Bournemouth

01.06.01

Alvin’s update

It’s a bit disconcerting when you get off a tube and the bells are ringing.

I was heading to get a train to Bournemouth on the South Coast. An announcement came over the airways within the Underground system saying “Due to a security alert would you please leave the station immediately”

This was repeated over and over as I traveled up out of the bowels of the Underground. I buggered of out of the building in the flow of traffic and waited outside for probably five minutes. For a starter not many people went back on but as new people arrived who had not heard the announcement the stream of people entering the building grew. The announcement continued and most people seemed oblivious to the emergency announcement.

Well I thought bugger this, so I followed on in to the main platform, all seemed ok, the announcements stopped and life returned to normal.

Kath told me that sometimes people take their lives by jumping under the trains etc. I never did find out what was wrong. All a bit perplexing to me.

They say the IRA may do something prior to the elections so my antenna was working overtime.

My purpose of going to the South Coast was to follow up on a job that I had applied for via the internet. Frontline Community Mental Health Service development stuff. Nurse Consultant Level.

I had a initial meeting arranged with the Service Manager and wanted to check out the area to see if Dorset would meet Bev and my needs as a base for the next wee while.

Close to Europe, London, Wales and Ireland.

There is a ferry that takes two hours across to France from near here also.

My brother is law Dave Irving, had said the weather is like Bluff in the winter, constant sea breezes and rain. My expectations were low. The express train takes only two and a quarter hours to get there, the ride was smooth as silk and I was rocked to sleep within half an hour and woke up just outside Christchurch, a eastern town in Dorset which joins Bournemouth.

Dorset population about half million. A lot of young people in rehabilitation with Mental illness. I sussed the options and recruitment process are in the pipeline.

I wont bore you all with a description of Dorset and in particular Bournemouth, except to say it is very much like Christchurch New Zealand.

Castles, beaches, gardens basically a resort for Poms. The gardens are ready to erupt into flowers. There is a swag of them scattered around the city.
Real Estate prices are high compared to London with a vast array of accommodation places. Mega beds available.

I rode the buses to get orientated and found the natives to be friendly. They love helping a Kiwi to find his way about, especially the old ladies on the buses. Seemed to be a lot of them on reflection.

Kath has the next two days off now, having worked three days 8 am until 8 pm each day. She may be working again tomorrow, if so I’ll be digging out John Annan for a yap.

Bought a Mobile Phone and new pair of undies so I’m a real yuppie now

I wonder what will happen next

alvin