WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Big Kev]

Bits of Barlick town centre are closed off on a regular basis when stuff is going on in the town square and surrounding area. Sundays events are a good example of cooperation from multiple parties. Why should a utility company be able to hold someone to ransom for a simple hole in the road on a back street is a nonsense and Kevs evaluation of it being primarily a money making exercise has probably hit the nail on the head.

I spoke with Highways yesterday, they're not even aware of a pending road closure. I'll be keeping a close eye on developments. Things have moved on a little bit as I've had phone calls from Morrisons (YW's contractor, not the supermarket). They've been out to do their own site survey, they obviously didn't like YW's version.

I will have to ask for a breakdown of the road closure fee next.

[PanBiker]

Apparently it is someone working around the corner. Is this the spoil from Ian's neighbours renovations?

Not sure about that but they were on with the drains yesterday. Now, if they can just get on with this after permissions have been granted, why can't Kev?

Oh, and last night all the days moving around was shoved out of the way to allow access to the back street. There are some large chunks of stone from the outside walls still in the street but I think these may well be put back first once the drains are in as they had to take them out to get the mini digger in.

[hartley353]

Returning to the road closure scenario, I once asked for a closure of one mile on a city A Rd in Salford, 2 months of planning went into this, during this planning we received a letter via the council from an armed forces social club. It appeared they had a long standing plan to have a rememberence gathering on the night of our closure. It took some planning but finaly we were able to select a route in to the club and have on hand men to negotiate their path through the works in and out. All went well on the night and there was no disruption to our planned work. Shortly afterwards we received a letter of thanks from the social club, and many more from disgruntled residents about favouritism, some times you can't win.

[hartley353]

A reminder in my inbox that the world is still awaiting the results of the findings of the World Health Organisation. They have been looking into the results of the american bombing in Iraq. Fallujah hospital reports that as many as 144 of every 1000 babies born today have severe birth defects, and there is an icreased incidence of pregnancies not coming to term. Yet Obama can stand in front of the world and recommend doing it all again, in the name of humanity.

[Stanley]

As many of you will have realised, I have always distrusted our local MP for various reasons. The letters page of the BET is interesting this morning because it has three letters that will not please Mr Stephenson. First there was one asking pointed questions about non-election Conservative Party funding, a subject that has been opaque ever since it became apparent that Lord Ashworth was channelling money into the campaign against Gordon Prentice. Then there is a letter asking why Mr Stephenson hasn't mentioned the fact that there are pockets of deprivation, particularly in Bradley and Whitefield in his paean of praise for the 'economic recovery'. Finally there is one which asks why, after voting in the House for the Cameron motion moving us towards war, in his 'letter from the House' he said he was against it. I'm not interested in whether he replies or not. What cheers me is that there are correspondents out there who are asking what I think are the right questions. A small sign that not everyone is falling for the Party Line as delivered by the spin doctors. Mr Stephenson should take note. You can't fool all of the people all of the time.
Don't hold your breath for a response. Letters critical of the Conservative stance are often not responded to, there was an interesting one a few weeks ago that never saw the light of day again.

[Tripps]

I note that Gordon Prentice's blog is now completely dormant. He went to Canada after his defeat, and married. Looks like he won't be back. I'm grateful to him though, for introducing me to Paul Flynn MP, who's energy is amazing for one who is in his seventies and has quite bad arthritis.

[Tardis]

You can ask Andrew now personally, since he is opening his 'shop' on Church Street today. Details are also in the B&E

Plus Joe Cooney (Pendle Council 'Leader'), may be in town next Thursday for his open table questions, again detailed in the B&E

[Stanley]

David, I liked Gordon as well. Mainly because he remained firmly in the 'awkward squad' and thought for himself. No chance of him ever being considered for any promotion, Blair wanted Yes-men. Compare and contrast with the present incumbent.....

[Thomo]

Having read about Ian's boiler trouble, I am now in a similar situation, the boiler wrapped its hand in at 7.50 PM yesterday, I suspect it is the exhaust fan, now awaiting local engineers visit this morning, mind you, it was Friday the 13th!!!

[PanBiker]

Good luck with that Peter.

[Thomo]

I was right, it is the exhaust fan, the engineer is picking one up in Burnley this afternoon and coming back to fit it tonight. Considering the age of the boiler, 15 years, its the first major issue, the boiler is a Worcester. I will have something for him as well, his Grandfather, a Barlicker was killed in WW1, so I will print off the book page for him.

[Pluggy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24089463

An article on a forthcoming Panorama investigation. Shock horror, 2 months after he was filmed giving tax avoidance tips at a conference, he'e signed up by HMRC to advise them on combating tax avoidance. I never thought I'd say this but kudos to HMRC for hiring someone who knows what he's talking about. He been forced to resign, but I can't see the issue, if he was doing whilst he was in HMRCs pay it might be a different story. Nobody catch on that ex poachers make the best gamekeepers ?

[Bodger]

Nowt to do with the last post, but something that could get to the heart of Lancs. /Yorks folk, living in Ireland i have difficulty getting proper fish and chips, most of the chippers are Italian !!, and all the ones ive tried wouldn't last a second in the north of England, they blanche the fish and chips so they are pre cooked,but the batter is most useful for soling shoes, when i complained today about the pre cooked fish i was told that fresh fish dipped in batter and cooked while you wait was being banned in England because the batter insulates the fish and it may not be fully cooked. please tell me this is not so, i'm 76 and i'd hate to think that all the fish i ate 60/70 years ago may kill me.

[Stanley]

Bodge, even if it's true (and if it is all the Sushi bars will have to close) we can always fry our own in proper dripping!
How nice it is not to have to scrub up for the day's tasks!

[Thomo]

The engineer returned at 6.30 Pm, and we were up and running again at 7.00. The info on his Great Grandfather was well received and included something that he had never seen before, a photograph.

[David Whipp]

(Yesterday) Barnoldswick's bustling market.



More pictures at http://www.visitbarnoldswick.co.uk/expl ... ploreid=57

[Tizer]

I've heard nothing about that, Bodger, and can't find anything on the Internet either. The same argument could be applied to any kind of cooked product that could have bacteria on it (i.e. just about everything) - if you don't cook it hot enough or long enough then it might not be safe to eat. So they would have to ban all cooked foods! They're just making excuses for taking the easy way out and precooking to save time. To be fair, they might be under pressure from customers who, these days, aren't willing to wait for a proper fresh frying. Tell them you're willing to wait for a proper fried fish - they might discover it's more popular with their other customers too!

[PostmanPete]

(Yesterday) Barnoldswick's bustling market.

I was there but I must have missed the topless lady in the background of your photo.....!

[Stanley]

Have a look at this LINK for the world's biggest salvage operation. Engineers will try to get the 115,000 tonne Costa Concordia upright today. There is no 'Plan B'. I wish the engineers well.

[David Whipp]

David Whipp wrote:
(Yesterday) Barnoldswick's bustling market.



I was there but I must have missed the topless lady in the background of your photo.....!

I did say it was bustling!

[Tardis]

Yesterday was Battle of Britain day, but also the anniversary of the first use of the tank

[Tardis]

On Saturday afternoon, someone did something that made me proud to be a human being. True altruism. I was a little emotional

[Tizer]

David Whipp wrote:
(Yesterday) Barnoldswick's bustling market.
I was there but I must have missed the topless lady in the background of your photo.....!

I did say it was bustling!

Are titillating photos allowed on OG?

[PanBiker]

We have to take everything we can get now that Bravo is no more ! I was thinking of having a wake for the perfect light up 10's that used to display the lingerie and swimwear.

[hartley353]

Invitation to attend a parliamentery lobbying course landed in the inbox, Has someone noticed that I've been doing this for over thirty years and believes my techniques are wrong. The success stories are few but at least I tried, and who knows, in the future some of the signed letters I have received may have a monetary value to collectors.