Carol Concert & Xmas Fayre

For all those that didn't attend these events you missed out on having a great time and seeing the village do what it does best.   The Xmas Fayre was that great occiasion it always is, plenty of seasonal offerings and raised a great deal of money to support our local church St Helens.   The final total has yet to be announced but at present it stands at about £800, just shows that the Holderness folk have hearts of gold when it comes to charity.

The candlelit Carol service at the church was well attended, more would have been welcome.   Even though we didn't have a minister leading the proceedings every carol was sang with great gusto and the refreshments afterwards were wonerful.

So if you missed this years events put them in your calendar now so as not to miss out on next year.   You'll always find a list of all forthcoming events at our websites event diary Here.

Bonfire Night

The village hall folk put on a great do, surprising how many people come from our neighbouring villages for the firework display.   Not forgetting all that lovely bbq food, had a couple of burgers tasted wonderful.   Thanks to Justin for displaying that amazing show of fireworks.   Just one criticism though its a shame there isn't a bar to wash all that lovely food down a couple of Becks would have gone down nicely.

YOU WORRY ME!

Received this today what do you think.

An American paper stated that some Muslim doctor is saying we are profiling him because he has been checked three times while getting on an airplane.

The following is a letter from a pilot. This well spoken man, who is a pilot with American Airlines, says what is in his heart, beautifully.....

I've been trying to say this since 911, but you worry me. I wish you didn't. I wish when I walked down the streets of this country that I love, that your color and culture still blended with the beautiful human landscape we enjoy in this country. But you don't blend in anymore. I notice you, and it worries me.

I notice you because I can't help it anymore. People from your homelands, professing to be Muslims, have been attacking and killing my fellow citizens and our friends for more than 20 years now. I don't fully understand their grievances and hate, but I know that nothing can justify the inhumanity of their attacks.

On September 11, ARAB-MUSLIMS hijacked four jetliners in my country. They cut the throats of women in front of children and brutally stabbed to death others. They took control of those planes and crashed them into buildings, killing thousands of proud fathers, loving sons, wise grandparents, elegant daughters, best friends, favorite coaches, fearless public servants, and children's mothers.

The Palestinians celebrated, the Iraqis were overjoyed as was most of the Arab world. So, I notice you now. I don't want to be worried. I don't want to be consumed by the same rage, hate and prejudice that has destroyed the soul of these terrorists But I need your help. As a rational American, trying to protect my country and family in an irrational and unsafe world, I must know how to tell the difference between you, and the Arab/Muslim terrorist.

How do I differentiate between the true Arab/Muslim Americans and the Arab/Muslim terrorists in our communities who are attending our schools, enjoying our parks, and living in OUR communities under the protection of OUR constitution, while they plot the next attack that will slaughter these same good neighbors and children?

The events of September 11th changed the answer. It is not my responsibility to determine which of you embraces our great country, with ALL of its religions, with ALL of its different citizens, with all of its faults. It is time for every Arab/Muslim in this country to determine it for me..

I want to know, I demand to know and I have a right to know, whether or not you love America . Do you pledge allegiance to its flag? Do you proudly display it in front of your house, or on your car? Do you pray in your many daily prayers that Allah will bless this nation; that He will protect it and let it prosper? Or do you pray that Allah with destroy it in one of your Jihads? Are you thankful for the freedom that this nation affords? A freedom that was paid for by the blood of hundreds of thousands of patriots who gave their lives for this country? Are you willing to preserve this freedom by also paying the ultimate sacrifice? Do you love America ? If this is your commitment, then I need YOU to start letting ME know about it.

Your Muslim leaders in this nation should be flooding the media at this time with hard facts on your faith, and what hard actions you are taking as a community and as a religion to protect the United States of America ... Please, no more benign overtures of regret for the death of the innocent, because I worry about who you regard as innocent. No more benign overtures of condemnation for the unprovoked attacks, because I worry about what is unprovoked to you. I am not interested in any more sympathy; I am interested only in action. What will you do for America - our great country - at this time of crisis, at this time of war?

I want to see Arab-Muslims waving the AMERICAN flag in the streets. I want to hear you chanting 'Allah Bless America '. I want to see young Arab/Muslim men enlisting in the military. I want to see a commitment of money, time and emotion to the victims of this butchering and to this nation as a whole.

The FBI has a list of over 400 people they want to talk to regarding the WTC attack. Many of these people live and socialize right now in Muslim communities. You know them.

You know where they are. Hand them over to us, now! But I have seen little even approaching this sort of action. Instead I have seen an already closed and secretive community close even tighter. You have disappeared from the streets.. You have posted armed security guards at your facilities. You have threatened lawsuits. You have screamed for protection from reprisals.

The very few Arab/Muslim representatives that HAVE appeared in the media were defensive and equivocating. They seemed more concerned with making sure that the United States proves who was responsible before taking action. They seemed more concerned with protecting their fellow Muslims from violence directed towards them in the United States and abroad than they did with supporting our country and denouncing 'leaders' like Khadafi, Hussein, Farrakhan, and Arafat.

If the true teachings of Islam proclaim tolerance and peace and love for all people, then I want chapter and verse from the Koran and statements from popular Muslim leaders to back it up. What good is it if the teachings in the Koran are good, pure, and true, when your 'leaders' are teaching fanatical interpretations, terrorism, and intolerance? It matters little how good Islam SHOULD BE if huge numbers of the world's Muslims interpret the teachings of Mohammed incorrectly and adhere to a degenerative form of the religion. A form that has been demonstrated to us over and over again. A form whose structure is built upon a foundation of violence, death, and suicide. A form whose members are recruited from the prisons around the world. A form whose members (some as young as five years old) are seen day after day, week in and week out, year after year, marching in the streets around the world, burning effigies of our presidents, burning the American flag, shooting weapons into the air. A form whose members convert from a peaceful religion, only to take up arms against the great United States of America, the country of their birth. A form whose rules are so twisted, that their traveling members refuse to show their faces at airport security checkpoints, in the name of Islam.

We will NEVER allow the attacks of September 11, or any others for that matter, to take away that which is so precious to us -our rights under the greatest constitution in the world. I want to know where every Arab Muslim in this country stands and I think it is my right and the right of every true citizen of this country to demand it. A right paid for by the blood of thousands of my brothers and sisters who died protecting the very constitution that is protecting you and your family.

I am pleading with you to let me know. I want you here as my brother, my neighbor, my friend, as a fellow American. But there can be no gray areas or ambivalence regarding your allegiance, and it is up to YOU, to show ME, where YOU stand. Until then, “YOU WORRY ME!”

This is a comment from a Canadian.

I totally agree with this sentiment.  I hope you will forget all about the 'political correctness' mandate we've had rammed down our throats, and see if this doesn't ring true in your heart and mind.  For Canada , with all the multiculturalism we've been told is so important....why should we not, as Canadians, expect that the millions of new people immigrating to our country will show their love for our country, their allegiance to our country, their willingness to obey the laws of our country, and acceptance that we are a Christian country?  Just because they are able to enjoy exercising their own religion, they should not expect us to be ashamed of ours. They knew Canada was a Christian country when they came here. Why are we erasing Christianity because immigrants who are unwilling to adopt our way of life expect us to?  There is just too much insanity in the world, and we have to start taking a stand.

This is a comment from a Britain

At last a clear non racist example of the concerns that the vast majority of our Nation’s population probably share. The pilot’s letter encapsulates all that is fair and just about national pride and protection of one’s national culture.. I fear it may be too late here in UK but we too want our country back in the form that attracted all these different cultures to come here in the first place!! In all our conversations with a wide range of friends and acquaintances we have not met one that disagrees with our own views. If only we all had the courage of our convictions to pass this on – it is a statement that should be accepted as the heart-felt feelings of someone with honest commendable national pride.

WHY not add your comments good or bad.

Turbine Inferno

Have you seen the photograph on this page showing a wind turbine going up in flames. With the new planning application for more wind turbines by BT as reported in this months newsletter should we be concerned?

According to the Caithness Windfarm Information Forum this is just one of a number of types of accidcents that can occur with wind turbines. This is an extract from a document they have placed on the web:

The accompanying detailed table includes all documented cases of wind turbine related accidents which could be found and confirmed through press reports or official information releases up to 31 March 2011. CWIF believe that this compendium of accident information may be the most comprehensive available anywhere. (Full copy of the report can be seen here)

Data in the detailed table is by no means fully comprehensive – CWIF believe that it may only be the “tip of the iceberg” in terms of numbers of accidents and their frequency. However, the data gives an excellent cross-section of the types of accidents which can and do occur, and their consequences.
With few exceptions, before about 1997 only data on fatal accidents has been found.

The trend is as expected – as more turbines are built, more accidents occur. Numbers of recorded accidents reflect this, with an average of 16 accidents per year from 1995-99 inclusive; 48 accidents per year from 2000-04 inclusive, and 104 accidents per year from 2005-10 inclusive.

This general trend upward in accident numbers is predicted to continue to escalate unless HSE make some significant changes – in particular to protect the public by declaring a minimum safe distance between new turbine developments and occupied housing and buildings (around 2km in Europe), and declaring “no-go” areas to the public, following the 500m exclusion zone around operational turbines imposed in France.

Number of accidents
Total number of accidents: 994

Fatal accidents
Number of fatal accidents: 70

Please note: There are more fatalities than accidents as some accidents have caused multiple fatalities. Of the 78 fatalities:
55 were wind industry and direct support workers (maintenance/engineers, etc), or small turbine owner /operators.

23 were public fatalities, including workers not directly dependent on the wind industry (e.g. transport workers).

Human injury
79 accidents regarding human injury are documented.

66 accidents involved wind industry or construction/maintenance workers, and a further 14 involved members of the public or workers not directly dependent on the wind industry (e.g. fire fighters, transport workers). Five of these injuries to members of the public were in the UK.

Blade failure
By far the biggest number of incidents found was due to blade failure. “Blade failure” can arise from a number of possible sources, and results in either whole blades or pieces of blade being thrown from the turbine. A total of 203 separate incidences were found:

Pieces of blade are documented as travelling up to 1300 meters. In Germany, blade pieces have gone through the roofs and walls of nearby buildings. This is why CWIF believe that there should be a minimum distance of at least 2km between turbines and occupied housing, in order to adequately address public safety and other issues including noise and shadow flicker.

Fire
Fire is the second most common accident cause in incidents found. Fire can arise from a number of sources – and some turbine types seem more prone to fire than others. A total of 158 fire incidents were found:

The biggest problem with turbine fires is that, because of the turbine height, the fire brigade can do little but watch it burn itself out. While this may be acceptable in reasonably still conditions, in a storm it means burning debris being scattered over a wide area, with obvious consequences. In dry weather there is obviously a wider-area fire risk, especially for those constructed in or close to forest areas and/or close to housing. Two fire accidents have badly burned wind industry workers.

Structural failure
From the data obtained, this is the third most common accident cause, with 112 instances found. “Structural failure” is assumed to be major component failure under conditions which components should be designed to withstand. This mainly concerns storm damage to turbines and tower collapse. However, poor quality control, lack of maintenance and component failure can also be responsible.

While structural failure is far more damaging (and more expensive) than blade failure, the accident consequences and risks to human health are most likely lower, as risks are confined to within a relatively short distance from the turbine. However, as smaller turbines are now being placed on and around buildings including schools, the accident frequency is expected to rise.

Ice throw
31 incidences of ice throw were found. Some are multiple incidents. These are listed here unless they have caused human injury, in which case they are included under “human injury” above.

Ice throw has been reported to 140m. Some Canadian turbine sites have warning signs posted asking people to stay at least 305m from turbines during icy conditions.
These are indeed only a very small fraction of actual incidences – a report* published in 2003 reported 880 icing events between 1990 and 2003 in Germany alone. 33% of these were in the lowlands and on the coastline.

Transport
There have been 70 reported accidents – including a 45m turbine section ramming through a house while being transported, a transporter knocking a utility pole through a restaurant, and a turbine section falling off in a tunnel. Transport fatalities and human injuries are included separately. Most accidents involve turbine sections falling from transporters, though turbine sections have also been
lost at sea, along with a £50M barge.

Environmental damage (including bird deaths)
86 cases of environmental damage have been reported – the majority since 2007. This is perhaps due to a change in legislation or new reporting requirement. All involved damage to the site itself, or reported damage to or death of wildlife. 34 instances reported here include confirmed deaths of protected species of bird. Deaths, however, are known to be far higher. At the Altamont Pass windfarm alone, 2400 protected golden eagles have been killed in 20 years, and about 10,000
protected raptors (Dr Smallwood, 2004). In Germany, 32 protected white tailed eagles were found dead, killed by wind turbines (Brandenburg State records). In Australia, 22 critically endangered Tasmanian eagles were killed by a single windfarm (Woolnorth).

Other (miscellaneous)
185 miscellaneous accidents are also present in the data. Component failure has been reported here if there has been no consequential structural damage. Also included are lack of maintenance, electrical failure (not led to fire or electrocution) and planning “accidents” where towers have been installed closer than permitted to housing, etc. Construction and construction support accidents are also included, also lightning strikes when a strike has not resulted in blade damage or fire. A
separate 1996 report** quotes 393 reports of lightning strikes from 1992 to 1995 in Germany alone, 124 of those direct to the turbine, the rest are to electrical distribution network.

What do you think should we be worried and start a campaign to have this application thrown out, what are our councillors doing about it?

Joan Robinson (1919 - 2011)

Joan Robinson of Skeffling.   Passed away peacefully on Friday 22nd April 2011 aged 91 years.   Wife of the late Harry Robinson, mother of James and Mark, grandmother to Harry and Shelly.   If you want to attend the funeral service its on Friday 6th May at St Helens Church, Skeffling 2.15pm prior to interment in the churchyard.   The family has requested no flowers please, but donations, if desired, in Joan's memory for St Helens Church will be kindly appreciated and may be left at the service.

Welwick Bike Ride

Did you take part in this event, well take a look at the video from Seaside Radio and see if you can spot yourself.
Plus you can see photos of the event here...

Huge Stock Clearance

Was just checking the prices of flat screen monitors and noticed that Amazon is currently running a huge stock clearance across it's site.   Make sure you get your share of these great bargains today.   See all the offers available here.

If you have the time check out the new Pubs & Bars section on the Community site here...

Fix My Street

Is there a problem in our area that you want fixed (like graffiti, fly tipping, broken paving slabs, or street lighting) .   On the Community website there's a map and you can see the problems that are occurring in South East Holderness.   Click on the map to see what other residents have reported.

Add your voice and East Riding County Council will receive an e-mail about the problem that concerns YOU!

Read more...

Does Anybody Care!

Have the candidates forgotten about us in Skeffling because there's a distinct lack of information about why we should vote for them.   So what do you know about the forthcoming local election.   Who are the candidates for the district and parish council.   Plus there will be a referendum on 5th May 2011 that will ask voters whether they want to change how MPs are elected in General Elections.

Instead of just voting for one candidate you'll have to rank candidates in order of preference, and these preferences could be used to decide the outcome in area's where no candidate wins more than 50%.

Want to know more then read this guide about your vote.

Read more...

On Yer Bike!

Last year the dynamic duo, Mike Turnbull and Gaz Watts, took on the challenge of the 220 mile Trans Pennine Way.   They conquered the trail on their bikes in a week, and had a great time doing it.   In fact they enjoyed it so much they hadn't been home long before they were talking about setting themselves another challenge for this year.   And here it is...

On 27th May, Mike and Gaz will set off down to Cornwall with their trusty bikes and on the 28th May will begin the journey from Land's End to John O'Groats.   That's 1,000 miles!   They have allowed 3 weeks for the whole trip, but are expecting to do it in slightly less, which means a minimum of 50 miles per day.   Someone will meet them at the end of the ride and bring them home, but until then they will have no back up whatsoever.

Overnight stops will be in their tent, and they'll be catering for themselves on camping stoves.   All their equipment will be carried in panniers on the bikes.   Well, that's the plan.   They'll be doing the ride for charity, and have decided to split the sponsorship money equally between the Stroke Ward of Hull Royal Infirmary and one of the Forces Charities.   If you'd like to sponsor the boys on their epic journey please give Mike a ring on 650330 and give him your pledge.   Sponsorship forms will be available at the Post Office and various other venues nearer the time.

Mike said he's really looking forward to it, and is sure they'll do it in less than the 3 weeks.   "That's if we don't get lost," he said, with a twinkle in his eye.   "Gaz swears he gave me the map, but I can't find it!"

Good luck, to both of them.

Win A Family Holiday

Want to win a holiday, could you take on our family fit challenge?   Are you the fit family of the East Riding?   Enter our free competition to win a family activity holiday.

Did you know that making small changes to the way you eat and how much you move could make a big difference to your health and happiness?   What ever your shape it’s important that you eat properly and do plenty of exercise to be healthy.

What are you waiting for Read more...

Competition Time

Sit back and cast an eye over 2010.   But how much do you remember?   Test yourself with this bumper quiz and see how well you observed what was happening in 2010.   Plus there’s a prize for the first 10 people who send an email with the right answer which is revealed when all the questions are correct.

The prize for this competition is an ebook from our celebrated Newsletter Editor (author Toni Cornford), this book contains a special edition of short stories that can be viewed on your Kindle, Apple iPad Tabletor other suitable reader.   Or you can view it on your laptop or desktop.

When you click to view your score, whether you’re right or wrong will appear to the side of the question.   You can always change your answer and check to see if you have improved your score.   Don’t worry if you didn’t get them all correct most people will only achieve 50% on the first attempt.

Start The Quiz