feel that the quality of the current range of bulbs are poorer quality, perhaps as they can get away with it due to all the stuff about Global Warming. Though the bulbs claim to have 4 times the light of an incandescent bulb of the same wattage, surely that is when first produced, mine seems to fall by a third so roughly that would be closer to double the light output of the normal bulb, but they cost a lot more. So perhaps the thing to be in with Global Warming is low energy light bulb manufacture. I am using some LED mains (bulbs) about double the efficiency of the fluorescent bulbs with a much better light, though they are about £10, the first fluorescent bulb I bought in Southampton between 1985 and 1992 was £6.95.

I also understand that there are people with a light sensitive form of lupus, which means they can only be in rooms with incandescent bulbs, I wonder how they will deal with that? Ian

Predictions Of The Future, by Economist, Scientists and Politicians

I understand that Gordon Brown says climate warming sceptics are akin to 'Flat Earthers'. Now I do not know if climate change is mainly due to human activity, but I understand Gordon Brown in the late 80's sold half of the UKs gold at around $240 an ounce and it has, for a short while been over $1200 an ounce, so how good is he at predictions. Also if global warning is caused by carbon, why did he travel to Europe just to sign a agreement when all the leaders of other Governments had gone home, maybe it would be much different to Gordon Brown going over economy as sending someone over with the papers to sign. I suspect if he travels, there are security, PAs, advisiors, secretaries and journalists on the plane. I have never been on one.

In a past post I commented on the prediction of 40% of the UK population being over 60 by 2050. I know that I cannot prove that will be the case one way or another according to life expectancy predictions I should be around for say another 30 years, so comfortably short of 2050, when have the UK is due to be under water.

I can look at some predictions of the past, aimed at 2000 or there abouts, anyone who knows me would worry as I said 2000 rather than 2001 for the beginning of the new millennium, as far back as the 1970's when people would say, 'lets celebrate the new decade at ???0, I would say not until next year, there were a couple of people who said that, Patrick Moore and Sandy Jones of BBC Radio Solent and others. They would say why the answer being that there was a year 1 BC and a year 1 AD but no year '0', by the year 2001 everyone (nearly) was saying that was the first year of the New Millennium. Even in Gosport walking back from where my sister and brother-in-law lived in Rowner just before midnight the fireworks were great, but nothing like what they were like the following year.

I have nothing against looking at the worse possible scenario and planning against it. Many will tell you that I avoid over consumer consumption (OK I am tight or careful) and attempt to try, recycling reducing energy use, low energy (including mains LEDs) bulbs It is easier for me living in a house on my own, but I have seen the problems with all the confusing messages, about what can be recycled with Gosport Council and the best way to reduce overall energy consumption.

In the 1970's at Brune Park School, Military Rd., Gosport talk was of the North Sea Oil running out,
by 1990 all the North Sea oil would be gone, well as usual the expertise of scientist and engineers have made better use of what has come up, getting up a higher proportion of what is there up (at that time a third of the oil could be brought up, now nearer two thirds) and using less to do the same work. I understand over the last year or so we are now importing more oil than we export. So that prediction was out by 30 years and maybe 20 or 30 more.

In 1984 I was looking for life insurance as I was buying my current house I could have gone for an endowment mortgage but in my circumstance it did not make sense (perhaps a future post and the Abbey National Gosport) so looked for a cheap insurance to cover my mortgage. As a single person, I did not need to provide for others, but would not want my house sold to just cover the mortgage of £15,000. I have no complaints about the reducing value insurance, in line with the repayment mortgage I took out, just £25 a year for cover starting at £15,000, in fact as the annual premium was above what I was due to pay so have had the last 3 years for free. At the time, even though there were a number of questions for males under 50 about, 'life style' and adding if you did not advise of your risk you would not be covered, the premium was increased by 50% as predictions of HIV and AIDs were that 1,000,000 in the UK would have died of AIDs and there would be another 2,000,000 who were HIV positive. Insurance Companies made a profit on term life insurance for males (and females but not as much) but you only hear when insurance and assurance companies are making a loss. Nothing like the numbers caught HIV and moved on to AIDs.

Predictions can be a guide, a warning, a suggestion of the worst or a bid for funds, the problem being how can anyone without the knowledge of those making the predictions know which it is. Ian

TOP HONOUR FOR TOP SPORTSWOMAN

On Thursday 17 December at 6pm, Gosport Borough Council will honour the exceptional achievements of sailor, Dee Caffari MBE when, in the Grand Magazine of Explosion! Museum, she is awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Gosport,

“Being the first woman to sail single-handedly around the world in both directions is an incredible achievement and deserves honouring,” said Councillor Mark Hook, Leader of the Council at Gosport. “But that is something Dee has already received in many forms from other organisations. Here at Gosport, we of course wish to honour her great sporting achievements, but we also want to recognise and highlight the work Dee has done, and continues to do, locally here in the Borough.”

As well as supporting the local economy by making her sailing base in Gosport, Dee has worked closely with local clubs and schools, giving educational talks and setting projects for them outside their normal curriculum. With a strong bond developed, the children logged on at every opportunity to follow every wave of Dee’s incredible Aviva Challenge journey.

Before she sailed they even gave Dee a bear called Sizzles, a mascot and companion for her adventure, which on a visit to the Mayor of Gosport, Cllr Diane Searle after the race, Dee was delighted to return to the children for safe keeping.

“Dee realises that children are our future and it’s important to allow them to follow their dreams and encourage and support their development whenever possible,” added Mark, It is for her sailing achievements and for her work with, and support of, the community that we wish to honour her in this way.”

Following the Freedom Ceremony, Dee will do a talk to raise money for St Mary’s Sailing Club. This will commence in the Museum Conference Hall at 7.30pm. Doors open at 7pm. This will be a ticketed event, separate to the Freedom Ceremony and tickets are available priced £10 from Richard Baker-Jones on Tel: (023) 9252 5508 or from rb-j@lineone.net Spaces are limited so please book early.

COUNCILLORS EXCITED BY NEW IDEAS FOR HASLAR

At a presentation held at Gosport Borough Council last night, Our Enterprise, the company who recently purchased the former Royal Hospital Haslar site from the MoD, unveiled their ideas for its future use. They spoke of a Veterans Village, a Community Health Facility and accommodation for students, bringing together both young and old in a unique way.

Tomorrows People, a Charity which helps vulnerable people with accommodation and working skills are also looking to relocate to the site, where they hope to take over the upkeep of the Listed Parks and Gardens. Specialists in the field of Rehabilitation, Alzheimer, Cancer and Psychiatric care are also looking at the site with ideas of building up a centre of care and excellence like no other in the Country.

“Ideas on providing an Equestrian Centre and an Arts Centre on the site for the benefit of both residents and the disabled are also being discussed and all without having to build hundreds more houses, something we as an authority have been totally against,” said Cllr Peter Edgar, Former spokesperson for the Save Haslar Task Force. ”Our Local Plan has the site listed for Health and Community use and the proposals on offer are ideal. I think all Members present were pleasantly surprised, even excited, by the idea.”

Although they have been busily working behind the scenes getting surveys and investigations done, now they have exchanged, Our Enterprise wish to get going as quickly as possible, something of course the council wish to see so that buildings are not allowed to lie empty and deteriorate.

“Subject to planning, they hope to commence work as soon as possible,” added Peter “This is obviously not a quick project, but as and when the buildings become available for use, be that accommodation for people or for some of the fantastic proposed services, then once again life will breathe within the walls of this historic site we all know and love - Haslar.”

GOSPORT HONOURS MEDICS IN AFGHANISTAN

At an Extraordinary Meeting held at Gosport Borough Council, all Members unanimously supported and agreed the proposal that the Freedom of the Borough of Gosport be awarded to 33 Field Hospital. Speaking on the decision, Councillor Edgar, Chairman of the Council’s Civic & Commemorative Events Sub Board said, “Long time residents of Gosport know Fort Blockhouse as the home of the Field Hospital, but never have we been more aware of the incredible job they do. I am delighted we can acknowledge and commend their outstanding service with this award.”

Some may think medics are not front line troops, which couldn’t be further from the truth. For whilst some man Field Hospitals, treating British and coalition forces, Afghan security forces and even local civilians, others are alongside troops in action, ready to immediately treat casualties. “They are real soldiers; in fact they’re the silent heroes of this war, the ones who, under fire, put their life on the line to go to the aid of others. Their bravery is to be commended and I am delighted the Council has agreed to them receiving the Freedom of the Borough of Gosport.”

33 Field Hospital is not due back from Afghanistan until March 2010, when a special Award Ceremony will be held, giving Gosport residents the chance to honour the men and women of 33 Field Hospital. The Council has also requested that if well enough, Sergeant Simon Harmer, recently injured in Afghanistan, should join his colleagues for the ceremony.

Sign Up On Carers Rights Day 4th December 2009

NHS Hampshire is encouraging people to Sign Up this Carers Rights Day, 4^th December. 1 in 8 adults (around six million people) are carers, that’s 10% of the total population, or approximately 12% of the adult population.

Every day, another 6,000 people take on a caring responsibility (that’s over 2 million a year) and it's anticipated that the number of carers will increase to 9 million by 2037. 58% of carers are women and 42% are men with over 1 million people caring for more than one person.

625,000 people suffer mental and physical ill health as a direct consequence of the stress and physical demands of caring. In the South East, almost three-quarters (72%) of people who provide unpaid care for a loved one who is ill, frail or disabled have reached breaking point due to the pressures of their caring role, according to research.

Sign Up can provide valuable information to carers, including tailored healthcare advice and information. It also gives local people the chance to help shape health services in their local community. It’s quick and easy to register online at www.signuphants.nhs.uk or by calling 023 8062 7434.

Sign Up also provides access to a host of discounts at high street stores via the NHS discount scheme.

Father Christmas arrives to board his submarine grotto

Father Christmas has arrived in Gosport to take charge of his new mode of transport, a WW2 era submarine HMS Alliance at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. The submarine grotto will be open to the public on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December as part of the event Father Christmas at the North Pole. His team of elves and helpers have been busy to fill the submarine with presents, reindeer stores and supplies for his round the world trip on Christmas Eve.

Tickets are £9 on the door or £8 if booked in advance and family discounts are available. To book call the Royal Navy Submarine Museum on 023 9251 0354 ext 241 or visit the Gosport Tourist Information Centre. For more information visit www.rnsubmus.co.uk