Our rhododendron is in full colour and we thought it would be a good time to stroll through Moorlands and everything was beautiful. My brother John worked on the maintenance staff at the Retreat hospital and Moorlands belonged to them so he spent a lot of time there.
This lovely bluebell scene greeted us just through the gate.
Further along, this res des was sharing a dead tree with fungi.
This lone white Rhododendron gave promise of a grander display.
And the lovely, strong scent of this yellow Zalea, one of several, drew us further along.
This large, red Acer stood guard over the colourful shrubs.
As we approached this marvelous study in red, white and yellow.
This magnificent white Rhododendron stood erect, like a palace guard by the gate, as we left.
Voting for our representatives is probably the most expensive shopping trip ordinary people ever make and they have no idea what sort of deal they are going to get. Most get no representation where it matters. IF YOU DON’T LIKE WHAT’S ON OFFER YOU DON’T HAVE TO BUY!!
Those who get your vote will always get the best deal, but some will give you a less bad deal than others. The best deal for us is under the counter.
There is a lot of discussion about the effect of exams at schools and their contribution to ‘learning for life’, which follows the same course for all ages, whatever activities we undertake.
In the field of direct selling, where I had to learn to survive by my results, there were several important steps towards securing a sale. *Finding prospects. *Getting appointments. *Arranging demonstrations.*Carrying out demonstrations. *Closing the sale and *Making call backs after installation and training. We were taught the Knowledge, supported, trained, motivated and regularly assessed.
In the early days, we were more often accompanied and assessed in the field. We submitted weekly reports on each days’ ACTIVITY in all the important steps of our work. This provided our supervisors and managers with a reliable picture of our strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to provide the best possible support to help us achieve. Established salesmen worked in exactly the same way. High ethical, work standards being set and maintained.
If one person had weakness in a particular aspect he would often be sent out with a colleague who was strong in the same. Both benefited. We never stopped learning, participating in our own assessment and progress.
(FOR ASSESSMENT READ TESTING)
A similar set of essential steps could be arrived at in the course of ‘learning for life’, starting with the 3Rs and adding appropriately for the individual. Regular practice and performances could be assessed and acted on appropriately. Brighter pupils could be used as ‘student teachers’. Individual, quantifying certificates of education could accompany pupils when leaving for work, taking part in work experience or moving on to higher education. It is not the piece of paper that matters, but what they are capable of delivering, and with this they could be tested to match the need, or their suitability for training.
I am not suggesting this could be picked up lock, stock and barrel but lessons could be learned.
THE YORKSHIRE DALES. Down to Middleham and Coverdale.
Yet another beautiful day, so off we went. On the way we saw it at its best. All the winter bare patches were now gone and replaced by green and floral colour.
We stopped near Ilton between Masham and Middleham and the views were marvelous, whichever way we looked.
Where could you find better dry stone walling?
It was hot and the local residents were making use of the shade.
A visiter was feeding young ducklings as their parents looked on, in a nearby pond.
We dropped down to East Witton; almost there to Middleham.
And we arrive; to prove it there's the castle.
And to be absolutely sure, there's a race horse.
What a great day and to really finish it off on a high? Chris and Sylvia outside the Green Dragon at Exelby nr Bedale.
That's where Chris and Bev are now. They were our hosts at The Walnut in York until a year ago when they took on this new challenge. The place was very run down, we were told. Not so any more. They have made a wonderful job of it. Just as they did at the Walnut. Marvelous dining rooms and lounges, beautiful decor and furnishings and a very inviting menu. It was quarter to five in the afternoon and true to what we know them to be; WORKAHOLICS, they were catching up on sleep, but the barman insisted on telling Chris we were there. He came down and we chatted for half an hour over drinks. It was great to see him again. Maybe we will get there in the evening next time and see Bev too.
PS. A wonderful place to stay in Middleham.
With Derek and Ann Bales
<www.myspace.com/domushouse>
The anger, hate and fear created by pedophilia is very real for local people whose children attend school in York, just a few yards from the bail hostel where they know repeat offenders have been placed and are free to walk out and hunt for new victims.
Pedophilia is the worst kind of human behaviour, damaging millions of lives of the young and their families around the world. The internet provides an easy, international habitat for it to fester and grow in. It feeds the remorseless appetites of these alien creatures with new depths of filth to practice amongst our children and youth. It thrives on inflicted misery and violence and generates a huge growing economy, spreading at a frightening rate.
It is in the interests of perpetrators, victims and the normal public to make castration mandatory, Parents understandably feel suspicious and resentful about anybody who shows interest in their children and normal people restrained. Community spirit suffers too.
There is no place for understanding, sympathy, leniency or half measures, wherever it is found. It makes you wonder about the law makers and those there to administer sentences, when you see the way they carry out that responsibility. The churches are known to harbour them.
This evil has got to be cut out from normal society, like cancerous tumours from the human body, whoever they are. It is more of a danger than drugs or crime and has got to be attacked with ruthless determination until completely eliminated from our midst.
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