Peace on Earth...

Sad that 2023 saw the continuation of a major war in Europe, and a newer one starting in the Middle East, and worries and fighting in the Americas, Asia and Africa too. There remain millions of refugees fleeing wars and poverty. Inflation appears to be lowering, but still there.  Millions are having to survive without food, clean running water, light and heating, and not just in the developing world, but in Europe, because of the paranoid or megalomaniac designs of an individual. As I said last year, we thought the world had changed following 1945, at least in Europe, but it remains not so...

However, I am an optimistic soul, consequently, I trust that things will improve in 2024, and I wish to share my hope for peace and true goodwill to the people of Hastings and everyone worldwide, fingers crossed... 

Happy New Year! 🎉

PS Can you believe the names of some of the new members proposed for the House of Lords?!? And a knighthood proposed for that absolutely evil bampot Tim Martin! 😒 It is time to abolish the House of Lords as these so-called 'honours' now are belittled and starting to mean nothing. We need a new second chamber in Britain made up of representatives of the regions, like the Senate in the USA or Bundesrat in Germany.

Seasons Greetings and Thanks!

I give thanks to all those who have helped us over recent times, including carers, 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. 👌

And remember, stay safe!

Refuse & Recycling Collection Seasonal Alterations

Above are details of the refuse and recycling alterations over the next few weeks, until collections return to normal on Monday 15th of January 2024; for further information from Hastings Borough Council, go to their website.

There you go! 👍

Have a good holiday folks. 🍻

It May be Lonely this Christmas, BUT!

Every year Christmas and the 'festive season' sees an increase in loneliness, but remember that the Samaritans can provide 24 hour emotional support; calls on 116 123 are free. They can also be reached in other ways, and their opening hours and further information is on their website. Many thanks to their volunteers and staff.

There are also places offering free Christmas meals to the homeless and lonely in Hastings, for example, on Christmas Day The London Trader at 4-7 East Beach Street is offering a free Christmas lunch to anyone who wants one, in their words "don't go hungry, miserable or lonely, come in, see us and get fed!" (facebook) Nice one! 👍

Also, Dom's Food Mission is providing dinner on Christmas Day (above), and the Council's website shows other help and food available, including Christmas Day and Boxing Day meals at the Salvation Army in St Andrews Square.

As I've also already said (blog), it's more than just a seasonal problem these days, and foodbanks appear to be with us long term now, and Hastings Foodbank (website) is desperate for certain items:

UHT Milk, Full Fat and Semi-skimmed;

Tinned Meat (but not corned beef and pork);

Tinned Vegetables (especially peas and carrots);

Tinned Fruit;

Coffee.

Also required are:  Toilet Rolls;

Toiletries (shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste);

Tinned Fish;

Tinned Potatoes;

Tinned Rice Pudding;

Jam;

Fruit Juice.

There are Foodbank donation points all over Hastings, and full details of addresses and opening times are at the website, and include the HBC Community Contact Centre (Muriel Matters House), The Hastings Centre (The Ridge), Tesco Extra (St Leonards), Sainsbury's (Station Approach), Asda, Tesco Express (Havelock Road), Morrisons, NatWest Bank (Havelock Road), and Nationwide Building Society branches. 

Stay safe and secure and watch out for each other folks, and much respect to those offering help and charity. Any other places where help can be found, eg free dinners, please feel free to add in comments, cheers!

Bring Eurostar back to Ashford!

There is an online petition to get Eurostar returned to the Kent stations (website) and it would be jolly good if it was returned, many thanks!

Sign here to support the petition, cheers!

Hastings Foodbank

I regularly remind myself to make food donations to Hastings Foodbank (website), nevertheless, they continue to remain desperate for certain items, currently:

UHT Milk, Full Fat and Semi-skimmed;

Tinned Meat (but not corned beef or pork);

Tinned Vegetables (especially peas and carrots);

Tinned Fruit;

Coffee.

Also required are:  Toilet Rolls;

Toiletries (shower gel, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste);

Tinned Fish;

Tinned Potatoes;

Tinned Rice Pudding;

Jam;

Fruit Juice.

At the moment they have plenty of  tea, pasta, cereal and baked beans.

There are Foodbank donation points all over Hastings, and full details of addresses and opening times are at the website, and include the HBC Community Contact Centre (Muriel Matters House), The Hastings Centre (The Ridge), Tesco Extra (St Leonards), Sainsbury's (Station Approach), Asda, Tesco Express (Havelock Road), Morrisons, NatWest Bank (Havelock Road), and Nationwide Building Society branches. 

If you'd prefer to donate money instead go to the website.

Let's not forget those less fortunate, also don't forget that people using the service that Hastings Foodbank provides include nurses and other health service workers, people who were heralded during the Pandemic as heroes and applauded on doorsteps... 👏

Respect to those who deserve it👍 

Bottle Alley Festive Light Show 2023

The Festive Light Show in Bottle Alley will now be active every evening until the 2nd of January 2024 from 7.30pm and 9.30pm (website), with an extended 30 minutes show on Fridays, enjoy it while it's on! 👌

Giving Trees and Christmas Trees...

If you hadn't already noticed the rather large bear in Priory Meadow shopping centre, you may be aware of the return of their Giving Trees Initiative in aid of Hastings Foodbank, if not, now you are; last drop off date Thursday 14th December 20.00 hours (website). To participate, select a tag from one of the trees  by the bear, purchase a suitable gift, then deliver that gift to Kids Stuff in Priory Meadow. For further details go to their website. 🌲🎁🌲

Talking about trees, in the outside part of Priory Meadow is this tree, which I photographed rather early in the morning, with regularly changing coloured light bulbs.

Plus many more colours! 😉