I see that Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was on this afternoon, so I have an excuse for posting this video. You will have had more than enough of the film's theme song by the end of it, but the location of The Scrumptious Sweet Co. is particularly interesting.
The agenda for the forthcoming Liberal Democrat conference in Ely has been published; 10:00 Welcome and introduction 10:05 Europe 2014: special campaign briefing 10:30 Workshops Areas with council elections in 2014 Areas without council elections in 2014 11:30 Coffee break 11:45 (A) Effective new local parties and officers (B) Connect: finding our voters and supporters (C) Policy forum: jobs, skills and our local economy 13:00 Lunch 14:00 Q&A with invited panellists 14:30 (A) Coordinating the party across Cambridgeshire (B) Using NationBuilder to reach voters online (C) Policy forum: homes, housing and development 15:45 Feedback and close If you'd ...
I just signed this petition and I'd urge you to do the same - three days leave for the death of a loved one is in absolutely no way enough to deal with the loss. Most companies I'm sure would be understanding, but making the leave a legal requirement would make it one less thing to worry about during a very distressing time. Please share this as widely as possible. Cllr Andy Pellew -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- No one can prepare you for the devastation of losing a child. ...
The Neighbourhood and Home Watch movement is one of the largest voluntary crime prevention initiatives across the country. Groups typically operate in a variety of communities to help bring neighbours together who want to look out for each other, creating strong, friendly, active communities where crime and antisocial behaviour is less likely to happen. In order to evaluate Neighbourhood and Home Watch groups across England and Wales, the Neighbourhood and Home Watch Network (NHWN) invite you to participate in our national survey to help us assess the perceived impact and effectiveness of the movement. To take part, please select the ...
Is it possible to have lived so long as to positively state you have celebrated 180 Christmases? This may seem something of a strange question to ask. However, in Kilearnadil Cemetery on the Isle of Jura (the neighbouring island to Islay, where I used to live), there can be found a curious gravestone that continues to amaze and amuse in equal measure, and has been the source of a great deal of local legend surrounding one man and his reputed longevity. It reads thus: "Gillour MAC CRAIN, who kept 180 Christmases in his own house, and who died in the ...
I have just posted a survey of his lordship's activities over the past year on Liberator's blog.
As they year draws to its close, it is time to look back in Lord Bonkers' adventures in 2013. ****** In the February issue of Liberator, his lordship reported his experience of taking part in Call Clegg on LBC: PRESENTER: Our next call is, er, Lord from Rutland. ME: What this I hear about you supporting secret courts, man? Have you taken leave of your senses? What the devil is behind this ridiculous idea? CLEGG: I can't tell you that. ME: Why not? CLEGG: It's a secret.****** By the time of the April issue, an archaeological dig was taking place ...
It's time to expose UKIP, says Issan Ghazni on Liberal Democrat Voice. In the Guardian, Larry Elliott talks to the former West German premier Helmut Schmidt, who was first interviewed by the Manchester Guardian 81 years ago: "Britain has a problem which that will make itself felt in the next 15-20 years. In the 19th century it was the most advanced engineering nation in the world. Now it has more or less given up on engineering and replaced it with finance." Campaigners for sex workers face bullying and bad data, says Belinda Brooks-Gordon on The Conversation. Lowell Monke, writing for ...
Alan Richards or 'Grandpa Richards' as I called him was a well known New Zealand cricket and football commentator. He died on 27 December aged 91 in Auckland. He was my father's godfather. Grandpa Richards is very well known in New Zealand for covering some of the country's finest and most exciting sporting moments like the and the All Whites football journey to the World Cup in 1982. He was the first sports commentator to broadcast from China in 1975. In a country that loves and worships sport, Grandpa Richards will be remembered for being a part of New ...
Since BT activated its porn filters, we've seen many examples of perfectly acceptable sites being blocked. Alisdair Calder McGregor reported last week that the LGBT+ Liberal Democrats site, hardly a den of debauchery, had fallen victim to BT's algorithims. The latest, and best example to date in my view is the blocking of Glasgow's St Mary's Cathedral website and the personal blog of its Provost, the Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth, as he told us on Twitter. Just discovered that my blog is censored by the BT web filtering "parental" controls. That means some can't see invitation to crib service. — ...
I was listening to a podcast recently which was kind enough to mention one of my blog posts. The presenter said: ...and you should Google for this, because I'm really not sure how to pronounce this. Is it shu-huk-spur? dot mobby? Le sigh! It's a conversation I have most weeks when I'm on the phone to someone - usually a call centre - and they ask for my email address. "Sierra Hotel Kilo Sierra Papa Romeo Dot Mike Oscar Bravo India" Whereupon I am inevitably asked: Is that dot com or dot co dot UK at the end, sir? Yes! ...
The recent expose of UKIP's Victoria Ayling, who wants to send all immigrants "back home" offers a glimpse at the nasty side of this party which Nigel Farage would rather keep hidden. Talk of 'repatriating' of immigrants sends a cold shudder up my spine as I remember the 1970s rhetoric of when that phrase applied exclusively to those from the Commonwealth. As a European candidate in the East Midlands, the same region Ayling is from, I want voters to be informed the true face of UKIP. For a party which many commentators speculate will reap the most votes in next ...
As Daily Mail readers await with dread (or is it relish: something else to hammer the government with?) their newspaper's prediction of the arrival of up to 29 million (slightly more than the combined populations of both countries) migrants from Bulgaria and Romania on 1st January, here are a few examples of the kinds of questions they will be required to answer in the event they wish to become citizens: How many members are there in the National Assembly of Wales?Within what period of time must a baby be registered with the Registrar?When did the Church of England come into ...
...was the 1986 Eastenders Christmas Special which gained over 30 million viewers*: The episode centred around the aftermath of Den Watts' discovery that his wife had lied about having a terminal illness. Whilst Albert Square was celebrating, Den made plans to leave his wife. The Fowlers' Christmas was ruined when Arthur refused to take part [...]
Yesterday's Telegraph has a report that the Liberal Democrats believe that they can win or win back some seats currently held by the Tories. The seats mentioned are Oxford West and Abingdon, Winchester and St Albans. These seats have all selected their candidates, Layla Moran, Jackie Porter and Sandy Walkington. I could also add Richmond Park, where Robin Meltzer is working hard, campaigning against Heathrow expansion with the help of two neighbouring cabinet ministers. In Harrogate we have Helen Flynn and in Newton Abbot and Truro and Falmouth, Richard Younger-Ross and Simon Rix are in place. All these candidates are ...
The Western Mail reports that the Federation of Small Businesses in Wales and the Freight Transport Association (FTA) have released a statement calling for the tolls to be reduced to only cover maintenance costs. They say that it is likely the current contract with Severn River Crossing plc, the private company which runs the crossings, will come to and end in 2018, after which time revenue will go to the UK Government: Meanwhile a report released last month by engineering consultants Arup, commissioned by the Welsh Government, found that scrapping the tolls altogether would provide the Welsh economy with a ...
Today's Guardian reports on an opinion poll that reinforces what many of us have known for some time, namely that people are angry with politics and politicians and as a result they are not voting. They say that the research, which explores the reasons behind the precipitous drop in voter turnout, particularly among under-30s, finds that it is anger with the political class and broken promises made by high-profile figures that most rile voters, rather than boredom with Westminster: Asked for the single word best describing "how or what you instinctively feel" about politics and politicians in general, 47% of ...
I joined the Liberal Party, or rather, the Union of Liberal Students, in 1984, because I believed, as I still do, that individuals should be nurtured, but not at the expense of community, and that people had a right to their dignity and freedom. It was a reflection of my upbringing and a gut instinct. For me, democracy and civic society offered a gateway to liberty for all. Despite that, I never really wanted to be elected to public office – recognition perhaps that I lacked discipline and the necessary level of commitment. Retail politics wasn't that attractive, and life ...
[IMG: Six Days of War by Micahel B Oren] It is no surprise that any book about events in the Middle East attracts vastly differing views in different reviews, especially when – as in this case – the author is a former official in the Israeli government. However, the critics of the book – who claim it is heavily pro-Israel – left me puzzled by the time I reached the end, as its detailed and clear accounts of events leave the reader with plenty of material with which to criticise the author's own country. Whether, for example, you think Israel ...
posted The Blood is The Life 26-12-2013 http://t.co/4uibhJiE56 on #dreamwidth (tags: dreamwidth (from twitter) ) A Gorgeous Behind-the-Scenes Look at How Alfonso Cuarón Made Gravity A Gorgeous Behind-the-Scenes Look at How Alfonso Cuarón Made Gravity http://t.co/vMXeGwV48I (tags: (from twitter) ) Thought for the Day will not be opened to atheists, says BBC religion chief. http://t.co/pPtGtDsF48 (tags: (from twitter) ) This is approximately how I am feeling today (nsfw, sane persons, persons of nervous disposition, etc.) http://t.co/hc03C3RZSi (tags: (from twitter) ) The Reunion, The Fast Show Sue McGregor reunites the cast of The Fast Show for a Christmas ...
Withdrawn between Bath Bus Station and Kingsway and re-routed to Riverside to replaceService 4. Reduced to an hourly service on Mondays to Saturdays (not evenings). For replacement service to Kingsway, see 4. For replacement service along Lansdown Road during evenings and on Sundays & Public Holiday see 31
Christmas recycling tips Recycle any broken or unwanted small electrical items, such as toasters or hair dryers, using the small electrical collection we introduced last February. Put them in an untied carrier bag next to your green box on your collection day; Recycle your Christmas tree. Throughout January the Council will collect your real Christmas tree for free on your fortnightly
Some years ago, I had a very useful meeting with Dr MacCowan of the Ryehill Health Centre and with the then Head of Environmental Management at NHS Tayside, regarding the health centre's car park (see below).The meeting resulted in a helpful arrangement where, although the car park is rightly barriered during health centre opening times to ensure it can only be used by patients and staff, the barriers are left up in the evenings and at weekends - a great help to local residents and parishioners of St Peter's Free Church in an area of the West End where parking ...
Note from Network Rail West Coast Mainline: Major Engineering Work in 2014/15 Next year, Network Rail will begin work on their £81m scheme to tackle the most common causes of delay at the south end of the West Coast Mainline. This much-needed infrastructure upgrade is scheduled to take place in five blocks as train operators agree with Network Rail that five long closures at holiday periods is preferable to the alternative of 54 complete weekend closures of the line. During the works; 175km of new lineside fencing will be installed to stop farm animals getting onto the line, discouraging trespass ...
We have decided to postpone today's Faith, Pride, and Chat, because of the severe weather. It will now take place on Friday, 3 January at 7:00 p.m in Costa Coffee, Victoria Square. More detail....
