Season's Greetings!

I give thanks to all those who have helped over the year, those working in the emergency services, the police, fire fighters, ambulance staff and paramedics, the NHS, doctors, nurses, other health professionals and ancillary staff, and the brave crews and volunteers of the RNLI lifeboat service. Respect! 💓

And many thanks to Charles Schulz for the imagery. 👍

Finally, I wish to share my best wishes with you, and peace and goodwill to all, whatever one's beliefs, let's continue to work together folks. 👌

Merry Christmas!

Christmas, Just Saying...

Christmas, just saying... It's still only November! OK, maybe brightening up Hastings town centre with lights is nice, pubs have already been doing it, and the lights are pretty, true. Oh yes, and the gang of Albanian women, or wherever they come from, get dropped off again around this time of year, increasing the number of Big Issue salespersons by 5 or so, just so's you keep tripping over them in the town centre... 

And Priory Meadow shopping centre joins in, wishing you a Merry Christmas! Christmas, yet another pagan festival, that is Saturnalia (history.com), linked to the Winter Solstice and borrowed by Christians, and which meant moving the birthday of Jesus months across the calendar. My flabber has never been more gasted!

Merry Christmas folks, or Happy Hanukkah, or Yuletide, or Kwanzaa, or Bodhi Day, whatever your preference, okay, yes it is early, but I can never get enough of wishing for peace on earth, particularly when there are so many wars being fought... 😞

Merry Christmas!

 

Best wishes to you all!

Not Open, Library and Pier Today (24th December)

I meant to say the other day that Hastings Library is closed today, and until Thursday 27th, then closes again on Sunday, as usual, but not opening again until Wednesday 2nd January 2019. Should you wish to borrow books, or use other facilities, such as access to the internet, you'll have to wait until Thursday, sorry.

And Hastings Pier? What can I say, but who knows when it will open again, if ever with the current owner!?! Over recent days it was because of the "weather/strong winds" but today is lovely (above), and with winds of between only 6 and 8 miles per hour... 

Locked!

Now that it is out in the open that only £60,000 was paid for the Pier (at least that is what is recorded with Her Majesty's Land Registry), it appears from sources that staff have not been paid wages and have walked out, meaning no staff to open the Pier (unless he buses in staff from Eastbourne Pier, but not today it seems). So all the promises of Christmas Opening Hours being published were rubbish, and it looks ever more likely his company will go into liquidation so that Mr G can sell the Pier, we'll see...

Oh, and just a reminder of what the Hastings Pier Charity (for all their faults) organised 2 years ago, from 18th November 2016 to 2nd January 2017, a Snow Slide in the centre of the Pier, Pirate Ship, Fun Fair rides, a Christmas Market, and a Christmas Menu in the Pavilion Restaurant, plus 'festive kiosks' (sheds to you and me, all that Mr G has put in planning permission for, sheds!). Now the Pier isn't even open to promenade along though, Merry Christmas!

I'll share some of the ever evolving information about Hastings Pier, Mr Gulzar and his companions and failed businesses very soon, as more information keeps coming out, and not to mention brown envelopes stuffed with banknotes! 😉

Hastings Foodbank: "Many thanks!"

Hastings Foodbank has published a 'thank you' message (facebook) to all those good enough to donate to them this month: "We've been overwhelmed by your generosity towards local people facing crisis situations." They continue to report that from today their volunteers will be taking 2 weeks off, consequently, there will be no more donations collected during that time, however, please "donate again in January if you can" as they will very likely remain busy in the New Year due to cold weather. 

They end with "Merry Christmas - we hope you have a joyful, peaceful one!"

And many thanks to Hastings Foodbank and you too, for helping local people who require help to feed themselves and their families, often even when they are working!