Everybody needs good neighbours…

The sentiments of the song are true. And, we’re lucky in the new place to have some good neighbours. Yes, new place, that’s why you’ve not heard from me in ages. I am still alive.
I had a very pleasant conversation with one neighbour yesterday evening. A nice long natter about cars, the weather, the house we’re living in – all sort.
Said neighbour has a key to our house, our landlord gave them a key when they used to live here. I view this sort of thing as …

I’ve just checked out the BBC News homepage for source material for this week’s guest blog.
And I’m spoilt for choice.
Political smear campaigns (well, what’s new there then?)
£250 bonus for going into work. Some employers tell employees that, to take a “snow day”, they need to take a day holiday. But, people are worried about the legal consequences. If someone tries to battle into work and suffers a bad crash on the way in – is the employer responsible? If someone needs to take a day off to look after the …

Potentially controversial comment coming up.
The elderly are often found on "mobility scooters". They are a very useful tour for the disabled – more practical than an electric wheelchair, they almost certainly allow some people to "get out" who wouldn’t otherwise.
However, they are dangerous. They are a motor vehicle. Just today, I’ve seen another news story:
"An 87-year-old Cornish woman was rescued by police five miles from home when her mobility scooter sped off out of control.
Officers later found her heading along the A3075 towards Newquay.
A police community support officer …

A friend once told me that government logic works thus:
1. We must do something
2. This is something
3. We must do this
This is no more ably demonstrated than the recent news that the National Speed Limit is set to be reduced on rural roads from 60 to 50 mph. Jim Fitzpatrick is the roads minister:
"There will be some in the driving lobby who think this is a further attack and a restriction on people’s freedom,” he said. “But when you compare that to the fact we are killing 3,000 people …

Close your eyes and imagine a cross between Celebrity Fame Academy and Strictly Come Dancing. Failing that, conjure up the Dance of the Hours sequence in Fantasia – you know, the one with the dancing hippos, because that’s what this year’s fundraising shows are more likely to look like. The idea is that 18 celebrity acts (both groups and individuals) compete to re-create a different iconic dance routine each week. For the next month they’ll be twirling their way through movie classics such as Saturday Night Fever and pop classics …

I was just sat sitting having breakfast wondering what topic I could jabber on about this week. Then, on SOTS (yes, I’m old before my time) I heard Jon Pertwee (out of off of Doctor Who and Worzel Gummidge) sing his version of this:

I’m sure everyone knows similar songs. Nonsense songs that we knew in full in our youth. Songs that were probably popular in Junior Choice (which was before my time too). Just think, if it wasn’t for Stewpot, would we all know the lyrics to Ernie?
But where …

A very brief post this week, because I’m not actually here. So, just some examples of “Dumb Britain”. You may have seen them before, as they’re not exactly new. But, if you haven’t, they’re well worth a laugh (and worth a re-listen if you have).

It’s been a very pleasant day ‘oop North today. A bit brisk temperature wise with a nasty wind, but the sun was shining to create some wonderful scenes.
I had to head down to Cockermouth today, the birthplace of William Wordsworth (and Jennings beer). It’s great to be able to travel to places with a reason – not a tourist.
And it’s even better when you see the sun glimmering off the snow-topped hills and mountains or the Northern Lake District.
A view so nice, I had to stop and take a picture. …

Some months ago, I spoke about the problem of NIMBYism, and encouraged you all to sign a government “e-petition”.
Since then, Downing street have replied, with a predictable answer that basically said “tough”.
Also since then – recently as it happens – news has broken of another attack on a race circuit. By something worse than a NIMBY. A NIMBY with a grudge.

Croft circuit near Darlington is under serious threat after a judge ruled it should pay a local resident £150,000 in compensation for noise nuisance and a subsequent apppeal won’t be …

In the January sales, I bought myself a new shirt to wear at work. I bought it because it was a nice shirt, but it also came with a label that says "Non-Iron".
I plonked this shirt in my washing-machine last week. A rinse & hold cycle, spun it in the morning and immediately hung it to dry (off a hanger, so it dried straight). That evening, I ironed it, because it was creased.
I didn’t expect it to be totally "non-iron" anyway, but it showed that you can’t put too …