I received the sad but anticipated news today that my friend John died yesterday after a long bout of cancer. I first met John when I changed schools in 1960. We struck up a friendship shortly after and I remember him being much the life and soul at my birthday parties during the early 60s. Soon the scooter era was upon us and John became the "leader" of a small group of us scooter boys. This stage of our lives lasted only 2 years but both John and I agreed, when talking recently, that this short period stood out with other happy and carefree life landmarks. We soon progressed to cars and as so often happens, other friendships formed and I drifted away from that circle of friends. With the passing of the years came the thoughts, "what happened to John? It was through a 60th birthday party held for one of that circle of friends that I learned of John's address (I had renewed contact with the aforementioned friend a few years ago). It was good to enjoy the renewed friendship with John and to meet his wife but this has been cut short, at least with John, for the time being.
I regret having lost contact with John all those years ago; it was careless of me.
So John, until we meet again!

I wonder if there is a Muse for blogs. If there is, I have certainly been deserted. It is several days since I have been inspired and rack my brains for something worthy. There is something though, a matter I sometimes ponder. Some film buff maybe able to answer: war films for example, made in Hollywood or Britain, that feature Germans show the actors speaking in English (except where subtitles are used) but with a German accent. Now here is the question: do films of the same genre made in Germany feature British or Americans speaking in German but with an English or American accent?

I am an admirer of BUAV (British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection), its work and its ideals. At the beginning of this year, at the request of BUAV, I wrote to my MP regarding what could be an addition to the Liberal Democrats Manifesto. Nick Clegg, the new Lib Dems leader had said that he wanted to offer the British public something different from Labour and the Conservatives. BUAV took the opportunity of proposing some additions in the form of 5 pledges:  give the public and Parliament more information about animal experiments; provide new investment in ethical science fit for the 21st Century; end the testing of household products and their ingredients on animals; introduce a new package of animal protection measures; lead real reductions in the numbers of animals used. The reply from my Lib Dem MP explained that Nick Clegg had responded to BUAV on their initiative to get the 5 pledges adopted. The reply went on to say that the Lib Dems have always been vocal in their support for animal welfare and are firmly committed to exploring and promoting viable alternatives to animal testing. In summary, the stance taken is that there is a need to balance concern for the animals involved with concern for those humans who will suffer should vital life saving studies not be carried out. However, the Lib Dems have proposed to establish a permanent Animal Protection Commission, answerable to Parliament through a Cabinet Minister, to act as a "one-stop shop" for all animals used by humans and to ensure animal welfare considerations are upgraded. A little progress in the right direction.

This week I received a letter from BUAV regarding the recent ruling by a High Court Judge that the Freedom of Information Act could not be used to provide information from the Home Office regarding licenses they issue allowing laboratories to experiment on animals. The licence applications contain important information such as the project's scientific purpose, the duration of individual experiments, justification for the use of certain animals, and details of what is actually being done and the suffering caused. Hence BUAV are now campaigning to have this position changed.

It's pastiche! is a criticism often used against the efforts of Bath City heritage campaigners to keep new developments and alterations harmonious with the overall Georgian architectural style of Bath's buildings. Being pastiche may not be a bad thing and therefore the critics attempts to cast aspersions undermined. Pastiche is defined as either a hotchpotch or imitation. In this case, the original Georgian style could be classed as pastiche. The new Southgate development has its critics as it  attempts to imitate the Georgian style of Bath. Then, let us welcome the pastiche Southgate development as it is such an improvement on the 1970s mess that it replaces.

A source of inspiration for my blogs are the newspapers. Today's Guardian includes "More bark than bite" and comments on what could be seen as a comparison between the current economic problems and those of the 1970s. Of course the "More bark than bite" refers to the power of the unions and the militancy of some of them. The pressure to keep pay increase demands to a level that will not cause economic problems has been with us for many years. The last 15 years of my working life was spent as a full time lay representative for one of the civil service unions. Progress on issues was made through negotiation, much depending on the quality of the negotiating team, but there were some instances of industrial action. I remember being involved in a strike over pay in 1981 (some years before I took on the full time role) but I am not aware of any gain through that dispute. The Government is certainly at an advantage when dealing with demands for increase in pay for Civil Servants. They hold the purse strings and need to set an example for private sector employers. The public generally does not fully appreciate or value civil  servants. 
Are we in for another winter of discontent?
 

For many years I have wondered what had happened to my old friend Rod. We were good friends for a few years while at school and a year or so afterwards. He moved away from Portsmouth in the mid 60s and I lost contact with him. A month or so ago on a whim, I put his name into "Google" and to my surprise I found a link to a local council website that showed Rod as a councillor. I knew it was him from his council website photo; 45 years older but still recognizable as the Rod I knew. We have since met and caught up on the lost years.
To add to the unexpected renewal of our friendship, my copy of Prospect's magazine "Profile" arrived today and contains a letter from Rod titled "Climate change debate remains far from closed". How things come together at one time! I visited Rod and his wife earlier today and enjoyed their hospitality.  Rod took me through an excellent Powerpoint  presentation he has put together on the topic. To quote from his letter, " Science must not close doors; it must do its job and open them to throw light on issues such as the probable external natural causes of changes in climate.

The Bath Chronicle is only published once a week but that does not prevent updates appearing on it's website as and when there are developments. Today "Council confident over World Heritage Probe" appears. "Conservation experts from around the world meet in Canada next month for an annual convention on the planet's most sensitive architectural and archaeological treasures" reports the article. A number of Bath heritage groups have for some time warned that developments such as the proposed Western Riverside would put Bath's World Heritage Site status at risk. The Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) council leader said the authority took its responsibilities seriously. She goes on to say "The World Heritage Site status of Bath is an important element of how BANES defines our district as a distinctive place. The council holds this honour with the highest regard and views the World Heritage Site as an inspiration for future development and not a constraint."  Will Bath be put on the "At Risk Register"? We await the result of next months discussions.

Thursday is the day of the week The Bath Chronicle is published. A highlight of the week waiting to see what Bath heritage issues are covered. "Anger as heritage group seeks approval for rival Holburne plan" grabs the attention on page 9. "The director of Bath's Holburne Museum has condemned heritage campaigners for continuing to pursue an alternative design to its controversial glass cube extention" reports the article. Heritage campaigning group The Bath Heritage Watchdog has ruffled feathers by promoting an alternative design that is considered more in keeping with the Holburne's architecture. We wait to see how this will develop.

There are a number of heritage issues affecting Bath. The proposed Western Riverside housing development has been a bone of contention for some time but could be delayed by the housing slump. The developers are unlikely to push ahead with their plans whilst there is a difficulty in selling houses and apartments that could last for the foreseeable future.

The new Southgate shopping area is taking shape along with the controversial "busometer" (replacing the much missed Churchill House).