A Reflection on Hastings and the Other Places
While we’re all thinking about viruses, it might be interesting, to some at least, to consider how these things came into being in the first place, which in itself opens up some interesting philosophical questions.
Continue reading “Viral Origins: They’ve Been With Us Forever”
I am concerned about the macho, emotive language being used during this viral pandemic. We’re on a wartime footing. There’s an enemy we have to defeat. We have to suffer and endure to win. This is not a ‘war’, and the endless use of wartime metaphors, in the press, BBC, and by the Prime Minister himself is misleading and, I believe, potentially dangerous. It’s the wrong approach.
Continue reading “CV19: It’s Not a War”Today, on a misty morning at about 8am, the new winding wheel for the Hastings West Hill Cliff Railway arrived, and was lifted into place. The wheel failed last year, and had to be re-cast in a foundry in Rotherham. Originally, it had been standard equipment as part of the winding gear for coal mines – now no longer available.
Continue reading “West Hill Lift: The Big Wheel Arrives”
The COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak is devastating, and life-changing. At the moment, we can have no idea whether the advice and restrictions are too little too late, or a huge overreaction … perhaps what’s more disturbing is that governments across the world seem to be so unprepared for a new virus outbreak, which was inevitable, and we’re lucky this one has a mortality rate that’s relatively low. Hopefully we’ll be better prepared next time – because there will be a next time.
Continue reading “COVID-19: A View from a (former) Microbiologist”
This blog is by Peter Chowney, former Labour leader of Hastings Council, resident of Maze Hill, St Leonards on Sea, UK, finally retiring from the council in May 2022. Also a former microbiologist, a keen gardener, chicken keeper, and classic car owner. It serves no particular purpose, beyond entertainment, debate and constructive comment. You don’t need to be registered to comment, but if you do, please make sure it’s constructive. Click on the post title to comment.
This Wednesday, I cease to be leader of Hastings Council. That’s because I decided to resign, after almost five years of doing the job. The new leader will be Kim Forward, in whom I have every confidence, and who I know will be an excellent council leader. The timing of my resignation was intended to be a few weeks before the May council elections. It seemed a bit disingenuous to resign immediately after the election, the local electorate needed to know who they were going to end up with as their leader if Labour were again successful and retained control of the council. In the event, the elections have now been cancelled, but I’m still resigning anyway, and Kim will formally take over on Wednesday.
Continue reading “A New Blog”