Vics vanquished 2-1

Cowes Sports won a thrilling IW Gold Cup Final tonight at Westwood Park.  East Cowes Vics went ahead towards the end of the first half, only for Cowes Sports to equalise 10 minutes from the end of normal time.  Tiredness and lapses in concentration led to Vics conceding again in the second period of extra time, just when it looked as though a penalty shoot out could be on the cards.  The game was played at a good pace and was end to end entertainment for the sizeable crowd.  This was my first visit to Westwood Park and I thought the facilities were good, although the main stand has a host of supports that can obscure the view.  Well done both teams, they did themselves proud.

Big Yellow Taxi coming to Newport

Never mind the Big Green Picnic, Wighteye believes the occasion should be renamed in honour of Joni Mitchell and her assertion that “They paved Paradise and put up a parking lot”.  For any of you that have not yet heard, the ego-island event for plebs (we don’t seem to deserve a conference) will not take place on the grassy plains of Church Litten, but on the Council Car Park, right next to the ‘Motorway’.  Should be a nightmare for any families with small kids and hardly conducive to that picnic ambience.

Walks with a purpose

Wighteye has been fortunate to partake of a couple of events in the Isle of Wight Walking Festival this week.  The first event was one evening at Parkhurst Forest, detecting bats and watching newts, curious at the light from torches shining into their pond.  A large crowd of us enjoyed the activity, as did the mosquitoes as they feasted upon any areas of flesh that they could find!  The second event was walking the solar system at Newchurch Observatory and the chance to view the sun through a special solar telescope - something that should never be done through a  normal telescope or binoculars if one values one’s eyesight.  Well done, festival organisers and the kind souls that gave their time to provide these two particular events.

UFO

Wighteye’s Dad took this photo from Cowes yesterday, the UFO appeared to possibly have some link to the ship laying off of Cowes, sometimes it disappeared as far over as Castle Point in East Cowes.  Anyone got any idea what it could be?

Thanks Dad!

Three positives

1.   Well done, East Cowes Town Council, we now have a net for the tennis court at the seafront, watch out Fred Perry/Bjorn Borg/Boris Becker/Pete Sampras/Roger Federer  (delete according to your age/era)

2.   The fallen crane has been removed from the warehouse close to the power station

3.   The racist/fascist grafitti has been painted over (though I do think the white paint may invite futher attempts)

Encouraging signs!

The ugly face of East Cowes

The flags may have been flying (admittedly not in many places) and Kathy’s may have been selling St George’s Day cards, but I was in no mood for celebration as I went to see the town clerk to inform him that there was racist/facist graffiti on the new hoardings adjacent to the power station.  It strikes me that ignorance and intolerance go together and manifests itself in such deeds.  I also felt compelled to report the issue to the community policeman, but he was nowhere to be seen, apparently out on his rounds.  To think that many gave their lives in the fight against fascism and the appearance of a swastika and signs such as NF, White Power, Combat 18, IOW Jobs for IOW people are just not acceptable in today’s society.

Isle of Wight Jazz Festival Fringe

I realise that two articles about Ventnor in a row is rather treading on Ventnorblog’s territory, but as a music lover of limited finances I ventured along to the Mill Bay Inn to partake of some free fringe music, hosted by Mick Smith of Quay Arts.  I was treated to a performance by Third Man, very enjoyable easy going, latin tinged jazz.  They attracted quite a crowd, playing for about an hour and finishing with their interpretation of a John Coltrane number (don’t ask me which one!), an ambitious and satisfying piece of modern jazz.  If you’d like to visit the festival, further details can be found at www.ventnorblog.com or www.iowjazzfestival.co.uk

 

 

Ventnor ways

I have to admit a real liking for Ventnor and some of it’s ways;  visiting the fringe events at the Jazz Festival today I was tickled by this sign that appeared to have received a real ‘up yours’ as the car park was virtually full!

Destruction 1

Workers appear to have been renovating warehouses near to the power station in East Cowes for some weeks, but something went dreadfully wrong yesterday when a crane on site toppled and it’s arm crashed onto the roof of the warehouse units, which appear to be somewhat bent in the process!  It is unknown whether anyone was hurt, let us pray not.  The photo shows the crane vehicle laying on it’s side, Wighteye hopes to get a better photo tomorrow.

Having taken a look at the fallen crane a day later and from a different angle, I was struck by the fact that I couldn’t see any stabilisers out, but admit that as an amateur I know little about such things.  The local press refers to the ground giving way, but it is hard to detect this from either photo, although they are taken from a distance.  I understand that luckily no one was hurt.

Six days later and the crane is still in it’s prone position.  A closer look does show some kind of vertical stabilisers, but I am surprised that a crane with such a long arm should not have lateral/horizontal stabilisers.

 

Destruction 2

Sad news has reached Wighteye that some mindless vandal has slashed the polytunnel at the Vectis Road Allotments in East Cowes, resulting in many hundreds of pounds damage.  All I can say to that individual (or group) is that if you have that much energy to scale the allotment fence and start slashing with a knife, how about clearing the brambles at the end of the allotments?  Alternatively, put your efforts to productive use and plant a few vegetables.  Must have spuds for brains!