Malcolm Robinson

It’s a generalisation monsta, it wasn’t personal and if anything it was aimed at the BNP. HP, Ok hands up ‘copy and paste’........(Blame the people that send me the stuff!)

Monsta, It’s a short hop from discriminating against someone because of skin colour or birthplace to discriminating against them for the way they speak or even write! Think on, like Sym posted, in no time there is no one left to stand up for you and yours.

Because at time of national crisis an electorate usually turns to extremist parties as a way of appeasing their consciences and that means insidious bigots prosper. Maybe we will see a new more balanced party offer the choices needed, as opposed to the mainstream parties, but reactionary extremists are not the way to go.

Happy birthday monsta. Another year older and hopefully wiser!

monsta you really are a stereotype! Dont let this BNP drivel gain undue influence. The bit I don't get is that anyone living within the EU, who hasn't lifted a finger towards any UK project, has a right to come over yet we can ban people who put thier lives on the line so others, the indiginous polulation, don't have to!

Again I can understand your argument Dave but purely on a matter of principle, as the topic title would suggest, if someone is willing to stand up and fight for a country shouldn't that country reciprocate that allegiance? In time that pay back could be in terms of economic help or help with infrastructure projects to tackle the root cause of the indigenous problems thereby reducing the need for emigration. Like most foreign aid and charitable donations etc we seem intent on covering up the cracks with expensive wallpaper instead of helping rebuild the walls. As for JL, I think her face said it all when at that hastily convened press conference, after her meeting with the PM, the minister had to somehow explain that the promises she had just been given off the PM might not, in fact, be what she thought they were! Her scowl, for me, seemed to be the dawning realisation that in the world of grubby politics she was fighting above her weight and may well have been cynically manipulated!

The old ones are the best.......... God said, 'Adam, I want you to do womething for Me.' Adam said, 'Gladly, Lord, what do You Want me to do?' God said, 'Go down Into that valley.' Adam said, 'What's a Valley?' God explained it to Him. Then God said, 'Cross the river.' Adam said, 'What's a River?' God explained that To him, and then said, 'Go over to the hill....' Adam said, 'What is a Hill?' So, God explained to Adam what a hill was. He told Adam, 'On The other side of the Hill you will find a Cave.' Adam said, 'What's a Cave?' After God explained, He said, 'In the cave You will find a woman.' Adam said, 'What's a Woman?' So God explained That to him, too. Then, God said, 'I Want you to Reproduce.' Adam said, 'How do I do that?' God first said (under His breath), 'Geez.....' And then, just like Everything else, God Explained that to Adam, as well. So, Adam goes down Into the valley, Across the river, and Over the hill, into the Cave, and finds the Woman. Then, in about five Minutes, he was back. God, His patience Wearing thin, said Angrily, 'What is it Now?' And Adam said.... * * * * * * * 'What's a headache?'

Rainykid, I completely understand where you are coming from on this but isn't it more about how we treat ex-service people in general than the topic's title? We train them and give them skills with one thing in mind and when demobbed almost turn our backs on them. I don't think we can do enough for anyone prepared to put their life on the line to protect our way of life and I would include some aspects of the emergency services in that as well. The rights and wrongs of the present conflict are another matter, the fact remains there are bullets flying around and "our" kids are being killed, the very least we can do is to try and adequately thank them for the risks they all take and if that means retraining, counselling, whatever, so they slot into civilian life better, so be it. I would rather my tax money went into that than some dammed MP's fictitious expenses claim!

Pete, I don't really blame Brown for taking over the premiership by default, although it is obvious he is the wrong man in the wrong job at the wrong time, after all it was Blair who stood at the last election promising to see out a full term! It all just goes to show what utter contempt they hold the electorate in!

Oh dear....... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H8HnaTIcmk

Is it really surprising how out of touch our elected leaders are these days, it is starting to look as if they believe they are there by "divine right!" A national trait is a sense of fair play not surprising this has blown up in their faces. So we can allow in some Eastern European miscreants whose only mission is to carry on their nefarious activities while not allowing people who have put their lives on the line to defend our way of life. The "new rules" where they have to have served for 99 years or been awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross (Ok not quite that bad but not far off!) is ridiculous. Anyone who "takes the Queen's shilling" should be given by right the Queens hospitality, especially in a time of armed conflict.

The really dumb thing is that there is a team of PR advisors (getting 1.5million a year!) setting these photo ops up?????? On recent performances maybe they should be joining the steel workers of Corus................

Thanks HP; I still don’t know how or where you went to get this. As GGG says it is as clear as mud. Very disappointed with the agenda, these guys make up strategic planning for our region both in a social and economic context. I presume any of the important issues will be included in what must be section 2 or the bit held away from public gaze? “It is expected that the matters included in this part of the agenda will be dealt with in public.” Seems a good start on the road to an inclusive and open local government structure, not! It would seem obvious to include the terms of reference for this body so questions raised would be of significance and some real answers delivered. Offhand I can think of one question GGG, in future will they publish minutes and agendas on local community web sites such as ours?

Actually HP I only saw this site today when I was searching for the agenda of the meeting, see other topic. I wanted to make our members aware that it is there, that's all, and maybe someone will take advantage? As for GGG's opening sentence, I think Bedlington has been sold down the Swanee, again, with this three way carve up so we end up with less than what we started with, so no I wouldn't want to play in this particular game. (How come Ashington turned the decision to carve that up into small parish's on its head, knowing full well that they would be impotent if it went that way?) Have the precepts been set yet and how much extra is that going to cost everyone? Oh I forget the changes at NCC will mean dramatically lower rates bills for everyone, or so they said, so that will offset any parish expenses, won't it?

Can anyone find the agenda? http://www.newspostleader.co.uk/latest/Fir...l39s.5246197.jp

http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=4037

It’s crying out for someone to take the lot, sell them for 50p each and put the money into a Bedlington charity pot. I hesitate to mention Xmas lights donation or floral displays!

Question GGG, do you know the origin of ‘Nu Labour” as a name? There seems to be several claims for the origin of “New Labour”, even Lord Owen claims it was his brainchild in a report in the Independent, but I cannot find the first reference to Nu Labour as a name. Public sector spending will have to come under pressure soon as the money runs out for the Keynesian economic route the current Gov are taking. This may well have a knock on effect locally as a lot of jobs have been created in the NE in the public sector, a disproportionate amount but maybe viewed as a sort of payback for political allegiance. I would also expect to see things like public sector pensions etc come under pressure especially if Bootsie and Smudge get in at the next election. As for electing police chiefs locally it sounds good but may be one of these things where the practice is out of kilter with the theory? I think I would prefer to let coppers be coppers, not apprentice politicians, and still have the elected executive overseeing them.

The Market Place costings were always an enigma. WDC never answered the question as to how much it had cost????? (How do you produce an audited set of accounts?) The rest of the footpath up Front Street was about 90K+40K over 2 years if I remember correctly. This included the bollards. I talked to the lads laying these slabs who said they are patio slabs not paving slabs and they expected to be back relaying them quite often as they were not for heavy footfalls! So ideal for domestic use then, even shed bases!

I think they have realised "you can fool some of the people some of the time but......"

Never Argue with a Woman One morning the husband returns after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book. Along comes a Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, 'Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?' 'Reading a book,' she replies, (thinking, 'isn't that obvious?') 'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her. 'I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading' 'Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.' 'For reading a book,' she replies, 'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her again, 'I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading' 'Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.' 'If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault,' says the woman.. 'But I haven't even touched you,' says the game warden. 'That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.' 'Have a nice day ma'am,' and he left. MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

A 98 year old woman wrote this to her bank. The bank manager thought it amusing enough to have it published . Dear Sir, I am writing to thank you for bouncing my cheque with which I endeavoured to pay my plumber last month. By my calculations, three 'nanoseconds' must have elapsed between his presenting the cheque and the arrival in my account of the funds needed to honour it. I refer, of course, to the automatic monthly deposit of my Pension, an arrangement which, I admit, has been in place for only eight years. You are to be commended for seizing that brief window of opportunity, and also for debiting my account £30 by way of penalty for the inconvenience caused to your bank. My thankfulness springs from the manner in which this incident has caused me to rethink my errant financial ways. I noticed that whereas I personally attend to your telephone calls and letters, when I try to contact you, I am confronted by the impersonal, overcharging, pre-recorded, faceless entity which your bank has become. From now on, I, like you, choose only to deal with a flesh-and-blood person. My mortgage and loan payments will therefore and hereafter no longer be automatic, but will arrive at your bank by cheque, addressed personally and confidentially to an employee at your bank whom you must nominate. Be aware that it is an offence under the Postal Act for any other person to open such an envelope. Please find attached an Application Contact Status which I require your chosen employee to complete. I am sorry it runs to eight pages, but in order that I know as much about him or her as your bank knows about me, there is no alternative. Please note that all copies of his or her medical history must be countersigned by a Solicitor, and the mandatory details of his/her financial situation (income, debts, assets and liabilities) must be accompanied by documented proof. In due course, I will issue your employee with a PIN number which he/she must quote in dealings with me. I regret that it cannot be shorter than 28 digits but, again, I have modelled it on the number of button presses required of me to access my account balance on your phone bank service. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Let me level the playing field even further. When you call me, press buttons as follows: 1-- To make an appointment to see me. 2-- To query a missing payment. 3-- To transfer the call to my living room in case I am there. 4-- To transfer the call to my bedroom in case I am sleeping. 5-- To transfer the call to my toilet in case I am attending to nature. 6-- To transfer the call to my mobile phone if I am not at home. 7-- To leave a message on my computer (a password to access my computer is required. A password will be communicated to you at a later date (to the Authorized Contact.) 8-- To return to the main menu and to listen to options 1 through 8 9-- To make a general complaint or inquiry, the contact will then be put on hold, pending the attention of my automated answering service. While this may, on occasion, involve a lengthy wait, uplifting music will play for the duration of the call. Regrettably, but again following your example, I must also levy an establishment fee to cover the setting up of this new arrangement May I wish you a happy, if ever so slightly less prosperous, New Year. Your Humble Client (Remember: This was written by a 98 year old woman; DOESN'T SHE MAKE YOU PROUD!!?)

Felicitations for the day Joe.

A fine oxymoron for a thread title there mrsvic! If there is any ‘proof’ of trying to get this sorted out before anyone receives a ‘court’ letter I would be tempted to counter sue for aggravation, stress etc due to NCC incompetence. In fact it is starting to look like a class action! It does show just how the seamless changeover everyone was promised was always going to be hot air. If the whole idea was to bring local government closer to the people it serves and make it more accountable having remote offices and fewer representatives would seem strictly at odds with that scenario? At the end of the day we own a local council office, its half way up Front Street and perfectly suitable to oversee the Bedlingtonshire area! Please post an address where we can send the cakes with the files and hacksaws!

Maybe if they got back into matrimonial work instead of conveyancing....... I think the niche retailers are exactly what Bedders needs. There is already the largest retailer in the country and one of the most discounted ones who between them should be able to supply the staple goods for the immediate population. To get people to come and shop/spend a day in the town other attractions are needed. (Keeping a large FREE car park would be one!) Instead of throwing cash at multi millionaires maybe offering help at the sharp end might be a more productive way of getting out of this recession. Help with business rates and negotiating progressive rent increases so people could at least try their business ideas out and not end up in hock would be my preferred route as that may give the time needed to establish stand alone businesses. A uniform business rate for the country is crazy when applied to places like Bedders! I don't believe empty shops are indicative of a lack of entrepreneurial flair in the district, rather they suggest a cost/possible reward equation as being too far biased one way. Some real help to address that bias might even produce some sustainable local jobs, as well as giving people the chance to try out their ambitions. There has to be a cohesive commercial strategy agreed for the town, with ALL sides involved, or we continue with the ad hoc arrangements we have now which leaves Bedlington at a complete disadvantage to other towns in the area who have business development managers/town centre managers etc. (We already have a much too commercially underused asset, this web site!) I say all this knowing that one of the commercial units to be built at the side of the new Tesco's will be one which supposedly looks after this sort of thing in the district. However staffed by ex WDC grandees who have consistently failed the needs of Bedlington for 30 years I see no reason to be optimistic as to their future input!