Off With Your Ofwat

 

Ofwat was set up, at the time of establishing England and Wales' privatised water companies. It was supposed to ensure that the companies took their responsibilities seriously. Many people actually feel Ofwat was part of a cosy cartel encouraging cultures of underinvestment in essential infrastructure combined with gross financial mismanagement. It's now reported that the UK government will follow its commission's  recommendation to simply abolish Ofwat. A new body, for England and Wales, combining the water/sewage responsibilities of Ofwat, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and the Environmental Agency will be created. Perhaps it will prove more effective in dealing with the companies than its predecessor. Climate change, urbanisation, proposed establishment of water-hungry datacentres, and population growth, all mean that there's now a very urgent need to 'futureproof' potable water provision for homes, industry and agriculture. The disposal of sewage also needs to be greatly improved to protect the environment. None of this will be cheap! Costs to end-users wouldn't have been so great, if these changes had been funded by these monopolies decades ago, rather than frittered away in bonuses and inflated share dividends. The end-user will, unfortunately, have to pay again. Folk  won't be happy.

Planes and Trains and Old Folk

My trip home from Honolulu to Swansea simply cemented how difficult travel has now been made for the elderly (especially if they have a mobility problem). It was a truly horrendous experience. Basically, I had to change my return ticket to a later date, as well as buying a single ticket to Heathrow for a new  companion. That meant telephoning British Airways offices whilst in I was in Honolulu. I paid the penalty for changing my ticket, as well as the complete price for my companion's ticket. The representative suggested an early (8am) flight by their partner Alaska Airways to Seattle (rather than the LA link I had previously planned) and assured me we would be able to sit together on that flight and subsequently on BA to Heathrow. I attempted to confirm my flight 24 hours previously but Alaska Airway's website wouldn't allow me to do so and I was blocked advancing to the BA site (an error reading repeatedly came up). We arrived early at Honolulu airport, to find enormous queues for the flight, to help people print boarding passes and documentation for luggage. One 'helper' spent more than an hour dealing with a military couple and their dog. Eventually, a battered wheelchair was found for me (I was 80 with damaged ligaments in my leg). Our boarding passes for Honolulu to Seattle plus our luggage documentation were printed. When, however, I checked only my companion had her boarding pass for Seattle to Heathrow. I was assured this was an oversight and my pass would easily be made available in Seattle. In Seattle, I was eventually transported to the very distant BA gate. The wheelchair was removed and we attempted to interact with the BA ground staff. They claimed they had had to put me an standby, as I hadn't electronically confirmed. They also claimed that my modified ticket and my companion's ticket were separate transactions. For 3 hours, they assured us that a solution would be found but they largely ignored us until my companion berated them and refused to move. Eventually, a supervisor was called, who claimed that I would be allowed on the flight and the staff on the plane would 'sort it'. The staff on the plane clearly didn't think it was their job but sub-optimal seats together eventually materialised. After a long flight, it became clear that my mobility problem hadn't been notified to Heathrow staff but our large cases were successfully reclaimed from baggage. There were then 2 80 year olds (both with mobility problems) and 4 relatively large pieces of luggage on a trolley. We had to wheel it to the terminus for the Heathrow Express. The trolley's then had to be discarded. We struggled on to the train but couldn't get seats partly as 2 young uniformed folk were occupying both the specified seats with their luggage and playing on their mobiles. There was chaos at a very hot Paddington Station with cancelled trains to Wales. There were no trolleys, folk couldn't tell us when the Swansea train would arrive or at which platform. The helpdesk people couldn't (or wouldn't) give any help. Eventually, the platform was announced and there was a mass stampede for the train. No seat reservations applied. Two old folk, struggling with 4 cases, were  predictably at the rear. Eventually, we forced our way on to the train with our cases but had to stand until we reached Swindon. Some nicer folk helped with cases. We also got seats. Troubles over?  It was eventually announced that the Swansea train would terminate in Cardiff, as it was needed back in London. We then had to move to a distant platform to do this. Fortunately some kindly folk helped in this process. Thus ended the journey from hell. Neither British Airways nor British Rail have asked me for my opinion of their 'service' thus far. To say I think it stinks is an understatement.

Sandwich Island Saga 41. Overview

At the end of my first return to the Hawaiian Islands for some 30 years, a recap seems appropriate.  The islands are American without quite being America. Tourism is still their major commercial activity.  Activities that were formally free have become regimented and more exploitative. If anything, the islands seem too dependent on tourism. Tourism itself may well become less acceptable. Many of its young people move to the mainland, being replaced by less well paid immigrants from areas like the Philippines. Interestingly, immigrants seem well accepted here. The Hawaiian Islands are notably prone to some of the obvious dangers of climate change (e.g. sealevel rise, coral bleaching, hurricanes, wild fires, flash floods, heatstroke etc). The flora and fauna of the islands is a hotchpot of rare endemics and a vast array of introduced species, some beneficial, others less so. Hawaii remains a tantalising mix of order and chaos. 

Sandwich Island Saga 40. Brown anole (Anolis sagrei)

This juvenile explored the patio.

Sandwich Island Saga 39. Extreme weather events

It's not, of course,  just flash floods that will increase with global heating. Heat waves, droughts and wild fires will all become more intense, along with violent storms (e.g. tornadoes and hurricanes). Today on Oahu, 75 acres were burning in Nanakuli.

Sandwich Island Saga 38. You Don't Need to be a Mystic!

There's a stark lesson to be learned from the loss of life (around 90 deaths confirmed) at on July 4th at Mystic Camp in Kerr County. In some areas of this Texas Hill Community, more than 21 inches of rain fell in 3-6 hours. This is in an area with an average July rainfall of just 2 inches. Global heating (a real phenomenon) means the atmosphere is packed with more moisture.  What used to be 'One hundred year catastrophes', like this flash  become more frequent and more extreme. People, in areas prone to flash floods, consequently need to become more aware of this increased danger. This applies, of course, to some locations in the Hawaiian islands.

Flowers of Oahu 66. Tropical wild petunia (Ruellio brevifolia)

Sandwich Island Saga 37. Water, Water Everywhere?

The Hawaiian Islands are very dependent on aquifers for freshwater. Their current status is Very Dry. There isn't sufficient rainfall and building reservoirs is very difficult as lava is extremely porous. 

Flowers of Oahu 65. Peace lily (Spathiphyllum spp)

Flowers of Oahu 64. Wikstoemia uva-ursi or Akia

The bark, roots and leaves of this plant release a narcotic that was used to stun fish.

Sandwich Island Saga 36. White tern

A better view of a nestless chick7

Sandwich Island Saga 35. Red-crested cardinal (Paroaria coronata)

Joined in beaches by these birds 

Flowers of Oahu 63. Whitehead spikesedge (Cyperus mindorensis)

Flowers of Oahu 62. Sour starfruit

Flowers of Oahu 61. Rhododendron cinnabarinum

Flowers of Oahu 60. Yellow water lily (Nymphaea mexicana)

Flowers of Oahu 59. Tahitian gardenia (Gardenia taitensis)

Flowers of Oahu 58. Crinum lily (Crinum baconi)

Flowers of Oahu 57. Persian mimosa tree (Albizia julibrissina)

Flowers of Oahu 56. Wild poinsettia (Warszewiczia coccinea)

Flowers of Oahu 55. Red ginger (Alpinia purpurata)

Flowers of Oahu 54. Pink Hawaiian ginger (Alpinia sp)

Flowers of Oahu 53. Mango (possibly Tommy Atkins variety)

Sandwich Island Saga 34. Japanese rhinoceros beetle (Allomyrina dichotoma)

Sandwich Island Saga 33. Death of Romance

Cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) are a ubiquitous commensal in Hawaii. This couple were taken out in a drive by.

Sandwich Island Saga 32. Fairy tern (Gygis alba)

These white seabirds don't create an actual nest. The egg is balanced on tree branch. The picture is probably a parent with a chick at Manoa University Honolulu.

Flowers of Oahu 52. False heather (Cuphea hyssopifolia)

Flowers of Oahu 51. Macarthur palm (Ptychosperma macarthuri)

Flowers of Oahu 48. Philippine ground orchid (Spathoglottis plicata)

Flowers of Oahu 50. Black bat flower (Tacca chantrieri)

Flowers of Oahu 49. Tropical pitcher plant (Nepenthes spp)

Flowers of Oahu 47. Crown flower (Calotropis gigantea)

Flowers of Oahu 46. Long-stemmed 'Ohi'a Lehua (Metrosideros macropus)

Sandwich Island Saga 31. Swallow tailed butterfly (Papilio spp) at Waimanalo

Flowers of Oahu 45. Mexican sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia)

Flowers of Oahu 44. Sago palm (Cycas revoluta)

Sandwich Island Saga 30. Hawaii Kai property problems

Beach-facing properties in this area are worth circa $1.5 m.They are generally single storey and a sea rise of only 6" would imperil them. That's not to mention tsunamis!

Flowers of Oahu 43. Society garlic (Tulbagia violacea)

Flowers of Oahu 42. Cockscomb (Celosia spp)

Flowers of Oahu 41. Butterfly pea flower (Clitoria tematea)

Flowers of Oahu 40. Casabela thevitia (Thevitia peruviana)

Flowers of Oahu 39. Oleander (Nerium oleander)

Flowers of Oahu 38. Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)

Sandwich Island Saga 29. Tourism

Oahu has always been expensive but changes in the 30+ years since my last visit are very evident. There are new taxes on tourists as well as tickets being issued for formerly free locations (e.g. Hanauma Bay). The whole tourism thing seems to be becoming too regulated and controlled. It will be interesting to see whetherthe Hawaiian Islands eventually price and regulate themselves out of the market.

Flowers of Oahu 37. Macadamia nut (Macadamia integrifolia mauka)

An Hawaiian success story

Flowers of Oahu 36. Seeds of the Silk cotton tree (Bombax ceiba)

Just like cotton wool on the ground.

Flowers of Oahu 35. Angel wing begonia (Begonia coccinea)

Sandwich Island Saga 28. Emerald cockroach wasp (Amplex compressa)

Sandwich Island Saga 27. Spotted dove (Streptopelia chinensis)

Flowers of Oahu 34. Bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae)