You are reading Page 39 of Bob's Blog/diary/dream/story/journey/novelistic memoir.
He is 84 years old and counting.
He is also very much aware that this blog is of no significance whatsoever - at the time of writing!
Friday 1st September 2023.
Tip for the day, but only a day. Instead of trying to make things happen try waiting for things to happen, much more relaxing.
I'm still waiting for Annie's death certificate (my great grandmother), waiting for the council graves department to tell me where she is buried, waiting for my amazing invention to be recognised, waiting for my DNA results, waiting for a few other things to happen so happy in the knowledge that, someday, they will happen.
Saturday 2nd September 2023.
The waiting is over for Annie’s death certificate. Can you imagine what it was like 132 years ago on 7th September 1891 in The Brickfield Cottages, Little Heath Lane? Annie at the age of 37 had been suffering for 7 months and died in a coma from a Cerebral Tumour leaving husband John to look after young John (Jack, my grandfather) age 6, Agnes age 2 and Daisy age 6 months. Lets hope the Bakers and the Clarkes next door helped, I’m pretty sure John Early Cook, John’s employer, would have been on hand to help in any way he could. They all looked tough cookies in those days. Anyway, they all survived and here we are. John married Eliza Pullen a year later, they did a fine job and died within two days of each other in February 1929.
Sunday 3rd September 2023.
John and Eliza are also buried in Cobham Cemetery in Plot No's 1393 and 1402 respectively but whether or not we'll find out where that is we'll have to wait and see. Lottie (John and Annie's great, great, great granddaughter) came yesterday and taught Nannie and Grandad how to do cartwheels!
Monday 4th September 2023.
Between you and me I continue to struggle to understand and explain my own amazing invention. It continues to be ignored or completely misunderstood by most in the academic community so perhaps my amazing invention is not so amazing after all. We'll have to wait and see.
Tuesday 5th September 2023.
It's a very strange and moving thing to be stood on your great grandmothers grave but that's what happened yesterday. I also stood on the graves of my great grandfather and his second wife Eliza. They are all unmarked but unmistakable and easy to locate using the cemetery plot plan.
Thanks to Gary, custodian of Cobham Cemetery. So, a fantastic result which demanded a pint of TEA in the Running Mare, I was so pleased I even offered a lift to an old boy looking for the station.
The temperature yesterday, today and the next few days in Cobham Cemetery is forecast to be 30 degrees C, just thought I'd mention it for future generations.
Just found another picture of my old girlfriend, sorry, my old Morris Minor parked outside No. 27 in 1965.
Just thought I'd mention it for future generations.
Hartley might find it of interest!
Lurking behind the tree far left is the brickfield chimney which was knocked down a year later.
Just thought I'd mention it for future generations.
And yes, the bonnet's not latched.
Wednesday 6th September 2023.
WARNING.
Today's blog, from the start, contains scenes that some readers with vivid imaginations might find upsetting.
I was treated very gently yesterday, she said lie back, relax, close your eyes, open your eyes, look up, look down, look left, she marked the aiming spot, inserted a needle and injected a few drops of WD40 in my right eye. It's all part of the MOT and ULEZ check for old drivers of old Morris Minor's. Tomorrow it'll be a check for lights, windscreen wipers and emissions but my names not Billy Connolly!
Seriously.
I'm now half way through 'The Black Knight' by Iris Murdoch which also should carry a warning but to find out what sort of warning you'll have to read it.
My task today is to visit the library and log on to 'Find my Past' or 'Ancestry' and find out my great grandmother Annie's date of birth, I plan to mark her grave with a suitable long lasting laser etched, black anodised aluminium plaque. Similar to The Oxshott Village Sign but you'll have to go there or visit Page 23 to find out what they look like (Saturday 23rd May 2020).
Thursday 7th September 2023.
Breakthrough! I did visit the library and as a result of diligent analysis and cross checking on 'Find my Past' I discovered, what has to be, the marriage between John and Annie. They were married in Rathmines, Dublin South, probably in Holy Trinity Church, Cambridge Road, Dublin in February 1880 and as a result of Mike's input we can see from the scribbled records in Gaelic that they were married on the 8th February that year. But what was John doing in Dublin? Further research uncovers a Barracks in Rathmines, Dublin, two streets away, exactly the area where Annie was living and probably born, another scribbled baptism record (No. 687) seems to confirm that. So, was John in the Army? It's beginning to look like he was. The sad thing is that John died on his wedding anniversary to Annie on February 8th 1929, did he miss Annie?
All these records are with The National Library of Ireland so I’m off there as soon as I renew my passport!
Walking around Holy Trinity Church, Rathmines on Google Maps I got quite emotional, I didn't know whether it was Wednesday or Christmas! Emails to The Library and the church have been sent. Thanks also to Lisa at The Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines and also Chloe at Holy Trinity Church.
If you have been paying attention you will have noticed that Annie died 132 years ago today. RIP Annie.
Friday 8th September 2023.
To mark the 132nd anniversary of great grandmother Annie's passing, yesterday I planted a cross on her grave. I hope she doesn't mind it being made from a couple of tongue depressors. Only temporary. It reads
ANNIE JOSEPHINE JONES (née BYRNE)
BORN 1854 DUBLIN. DIED SEPTEMBER 7th 1891.
Saturday 9th September 2023.
What does a father say to his daughter and son-in-law whose home was extensively damaged by water two years ago, completely refurbished at great expense and then yesterday ravaged by a devastating fire? Fortunately, on both occasions nobody was hurt. Is it 'welcome to the TILC' (The Incredibly Lucky Club)?
Sunday 10th September 2023.
In the news today is thousands killed and homeless due to an earthquake in Morocco, thousands killed and homeless in the ongoing Ukraine war, thousands killed and homeless in other conflicts and disasters around the globe so how do we process that? You go for a long walk in the early morning sunshine before breakfast, blogging and brunch to the cemetery to cross check on your ancestors grave location. On the way you notice a sleepy silent high street, a serene swan gliding on the stream, a coot pecking in the weeds, a couple of early morning joggers and a spotless plum coloured 1940’s Buick Eight which you jump in to, fire up and head out for a cruise along Route 66 listening to Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters. With Hartley of course!
Monday 11th September 2023.
My connections to Cobham Cemetery seem to be growing. Not only have I discovered my great grandfather and great grandmothers graves there, my fathers first job was digging graves there and Sir Robert McAlpine's family mausoleum is there. Sir Robert McAlpine (Concrete Bob) lived at Knott Park in Oxshott where my parents met so who knows what other connections I will discover? (I gave Concrete Bob a mention on the Oxshott Village Sign Plaque). I'm just off to plant another couple of temporary crosses made from tongue depressors to mark John and Eliza's graves.
Tuesday 12th September 2023.
Back in 1986 I was driving back from a weekend in Rugby with my family. It was dark, raining, windscreen wipers working overtime and that weekend I had forgotten to take my blood pressure pills and possibly had a few too many lemonades. On reaching the M25 heading towards Heathrow I had a 'TIA' which is a Transient Ischemic Attack or a 'ministroke'. I somehow managed to pull over and stop safely on the hard shoulder before becoming incapable. Fortunately, Marcia was able to take over and get us home. I spent a night in hospital, walked around in circles for a couple of weeks before regaining 'normality'. Being a member of the TILC (The Incredibly Lucky Club) I recovered, I think!
A couple of years ago I had a TAI which is a 'Truly Amazing Invention' revealed to me which is waiting in the wings ready to solve our energy problem.
If you were an alien approaching The Earth
You would notice the moon pumping water
If the natives can't see the power of the sea
Then they surely should ******* well oughta
I've been told by a Professor of Inshore Processes (whatever that means) that 'gut feeling is often wrong', that 'my sketches are done on the back of napkins' and that I'm a 'self labelled Engineer'. We'll have to wait and see.
Wednesday 13th September 2023.
Also in 1986 I hit the headlines with another revolutionary idea. I called it the APO but to read all about it you'll have to go to Page 1.
My revolutionary ideas obviously come from a long line of achievers. The following has been extracted from
The Punishment Register of The Royal Kent School, Oxshott.
1896 June - Wilfred Kellaway & John Jones (age 11) - Disobedience, 1 stroke on the hand
1920 Nov 12th - Reginald Jones - Disobedience, 1 stroke on the hand
1947 Sept. 17th - Robert Jones - 8 years - Stamping and not owning up - 2 strokes on the hand.
You'll have to guess who the culprits are!
Thursday 14th September 2023.
I now have response from a couple of Professor's of Renewable Energy, one from Denver, Colorado who took my proposal seriously and one from Wales who suggested I pop off and design a solar panel over Waitrose car park. What he really means is 'why didn't I think of that'.
My reply to Professor Bob from Colorado is as follows -
I very much appreciate your in depth reply. Also links and attachments which I found of interest.
I agree that this area of development seems to be costly looking at the variety of projects out there. However my proposal, as I mention, is not for the open ocean but for inshore waters and estuaries and also would employ structures and mechanisms already available.
Tension forces, I agree, are high but with the use of shock absorbent line, links or mechanisms such as those used in the landing gear of any large aircraft would, in my view, solve the problem. Also the use of energy storage flywheels as an intermediary route to generation is an area which, I am increasingly convinced, is ‘game changing’ and should be developed.
I, as an 84 year old individual, am unlikely to see my proposal developed but there is always hope!
Your information is very helpful.
With kind regards,
Today is fish and bin day. Also look in skips for an oak post 6 inches x 6 inches for Annie's memorial plaque.
Incidentally, for those of you who are following John and Annie's story I discovered yesterday from the parish marriage register that John has his 'abode' as 'Portobello' which is an area of Dublin adjacent to Rathmines. The Cathal Brugha Barracks in Rathmines used to be known in 1880 as 'Portobello Barracks' so, another pint of TEA?
Friday 15th September 2023.
If you never hear from me again I'll be 'Walking the Line' in Folsom Prison because Professor Bob from Denver has sent me details of a Patent, which will never work in a million years but the abstract does cover my TAI (Truly Amazing Invention). The Patent is held by Big Moon in Salt Lake City. I've also heard from Professor of Coastal Engineering Jose who also thinks my idea is a TAI but he's a bit busy at the moment and doesn't like the idea of Walking the Line so it's back to the drawing board. I've sent details of my TAI to Big Moon, risky?
If you are wondering where I'm getting all this energy from it's because I've taken Clint Ober's advice and I'm sleeping on a grounded copper wire details of which can be found on Page 37. (Monday 3rd - 10th July).
I've decided to bury my ashes alongside Annie, my great grandmother from Dublin, just so you know.
Saturday 16th September 2023.
A 2 mile stroll along Ranmore Ridge is to be recommended. Especially under a warm sun and zero wind. You will experience mini butterflies flitting in all directions, red kites and buzzards effortlessly gliding on the thermals, busy bugs, birds and bees, pungent sweet odours from blackberries past their best, magnificent views, friendly hikers, friendly dogs and friendly Jim with his expensive camera capturing everything that moves and doesn't move including a basking adder, he's been there since 7am. Go for it. You can grab a coffee from the classic Renault van in the car park or pop down to Denbies for a glass of wine. Or you can drive home intoxicated by the experience.
As a result of checking out Irish Genealogy website I've decided that Annie and John weren't married in Rathmines, Dublin so it's back to square one.
Sunday 17th September 2023.
I've had feedback from a Doctor of Tidal Energy who has done a few calculations and pronounced my proposal 'dead in the water', well he didn't actually say that but that's what he meant. So, along with my failed attempts to find proof of John and Annies marriage and her date of birth I'll do something else. I'll carry on reading my book about Bradley and his best friend Arnold. Bradley is 58 and falls in love with Arnold's 20 year old daughter Julian. Arnolds wife Rachel has fallen in love with Bradley and Arnold has fallen in love with Bradleys ex wife Christian but those who have been fallen in love with don't want to be fallen in love with and I'm only half way through the book! Sadly Hartley is completely out of the picture but then again she's probably too busy with her own pictures.
I'll dwell on yesterday's intoxicating experience.
By the way, I've decided not to bury my ashes in Cobham Cemetery alongside great grandmother Annie but I will be marking her grave appropriately, after all she has been waiting 132 years for recognition.
Monday 18th September 2023.
Yet another connection to Cobham Cemetery has just occurred to me. About 50 years ago when we moved into this house my father planted a Bramley cooking apple tree which, as you may has know has popped up in this blog a number of times. Well, this year it has produced more apples than all the previous years put together, probably a bit of an exaggeration but you get the idea. So, we have blackberry and apple pie coming out of our ears, we have it for breakfast, dinner and tea. But where do we get the blackberries from? I'll give you one guess. I have a barrow of Bramleys on the drive marked 'HELP YOURSELF' as I write, but you'd better be quick!
Tuesday 19th September 2023.
'The concept is very well explained' is the comment from a Professor of Tidal Energy in Plymouth University which, to me, is a result but whether or not that leads to any action we'll have to wait and see.
While we are waiting you can help me find great grandmothers (Annie Josephine Byrne) baptism record and/or her marriage record from any of the 78 Parish Records of Dublin in 1854 (birth) or c1880 marriage to John Jones. They are all on microfilm HERE. Best of luck! You will find an Anna Byrne married to a John Jones in Rathmines Parish on February 8th 1880 but, as you know, they are the wrong Annie and John (I think).
Wednesday 20th September 2023.
Dear Reader,
Bearing in mind that the undersigned has only an O.N.C. in Mechanical engineering gained in 1957 at Kingston Technical College he is finding it extremely difficult giving birth to a game changing project. But he feels that he has been chosen so to do.
He now has the ear of many in the academic community who are taking the proposal seriously and he now feels that development will be painful but inevitable. Painful for all those who will soon realise that they have been going down the wrong road for years.
I am expecting my DNA results soon. I am expecting a high percentage of Irish, maybe even a distant relation of Iris Murdoch!
Yours,
Bob
Thursday 21st September 2023.
Eureka! Fishing around on 'Find My Past' I have found Anne Josephine Byrne baptised on 7th October 1857 at St Michaels Church, Kingstown, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. Father Hugh, mother Ellen. Up to now we thought that she was born in 1854. Let's hope she was 3 years old when she was baptised. This could well be our Annie. I don't suppose you've got the slightest interest but I'm over the moon!
The weirdest thing is that St Michaels Church in Marine Road is round the corner from Hartley's Restaurant!
Friday 22nd September 2023.
If Lyn from Michigan is reading this I'd like to send her and the family our love and I can assure her that Chic and I are still working on the gearbox to convert the rotation speed of the earth and the gravitational pull of the moon to useable power. I know he'll come up with the answer. (See blog for Wednesday 5th October 2022. Page 32).
By the way. Yesterday's trip to St Helier Hospital went without a hitch for the taxi driver but his passenger had to suffer a painful procedure before emerging with a 3 year licence for the ULEZ zone. (Ultra Low Emission Zone for foreign readers.)
Saturday 23rd September 2023.
I checked the cost of a 6 x 6 fence post yesterday, I need one to mount great grandparents memorial plaques on. I only need a couple of metres. Not much change out of £100 would you believe. I need 3, all about 2 feet long. If you see any lying around, let me know. Preferably oak but treated pine would be OK.
You've forgotten why I need three. One for great grandmother Annie, one for great grandfather John and one for John's second wife Eliza. You've also forgotten that great, great grandfather William was a highly qualified scavenger.
Just had a thought, Oxshott and Cobham Village signs are both mounted on 6 x 6 oak posts!
Sunday 24th September 2023.
Understanding my simple concept is still not coming easy it seems. Let me try to explain.
In order to understand this concept imagine a large vessel suspended by a couple of cables above the Grand Canyon. The cables are about a mile long wrapped around cable drums. The shafts of the cable drums are connected to onboard or onshore generators through a gearbox. All is supported by a beam resting on the Canyon edges.
You now release the brake and allow the vessel to drop at only 0.5 metres per second (about 1 mile an hour) for an hour driving the generators. The vessel will, of course, have dropped one mile.
You now wait 5 hours for 'anti gravity' (the tide) to repeat the process and transport the vessel back to where it was. You can employ 4 vessels per tide. You can then carry on ad infinitum or until the moon disappears.
Gravitricity.com have the right idea but they use vertical gravity instead of horizontal gravity. Thanks Chic.
Monday 25th September 2023.
'Well, I still don't understand it do you Doris?'
'Haven't a clue Gert but he is 84 you know'
'I'd have never believed it, another pint of pigs?'
'Don't mind if I do'
Tuesday 26th September 2023.
No more waiting for my DNA results. I'm 71% English but most of my relations are in Virginia and North Carolina would you believe? 12% Italian and a smattering of Irish, Baltic and East European. Swee-bee Ong from Singapore is my second cousins daughter and Jess from the USA is my third cousins daughter. I've got 4,491 matches in the USA and only 2,401 matches in the UK. So what does that tell you? A rich mix or a hotch potch?
Wednesday 27th September 2023.
Waiting for an answer.
Thursday 28th September 2023.
Hi Chic,
It would seem that our regular discussions in the Sun Inn at Chobham (happy days) all these years ago trying to create ‘anti-gravity’ were somewhat misplaced. We should have focused on ‘horizontal gravity’. It seems that there might be some interest from a large manufacturer. Anyway, if you could give me an idea on the design of the gearbox that would be great. Your expertise and patents filed while you were in the transmissions department at Fords Detroit would be useful.
Cheers
Bob
PS. I won’t hope to see you soon but I probably will see you soon. And thanks again to you and Lyn for the invite to Thunder Hill in 1968, almost exactly 55 years today, happy days.
Friday 29th September 2023.
Plenty to write about but it's boring. i.e. except THIS.
Saturday 30th September 2023.
Richard the rat catcher popped in for a chat yesterday, we had a few visits from Roland. He found them hiding under next door's shed so he left them some Weetabix, apparantly they quite like Weetabix. They eat the Weetabix and die, all the others then eat all those who've eaten Weetabix and die. Four weeks later Richard pops back to pick up any Weetabix that's left. There's more to the story but I've got to get on with great grandparents memorial plaques. Sorry.
Thanks for reading Page 39 of Bob's Blog/diary/dream/story/journey/novelistic memoir.
He is 84 years old and counting!
You can now, if you wish enjoy Page 40.