Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas to all (well, the few) who read this blog and to my Facebook friends.

Smashed out of sight!

The Greens, Lib Dims and Labour decided to merge their campaigns and support the Labour candidate for the by-election in Trench Ward, Tonbridge.  Fat lot of good it did them as the Tory romped home with  61% of the vote.  Labour secured 21% and UKIP 18%.

What price the 'progressive alliance'?

http://votingandboating.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/winning-elections-isnt-difficult-its.html?spref=fb

Abject failure of child protection legislation and organisations.

Over the years I have acquired enough DBS and CRB certificates to cover all the walls of my office.  Doubtless millions of such certificates have been issued to people working with children or vulnerable adults.  All most commendable one might be led to believe.   The reality is that all this paperwork has failed to stop children being assaulted in Rotherham et al, by churches, by Jimmy Savile  and sundry football and athletic coaches.  Add to this the well-documented failure of police forces and social services departments to deal with cases of child abuse.

The root cause of this sorry mess is political failure, failure to see that pen-pushing form filling is not the answer, failure to fund social services departments and failure to stop police forces from not acting for fear of upsetting minorities.  

Health Update

In late November I had an appointment with the cardiac specialist at Maidstone Hospital.  It has been decided I need a pacemaker and other bits and pieces.  Expect to have it fitted in February 2017.

BML2 Update

http://www.bml2.co.uk/the-news/211-department-for-transport-denies-indecisiveness-over-capacity-time-bomb.html

The government plans to spend millions on HS2, yet states GWR electrification is paused, does nothing about the Brighton line capacity issues, etc., etc.

Richmond Park by-election.

We await the naming of the English Democrat candidate for the Richmond Park by-election.  Surely the party is contesting the seat following the crowing of their chairman, Robin Tilbrook, after the Batley by-election?

Brain-dead idiots on the road

A road near me is closed for repairs.  Plenty of signs warning drivers, yet some persist in driving on beyond the signs and look surprised when their way is barred.  Cretins.

Rusthall Fireworks

Last night the annual firework  display took place on Rusthall Common.  Big bonfire, large crowd and plenty of rockets making very loud bangs.  And yet, somehow not as good as usual.  Maybe it was the lack of variety in the display.  We were 'treated' over the loudspeaker system to the annual rendition of Land of Hope and Glory whilst the fireworks were exploding.  If we must have music let it be an appropriate piece by Handel.

Health Update

I have a date to see the cardiac consultant at Maidstone Hospital - 29 November.  The consultation will determine if I am to have a pacemaker fitted.

What a load of old tosh

You can rely on the English Democrats to publish twaddle.  A good example is this article by the party's chairman:

http://robintilbrook.blogspot.co.uk/2016/10/the-english-democrats-come-second-in.html

No mention of the fact that the ED candidate lost her deposit.  No mention of the decision of the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and UKIP not to contest the seat.  No mention of the abject result in Witney.

Shock, horror !!!

An MP who keeps his word.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/10/25/zac-goldsmith-quits-as-tory-mp-for-richmond-park-over-heathrow-a/

English Democrats - time to pack up.

What a shambles!  The English Democrats came second in Batley and lost its deposit.  The party gained under 5% of the vote.  UKIP, Lib Dems and the Conservatives did not contest the seat so one might have expected the ED to do rather better.

In Witney the result was a disaster.  52 votes and under 1% of the vote. Monster Raving Loony, Bus-Pass Elvis and Eccentric Party did better.

The bells, the bells.

From to-days  Daily Telegraph:

There is a right ding-dong going on in York, where the Dean of the Minster has sacked the entire complement of 30 volunteer bell ringers. The Dean and Chapter apparently want to appoint a professional chief ringer who will then appoint suitably trained and up to speed with health and safety requirements.

I concur with the following from the article:

This seems yet another example of the advance of corporatism over voluntarism.  Dedicated people who give of their time for the love of the task are shoved aside in the spurious pursuit of 'professional' standards.

Twerp of the Year Award 2016

A massive field this year made it difficult to select an outright winner. I have decided on joint winners: Michael Gove and Nicola Sturgeon.

Bridge Trust AGM

I attended the Bridge Trust AGM this evening.  It was held at a new venue - the Old Fire Station, Tonbridge.  Met up with old colleagues and friends.

The saddest part of the evening was the news that housing associations are applying an 'affordability' test to potential residents, thereby becoming associations which provide affordable as distinct from social housing.The effect is that some people on benefits do not pass the affordability test and are precluded from housing association property.

Fact follows fiction?

In 2012 I published this April Fools' Day article:

http://kentcommunityactivist.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/all-change-in-kent.html

This week the Times of Tunbridge Wells has the following story:

 Council split talks 

The splitting of Kent into eastern and western authorities will move a step closer on Thursday (October 6) when five local authorities will meet to discuss meeting to form one 'super council'.

Any moves to combine Thanet, Canterbury, Ashford, Dover and Shepway districts could result in the scrapping of Kent County Council.

It is an option supported by Thanet North MP Roger Gale, who wants to see the county council replaced by three unitary councils, with Tunbridge Wells, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks likely to make up a West Kent authority.

Good news

As I wander in Tunbridge Wells I am drawn to planning notices: a must read as I am nosey so-and-so.

Such a notice has appeared outside Zurich House, an empty office block opposite Meadow Road car park.  A planning application has been made by Canterbury Christ Church University for change of use from office to educational purposes.

Unhealthy preoccupation with genitalia

The link below is to an article in the Daily Telegraph and features a Tunbridge Wells clergyman.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/28/church-of-england-parishes-consider-first-step-to-break-away-ove/

Why is it that some Christians are preoccupied with how some people, men and women, have homosexual relationships?  It is an unhealthy preoccupation.

The problem is with fundamentalists who have, at best, a simplistic view of biblical reading and interpretation.

Oxymoron

Best example of an oxymoron in the current political debate on the result of the EU referendum:

Liberal Democrat.

Health Update

Having completed all the tests at Pembury Hospital I am to be sent to Maidstone Hospital for consideration to be given to my being fitted with a pacemaker and defibrillator.  The kit is valued at between £40,000 - £50,000!

Miserable failure

Another English Democrat electoral failure.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/17/labours-rosena-allin-khan-wins-tooting-by-election/

Visit to consultant

Recently I had an appointment with the cardiac consultant at my local hospital.  I have been telling people that if I didn't know I was ill I wouldn't know I was ill.

The consultant has stated that my symptoms have improved dramatically and that I look fit and well!  That said, I have to have a cardiac angiogram followed by the possibility of having a pacemaker.  Could have been much worse.

Afternoon on Spa Valley Railway

Enjoyed a ride on the Spa Valley Railway yesterday.  First time I had been along the route all the way from Tunbridge Wells to Eridge.

At Eridge there is no run-round facility the consequence of which is that a locomotive has to sit in one of the two platform roads whilst a train makes a journey from Eridge to Tunbridge Wells and back.

The waiting continues....

Steve Uncles, he of the ban the burka in Kent and machine gun illegal immigrants notoriety, had this to say in a comment on my blog:

Still waiting for a statement on how he planned to ban the burka.  Still waiting to be exposed "on your Anna Cleves 'joke'".

The Great Central had to close.

Facebook has a number of pages devoted to railway nostalgia. There are opinions stated regularly that the Great Central should not have closed.  In particular many bemoan the closure of Nottingham Victoria station.

The Great Central was the last major route to be built.  Unfortunately all major centres of population it passed through were served already by existing lines.  Duplication of routes is not unusual in the UK  as private railway companies competed for traffic.  Most of the collieries and steelworks in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire were served by two competing railway companies. Nationalisation of the railways in 1947 provided an opportunity for rationalisation and the end of duplication.  The downturn of the steel and mining industries took a lot of traffic away from the railways, as did the expansion of road transport.

So, the Great Central had to close.

Uncles wrong......again.

Mr Uncles regaled Facebook readers with this:

Some humiliation.  The Conservatives won the election.  Uncles came last and lost his deposit.  Time for a celebratory drink.

Twenty years

In 1996 I stood as a candidate at the local elections and managed to win.  In those days all the parties published and delivered election literature.

Fast forward to 2016.  Only one party  (Conservative) delivered election leaflets for the local elections and likewise for the PCC election. Poor show.

Awaiting election literature

The Conservatives have  delivered an election address for the borough council elections in Tunbridge Wells. Nothing from Labour, UKIP, Lib Dems or Greens.

No literature from any of the candidates for the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner election.

A late flurry of activity?

Health Update

Appointment with the heart failure nurse this morning.  Pleased with my progress - no fluid in the lungs, pulse rate down, heart beat ok.  Kidneys working much better.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council elections

The election season is upon us. Nominations have closed for the borough council elections on 5th May.  Nothing of interest to get excited about.  Possibility of close results in Capel, Rusthall,  Pembury, St John's and Southborough.

http://www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/119960/Borough-Statement-of-Persons-Nominated.pdf

Pathetic drivel

http://steveunclesenglishdemocrats.org/2016/04/03/2016-election-address-steve-uncles-kent-police-commissioner-candidate/

English Democrats in the news.

Two stories - Uncles trial deferred to let him contest the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner election.

http://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/political-leader-has-fraud-trial-93106/

Then a story about the London Mayor election.  A complete shambles.

http://www.mayorwatch.co.uk/twelve-candidates-vie-to-succeed-boris-johnson-as-mayor/

http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/14398522._I_m_going_to_give_George_Galloway_a_heart_attack___Winston_McKenzie_reveals_plan_to_get_Mayoral_campaign_back_on_track/

Sauna and Massage in Rusthall

Rusthall was once the home of Easy on the Eye Productions, pornographic films for women produced by a lady who stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate in Gravesham at the 2010 general election.

Rumours are rife that members of the 'oldest profession' are plying their services at domestic dwellings in Rusthall.

However, the big news in that a sauna and massage parlour will be opening it doors soon at a prime location in the village. Some locals have become over-excited by this development, either as potential customers of the 'services' to be offered or in their role as self-appointed guardians of public morals.

BML2 Update

http://www.bml2.co.uk/the-news/205-compelling-case-for-bml2-expected-in-autumn.html

Health Update

Thank you for the supportive comments,  The Heart Failure Nurse believes I am making 'excellent progress'.  My weight is down to 13st 6lb (from 16-10), my pulse rate is slowing and I am walking much longer distances.

Keeping to my diet is so hard.

Groupthink

According to Christopher Booker the defining characteristics of those caught up in a bubble of groupthink are that, first, they no longer think for themselves but become absorbed into a collective mindset; and, second, they show irrational fury towards anyone failing to share their belief system.

Health update

Many of my readers know I have been unwell of late.  Heart problem resulting in lower than required oxygenated blood circulating my system.  My medication is bringing matters under control and I am walking a longer distance each day.  My weight has reduced from 16st 10lbs to 14.00 st.

New Year's Honours Farce

A bumper crop of time servers, sycophants, chancers and downright disreputable in amongst the more worthy recipients of gongs.

Missed out this year?  All is not lost:

http://www.awardsintelligence.co.uk/

The Fiasco Kid strikes again.

https://www.facebook.com/KentEnglishDemocrats/videos/205699049767623/?pnref=story

Arriva doesn't arrive

Route 281: Rusthall - High Brooms is timetabled to run every 12 minutes for most of the day, except on Sundays. Timekeeping is not easy as the route takes buses along some of the most congested roads in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Once a bus is running five minutes late it is inevitable it will be caught up by the following bus as passengers for the second bus will catch the late running first bus and thus delay it even further.

There is a solution to the problem - but it costs money and Arriva can be relied upon to put profit before passenger satisfaction.

70 today

Well, well.  I have reached my seventieth birthday.  Looking back on the stresses and tensions in my life I admit to being surprised at having made seventy.

Sadly I am most unwell, although my GP assures me I shall recover.

Tunbridge Wells snippets.

The Kent and Sussex Courier informs us that the search gets under way for the first ever town centre manager.

Incorrect.  Tunbridge Wells had a town centre manager in the 1990s.  It ended in tears.

The new chairman of Tunbridge Wells Civic Society informs us that the Civic Society is really the bulwark against the destruction of those things which make this such a wonderful place.

Back in the 1990s I called the Civic Society the Aspic Society. The society is a small private group, with no democratic mandate, seeking to impose its views.  The sad thing is is that some people have been taken in by this regressive organisation.

Uncles nails colours to mast

A comment on Trump:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/donald-trump/12041188/Donald-Trump-is-an-outright-fascist-who-should-be-banned-from-Britain-today.html

See also:

Pedestrian hit by van in Rusthall

Recently an elderly man was hit by a van on Rusthall High Street and died from the injuries he sustained. Such are the bare facts of another tragic death on the roads of this country.  Eventually blame for the accident and death will be apportioned.

The 'something must be done' brigade has surfaced and doubtless will be bombarding us with 'solutions' to the traffic problems on the High Street.

Uckfield-Lewes Update

Latest from BML2


http://www.bml2.co.uk/the-news/198-south-s-new-main-line-gathers-pace.html

Tunbridge Wells Farce

The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government is Greg Clark  who is also the MP for Tunbridge Wells.

For years successive governments have been urging local authorities to make savings and improve efficiency by merging or sharing  back-room operations.

Then this happens:

http://www.timesoftunbridgewells.co.uk/taxpayer-foots-150k-bill-for-collapse-of-planning-service/

Please support

See also:

http://tlbpet.org.uk/

Obscenity in Paris

The Somme, Pearl Harbor, Coventry, The Final Solution, Hiroshima, 9/11 are but a very few examples of the obscenity of war, declared or undeclared. The murder of civilians in Paris yesterday has shocked us as it has happened on our own doorstep and not in a far away country on a different continent.

In  July 2005 52 civilians were murdered in London by means of bombs placed on the Underground  and a bus.

We do well to remember the iniquity of war and the calumny of appeasement.  Not a time for sickening liberal sentiments.

New name for Rusthall's old fire station.

From Rusthall  Parish Council website:

Name that building

An item on the agenda for tomorrow's Rusthall Parish Council meeting is to agree a name for the old fire station. My suggestion:

BLACKBURN FOLLY

A further item invites the council to agree a virement from General Reserves to the cost of  work on the building.  Oh dear.

Rusthall Parish Council: communications failure.

Perusal of the parish council website brings to the attention of the reader that no minutes of council meetings have been published since 8th June 2015 and no agenda published since 13th July.

Now bear in mind that the website is funded by Rusthall people, as is the paid part-time clerk.  What is going, or rather, not going on?

Look in vain for any information concerning the cost of the Great White Elephant  renovations  (the old fire station).  Nor do we have any information on the subject of the barmy idea of the Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council  to divert buses away from the town centre. Has the Council made any representations on this matter?

Pounding the streets

When I was a councillor (1996-2000) a task I set myself was to pound the streets in search of potholes, uneven pavements and faulty street lighting and report defects to the council.  It was time-consuming but now the web has made fault reporting easier and quicker, as I discovered when reporting a fault in the street light outside my home.

Another bus trip

Having explored the rural and urban delights of the Tunbridge Wells - Bromley North service yesterday I turned today to the Wells - Eastbourne service operated by Stagecoach.  More to follow......

The cuckoo has landed.

Cab Ride St Pancras -Sheffield nostalgia

There's a cuckoo over the white cliffs of Dover (3)

Now here is a selective list if ever there was one.  Pardon the guffaws.

There's a cuckoo over the white cliffs of Dover (2)

Q:  what is English culture?

There's a cuckoo over the white cliffs of Dover. (1)

I intend to dedicate a few posts to the life and works of Steve Uncles as he seeks to become  Kent Police and Crime Commissioner in 2016.

In most posts comment by me will be superfluous.

Day Trip to Lewes

Used my over 65 bus pass today for a day out.  Decided to visit  Lewes to explore the route of the closed railway in the town,  The railway crossed the High Street on a viaduct and then bridged the river close to Harvey's Brewery and then struck out for Uckfield.

The line's closure had more to with the political machinations of the  pro-road East Sussex County Council than a post Beeching railway closure.

The railway stood on land the Council wished to use to build an inner by-pass.  Named Phoenix Way, the by-pass only advanced a few yards before petering out in the  narrow roads of Lewes .  An expensive folly.

Yawwwnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.................................

Most of the c**p in one place

https://www.facebook.com/Steve.Uncles.English.Democrats/videos/vb.34445722644/10153652890187645/?type=2&theater#

Another one for the collection;

https://youtu.be/thwHkM54K34

Fiveways Bus Ban

The blog has been critical of the idea promoted by the Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council that buses be banned from Fiveways.

Yesterday evening I attended the AGM of the Bridge Trust.  A fellow attendee suggested it would be a good idea to e-mail Councillor Jukes stating objections to his hare-brained proposal.

He can be contacted at:

david.jukes@tunbridgewells.gov.uk

The Pantiles. ATM- Free Zone

The Pantiles is a major visitor attraction.  The decision of Barclays to close the Pantiles branch has seen the demise of the last bank branch at the lower end of Royal Tunbridge Wells.  The Post Office branch closed years ago.  So, here you are a visitor to the Wells and you wish to replenish your wallet.  Barclays took their ATM with them.

Where to go?  The railway station or Sainsbury?  Hardly user- friendly for visitors wishing to spend money in that part of Tunbridge Wells.

Many visitors wish to shop at the top end of the town and use the Crescent Road car park. The condition of the public lavatories has deteriorated over the years.  Worse still, the facilities close at 5.30PM and not 6.00PM as stated on the notice of opening hours.

Perhaps Councillor Jukes could bring his talents to bear to deal with these matters rather than pursue his crazy proposal to drive visitors and locals away from public transport by closing Fiveways to buses.

Steel

The demise of steel-making plants in the wake of China's dumping of surplus steel reminds me of the  closure of steel making capacity close to where I lived in the second half of last century. 

 I remember steel being made at Stanton, Staveley, Renishaw, Clay Cross and Sheepbridge.  All vanished along with associated railways, coal mines, coking plants, foundries and rolling mills.

Two firsts.

Caught the 281 bus at Parsonage Road, Rusthall.  On time departure at 13.24.  One other passenger who alighted at the second bus stop. No other passengers joined until we arrived at the Tesco stop at the top end of town. Very odd as we were not hard on the heels of the 13.12 bus.

Coming home I caught the 16.00 off Meadow Road.  At Fiveways a big scrum, too many people, passengers were left behind.  No room on the bus until we lost a few passengers at Sainsbury.   First time I have travelled non-stop from Fiveways to Sainsbury.

Councillor Jukes has had the bright (trans: stupid) idea to ban buses from Fiveways.  His idea should be consigned to the rubbish bin

 .

Duff advice

This won't work.  Need better legal advice Steve.

http://steveunclesenglishdemocrats.org/2015/10/18/how-as-kent-police-commissioner-steve-uncles-can-bantheburka-in-kent-england/

At sixes and sevens.

Set off for Maidstone on a No 7 bus.  Delayed in Tonbridge by a slow moving steam traction engine (with a jib attached to the front) belonging to the North Kent Haulage and Lifting Co.  Further delay as we navigated inconsiderately parked cars in Mereworth.  Wreckage clear-up following a car accident between Wateringbury and Barming delayed us even further.

Return journey by the No. 6 route.  Heavily delayed by the aforementioned accident.  What I didn't realise was that the No 7 route (apart from the Mereworth detour) sticks to the main roads whereas the No 6 detours round East Peckham and Pembury as well as calling at the Hop Farm and the hospital at Pembury.

Twerp of the Year Award 2015

From a crowded field a clear winner has emerged.  Step forward Councillor David Jukes, Leader of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Councillor Jukes has seen off strong opposition - from machine gun refugee killing Steve Uncles of the English Democrats to members of the White Elephant Club in Rusthall, namely parish councillors spending money on the old fire station.

However all this pales into insignificance when set against Councillor Jukes declared intention to ban buses at Fiveways having just spent a huge sum on a road scheme which does provide for buses.

6X

One of the joys of a concessionary bus pass is the ability to wander off on a whim and for free.  From a base in Tunbridge Wells it is possible to travel to Crawley, Bromley, Maidstone, Eastbourne, Hastings and Brighton without a change of bus en route.  

Yes, it is slower than train travel or using the car but it is free.  Most of the services employ double-decker buses, so a fine view of the passing scenery which is not possible using a car and without the blur of a train journey.

For the most part the services are reliable and the buses reasonably clean.

Today I headed off towards Maidstone via Tonbridge.  Opportunity to inspect the road works on Tonbridge High Street and admire the architecture of Hadlow Folly and Mereworth church.

On arriving in Wateringbury I decided I did not have time to complete the journey to Maidstone.  I alighted at the Wateringbury Hotel stop, crossed the road and inspected the timetables.  I had just missed the bus to Tunbridge Wells via Paddock Wood.

A thirty minute wait beckoned but then a 6X came into view.

The 6X operates between Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals and stops only at Barming, Wateringbury Hotel and Nettlestead. The 'bus' was a tour coach.  It took fifteen minutes to arrive at its destination.  A quick change then onto a bus between the hospital and Tunbridge Wells town centre via Pembury Road.  In all it had taken thirty minutes from Wateringbury to alighting in Tunbridge Wells.

A small bonus: just as we were leaving the hospital the bus I had missed at Wateringbury hove into view.

Twerp of the Year Award 2015

One clear winner this year.  All will be revealed later this week.

On the buses

Decided to have a look at the work being done to dual carriageway the A21 between Pembury and Tonbridge. What better way than on a bus.  So it was off to Pembury Hospital from Tunbridge Wells and thence a bus from the hospital to Tonbridge.

A huge amount of muck has been shifted and it looks as though there is a lot more to go before the new carriageways are defined.

A nasty surprise in Rusthall

Last Sunday I walked up to the High Street in Rusthall to buy a newspaper.  Purchase completed I rounded the corner into Meadow Road and was confronted by the sight of two traffic wardens. It was 8.00AM and the wardens were busy issuing 'tickets' to cars parked partly on double yellow lines.  I bet a few people had a nasty surprise later that morning.

Fiver for proof

Don't believe this.  Fiver to first person to prove me wrong.

http://english-passport.org/2015/10/04/bbc-we-are-pleased-to-announce-that-england-the-host-nation-are-out-of-the-2015-rugby-world-cup/

BML2 Update.

Interesting:

http://www.bml2.co.uk/the-news/196-network-rail-reveals-bml2-as-fastest-alternative-route.html

Shambles at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

According to the Times of Tunbridge Wells  the chief executive of the borough council is 'quite bitter' that the council is facing a £150m gap in its infrastructure funding.  Quite right too.

But then....you do wonder when the council spends a  lot on a cycling strategy which will cost a huge sum to implement.

Add to this the fact that the council is hankering still to ban buses from Fiveways: a move which will inconvenience many passengers, add to road congestion at key junctions, lengthen journey times and make timetables a work of fiction.  A really bright idea.

Makes one wonder if, with the present clueless mob, withholding infrastructure money is not a bad thing after all.

You have to admire the stupidity. Maybe not.

English Passport carries posts by leading lights in the English Democrats. This is the latest offering. Nuff said.

Cycle routes strategy for Tunbridge Wells or away with the fairies

How much did this cost to produce?  What is the cost of achieving  the proposals?  Austerity? Strapped for cash?

http://consult.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/portal/economic_development__regeneration/cycl/cycl?pointId=1442496491425

Just think of the proliferation of street clutter with all the signs.  Pembury Road is a good example of clutter.

Route 9 will be a nightmare on Rusthall High Street.

Ashford went mad over cycle routes - hardly used.

Best thing would for this strategy to be kicked into the long grass and give the thumbs down to the vociferous cycling lobby. Spend the money on improvements to public transport.

Rusthall Parish Council

Now work has commenced on the old fire station I thought I would look at the minutes of the parish council to ascertain the name of the contractor and how much the council is forking out for the work. Stymied at the first hurdle:no minutes on the council website since 8th June meeting.

Below is a copy of a sample agenda:

Note Item 15.  Why is the open session at the end of the agenda? How can any issue be addressed elsewhere in the agenda?

Another day, another charity shop opens.

Two days ago I attended the official opening of the IMAGO charity shop. Today I attended the opening of the Bridge Trust shop Bridge Revivals Boutique on Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells. This shop, together with Bridge Revivals Gifts and Treasures on Camden Road replace the Trust's previous shop lower down Camden Road.

It has been a busy period for the Trust.  The Tonbridge shop closed and the furniture warehouse in Tonbridge had to close on termination of the lease.  The warehouse has relocated to Eldon Way, Paddock Wood and trades as Bridge Revivals Homestore.

Now this is a jest.

In an earlier post on this blog reference was made to Robin Tilbrook who advised us that when it came to machine-gunning immigrants Steve Uncles was only being facetious or writing in jest.

Doubtless this post from Steve Uncles is also in jest.

IMAGO open charity shop in Tunbridge Wells.

IMAGO?  You may well ask.

Rather then answer the question please click on the link below.

http://www.imago.community/

The charity has opened a shop on Crescent Road, Tunbridge Wells.  Good quality stock: well worth a visit.

IMAGO began life as the Tunbridge Wells Council for Voluntary Service. It then became West Kent CVS and more recently Voluntary Action Within Kent.

Met up with many friends at this evening's official opening.

Goodbye EU?

Interesting article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/eureferendum/11886592/Treaty-change-is-only-way-to-end-migrant-crisis.html

It was all in jest.......

Remember this statement by the  English Democrat candidate for Kent Police and Crime Commissioner?

http://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/596076/Calais-migrant-crisis-shoot-English-Democrats-Kent-Channel-Tunnel

Note this from the article:

Despite the public being outraged by his comments, the boss of the English Democrats has backed the shocking comments.

Robin Tilbrook, chairman of the party said: "It seems to me that it is a statement of fact.

"It is not unusual that on international borders that after being warned, if people keep climbing over fences and persist it would not be unusual for guards to fire."

Having being trounced in a BBC interview Tilbrook published the following:

http://robintilbrook.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/jo-coburns-interview-of-me-on-bbc-2.html

I was drawn to this from the article:

Steve Uncles, our Police Commissioner candidate for Kent, made a facetious comment on the not at all serious “social medium” of Facebook and wrote about using a machine gun. 

Isn't that a relief.  It was only a jest, a joke.  The latest in a  long line of 'jokes' in poor taste by Steve Uncles. Sorry Robin, it won't do.  A very poor effort at damage limitation.  What you should have done is chucked Uncles out of the party.

Steve Uncles, our Police Commissioner candidate for Kent, made a facetious comment on the not at all serious “social medium” of Facebook and wrote about using a machine gun.

English Democrats AGM

Take a look at the following screen captures from the English Democrats' website:

Note the words 'the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Essex'.  Not named and in any event it is likely there is more than one Deputy.

I queried the appropriateness of a DLL speaking at a political meeting and moreover one being held in Leicester in an e-mail to Essex County Council.  The link I provided to the ED website now comes up as a 404 error. However I have the screen shots.

There is no reason why a DLL cannot hold political views and attend political meetings but surely this should be in a personal capacity.  To publicise the DLL role is politicising a Crown appointment and should not be countenanced.  Indirectly it has brought the sovereign into party politics.

RefugEase

Wandered into Royal Tunbridge Wells this lunchtime.  Huge traffic jam at the roundabout at the bottom of Major Yorks Road.  The cause of the congestion: cars parking to deliver goods to The Forum for onward transmission by RefugEase to  Hungary in support of migrants in that country.

I watched proceedings for a while and was surprised at the volume of cars and people on foot dropping off items - in some cases boot loads.

Disgraceful

Is there any evidence that Corbyn made the statements he is 'alleged' to have made?  Weasel words by English Democrat loser.

What Corbyn said is here:

http://jeremycorbyn.org.uk/articles/morning-star-280413-no-room-for-the-racists/

There can be no excuse, justification or apology for what happened to Rigby. It was an appalling crime and it has to be condemned.

Corbynmania

Jeremy Corbyn had an overwhelming victory in the contest for the position of Leader of the Labour Party. He succeeded in persuading the party's electorate that an injection of left-wing policies would make the party a force again in British politics.  The fact that Ed Miliband lost the 2015 election decisively on a manifesto which was somewhat to the left of the Blair/Brown era was ignored.

However if the party collectively wishes to commit electoral suicide, so be it.  The wheels will come off Corbynmania within weeks, but the true believers will sink their heads in the sand, pretend all is well with the great project and then wonder why they are annihilated at elections.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/11859233/The-day-the-Labour-Party-died.html


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34126758


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/11860462/Corbyns-victory-reveals-Labours-revulsion-with-real-voters.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/5-reasons-to-be-happy-with-jeremy-corbyns-victory-10497758.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/jeremy-corbyn-becomes-labour-leader-today-is-our-darkest-hour--we-have-become-unelectable-10497770.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/Jeremy_Corbyn/11861327/jeremy-corbyn-victory-new-labour-death.html?


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SPACE charity

Earlier this year I became a trustee of SPACE, mainly to assist with governance and reporting issues. Yesterday I was elected to the post of chair.

What does SPACE do.......click on the link.

http://www.spacecharity.org/Pages/default.aspx

Law enforcement - English Democrat style.

So, the English Democrats plan to preserve English culture.  This will be achieved through law enforcement and in particular the use of guns by the police.

In Kent the English Democrats state they will ban the burka (no indication of the legislation to be used) and also halal and kosher meat sales (again no indication of the legislative framework to achieve this).


All this in the name of protecting English culture from 'dilution'.

BUT, what is English culture?  Presumably the English Democrats will ban Chinese, French, Indian etc. restaurants, and all USA films.  Somehow I doubt it.

Smoking cessation (2)

I stopped smoking on 28th July 2015.  So far I have managed to resist the temptation to get a nicotine fix. Friends tell me the first few weeks are the worst.  We shall see.  I have made huge financial savings, put on a little weight and my sleeping pattern.has changed. I am awake all night and sleep in the afternoon!

Adrian Ratcliffe vindicated - again

Older readers of this blog will recall the squalid campaign of character assassination by The Courier newspaper against Adrian Ratcliffe.  Adrian had the temerity to argue that white English girls were at risk of being sexually assaulted by Asian men.  Racist said The Courier.  Today we have the outcome of the latest of a string of cases involving vulnerable white girls and Asian men.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11848625/Aylesbury-child-sex-ring-sentence.html


What was noted by me at the time was that local establishment figures in Tunbridge Wells fell over themselves to put the boot into Adrian. And I haven't seen a word of apology from any of them.

Uncles repeats his promise

I'll ban the burka in Kent said Steve Uncles.

http://kentcommunityactivist.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/uncles-speaks-again.html


His response:

Steven Uncles23 August 2015 at 12:42

John there are plenty of existing laws that can be used to achieve this, watch and learn

BTW - You are about to be exposed on your Anna Cleves "joke"

Well, I have waiting to 'watch and learn'.

Now we have this:

Still no explanation of the legal framework to legitimise any 'ban'.

Oh, by the way, I have not been 'exposed'.  All bluff and bluster.

Rusthall Parish Council excluding press and public.

Rusthall Parish Council meets on Monday 7th September to consider the tenders for the work to the old fire station - the white elephant acquired by the council having been gifted the purchase price anonymously by a local resident.

It is not unusual for councils to exclude press and public when considering tenders/contracts on the ground that there is commercial sensitivity concerning the subject matter.  However the problem is that press and public are often excluded without any debate as to the need to exclude in a specific case.

Sometimes the impression gained is that the reason for 'secrecy' is not so much commercial sensitivity, rather it is to protect councillors from their deliberations being aired in the public domain.

Uncles promise

HOW?

The Bedford

A visitor of a nervous disposition to Royal TunbridgeWells in the 1990s would have been well-advised to stay away from the Bedford and Roebuck inns.

The Roebuck had a fearsome reputation and trouble would often spill out into Camden Road.  In my experience it was boisterous, plenty of atmosphere and blessed with visits from the police when fights broke out.    The pub is now a mosque.

The Bedford is across the road from the railway station.  In the 1990s it was a seedy establishment..  I was in the  Bedford drinking bottled Guinness when a posse of policemen arrived.  Cue for the pub's denizens to scatter fast.  The pub went through name changes and a succession of landlords.  Never a good sign.

However the pub is on the up.  An oasis of real ale, a mature clientele and a welcoming atmosphere. Indeed, I would recommend a visit.

Uncles speaks again

Latest from the Uncles' camp.

http://steveunclesenglishdemocrats.org/2015/08/22/if-elected-kent-police-commissioner-i-will-ban-the-burka-in-kent-steve-uncles

A few questions:

1.  What legislative provision can be used to achieve this?

2.  What do you do with people who flout the ban:  fine, put in prison?

3.  How will the ban be enforced?

Do I hear cuckoos?

Smoking cessation

I have smoked a pipe for many years. At the end of July I decided to try to stop smoking, after all it would save me just under £13 a week if I succeeded. Just coming to the end of week 3 and so far so good.

Keeping fit, not fat

Started a new fitness regime yesterday. Consists of going on long walks with steep(ish) hill to climb. Yesterday a wander to Speldhurst, today Ramslye, High Rocks and Barrow Lane.  The High Rocks Inn was closed.  Signs at the end of Barrow Lane state it is closed.  Traffic has no difficulty travelling the length of the road.

The Grim Reaper approaches

The only certainty in life is death.  For most people the uncertainty is when the scythe will do its work.  In recent weeks there has been a spate of  'celebrity' deaths:  Cilla Black, David Nobbs and George Cole. Each death affirms our mortality.

On the buses

Used my bus pass today to travel to Sevenoaks for a meeting.  All the buses on time. The bus station in Sevenoaks more convenient by far than the railway station.  The only problem: my meeting finished at 3.15pm and there is no return bus until 4.16pm.  Over an hour's gap in the service (3.08pm to 4.16pm) which is rather strange given that for most of the day there are two buses an hour and a notice  at the Sevenoaks bus station refers to a half-hourly service.

Hopefully Cllr Jukes will get his comeuppance over his plans to ban buses in the centre of Royal Tunbridge Wells.  Last time buses were diverted bus timetables were turned into works of fiction. I look forward to our two Conservative councillors in Rusthall putting the skids under the Jukes folly.

BML2

Encouraging news:

http://www.bml2.co.uk/the-news/194-hm-treasury-gives-green-light-to-brighton-main-line-2-study.html