31/08/2008 by admin.

I was unreasonably angry when I read the news that under 19s are to get free sports sessions. In some places, near me, over 60s also get free sports sessions…as well as free bus fares.

I am 56, I’m white and British. When I left university 34 years ago, it took me a couple of months to find a newspaper to give me job. Because I had to leave home, the government topped up my meagre wages on the Scarborough Evening News by the princeley sum of £4 a week for a year. That is my guilty secret.

Since then, I have done nothing but contribute to the state. When my daughter was born, I took two weeks’ holiday. When my mother died, I took two weeks holiday. When I had a brain haemorrhage  (and the casualty doctor sent me home with paracetamol!!!) I had three months 0ff work to recover from brain surgery. Since then, I haven’t had a day off sick.

Now I work for myself,s o if I go on holiday, I take my computer with me and carry on working. There is little sign of the people who promised me contracts before I left the Manchester Evening News. I am paid pocket money as a freelance to save publishers the expense of employing a full-time, fully qualified specialist transport journalist. A lot of organisations don’t want to pay me for several months after I have supplied them. I apply for jobs and, presumably because I am 56, employers do not feel I deserve the simple courtesy of a “I regret to inform you” reply.

I don’t need the money but many of my age do. 

I have been shafted by people who should know better ( and who know who they are).

Am I bitter? Yes. I am a baby boomer ….the lost generation and LAST generation to fend for itself!!!!

Posted in Society | Print | 1 Comment »

26/08/2008 by admin.

When I started this blog, I was mortified not have thousands of comments. Now I am getting so sick of marking “comments” as spam that I’m looking for a way of doing without them altogether. Parasites!

Posted in technology | Print | No Comments »

21/08/2008 by admin.

Checkout my comment on page 4 of the July edition of the TransportMatters magazine (register on my website if you want it free every month).

I relate a bet I had with Jonathon Alley of the BBC who reckoned congestion charging was dead because of the referendum. I argued that Howard Bernstein did not look worried enough.

Now checkout the August editon - out next week - which leads on a story of the Mori poll which says that EVERY borough in Greater Manchester would vote yes.

See what I mean?

Posted in Transport | Print | No Comments »

19/08/2008 by admin.

The muddled thinking of the week award goes to the Environmental Transport Association who sent me a press release in which director Andrew Davis said: “Our own research revealed that in most cases parking is subsidised - the land used for the car parks would be worth more if it was used for something else such as office space. In other words, cars pay less than desks!”  

“Local businesses often object to parking charges, but the car park that is constantly full because it is too cheap is not bringing custom to local shops.”

eh????? 

Posted in Transport | Print | No Comments »

18/08/2008 by admin.

I’m waiting for the inevitable Daily Mail piece telling us how the Olympic success is making us all feel better about everything.

Indeed, the goverment can take some credit. Would it be cynical to wonder if a snap election might follow?

Posted in Politics | Print | 1 Comment »

16/08/2008 by admin.

Manchester’s city fathers can surely take a lot of credit for the haul of Olympic cycling gold medals in China.

I was one who didn’t see the point of the Velodrome - now the hq of British cycling. Wouldn’t it be just to hold the 2012 cycling events there?

Posted in Sport | Print | No Comments »

13/08/2008 by admin.

Interesting to see Alistair Darling being villified for dithering as Chancellor over stamp duty.

He should go back to the DfT. Not making a decision is a must for a transport secretary. And he did it better than most. 

Posted in Transport | Print | No Comments »

11/08/2008 by admin.

So First has opened a £20 “global headquarters” in Aberdeen. I remember goiong to London to interview Trevor Smallwood in the company’s then global headquarters…an anonymous terraced house with a sign on the front which said: “This is not a doctor’s surgery”.

…and it wasn’t that long ago! 

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

08/08/2008 by admin.

Another phase of my life has come to an end. The touring caravan is sold…the STATIC caravan is about to be occupied!

Don’t despise me. It makes sense. I don’t fly to a holiday..I drive a short distance to the Lake District.

And I don’t deprive a young member of the rural community of a home by buying a holiday cottage!!!!!

Posted in Outdoors | Print | No Comments »

06/08/2008 by admin.

Just had the pleasure of setting up a direct debit for £35 a year to the Information Commission because I keep online lists of contacts. Downloaded the form, filled it in….and then had to print it off and put it in the post!!!!

Posted in Business | Print | No Comments »