WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[PostmanPete]

Our Santas being unavailable being unavailable for the Grotto at Barlick's Switch On event on November 9th. (Yes, that's right, we have more than one of them - with upwards of 400 children to see in a few short hours, he needs to work double time if you get my drift...)

Santa #1 (84) very apologetic, happy to do next year, but very recent heart by-pass op means he's out of the running.

Santa #2 (retirement age, but still hard at it) had forgotten daughter getting married that day... and she wasn't too pleased when he rang to say he couldn't go as he was being Santa...

Big Kev has been suggested as a very appropriate substitute - any other suggestions? (Sorry, but Mrs Santa has already been declined as not meeting children's expectations. That may get folk going...)

You could have a choice of 300 Santas from this lot David...!

http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/1073 ... m_Friends/

[Stanley]

I've put on half a stone and am back at 13 stone! Just shows what happens when you relax your guard! One factor is increased inactivity due to eyes, too much time spent sitting reading!

[David Whipp]

Is that an offer to be Santa Stanley!

You could have a choice of 300 Santas from this lot David...!

Yes, and I'm one of them. I put my entry form in this week...

Our Switch On grotto is more a marathon than a sprint, though. With 400+ children, it's over 4 hours of a job.

Sadly, Big Kev is working that day. However, I've got a firm offer from a good 'un and a possible yes from a novice who'd suit the role (pardon the pun).

I've not done Santa since the day I was ho ho hoing at Earby primary school. A friend's daughter approached me in the grotty saying, 'Hello David'....

[Tizer]

You've probably heard the news today of more evidence for the existence of the Yeti, or Abominable Snowman, in the Himalayan mountains. DNA analysis of samples of hair suggest that there may well be an ancient type of polar bear still in existence in the Himalayas and responsible for the footprints that have puzzled people for years. Well there is evidence for something similar closer to home, as shown by the photo on this link...

[Stanley]

The lady MP who was not offered a seat in the House because 'it would have been sexist'. Or maybe just polite? Is offering a seat to an elderly person 'ageist'?

[Tardis]

The B&E carries a report about Barnoldswick Town Council failing to pay it's Income Tax and National Insurance on time, with a quote from Pendle, but nothing from Cllrs

[David Whipp]

The B&E carries a report about Barnoldswick Town Council failing to pay it's Income Tax and National Insurance on time, with a quote from Pendle, but nothing from Cllrs

Perhaps that's because they didn't ask us before publishing a rather twisted piece of misinformation? And where did they get that from, Tardis?

[Tardis]

Perhaps that's because they didn't ask us before publishing a rather twisted piece of misinformation? And where did they get that from, Tardis?

Maybe the B&E saw the public documents of the auditor's report, given out at the Town Council Meeting. I didn't show the reporter the copy that I got and I never spoke to anyone. Certainly not my place to speculate.

I put my comments on twitter after the meeting because your colleagues appear to have an issue with transparency and citizen journalists and was prevented from doing it at the time and you didn't intervene despite DCLG guidelines. I have posted those guidelines often enough so you can't claim to be unaware.

I was, by no means, the only person present and note that until today I have not put on this forum what happened that Wednesday night.

What do you call an inquiry if it's just a journalist reporting the truth? Embarrassing?

Does the code of conduct make the Leading Group Cllrs liable for the 'interest' likely to be charged as a fine or will it go onto the precept and thus be unavailable for other activities?

[David Whipp]

What do you call an inquiry if it's just a journalist reporting the truth?

But it isn't the truth, Tardis.

The B&E was misled by someone's twisted misinformation. (Now who could that be, I wonder?)

Fact: The Town Council's accounts were audited both internally and externally within the period set in law. They were not 'late'.

I never spoke to anyone

No, you send out twisted tweets, perhaps you should engage in real life communication sometime?

[David Whipp]

This extract from Barlick and Earby reporter Will Cook's enquiry to Philip Mousdale at Pendle Council:

"I have been made aware that Barnoldswick Town Council's accounts for 2012/13 were submitted late. I'm just wondering if there will be any financial penalty because of this and the failure to pay tax and national insurance on time. I've also been told there were a few irregularities on receipts"

So, an "anonymous" source made the local reporter aware of three pieces of incorrect information?

I have not put on this forum what happened that Wednesday night.

Hardly a surprise! As the "Conservative Team Leader" in Barnoldswick, you'd hardly want to broadcast the fact that both the Tory councillors on the town council left the meeting shortly after it started, failing to discuss many items.

(Anyhow, you prefer to tweet your misinformation rather than publish on a forum where it'd be challenged and rebutted.)

[Stanley]

Well done David! I'm sorry to have to say that one of the aspects of politics which most saddens me at the moment is the increasing skill exhibited by polemicists of all parties in disseminating the half truth and unsupported statement. Consider the letter written to the BET accusing the Labour Councillors of malfeasance which was comprehensively rebutted by a riposte from the Labour Leader the following week but never acknowledged. No need, the original letter was read and would stick in many minds. It is of course electioneering and it will get worse the nearer we get to Polling Day.
By the way, is there any truth in the rumour that the colourful shop window on Church Street dedicated to pictures of our MP means that the building is to be renamed Ashworth House? Amazing how reticent the Tories in Pendle are on that subject..... Can any other party afford dedicated premises and full colour glossy flyers? You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time!

[Wendyf]

This caught my eye on the Beeb website - an underground reservoir about to open to the public for a couple of weeks before it disappears forever.

[hartley353]

This caught my eye on the Beeb website - an underground reservoir about to open to the public for a couple of weeks before it disappears forever.

Another pile of Accrington bricks to be recycled, probably as good as the day they were laid, there are many more of these reservoirs still in use, they always look like wine cellars in waiting.

[David Whipp]

The anniversary of me joining the OGFB community.

Soon after joining, I mentioned the view of a rainbow over the tints of autumn trees. I didn't know how to post a pic at the time, so here it is now. (Interesting how different the season is this year - without the frosts we had by now in October last year, many trees look very different.)

[Tardis]

What you should do is invite video cameras into the Town Council meetings, as per DCLG guidelines. Clarity and transparency will soon reign and either everyone will see who's words are twisted or a better level of information will be shared.

I will not debate here on a forum which I do not own, out of respect for the others present. But also because I do believe in Graham's hierarchy of disagreement and the examples provided.

...and I believe that I left the meeting after you had excused yourself.

@Dark_Blue_Box if you want to chat, my account is 'open'

[David Whipp]

Talk to me on twitter. My account is 'open'. Ken follows me, I hear Claire is about to join too. Lyndsey is an avid reader I know.

What you should do is invite video cameras into the Town Council meetings, as per DCLG guidelines. Clarity and transparency will soon reign and either everyone will see who's words are twisted or a better level of information will be shared.

I will not debate here on a forum which I do not own, out of respect for the others present. But also because I do believe in Graham's hierarchy of disagreement and the examples provided.

Not sure who Lyndsey is? Deputy speaker? Lindsay appreciates people getting her name right...

I don't use Twitter, as you know. (There is, of course, the rather unpleasant impersonator of me who's a Tw*t).

And you won't debate the issues? (Barnoldswick's Tory leader is no different then than the two Tory councillors for the town.)

[David Whipp]

What attracted my attention yesterday was the arrest of two people suspected of the spate of shop burglaries in recent times in Barnoldswick.

Ultimately, the result of excellent teamwork and pulling together by different sections of the community and organisations.

Fingers crossed the charges stick and the new security package going in deters them from coming back in the future.

[Tizer]

David, your rainbow photo reminded me that, like me, you holiday in Cornwall and I had meant to show you a photo taken last week...
Sunset at Praa Sands, Cornwall, in October 2013 - original photo, no editing other than changing the size, colours as taken on a Canon G11.

[Thomo]

I may be a bit old fashioned, but hell would freeze over before I would tweet, twitter or facebook. Much modern technology is both useful and time saving, yet the speed of development of some aspects of it can put it into the hands of some very dangerous and unscrupulous people, in short it is a gift to they who have their own agendas, political or otherwise. Modern hand held devices have overtaken many peoples capacity to sit down and think things through before going global with it. I own a mobile phone, an old Erikson, bought because my last workshop did not have a landline, it has remained dead in a drawer ever since. For phone calls I have a telephone, for taking photographs I have a small camera, my main concession to technology is my PC which I have adapted to suit my own needs. The word processor has replaced the typewriter and I use the e/mail set up but can still write a letter. All of this is done in the privacy of my home and one thing that gets right up my nose is sitting somewhere surrounded by people who are constantly fiddling with their high tech toys and chuckling to themselves, this I regard as the height of bad manners.

[David Whipp]

As an addendum to the burglar post, you may be interested in the picture below...

Last Sunday morning, the Liberal Shop on Frank Street (no. 12) was broken into - not that there was anything in it, but the burglars then attempted to break through the party wall into the property next door, no 10 (Bardwell's jewellers.)

The Barlick and Earby must believe in the long arm of the burglar, as well as the long arm of the law; they reported the burglary as taking place at the Frank Street Centre (no 14)....

[Thomo]

The violin owned by Mr Wallace Hartley of Colne, last played as the Titanic was sinking has just been sold for £900,000, the reserve price at auction was £200,000/£300,000 with a possible price of £400,000. I would be highly surprised if this instrument given to Wallace by his fiancé on their engagement is going to the small Titanic Museum in Colne!

[Tripps]

As another addendum to the burglar post,

"Chief Insp Derry Crorken said: “We have stepped up patrols in Barnoldswick in response to resident’s concerns.
“We’ve had mounted officers out on police horses, "

[Wendyf]

I hope there are no complaints about horse droppings........

[Tripps]

I can't get a sort of surreal image out of my mind of mounted police clip - clopping up Frank Street in the middle of the night sneaking up on shop breakers, then of course galloping after them through the Market Square.

[Stanley]

I saw that letter in the BET as well Wendy.... (Complaining about horse riders not collecting droppings. In my day we collected them and regarded them as a bonus for the rose bed!)
Peter I'm afraid I'm as old fashioned as you
I saw the police activity yesterday and suspected they were on someone's case. Hope it's a good outcome.
Lots of activity in the old Midland Bank on Newtown.
Ashworth House on Church Street. I note that our MP is still holding surgeries in the Civic Hall. Does this mean that the multiple pictures in the window of the empty shop are simply there to relieve the monotony of seeing evidence of the hard times local shops are having? I have to say I regard it as visual pollution, there are far too may images of Stephenson in the public arena.
Am I the only one that is confused by the fact that many modern politicians faces seem to be clones of each other?
Coloured sky pics. I nearly did another last night when we had a violent red sky at teatime accompanied by a thunderclap and a heavy shower of rain.