Life in Shirley

I will not acquiesce

I went to bed aggrieved.

Il quieto vivere (anything for a quiet life) is not for me as compromising with principles is not acceptable to me. Call me whatever you like and burn me at the stake but I will not acquiesce.

Pinocchio

One wish before going to bed: I wish people's noses grew every time they lie. One cm would be enough. Our roads would be almost empty. Our environment cleaner. Our hearts at peace.

I witnessed total amorality. I will pray those people be rewarded the way they deserve but, in the meantime, I will have to think of ways to defend myself and those dear to me. It is frightening to see that the majority has given up thinking altogether.

Still around

I have not written anything for months as I am always doing something or writing something else.

The weather was nice today, so I decided to walk to Miller's Pond to check on the SPRA Anniversary tree as it does not look very appealing. There were four youths sitting on a bench: 3 boys and and a girl. They seemed bored with life. The girl got up to chase two geese. The boys sat smoking. I walked very slowly around the pond, stopped opposite them on the other side and then walked back towards Shirley Way. One the boys decided to throw stones to the birds. Another one followed suit.

I walked towards them and asked them to stop what they were doing. I looked straight at them. No shouting. I simply said that they were not allowed to do it and that I would call the police if they did not.

One of them mumbled something. I did not move. They did.

Why are people so afraid to intervene? I was not confrontational but I showed no hesitation in my body language.

Young people need something to do and people who can open their minds.

Personal lives

A few people and a national newspaper have written and phoned me asking for comments about Andrew Pelling MP.

I can not and will not comment on something I know nothing about.

However, I will say that Andrew has always done his best as an MP and I respect him for that.

Save Oak Gardens

We must save Oak Gardens.

First move: Write to the Leader of the Council and ask that independent planning consultants be employed  to defend the appeal and prepare a case for rejecting the new planning application.

A certain case officer is minded to recommend approval.

Birthday

It is my birthday tomorrow. My nephew Andrea wished me a happy birthday today. My friend Peter remembered my birthday and phoned to ask if I wanted to do anything. My husband is off tomorrow. A good start were it not for Oak Gardens. I sent off the objection to the ridiculous appeal those creatures presented at 23:32 yesterday night. We had a group picture tonight which should go in the Croydon Advertiser next week. And I am thinking how to tackle the new planning application. Two bungalows instead of two houses. Money is a curse.

Still alive and kicking

Tempus fugit. Months have gone by, lots of things have happened, Oak Gardens is my recurrent nightmare. It seems impossible that people want to destroy a thing of beauty, the magic garden, but they do. I wish I could cast a curse on some people. Nothing too horrible but certainly unpleasant.

This is a poppy in Shirley. Bright, bold and beautiful. My collection of pictures is growing and I really enjoy walking around and talking to people. A few things are changing, slowly but steadily. Resilience is an asset.

Good morning

I went away for a week and have been back four days. Friends ask me why I do not update my blog. Well, if you lived with me, you would understand. The phone is always ringing and I find myself doing the most incredible things in Shirley. I do enjoy it but I have a life too and there should be more hours in the day.

Going from this (view from a window in the family home in Marina di Massa)

to Public Right of Way 585

or the senseless vandalism at the intersection of Bridle Road/Palace View below, which costs us £99 a go

is not easy, but things need to be put right and I take my duties seriously.

I went to MORA AGM yesterday evening. Same problems, same faces. We need to make a difference but how? We keep hearing about greedy developers wanting to cover every inch of earth. In the last few days, new planning applications for 21 Cheston Avenue, Oak Gardens and a new monstrosity in Bridle Parade have appeared. Actually no plans for Cheston Avenue and Oak Gardens are on line yet: they should appear in a few hours at 06.30. Croydon Council had technical problems............... but the officer was disarmingly nice this morning when I complained for the third time. Well, I am going to bed now and will look at the plans when I wake up.

Thank you

Thank you NOG!

Marvin the Martian

Errare humanum est sed perseverare diabolicum.

I cannot stand narrow-minded, single-tracked, self-centred, arrogant and incompetent individuals. There is more to life than squabbling. You will be defeated. Veni vidi ....watch this space!