29/06/2008 by admin.

Hands up everyone who saw GMPTA - in Labour hands for all of its 22-year history - turning Tory!!!

Even I didn’t see that coming until the night before when I got the tip…and even then, it was only finally settled 25 minutes before the meeting.

The new chairman, Trafford’s 34-year-old deputy leader Matt Colledge seems a decent bet but chairing an authority when you have only got 7 members out of 32 is knife-edge stuff, whatever the deal with the Liberals.

But here’s the rub….

Trafford is completely opposed to congestion charging - a scheme devised by Sir Howard Bernstein, the CLERK to the PTA.

Hows that going to work then? 

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26/06/2008 by admin.

Sir Richard Leese mentioned the R word on his blog and the media goes into overdrive…ignoring the fact that the story is two weeks old and has already appeared in Surveyor magazine and the Oldham Chronicle - based on Sir Richard’s answer to a question at a press conference at Rochdale Town Hall.

Doesn’t this demonstrate the dangers of the new cyber journalism, which leads the new generation to only believe that something is true if it’s on the internet?

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26/06/2008 by admin.

Having been flooded out of Keswick, rained off at Staveley, I arrive home in Littleborough early from holidays and look at the Environment Agency website to see what I have escaped. There is only one flood warning in force in the country. Guess where?

Littleborough

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25/06/2008 by admin.

In the dock: Cumbria Police

Charge: Bringing the police service into disrepute and wasting public money

Evidence: A printed laminated notice on a gate one a country path in Grasmere, the Lake District. It says:

Police Warning

There are police community support officers in this area observing dog owners who are failing to clear up after their dogs. They are adopting a zero tollerance attitude to all offenders.

£75.00 Penalty tickets WILL be issued to offenders.

Verdict:

GUILTY!!!!!!!!

Sentence: Go out and CATCH SOME CRIMINALS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted in Environment, Society | Print | 1 Comment »

24/06/2008 by admin.

I won’t name him to spare his blushes but spotting his picture on a timetable today reminded me of the bravery of the managing director of one of our most successful train companies.

Sitting at an outdoor table at an establishment in Salford Quays, he suddenly saw his mobile carried off by a couple of hoodies on bikes. He gave chase and, being a bit of a runner, caught the last one up.

He gave the youth a sideways push…and watched in hororr as he topled into the canal!

He was even more horrified to realise that scallywag could not, in fact swim, and ended up diving into the water to save his life as his partner in crime cycled off with the phone.

Dragged from the water, of course, the youth repented and pledged to mend his ways didn’t he ?

Don’t be silly. He gace his rescuer a hearty shove and had it away on his toes!!!!

Posted in Transport | Print | 1 Comment »

23/06/2008 by admin.

I am currently nestling in my caravan at Staveley, near Windermere, in the Lake District - a refugee from the tsunami which hit Keswick.

40 hours of rain!!!!!

A few years ago we left my daughter and her friend in our caravan and went home. This was against the rule that the tow car had to remain on site but we persuaded the wardens to allow it because we had turned up to pitch on a neighbouring Camping and Caravanning Club site and they had lost the booking.

I still remember the phone ringing at 3am …”Dad, we’re being evacuated!”

Of course, they needed us and the towcar to be evacuated so we drove to Keswick through the night and arrived as dawn broke. Our caravan was alone in what had become an extension of Dewentwater, though the flood had, in fact come from the River Greta which feeds the lake. My daughter had placemats made of her photo of the stricken van.

This week was only our third visit to this site. It couldn’t happen again could it? Oh yes it could.

Mrs S took the dogs for a last walk and reported back that the outer reaches of the site, nearest the lake, had been evacuated. I was relaxed, she was in a panic.

I went out about 11.30pm and people were getting restive. I got back and there was a knock at the door. The warden said: “prepare to evacuate!!”

We didn’t have to in the event, though the bags were packed and not much sleep was taken.

It was only in the morning that the true nature of the devastation became clear. Caravans and tents under water, awnings in disarray, campers in disaster mode …bonding in little groups.

We offered to move and the offewr was gratefully accepted, a comparitively dry pitch quite an assett as the wardens set about relocating those whose caravans had to be dragged from the rising waters of the lake.

Here at Staveley, the evening skies are clear and cloudless….and Mrs S is dead to the world!

Posted in Travels | Print | 1 Comment »

22/06/2008 by admin.

What’s the point of having a website if nobody keeps it up to date. I’m sitting here under a flood warning at Keswick in the Lake District. The River Greta could sweep us all into Derwentwater at any time but don’t worry….the Environment Agency floodwatch is on the case.

 Except that when you log on to this location, it says that there is no warning in force….dated January 2008!!!!!!!

Posted in technology, Travels | Print | No Comments »

20/06/2008 by admin.

Visit Craster, Northumberland for the best burger van in Britain (www.piperspitch.com). I dined on Auchtermuchty burger (two slices of haggis with bacon in the middle). Mrs S chose buttered Craster kipper in a bun. We wish him well.

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17/06/2008 by admin.

Moir Lockhead is a nice guy..and from Hartlepool to boot. He is a true giant and deserves his knighthood….

But Sir Moir???????

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16/06/2008 by admin.

At first sight, there are a lot of hoodies here. Then you realise that they are simply protecting themselves against the midges.

They are shocking this year. We went to Kielder and ended up looking like we’d caught chicken pox. People are sitting outside in the sunshine wearing ballaclavas!!!!!

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