tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132745592024-03-05T05:09:07.161+00:00Life In Another TownOriginal travel videos, holiday videos, community and local news photography, interviews and reportage all filmed & produced by Life In Another TownLife In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.comBlogger163125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-36266606432748443542017-08-08T04:53:00.001+01:002017-08-08T04:53:24.628+01:00Supporting homeless refugees in Paris with cups of Solidarithé<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is far from an easy life living on the streets of France's capital city, just read a bit of the book Down and Out in Paris and London to find out how George Orwell got on. Today, eighty five years later and life as a homeless refugee 'sans papier' living rough on the streets of Paris life is pretty grim.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Many hundred of young men, from Sudan, Aghanistan and Eritrea are sleeping on the streets of the area in <b>Paris</b> called <b>Porte de La Chapelle</b>. The voluntary group <b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Solidarithé </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">gives out free cups of hot, sweet tea and coffee every evening</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">on the </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Boulevard Ney.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While in France in July 2017, I drove a delivery of tea and coffee to Paris. I stayed for a week and volunteered with the French charity <a href="http://www.utopia56.com/en" target="_blank">Utopia56</a> and </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Solidarithé.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><b>Supporting refugees with a cup of Solidarithé</b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I saw that t</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">he queue for the one hot meal the guys receive, provided daily by the city authorities, is often fraught with tension and sometimes simmering wth frustration (and that is just how the stewards feel) but tea time is a much calmer affair. Around 8pm is a time of respite, a period of relative calm, the guys take a few moments to saviour a hot drink laced with spoonfuls of sugar, and they then chat with their mates, attend an art workshop or take a language class sat on the pavement. Newcomers receive information sheets with a map and addresses of useful government offices, voluntary groups, charities, clinics located in and around Paris.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The small favour done by </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Solidarithé doesn't solve the problem of homelessness among refugees, but it does lift moral and it is a vital service.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To keep going, <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Solidarithé needs to muster vast quantities of paper cups, many kilos of coffee, thousands of tea bags, dozens of sacks of sugar, pens, colouring pencils, paper, exercise books, art equipment, and all this costs money and takes effort.</span></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you want to volunteer your time, give money, or donate essentials then please visit the </span><a href="https://en-gb.facebook.com/solidarithe/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Solidarithé Facebook page</span></a></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></span></span></b></div>
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Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com075018 • Paris, France48.8977594 2.359220199999981623.375724899999998 -38.949373800000018 74.4197939 43.667814199999981tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-42499322270473163312017-08-06T22:16:00.001+01:002017-08-06T23:32:50.947+01:00Refugees in crisis: How to fill and pack emergency food bags for distribution to refugees living without shelter<div style="font-family: "arial","helvetica",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the Autumn of 2015, the death of the little Syrian boy Alan Kurdi placed the refugee story centre stage in the mind's eye of many people. Outraged by the humanitarian crisis, volunteers across Europe kickstarted a huge effort to provide aid and support to the men, women and children arriving here, fleeing war, famine and poverty in several countries across the Middle East and Africa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>This video shows how a very small team of volunteers, albeit with good funding, was able to put together hundreds of food bags in double quick time. The process in the video works well, but it can be improved. After watching, I hope you think of improvements and put them into practice to ensure the people you help get the best support available.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Since then, the need to support the thousands of vulnerable refugees, rather than abating has increased. The unofficial refugee camps in Calais and Dunkirk, while awful, offered at least some stability to the encamped refugees. The camps meant charitable associations could more easily provide tents, caravans, hot meals, clothing and support in a centralised location. However, the breakup of the unofficial camps and the dispersement of thousands of refugees across France and Belgium means the men, women and child refugees and volunteer groups now face different challenges.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In July 2017, the <a href="http://www.merseyaid.com/" target="_blank">Liverpool based refugee and homeless support</a> team at <b>Merseyaid</b>, put out a call for aid to be delivered to France. I transported almost a hundred sleeping bags and blankets for distribution to refugees sleeping rough in Northern France. I stayed volunteering for a couple of weeks. While in Calais, I helped out at the <a href="http://care4calais.org/" target="_blank">Care4Calais</a> warehouse in Sangatte and did two food bag distributions to hundreds of young Sudanese men living rough around the Gare du Nord rail station in Bruxelles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Delivering a food bag distribution to a multitude of end-users is challenging and requires good teamwork but the back-end logistics of gathering suitable food donations, filling and packing bags, balancing the often conflicting issues of deadline, quantity, quality, and budget, requires money, strong processes, as well as great teamwork.<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$text2:0:$text4:0"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Merseyaid refugee and homeless support</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$text2:0:$text4:0">If you want to donate food, clothes, money or volunteer your time to help refugee men, women, boys and girls please visit Merseyaid the <a href="http://www.merseyaid.com/" target="_blank">Liverpool based refugee and homeless support group.</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></div>
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Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com062231 Sangatte, France50.946696 1.756664999999998150.8666555 1.5953034999999982 51.026736500000005 1.9180264999999981tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-59952694129328968682015-09-05T00:23:00.000+01:002017-08-06T23:32:19.809+01:00Calais refugees are stuck in the Jungle. What can we do? We need to get ready!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are rumours that increased numbers of Syrians will be allowed to claim asylum in the UK. This is because the prime minister David Cameron and the Tory government is under pressure from increasing numbers of British citizens to allow more refugees to seek asylum here. This is good news if indeed more refugees will, at long last, find safe haven here. However, this will NOT help a single refugee in the Calais Jungle camp. Any new asylum seekers will only be granted access to the UK directly from Syria and not from Calais. There will still be a refugee crisis for the tens of thousands of men, winding across Europe, the majority of whom are fleeing from war torn countries, dictatorships and disaster. These refugees are all mums, dads, sons and daughters, and they are all desperate to find a safe place to sleep and a secure place to live.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hundreds of these escaping people will find their way to Calais. Their hope is to make it to the UK. However, they will find their way blocked by the English Channel and no legal way to cross to England. Access to the port and railway is blocked by high security fences, razor wire, security guards and riot police. Thousands of refugees will remain stuck in limbo in Calais, with no option but to find shelter in the unofficial Jungle refugee camp.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So what do we do? We need to prepare! </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Winter is coming: rain, wind and cold. </span>Please collect more men's winter clothes, more footwear, more sleeping bags and more blankets. Get organised! Sort and pack donations by type. Collect together donations locally. Gather together supporters of the Calais refugees. Organise a van to take donations to the regional collection points. Watch the groups for news of new improved storage and distribution channels.<br /> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The arrival in recent times of thousands of refugees in the camp is challenging existing methods of support in Calais. This is normal for any operation. Increased demand needs to be met by increased supply and improved methods of distribution. Please don't be disheartened by stories of delay and hassles distributing in the camp.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Your donations of food and clothing will continue to make better the existence and everyday lives of the refugees in the camp. Your expressions of compassion and your efforts to ensure these men, women, boy and girls are provided safe haven is having a positive impact.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcOxKN9J-SrW0EgwENfZDMO0y1DlzNFb0ZvLIp1wMIH3i-iccW4Y6avkfDcBaq6pvBeK9cnsC_ONYGxAUyzL-Q48r4wjuub85o96OtTpfuBoZAan8HgaF3I025wmyyXB6Ktrg/s1600/Merseyaid+image.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Merseyaid refugee and homeless support group" border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="785" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcOxKN9J-SrW0EgwENfZDMO0y1DlzNFb0ZvLIp1wMIH3i-iccW4Y6avkfDcBaq6pvBeK9cnsC_ONYGxAUyzL-Q48r4wjuub85o96OtTpfuBoZAan8HgaF3I025wmyyXB6Ktrg/s400/Merseyaid+image.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Merseyaid refugee and homeless support </span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$text2:0:$text4:0">If you want to donate food, clothes, money or volunteer your time to help refugee men, women, boys and girls please visit Merseyaid the <a href="http://www.merseyaid.com/" target="_blank">Liverpool based refugee and homeless support group.</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
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Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-54381670352595433312015-09-03T10:06:00.002+01:002015-09-03T11:09:16.592+01:00Asylum Seeker dispersal areas are typically in economically and socially deprived areas<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqw3PEr9bzlxhvtfOYyneuw6nDi1XcMo78PUNJ3yL-3y2l3pQ-PwmjIoGPu0-UVn5gyXYy5Prlrp5UosWPg4UVWu0vfkcDzHMpZ0_J-GLF3Z34HHR0obpNCyhGVNoSGQRWwYNx/s1600/Calais+Migrant+Camp+The+Jungle+August+2015+DSC_0060-037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqw3PEr9bzlxhvtfOYyneuw6nDi1XcMo78PUNJ3yL-3y2l3pQ-PwmjIoGPu0-UVn5gyXYy5Prlrp5UosWPg4UVWu0vfkcDzHMpZ0_J-GLF3Z34HHR0obpNCyhGVNoSGQRWwYNx/s400/Calais+Migrant+Camp+The+Jungle+August+2015+DSC_0060-037.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Sudan quarter of the Calais Refugee Camp</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I spent Wednesday evening with my wife Heather filtering through reams of research material for the BBC Radio Lancashire radio interview on Thursday 3rd September 2015. In the end of course, I didn't need all the the statistics or "fun facts" about seeking asylum in the UK. But it was reassuring to have something in the bag to
pull out if needed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What I learned though, through doing the research, is that the UK asylum system is
totally disfunctional. The only people who seem to win are MP's
who ensure that Asylum Seekers are dispersed across the country, far
away from their safe seats. The other winners are the private companies
contracted to manage the system. These companies are rewarded huge
amounts of tax-payer's money for delivering sub-standard services.
What's more they include the usual suspects. You've heard of them all before
as they are same companies who keep cropping up in connection with the running
of private prisons, custody services, deporting "failed" asylum seekers
etc.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Asylum Seeker dispersal areas are typically in economically and
socially deprived areas, and these parts of the country have rates of
high unemployment, and low incomes: areas in South Wales, Birmingham,
the North West, the North East and Glasgow. To top it all asylum
seekers are often among the most economically and socially deprived
people in these most deprived of areas. The interview tomorrow is being
being transmitted across the North West, an area that has a
disproportionate number of asylum seekers and in many parts of the
region, some of the poorest citizens in the country. While the direct
costs of Asylum Seekers dispersal are funded by the UKBA and not local
council tax, there can of course be an impact on social-cohesion. It's a
tricky subject to tackle. It is perhaps not a surprise that dispersal
areas are not in areas like Knightsbridge, Hampstead, Chelsea and
(excluding Labour London and a couple of notable exceptions) the South
East of England. It's curious that areas which vote Tory and have the
highest house prices growth are not areas designated for Asylum seekers
dispersal. Make of that what you will.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-reactid=".1.0.0">I want to thank Graham Liver for talking with me this morning on <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p030638s#play" target="_blank">BBC Radio Lancashire</a> about the Ca<span class="text_exposed_show">lais
Refugees. It's a difficult subject, a lot of emotion and strong
opinions on both sides of the debate. Those people with low incomes and
who rely on public services, are the ones most likely to have to
shoulder the burden of government spending cuts. Is it no wonder then
that people at the bottom of the pile, are going to feel threatened
about the possible impact that large numbers of new arrivals, immigrants
and refugees might have on jobs, social housing and public services.
Even so, I have met and spoken with lots of British people, many from
the North West who, while they might not have much money, are either
collecting donations, or giving their time as volunteers, all to help
people worse of than themselves: the men, women, boys and girls who have
fled from countries such as Syria, Eritrea, Sudan and Afghanistan.</span></span> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42J_k98Q7U23kCg77k_csvHOXp7I20bWJNeooN17T4f7EDTex8_bBM23zeuUPdfZVJ7QJKZqpPiyaefoRHI7k0LlPJEz6UQeXqGIjlAoY3yelrUJIcrBfyVz6G3RENKcEmbSe/s1600/CS_LOGO_square_orange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42J_k98Q7U23kCg77k_csvHOXp7I20bWJNeooN17T4f7EDTex8_bBM23zeuUPdfZVJ7QJKZqpPiyaefoRHI7k0LlPJEz6UQeXqGIjlAoY3yelrUJIcrBfyVz6G3RENKcEmbSe/s320/CS_LOGO_square_orange.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calais People to People Solidarity - Action from the UK</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$text2:0:$text4:0">If you want to donate food, clothes, money or volunteer
your time to help the men, women, boys and girls in the Calais Refugee
Jungle Camp, please join the Facebook group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalaisMigrantSolidarityActionFromUK/files/" target="_blank">Calais - People to People Solidarity - Action from UK</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
<br />
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Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-14048908487892880242015-08-31T20:27:00.002+01:002017-08-06T23:14:47.845+01:00Refugees are "rats in human form" response to Ormskirk Volunteer in the Calais Jungle newspaper article<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you to the <a href="http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/southport-west-lancs/ormskirk-man-volunteered-migrant-camp-9889446" target="_blank">Southport Visitor</a> Newspaper for the coverage of ten day volunteering during August in the Calais Refugee Camp.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/732/20955456512_6887a5b306_k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/732/20955456512_6887a5b306_k.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Photo taken in the Calais Refugee Jungle Camp</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The article generated a number of responses in the comments section, most were favourable to the plight of the refugees. Indeed the comments demonstrated that there are other people in the North West who support the refugees and are doing their own work to collect and distribute donations to the camp.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">However, one person decided to respond altogether less favourably and called the refugees "rats in human form" and "filth". In response, I wrote that I wondered if this chap suffered from a form of personality disorder, and while we should hate the actual comment, we should go easy on any poor soul who could utter such a vile thought. But on the other hand, it's perhaps dangerous to dismiss such comments as the raving of a mad man. If you replace "illegals", as he refers to the refugees, with "Jew", then we've been here before in Europe's not so distant past. The refugees in Calais are not rodents or a swarm, they are men, women, boys and girls, like each of us and they deserve our empathy and assistance.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Supporters of the refugees on the Facebook group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalaisMigrantSolidarityActionFromUK/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Calais - People to People Solidarity - Action from UK</a> took a different view to both the horrible comments and my response. Leanne said "<span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899653453442736:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899653453442736:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899653453442736:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899653453442736:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$text0:0">Can we please not equate mental health diagnoses with making hateful comments? Having a mental illness does not make a person racist!!!". Leanne is right of course, </span></span></span></span><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899655220109226:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899655220109226:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899655220109226:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899655220109226:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$text0:0">having a mental illness does not in general make someone a racist. I am not tarring all the people with a mental illness with the same brush. However, to refer to a group of people as "rats in human form" and "filth" is perhaps indicative of a sociopathic personality disorder. On the other hand, my wife Heather said that perhaps the man is just horrible and horrible people say horrible things.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899655220109226:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899655220109226:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899655220109226:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899655220109226:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.$end:0:$text0:0">Andrew, from the organisation <a href="http://www.asafeworldforwomen.org/" target="_blank">A Safe World For Women</a>, said in reponse to the "rats in human form" comment "</span></span></span></span><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$text2:0:$text4:0">I would suggest this counts as incitement to racial hatred and most certainly hate speech". Andrew has requested that <a href="http://www.trinitymirror.com/" target="_blank">Trinity Mirror Plc</a>, which is the publisher of the Southport Visitor newspaper, ensures that the offensive comment is removed.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$text2:0:$text4:0">The majority of the comments to the article show once again that despite the political differences regarding how the refugee crisis should be handled, many of us can still come together and agree that compassion for our brother and sisters trumps xenophobia.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g" data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-reactid=".31.1:5:1:$comment899651753442906_899673523440729:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1.$comment-body.0.3.0.$text2:0:$text4:0"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you want to donate food, clothes, money or volunteer your time to help refugee men, women, boys and girls please visit the <a href="http://www.merseyaid.com/" target="_blank">Liverpool based refugee and homeless support</a> charitable group Merseyaid</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://lifeinanothertown.blogspot.com/p/submit-community-news.html" target="_blank">Please contact Life In Another Town</a></b></span></span></div>
Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-30183856363027009382015-08-29T09:00:00.000+01:002015-08-29T17:59:03.210+01:00Photos and story about the Calais Refugees Jungle Camp August 2015<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5644/20342965903_74dee6a40c_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5644/20342965903_74dee6a40c_b.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calais Refugee Jungle Camp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;">The Calais Refugees Jungle Camp is an encampment in Calais where thousands of refugees are currently residing. The refugees are from countries as far away as Syria, Afghanistan, Kurdish Iraq, Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia. These refugees have escaped danger in their home countries and fled to Europe to find a new home in which they can secure a safe future for themselves and their families</span><br>
<br>
<span style="font-size: large;">After weeks of shouting at the television, complaining against the inaction of the politicians to find a solution to the refugee crisis in Calais, and annoyed with the abusive rhetoric spewing from the orifices of rent-a-mouth news columnists, my wife and I decided we should get in contact with the local charitable associations in Calais and find out what out what we could do to help. I journeyed down to Calais from Ormskirk in August and spent ten days volunteering on the ground. While in the Jungle, I was aware that this, for the many people taking refuge in the camp, was a place they considered home, albeit temporarily, and I was therefore reticent about filming in the environ. Before using my camera, I asked and received permission from the subjects in the photos. Click here to see the photo albums in the <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewandheather/collections/72157657896777101/" target="_blank">Calais Refugee Jungle Camp</a> collection on Flickr.</span><br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUhL3qP6eLKwxwGDFqrnTVnX0gGRayKrqh5_uFyazHNEPbXrJ25ZbCXS9AK9JGFnguj85KFqyLyTIicKM7c63ujS8caoUolypj_HfL4qLwy4zm8-bMe-tM62WisvZ9HyMeqZ1/s1600/CS_LOGO_square_orange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpUhL3qP6eLKwxwGDFqrnTVnX0gGRayKrqh5_uFyazHNEPbXrJ25ZbCXS9AK9JGFnguj85KFqyLyTIicKM7c63ujS8caoUolypj_HfL4qLwy4zm8-bMe-tM62WisvZ9HyMeqZ1/s400/CS_LOGO_square_orange.jpg" width="400"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calais - people to people - Solidarity - Action from the UK</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr>
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<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you want to donate food, clothes, money or volunterer
your time to help the men, women, boys and girls in the Calais Refugee
Jungle Camp, please join the Facebook group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalaisMigrantSolidarityActionFromUK/files/" target="_blank">Calais - People to People Solidarity - Action from UK</a></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">These men, women and children have fled from war zones, dictatorship, famine and fear. Yet, this as far as the vast majority of those in the camp will get in the foreseeable future. None have immigration papers, few are on the track to receiving Asylum in France and the British authorities are spending millions of Euros building defences to keep them out of the UK. The refugees are stuck in limbo; no country wants them and the French and UK authorities don't know what to do with them. <br><br>This is not a Refugee Camp in the proper sense of the term. There is no Oxfam, no Red Cross, no Red Cresent and no UNHCR. There is no governmental agency providing shelter and healthcare. There is no formalised food or clothing rationing system, no formal education for the children in the camp. There are no entry and exit controls. There are no child safety protocols in place to protect the children living in the camp. There are no protocols in place to protect the women in the camp from sexploitation. The men in the camp, who once enjoyed useful occupation, are now idle and desolate, unable to work and unable to provide for their families.<br><br>However, life goes on. Everone struggles in the camp to find food, keep warm and dry and stay clean and healthy. There are three local charitable associations doing what they can to provide food, clothing and materials to build shelters. Foreign charitable donations of clothing and food are starting to flow to these associations, but the local volunteers, many of whom are elderly, are worn out by their valiant efforts. These volunteers are overwhelmed by the needs of the refugees in the camp. They have little or no support from government. There is no central administration and no formal infrastructure to ensure sufficient funding of basic services and no transparent and equitable needs based plan to ensure a just distribution of food, shelter and clothing. The minor wounds and basic healthcare needs of the refugees on the camp are catered for by the voluntary organisation Medicines Du Monde (Doctors of the World). This group </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">desperately </span>requires more funds and materials to maintain the service level it currently provides. I heard tell on the camp that the Medicines Du Monde service is being curtailed due to a lack of funds come September 2015. This will be a tremendous loss to those who need emergency healthcare on the camp.<br><br>This refugee crisis deserves the full attention of the UK and French governments and the EU in order to allocate sufficient resources to deal effectively with the needs of these refugees.</span><br>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once again, </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">if you want to donate food, clothes, money or volunterer
your time to help the men, women, boys and girls in the Calais Refugee
Jungle Camp, please join the Facebook group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CalaisMigrantSolidarityActionFromUK/files/" target="_blank">Calais - People to People Solidarity - Action from UK</a></span></span> </span><br>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://lifeinanothertown.blogspot.com/p/submit-community-news.html" target="_blank">Please contact Life In Another Town</a></b></span></div>
Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0Ormskirk, Ormskirk, Lancashire, UK53.568935 -2.885056999999960753.4934985 -3.0464184999999606 53.644371500000005 -2.7236954999999607tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-78125469187608326442015-08-08T11:13:00.000+01:002015-08-08T11:14:08.604+01:00Ormskirk Knights of Saint Columba Collect Spectacles for the Giving Sight To Africa Appeal<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="en-GB">Ormskirk
Council 64 of the Knights of Saint Columba</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-GB">The Ormskirk
Council of the Knights of Saint Columba are pictured here </span><span lang="en-GB">with their glasses collection box at Saint Anne’s Church in
Ormskirk, West Lancashire.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>(Pictured left to right: Tony
Gill, Mark Condon, Jim Holland, Matthew Wright, Don McGair)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The idea for the glasses collection
box came from long standing Knight and St. Anne’s parishioner Jim
Holland. He said “If you wear glasses like me, you are bound to
have old pairs of glasses around the house, why not put them to good
use?” One batch of dozens of pairs of glasses donated by
parishioners has already been passed onto Specsavers Opticians as
part of their Vision Aid Overseas appeal: “Giving sight to Africa”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Ophthalmic Director Neil Pearson
and Retail Director Lieza Albiston at the Ormskirk Specsavers
Opticians are reportedly delighted with both the efforts of the
Knights of Saint Columba and the generosity of the Saint Anne’s
parishioners, which all go towards supporting such a marvellous
campaign.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The old or unwanted spectacles
collected by the Knights of Saint Columba are passed to Specsavers
and recycled by Vision Aid Overseas, a charity which specialises in
providing eye care for those in poverty-stricken countries around the
world. The money made from recycling the glasses is used to fund the
charity work of Vision Aid Overseas. Since its inception in 1987, the
UK-based charity has helped more than one million people in the
developing world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-GB"><b>About the
Knights of Saint Columba.</b></span><span lang="en-GB"> The Knights
of Saint Columba is a Catholic fraternal service organisation.
Founded in Glasgow in 1919, it is named in honour of Saint Columba, a
Christian missionary from Ireland who helped to introduce
Christianity to people in Northern Britain.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPlGMDRMPs47qGNplpzyc1vZimbGJpAtnaWqbVfL8jnOMorw97e2j0599WEujZgzDqMwa2K-RtnVyA_9-RgiAgq0y5ty2HDn1eFzorxQxH92sOtyRDJqLdzaiHfnxnY-Lv-0X/s1600/12x8+Knights+of+Saint+Colomba+Council+64+Brothers+with+Archbishop+Malcolm+at+St.Anne%2527s+Ormskirk+260615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjPlGMDRMPs47qGNplpzyc1vZimbGJpAtnaWqbVfL8jnOMorw97e2j0599WEujZgzDqMwa2K-RtnVyA_9-RgiAgq0y5ty2HDn1eFzorxQxH92sOtyRDJqLdzaiHfnxnY-Lv-0X/s400/12x8+Knights+of+Saint+Colomba+Council+64+Brothers+with+Archbishop+Malcolm+at+St.Anne%2527s+Ormskirk+260615.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ormskirk Knights of Saint Columba with Archbishop Malcolm McMahon July 2015</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-GB">The KSC is dedicated to
the principles of Charity, Unity and Fraternity and has more than
4,000 members in over 300 Councils across England, Scotland and
Wales. The Ormskirk Council of the KSC was founded by Squire Francis
Nicholas Blundell in 1923.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: navy; font-size: large;"><u><span lang="en-GB"></span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>More information</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-GB"><b>Knights of
Saint Columba: </b></span><span style="color: navy;"><u><a class="western" href="http://www.ksc.org.uk/"><span lang="en-GB">www.ksc.org.uk</span></a></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-GB"><b>Vision Aid
Overseas: </b></span><span style="color: navy;"><u><a class="western" href="http://www.visionaidoverseas.org/recycle"><span lang="en-GB">http://www.visionaidoverseas.org/recycle</span></a></u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-GB"><b>Specsavers
Opticians:
</b></span><span style="color: navy;"><u><a class="western" href="http://www.specsavers.co.uk/news-and-information/vision-aid-overseas"><span lang="en-GB">http://www.specsavers.co.uk/news-and-information/vision-aid-overseas</span></a></u></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://lifeinanothertown.blogspot.com/p/submit-community-news.html" target="_blank">Please contact Life In Another Town</a></b></span></div>
Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0Ormskirk, Ormskirk, Lancashire, UK53.568935 -2.885056999999960753.4934985 -3.0464184999999606 53.644371500000005 -2.7236954999999607tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-68254380116443646392015-02-26T09:05:00.000+00:002015-03-01T00:23:18.223+00:00The Ormskirk Has Got The Edge support video - Three years on from the Mary Portas Pilot town bid.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LJrssWwNDn0?vq=hd720&autoplay=0" width="459"></iframe><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Ormskirk Has Got The Edge video, first produced in 2012, has been updated with subtitles for the hearing impaired and for speakers of English as a foreign language.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I originally filmed this video back in March 2012. It was a week before the deadline to submit the bid proposal to the Portas Pilot scheme and the video was originally filmed to form part of the bid proposal. More on that later! The video was shot very quickly and came together thanks to the support and help of it's many contributors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Three years on and I am in the process of adding subtitles to all the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/mjw021269" target="_blank">travel videos, holiday video diaries, community stories and interviews</a> on my Life In Another Town YouTube channel. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">While typing the transcription of the dialogue in the video and repeatedly having to watch the video again and again, it caused me to think back to that time and contemplate where we are now, three years later. Now the shouting and fanfare has died down, what has been achieved?</span></div>
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looking back, it was amazing how quickly the video came together over a several days. At the time I didn't have a video recorder with an external microphone and this is apparent when you listen to the sound quality. Filming outside was a double edged sword; the sun was shining, but the wind was blowing a gale.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXP2HGpHZiTT8VSw2Z3VTExR65LR9yBRQDIBpoYNZm5-teA3tFmkYjITOOlPl5a8UeitUTAZtCIwMFCtdg3ibdK6Y5MpkZcvCKwItCLXNeWQOfq9VKupb8vHt-f6OYQdwdnWE/s1600/ormskirk.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ormskirk Historic Town" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXP2HGpHZiTT8VSw2Z3VTExR65LR9yBRQDIBpoYNZm5-teA3tFmkYjITOOlPl5a8UeitUTAZtCIwMFCtdg3ibdK6Y5MpkZcvCKwItCLXNeWQOfq9VKupb8vHt-f6OYQdwdnWE/s1600/ormskirk.png" height="230" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ormskirk Historic Market Town</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's also clear that we did a good job with the video, all things considered, and yet, if it was done again today, I would perhaps change a couple of things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let's go through the video. The first segment shows the problems the town faces, with contributions from some townspeople. The second shows the support Ormskirk has from local institutions. We were very fortunate that there was a good deal of good will which contributed to getting the video completed. Notable contributions were made by people including Dr Jonathan Parry Chief Executive</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> at Southport and Ormskirk NHS Hospital Trust, Dr Jon Cater Vice Chancellor at Edge Hill University, Rob Bailey, at the time, the Mayor of West Lancashire, Rosie Cooper our Member of Parliament and the local news press: Roger Blaxall from QLocal and Rob Pattinson from the Ormskirk Advertiser. The third segment shows the town had the support of local small business owners, a long list! The final clip was the tag line "Ormskirk has got the edge!" shouted out by students at Edge Hill University.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What's missing? I remember that it was clear at the time of filming, there wasn't an actual plan to improve the well being of the town. I was a bit short of ideas for additional footage to demonstrate the town plan, which was a pre-requisite of the bid proposal rules. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I should add at this point; over the subsequent months, the "Love Ormskirk" campaign did come together and is still going.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also should confess, I allowed my feathers to get a bit ruffled when I presented the video to the bid team leader. Although, I had great feedback from many people who saw it, including the Mayor, Rob Bailey, the bid team over the course of the few days, while I was filming and producing the video, had gone down a different path and in the end the video was not used as part of the bid. Even so, I think the testimonies in the video were worth showing and so I put the video online.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, three years later, where are we? I think the "<a href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.loveormskirk.com%2F&ei=tFjuVLvTL8vUav6lgtgP&usg=AFQjCNGA0uy_r0TesQIa5GuHhjlE7HWA4A&sig2=KcuSvEa1qc26f-6KPR80wA&bvm=bv.86956481,d.d2s" target="_blank">Love Ormskirk</a>" campaign harnessed the passion of many towns folk to support the town and became a flag around which people could gather.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ormskirkmotorfest.com%2F&ei=71juVKrMGYrgaLzOgIgM&usg=AFQjCNHtExzml-kVQTIPB9boEILPzhM_YQ&sig2=A6XRhvZWqAnG2vRKQxcZEw&bvm=bv.86956481,d.d2s" target="_blank">Ormskirk Motorfest</a> is a success and looks set to continue. Now, in 2015, there are now concrete plans to revitalise the town, beginning with the <a href="http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/news/details.aspx?Id=PR15/0047" target="_blank">renovation of Moor Street</a>. You can read about this project on the Lancashire County Council website.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The state of the economy really hurt northern towns like Ormskirk. In recent weeks, the news is that Tesco is closing, resulting in several redundancies. Although, a Netto store recently opened up on the retail park. So, it's a story of swings and roundabouts. We haven't fared as badly as many other towns in the region.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Given the experience of a couple of the actual winners of the Portas Pilot Town project, it is possible that the winning towns were provided with a poisoned chalice. A Guardian newspaper article, reports that <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/may/29/high-streets-shrink-mary-portas" target="_blank">10 out of the 12 Portas Pilot towns suffered a down turn in business</a>. There were many reports in the media that there was little or no substance to the actual project, money was wasted and it was seen by some as a a vanity project and a promotion vehicle for both the celebrity and programme makers supposedly supporting the towns.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe what the hullabaloo at the time did achieve, was to provide a focal point for citizens, politicians and businesses to get together, talk, then plan and finally action some ideas, with which to help their towns survive the downturn in the economy and the difficulties which lied ahead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you liked this video, share it with a friend and please look at the contents page, where you can watch more </span><a href="http://lifeinanothertown.blogspot.co.uk/p/view-archive.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">travel and holiday videos, photographs, community news and interviews</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> from Life In Another Town</span></div>
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Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0Ormskirk, Ormskirk, Lancashire, UK53.568935 -2.885056999999960753.4934985 -3.0464184999999606 53.644371500000005 -2.7236954999999607tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-80125482218577417602015-02-12T15:37:00.003+00:002015-03-01T00:23:58.471+00:00HD French Alps - l'Aiguille du Midi in France with subtitles<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eaKrb1djqQE?vq=hd720&autoplay=0" width="480"></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Heather and I were holidaying in France in the French Alps, during the summer of 2013. We stayed at a camp site by the winter ski resort of Chamonix. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Despite Heather not being overly keen on heights, she overcame her fear and we ascended the Aiguille du Midi mountain by cable car.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In the video you can see climbers returning back from an expedition in the mountains. They all are wearing special clothes and carrying climbing equipment, such as ice picks, ropes, crampons, helmets, emergency shelter, food, water, perhaps a GPS and two-way radio.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">l'Aiguille de Midi, Chamonix in the French Alps</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">From where we were, high up on one of the cable car terraces, the elevation above sea level is around 3000 metres. As you can see, we were very lucky, the alpine views were spectacular as the weather was fine, with clear blue skies and bright sunshine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you fancy a trip up the Aiguille du Midi cable car, you'll find it in the French town of Chamonix. Although you might have only considered the Alps as a winter skiing destination, in the Summertime the scenery is beautiful and the views are amazing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">By the way, if you find listening to my voice a bit of a chore, then you'll be happy to know that </span><span style="font-size: large;">subtitles and captions can be found for your reading pleasure throughout the video. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you liked this video, share it with a friend and please look at the contents page, where you can watch more <a href="http://lifeinanothertown.blogspot.co.uk/p/view-archive.html" target="_blank">travel and holiday videos, photographs, community news and interviews from Life In Another Town</a></span></div>
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Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0Aiguille du Midi, 74400 Chamonix, France45.878497 6.888287999999988620.356462500000003 -34.420306000000011 71.4005315 48.196881999999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-89930957705943119982015-01-27T21:38:00.001+00:002015-03-01T01:04:12.706+00:00Kite flying at Beacon Country Park near Upholland in West Lancashire<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Beacon Country Park</b> near <b>Upholland</b> in <b>West Lancashire</b> is a great venue for Kite flying: plenty of room, lots of wind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There is a kite festival held here, in the summer, every year. You can find out more at the <a href="http://www.visitlancashire.com/whats-on/kite-flying-weekend-p695840" target="_blank">Visit Lancashire </a>website. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My wife and I bought a kite line reel winder and these videos show us experimenting with it and our <b>kite</b>. We found that trying to unwind the kite line and then bring the kite line back in again with just the plastic handle was a bit of a hassle, especially when you might have dozens of metres of line. The kite reel works along the same idea as fishing rod reel. It was a real improvement. Although we did find that in the strong wind, the small handle could have been a bit bigger, to provide a bit more torque to bring the kite down. Heather also found that woollen gloves are not a match for handling nylon line. We really advise you to use some strong protective gloves to prevent line burn. The reel cost about £7 online and it was worth the money. You can find the reel on Ebay or Amazon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Kite flying in Beacon Country Park Upholland West Lancashire" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhazXDggqPZYha0PSLQ9Q5v2y7s9rYVGHurjhrlQxygcZzhClkKARqV_A12y0VLzJFsxBSg3RTpGTTxn1kWjAo4HlWXBzSZR_R3XLp8xrVl6agw7ER2q6oak0va0TqD9Bz2FWzH/s1600/kite+beacon+country+park+jpeg.png" height="320" title="" width="304" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Heather and I thank you for watching this video. Take a look at more of our original video content: video diaries, travel videos, video interviews & reportage on our YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/mjw021269" target="_blank">Life In Another Town</a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!<a href="http://lifeinanothertown.blogspot.com/p/submit-community-news.html" target="_blank"> Please contact Life In Another Town</a></b></span></div>
Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0Upholland, Lancashire, UK53.550038121449226 -2.742977142333984453.540604121449228 -2.7631471423339842 53.559472121449225 -2.7228071423339846tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-3363492991387427022013-05-22T09:00:00.000+01:002015-03-01T00:38:08.455+00:00Post-revolution Tunisia sights & sounds, Sousse Jan 2013 (playlist)<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
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Post-revolution Tunisia Exciting Tunisia sights & sounds in Sousse</h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">A video playlist of a selection of sights and sound Heather and I captured while in and around the Tunisian coastal town of Sousse early in 2013.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The idea behind the phrase "When in Rome...", was never more apt than opting to travel as the locals do when visiting foriegn shores. Travelling by the popular form of public transport, the louage, was one such experience. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Soaking up the atmosphere, while taking refreshment at a cafe, (in this case in Sousse) watching the world go by, is a simple pleasure, perhaps all too often neglected when holidaying,</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our holidays are often more about sea and sun; we like to get out and about and see what is going in people's lives on the streets. Tunisia recently underwent a revolution, the undlerlying political tensions sometimes bubble to the surface. Seeing the manner in which the Police on the street react to these situations can give you a feel for how those in control wield their power. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Heather and I thank you for watching this video. Take a look at more of our original video content: video diaries, travel videos, video interviews & reportage on our YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/mjw021269" target="_blank">Life In Another Town</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!</b></span></div>
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Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0Sousse, Tunisia35.8329809 10.63874999999995935.7299899 10.477388499999959 35.935971900000006 10.800111499999959tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-7598502414807175502013-04-13T14:50:00.000+01:002015-03-01T00:27:39.089+00:00Ormskirk Walk of Witness Good Friday Videos 2013<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLNn6sAcxBpXofzG5lHs52CnmZbTykHyAR" width="425"></iframe><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Good Friday on 29th March 2013 and Christians from the different denominations in Ormskirk come together to carry out the Walk of Witness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is a "Walk of Witness"?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well according to walkofwitness.co.uk "Wouldn't it be wonderful if every Good Friday, in every Town and City in our land, there was a walk of witness to the Cross and the Saving Power of Christ? The centrality of the Cross and the celebration of the Good Friday message accross the denominations, provide the opportunity for a united witness to the people of our nation. The times demand and our nation requires a strong and ongoing witness to the Christian belief. Many towns and villages already hold walks or marches of witness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Clergy and congregation members of all the Churches in Ormskirk were represented at the service held by the clock tower in the centre of town. Prayers and hymns in the centre of town are not a daily fixture and the sight and sounds of the service caught the interest of many towns folk passing by, doing their shopping, enjoying a day off in the Spring sunshine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Heather and I thank you for watching this video. Take a
look at more of our original video content: video diaries, travel
videos, video interviews & reportage on our YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/mjw021269" target="_blank">Life In Another Town</a></span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!</b></span></span></div>
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Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0Ormskirk, Lancashire, UK53.568935 -2.885056999999960753.493498 -3.0464184999999606 53.644372000000004 -2.7236954999999607tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-23422780432650013442013-02-08T09:45:00.001+00:002015-03-01T00:39:46.474+00:00Video interview in Tunisia with former political prisoner Hamid Obaidia<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3wUAIr359nM" width="480"></iframe></span><br />
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; text-align: justify;">Tunisia talk with former political prisoner of the dictatator Ben Ali </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The interview starts around 55 seconds. I interview the author and former political prisoner Hamid Obaidia in Souse on the 13th January 2013 during a commemoration of the second anniversary of the Tunisian Revolution. During our chat, I ask if the <b>Ennahda Government</b> is a government for all the Tunisian people, the answer was a definite, yes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Recent events in <b>Tunisia</b>, are very unsetttling for the Tunisian people. The assassination of <span class="st">Chokri Belaid, </span>an opposition party leader, by extremists, has placed the country in turmoil.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, it is difficult to gauge, looking in from the outside, if the trouble in Tunis is a problem confined to the metropolitan area, or if it will spread to the outlaying areas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hamid was imprisoned for ten years. The interview is in French, the shared language of us both. I'm sorry for my poor French, but I hope you comprehend the gist of our conversation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">I ask Hamid why he was imprisoned, his thoughts on the political situation in Tunisia and if the Ennahda Islamic Government was a governemnt for all the Tunisian people or just its supporters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hamid' book is في القلب جمرة a novel "Cinder Heart" or "Heart of Embers" (I couldn't quite work out the translation) If you are an Arabic speaker please feel free to correct my translation in the comments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The video interview was recorded just before the start of a Ennahda Movement حركة النهضة سوسة (a moderate Islamic political party) meeting / rally in Sousse Tunisia 13th January 2013.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">This political rally was held to commemorate the second anniversary of the revolution in Tunisia. The photos on the boards are of some young men from the Souuse Governate "martyred" during the rebellion against the dictatorship; the first revolution of the Arab Spring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Ennahda Mouvement is a moderate Islamic Political Party, currently in government in Tunisia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Heather and I thank you for watching this video. Take a
look at more of our original video content: video diaries, travel
videos, video interviews & reportage on our YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/mjw021269" target="_blank">Life In Another Town</a></span> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!</b></span></span></div>
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Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-28002893920983919152013-02-05T00:40:00.001+00:002015-03-01T00:42:48.612+00:00A video of one of our Freshfields Animal Rescue cats eating my wife's pony tail.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>A video of our cute ginger cat Bunny, eating my wife's pony tail.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bunny is one of our two pets; a domestic short hair, ginger and white pussy cat. Bunny loves to play with laces, belts and very recently my wife's hair, specifically her pony tail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Her sister is Piglet, a sweet little black cat who loves to box the cloth mouse hanging from a chair in the lounge.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">We got both of our darling felines from the Freshfields Animal Rescue Centre outside Liverpool.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.freshfieldsrescue.org.uk/" target="_blank">Freshfields is a sanctuary for pets, wildlife and farm animals in danger.</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Heather and I thank you for watching this video. Take a
look at more of our original video content: video diaries, travel
videos, video interviews & reportage on our YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/mjw021269" target="_blank">Life In Another Town</a> </span></div>
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Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-43767287869101715102013-01-25T14:07:00.001+00:002015-03-01T00:43:15.024+00:00Riding camels in the Sahara Desert near Douz Tunisia Jan 2013<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WXUBAdvrq08" width="480"></iframe><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Riding camels in the Sahara Desert</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Heather and I spent a week's holiday travelling around southern Tunisia. We flew into Enfiddha Airport and used Sousse as a base. Then by train, louage, taxi, 4x4 vehicle and shanks pony we toured around the tunisian countryside.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A 10 minute drive outside Douz in southern Tunisia, you'll find Dawar Salem, where you can ride camels, quad bikes, horses and start your trip across the desert.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This was the first time either my wife Heather or I had ridden a camel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Despite some reservations, we couldn't visit the Sahara Desert and turn down an opportunity to have a go. I had read before our trip that camels used for tourists can be in poor health. I did check on the Internet what weight camels can carry as I am a big fellow. I was reassured that a camel can safely carry double my weight.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tunisian camels in the Sahara Desert<u><b><br /></b></u></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our camels looked well, from what we could see and judge. My wife knows horses and although not the same, we judged the camels were healthy and happy enough. Our ride was only an hour long and the camels had a break and rest half way through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">All in all we had a great camel ride in the desert, a novel experience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">By the way Tunisia is written this way in arabic; تونس</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Heather and I flew to Enfiddah in Tunisia using Thomson Flights from Manchester Airport. The videos in our blog posts are filmed using a Kodak Zi10 PlayTouch personal video recorder.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Heather and I thank you for watching this video. Take a
look at more of our original video content: video diaries, travel
videos, video interviews & reportage on our YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/mjw021269" target="_blank">Life In Another Town</a> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!</b></span></div>
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Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-35947126199995733832013-01-25T14:03:00.001+00:002015-03-01T00:43:56.243+00:00HD Douz livestock market by the Sahara Desert Tunisia<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/aKbb2W2BRNY" width="480"></iframe><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Douz livestock market on the edge of the Sahara Desert in Tunisia.</span></b></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">During our recent holiday to Tunisia, Heather and I visited Douz in southern Tunisia. Douz is knows as the door to the sahara desert.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">This weely market in Douz southern Tunisia is full of smells, sights and sound alien to a tourist from northern europe, probably used to only seeing such animals grazing quietly in a green field. For visitors from Northern Europe a Tunisian livestock market can be a novel and interesting experience. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Douz livestock market in Tunisia</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">A a child I remember going to several livestock markets, seeing sheep, cows and pigs gathered together in metal pens. This has changed though in today's Britain. According to an article, from several years ago, I found on a BBC news website there are less than 200 markets in Britain, compared to a peak at the time of the Second World War of 800.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many livestock markets have never recovered after being temporarily closed during the 2001 foot-and-mouth crisis. Some never re-opened. The reduction is also being blamed on a general decline in agriculture and because the land in town centres, where many markets are based, is ripe for development. تونس</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Heather and I flew to Enfiddah in Tunisia using Thomson Flights from Manchester Airport. The videos in our blog posts are filmed using a Kodak Zi10 PlayTouch personal video recorder.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Heather and I thank you for watching this video. Take a
look at more of our original video content: video diaries, travel
videos, video interviews & reportage on our YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/mjw021269" target="_blank">Life In Another Town</a></span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!</b></span></span></div>
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Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0Douz, Tunisia33.461435400000013 9.029470800000012833.434941900000013 8.9891303000000136 33.487928900000014 9.069811300000012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-61783870412278454222013-01-20T20:21:00.001+00:002015-03-01T00:51:31.392+00:00Tunisian Couscous Legume at Restaurant Tozorous in Tozeur Tunisia<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gZxv75madMk" width="480"></iframe><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Couscous Legume in Restaurant Tozorous Tozeur Tunisia </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">After a tiring journey from Sousse on the overnight train and a long walk, with rucksacks, around Tozeur in South West Tunisia, Heather and I wanted to try the local cuisine and treated ourselves to a lunch in a local restaurant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We came across the Restaurant Tozorous by happenstance, wallking off the main road around the town. What caught our eye was the sign "salle climatisée". However, there was no electric air conditioning, the lovely cool air in the dining room was the result of the natural insulation of the palm wood walls and roof.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We enjoyed a simple tomato, onion and olive oil starter, followed by couscous legume for Heather and a couscous royal for myself. The service was excellent, the food was great and the prices were very good value. If you are ever in Tozeur in the south west of tunisia pop in for lunch like we did.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8354/8383622067_4a8569be7c_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8354/8383622067_4a8569be7c_b.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">By the way, all the praise is richly deserved and we enjoyed eating real traditional couscous in a restaurant patronised by locals.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Heather and I flew to Enfiddah in Tunisia using Thomson Flights from Manchester Airport. The videos in our blog posts are filmed using a Kodak Zi10 PlayTouch personal video recorder. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Heather and I thank you for watching this video. Take a
look at more of our original video content: video diaries, travel
videos, video interviews & reportage on our YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/mjw021269" target="_blank">Life In Another Town</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!</b></span></div>
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Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0Tozeur, Tunisia33.92403 8.131213000000002533.8713235 8.0505320000000022 33.9767365 8.2118940000000027tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-47393318643034683792013-01-20T20:20:00.001+00:002015-03-01T00:53:00.089+00:00Tunisian blacksmith making farm tools in Tozeur Tunisia<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KAp_BktsYZY" width="480"></iframe><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Tunisian blacksmith making farm tools for the palm tree agriculture in Tozeur , Tunisia</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Walking past the palm groves in Tozeur Tunisia, I heard the sound of metal thumping on metal with the distinctive rhythym of blacksmith working metal on a anvil. I put my head through an open doorway and saw a local man making or repairing a farm tool.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tunisian Blacksmith in Tozeur, Tunisia</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'm sorry about my poor French, but I hope you get the gist. If you have any questions ask me in the comments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Heather and I flew to Enfiddah in Tunisia using Thomson Flights from Manchester Airport. The videos in our blog posts are filmed using a Kodak Zi10 PlayTouch personal video recorder. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Heather and I thank you for watching this video. Take a
look at more of our original video content: video diaries, travel
videos, video interviews & reportage on our YouTube channel: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/mjw021269" target="_blank">Life In Another Town</a> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!</b></span></div>
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Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0Tozeur, Tunisia33.92403 8.131213000000002533.8713235 8.0505320000000022 33.9767365 8.2118940000000027tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-8209959810810298882013-01-20T20:13:00.001+00:002015-03-01T00:59:32.714+00:00Dawn arrival by train at Tozeur railway station in Tunisia<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ncePJoxZMWk" width="480"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">After a long and cold night train journey from Sousse, the video shows us getting our bearings in the dark early hourse of the morning, at the rail station at Tozeur in Tunisia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: justify;">Heather and I took a look around the Tozeur SNCFT railway station and at the train waiting at the platform, ready to return to Sousse.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Night Train to Tozeur in Tunisia</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The walls of the ticket booking area were wonderfully tiled in the Islamic art style. Outside in the car park it was pitch dark, except for the bright light of the moon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The trains from Sousse, the tourist city on the coast, and terminate at Tozeur, an oasis city in the south west of Tunisia. We watched the train locomotives being unhitched and hitched for the return journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you have an interest in watching some more <a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNn6sAcxBpXrlxFiJgnytZmZ0J-X9Npgi" target="_blank">videos of railways and trains</a>, you can find several more videos of SNCFT (Tunisian Railways) on my </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNn6sAcxBpXorlWCfcDYr9pBuAR2uBidg" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Tozeur YouTube video playlist</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Heather and I flew to Enfiddah in Tunisia using Thomson Flights from Manchester Airport. The videos in our blog posts are filmed using a Kodak Zi10 PlayTouch personal video recorder. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 27.0399990081787px;">If you liked this video, share it with a friend and please look at the contents page, where you can watch more </span><a href="http://lifeinanothertown.blogspot.co.uk/p/view-archive.html" target="_blank">travel and holiday videos, photographs, community news and interviews</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 27.0399990081787px;"> from Life In Another Town</span></span></div>
Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0Tozeur, Tunisia33.92403 8.131213000000002533.8713235 8.0505320000000022 33.9767365 8.2118940000000027tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-71250682495440002212013-01-20T20:11:00.001+00:002015-03-01T00:59:32.707+00:00A look around the توزر Tozeur SNCFT railway station in Tunisia January 2013<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HSFx7x8upgw" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>A look around the توزر Tozeur SNCFT railway station in Tunisia on a January 2013</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heather and I arrived at Tozeur early in the morning by train from Sousse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We took a look around the station and at the train waiting at the platform, which was getting ready to return to Sousse. The illuiminated sign shows the word توزر Tozeur in both Arabic and English.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you have an interest in railways and trains, you can find several more videos of SNCFT (Tunisian Railways) on my <a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNn6sAcxBpXorlWCfcDYr9pBuAR2uBidg" target="_blank">Tozeur YouTube video playlist</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heather and I flew to Enfiddah in Tunisia using Thomson Flights from Manchester Airport. The videos in our blog posts are filmed using a Kodak Zi10 PlayTouch personal video recorder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://lifeinanothertown.blogspot.com/p/submit-community-news.html" target="_blank">Please contact Life In Another Town</a></b></span></div>
Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-25492009390551104722012-05-21T09:00:00.000+01:002015-03-01T01:03:18.008+00:00Twits in Ormskirk May 2012<object height="400" width="400"><param name='movie' value='http://www.slideflickr.com/slide/Awrc6KGE'>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Twits</b> - Pictures from the first half of the matinee show Ormskirk Civic Hall May 19th 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The spring production for the <a href="http://www.derbyplayers.org.uk/home.html" target="_blank">Derby Players</a> amateur dramatics group is <b>The Twits</b> by Roal Dahl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The matinee show at the <b>Ormskirk Civic Hall</b> on Saturday afternoon 19th May 2012 was packed with children and parents, who were treated to a lively and colourful performance, filled with comedy, vibrant costumes and energetic dance routines from a hugely talented group of artistes, both young and not quite so young.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the young chorus line on stage during The Twits, Civic Hall, Ormskirk May 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Twits is a humorous children's book written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake. It was written in 1979, and first published in 1980. Mr. and Mrs. Twit are two ugly, smelly, nasty, stupid people who spend their lives playing nasty tricks on each other. They also enjoy being cruel to animals, which they do by luring birds to glue-smothered trees so they can be baked into bird pie, and tormenting their pet monkeys, Muggle-Wump and his family, by getting them to stand upside down, one on top of the other. They hate children, and Mrs. Twit often carries a walking stick in her right hand that she uses to hit children and animals. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Source Wikipedia</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Twits</b> - <b>Pictures</b> from the second half, opening number of the matinee show <b>Ormskirk Civic Hall May 19th 2012</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A great deal of hard work goes into bringing a show like this to the stage and everyone involved deserves a well earned congratulations fpr delivering a fun show for all the family.<br /><br />The Derby Players are always happy to welcome new members, young or old, experienced or inexperienced (especially young men!). If you don't fancy acting, there is always plenty to do backstage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />The Derby Players are now offering Murder Mystery nights for your club, society or organisation. Visit the <a href="http://www.derbyplayers.org.uk/index.html" target="_blank">Derby Players website</a> for contact details.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=13274559" name="top"></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://lifeinanothertown.blogspot.com/p/submit-community-news.html" target="_blank">Please contact Life In Another Town</a></b></span></div>Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-34190398677757242782012-05-21T08:30:00.000+01:002015-03-01T01:03:18.029+00:00Flossies Vintage Clothing and Craft Fayre at The Forum Bar Ormskirk May 2012<object height="400" width="400"><param name='movie' value='http://www.slideflickr.com/slide/sYpiqg3F'>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Flossies Vintage Clothing and Craft Fayre</b> at <b>The Forum</b> Bar Ormskirk May 2012</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">In a recession business owners need to innovate to attract new customers. The Forum Bar on Railway Road in <b>Ormskirk</b>, <b>West Lancashire</b> has done just that and is the venue for Flossies Vintage Clothing and Craft Fayre, held this time on Sunday 20th May 2012.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The stall holders are all from around the Lancashire area and sell vintage and retro goods, handmade products, jewellery, homeware,
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rebecca Judge who organises the Flossies Fayres is an advocate for small business owners in the local area and is surprised other businesses are not taking the opportunity to open on a Sunday.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">While not everyone would like to see Ormskirk town centre open like a Saturday on Sundays, during a downturn in the economy, independent retailers in the town may have to grasp the nettle and see if they can attract new customers, who visit the town on a Sunday. There are several bars and cafes open, who look to be relatively busy and perhaps there are opportunities for other retailers to attract some additional passing custom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://lifeinanothertown.blogspot.com/p/submit-community-news.html" target="_blank">Please contact Life In Another Town</a></b></span></div>Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-9689656558984848882012-05-20T16:22:00.000+01:002015-03-01T01:03:18.200+00:00Gorse Hill Nature Reserve Aughton Open Day May 2012<object height="400" width="400"><param name='movie' value='http://www.slideflickr.com/slide/0OzgCQwf'>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Gorse Hill Nature Reserve Aughton</b> Open Day May 2012 </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Prior to World War II the land around Holly Lane in Aughton, <b>West Lancashire</b> was covered with rich woodland. After the war the woodland was cleared to make way for farming to feed a hungry country. Now sixty years later the wheel has turned full circle and the woodland has returned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Maintained by the <b>Northwest Ecological Trust</b> the Gorse Hill Nature Reserve began its transformation back to woodland in 1996. The reserve now covers an area of 120 acres. This includes woodland, ponds, reed beds, wetlands, a soft fruit and vegetable area, an orchard and wildflower meadows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />An award from the Big Lottery Fund in February 2012 meant the visitors centre could be upgraded. The Open Day on Saturday 20th May 2012 was a great opportunity for families to visit the Nature Reserve in Aughton and to take a relaxing stroll along the woodland trail away from the hustle and bustle of nearby market town, <b>Ormskirk</b>. Visiting children especially liked pond dipping with their nets and drawing with charcoal sticks, freshly made on the site in a demonstration of charcoal making.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The Gorse Hill Nature Reserve, Holly Lane, Aughton in West Lancashire is open for visitors on Wednesdays and Saturdays.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://lifeinanothertown.blogspot.com/p/submit-community-news.html" target="_blank">Please contact Life In Another Town</a></b></span></div>Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com06 Holly Ln, Aughton, Lancashire L39, UK53.5609971 -2.912536153.5586391 -2.9174716000000003 53.5633551 -2.9076006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-58072295581926265112012-05-15T00:19:00.000+01:002015-03-01T01:03:18.082+00:00Aughton Annual Parish Assembly Photos & Report 14th May 2012<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Aughton</b> Annual Parish Assembly 14th May 2012. The parish councillors gathered tonight at the Aughton Village Hall, may have been surprised, when they arrived for the annual parish assembly, to see so many middle aged male residents crowding the entrance hall. However, this eager group was actually the Aughton Male Voice Choir attending a rehearsal and not a flash mob hitting the parish council meeting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In fact, when everyone was seated, it turned out that only two Aughton village parishioners were in attendance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't know why this was the case, but the Chairman of <b>Aughton Parish Council</b>, was certainly apologetic to the invited guest speakers and also a little embarrassed at the sparsity of local residents.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">At a time of cuts to local services, such meetings are an opportunity for the people to hold local politicians and decision makers to account for the decisions they make on one hand and to inform them about our needs and priorities on the other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If Aughton Parishioners had turned up they would have had the opportunity to meet and ask questions of their new local beat policeman - Police Constable Ivan Leivers. His boss Chief Inspector Kevin Boyce, sat next to him, could have been quizzed on local policing strategy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the two local parishioners, an 86 year old sprightly chap, did in fact ask a question; he complained, rightly so, about his inability to take his wife out in her wheelchair. Inconsiderate drivers were parking on the pavement, forcing he and his wife to walk on the road and he asked what were the Police going to do about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Although this might seem a minor issue, this is what local policing is typically about; not all anti-social behaviour is by drunken louts. The elderly can feel unable to participate in the community due to fears about their safety. These fears real, imagined or exaggerated can partly be addressed by the intervention of the "local bobby on the beat". He or she can listen to these fears and provide reassurance by taking prompt action to address the problems. PC Leivers had recently dealt with a similar problem at the local school; several inconsiderate parents parking irresponsibly had received parking tickets.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Perhaps the biggest issue concerning the community is health. It's not often you get the opportunity to quiz the chief executive of an organisation, with a budget of £184m and employer of 3,300 local people. Jonathan Parry, Chief Executive of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust - came to the parish meeting and gave a presentation on the future of healthcare in the area. A couple of questions were asked, but this was a missed opportunity to inform this health boss about the priorities and concerns of local residents. Reading survey results is one thing, but getting quizzed face-to-face by your "customers" is something entirely more tangible and perhaps more effective for all concerned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you want to find out about future Aughton Parish Council Meetings, you can <a href="http://online.westlancs.gov.uk/coins/ParishCouncil.asp?bodyid=15&bodytitle=Aughton" target="_blank">contact the Parish Clerk</a>, Mrs I Roberts.</span></div>
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Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0Aughton, Lancashire L39 5DH, UK53.5459771 -2.91059153.5436186 -2.9155265000000004 53.5483356 -2.9056555tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13274559.post-44157708175301362702012-05-14T18:47:00.000+01:002012-05-14T18:51:38.430+01:00St.Anne's Youths Lourdes Pilgrimage from Ormskirk 2012<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIK4u-YhSl-OX1amuRbdWD07ivoUf1YjOudipwTkhF-g2lPk_qQltVpSlZdI5t2fJfEMvY75HwAj3aIKFsp-CQ-2F9RoiHqZ4eU-_0j5p0JREOGg-WQNnlYN6LfLzJYEoiVA3y/s1600/P1160137_PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ormskirk Youths Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2012" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIK4u-YhSl-OX1amuRbdWD07ivoUf1YjOudipwTkhF-g2lPk_qQltVpSlZdI5t2fJfEMvY75HwAj3aIKFsp-CQ-2F9RoiHqZ4eU-_0j5p0JREOGg-WQNnlYN6LfLzJYEoiVA3y/s400/P1160137_PM.jpg" title="Ormskirk Youths Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2012" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ormskirk Youths Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Article by Eleanor Cantwell</span><br />
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The text of a recent talk given to parishioners at St. Anne's Church</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">“My name
is Eleanor and I’m one of over 450 young people from the Liverpool <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05001a.htm" target="_blank">Diocese</a> who will be travelling to <b>Lourdes</b> this summer.</span></div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Just to
tell you a little bit about the (voluntary) work we do when we’re in <a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09389b.htm" target="_blank">Lourdes</a>,
it involves lots of late nights, early mornings and hard work, which
is all made worthwhile by the people you meet there and the
atmosphere that constantly surrounds you.
</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">A typical
day will involve meeting the pilgrims at St. Frai hospital and
pushing them in their wheelchairs to a mass in the domain, or to the
baths or maybe even take them shopping or to a café in their free
time. The "Accueil Marie Saint-Frai" was the first hospital founded in Lourdes in 1874 and can receive up to 400 sick pilgrims. </span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">As well as
this we have a coach Mass and lots of other opportunities to reflect
upon our journey to Lourdes and why we go there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">My
favourite part of Lourdes has to be the torchlight precession. I
really can’t do any justice trying to describe it, but seeing the
entire domain scattered with candles with the night sky out is such a
breathtaking sight.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After
recent Masses at S Anne's Church, we have been holding a collection
at the back of church as well as a cake sale in the parish centre.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJv6a8OKi6WJewFlIckarbF0CaQSgcAwkyBAaj96vDUnKkk6cDb2iAcJ0DN16Sv1QchEFKWAnT4tVPScQVpjUkamgHhTJ0u8DxMJiMvixxlwg4ah40uKZ81_TsLzSeDp9Kj2u/s1600/P1160139_PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ormskirk Youths Pilgrimage to Lourdes Fundraising 2012" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJv6a8OKi6WJewFlIckarbF0CaQSgcAwkyBAaj96vDUnKkk6cDb2iAcJ0DN16Sv1QchEFKWAnT4tVPScQVpjUkamgHhTJ0u8DxMJiMvixxlwg4ah40uKZ81_TsLzSeDp9Kj2u/s400/P1160139_PM.jpg" title="Ormskirk Youths Pilgrimage to Lourdes Fundraising 2012" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ormskirk Youths Pilgrimage to Lourdes Fundraising 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Each year
we do lots of fundraising which makes our journey possible. We truly
appreciate your continued support,
</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Over in
the parish centre we displayed some pictures to show the work we do
in Lourdes. If anyone has any petitions they would like us to take
with us to the grotto at Lourdes, then we are more than happy to do
so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We will be
leaving a basket at the back of church for a couple of weeks for
anyone who would like to put one in. “</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">---------------------------- </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: large;">Editorial Comment</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="en-GB">We
should be proud that we have young citizens in our community who are
such an exemplary model of how to lead a Christian life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">These
young Christians have been fundraising by selling cakes. It's a long
way to go on pilgrimage to Lourdes, so they'll need to sell a lot
of cakes!</span></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="western" lang="en-GB" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;">If you can
help them in their fundraising, any contributions would be very
welcome. Your contribution can be given in a marked envelope “Youth
Lourdes Trip 2012” to the St. Anne's Parish Office at the Priory on
Prescot Road in Ormskirk.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Do you have some community news from around the Ormskirk area to share or a story to tell? Yes!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://lifeinanothertown.blogspot.com/p/submit-community-news.html" target="_blank">Please contact Life In Another Town</a></b></span></div>Life In Another Townhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00654247200741913123noreply@blogger.com0Ormskirk, Lancashire L39 4TG, UK53.5627578 -2.89284953.5603998 -2.8977845 53.5651158 -2.8879135