AWKWARDLY SOCIAL

oneliness is a significant and often overlooked challenge in today's society. Many individuals find themselves increasingly isolated, with social interaction primarily occurring through digital devices. While technology offers connectivity, it can't fully replicate the richness of face-to-face human interaction.

However, real-world engagement is essential for our well-being. The disconnect from genuine human contact can leave many feeling ill-equipped to navigate social situations and cope with the demands of interpersonal relationships.

2409.16 THUNDERCLIFFE

This post has been in limbo for such a long time. Stress, family & work issues and illness have held me back. Now this post is a little redundant as it was supposed to be about somewhere I visited back in September. 

2002.03 STRESS, SNEEZING AND SHOES

It's been a manic few days, we had a serious thingy happen at work which has turned everything upside down.

1905.20 WOULD THE ROUNDHEADS LIKE COFFEE?

I've always taken an interest in history, especially local history. My family have been in the area I live in for generations. Another interest I have in in the supernatural. Quite often these interests collide in wonderful ways. There are stories all around us, one such story is in a building I pass every day on my way to work, and it's about to embark on a new and controversial chapter.

1804.16 TALKING TO IDIOTS

I watch local news a lot. I like to be informed about what's happening around me. But local news has an annoying habit.

1701.20 BYE BYE GROSVENOR

Back in 1999 I married my Morticia. The day was perfect and as you may expect was one of the greatest days of my life (and I don't say that lightly). An important part of our day was the venues. Our reception venue was chosen after an intense search for a suitable place. 

1606.25 SIGH OF RELIEF

Following a ready bad day for our future yesterday I'd like to share some really good news we had this week. Some time ago I learned that planning permission had been sought to erect a number of flats on the land behind our house. I wrote about it here.

This week I learned that the planning has been REFUSED! I can't express the relief I feel at this news. It looks like the council agreed with mine and my neighbours concerns. They used similar wording to what I'd put in my objection like 'over development' etc.

Notice of refusal published on the local authority website

So now the land stays empty until the owner can come up with more acceptable plans. While they do I'll continue to enjoy the lovely view over the Don Valley.

1605.29 SPORTSMANSHIP

This weekend there has been 2 big football matches at Wembley Stadium featuring teams from South Yorkshire. I'm not about to talk about football, if you know me you know that football isn't my thing. What gets me is the reaction from some fans when a neighbouring team who pour hate and scorn over the achievements of others. I really don't get it. They are all as bad as each other. Surely if there are 2 teams playing then you put your support behind the one most local to you? I always thought the term 'sport' denotes 'fair play'.

1605.17 UNWANTED DEVELOPMENT

Just behind my house is a small patch of wasteland which used to be the site of a public house. For a while now I've been expecting someone to want to build on it. Then we got the letter.

Planning has been requested to build a 4 storey block of flats that will directly overlook the rear of mine and my neighbours' houses. This wasn't what I wanted to hear, Morticia got upset about the whole thing. I was hoping they'd build a couple of houses there.

After reviewing the plans I've submitted my objection to the development. I would hope my neighbours would also but they are pretty apathetic when it comes to such matters. I'm going to try and speak to a couple of them.

Now we wait.

Supplemental 1605.21; I noted today that one of my neighbours have spoken out and put in an objection against this planning. At least we no longer stand alone.

1602.18 H2 STATION

(Now I want to put it out that I whole heartedly disagree with this project. I feel it's a transport system for the elite, I don't envisage being able to afford to travel on this train. I don't see the point of a new train line when the money could upgrade and revamp existing services (Sheffield to London isn't even electrified). Local public transport system is a shambles and doesn't offer a viable alternative to other transport methods.

I'm talking about this because there has recently been a debate locally regarding the location of the HS2 station in South Yorkshire. The plan is to build it in Meadowhall which is to the east of the city centre where there is already a small station which serves the shopping centre. A lot of people have been pushing for the plan to change and rebuild the old (and long time closed) Victoria Railway Station on the edge of the city centre.

Initially I was on the side of moving the plan to the city centre after all this was supposed to be a city station, why have it on the edge? Then I did some reading and looked at the facts. Victoria Station would mean some major demolition and would the location be difficult for other links (it's a fair distance from Midland Station (Sheffield's main railway station) and the bus station. Also where would they put any car parking? The benefits would be for high end businesses in the city centre only, would that be enough to sustain the project (I'm remember the doomed Sheffield City Airport)?

So why would Meadowhall be better? The plans for the Sheffield City Region (http://sheffieldcityregion.org.uk/about/overview/). If you are looking at a transport system benefitting the whole region then it needs to be somewhere easily accessible from all areas. Where better than an area which is serviced by rail from all the major towns and Sheffield plus bus and tram links. Also the M1 is there as well as potential links to Robin Hood Airport.

So I don't want it but if we have to have it then build it at Meadowhall.

1602.13 VALENTINE LOVE

For the second year running Morticia and me have managed to get out for Valentine's Day. We decided to do pretty much exactly what we did last year.

Dinner at the Anchorage restaurant followed by drinks in town (Sheffield). Back home on the last bus.

Me and my Valentine ♥ #love #together

A photo posted by CaptainKirt™ (@captainkirt) on Feb 13, 2016 at 5:21pm PST

1506.30 THE ROYAL GEORGE

The earliest mention the Royal George public house was in 1869. Throughout the years I imagine the pub must have served the community well. It would have served miners from the nearby Garrowtree mine and steel worker from the works in Masborough.

Fast forward to 2001, industry is a distant memory and deprivation is common in the area. Houses are built opposite (after many years of being a empty patch of land). It's at this point that I come into the story. It's at this point we begin to have issues with the pub behind our house.

I knew there would be some issues when we bought the house, drunks singing and taxis honking horns, I'm pretty tolerant. The issues we started to get were so much worse than that...

• Customers smoking weed
• Kids playing football
• People climbing into our garden
• Loud music (speaker put outside on sunny days) 
• Rowdy behaviour till all hours

It was really driving us mad, especially since our bedroom directly overlooked it. A lot of communication between me, the council and the police (I'm assuming other residents also complained) got the place closed. I always hoped it would reopen with a strong management to turn it into a community asset. It never did.

There was a planning application submitted to convert the building into a large house which was turned down. Then it looked like it might be a restaurant (which we would have apposed because of potential of parking issues).

Last week a fence went up around it and scaffolding went up. We thought it was about to get a refurb (although no planning had been put in). The next thing we knew contractors moved in and started knocking the building down. So now it's a big open space, I'm keeping an eye out for any plans but for now we have a view down the Don Valley.

I was never a customer of the 'George' but I can't help feel a little sad at its demise.