Nigello

Balls

A fridge has now appeared since I last saw the tipping at FH/Dunstan's Road! Either the same person is dumping in turns, or it has become a well-known "grot spot" for other pond life to dump stuff at.

Another lot of tipping has appeared at the electricity substation on the patch of pavement where the bus stop is, near the Herne Tavern. I have let Cllr Hamvas know; she has dealt with tipping there before. Rat traps (at least five, which may or may not have done their work) are there as part of the trash, as are boxes with labels belonging to a local business - though I do not draw the conclusion that the two are linked and would discourage anyone from doing so themselves. I hope Cllr H can deal with this effectively; I will let the council know via the website as well.

It is everything to do with people being lazy, or - more specifically - selfish. Stuff left outside can attract vermin and is not likely to be in a sellable condition, so leaving items outside when the shop expressly says people are not to does show a disregard for common sense. It also adds to the workload of the staff who have enough to do already.

It's great that it's been done but not great it needed intervention from a councillor or member of the public. Why can't the company keep an eye on things as part of routine maintenance? Thanks to those who helped in this case.

How did they find you relatives? Do you have to say you are willing to be contacted in your application? I would have thought privacy rules would prevent information from being passed on usually.

I got a reply, which - rather standardly - said the matter was being looked into and that the company was etc that the usual level of service, etc etc... Paper fivers cease to be usable very soon, so I hope that the machines are adapted and working soon.

I've read that different firms give different "readings", thought that could be something do with the way they present the information. I think there are different price categories, the more expensive ones being more precise in their information. Why not do a search of Which? and other consumer societies before you spend your money.

The moorhens can fly, not the coots, I think.

I emailed the rail firm to tell them/complain.

Today, the machine at the entrance was out of order. (Had it been working it wouldn't have wanted your new pound coins or new fivers anyway.) The ticket office was also closed. This is the age of the train......

At least the moorhens can fly. I have seen them go quite high into the bushes but the moorhens are nearly always on the water or the ground.

A young man (description not relevant in this case) on a micro-scooter, with no lights and not plates, turned left at speed into Wood Vale from FHR on Sunday at around 2030. missing me by a few inches. I rang 101 to report it but gave up after ten minutes hanging on. Had he bumped into me or anyone else, I doubt I'd have been happy - not least because I suspect he would have been riding without insurance, given his lack of lights and plate.

FYI, the Phlegm art on Goodrich near Barry has been vandalised. The outer loop of the horn has white writing (strangely neatly) on it. If anyone knows the right person to contact to get it redone, please PM me. (Ingrid went to paint over tagging on the background to the Phlegm piece several times.)

Ingrid told me a few months ago she was very poorly but still was interested to hear about damaged street art and, moreover, took it upon herself to get it back to its former glory. Mary's Living and Giving shop told me she had been in to ask them to deal with the tagging over the lovely calligraphy next to the kingfisher on the shop's side wall, again showing her involvement and determination even as she was close to death. Alas, the tagging remains so I hope the management there will do their best to restore the artwork as a fitting legacy. RIP, IB.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/cyclists-could-be-banned-from-oxford-street-when-it-is-pedestrianised-a3518816.html

You could say to cyclists - you already have roads, so just get on them and ride! That would be the same as saying to pedestrians - there are loads of pavements, so just walk (or push your wheelchair, etc). I would argue that the latter example rings true, mostly. My meaning is that there is always a way to encourage anything. In this case, as I suggested, a modest amount of ?? spent on ensuring even pavements, safe crossings, clear signage and pleasant environments (inlcuding trees and plants) would help pedestrians know that their interests are being taken care of in a specific way, not just letting them think that once there is a pavement, then that's all they get.

Agreed - but cycles are costly, as is the infrastructure. A much smaller amount of money could be spent ensuring pavements are safe, pedestrian areas are well-lit with a bit of greenery added and signs are useful (amongst other efforts) but the pedestrian lobby is very unhip and disregarded, even if it exists at all. A two mile walk is not that effortful but I doubt any politician is likely to try to persuade people to walk "such a long distance" because people, alas, just don't want to hear that, on the whole.

But are they DIRECT links, or is it that, say, cyclists are less likely to smoke and more likely to do other things that prevent cancers? I think "cycling beats cancer" is just too unlikely to be true in its most face-value sense? (I still think the easiest and cheapest thing is to walk more.) NB - The research also looked at people who walked and didn't cycle: "Walking cut the odds of developing heart disease but the benefit was mostly for people walking more than six miles per week."

I don't have it. I am sure if you search the name you will find it.

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER MAY SAYS SHE WANTS TO HOLD EARLY ELECTION ON JUNE 8 - BBC'S POLITICAL EDITOR CITES ONE SOURCE REUTERS

With such growth in population and our history/experience of local govt. vs national govt. I doubt we will ever have a transport system that will approach the nirvana we all seem to want. If you boil it right down, the best way to be "in control" is to walk or cycle, but not everyone can do so for the kinds of distances we need to travel. "Suck it up" is not a phrase I like and I don't apply it to this, but I do think an elastic amount of acceptance is needed as much as congestion/diesel charges, cycle lanes, bus hopper fares, etc. etc.

https://intranet.gateway.bbc.co.uk/whatshappening/Pages/digital_journalism_apprentices.aspx

The advice given a decade or more go on diesel cars was done in good faith, so it is not fair to criticise that government/PM/party. It is fair, though, to criticise all parties that don't look to bringing about radical solutions. Just because it has improved a lot doesn't mean it can'd and shouldn't be improved more and more. You (plural) can start by ditching your car and walking or cycling or at least reducing the number of motorised trips you make. Any takers?

Does anyone know who to contact about this? I don't understand how the hanging handles can have been replaced, without anyone doing anything about the rest of the apparatus, which is in such a visibly bad state? _____You'd hope that the contractors/supervisor would have a quick scoot around to see if there are any other problems, but I doubt it happens. I bet they get given a task, finish it, then go home, which could well have more to do with council procedure than any lack of initiative (perhaps).