In May, Dixy Chicken (450 Wilbraham Road) applied for Planning Permission to extend their opening hours to 11.00 am to 02.00 Monday to Tuesday, 11.00 am to 03.00 am Wednesday to Thursday, 11.00 am to 4.00am Friday to Saturday and 11.00 am to 03.00 am Sunday. A number of residents contacted me to complain about the impact this would have on them and on the centre of Chorlton. I raised my concerns and sent the following representation to the Planning Committee:I wish to object to the above planning application. The proposed opening hours are significantly later than comparable businesses in ...
In 2009 my beloved Livingston were forced into insolvency due to a rogue owner. HMRC were after their money. We were thrown out of the league but the next day we were out of liquidation due to the bid the fans had been supporting, as well as the administrators, all summer came in to rescue the club and put it on a firm footing. Roll on three years and another team with a number of rogue owners owes HMRC a lot more money and same goes to other creditors. Like Gretna before them they look like they will be penalised ...
Last week, Lib Dem Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable announced sweeping changes to the way in which top-level executives have their pay and bonuses decided. This change, described by the government as the 'most comprehensive reforms of the governance framework for directors' remuneration in a decade', will:Give company shareholders binding votes on both executive-pay policy and exit payments (the amount of money an executive receives if they resign or leave their contract early)Boost transparency - allowing the link between pay and performance to be clearly drawnEnsure that the reforms have a lasting impact by keeping ...
Below are recently submitted Planning Applications in the Chorlton area. You can find out more information about any of the proposals on the City Council's Planning Portal at http://tinyurl.com/yv6lex or by contacting the South Area Planning Group Manager - Roger Hall; Tel: (0161) 234 4536; email: r.hall@manchester.gov.uk . You can also make a Planning representation (in support or opposition) to Mr Hall or the designated planning officer for each application. Please feel free to contact me on (07947383740; cllr.v.chamberlain@manchester.gov.uk) if you wish to discuss any application and please also send me a copy of any representation you make. 099432/LE/2012/S1 4 ...
After more than a hundred years of debates, cross-party talks, Green Papers, White Papers, Command Papers and a Royal Commission an historic Bill to reform the House of Lords has finally been introduced into Parliament by the Liberal Democrats. These reforms do not challenge the work or talent of the dedicated individuals in the House of Lords, but challenge a tainted system. That is not a controversial belief, it was a promise made by all three political parties at the last election.As Nick Clegg said: "There's a very simple principle at stake, which most people will agree with and Liberal ...
I have come across a history of Long Buckby United Reform Church, as the village's Congregational church now is. One passage, discussing the ministry of David Griffiths between 1803 and 1842, reminds us just how hard won religious liberty was in England: During the ministry of Mr. Griffiths, the village chapels at East Haddon and Whilton were erected. Mr. Griffiths used to "lecture" once a month in a private house in East Haddon and so many people desired to hear him that the accommodation was soon insufficient and a chapel was built. This did not please (the squire of that ...
Today Nick Clegg made a public speech on Lords reform. As the BBC puts it: Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has delivered a speech on Lords reform to an audience of young people from a soapbox in Victoria Gardens.Now, if you watch the video of the speech it's quite clear that the "young people" in question are fairly bored looking Lib Dem staffers and researchrs as well as a few passing members of the public who were walking past and stopped to watch. It is, quite transparently, a media stunt. I don't take issue with that though. You need media ...
This section of the programme talked about the future of regional newspapers.
This section of the programme dealt with the issue of the vote in the commons on the conduct of Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport
Read about plans to get rid of the obsolete bus drivers cabin on Sutton Green, on my ward blog here.
Read about the debate at this week's Sutton Local Committee, on my local blog here.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I got in the car, outside our house, yesterday. I had the car washed a few days ago and "sods law" was enacted where a local pigeon decided to use my driver's window for target practice. Although slightly annoyed I was prepared to accept my lot(literally) and clean the offending mess when I got a chance. However, there's always a however. I have now found that it mustn't have been a pigeon. I'm now on the look out for Southport's own Dumbo as something the size of a small airborne elephant had only just ...
Many of you will know Nikki Thomson, a lifelong Liberal Democrat who fulfilled many roles in the Party. If you're in Liberal Youth and you've enjoyed Activate weekends, it was Nikki who first set them up way back in the 80s. It's barely a week since Nikki told us the devastating news that her Cancer was terminal and that palliative care was the only option. That in itself came little more than a week after the official diagnosis. You will understand, then, how shocked her friends and family are to hear that she passed away at 2am this morning. It's ...
...were published earlier and can be found here, with a short commentary. Go on. You know you want to.
Thu 28th
18:56
LibLink: Jeremy Browne and Edward McMillan-Scott - The EU can amplify our human rights pledge
Jeremy Browne, Lib Dem Foreign Office minister, and Edward McMillan-Scott MEP have a joint article in today's Independent on how the European Union is helping to uphold the human rights if people around the world. Here's a sample: Human rights, poverty reduction and the upholding of international law are essential to - and indivisible from - both EU and UK foreign policy objectives. We cannot achieve long term security and prosperity unless we uphold our values, and recognise that unchecked human rights abuses represent a threat to our own national security. Although we must promote our values with conviction and ...
From the Leicester Mercury: A private company is pulling out of running a city GP surgery after protests from patients about poor service. The Practice plc made the announcement as patients threatened to demonstrate outside the Brandon Street surgery, in Belgrave, and take their protest to local health bosses. They said they were fed up that nothing was being done to sort out a catalogue of problems at the surgery, which moved from Cross Street, in Belgrave, to the newly-built Belgrave Health Centre, in Brandon Street, last year. Problems included concerns over the number of locum doctors being used, as ...
In today's FT the economists Paul Krugman and Richard Layard (of the LSE, famous for his work on the economics of happiness) publish an article A manifesto for economic sense calling for looser fiscal policy around the world. Being in the FT it's behind a paywall (though I have shared the article on Facebook). But the simplicity and clarity of their argument make it a particularly good pace to discuss the difficult issues of economic policy as the economic crisis rumbles on. Back in 2005 I was contemplating taking an Economics degree, with little formal background in the subject. I ...
After reading this article about how to think critically I have been thinking about how we, as politicos are affected by confirmation bias and also about how we make up our minds about news stories and happenings around us, both locally and nationally. I've been quite frustrated in the past by those who would react according to their principles "capitialism is bad" or "everything the LDs do is good", but I've also thought we need to think more independently and critically about both our reactions, and in general, party policy that we seek to influence. I think this might end ...
We all know that the First Minister has a high view of himself. In fact, a lot of us seem to agree. Love him or hate him, he's got to be one of the most successful political communicators in recent years. His detractors see him as self-absorbed, arrogant and conceited. So when, in a pitifully tribal First Minister's Questions today, Alex Salmond appeared to liken himself to Moses it can only have given such people a bit of extra ammunition. Not the cleverest of moves, I suspect, and one which will lead to some predictable headlines in tomorrow's daily newspapers. ...
Read about my reaction to the new Olympic banners in Sutton on my ward blog here.
Having two elected chambers would reduce democracy, and reduce the accountability of Parliament to the people. [IMG: Post to Twitter] Tweet This Post
Back in may, in an article published by the Kent Messenger Group and written by David Cameron's team, explaining the new role of Police and Crime Commisioners, the following is a excerpt "This isn't just for politicians, but community leaders and pioneers of all sorts. People with real experience who've done things and run organisations, whether they are charities or companies. Whatever their background, they will need to be outstanding leaders ready to take a really big role on behalf of all of us The overall impression was that the new role would open an exciting era of exceptional people, ...
I'm quite certain there must be no one whose life hasn't been affected cancer. It is one of the biggest killers but if caught early enough, can be treated and cured. The subjects of the Cure Cancer @UCL presentation last ... Continue reading →
You have a pothole in your road. You suffer from a council like mine and fixing it becomes a long-running saga. You involve a local Liberal Democrat campaigner. They get it sorted. You like them and as a result end up joining the party. That sort of sequence is pretty common, especially amongst those who then end up being local activists and councillors. But if this is the route you've taken, how do you end up finding out what the party actually believes and why? You get a membership card with part of our constitution's preamble, a new member pack ...
An email from Veolia Water arrives today, with news that Veolia Water has just been sold: "Veolia Water regulated businesses purchased by Infracapital Partners and Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners "I am writing to inform you that Veolia Water Southeast, along with Veolia Water Central and Veolia Water East, have been purchased today by a consortium led by Infracapital Partners, the infrastructure investment fund managed by M&G (the European investment arm of Prudential plc) and Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners. Over the coming weeks we will be changing the name of our business from Veolia. "Although the name will be different, customers ...
This morning, along with two of my councillor ward colleagues, other guests, pupils, staff and parents, I had the great pleasure of attending Harris Academy's Annual Prize Giving. It was again a thoroughly enjoyable Prize Giving, with the school giving recognition to the many pupils who have achieved academically, in sport, and in other ways, over the past academic year. This year's guest of honour was John Mitchell, who gave a very entertaining speech and Head Teacher, Jim Thewliss, gave a comprehensive update on school activities with plans over the next six years, which include major milestones such as the ...
My friend and Lib Dem colleague Nikki Thomson passed away last night. Because I had moved away from Edinburgh I do remember the last three times that I met Nikki while I was living and working in Edinburgh and the Lothians. I'm going to share the three of them as they pretty much sum Nikki up. First of the three was at the Meadows Festival in 2010. She was in position in the control tent giving instructions and directions to all those who were around. She devoted a lot of time to the Meadows Festival making sure it was run ...
"The breadth and depth of friendship and affection for the late broadcaster and Liberal Democrat activist David Walter was on view this afternoon when St Bride's Church, Fleet Street, was packed by family, friends and former colleagues, remembering one of the kindest and most intelligent of men (a rare combination)." Jonathan Fryer attends David Walter's thanksgiving service. The Potter Blogger calls on the Liberal Democrats to stop treating party members as an afterthought. "It is hard to know which came first - the public's spiralling distrust of the political class or the news media's obsession with destroying as many of ...
We all deserve a safe and secure place to live. But all too often for the 160,000 people living in park homes up and down the country the reality fails to live up to the utopian dream offered in the marketing brochure. For those readers not familiar with the term, a 'park home' is a static caravan. Usually found grouped together in modestly sized communities (2,000 of them in all) often by the coast or in areas of natural beauty. This 'peaceful' life primarily attracts the retired, the elderly and the infirm - often seeking more peaceful surroundings to live ...
It took me a while (and several long journeys) but eventually I managed to watch all four of the nominated films in this category, having seen the first series of Game of Thrones when it was broadcast last year. My votes are as follows: No vote: Hugo. Don't get me wrong - I absolutely loved this film, the story, the cinematography, the performances of the stars both young and older (Sacha Baron Cohen in not completely annoying shock! Not to mention Ben Kingsley, Christopher Lee, etc), the beautiful detail. But it is not really sf. It is about the earliest ...
With one Welsh Assembly member abandoning Twitter after walking into controversy over her comments about Martin McGuinness meeting the Queen, I was interested in this report in today's Telegraph, in which Housing Minister Grant Shapps, who has notched up 50,000 followers on Twitter, says the social network has given him the edge over civil servants. Mr. Shapps says that Civil Servants, most of whom are excellent, really do care that the Minister doesn't screw up and that they genuinely worry about the way their charges use language. However, Twitter has changed the rules of the game in Whitehall: Ministers are ...
Last night I attended the scrutiny panel meeting which will be discussing alcohol, the problems is causes and how Ealing Council and other bodies can reduce the problems or effects. At the meeting were officers from Ealing Council covering the areas of health, enforcement and policing. A number of interesting discussions led to following: The Redback pub in Acton which shut a few months ago following years of bad management is due to reopen shortly as the Acton Arms. The Redback we were told had led to a lot of violence in or near the pub. It appears the new ...
A Lancaster bomber has just flown over me on its way to drop its payload of poppies at the new Bomber Command Memorial. What a long overdue memorial to the 55,573 crew members who died in WWII. Very fitting part of the inscription that states "also commemorates those of all nations who lost their lives in the bombing of 1939-1945". I've visited Dresden, Coventry and London's Barbican. Truly shocking what massed bombing can do. But I've also visited London Cabinet War Rooms where it was clear that the British cabinet firmly believed from the evidence they were received that massed ...
I was very sceptical when some Lib Dems were suggesting that there should be a a give away of the nationalised banks and wrote about it at the time With more details of the indifference of shareholder towards the ethics of companies that they invest in emerges it is time to explore the alternatives. Shareholders are interested in very little other that a quick return on their investments. Short-termism is built into their DNA. Vince Cable was one of those who opposed the demutualisation of the Building Societies. Recently he identified that action -prompted as it was by a ...
As I worked through my Hugo Voter Packet, I eventually reached the file labelled "Digger_Optimized.pdf" and opened it. My heart sank as I realised that it is 830 pages in length - I think only A Dance With Dragons is longer, of this year's book nominees - and then my eyebrows rose as I realised that the first edition of the first volume was published as long ago as 2005. But I needn't have worried. The sixth and final volume of Digger was published last year, making the whole thing eligible for this year's Hugos, and it turns out to ...
From Private Eye: Rather ironic for the news to be from the borough that has the worst roads in the country.
By Katy Prichard You know those days when everything seems to happen at once? Deadlines clash, the phone doesn't seem to stop ringing, emails are piling up: adrenaline pumping, you're working your hardest and trying to achieve something really worthwhile, something hard, but something that you really believe will make a difference, and to top ...
David Starkey I did it again, I saw Laurie Penny glaring out of the cover of Monday's Independent and found myself flicking to the page and reading her comment about historian and right wing enthusiast David Starkey and their spat that occurred this weekend. I gather from a source that it turned quite ugly and almost turned to blows! Obviously I don't (and am sure most people won't) condone this at all. But what was it all about? According to the Comment piece that appeared in Monday's Independent David Starkey apparently said; real British values [are not] entrenched in the ...
The English Council, the governing body of the Liberal Democrats in England, meets twice a year to consider matters of importance to the English Party. The first of its meetings for 2012 took place at University College London last Saturday. The meeting was brisk and business like — it ran a little over time but not unreasonably so — and had something of a studious atmosphere. This might have had something to do with the impressive environment of the Gustave Tuck Lecture Theatre. Then again it could have been the presence of one of England's greatest philosophers in the hall ...
I had been looking forward to rereading this. When I first read it, shortly after publication, the dystopian setting of a near-future USA torn apart by social conflict and religious extremism seemed a bit far-fetched; in these days of the Tea Party, Rick Santorum, the Citizen's United ruling and today's anticipated judgement on healthcare, it doesn't seem so unrealistic after all. I must say that the detail of the philosophical ideas of Lauren Olamina, the central character, rather sail past me - it's a compassionate, pro-technology belief system, which I think is all you need to know. But basically this ...
My Ward surgery, due to take place on Tuesday 3rd July, has been postponed and will now take place on Tuesday 10th July at Westmorland Road Day Centre, Westmorland Road, Redcar from 6pm to 7pm.
The results are in from my Leadership Poll. First a reminder why this poll ran. Given the kerfuffle over the Peter Kelner/You Gov piece advocating a change of leader one way or another, Stephen Tall's analysis of that piece, and of course the recent Lib Dem Voice survey of party members, it seemed reasonable to ask the question about how people felt about the future of Nick's leadership. I was keen to ask as straightforward a question as possible - so I asked "Should the Lib Dems go into the next General Election with a new leader?" ...which I don't ...
Ritual slaughter has had a reasonably low profile in the UK, despite vigorous debate abroad, in the European parliament, and now in the Commons. David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Sarah Ludford MEP (FT) have expressed some level of support for the practice, but I must disagree. The law requires that animals be stunned before slaughter, for their welfare, but there is an exemption for Muslim and Jewish food production. Halal animals often are stunned – due to differences in religious opinion – but millions are not, and shechita (kosher slaughter) is always without stunning. Their use has expanded to general ...
The Revenants, by Ian Potter, was a free download for DWM subscribers a month or so ago. William Russell returns as Ian Chesterton, telling the story of how he and Barbara were apparently abandoned by the First Doctor in Orkney in 1956, just after Susan's departure in Tardis time. The plot is fairly standard (creatures in the bog which may or may not be a Threat To Us All) but there are some lovely character moments for all three of the Tardis crew, and Sharon Small puts in an appearance as several different local Orcadian women. I find Eddie Robson's ...
Vince would appear to have been on the money on this one... (click to enlarge) h/t to Kevin Peters (Twitter @Big_Kev)
Last night, Google held its second "Luvvies and Boffins" event at The Science Museum. Part of the Science Museum Lates – an adults-only evening event. As well as tours of the museum exhibits, there was a chance at some hands-on science. We were led by an excellent team from Technology Will Save Us. A group whose mission states: Technology Will Save Us is a haberdashery for technology and alternative education dedicated to helping people to produce and not just consume technology. So, after a brief tutorial on safety, we got cracking. I'm not sure who did the risk assessment, but ...
As the BBC tells me that Tony Blair wants to come back (did he ever really leave? Actually, it's been blindingly obvious for ages that he'd like to come back, and if I was the Labour Party...), a video of Tory Treasury minister Chloe Smith is floating around the Internet. On Newsnight, Ms Smith says repeatedly that decisions about tax are made by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor (and, I seriously imagine, by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and sometimes also the Deputy Prime Minister). If the PM, Chancellor, Chief Secretary, etc, are making the decisions, and the ...
Lewisham Council have launched a bidding process for organisations who have ideas for the future use of Louise House on Dartmouth Road. The building has been lying empty for nearly ten years since the last occupants - council social workers who used it as offices - moved out. It had been scheduled to be demolished ...
Jenny Jones questions Stephen Greenhalgh Watch the tongue!!!! (tags: ukpolitics )
To mark yesterday's publication of the House of Lords Reform Bill, Nick Clegg delivered a "soapbox" speech in Victoria Tower Gardens, behind the Palace of Westminster, to urge legislators to get on and pass the Bill, which, he says "comes down to a very simple principle: democracy". Here's the video: * Nick Thornsby is Thursday Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs here.
There is a format that works much more often than not for Doctor Who: take an isolated building, and develop beyond the usual base-under-siege story by making the inhabitants a collection of strange indiviuals each with their own hidden motivations. Ghost Light on TV, The Chimes of Midnight on audio, last year's New Who book Dead of Winter are all good examples; so is Falls The Shadow, a Seventh Doctor story in the New Adventures range featuring Ace and Bernice Summerfield, which runs through changing topography, off-stage sex, weird androids, temporary deaths, and mysterious travellers in a satisfying and well-written ...
Wednesday: Today presenter: So why have you taken such drastic measures to cut down trees alongside the railway lines, sometimes up to thirty yards from the tracks? Network Rail Spokesperson: Well, I don't see what the problem is. We got on the palantír to the Dark Lord Sauron and he said we should tear down the forests of Isengard and burn them to power an industrial machine that would carry a new Darkness across all the lands of the West. Later... Sauron: This is getting silly! I've been waiting for my invasion for Ages now! What's causing all these delays?! ...
The end of the month nears, so edition #22 of my monthly newsletter about the Liberal Democrats will shortly be hitting thousands of people's email inboxes. To make sure you don't miss out on the latest about the party, the inside story on what's happening with the Mid-Term Review, and the now nearly traditional bit of fun from a Yes Minister episode, sign up here.
Yesterday, I met members of BALPA, the Pilots Union. They are concerned about European plans to increase the length of time which pilots are allowed to fly. I am supporting their case. This year, half of all Britons will fly ... Continue reading →
Thu 28th
10:04
Menzies Campbell: Money and Politics Came Before Defence Priorities in RAF Leuchars Decision
North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell has called on the Ministry of Defence to reconsider last year's decision to transfer the Typhoon Force from RAF Leuchars to RAF Lossiemouth. Sir Menzies issued the call during a debate in the House of Commons on defence issues. Speaking in the debate he said: "I have a profound belief that the original decision to move the Typhoon aircraft from Leuchars to Lossiemouth was based on financial and political considerations, which were put ahead of strategic obligations and of the clear operational advantages provided by Leuchars. "In my view there is no question ...
Commenting on the news the Coalition Government has decided to postpone the August fuel duty rise, North East Fife Sir Menzies Campbell said: "Because of this decision fuel tax is 10p a litre cheaper than if we had continued with Labour's plans. "For many people in North East Fife a car is not a luxury but a simple necessity if they are to do their jobs, get their children to school and go about their daily lives. While the oil price is falling postponing the fuel duty rise is the right thing to do, ensuring savings can be passed on ...
Mr Balloon and the Culture of Entitlement Millennium is a bit cross today, and punctures David Cameron's "culture of entitlement" bollocks brilliantly "the Prime Monster reminds us. "Some of us have to commute for hours and stare longingly at properties we could never afford, some of which are occupied by benefit claimants! The horror! The horror!" Though, naturally, by "us" he means "you proles" what with the State providing HIM with a FREE HOUSE, right OVER THE SHOP (and ANOTHER one in the countryside, convenient for the PUB where you can leave unwanted offspring behind**)." "If Mr Balloon is going ...
I am months behind on writing up my recent Big Finish listening, but one has to start somewhere. The three Road Trip audios take Bernice Summerfield, played as ever by Lisa Bowerman, to the edge of the universe in a quest for her son; they are fairly separate narratives (indeed, one mild frustration is that plot threads between the three are not really connected at all) which are reasonably penetrable even for listeners who have not previously encountered Benny, though the end of the third and final play is pretty heavy on continuity. All also feature actors who have appeared ...
Ed Miliband's decision to insist on Labour backing House of Lords reform at the Second Reading vote in the House of Commons is an important and welcome one. That it was opposed by senior Labour figures such as David Blunkett probably reinforces the views of many Liberal Democrats of Blunkett and co, but it should also remind us that Miliband's decision and leadership on this is not trivial. It is something House of Lords reformers in all parties should welcome. More cynical people may wonder if Labour support on the Second Reading will be a distraction tactic from them trying ...
One of the key justifications for Lib Dem involvement in the Coalition — one which has comforted many party members through the first two difficult years of being the junior partner in government with the Conservatives — has been the finding that 75% of the Lib Dem manifesto appeared in the Programme for Government (commonly known as the Coalition Agreement). This assessment was based on research by UCL's Constitution Unit, and published a year ago in their interim report on 'How Coalition Government Works' (PDF). However, UCL has now updated their assessment, as Robert Hazell & Ben Yong note in ...
Here's my piece in the New Statesman this week. Spookily Peter Oborne has written a piece in The Telegraph saying almost exactly the same thing, from a Tory point of view. Which makes you think there may be something to it :-) Anyway, would value all thoughts... Forget all this talk of Cameron's welfare speech yesterday beginning the longest election campaign in history. We'll now get there sooner than you thinkLast week, in just four words, Nick Clegg sounded the starting gun on the end of the coalition. He did it on Thursday. You may have missed it - most ...
Back in April I reported on Harborough District Council's draconian plans to limit where dogs could be walked off the lead. Yesterday a press release appeared on the council's website suggesting that it has listened to the outcry and come up with something more sensible: Councillors said that, having listened to feedback from the public, they felt a holistic ban on dogs being off leads was not an appropriate option for the Harborough district. The cross-party regulatory committee decided that dogs must be kept on leads in: Children's play areas Sports pitches maintained with public expenses Footpaths adjacent to roads ...
Thu 28th
07:40
Guess who benefits directly from the FSA fine on Barclays? Yes, its all the other banks...
The news that Barclays has been fined £290m by US and UK financial authorities for manipulating Libor rates is of course totally shocking. But here's the thing. The UK part of the fine, levied by the FSA, is some £59.5m. When this fine is paid, it will go directly to the FSA and will go towards their annual running costs. The FSA is funded by a levy from the banks. So anything that goes towards defraying FSA costs just reduces the levy paid by all the other banks. So as a result of this manipulation - all the other banks ...
Following the cancellation due to bad weather, the RNLI Open Day has been rearranged for 21st July , starting at 1pm Feel free to copy and print this poster, and display it where it can be seen!
Following an initial meeting last month, I was pleased to last night chair a second meeting of residents of Pleasance Court at the residents' lounge in the complex. I'm grateful to both Home Scotland (who have tenants across the west and north of the former mill) and Ross & Liddell (who factor the properties across the south of the mill) and who both had representatives in attendance yesterday evening. Feedback was given by these representatives and myself on the issues raised at the May meeting and there was discussion about these and other local issues. Additionally, the Chair of the ...
Yesterday afternoon, I had the pleasure of attending the Sheltered Tenants' Strawberry Team at Sinderins Court - see photo of some of those attending - right. It was a very pleasant afternoon with lots of delicious Strawberry meringues, scones and other tempting sweets available. A good time was had by all!
I have been a negligent blogger. I have left undone those things which I ought to have done. Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. I'm not apologising for failing to inflict my views on the world for nearly two weeks. I've been busy and you may even appreciate a period of silence on my part. No. I'm apologising to people who posted comments which I did not see and therefore did not publish. I've
