Sunday, 15th April 2007
No friends, this is not the third instalment of Isaac’s potty training saga but a posting to tell you all about our protest march in defiance of Banham Composts’ plans to build a rendering plant on the outskirts of our village. I don’t want to bore you with the details of the campaign but if you are interested please go to http://www.pweh.co.uk/ where you can read all about the impending threat to the Wensum Valley and the quality of life for all those who live in the surrounding area. You can also register your own objection from this website.
Here we are holding our protest banner prior to the march up to the factory gate. Initially, it was planned that as many people as possible would walk up to Clay Hall Farm to protest at the gates but Banham got wind (excuse the pun) of our plans and contacted the police. The police did little but sit and watch because our protest, although techically illegal, was good natured, and respected the instructions of the authorities.
As a result only 15 of us were allowed to go up to the gates to confront the Banham security guards. I asked one of the security guards if he wouldn’t mind just holding my banner for me whilst I did my shoelace up. Unfortunately he wasn’t that gullible. From this point at the top of the hill, the polluted air that is emitted from the plant could drift down into the valley and make it unbearable to go out into our gardens.
Everyone else stood on the bridge, a particularly good focal point because the River Wensum (which could be polluted should an accident occur at the factory) flows underneath it. We had a great turn out with at least 100 protesters mostly from Lenwade and Sparham, the two villages that would be affected the most by the pungent smell of rotting animal carcasses.
As the cars drove by many many people honked their horns to show their support for our cause. Only one person shouted out of their window “get a life” – clearly they didn’t know what we were protesting about.
Isaac had a simple message to tell Banham Compost Ltd. “We don’t think we should have your stink, yes, I’m talking to you”. BBC Look East covered the story as well as photo journalists from a number of newspapers. To top it off, at 5.20 on Saturday 14th April, Heidi, Isaac and myself all appeared on Look East doing our little bit for the environment and our community.
Yours truly, Rent a mob
Posted by Daddy @ 7:26 PM
Monday, 9th April 2007
I took this photo a couple of years ago but everytime that I stumble across it on my computer I burst into laughter. Alan had arranged for a delivery of wood for his open fire but I bet he never expected this. I just wish that I could have been a fly on the wall when his wife Sharon got home. I guess it could have been worse – at least it was delivered to the right address.Â
I’ll leave it to you to add a suitable caption in the comments field. I await your witticisms with anticipation.
Posted by Daddy @ 9:36 PM
Sunday, 8th April 2007
When my Grandad was 60 a little while ago he was presented with a framed certificate for the chance to fly in Uncle Peter’s microlight plane. Today, was the day and I’m very pleased to announce that both Grandad and Uncle Peter are safely back on terra firma, though not without a scare or too.
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It was a beautiful Sunday morning and we were due to meet at the airfield at 3pm. However, by half past 2 it began to get very windy.  Nevertheless, the flight went ahead and as we drove towards the airfield we watched Uncle Peter circling above our heads. It wasn’t long before Grandad was kitted up and preparing for take off.
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The moment arrived and together with my fellow spectators held my breath in anticipation.
Uncle Peter took Grandad out to Bacton and then along the coast to Cromer before heading back inland over Blickling Hall and home. It was a bit of a bumpy ride but they landed safely and lived to tell the tale.
Grandad and Gran were soon reunited
However, the excitement was not over for it wasn’t long before Uncle Lewis was also kitted up and ready to take off.Â
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Whilst Grandad’s landing looked fairly smooth, by the time Uncle Lewis was ready to land the wind had picked up a lot and Pilot Peter did well to get the microlight back onto the ground without going into the nearby field.Â
Everybody had a great afternoon and we would all (particularly Gran and Lucy) like to thank Uncle Peter for taking Grandad and Lewis in his microlight and for bringing them both back safely to earth.Â
Click on to flickr for more pictures of David’s microlight experience.Â
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Posted by Daddy @ 7:17 PM
Sunday, 1st April 2007
Yesterday I went to Pensthorpe Waterfowl Park near Fakenham. It was a beautiful sunny day and we were the first people there so we could enjoy walking around the lakes listening to all the birds. I have never seen so many different kinds of birds, ducks, geese, cranes etc. I even saw a water vole pop his head over the side of a little bridge to say hello.  I would thoroughly recommend that you take a trip to Pensthorpe over the summer. Click onto this link to find out more http://www.pensthorpe.com/
Here are a few pictures of us at Pensthorpe to whet your appetite.
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A time to reflect
The kissing gate: I dare not say what went on here
Posted by Isaac @ 7:19 PM
Sunday, 1st April 2007
Last week Daddy and I took Uncle James back to Norwich airport to catch an aeroplane back to his house (well Exeter airport actually). James’ bag was put onto a machine called a conveyor belt which suddenly started moving and took it away. The lady asked me if I wanted to get on the machine as well to which I replied, “do I look stupid to you love?”. I hope he didn’t need any of those things in the bag because I doubt he’ll ever see any of them again.
Uncle James stayed with us in our house for what seemed like, well … forever really. It was the first time that he had come to stay with us. Here is a picture of me with James. Coming to think of it he looks rather happy to be leaving.
It’s thanks to James that I have my blog in the first place. If you go back to the very first entry on thebathtimeblog you can see that the blog was James’ birthday present to me. It took me a little while to get the hang of it but as you can see I’ve got it pretty sussed now. One of the best things about Uncle James coming to stay were his DVD’s – he introduced me to Camberwick Green and Trumpton which, despite their somewhat antiquated appearance, were great. I liked Windy Miller the best, though how he never got his head chopped off by the windmill sails I’ll never know (certainly a situation for the Health and Safety Executive to investigate). Apparantly, Mummy and Daddy also enjoyed James’ DVD’s, particularly The Music Man, though I couldn’t help sensing a touch of sarcasm in Daddy’s voice.
Posted by Isaac @ 6:52 PM
