Heros, miners and a killer

10 October 2012

I nice day here in Dorktown today.  We're not going today though because if we do it will be just for the sake of going out.  Since Jan's scooter gave up the ghost we haven't been able to go out together and we're missing it to be honest.  Yes we did go out on Saturday but walking was very limited, if we walked more than 200 metres during the day then that would be it.  We had a phone call from the suppliers of our new scooters and they should be with us in about four weeks.  We will be very pleased to have them too. 

It's very strange how we all have memories that we don't actually think about at all.  Well, I've two such memories come back in less than a day.  The first was yesterday afternoon/evening but guess what - we've both forgotten what it was now.  This morning we sat and watched Helicopter Heroes and the story of a miner in the Yorkshire pit who died after a roof cave in underground.  My memory that came form that was of the film Proud Valley, with Paul Robson playing the lead part.  In the end Robson is killed underground in a roof cave in.  Well, dad worked down Arley pit at the time we sat and watched it.  That night I had a nightmare over it and pleaded with dad not to go back down the pit.  It was a bad time for all us at the time but of course dad had to go back down the pit, he didn't have any choice.  But try explaining that to a two boys aged 7 or8 and 5 or 6!  Neither of us could understand what it was all about.  Now I do know and I do understand.  I also understand just why the village always seemed to come to stop when there was an accident underground and many of the women and families would stand about at the pit head waiting for news. 

I'm still a bit puzzled right now.  A few weeks ago I mentioned open cast coal mining in various areas of the UK, usually in places of known beauty and scientific interest.  Plans are made to expand such operations yet the EU is demanding that all coal fired power stations are to close?  If so then why is there still so much of a rush to get the black stuff out of the ground?  Doesn't make sense to me.

Some time ago a man was murdered as he worked on renovating a house in the village of Bulkington not far outside Dorktown.  Yesterday the trial of his killers began.  From the little that I have read of the case it all comes down to money.  It seems that neither of the men were particularly nice men and the man who owed the money was assaulted by the he owed the money to.  From there revenge was planned and carried and now nine men are in the dock over the killing.  Whatever the killing was about, there can be no excuse for the death of another man.

It seems that some people just don't seem to learn anything.  Right now a 5 year old girl is still missing in Mid-Wales and a man has been charged with her death.  With all the publicity about this why on earth would a man here in Dorktown be approaching kids as they leave school in the afternoon?  Police say he hasn't tried to abduct any child but they are going to increase security around the schools.  They are of course right to do so, but might the added security push the man to try it on elsewhere?  He may not have tried to abduct a child yet but I think it won't be long before he does.

     

So today's photo then ... 

a plaque on the pavement in Richmond town centre telling the tale of a man who saved his leg by using his dead hoses body heat to keep warm.  The number of times I have sat on the bench just where that plaque is and not seen it before.

So now you want a funny ...

There were two Catholic boys, Timothy Murphy and Antonio Seecola, whose lives paralleled each other in amazing ways.
In the same year Timothy was born in Ireland, Antonio was born in Italy.
Faithfully they attended Parochial School from kindergarten through their senior year in high school.
They took their vows to enter the priesthood early in college, and upon graduation, became priests.
Their careers had come to amaze the world, but it was generally acknowledged that Antonio Seecola was just a cut above Timothy Murphy in all respects.
Their rise through the ranks of Bishop, Archbishop and finally Cardinal was swift to say the least, and the Catholic world knew that when the present Pope died, it would be one of the two who would become the Next Pope.
In time the Pope did die, and the College of Cardinals went to work. In less time than anyone had expected, white smoke rose from the chimney and the world waited to see who they had chosen. The world, Catholic, Protestant and secular, was surprised to learn that Timothy Murphy had been elected Pope!
Antonio Seecola was beyond surprise. He was devastated, because even with all of Timothy's gifts, Antonio knew he was the better qualified.
With gall that shocked the Cardinals, Antonio Seecola asked for a private Session with them in which he candidly asked, "Why Timothy?" After a long silence, an old Cardinal took pity on the bewildered man and rose to reply: "We knew you were the better of the two, but we just could not bear the thought of

the leader of the Roman Catholic Church being called "Pope Seecola".