Weather.

I took this rather dramatic photo above last week. Since being installed in 2021, the last part of the scaffolding surrounding Parkspring Court, Erith Library and the Energie Fitness gym is finally gone. I have heard no definitive explanation as to why the works to replace the Grenfell Tower like cladding on the exterior of the building has taken so very long - in fact it has taken longer than it took to build the structure in the first place. Residents of the block have suffered from a number of intrusions and burglaries as criminals have used the scaffolding to climb up the building and enter through the windows of flats. It beggars belief that the simple task of replacing some basic external cladding can have taken such a long time.  The building is finally now looking as it should, as the photo above shows - click on it to see a larger version. The crisis surrounding the issue of potentially flammable cladding on tower blocks around the country is a serious one. It has placed a tremendous financial burden on homeowners and leaseholders. Many face bills running into tens of thousands of pounds, leaving them trapped in unsellable and potentially unsafe homes. The ongoing stress and uncertainty have also taken a significant toll on residents' mental health. The government has pledged billions of pounds to fund cladding remediation work on high-rise buildings. However, progress has been slow, with many residents still waiting for work to begin on their homes. Critics argue that the funding is insufficient and that the government needs to do more to hold developers and building owners accountable. If you have any insight into this issue, then please contact me in confidence at hugh.neal@gmail.com. 

The recent extended spate of extremely overcast and dingy weather has had an unexpected and unwelcome side effect. The Met Office, a seemingly harmless and non-offensive government department, has been accused of covering up geo engineering projects, chemtrails and spreading misinformation about the weather. Online trolls have taken to the comments section of various websites to seethe and rage over forecasts shared on Facebook, which they believe are fraudulent. An incensed troll, going by the name of Gavin Williams, took to the comments section to rage: “The weather getting far worse with temperatures hanging all year & your organisation is fully complicit in the illegal weather manipulation you have admitted you have all the data on all the Geo engineering projects across the UK.” On another seemingly harmless weekend weather update, another Chris F Oley commented: “You are covering up the Geo engineering. High pressure should bring clear skies not continuous cloud cover. Go on X (Twitter) and see the real news. People are telling you their stories about the cloud covering their area for weeks on end. This isn’t normal.” The photo above was sent to me some years ago by Erith businessman and property developer Manjinder. It shows some very picturesque aircraft contrails reflecting the rising sun over Manor Road in Erith. It also illustrates one of the more bizarre conspiracy theories that persist despite much evidence to the contrary. For some reason the theory has grown considerably during and since the Covid-19 lockdown - presumably as those that follow such rubbish had more time on their hands. You may have heard of the Chemtrail Conspiracy? If not, I will explain. The chemtrail conspiracy theory is the unproven belief that long-lasting trails, so-called "chemtrails", are left in the sky by high-flying aircraft and that they consist of chemical or biological agents deliberately sprayed for sinister purposes undisclosed to the general public. Believers in the theory argue that normal aircraft contrails dissipate relatively quickly and that contrails that do not dissipate must contain additional substances. These arguments have been dismissed by the scientific community: such trails are normal water-based contrails (condensation trails) that are routinely left by high-flying aircraft under certain atmospheric conditions. Although proponents have attempted to prove that the claimed chemical spraying does take place, their analyses have been flawed or based on misconceptions. Because of the persistence of the conspiracy theory and questions about government involvement, scientists and government agencies around the world have repeatedly explained that supposed chemtrails are in fact normal contrails. Contrails, or condensation trails, are "streaks of condensed water vapour created in the air by an airplane or rocket at high altitudes". They are the result of normal emissions of water vapour from piston and jet engines at high altitudes in which the water vapour condenses into visible clouds. They are formed when hot humid air from the engines (when Kerosene jet fuel burns, one of the results of combustion is water vapour) mixes with the colder surrounding air. The rate at which contrails dissipate is entirely dependent on weather conditions and altitude. If the atmosphere is near saturation, the contrail may exist for some time. Conversely, if the atmosphere is dry, the contrail will dissipate quickly. The conspiracy theorists will have none of this, however. A 2014 research paper presented results of reviewing 20 chemtrail websites found that believers appeal to science in some of their arguments, but don't believe what academic or government-employed scientists say; scientists and federal agencies have consistently denied that chemtrails exist, explaining the sky tracks are simply persistent contrails. The 2014 paper also found that chemtrail believers generally hold that chemtrails are evidence of a global conspiracy; people who believe in the conspiracy allege various goals which include profit (for example, manipulating futures prices or making people sick to benefit drug companies), population control, or weapons testing (use of weather as a weapon, or testing bio weapons). One of these ideas, is that clouds are being seeded with electrically conductive materials as part of a massive electromagnetic super weapons programme based around the High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP). Those who believe in the conspiracy say the chemtrails are toxic; the 2014 review found that chemtrail believers generally hold that every person is under attack and found that believers often express fear, anxiety, sadness and anger about this. Experts on atmospheric phenomena say chemtrails do not exist, and that the characteristics attributed to them are simply features of contrails responding differently in diverse conditions in terms of the sunlight, temperature, horizontal and vertical wind shear, and humidity levels present at the aircraft's altitude. In the US, the grid like nature of the National Airspace System's flight lanes tends to cause crosshatched contrails, and in general it is hard to discern from the ground whether overlapping contrails are at similar altitudes or not. The jointly published fact sheet produced by NASA, the EPA, the FAA, and NOAA in 2020 in response to alarms over chemtrails details the science of contrail formation, and outlines both the known and potential impacts contrails have on temperature and climate. The USAF produced a fact sheet as well that described these contrail phenomena as observed and analyzed since at least 1953. It also rebutted chemtrail theories more directly by identifying the theories as a hoax and disproving the existence of chemtrails. Patrick Minnis, an atmospheric scientist with NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, is quoted in USA Today and online, as saying that logic does not dissuade most chemtrail proponents: "If you try to pin these people down and refute things, it's, 'Well, you're just part of the conspiracy'," What do you think? Leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

I am always keen to promote independent local businesses. Wellingtons Electrical has showrooms in Northumberland Heath and Bromley. It sells a wide range of domestic electrical equipment and in my personal experience it gives a very high level of customer service. In fact Wellingtons were announced as the winners of the best independent domestic appliances retailer award at the Electrical Retailer Industry Awards 2024. A spokesperson for Wellingtons wrote:- "At Wellingtons, we pride ourselves on our excellent standards and customer service which is second to none. Year on year we are acknowledged by our industry as being one of the best! We've been up there on the podium every year, thanks to our great team who consistently give their best, so you have the very best experience when you shop with us. Our accolades include awards in the ERT (Electrical Retail Industry Awards), IER (Innovative Electrical Retailing Awards) and local Above and Beyond in Bromley awards. We’ve also been Euronics Retailer of the Year - and it is an honour to hold that title. We were pleased to take away the award for Best Independent Domestic Appliances Retailer at the ERTs 2024,  highly commended in the Best Independent Electrical Retailer Website, Best Customer Service at the IERs 2024 and to be highly commended in the Best Marketing and Advertising Campaign. The Best Customer Service award is testiment to our unwavering devotion to customer care. Our online reviews speak for themselves, with consistent 5 stars across the board! We are proud of our industry partnerships too. These include Siemens, who we partnered with at the Grand Designs Show. We are the only Rangemaster Design Centre in the Southeast of the country, as well as being a Neff Accredited Appliance Retailer and a Miele Partner! You can also see the full range of Quooker Taps on display in Erith. We continue to work together with all the top brands to ensure we are bringing you the very best in appliances, knowledge, and commitment". 

At the Bexley Council meeting last Wednesday, Council leader Teresa O'Neill announced a new council led project aimed at supporting some of the most disadvantaged residents of the borough. The ‘Bexley Box’ project will see some of the borough’s most vulnerable housebound residents receive a special box filled with goods designed to keep them warm and well over the winter months. Working with local businesses and partners, the scheme will see packages filled by Councillors, staff and volunteers and delivered out to those residents who may need it the most. The boxes will be filled with essentials such as porridge, tinned goods, scarves, hats and warm socks, as well a list of useful contacts and winter well being advice and a special festive treat. Local community contacts including doctor surgeries and local groups will help to make the links with residents so that as many housebound elderly residents people as possible benefit from a Bexley Box. The scheme will start from the end of November. The Bexley Box scheme will be funded by generous donations from local businesses. The boxes are also part funded by the latest allocation of the Government’s Household Support Fund (HSF) from the Department for Work and Pensions. If you would like to get involved in the scheme either by donating goods or funds or if you or someone you know would like to receive a Bexley Box please email bexleybox@bexley.gov.uk or call 020 8187 7613.

Last week marked the fiftieth anniversary of a notorious party held at Halloween 1974. It involved what was the biggest band in the world at the time, hosting a large party in Chislehurst Caves. Led Zeppelin held a huge blowout bash with their, at the time, manager Peter Grant, at Chislehurst Caves. The party featured some drink servers wearing costumes as nuns, a woman lying down in a coffin completely naked while covered in jelly, and males acting up as wrestlers while naked. The guest list included some of the fresh new acts at the time who are under their label, called Swan Song Records – there attended, Bad Company, The Pretty Things (whom I have written about extensively in the past - see below for more about them in a new historic article) and Maggie Bell. Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page said in an interview:- "We’d been thinking about it for a while and we knew if we formed a label there wouldn’t be the kind of fuss and bother we’d been going through over album covers and things like that,” Jimmy Page told a music magazine in 1977. “Having gone through, ourselves, what appeared to be an interference, or at least an aggravation, on the artistic side by record companies, we wanted to form a label where the artists would be able to fulfill themselves without all of that hassle. Consequently the people we were looking for the label would be people who knew where they were going themselves.” Paul Rodgers, lead singer of Bad Company recalled that signing with Led Zeppelin’s label was a blessing for them. “Well, it meant really that we didn’t have to worry about the business end of things at all. All we had to do was make the music, go in the studio to record the songs, go out and play them and just not worry about anything, All of the transport was taken care of, private jets and limousines on the tarmac and just everything was top of the line, which was something Led Zeppelin had worked to achieve. They had this sort of machinery in place, and we stepped right into that and it was awesome. All of their connections with the people who run the venues was all ironed out. We were a support act in the arenas the first tour we did. Immediately after that we were the headliner, which was a pretty incredible rise to fame actually.” Email comments to hugh.neal@gmail.com.

The aforementioned Pretty Things were arguably the first punk / metal band. The Pretty Things, a band formed in 1963 with members from from Sidcup, Dartford and Erith hold a unique place in rock history. Though they never achieved the widespread commercial success of some of their contemporaries, such as Dartford's The Rolling Stones, their raw energy, rebellious spirit, and musical innovation significantly influenced the development of psychedelic rock, proto-punk, and even heavy metal. The band's early sound was rooted in the blues-rock boom of the British Invasion era.  With Phil May's powerful vocals, Dick Taylor's (a founding member of the Rolling Stones) driving guitar riffs, and Brian Pendleton's blues harp, they quickly gained notoriety for their wild live performances and rebellious attitude. Their debut album, The Pretty Things, released in 1965, is considered one of the rawest and most authentic British blues albums of the period. However, The Pretty Things were not content to remain within the confines of blues-rock. They embraced experimentation, incorporating elements of psychedelia, hard rock, and even theatrical elements into their music. Their 1967 album, S.F. Sorrow, is often cited as the first rock opera, predating The Who's Tommy by two years. This concept album tells the story of Sebastian F. Sorrow, a man's journey through life, love, war, and madness. Though not a commercial success at the time, S.F. Sorrow has since gained recognition as a groundbreaking and influential work. Throughout the late 1960s and 1970s, The Pretty Things continued to evolve their sound, releasing albums like Parachute (1970), a critically acclaimed album that blended folk, rock, and psychedelic elements, and Freeway Madness (1972), a harder-rocking album that showcased their proto-punk leanings. Their raw energy and aggressive sound paved the way for the punk explosion of the mid-1970s. Despite numerous lineup changes and periods of inactivity, The Pretty Things persevered, led by the unwavering partnership of Phil May and Dick Taylor. They continued to release albums and tour throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, gaining a devoted cult following. Phil May sadly died in 2020, marking the end of an era. However, The Pretty Things' legacy lives on. Their influence can be heard in countless bands, from David Bowie and Iggy Pop to The Ramones and The Sex Pistols. They remain a testament to the power of musical innovation, rebellious spirit, and enduring passion.

The end video this week is from a 1965 live TV performance of their track "Big City" by The Pretty Things. Comments to me as usual at hugh.neal@gmail.com.