Mow down a Granny - almost

Bryony and I went for our regular (more or less) morning walk. This morning was rather later than usual on account of our angst over the referendum result. We’ve taken to donning high visibility jackets as a safety precaution, even though it’s midsummer and there is really no excuse for not seeing pedestrians.

We have seen a lot of rain recently and puddles, abound especially on the more minor roads of our route. Bryony was leading us single file as one of those large modern Range Rovers came round a fairly blind corner towards us. Instead of moving to the opposite side to avoid Bryony, the driver drove towards us so as to avoid a puddle dirtying the precious car.

Bryony in her usual determined fashioned refused to be pushed off the road. I’m afraid I played chicken and jumped on the bank. Our driver fortunately has slowed down enough not to cause an accident.

It is extraordinary the priorities that individuals have in their decision making processes.

That darned referendum!

The twists and turns in this story are extraordinary and this is only the beginning.

Apparently, a member of the leave campaign thought it so unlikely that it would win he posted a parliamentary petition formalising the conditions that might trigger a 2^nd referendum. This was about a month before the referendum itself. The timing is important because it validates the independence and structure of the petition.

Of course, the boot is now on the other foot, the leave campaign has won the referendum and are desperate not to have a rerun. Members of the “Remain” lobby (which includes me) are delighted that we have a ready made vehicle through which to voice our concern over the result.

At the time of writing there are over 3 million signatories to the petition. Any petition with 100,000 signatories or more must be considered for a parliamentary debate. If I interpret this correctly (I am a retired civil servant, with experience of parliamentary procedures), that does NOT mean that a debate on the floor of the House is inevitable. But the sheer numbers of signatories will apply pressure for a debate to be held, however inconvenient. It could be timed, however, so as to make it irrelevant. I hope not.

Curiously, I doubt that a second referendum is the right answer. Let me speculate over the whys and wherefores of the history of this current disaster. The UK government 2010-15 was a coalition between the Tories and the Liberal Democrats (LibDems). The LibDems were profoundly supportive of the European project and the UK’s membership of the Union. Towards the end of that parliament it looked extremely unlikely that Tories would have an outright majority for the next 5 years.

I suspect that the Tory manifesto, which included a commitment to a referendum on Britain’s continued membership of the EU, was built around the expectation that,, under a coalition government, such a commitment could never be implemented. It certainly looked fairly irrelevant to those of us who viewed the manifesto from the outside.

What I had not understood was that the Scottish independence debate and referendum had changed the political landscape profoundly, even though the referendum itself kept Scotland within the UK. This, along with several other important factors, contributed to the outright majority enjoyed by the Tories following the 2015 general election. But supporters of the EU, still did not recognize the very real dangers embodied in the commitment to a referendum.

Our Prime Minister negotiated a deal that gave the UK more wriggle room within the EU. We can argue over whether this deal was useful or meaningful, but what is now certain is that the deal was completely irrelevant to the outcome of the referendum.

The expressions of frustration, which were interpreted as a vote to leave the EU, were far more profound than this. It's open to debate as to extent that these frustrations were associated with our membership of the EU or the direct responsibility of our UK government or simply the world economic climate or any number of other factors. While some of the expressions of frustration were indeed associated with EU membership (e.g. free movement of labour within the EU), the vast majority weren’t.

I am now convinced that the circumstances, under which the referendum was held, were wholly anathema to the conduct of an appropriate debate. We are left in a position where we have voted for a political plan of action which has no substance whatever, simply because of the frustrations associated current circumstances.

Is this sour grapes of a voter who lost the argument? Well, I’m certainly pretty sour over the result, but, frankly, I feel we have stepped into the unknown without a proper debate. By a proper debate I’m one in which the arguments are written down and proponents held accountable for the rationale that they have advanced. My personal view is that the outcome of the referendum should be debated in parliament and that parliament itself should take full responsibility for the decision it takes.

Walberswick (2016)

Patrick (P) and I have holidayed at the caravan site in Walberswick for about 15 years (see Cycling – a way of Life http://swaatacba.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/cycling-part-of-living.html). This year our stay was unusually short but eventful.

We arrived in the late afternoon on Monday. Bryony took pity on P and made sure I was armed with ready-made food. It had rained on and off all day so we both stayed resolutely in our caravan.

Early morning Walk

Early morning walk

There are real similarities between camping and caravanning. The first night always results in early morning waking. I got up for a prophylactic pee and decided my legs were still on the lurch (see – Fatigue and the Lurch http://swaatacba.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/fatigue-and-lurch.html). I returned to bed and woke again just before 7. This was much more reasonable, so dressed and stomped off.

This walk has been refined over many years. It is designed to take in the sites of Walberswick and pass by the village shop for milk, newspaper, eggs and other essentials as necessary. It is designed such that it can be both shortened and extended at will, but nearly all versions pass by the shop.

It is time for my first glimpse of the sea.

I trudge pass by the empty camp site. Twenty years ago it teemed with activity from Whitsun to the end of September. However, local “do-gooders“ tried to put a stop to it in account of the unruly behaviour of some of the campers. These were mostly teenagers (including my own crop) having just been just released from exams. I acknowledge there was an element of bad behaviour, but for the most part it was not excessive. The end result though was that camping has been restricted to the standard six week school holiday.

Wooden structures in Walberswick

Over the dunes to the beach. The tide is very low. It must be the effect of the summer solstice. I was not tempted to test the water temperature. 

The walk takes me along the beach towards Southwold Harbour. The Walberswick side is astonishingly picturesque and much pictured wooden structures near the harbour entrance.

North bank harbour buildings

The harbour itself is really a series of moorings along the banks of the River Blyth. The picture above shows the north bank together with the workshops and harbour masters offices. The river grows shallow fairly rapidly but sailing craft are definitely stopped by the Bailey Bridge. 

Bailey Bridge - looking south

This is a footbridge that links Southwold and Walberswick. The bridge structure us quite unusual. It’s certainly very solid for a foot bridge. My best guess is that it was originally a narrow gauge railway bridge. See Wikipedia – Walberswick, Transport – which suggests that it formed part of the Halesworth to Southwold branch line and closed in 1929.

I follow the footpath back to Walberswick, bearing left just before the housing begins. Fortuitously, this leads to the village shop. 

From here there is a back route to the campsite. Unusually, I was quite tired after this walk.

The Ferry

It is tradition for P and I to walk to Southwold and we set off that afternoon through the village and passed the green, heading for the ferry.

Route to the ferry

The ferry is a rowing boat capable of holding 11 passengers or assorted passengers, bicycles and pet dogs.

Walberswick ferry

 My balding head definitely needs protection. In this case, a loose fitting cloth sun hat. Typically a light breeze whipped my hat off into the river just before the safety of the bank on the Southwold side. 

Forgetting that I’m 65 and over weight, I whipped over the side of the wooden landing and climbed down a thick wooden upright. My river soaked hat is little more than 12 inches below my feet but no matter how I position my hands I cannot reach it. My tummy is definitely in the way. Fortunately, a kindly gentleman, lies on his stomach and reaches my hat directly.

My fellow passengers were a little worried at my recklessness. One woman, concerned that I should get back in one piece, tried to help. But she blocked my route back so effectively that I nearly did fall in. However. I managed to return to solid ground and my soaking wet sun hat was returned to me.

P was only mildly perplexed at my silliness, but we continued with our walk to Southwold.

Ferry to Southwold

One of our favourite shops has always been Nutters – a delicatessen of deservedly high reputation. Unfortunately, Nutters is designed for the healthy, salt loving tourist, not for the recovering stroke patient. P went and investigated its delights on his own whilst I did some mundane grocery shopping.

Our return journey was uneventful, but after this round trip of nearly 5 miles, and associated adventures, feeling of fatigue was even more profound. I compensated by avoiding cooking that evening. We walked to the Bell Inn for food. 

P managed make his rather high class burger last until the following afternoon. Great for me, since I was basically let off cooking for yet another day.

The Reed Bed

One of the beauties of Walberswick are the serene reed bed walks. This one takes in the much pictured windmill in the reeds.

The serenity is itself a kind of perfection in relaxation, even though I was still tired from the previous day’s exertions. It is for me an essential part of a holiday in Walberswick.

Measurement

Most mornings, Bryony and I walk a circuit around Harleston with the aim of getting me fitter. Here is the route map.

Free hand outline of route map.

We have had a number of discussions about this route and it is a source disagreements associated with estimates of various measurements.

Distance

I have already offer a couple of estimates of the length of the walk in “TheDog that Walked” – 2 ½ miles then reassessed at just over 3 miles. This was using a one of those old fashioned map measuring tools on a local 1:25,000 Ordnance Survey map. I confess that I liked this measurement. Bryony was dubious though, suggesting a distance of 2.7 to 2.8 miles.

Earlier this week I invested in a step counter (Fitness pedometer). I hope that this would give more accurate version of how much I was doing.

The problem was that I had to put in how long my step was in order to estimate how far I had walked. This was a very confusing machine. I couldn’t work out whether it needed the measurement in feet and inches or metres (or centimetres). I put in some trial values which (I thought) were based on feet and inches and then tested it on standard walk. It returned a value of 2.1, although I was unsure whether it was 2.1 miles or 2.1 kilometres. I hoped it was miles, but I suspect it was kilometres. Whichever measurement it was, I didn’t like it.

I tried again. My best guess was that my step was about 0.85 metres and posted that into the darned machine. Bryony and I retested it on the walk this morning. This gave a step count of 5607 and converted to 4.76 Km (2.9577 miles). I liked this better, but it was entirely based on a guess (an educated guess??) as to my step length. 

It’s clear though that one’s step length changes with gradient and terrain. The gradients on this walk are mostly quite gentle but there is 200-300 metre section which a steeper uphill slope. This forms part of a longer uphill section of about 600-700 metres. These anomalies made estimate of overall distance clearly dubious.

I returned to Google maps to see if I find a more accurate/reliable measurement system. It turns out there is. Google maps provides its own measurement system using right click.

Right-click on Google maps

This provides a computerised measurement between points. The task for the use is to set up a series of way points that accurately represents the walk. After a couple of attempts I achieved this which suggests a distance of 4.32 km (2.68 miles).

I do not think that it’s likely we’ll improve on that.

Speed

Overall, this is less contentious since there are various reasonably accurate means of measuring time taken for the whole route once you know the distance. The disagreement here is between what Bryony and I perceive as that amount effort we are putting in relation to the speed achieved on and after the uphill section of the walk.

The question here is whether we slowed down after the uphill bit, because it felt that we were putting in less effort or was this simply the impact of passing the summit of the rise. I contend the lessening of the effort does not necessarily imply a reduction in speed, whereas Bryony is convinced we actually slowed down.

Neither of us can actually prove our contentions. So this argument is set to run for a while.

Sunrise in June

East Anglia is blessed with many amateur orchestras. The sheer number is a testament to the enthusiasm and diligence of individuals who are willing to put the time and effort into their organisation.

The majority of these individuals are music professionals who bring their talents to amateur players like me.  The music director of the Sunrise Concert Orchestra https://www.facebook.com/The-Sunrise-Concert-Orchestra-382680275147452/ has invited me to fill out in the viola section for a performance on Saturday evening (two days’ time).

I’ve had the music since last Friday – (Show Boat, Jerome Kern; Suite for Orchestra - from the Watermusic, G F Handel; The Hebrides - Fingal’s Cave - Overture, Felix Mendelssohn; The Banks of Green Willow Idyll, George Butterworth; Symphony No. 1, Joseph Knight - an active local composer).

I quake with a degree of real fear whenever I’m expected to sight read (more or less) Mendelssohn. He combines semiquaver passage work with key changes worthy of Schubert. The Hebrides Overture is no exception. All this is alongside some fairly fiendish changes in tempo. I suspect that the conductor expects me to look at him not the music.

Curiously enough one of the most difficult bits looks dead simple on paper. It comprises semiquavers turns, three notes two semi-tones apart at the bottom of the C string and to be played very loud – absolutely horrible. OK there’s the occasional tune but this is viola not first or second fiddle.

Showboat and the Watermusic are both playable although the Showboat tempi changes could be interesting.

The Butterworth looks easier than, I suspect, it really is. I wonder if he was having a bet with a colleague on the number of changes of tempi he could include on a single page of music. (e.g. Comodo, Allargando, Tempo 1, Allargando, Poco Tranquillo, Poco Animato, Tranquillando, Tempo 1, Maestoso, Animato agitato.) In addition Mr Butterworth also contrives to split the violas at several points. Of course, I have not the slightest idea which line I’m supposed to handle. There is no chance of memorising the music in this short space, but that’s what it really needs so that you can glue your eyes on the conductor.

Lastly to our local composer. I was complimenting myself that this didn’t look too difficult notwithstanding the numerous time signature changes. Then this happened.

Curiously enough it is not as difficult as it looks even if the timing is a bit wicked. The dotted quaver (x2) / quaver passages are each a tone apart and employ the identical left hand shape. The problem here is that it is not easy to be certain that you are in tune. Once you have reached the dizzy heights of 5^th position the semiquaver descending scales are relatively easy.

And I thought I’d have a relatively comfortable life post stroke,

A Question of Balance

In “Fatigue and the Lurch”, I implied that loss of balance was associated with tiredness. Today (13/06/2016) Bryony and I went for an early morning walk after two days of mostly laziness and a goodnight’s sleep. I still wobbled quite badly and Bryony was walking right behind me to see it. I couldn’t ignore the fact.

It seems possible that this is more a matter of concentration, since the lurch occurred whilst I was thinking about something else. In fact I was thinking about the subject matter for this next blog, which was originally going to be about relearning to ride a bike.

Let me offer a new hypothesis. The lurch occurs when I’m distracted from the specific task of balancing. This would fit in with the known facts that the stroke damaged one part of my brain; presumably that part of the brain that deals with balance in the back ground. The corollary to this is that I must, or have already, relearnt how to balance but in the active foreground of my brain.

If that is the case, am I always going to think about balance actively? If I want balance to become an automatic process that doesn’t need thinking about, how do I go about encouraging that?

Currently I can get on a bicycle and ride several hundred yards, but I do not feel safe for riding on the road. I suspect that this is the impact of the “Question of Balance”.

I have always ridden with quite a high saddle. This allows me to stretch each leg on the down stroke and keeps my muscles much more relaxed over longer distances. There is a downside to this configuration, in that the saddle is relatively high and it’s quite a stretch to get your leg over. Advice from the www suggests that you should be able to swing your leg over the saddle easily from the ground – this image from http://www.bicycling.com/.

How to mount a bicycle - officially!

I find that this leaves the saddle too low for cruising on a bicycle. Initially, I had to practice getting on and off the bicycle. While I relearned this fairly quickly, I notice that I have to think about the process actively each time I mount the bike. That is an odd feeling.

On my way to school (50 years ago now), I had to pass through gap in the fence at the end of our road meant for pedestrians. I remember the time it took to become confident at going through this gap on a bike with straight handle bars. Eventually I could take this gap a full throttle. Post stroke though, this facility has disappeared again. I certainly wobble through narrow gaps meant for allowing pedestrians on to the recreation ground behind our house.

This question of balance is even more important on longer cycle rides. I do not expect to have to think about staying upright all the time. As with this morning, my mind wanders naturally. Perhaps the next stage in this process is to become so used to cycling that my mind transfers the question of balance to a background process.

Orientation of Dispersible Aspirin

Part of my medication is to take dispersible aspirin daily. I take it with a small amount of water and it breaks down into a powder like consistency that can be swallowed easily.

A couple of days ago I noticed that the aspirin had landed on its edge. I’ve been taking it for about 15 months and had never noticed that before. Could I calculate how frequently I should have observed this state?

The pill appeared to be in the shape of a cylinder about 6mm in diameter and 1mm high. Assuming the shape is no more complicated than that, makes the calculations a lot easier.

Pill with approximate dimenbsions

If I consider the cylinder edge on, it becomes a simple rectangle whose centre of gravity is the point where the two diagonals meet. When falling through water this imaginary rectangle will nearly always turn around the corner which hits the flat bottom of the glass first such that the long side of the pill lies parallel with the glass bottom.

Centre of Gravity

Which way to fall?

The circumstances which dictate that the pill will land on the shorter edge of this imaginary rectangle are governed by the position of the centre of gravity of the cylinder in relation to the perpendicular line at the point where the corner of the cylinder meets the flat bottom surface of the glass. If the centre of gravity is on the side of the shorter edge then clearly the pill will turn towards the shorter dimension.

The calculation turns out to be ridiculously simple. For 1 corner the centre of gravity will tend to the shorter edge one in six times. For the other corner the same logic applies but for the other side of the semi-circle. So there is no increase in frequency that this will happen. (On the other hand one might argue the opposite flat edge will indeed double the frequency. But the consideration of the rectangle was only imaginary to simplify the calculations. There is only one continuous short dimension.)

Following that logic I should expect to see the pill fall on its shorter edge far more frequently I’ve noticed. How can I account for it?

It must be concerned with the dispersible nature of the pill. There is certainly a time lag before the pill is completely dispersed. I guess that complete dispersal takes about two minutes. But that’s not enough. I also need to consider the process or pathway the dispersal takes.

Corners gradually crumble.

A best guess is that the sharp edges of the pill will degrade first. The impact of this will to reduce the range over which the centre of gravity will tend towards the smaller dimension.This is likely to be very rapid.

I’m only surprised that I’ve seen it land on its edge at all.

Addendum (16 June 2016). I've just noticed that I nearly always put the pill in the glass before adding the water. This negates the whole of the the above, since it's almost impossible for the pill to stand on its edge in these circumstances. Even so I won't delete the blog.