09.33
DGM HQ.
In from the Sidney Smith… spotted this on the BBC website.
1960: Welsh pit blast kills 37 miners
At least 37 men have been killed in a gas explosion at a coal mine in Monmouthshire, Wales.
Another eight miners are trapped, feared dead, after the accident at Six Bells Colliery, 1,000 ft (305 m) below the surface. They include two fathers, each with their two sons.
This is the mine where my maternal grandfather lost his leg. He got stuck on the belt that carried the coal into a crusher, and his leg went in. Another miner pulled him off, and it was touch and go for a week whether he’d live. My grandmother’s hair went white overnight.
10.46 This is my office window, from the outside…
11.27 It’s a sign! Skies of wonder over DGM HQ…
Off to a birthday lunch near Warminster.
16.23 Oim zarf!
This is colloquial Darzet, a Dorset accent that was known to William Barnes but which has mostly disappeared. So, alternatively, I’m off!
Setting off along the Chalke Valley just before noon, past the cottage of the dear late Les Collins…
… which has been mucho poshed-up since Les flew away, opposite the cress beds…
On the way to the A36…
… is this RAF station. I used to wonder why there were no runways at an RAF base. The answer is, that the flying vehicles are/were tube-shaped & in silos; and during the Cold War, they had delivery addresses in Eastern Europe.
17.12 David has invented blackscreen, and alternative to bluescreen.
17.21 A telephone conversation with the lawyer who will be setting up the formalities of the GCIR&P. He suggests that, typically, it will take 3 months to establish the Institute & have a bank account in operation.
18.22 A call to Chateau Belewbeloid, where Adrian is yesterday-returned from touring with The AB Power Trio. We discussed the arising notion of terror. All the members of King Crimson (Line-up Eight) are now in place for 40th. Anniversary Celebrations of The Mighty Crim.