The Nations National Health Service

At the last election, David Cameron promised he would "cut the deficit, not the NHS". Last week’s autumn statement showed the opposite is true. As a result of lower growth and higher unemployment, the government will be forced to borrow £158bn more than forecast a year ago. The New Statesman points out that this is more than Labour was projected to borrow at the last election – an amount that Conservatives then claimed would take Britain to the "brink of bankruptcy".


Aylesbury Labour activists celebrating the NHS's 63rd Birthday @ Stoke Mandeville Hospital earlier this year

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2011/07/happy-63rd-birthday-to-national-health.html

On December 1st children across the country opened the first window in their advent calendars, starting the countdown to Christmas. But let us mark the countdown in another way - by sending David Cameron a message that all we want for Christmas is our NHS. Cameron’s Health Bill, the Bill that will rip apart our Health Service, is still making its way through the House of Lords. The fight to stop this Bill is far from over: Labour Lords are making a strong stand against it, and it still needs to go back to all our MPs to be debated before it can become law.



But if we want to defeat this Bill, we have to keep up the pressure on the man who is responsible. That’s why we’re going to deliver ‘Health-Scrooge’ Cameron a big Christmas card from all of us, saying: all we want for Christmas is our NHS. Will you sign the card?

http://www.nhsalert.org.uk/signthecard

Cameron’s Tories, backed up by the Lib Dems, are putting the NHS at risk. Their cuts mean that people are already waiting longer for the treatment they need, and they are wasting billions of pounds on a top-down restructure that will mean:

• worse patient care with services cut, hospitals closing and longer waiting times for treatment

• more privatisation and more companies making money from all parts of our health service

• more red tape making it harder for nurses, doctors and other health professionals to do their jobs

David Cameron promised to ‘protect the NHS’, to ‘give the NHS a real rise in funding’ and to ‘stop top-down NHS reorganisations’. He is breaking every one of those promises – you just can’t trust the Tories with the NHS. Join thousands of other people in sending ‘Health-Scrooge’ Cameron a Christmas message - all we want for Christmas is our NHS. Sign the card today:

http://www.nhsalert.org.uk/signthecard



This Christmas, we want a gift that matters to everybody - a National Health Service that puts patient care before private profit.

PS. If you have 2 minutes to spare, why not sign the Government e-petition calling on Cameron to drop the Health Bill?

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22670

Protect the health of the Nation and not the Private Healthcare Lobby who fund the Tories.

One of the reasons holidays are not the best of times

As I said at this post holidays is not only about happiness for many and it can really triggers some deep feelings. For some it can be hell.

A White Xmas in the Chilterns

Thatched Cottages Wendover

Christmas this year has come with a vengeance to the Chiltern Hills and as England has suffered transport paralysis with the heavy snowfall the Hills and the Vale of Aylesbury north of them have been transformed into a snow covered winter wonderland. Indeed some would argue that the Chilterns never look lovelier than when their Beech topped hills are covered in snow and their valleys are framed in a magical winter snowscape.

Regular blogistas who follow the Sage know our enthusiasm for the Vale of Aylesbury and the Chiltern Hills as the Sage’s Castle is about 2 miles from Chequers, the Prime Ministers country home. Buckinghamshire is one of the loveliest of the Home Counties - some say the loveliest - and its Chiltern Hills and beech woods, beautiful River Thames and the rolling acres of Aylesbury Vale make it a place for visitors to enjoy. Country walks run between picturesque villages with a host of welcoming pubs. We are overlooked by the Chiltern Escarpment whose edge marks the southern border of the Midlands of England which continue to Wolverhampton (an unlovely place with unlovely people) and the Quantock Hills.

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2009/04/chiltern-spring.html



The Chilterns lie 30 miles north-west of London and yet they are an unspoilt area of rolling chalk hills, magnificent beech woods, quiet valleys and charming brick and flint villages. They provide a wonderful mosaic of woods, fields, hedges, sunken lanes and clear streams and are designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2009/03/rupert-brooke-and-chilterns.html

AONB is one step down from a National Park designation and provides tight control on development and farming. This was an aspect you can readily appreciate heading down the lovely Missbourne Valley towards Prestwood, a hamlet in the hills about a mile from Great Missenden

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/01/roald-dahl-museum-and-story-centre.html


Village Sign on the green




Church of St. Mary the Virgin


Train ariving at Stoke Mandeville

The village of Stoke Mandeville today is largely a commuter town with a railway station for London, three pubs and numerous thatched cottages. Like all the fertile Vale of Aylesbury it is overlooked by the Chiltern Hills and was formerly an important market gardening centre. Indeed the Sage’s Castle is built on old plum and greengage orchards. The first part of the name Stoke Mandeville derives from the old English word stoc, and means “outlying farmstead or hamlet”. The second part, “Mandeville”, derives from the Norman family of that name which held the manor in the 13th century. The suffix Mandeville was first recorded in 1284 when the manor was listed as being in the hands of the powerful Norman de Mandeville family. Stoke Mandeville Station serves the village of Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire. The station lies on the London Marylebone-Aylesbury line and is served by Chiltern Railways trains. It is situated between Wendover and Aylesbury stations. The station first opened on 1 September 1892, and was served by both the London Underground Metropolitan Line and the Great Central Railway.




Thatched cottages in Stoke Mandeville

Traditional houses were of wychert (flint / straw / earth) construction with characteristic "dog ear" thatched roofs which oversailed by at least two feet to keep running water off the walls. There are still many wychert and thatch buildings as well as later wood frame and infill thatched cottages throughout Bucks and in Stoke Mandeville village. The parish church of St. Mary the Virgin and the village common with the village sign both look hugely attractive clothed in their winter garment of repentance.


The Woolpack

The newly refurbished village pub, the Woolpack, reopened for business on the 6th November 2009, less than 6 months after it was a 100% loss in the disastrous fire. This is in itself a minor miracle of project management, particularly as the woolpack was both a thatched and listed building. Inside it looks much as before but there is a distinct improvement externally and internally. The toilet annexe on the left hand side of the front elevation always had a “stuck on look.” This has been now tidied up with the exterior showing a traditional looking dark weatherboarding and improved toilets inside with the side corridor gone.


The crossroads & duckpond at Dunsmore


The road through the woods to Dunsmore

One of the most typical hilltop villages remaining is Dunsmore. This is a hamlet in the parish of Ellesborough, in Buckinghamshire, England. It is located on the hilltop of one of the Chiltern Hills, about 2 miles south of Wendover. It is one of the remotest places in the whole of Buckinghamshire, accessible only by two steep, single-track hillside lanes. The place name is Anglo Saxon in origin, and means literally Dunna's moor. Today the village is extremely picturesque as it is surrounded by mostly National Trust owned woodland. However due to its location it is occasionally cut off because of bad weather or bad road conditions, and retains its small community atmosphere. Central features of the hamlet are the village pond, the village hall and the Church of the Resurrection, Dunsmore. There were two public houses, the Fox and the Black Horse, but these have closed and been converted into dwellings in recent years.


Wendover


Xmas Tree & War Memorial






Red Lion Pub

Wendover is embraced by woodlands and with its atmospheric high street with thatched cottages and antique shops it is an attractive and busy town which has much of interest and has maintained its sense of community. Just 45 minutes from central London it continues to be a fine place to live and to attract walkers and visitors to ramble over the hills, browse the shops and replenish themselves in the many restaurants and fine old pubs.

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/09/paralympic-games.html

And as you leave these establishments you may think you hear the wheels of the London stage coach and its weary passengers relieved to have travelled unharmed through the notorious highwayman infested Chiltern Hundreds and looking forward to bed and board in the coaching inns lining the High Street.


Coombe Hill Memorial

A War memorial was erected and unveiled on Coombe Hill, near Wendover in 1904, in memory of the men from Buckinghamshire who had died in the Boer War. Standing on a high hill it can be seen from a great distance, and an excellent panoramic view can be seen from it. But, being built in such a lofty position did cause one problem, when in the late 1930s it was struck by lightning and virtually demolished. However, the Buckinghamshire County Council decided to restore it, and by 1939 it had been repaired. During the Second World War it had to be camouflaged, so that it could not be used as a guide for enemy aircraft.










World's End Santaworld

For many years, Worlds End garden centre has put on an excellent Christmas display. Santa's Grotto is excellent and kids come from far and wide to enjoy the animatronics displays and meet the man himself. The entrance looked good and the interior was decorated to appeal to the kids. As well as the grotto the centre specialises in Xmas Trees and has a large Christmas shop as well as the usual attractions.

Aylesbury


War Memorial in the Market Square - setting for Marillion's "Market Sq. Heroes"


Old County Courthouse


Clock Tower Market Square

As well as our proximity to Wendover and the Chiltern Hills we are close to Aylesbury, the county town of Buckinghamshire. This is a lively market town steeped in history located at the foot of the Chiltern Hills and at the heart of the rich agricultural Vale of Aylesbury. The town was a focal point in the English Civil War in the 17th century. As the popularity of the famous Aylesbury Duck grew in the 19th Century, the town's fat stock markets attracted visitors from far and wide. If you would like to see the real Aylesbury Ducks then why not visit Oak Farm Rare Breeds Park. Nowadays, the award winning Roald Dahl children's Gallery, and the world famous Stoke Mandeville Hospital and Guttmann Sports Centre help ensure that Aylesbury is still internationally renowned. The market, a part of Aylesbury life since the 13th century, is complemented by modern shopping areas.

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/09/paralympic-games.html


Dancing Bears


Santa's Boots




Friar's Square Aylesbury

The charming conservation area around St. Mary's Church lies in sleepy lanes and cottages above the town. Around every corner is a tale - Henry VIII reputedly wooed Anne Boleyn at the King's Head, Roald Dahl invented his classic children's tales in the Aylesbury area, and his imagination is now celebrated in the town's County Museum. In the cobbled market square, stands the imposing figure of John Hampden - a local hero and key figure in the defeat of the Royalists in the English Civil War. Market days are Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Xmas at the Sage's Cottage


Murty the Moose welcoming visitors


Xmas Tree


The candle powered crib


The Xmas table

So this year as a white Xmas looks more likely I am glad not to be travelling at Xmas but am rather looking forward to good fare and drink not to mention good company in our own little corner of this green and pleasant land. More explorations are available under “Chiltern Hundreds and Buckinghamshire” in the Blog Sidebar.

Xmas in London

London Eye at Xmas

London is always a hectic bustling city and no more so than over Christmas and New Year. The world and its live in companion seems to descend on the shops and the West End, especially this year as the weakness of sterling has made shopping in London good value. If you enjoy hustle and bustle, and keeping busy during your Christmas holiday then London has a special seasonal buzz, the shopping centres have grottos where you can take the children to meet Santa Claus, go on family trips to the outdoor ice skating rinks, and even spend some hard earned money at the fantastic international London Christmas fairs that take place throughout the city centre.


Hamleys Toy Shop, Regent's Street




Harrods 2009 Xmas Bear


Harrods

Christmas in London is a magical time and made more so by some of the best Christmas lights in the world. Most of them switch on in the middle of November and I recommend checking out Bond Street, Marylebone High Street, Oxford Street, Carnaby Street and Covent Garden - and at the same time of course you can do your London Christmas shopping. Possibly the most famous lights on a single store are at Harrods in Knightsbridge, an old favourite of Belle de Pays Noir who was particularly attracted to the ski jackets although some of them are so thin that they could only be worn by Posh Spice types. The window and store displays at Harrods are well worth seeing but my own favourite are the themed displays at Selfridges windows on Oxford Street which combine originality with a sense of humour which is something the harassed hordes of shoppers appreciate.






Selfridges windows




Fortnum and Mason's, Piccadilly

Each year since 1947, a Christmas tree has been given to the people of London from the people of Norway in gratitude for Britain's support for Norway during World War II. The tree is usually over 20 meters high and 50-60 years old and is erected in London's popular ceremonial public space, Trafalgar Square. The Christmas tree lights are switched on in the evening on the first Thursday in December. The tree usually stays till the Twelfth Night of Christmas, 6 January, when it is taken down to be chipped and mulched. The switch on this year was as always a happy occasion with the square full and the carol singers in good voice.






Trafalgar Square

A growing trend are the ice skating rinks in high profile locations normally with an Xmas Market attached and a convenient mulled wine stall as you need to do something to keep warm. Indeed the Sage has graced the ice at the rink at the Natural History Museum even if it has involved the somewhat unorthodox “bum skating” technique. It is not easy staying upright and why should it be different on the ice?


Somerset House Ice Rink

The daddy of all the rinks is set in London’s great renaissance Palazzo on the Thames, Somerset House. This ice rink celebrates its 10th birthday this year. Meet in the Skate Cafe & Bar to enjoy a celebratory drink or visit the Tiffany Tuck shop where jewellery, cupcakes and other treats are on offer. A calendar of special events includes Breakfast with Tiffany, DJ nights and family mornings. Open all day and into the night, Somerset House ice rink is London's favourite winter tradition and it has a superb setting in the courtyard of William Chambers great building which was for many years the Admiralty Headquarters in the days when Britannia really ruled the waves.


Natural History Museum Ice Rink

Another great located rink is my favourite on the east lawn of the Natural History Museum in South Kensington which is now in its fifth year. The Natural History Museum Ice Rink has a new 1050-square-meter rink, plus a Cafe Bar and fairground carousel. There's also a smaller 100-square-meter rink for younger skaters, linked to the main rink via an ice bridge.


Winter Wonderland Hyde Park

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2010/12/londons-winter-wonderland.html

The Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is London's largest open-air ice rink. Covering 1400m² and accommodating 400 skaters at any one time, the rink is created with 130,000 litres of frozen water, weighing 130 tonnes, and kept frozen by 13km of piping. Winter Wonderland features an outdoor ice rink, a traditional German Christmas Market, Zippo's Christmas Circus, and a 50m giant observation wheel offering magnificent views of Hyde Park.


Tower of London

Situated in the dry-moat beneath the fortress of the Tower of London, the real-ice rink offers the chance to skate in a truly unique setting on the banks of the River Thames. So grab a hat, gloves and scarf and take time out of the hustle and bustle of London to experience skating under the battlements by the Thames.




Oxford Street Lights "A Christmas Carol"

Leicester Square echoes to the shrieks of customers on the Fairground rides and attractions in the heart of the West End, at the Leicester Square funfair. Interspersed with the rides are the stalls offering the traditional and traditionally unrewarding attractions of coconut shies, Aunt Sally’s and Hoopla? Two things to remember, you rarely win a prize and when you do it is rarely worth having. Buy the overpriced candy floss or popcorn instead; at least you’ll come away with something! Attracting thousands throughout the Christmas season, Bob Wilson’s Funfair is only in town for a month, so there’s only limited time to enjoy the funfair before the New Year. However am I the only one to wonder why funfairs are traditionally run by tattooed monsters from the East End who describe themselves as “Showmen”?




Leicester Square Funfair

The wonderfully restored vegetable and flower markets by Charles Fowler at Covent Garden and the street theatre in the Piazza in front of Inigo Jones St. Paul’s Church are always a visitor magnet. This attraction is reinforced at Xmas by the Christmas Food and Drink Markets and the futuristic lighting displays in the market arcades. The futuristic sculptural light display in the covered market centres on three large scale 'chandeliers' that visitors can interact with. The installation incorporates a modular lighting array created from hundreds of energy efficient, full colour LED tubes, delicately suspended in the spaces of the North and South Halls and the Central Avenue of the Market Building.


Covent Garden Market

Individually controllable pixels encased within the tubes display an ever-changing display of swirling snow, gently falling in organic real-world patterns, and providing possibly the only white Christmas London will see this year. Full visitor interactivity comes through a handy touch screen panel situated in the South Hall of the market building, so at certain times of the day, visitors can create their very own snow storms.




Regent Street lights

The modern story of Covent Garden began in the 1630s when land formerly belonging to Westminster Abbey, 'the Convent Garden' was redeveloped by the 4th Earl of Bedford. Today overlooked by the Royal Opera House the former vegetable & produce market has been restored to a thriving urban hub with numerous shops and street theatre, particularly on the Piazza in front of Inigo Jone’s St. Paul’s Church at the western end. At the other end of the piazza you come to London’s Transport Museum. If the day gets too hectic take a breather in this fascinating child friendly museum which also boasts an excellent restful restaurant and a somewhat wonderful shop full of transport memorabilia and fascinating gifts which you won’t find elsewhere.

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2007/11/londons-transport-museum.html

After all that excitement take a rest before London, as always, sees in the New Year with a BIG PARTY!! Since 2003, London has celebrated New Year’s Eve along the banks of the Thames. Following the chimes of Big Ben at midnight, a spectacular ten-minute fireworks display is fired from the London Eye. London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display has been acclaimed around the world and attracts large crowds.

The annual New Year's Eve Fireworks display, launched from the foot of the London Eye and from rafts on the Thames, is visible from most of central London: the basic rule is that if you can see the London Eye, you'll be able to see the show. They cram enough firepower for an hour-long display into ten explosive minutes, lighting up the sky for miles around. The best views are from Victoria Embankment, the South Bank, and Westminster Bridge and Waterloo Bridge. Hungerford Bridge is closed after 8pm and there's also no entry to Westminster Bridge after this time. Go to www.london.gov.uk/newyearseve for full details.


Carnaby Street

Beginning with Mayor of London Boris Johnson who will beam a personal message on to the Shell Building, situated on the Thames, a star-studded list of international personalities sharing their message of goodwill in the countdown to 2009.

The celebrity projections have been devised in partnership with The Prince’s Trust, which helps unemployed young people gain skills to find work. The Trust’s young ambassadors, who have turned their lives around with the charity’s support, will also attend the display as VIP guests.



The projections will form part of the build up to the midnight fireworks display at The London Eye, which is being organized by the Greater London Authority and is being created by internationally renowned pyrotechnician Christophe Berthonneau.

The good thing is that transport on the night is free so there is no need to pay a fortune for a taxi or risk a dodgy mini-cab to get home after the New Year’s Party. Transport for London is laying on free travel plus services through the night, to make sure that Londoners and visitors celebrating New Year's Eve can get home safely. All TfL services will be free from 2345 on New Year's Eve until 0430 on New Year's Day, thanks to sponsorship by ING Banking. The all-night Tube service will run continuously from the start of services on Thursday 31 December 2009 until they end the following day, Friday 1 January 2010.



From approximately 0200 on New Year's Day, the Tube will operate at a 15-minute frequency in central London and every 30 minutes on branch lines in outer London. Night bus services will be subject to diversions, but will operate throughout the night. DLR and Croydon Tram link services will also run all night.

So, if you are in or visiting London, Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year’s Eve Party!

See also; Xmas in London

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2009/12/xmas-in-london.html



Happy New Year!