One doesnt go round with ones eyes closed normally, its dangerous especially while driving.
Today has excelled itself for two remarkable things seen.
The first and most amazing indeed as was only talking about it needing doing for ages is, tadah, they have finally replaced the worn out white lines etc on the A14/Milton roundabout, big cheers and much hooting and hollering, where did you find the money to pull that off County Council but thanks for redoing it, using it was getting a bit like russian roulette would you come out the other side intact.
The second I couldnt believe and I am still in a state of shock and disbelief over. We were driving slowly down Histon Road around midday today and had just gone past the little row of shops, there was a small white french make van wanting to turn right onto Histon Road. I was looking at it because I couldnt work out why I was seeing two head shapes in the drivers side window. I stopped to let it out and then I realised what I was looking at and as my passenger pointed out it was disbelief that stopped us both from noting the registration number and reporting it. Why, well would you drive a vehicle with a sixish month old baby on your lap held only be your left arm which also has to change gear etc. He was.
Thursday 1 December 2016
Sunday 30 October 2016
Back to normal then with a bin
Need to get back to normal after stories all over the place so this morning felt the need to get rooted well almost.
Cut the lawn, higher cut of course as its autumn now and then emptied and mixed up the contents of my lawn cuttings and shredded paper compost bin, mixing in the clippings from this morning of course.
Its looking some good stuff given it was only started this summer, worms are working well bless em, and hopefully todays green stuff will give them a bit of heat to keep going.
This lot is bound for my perrennial beds when it does get finally turned out in the spring.
Cut the lawn, higher cut of course as its autumn now and then emptied and mixed up the contents of my lawn cuttings and shredded paper compost bin, mixing in the clippings from this morning of course.
Its looking some good stuff given it was only started this summer, worms are working well bless em, and hopefully todays green stuff will give them a bit of heat to keep going.
This lot is bound for my perrennial beds when it does get finally turned out in the spring.
stories for all
Just spent four days telling stories to children and adults all over a nearby town.
I wont say where cos they might still be embarrassed at me telling there at all. But I enjoyed it and I hope some of the folk listening did too, I know some of the adults who I suspect have never heard let along enjoyed stories before got some enjoyment from a mixed set of Canterbury Tales, Arthurian and Robin Hood I did. I even heard a whisper or two from a few children as well following my little attempts at entertaining them.
Did I say I was in costume for the whole thing, fancy having to put up with stories from a bloke wearing that lot.
Many thanks to Stuart and Maureen for help with the costume. Then I also need to mention Elaine for putting up with my gadding about this last week, coming home last night after a couple of nights in a bearable B and B was very welcome and calming.
I wont say where cos they might still be embarrassed at me telling there at all. But I enjoyed it and I hope some of the folk listening did too, I know some of the adults who I suspect have never heard let along enjoyed stories before got some enjoyment from a mixed set of Canterbury Tales, Arthurian and Robin Hood I did. I even heard a whisper or two from a few children as well following my little attempts at entertaining them.
Did I say I was in costume for the whole thing, fancy having to put up with stories from a bloke wearing that lot.
Many thanks to Stuart and Maureen for help with the costume. Then I also need to mention Elaine for putting up with my gadding about this last week, coming home last night after a couple of nights in a bearable B and B was very welcome and calming.
Wednesday 17 August 2016
Those little midgy flies that get in your face
I know I have speculated on this before, flies, the little midgy things that get in your face if you turn a light on when its dark, you know them!
I do a couple of bat surveys every year around this time both for a certain species called Daubenton's. I have surveyed at two sites over ten years at each each and at both the number of bats seen every year has dropped and dropped. Why well I dont really know but I have my suspicions.
Whenever I detect a Daubentons I turn on a torch to see they hunting for insects just above the surface of a waterboby os some sort. In years gone by whenever the torch went on I was bombarded by those little midgy flies, but not any more the numbers are well down if they are there at all. The number of flies is definitely down or it appears that way to me.
Fine you might think, but what if the dropping number of flies means less bats and also less fly eating birds and other insects.
Granted lower fly numbers might not be the cause of less bats, perhaps there roost sites have been developed or improved but I cant help thinking no food no bats.
Does it matter, I think it does.
I do a couple of bat surveys every year around this time both for a certain species called Daubenton's. I have surveyed at two sites over ten years at each each and at both the number of bats seen every year has dropped and dropped. Why well I dont really know but I have my suspicions.
Whenever I detect a Daubentons I turn on a torch to see they hunting for insects just above the surface of a waterboby os some sort. In years gone by whenever the torch went on I was bombarded by those little midgy flies, but not any more the numbers are well down if they are there at all. The number of flies is definitely down or it appears that way to me.
Fine you might think, but what if the dropping number of flies means less bats and also less fly eating birds and other insects.
Granted lower fly numbers might not be the cause of less bats, perhaps there roost sites have been developed or improved but I cant help thinking no food no bats.
Does it matter, I think it does.
Overheard in the post office yesterday and shirts
So there I was in the post office returning a shirt I had bought over the internet as you do. Strange thing bought a few shirts all the same size but one was just too small, why if they are all the same size and made by the same company.
Anyway in front of me is a young person getting some bits and pieces sorted for a european holiday.
They have completed everything and then say, can we still use an E111 form in Europe now that we have left.
The look on the face of the member of counter staff was priceless and they said so politely, we are still in Europe so yes you can.
So I am left there wondering; Why is one shirt smaller than others of the same size. Have some people not been listening to news since the vote. Did those same people not listen to anything before the vote. Even more worrying how many other people think the same!
Anyway in front of me is a young person getting some bits and pieces sorted for a european holiday.
They have completed everything and then say, can we still use an E111 form in Europe now that we have left.
The look on the face of the member of counter staff was priceless and they said so politely, we are still in Europe so yes you can.
So I am left there wondering; Why is one shirt smaller than others of the same size. Have some people not been listening to news since the vote. Did those same people not listen to anything before the vote. Even more worrying how many other people think the same!
Monday 18 July 2016
Its what can we cut next time
Ive got this hunch I blogged about a local council wanting to charge for green bin recycling last year. And yes they now do it. Whats next, well a council in Cambridgeshire is now floating the same idea.
Fenland District Council which covers the towns of Wisbech, March and Chatteris together with the surrounding area is having a "consultation" about charging £40 a year for the use of a green waste recycling bin. Interestingly they say that in areas where this has been done there are no increases in flytipping, be nice to see the evidence for that.
They suggest that for houses that dont produce enough themselves to fill a bin regularly but who want to keep a bin, that sharing with neighbours could be a useful idea. They helpfully say you can always take your green waste to a recycling centre or compost all your waste.
Whats the driver, well they say it costs £700,000 to operate a green waste scheme in fenland and they dont get a government grant for this part of waste collection. Its got nothing to do with not wanting to provide a service then and increasing community charge has it. Will community charge come down if the service is paid for by people paying there £40, I doubt it.
Now if Fenland are looking at this how many other Cmabs councils are I wonder, waiting to see the responce. Lets go forward another year or two and whats next, the recyclable materials bin?
I suppose if I was cynical I would forecast that in just a few years time we will all be back to a weekly collection of a black bin that is stuffed to the lid with anything you care to put in it.
Fenland District Council which covers the towns of Wisbech, March and Chatteris together with the surrounding area is having a "consultation" about charging £40 a year for the use of a green waste recycling bin. Interestingly they say that in areas where this has been done there are no increases in flytipping, be nice to see the evidence for that.
They suggest that for houses that dont produce enough themselves to fill a bin regularly but who want to keep a bin, that sharing with neighbours could be a useful idea. They helpfully say you can always take your green waste to a recycling centre or compost all your waste.
Whats the driver, well they say it costs £700,000 to operate a green waste scheme in fenland and they dont get a government grant for this part of waste collection. Its got nothing to do with not wanting to provide a service then and increasing community charge has it. Will community charge come down if the service is paid for by people paying there £40, I doubt it.
Now if Fenland are looking at this how many other Cmabs councils are I wonder, waiting to see the responce. Lets go forward another year or two and whats next, the recyclable materials bin?
I suppose if I was cynical I would forecast that in just a few years time we will all be back to a weekly collection of a black bin that is stuffed to the lid with anything you care to put in it.
Friday 24 June 2016
Some snippets from yesterdays work
Dutifully did my job as a poll clerk yesterday in a little village in Cambridgeshire.
Thought I would share some snippets of information.
Firstly we had a turnout of almost eighty percent of those eligable to vote (not including postal) which was more than for the last election by a few voters. Good if not for the result.
Secondly we had at least twenty people, and not just because they had just reached 18 years old, who you could tell had never voted before by the way they behaved and what they said including a couple over 60.
Thirdly we had at least three people asking why we only had pencils in the polling booths, at least one suggesting the votes could be changed. Some of the secondlies above.
Fourthly and you might not know this but there is a piece of plastic to help visually impaired people to vote in the right box. They have liftable flaps and braille and raised lettering. For the referendum this was modified to just Remain and Leave and was supposed to be stuck on the voters ballot paper then taken off again for reuse if necessary with someone else. I heard at the training session they had got problems with it. On the day a piece of paper nay a letter with the device that proved to be a laugh. It included the words, the adhesive used was too aggressive, I swear I heard it growling at times. It then detailed how you should use two paperclips of a certain size to hold it on the ballot paper and described how to fix the paper clips with the long leg behind the ballot paper even had diagrams to illustrate that point.
Thought I would share some snippets of information.
Firstly we had a turnout of almost eighty percent of those eligable to vote (not including postal) which was more than for the last election by a few voters. Good if not for the result.
Secondly we had at least twenty people, and not just because they had just reached 18 years old, who you could tell had never voted before by the way they behaved and what they said including a couple over 60.
Thirdly we had at least three people asking why we only had pencils in the polling booths, at least one suggesting the votes could be changed. Some of the secondlies above.
Fourthly and you might not know this but there is a piece of plastic to help visually impaired people to vote in the right box. They have liftable flaps and braille and raised lettering. For the referendum this was modified to just Remain and Leave and was supposed to be stuck on the voters ballot paper then taken off again for reuse if necessary with someone else. I heard at the training session they had got problems with it. On the day a piece of paper nay a letter with the device that proved to be a laugh. It included the words, the adhesive used was too aggressive, I swear I heard it growling at times. It then detailed how you should use two paperclips of a certain size to hold it on the ballot paper and described how to fix the paper clips with the long leg behind the ballot paper even had diagrams to illustrate that point.
Monday 25 April 2016
Smell vinegar in Bristol? That will be the weed killer
The BT website is running a story about Bristol today using vinegar as part of a trial to control weeds, rather than using Glyphosate.
Very commendable I would say, I use it where I can, the only other options for weeds are pulling or chopping which are not always successful on paved areas.
I use half a litre of value white vinegar at the strength it is sold in this country with a dash of washing up liquid in a hand trigger sprayer or in a bigger sprayer I up the washing up liquid. The washing up liquid helps the vinegar stick to plant leaves. Best to use it on a dry day when there is going to be some sunlight or heat afterwards in my experience.
Dont be tempted by stronger vinegar the acid level could burn you if you get it on your skin.
Very commendable I would say, I use it where I can, the only other options for weeds are pulling or chopping which are not always successful on paved areas.
I use half a litre of value white vinegar at the strength it is sold in this country with a dash of washing up liquid in a hand trigger sprayer or in a bigger sprayer I up the washing up liquid. The washing up liquid helps the vinegar stick to plant leaves. Best to use it on a dry day when there is going to be some sunlight or heat afterwards in my experience.
Dont be tempted by stronger vinegar the acid level could burn you if you get it on your skin.
Sunday 3 April 2016
Remembrance is continuous
Yesterday I went along to a friend and customers 90th birthday tea which was lovely. I met some folk I had lost touch with and swapped stories and we caught up remembering each other and hoping it wouldn't be so long till next time.
This morning I had just stopped at a site to carry out some ecology work and my mobile phone peeped. I checked a text, a very special customer also well advanced in years passed away this morning a very special lady. I stopped what I was doing and toasted her from my bottle of juice.
Bless you Molly.
This morning I had just stopped at a site to carry out some ecology work and my mobile phone peeped. I checked a text, a very special customer also well advanced in years passed away this morning a very special lady. I stopped what I was doing and toasted her from my bottle of juice.
Bless you Molly.
Im gonna have a rant
So this morning I went out early to do some ecology work at two sites, one close to Royston the other close to St Albans. The driving was lovely and quiet all the way until I left St Albans for home, by then it was well past nine and people were getting out and about.
Why do people need to rush around all over the place, why do they need to dive from the far lane to the kerbside lane of a three lane roundabout in the space of twenty metres weaving between cars at a stupid speed just to get down a slip road.
Why when I am tootling along at 60 do in the kerbside lane to they speed up close behind me before indicating and then moving to the middle lane.
And why do so many drivers not know what that funny stick thing is below the steering wheel that makes a greenish light twinkle on and off on there cars dash.
To me its symptomatic of the pressure people are under to work and make money at all costs, nothing is sacred anymore and I'm not just talking about religion.
There is a saying, stop the world I want to get off, I think I sympathise with the person who wrote it!
Why do people need to rush around all over the place, why do they need to dive from the far lane to the kerbside lane of a three lane roundabout in the space of twenty metres weaving between cars at a stupid speed just to get down a slip road.
Why when I am tootling along at 60 do in the kerbside lane to they speed up close behind me before indicating and then moving to the middle lane.
And why do so many drivers not know what that funny stick thing is below the steering wheel that makes a greenish light twinkle on and off on there cars dash.
To me its symptomatic of the pressure people are under to work and make money at all costs, nothing is sacred anymore and I'm not just talking about religion.
There is a saying, stop the world I want to get off, I think I sympathise with the person who wrote it!
Saturday 5 March 2016
Twas a nice walk though
Controversy aside I did enjoy my walk around Ely Country Park. Its managed by a mix of landowners and perhaps because of this has no real corporate feel to it. Its got surfaced paths and unsurfaced nay really muddy ones as well, but then thats where you can choose where you want to go.
After walking through a short grass area you enter tree and shrub lined Springhead Lane then reach the old pits with ducks, geese and great crested grebes, oh yes and a couple of kingfishers dobbing about. Then its through the gate in the hedge and along by the river back to town.
Lovely views of the cathedral on the way round as well this one from the path by the river.
And for a bit of variety you can watch the trains and imagine its the Flying Scotsman you are seeing. An enjoyable walk to my mind.
After walking through a short grass area you enter tree and shrub lined Springhead Lane then reach the old pits with ducks, geese and great crested grebes, oh yes and a couple of kingfishers dobbing about. Then its through the gate in the hedge and along by the river back to town.
Lovely views of the cathedral on the way round as well this one from the path by the river.
opinions are onions with a pi right!
My local paper has been carrying a story about the way a footpath that runs through a Country Park in Ely has been managed recently. The lane called Springhead Lane or Lovers Lane has been opened up by a contractor working for the county council cutting back trees and shrubs and by cutting back bramble.
Some of the locals have been complaining bitterly to the local papers and getting quite a bit of coverage, one lady says she is horrified by what has happened down at Lover's Lane.
Its one of the reasons I went for a walk down there yesterday to see what outrageous damage has been caused partly because I have long held the view that the path was too shaded and might make users feel insecure. The picture below is a Cambridge News picture which shows part of the lane now.
But then thats my opinion, others think differently. Opinions eh onions with pi in.
Thursday 3 March 2016
Which came first aorta or hadnabinfer
I had a late afternoon appointment at the local hospital last week, all connected with my recent spell of ill health and well it had me confused by the end and no mistake.
First an ultrasound, well surely ultra means really good but I didnt hear a thing, then the doctor says me kidneys are fine and so was me aorta. Well first off what does he know about my shopping at the butchers and then aorta what.
Already slightly confused I heads of for a blood test, take a ticket here and wait the sign says, so you takes one of them tickets you used to get at supermarket meat counters you know them ones with numbers on. The nurse calls out the number and off you go to get your blood took.
I says to her when do we get some meat then with this ticket, she looked, that got me wondering had they run out, then I got to thinking about that doctor and what he said about kidneys, was that all they had left!
I came out like I said confused with no meat or kidneys come to that and thinking. Aorta known that Id get nothing but if it hadnabinfer a late apointment then perhaps I might have.
First an ultrasound, well surely ultra means really good but I didnt hear a thing, then the doctor says me kidneys are fine and so was me aorta. Well first off what does he know about my shopping at the butchers and then aorta what.
Already slightly confused I heads of for a blood test, take a ticket here and wait the sign says, so you takes one of them tickets you used to get at supermarket meat counters you know them ones with numbers on. The nurse calls out the number and off you go to get your blood took.
I says to her when do we get some meat then with this ticket, she looked, that got me wondering had they run out, then I got to thinking about that doctor and what he said about kidneys, was that all they had left!
I came out like I said confused with no meat or kidneys come to that and thinking. Aorta known that Id get nothing but if it hadnabinfer a late apointment then perhaps I might have.
Saturday 20 February 2016
cart before horse or what
Im still in a state of disbelief really.
There is a group of Councillors and lord knows who else called rather grandly the City Deal who for months have been throwing ideas for improvements to traffic about left right and centre for the good of Cambridge, a lot of the ideas are based around improving bus travel.
Imagine my surprise then when earlier this week it was reported that the City Deal team have had a meeting with the main bus operator about there high ticket costs.
Is it me or what!
There is a group of Councillors and lord knows who else called rather grandly the City Deal who for months have been throwing ideas for improvements to traffic about left right and centre for the good of Cambridge, a lot of the ideas are based around improving bus travel.
Imagine my surprise then when earlier this week it was reported that the City Deal team have had a meeting with the main bus operator about there high ticket costs.
Is it me or what!
Space time continuum distorted down the fen part two
Is there a part two, how can there be. Well there is its the bits I forgot to say just in case you all rush of down the fen read on and be warned.
So after the terrific incident involving the lorry and the overwhelming amount of traffic, about four cars etc each side of the blockage. We all drove on across the fen when to my complete consternation I noticed road repairs, what, yes road repairs new tarmac to try and lessen some of the humps and bumps.
Now if you have never driven across there you will not know that the road is listed, not architecturally you understand but side to side so perhaps listing might be more appropriate then it is also twisted and has almost mountainous sections to contend with which are fine if you respect it and drive at speeds that mean you get to the other end without shaking and worrying about what that noise was on the car when you hit a sticky up bit.
Anyway repairs have been made so the next few crossings could need to be made slower than usual to work out which humps bumps twists etc have now gone and which remain. The benefit of those changes will of course all change if we get another odd year of weather and the road sections, concrete covered with tarmac, move again as they do on a regularish basis.
Then after my lazy late lunch I finally reach the village of Reach well not quite and what do I see, the road crossing wires of a traffic monitoring counter. The cheek of it, the county council are obviously trying to find out how many vehicles are using the fen road, despicable behaviour that will encourage people to drive the route just to go over the wires and be counted. I hope the poor folk of Reach have been warned, the users of the Dykes End will certainly have something to talk about over there pints as a result of this.
So after the terrific incident involving the lorry and the overwhelming amount of traffic, about four cars etc each side of the blockage. We all drove on across the fen when to my complete consternation I noticed road repairs, what, yes road repairs new tarmac to try and lessen some of the humps and bumps.
Now if you have never driven across there you will not know that the road is listed, not architecturally you understand but side to side so perhaps listing might be more appropriate then it is also twisted and has almost mountainous sections to contend with which are fine if you respect it and drive at speeds that mean you get to the other end without shaking and worrying about what that noise was on the car when you hit a sticky up bit.
Anyway repairs have been made so the next few crossings could need to be made slower than usual to work out which humps bumps twists etc have now gone and which remain. The benefit of those changes will of course all change if we get another odd year of weather and the road sections, concrete covered with tarmac, move again as they do on a regularish basis.
Then after my lazy late lunch I finally reach the village of Reach well not quite and what do I see, the road crossing wires of a traffic monitoring counter. The cheek of it, the county council are obviously trying to find out how many vehicles are using the fen road, despicable behaviour that will encourage people to drive the route just to go over the wires and be counted. I hope the poor folk of Reach have been warned, the users of the Dykes End will certainly have something to talk about over there pints as a result of this.
Friday 19 February 2016
Space time continuum distorted down the fen
So there I was going back home from working in a couple of gardens, I know I had said, I will go back home across the fen and have a late lunch sitting down Tubney Fen oft times a quiet oasis with just the breeze slipping through the reeds and the call of the birds for company, luxury.
I drove through Upware up and over the lodes dropped down to the field level and what was that, cars and farm vehicles all stopped and looking ahead, ahead to where one of Manchetts big recovery trucks all flashing lights was stopped at the rear of a red articulated lorry.
What the "stale Christmas cake " was going on I said to myself. Looking closer from a 200 yards away I was with other cars etc on my side of the blockage I could see the front end of the red lorry had gone partway off the road into the sticky and soft fen soil, its right black soil out there. Manchetts had got it out and back on the road, but, looking in front off and behind me I could see at least four vehicles both sides of the blockage, for that location a massive amount of held up traffic. I wont stress or even mention the silver car of idiots who sped past me before seeing the holdup and then turning round and speeding off again the other way, no I wont mention them.
Well with the recovery truck and the red lorry mobile albeit missing a mudguard moved out of the way the massive amount of accumulated traffic stated moving again. Never been held up so much down there. Trundled on across the fen until looking forward we all saw the next holdup a horse being ridden along , would the problems never stop, thankfully it pulled over giving me a chance to see a farmer having more drainage pipes put in a field down there.
And then I pulled over and long breath aahhhhhh. Lunch at Tubney Fen, reality restored all right with the world the space time continuum hiccuped and like a gravitational wave it settled back on the beach of peace.
Until that is the mob of argy bargy Coot started squabbling, the Little Grebe tittered, Gadwall and Wigeon called, well peace of a pleasurable sort as I sat there in the sunshine with my sandwiches and peppermint tea.
I drove through Upware up and over the lodes dropped down to the field level and what was that, cars and farm vehicles all stopped and looking ahead, ahead to where one of Manchetts big recovery trucks all flashing lights was stopped at the rear of a red articulated lorry.
What the "stale Christmas cake " was going on I said to myself. Looking closer from a 200 yards away I was with other cars etc on my side of the blockage I could see the front end of the red lorry had gone partway off the road into the sticky and soft fen soil, its right black soil out there. Manchetts had got it out and back on the road, but, looking in front off and behind me I could see at least four vehicles both sides of the blockage, for that location a massive amount of held up traffic. I wont stress or even mention the silver car of idiots who sped past me before seeing the holdup and then turning round and speeding off again the other way, no I wont mention them.
Well with the recovery truck and the red lorry mobile albeit missing a mudguard moved out of the way the massive amount of accumulated traffic stated moving again. Never been held up so much down there. Trundled on across the fen until looking forward we all saw the next holdup a horse being ridden along , would the problems never stop, thankfully it pulled over giving me a chance to see a farmer having more drainage pipes put in a field down there.
And then I pulled over and long breath aahhhhhh. Lunch at Tubney Fen, reality restored all right with the world the space time continuum hiccuped and like a gravitational wave it settled back on the beach of peace.
Until that is the mob of argy bargy Coot started squabbling, the Little Grebe tittered, Gadwall and Wigeon called, well peace of a pleasurable sort as I sat there in the sunshine with my sandwiches and peppermint tea.
Trumpet blowing
Cos if I dont who will!
Last summer I took part in a project led by an ex local lad Ian Humberstone about Black Dogs Traditions, I put a five minute Black Shuck story together from bits of information sourced from all over East Anglia and was recorded telling it.
The aim was for the story to be included with other material on an LP, yes you heard right an LP a limited edition production.
Last Friday a cardboard package arrived which I opened full of curiosity and lo and behold a black box embossed with a golden image and full of goodies including, the LP. Theres a CD and a tape as well, a book and a couple of posters, all made with a lot of thought and produced and sold by Folklore Tales.
Finally had a chance to listen to the LP this morning, I like it some very atmospheric tracks, as well as three Black Dog stories including mine.
Folklore Tapes Occultural Creatures Volume One Black Dog Traditions of England, only 500 copies produced.
Last summer I took part in a project led by an ex local lad Ian Humberstone about Black Dogs Traditions, I put a five minute Black Shuck story together from bits of information sourced from all over East Anglia and was recorded telling it.
The aim was for the story to be included with other material on an LP, yes you heard right an LP a limited edition production.
Last Friday a cardboard package arrived which I opened full of curiosity and lo and behold a black box embossed with a golden image and full of goodies including, the LP. Theres a CD and a tape as well, a book and a couple of posters, all made with a lot of thought and produced and sold by Folklore Tales.
Finally had a chance to listen to the LP this morning, I like it some very atmospheric tracks, as well as three Black Dog stories including mine.
Folklore Tapes Occultural Creatures Volume One Black Dog Traditions of England, only 500 copies produced.
Tuesday 16 February 2016
Countryfile kerfuffle! over deer
I have seen an article on the Internet about BBC Countryfile drawing complaints following a piece about trainee gamekeepers last Sunday. Seems to mostly be aimed at the shooting of deer correctly and then there butchery for sale.
As I am aware there are reported to be more deer in this country now than there are estimated to have been in 1066 yet the countryside habitats they live in have changed completely. The species ratio of deer has also changed completely with increasing populations of non native Muntjac and Sika. The impact is that a lot of woodlands in particular as well as gardens are being over browsed by deer. If you want to see this go to a wood that isn't deer fenced that you know had a herby/weedy understorey beneath the trees and shrubs, drop to your knees and look under the trees and shrubs, are there still grasses lush and thick together with other herby plants. Most likely the answer will be no. Does that wood still have large populations of bluebells and other spring plants or are they being browsed off by deer in particular Muntjac. If you see a gap from the ground to at least 600 mm above ground level you can almost say its deer browsing.
We are losing bluebells and other plants, we are losing nightingale and other ground nesting birds. What do we want to see? and what are we prepared to do about it? We need people who know how to control deer properly and not untrained people using inappropriate guns or even dogs.
Then there is the butchery angle. To my mind if deer are going to be controlled then its only right that the carcasses are sold to cover the cost of culling at least.
Please feel free to disagree but that's my thoughts and I know that quietly for the most part a lot of conservationists share the same view.
As I am aware there are reported to be more deer in this country now than there are estimated to have been in 1066 yet the countryside habitats they live in have changed completely. The species ratio of deer has also changed completely with increasing populations of non native Muntjac and Sika. The impact is that a lot of woodlands in particular as well as gardens are being over browsed by deer. If you want to see this go to a wood that isn't deer fenced that you know had a herby/weedy understorey beneath the trees and shrubs, drop to your knees and look under the trees and shrubs, are there still grasses lush and thick together with other herby plants. Most likely the answer will be no. Does that wood still have large populations of bluebells and other spring plants or are they being browsed off by deer in particular Muntjac. If you see a gap from the ground to at least 600 mm above ground level you can almost say its deer browsing.
We are losing bluebells and other plants, we are losing nightingale and other ground nesting birds. What do we want to see? and what are we prepared to do about it? We need people who know how to control deer properly and not untrained people using inappropriate guns or even dogs.
Then there is the butchery angle. To my mind if deer are going to be controlled then its only right that the carcasses are sold to cover the cost of culling at least.
Please feel free to disagree but that's my thoughts and I know that quietly for the most part a lot of conservationists share the same view.
Monday 15 February 2016
Doing my bit for democracy, do you do yours???
A few years ago I got myself added to the list for election staff. I work as a poll clerk, one of those folk who sit there taking your name making marks on lists and then giving you that special piece of paper for whatever election it is that is taking place.
A couple of weeks ago I was working in a local council by election for a village district councillor. There were five stations in open, I was stationed in a village hall in the ward working with one other person. The village had approx 300 eligible voters in it and about 30 of them were postal votes.
So how many people do you think voted out of 270 for a local council councillor? We had just over 50 people come in and vote, that's about 20 percent, not many is it, the final result for the election was a 30 percent vote helped by a large return of postal votes.
Where is he going with this boring nonsense you might ask. The station I have worked in twice now has as I have said about 270 people eligible to vote so we should get about 20 an hour in, not the 3 an hour we had.
We have two more elections coming up in this country; the first will be for a police and crime commissioner in May, then its quite possible we will have a referendum on Europe later on and who knows other polling areas might have local council elections as well over the summer.
I remember vividly the first police commissioner election, there were three of us in a polling station west of Cambridge and we got about a 5 percent turnout, I think we all read lots of books, talked and tried not to fall asleep. I am hoping that this time round more people will vote after all the commissioner does hold a large budget of public money.
But the most important vote coming up is of course the Europe referendum whenever it takes place. Given how important this will be for the country I am hoping that everyone will vote who can, but I wont hold my breath mind we did get a 70 percent turnout in the general election so who knows.
Perhaps voting should be compulsory whether in person at a station or by post for all elections, after all if you dont vote you cant complain about the result can you.
A couple of weeks ago I was working in a local council by election for a village district councillor. There were five stations in open, I was stationed in a village hall in the ward working with one other person. The village had approx 300 eligible voters in it and about 30 of them were postal votes.
So how many people do you think voted out of 270 for a local council councillor? We had just over 50 people come in and vote, that's about 20 percent, not many is it, the final result for the election was a 30 percent vote helped by a large return of postal votes.
Where is he going with this boring nonsense you might ask. The station I have worked in twice now has as I have said about 270 people eligible to vote so we should get about 20 an hour in, not the 3 an hour we had.
We have two more elections coming up in this country; the first will be for a police and crime commissioner in May, then its quite possible we will have a referendum on Europe later on and who knows other polling areas might have local council elections as well over the summer.
I remember vividly the first police commissioner election, there were three of us in a polling station west of Cambridge and we got about a 5 percent turnout, I think we all read lots of books, talked and tried not to fall asleep. I am hoping that this time round more people will vote after all the commissioner does hold a large budget of public money.
But the most important vote coming up is of course the Europe referendum whenever it takes place. Given how important this will be for the country I am hoping that everyone will vote who can, but I wont hold my breath mind we did get a 70 percent turnout in the general election so who knows.
Perhaps voting should be compulsory whether in person at a station or by post for all elections, after all if you dont vote you cant complain about the result can you.
Sunday 14 February 2016
Should have heeded Dad more
Lost my Dad a few years back but still remember and use some of his sayings which were often pithy and to the point.
Only thing is that over time I should have heeded at least one of them more closely, as to why well I have mentioned copping an infection in early December I think? The problem is I'm still not back to normal, well as normal as I get anyway!
The sayings that come to mind are;
You cant do enough for a good boss..................................that's if you can find one.
and
Hard work never killed anyone.........................mind its buggered a few up.
Now whatever anyone says I have always worked hard to earn my weekly shillings all be it for only a small number of employers, and since being self employed that has continued perhaps working even harder if not too hard.
Methinks some serious talking to ones self is required.
Only thing is that over time I should have heeded at least one of them more closely, as to why well I have mentioned copping an infection in early December I think? The problem is I'm still not back to normal, well as normal as I get anyway!
The sayings that come to mind are;
You cant do enough for a good boss..................................that's if you can find one.
and
Hard work never killed anyone.........................mind its buggered a few up.
Now whatever anyone says I have always worked hard to earn my weekly shillings all be it for only a small number of employers, and since being self employed that has continued perhaps working even harder if not too hard.
Methinks some serious talking to ones self is required.
Helping the self employed!!!!!
Talk on the telly this morning about a report presented to David Cameron about what the self employed need in this country to help them.
How about dropping any idea of monthly income returns for starters.
Then what about an easily accessible list of what can be claimed for by those of us doing our own accounts cos we dont earn loads but still want to pay our dues tax wise.
How about dropping any idea of monthly income returns for starters.
Then what about an easily accessible list of what can be claimed for by those of us doing our own accounts cos we dont earn loads but still want to pay our dues tax wise.
BBC Radio 4 Open Country Return to the Fens
A nice listen for just under half an hour, nice mix of history, personal reminiscence and views about the future of part of the fens, namely the Great Fen project area.
My only thought was mention should have been made of the other restoration projects; those of the RSPB at Ouse Fen, the National Trust and there Wicken Vision and then the work to provide alternative habitat for wildlife especially when they are kept of the washes when spring flooding takes place such as WWF's land at Welney and the Environment Agencies land Coveney way.
Might never equate to anything like the fens used to be but all of them are helping wildlife amid the intensive agriculture.
I know there are views for and against all of these schemes, mine supports them there is room for wildlife and agriculture.
Catch a listen of the programme if you can.
My only thought was mention should have been made of the other restoration projects; those of the RSPB at Ouse Fen, the National Trust and there Wicken Vision and then the work to provide alternative habitat for wildlife especially when they are kept of the washes when spring flooding takes place such as WWF's land at Welney and the Environment Agencies land Coveney way.
Might never equate to anything like the fens used to be but all of them are helping wildlife amid the intensive agriculture.
I know there are views for and against all of these schemes, mine supports them there is room for wildlife and agriculture.
Catch a listen of the programme if you can.
Tuesday 26 January 2016
Agricultural algorithms
Dont ask I dont know exactly but. Weeds and bugs targeted with military precision, yep thats how the article began. You could say well that will be good especially when it then reads that technology being developed could reduce agricultural chemical use by around 90 per cent.
Now that has to be good for as long as we have them, please let someone find and develop safer alternatives.
Anyway this article included such memorable words as; machine vision algorithms, probabilistic programming. Basically it incorporates a camera and precisely targets problems instead of blanket coverage. As I said earlier that has to be good.
Now that has to be good for as long as we have them, please let someone find and develop safer alternatives.
Anyway this article included such memorable words as; machine vision algorithms, probabilistic programming. Basically it incorporates a camera and precisely targets problems instead of blanket coverage. As I said earlier that has to be good.
£83,000
Yep £83,000, thats the minimum salary my local paper the Cambridge News announced you need to earn in Cambridge if you want to buy a house these days. Then I hear on TV today that some national hotel chains only pay about £6.90 per hour. I think that works out around £14,000 a year and you have to wonder where those earning less than the aforementioned larger salary live.
Well yes rented accommodation but even that's ridiculous in Cambridge. So where then further out and then even further. Yep and so logically you have the next issue all those lower paid staff need to travel into the city to work and lo and behold what do we have traffic held up all over the place and believe me its worse in Cambridge than anywhere else. Do all cities say that!
Anyway apparently one way round mortgages and rents is to extend your house and setup granny or the kids in an annexe. Last November there was a headline in the local paper; "Rise of the Waltons tribe as generations live together", together with a nice picture of the old Walton clan on the porch.
Its a growing trend apparently, well I can see the nice bits of this with families living together and helping each other out but wait a minute isnt this how we used to live before we got on our bikes and looked for work! Not completely perhaps but surely it shows the system is struggling and if not the system certainly the people living in it.
Then lets just go back to the traffic. In Cambridge there is a group or something called City Deal which is trying to improve housing jobs and you've guessed it the traffic which is worse than anywhere else or have I said that before? Ideas are flying about all over the place and new groups of residents against some proposal or other are being launched like falling leaves, which leads me onto the prospect of trees beside roads being cut down to make room for bus lanes etc etc. Then there have been proposals for tunnels under Cambridge and monorails and of course a congestion charge. Did I mention the gates on key access routes to regulate the traffic getting in?
Well nothing is right of course especially if it might mean houses get noisier. But then lets go back to the start if houses weren't so expensive perhaps people on lower salaries could live in the the place and there might just be less traffic or driving about.
But then what do I know or most other folk we just put up with it and moan, does it sort anything out no but it makes you feel better, roll on the next proposal.
Well yes rented accommodation but even that's ridiculous in Cambridge. So where then further out and then even further. Yep and so logically you have the next issue all those lower paid staff need to travel into the city to work and lo and behold what do we have traffic held up all over the place and believe me its worse in Cambridge than anywhere else. Do all cities say that!
Anyway apparently one way round mortgages and rents is to extend your house and setup granny or the kids in an annexe. Last November there was a headline in the local paper; "Rise of the Waltons tribe as generations live together", together with a nice picture of the old Walton clan on the porch.
Its a growing trend apparently, well I can see the nice bits of this with families living together and helping each other out but wait a minute isnt this how we used to live before we got on our bikes and looked for work! Not completely perhaps but surely it shows the system is struggling and if not the system certainly the people living in it.
Then lets just go back to the traffic. In Cambridge there is a group or something called City Deal which is trying to improve housing jobs and you've guessed it the traffic which is worse than anywhere else or have I said that before? Ideas are flying about all over the place and new groups of residents against some proposal or other are being launched like falling leaves, which leads me onto the prospect of trees beside roads being cut down to make room for bus lanes etc etc. Then there have been proposals for tunnels under Cambridge and monorails and of course a congestion charge. Did I mention the gates on key access routes to regulate the traffic getting in?
Well nothing is right of course especially if it might mean houses get noisier. But then lets go back to the start if houses weren't so expensive perhaps people on lower salaries could live in the the place and there might just be less traffic or driving about.
But then what do I know or most other folk we just put up with it and moan, does it sort anything out no but it makes you feel better, roll on the next proposal.
Get your Cuts ear, subtitled no more low fruit!
Cuts cuts cuts in public services all over the UK to a greater or lesser extent depending on where you live. We hear about them all the time; Parks and Gardens CUT, Arts CUT, Help for the elderly CUT, and still it goes on. In Cambridgeshire on hearing the latest news re how much funding from central government they will get a Councillor announced words along the lines of; we have already cut the lowest fruit now we will have to cut other areas.
Lowest fruit, no limits to what or where it would appear unless you can make enough noise for the council to think No we will keep that and cut the other thing there is no noise or less noise about.
Because thats how its going or looks to be. If the county cannot afford it say we will cut it and get the district to do it and pay for it, what happens when they cant afford to run it is something else.
Lately there has been much consultation about Lollipop patrols, we are thinking of cutting them say the county. After a lot of comment its we will keep them and investigate other options. But of course by keeping the Lollipop patrol where else are they going to look for the money to run them, dont say that do they.
As I have said before people have got used to councils running all sorts of services some that they think they have every right to like rubbish collection and street lights. They are not safe and nor is anything else. If you dont think it matters ask friends and family, I am guessing at least one is paying extra for a service they used to get for free or its is not provided now. Where will it end?
Lowest fruit, no limits to what or where it would appear unless you can make enough noise for the council to think No we will keep that and cut the other thing there is no noise or less noise about.
Because thats how its going or looks to be. If the county cannot afford it say we will cut it and get the district to do it and pay for it, what happens when they cant afford to run it is something else.
Lately there has been much consultation about Lollipop patrols, we are thinking of cutting them say the county. After a lot of comment its we will keep them and investigate other options. But of course by keeping the Lollipop patrol where else are they going to look for the money to run them, dont say that do they.
As I have said before people have got used to councils running all sorts of services some that they think they have every right to like rubbish collection and street lights. They are not safe and nor is anything else. If you dont think it matters ask friends and family, I am guessing at least one is paying extra for a service they used to get for free or its is not provided now. Where will it end?
Death and money
There's money to be made from every major stage of human life, birth death and marriage/civil whatever etc etc etc. Just lately two planning applications have been submitted locally to meet the death stage.
In one the application is for a 5500 grave cemetery on green belt land south of Cambridge which the developers claim would be able to take people from across the Cambridgeshire region. Local councillors have claimed that it is a commercial venture. Now theres a surprise and perhaps not surprisingly the developers are appealing the refusal of permission.
Meanwhile over St Neots way an application has been submitted for a Neolithic style burial chamber to take cremation urns as cremations are more popular than burials now. The barrow would have 350 niches each capable of holding two or three urns with usage estimated at 130 urns a year.
Interesting stuff eh.
In one the application is for a 5500 grave cemetery on green belt land south of Cambridge which the developers claim would be able to take people from across the Cambridgeshire region. Local councillors have claimed that it is a commercial venture. Now theres a surprise and perhaps not surprisingly the developers are appealing the refusal of permission.
Meanwhile over St Neots way an application has been submitted for a Neolithic style burial chamber to take cremation urns as cremations are more popular than burials now. The barrow would have 350 niches each capable of holding two or three urns with usage estimated at 130 urns a year.
Interesting stuff eh.
Whats the truth about recycling garden waste
So then a few years ago all the councils went to great expense to get us to recycle as much waste as possible from our houses including garden waste.
Last year reports started to crop up about Suffolk county and district councils wanting to charge residents to recycle there garden waste. Why? It has been suggested it wasn't profitable to recycle it for the costs involved. The county council in Suffolk could not afford to keep it going but if districts wanted to carry then they should work out how to do it. And so we have Suffolk district councils deciding yes or no to charging residents to recycle there garden waste. The yearly charge to empty the bin will be £40, and the councils concerned will be taking away the garden waste bin from residents not paying up. Is there an alternative, well you can compost it yourself or take it to a local recycling centre but it will pay to check if you will get charged to do that as most if not all in Suffolk have been palmed of sorry transferred to charities etc.
In Suffolk at least you have to wonder whats next paying to have your household waste taken away?
Meanwhile here in East Cambridgeshire we received a leaflet a few months ago the front of which proudly states "It pays to recycle in East Cambridgeshire".
You have to value consistency and coordinated messages dont you.
Last year reports started to crop up about Suffolk county and district councils wanting to charge residents to recycle there garden waste. Why? It has been suggested it wasn't profitable to recycle it for the costs involved. The county council in Suffolk could not afford to keep it going but if districts wanted to carry then they should work out how to do it. And so we have Suffolk district councils deciding yes or no to charging residents to recycle there garden waste. The yearly charge to empty the bin will be £40, and the councils concerned will be taking away the garden waste bin from residents not paying up. Is there an alternative, well you can compost it yourself or take it to a local recycling centre but it will pay to check if you will get charged to do that as most if not all in Suffolk have been palmed of sorry transferred to charities etc.
In Suffolk at least you have to wonder whats next paying to have your household waste taken away?
Meanwhile here in East Cambridgeshire we received a leaflet a few months ago the front of which proudly states "It pays to recycle in East Cambridgeshire".
You have to value consistency and coordinated messages dont you.
So a conundrum houses or a what!
Never thought I would be saying this but!
Around my this area there a small number of airfields that were once and still are in one case the operating sites of American aircraft. Molesworth, Alconbury and Mildenhall. What to do with them is the thing. They belong to this country and are ripe for development they say. We could cover them in houses, after all it is brownfield land they say. Government looking to get thousands of houses built with as little fuss as possible is eyeing them covetously after all Oakington will soonish become Northstowe complete with a load of state sponsored houses that will count towards the govt's total.
But at the back of my head is the fact that all these airfields were built in the early years of the second world war on agricultural land and the land not needed for buildings and hard standing for planes was managed as cheaply as possible, left as grass and not cut ridiculously short for the most part. Often these airfields are the largest bits of grassland left in otherwise intensively managed agricultural land and yet we can just call them brownfield and build on them.
Meanwhile we have a government that would also like to placate the airport operators and airlines by allowing a new runway or airfield. Being simplistic are the government not missing a trick here? Thats what some folk think anyway and I might share there thinking which amazes me to be honest.
Why not take all goods freight from the London airports and take it to one of those airfields freeing up space at Heathrow and Gatwick instead of building on them. The council close to Moleworth has already said housing there would be poorly served by infrastructure despite being close to the A14, the same could be said for Alconbury in which case add closeness to A1 as well. Mildenhall is already a base for American freight planes of many types with the A11 closeby.
If we really need another airport, I mean really need one surely at least one of these should be considered properly. And I still cannot believe I have said that.
Around my this area there a small number of airfields that were once and still are in one case the operating sites of American aircraft. Molesworth, Alconbury and Mildenhall. What to do with them is the thing. They belong to this country and are ripe for development they say. We could cover them in houses, after all it is brownfield land they say. Government looking to get thousands of houses built with as little fuss as possible is eyeing them covetously after all Oakington will soonish become Northstowe complete with a load of state sponsored houses that will count towards the govt's total.
But at the back of my head is the fact that all these airfields were built in the early years of the second world war on agricultural land and the land not needed for buildings and hard standing for planes was managed as cheaply as possible, left as grass and not cut ridiculously short for the most part. Often these airfields are the largest bits of grassland left in otherwise intensively managed agricultural land and yet we can just call them brownfield and build on them.
Meanwhile we have a government that would also like to placate the airport operators and airlines by allowing a new runway or airfield. Being simplistic are the government not missing a trick here? Thats what some folk think anyway and I might share there thinking which amazes me to be honest.
Why not take all goods freight from the London airports and take it to one of those airfields freeing up space at Heathrow and Gatwick instead of building on them. The council close to Moleworth has already said housing there would be poorly served by infrastructure despite being close to the A14, the same could be said for Alconbury in which case add closeness to A1 as well. Mildenhall is already a base for American freight planes of many types with the A11 closeby.
If we really need another airport, I mean really need one surely at least one of these should be considered properly. And I still cannot believe I have said that.
Get your Tithe Barn ere.
Deep in the middle of the lovely Cambridge village called Landbeach there sits a slightly worse for wear old barn.
Not just any old barn though is the thing, its a typical fen barn with black tarred wooden planking over a wooden frame and in this case a thatched roof. It dates back to the early 16th Century and is rapidly in need of love and care.
Picture by Cambridge News
But its only a barn, yes it is but in its own way it typifies the state this country is in. It was owned by the district council who leased it to a village society who did there best to meet its minor upkeep. But theres a big issue arising, it needs to be rethatched and the council would like to see it out of there hands. Yes cutbacks are the problem, the council cannot afford to have the work done and as far back as 2014 were saying they would sell it unless someone else took it over.
The village society could not do it so a trust was formed, here we are two years later and the trust is in need of help with trustees. Its a building loved by the locals but its part of our cultural heritage and believe me there are lots of barns in need of help, most just slump into delapidation and collapse. What will become of this one. To be honest and in my opinion what hope is there for a small building like this managed by a small trust.
Not just any old barn though is the thing, its a typical fen barn with black tarred wooden planking over a wooden frame and in this case a thatched roof. It dates back to the early 16th Century and is rapidly in need of love and care.
Picture by Cambridge News
But its only a barn, yes it is but in its own way it typifies the state this country is in. It was owned by the district council who leased it to a village society who did there best to meet its minor upkeep. But theres a big issue arising, it needs to be rethatched and the council would like to see it out of there hands. Yes cutbacks are the problem, the council cannot afford to have the work done and as far back as 2014 were saying they would sell it unless someone else took it over.
The village society could not do it so a trust was formed, here we are two years later and the trust is in need of help with trustees. Its a building loved by the locals but its part of our cultural heritage and believe me there are lots of barns in need of help, most just slump into delapidation and collapse. What will become of this one. To be honest and in my opinion what hope is there for a small building like this managed by a small trust.
Wednesday 20 January 2016
Load of punts, well it is Cambridge
"Sabotage on the Cam as axe attacker sinks punts" well that's the headline and whats it about yes punts and them being sunk and not for the first time lately.
Seems there are punt wars and someone is going round and putting axe blade size holes in the bottoms of them, not surprisingly they then sink. But then in dear old Cambridge we have licensed and unlicensed punts and with punts come touts trying to get you in one.
Its mad at times with touts shouting at each other and visitors for not going with there company. Complaints of name calling and fist fights between touts has led to a call for touting by unlicensed punters to be made illegal.
But hang on a minute if they are unlicensed surely they should and can be stopped anyway or am I not seeing something???
Seems there are punt wars and someone is going round and putting axe blade size holes in the bottoms of them, not surprisingly they then sink. But then in dear old Cambridge we have licensed and unlicensed punts and with punts come touts trying to get you in one.
Its mad at times with touts shouting at each other and visitors for not going with there company. Complaints of name calling and fist fights between touts has led to a call for touting by unlicensed punters to be made illegal.
But hang on a minute if they are unlicensed surely they should and can be stopped anyway or am I not seeing something???
Tuesday 5 January 2016
leccy ciggies and whatever and wherever
So being sick I was watching a lot of television, how come we have adverts for those electronic cigarettes I saw at least two one so full of high tech this and that the vaping bit is a last minute add on also supposed to impress you with the technology involved in the electronic cigarette no doubt?
Then there are the number of adverts where they are using the words, whatever and wherever repeatedly and not just one advert I reckon three different products at least. Same script writer or trendy words???????
Then there are the number of adverts where they are using the words, whatever and wherever repeatedly and not just one advert I reckon three different products at least. Same script writer or trendy words???????
Go for three get one, shop local eh...
Well yes I'm still here despite being laid low by something nasty in early December and still I'm not right or back working but slowly getting better.
Anyway on to other things some catching up. Went into Cambridge, well Newmarket Road superstores to be honest, on Sunday 2nd Jan to buy three items, a vacuum cleaner, a very simple camera and an office chair. Research done before left stuff in stock according to web pages. With the vacuum its why we went there and not the usual supplier whose website said none in stock, shall come back to that later.
Into a well known electrical store with stores all over for the vacuum and simple camera to keep in my pocket for work. Finds camera and buys, should have listened for heavenly music as it all went downhill from there, finds the vacuum and tries to buy, you have two the webpage says. Off goes young lad, comes back sheepish look on face ten minutes later, ahem, webpage is not right we havn't got any, hmmnn.
So off to store two another national chain , look for office chair and find, but hang on its not got the adjustment suggested, ask manager, they used to have! And so we left, not impressed and with only one out of three items.
Back home, while I'm looking at the camera Elaine is phoning the Cambridge branch of usual shop where there web pages say nationally they have none, oh that model I will just check says the chap on the phone, we have four in the warehouse here. So one is bought and it arrived by post today, as did the almost identical office chair I found later on while surfing the web.
Is there a moral, dont buy anything!
Anyway on to other things some catching up. Went into Cambridge, well Newmarket Road superstores to be honest, on Sunday 2nd Jan to buy three items, a vacuum cleaner, a very simple camera and an office chair. Research done before left stuff in stock according to web pages. With the vacuum its why we went there and not the usual supplier whose website said none in stock, shall come back to that later.
Into a well known electrical store with stores all over for the vacuum and simple camera to keep in my pocket for work. Finds camera and buys, should have listened for heavenly music as it all went downhill from there, finds the vacuum and tries to buy, you have two the webpage says. Off goes young lad, comes back sheepish look on face ten minutes later, ahem, webpage is not right we havn't got any, hmmnn.
So off to store two another national chain , look for office chair and find, but hang on its not got the adjustment suggested, ask manager, they used to have! And so we left, not impressed and with only one out of three items.
Back home, while I'm looking at the camera Elaine is phoning the Cambridge branch of usual shop where there web pages say nationally they have none, oh that model I will just check says the chap on the phone, we have four in the warehouse here. So one is bought and it arrived by post today, as did the almost identical office chair I found later on while surfing the web.
Is there a moral, dont buy anything!
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