Henley / Bloggers

Hello bloggers wherever you are!

Am I the only one that has an opinion? Do I have too much time on my hands?

Since we have been blogging we have more views than ever. So, don't be shy, show your feelings on all types of subjects; topical/historical, etc. Your opinions; lets have them. If like me you want to get things of your chest, then do it here.

I have many people come to me and say how they enjoy the site and reading the blogs and indeed some ranting and raving about their frustrations with the town, traffic, shopping etc. I say to them there and now, don't just rant get on the blog.

Let the people know your feelings because believe you me the amount of people who come in will be amazed at how consistant their views are. It's like a debating chamber at times.

Footpath Closure

I read with interest in a local paper about the Henley Festival requesting an extension of the footpath closure along the tow path.

What do you think? I believe that it should stay open.

Are they using a health and safety issue as a reason!?! Am I misunderstanding but they say without the "minor" diversion the festival cannot go ahead. Assuming that is what they did say - how did they manage before?

I believe the festival is a good thing for the town in general although they should tone down on the loudness of the fireworks. I am convinced the noise of those displays do damage to wildlife let alone other domestic animals and more importantly some elderly.

What's your views? Have a say on this independent site.

Shopping

Good morning. Here's one to ponder...

Do you shop locally excluding supermarkets?

If so, what shops do you use?

If not, why not; price, choice or other?

What type of shops would you like to see?

What about this - which shop is the oldest, longest establised (in Henley of course)?

Information

Good morning all!

I hope to hear from you very soon.

A question for you, do you think we live in a world of information?

Or do you think, like me, we live in a world of misinformation!!

Feel free to respond and let me know what you think. Surely it's not only me that has an opinion?

Apparently this is the most depressing day of the year (is this information or misinformation?). Don't let the beggars get to you!!

Postcards of Marsh Lock and Hart Street

Since my last post a couple more old Henley postcards have been added to the main site of Marsh Lock and Hart Street. Once you've had a look if they bring back memories why not comment on them, either on the main site or right here on this blog. If you'd prefer not to make your thoughts public we'd still love to hear from you.

Holiday

Hi all,

Or am I still speaking to myself?

Looking at all this weather it looks like a great time to hop off to mid-France southwards down to the Med because this week looks like it will be warm with some good sun.

So if you are lucky enough to get away why not let us know what it was like.

Yes rub it in if you want...

Traffic

I am surprised that no one has any comments on the road works and all the questions raised.

• Who organised them?
• Who is the coordinator?
• Indeed, is there a coordinator!
• Is Henley on self destruct?
• Will they be done before the Regatta? Silly me of course they will!!

Finally...

IS IT TRUE THAT THE MAN IN HIS CAR AT THE TOP OF WHITE HILL YESTERDAY WAS CLEAN SHAVEN BUT BY THE TIME HE GOT TO READING ROAD HE HAD A FULL GROWN BEARD?

Was that man you?

WE/YOU LOVE HENLEY SO PLEASE HELP US GET ANSWERS.

Floods

Hello ghostly blogger here.

All you nice people who live by the river; how do you feel when we get these continued days of rain?

Although we are very lucky in Henley with such a wide flood plain, I know some of you will be affected please give us your thoughts.

Dog "do da"

Is that your dog doing the business on the pavement? So annoying. Gives us dog owners a bad name. Remember it's not the dog's fault. If they were more like cats at least they could knock on next door!

Lonely

Hello all,

I remember standing in the corner of the class room when I had supposedly done something wrong. Me? Never!

So I am feeling just as lonely writing the blogs even though our main website hits have increased by 25% recently.

Come on I need company. I am sure you have many things to say.

OUR SITE WANTS YOU!

As long as your thoughts are not offensive, rude, etc. we really look forward to hearing from you.

Road Works

Am I the only one that thinks the recent road works in Henley have proved to be bad for the town?

Also, I hear through the grape vine that now they have put the new York stone down (always good to use local materials as good as it looks) there's the possibility of new traffic lights being fitted!!

Come on Henley folk what's your solutions?

If down to me one move I would make would be to move the traffic lights on the bridge so that they are at the regatta building side so as to resolve three issues:

1. The weight of vehicles on the bridge (never understood why you could have 60 tonnes plus at any one time).
2. When vehicles come up from New Street they could swing left without hindrance.
3. Would make it easier for pedestrians to cross.

The next change would be (now that we have lost the left turn into Duke Street) to help improve the traffic flow throughout the town. What town do you know that has a car park (Greys Road) as a major thoroughfare? I would therefore move all the parking to one side, get rid of humps, improve footpaths, then the traffic could run more freely.

I'm sure you can do better than me. Let's hear your views.

Jogger Bloggers

Come on all you fitness fanatics. What's it like jogging in Henley around the traffic!?!

I see you every morning with that grimace on your faces. Does it really work?

I took the advice of my doctor many years ago, "If you go jogging, go in twos"

I asked, "Why?".

He promptly replied, "So the the other one can call the ambulance when need be."

(That also explains why I am so overweight). Seriously, does it work; all that energy burning all those calories? As they say, no gain no pain. Yes, I know that's not correct but to me it was always pain and gain inches normally or to be politically correct centimetres.

Harpsden Farm - Barn Patterns

Good morning on this bright and frosty Sunday morning.

I need your help please. There is a new book out on Henley and like many before it states that the patterned blocks that make up the barn in Harpsden opposite the church are old wallpaper print blocks. But wait, I have been informed (reliably) that these in fact were for materials and not wallpaper. Can anyone else confirm?

Second Postcard

A second old postcard has now been published on henleyonthames.org showing a nice scene of the Henley Regatta from days gone by.

Take a look at henleyonthames.org/postcards.asp?fldPostcardID=5&fldLocationID=-1

2007 Weather Summary

Tornado anorak here with 2007's weather summed up.

January saw the highest wind gust I have recorded in Henley of 56mph and a lot of tree damage locally with all roads in and out of Henley blocked at one stage.

Even though February was another mild month and wet we did have two of the heaviest snowfalls for many years.

March was again a wet mild month with only 2 days of air frost (0°C or below).

April ended up being the best month of the whole year with lots of dry warm and quite sunny days.

We knew it would happen after that great last month. Cold and wet describes this May with many areas recording the 2nd coldest May Day on record of just 4°C.

June was yet again very disappointing with rainfall well above average but it was average on the temperatures (did you know that June is the only month that has not shown a warming trend?).

Here we are the height of summer in July and what do we see? Some of the worst floods that were certainly on par with a normal winter flood.

August/September/October saw a marginal improvement in the weather by being a lot drier it was still very disappointing on sunshine and warmth. The hottest day of the summer being recorded on the 5th August at 28.9°C.

In November there were 13 days on which rain fell but it ended up having below average rainfall and indeed as a whole Autumn rainfall was below average.

December was a very quite month with high pressure dominating keeping things dry and frosty.

Some stats for the last 3 years...

2007
Mean: 10.9°C
Coldest night: -6.1°C (February)
Warmest day: 28.9°C (August)
Average wind speed: 3.5mph
Windiest day: 56mph (January) prevailing SW
Yearly rainfall: 565.4mm = 22.61 inches

2006
Mean: 10.6°C
Coldest night: -6.4°C (March)
Warmest day: 34.9°C (July)
Average wind speed: 3.2mph
Windiest day: 39mph (December) prevailing SW
Yearly rainfall: 511mm = 20.44 inches

2005
Mean 10.3°C
Coldest night: -5.2°C (March)
Warmest day: 30.3°C (June)
Average wind speed: 3.4mph
Windiest day: 46mph (November) prevailing N
Year rainfall: 381mm = 15.24 inches

Hello from tornadoman

Well come on all you bloggers. This new to me too! Let's start blogging on Henley and its surrounding area, people, families, pets, views on all sorts of local issues.

Now, traffic - that's a good place to start.