Tony Porter Ponders: No end to global fuel crisis, Haigh's Plantation Gates and Brentwood

As fuel prices continue to soar, I pondered as to why prices always go up quickly due to a crisis or other issue but fall at a much slower rate.

We get told that prices are set months in advance and paid for then, so when oil prices drop why does it takes weeks for us to see it at the pumps?

I realise that this is slightly different, the Strait of Hormuz is a vital passageway for the oil from the Gulf to get to many in Europe.

Though I was surprised to see that there is panic in Australia, energy minister Chris Bowen said Australia currently has 38 days worth of petrol, 31 days worth of diesel and 28 days worth of jet fuel in a post on social media last Saturday. (news.com.au)

They have introduced free public transport in many areas and are about to launch an advertising campaign asking Aussies to not run errands, only fill up with the amount of fuel they need and other measures.

Here in the UK there are only mutterings of concern, though the price at the pumps has risen at a huge pace.

I put £40 in my car at the weekend at over £1.58 per litre, expecting it not to come close to half filling the car, it actually nudged three quarters full, which was an unexpected surprise and relief as I visit my 91-year-old mother in Tameside once a week.

Again, though this highlights our reliance on the Gulf for our fuel and the idiocy of not using that that we have in the North Sea, so at least we get a regular supply unaffected by global events.

I realise that the price would still be high at times, but supply is the key issue.

Maybe in the meantime we could have free bus journeys and reduced commuter train prices to ease pressure on supplies as there seems to be little sign of an end to this issue.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the walkway under the main arch of the Plantation Gates had been opened.

It was nice to be able to walk through the historic gates for the first time, for me, though they are protected by sheets of wood while the works are ongoing around and about.

The pleasure was short lived as I went to Brentwood straight after, the big house behind the wall near Cherry Gardens pub.

The back of the building, as seen from the main gate, looks like it has completely collapsed, but the front, peeking over the wall, did not look far from the same state, the upper floor window opening has all but collapsed into the bay window below.

I fear that as there is no longer support for the wall above, that too will fall and could bring down the roof and corner of the property.

It is a crying shame, though many of us have the same idea: win on the Lotto, buy and save it, then move in.

Let’s hope one of us can do that sooner rather than later.

On a walk in Haigh Hall Plantation last week I had a Gordie (from Stand by Me movie) moment when a deer popped out onto the footpath ahead of me.

We shared glances before parting.