Sunday 30 October 2016

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.

Friday 28 October 2016

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.

Thursday 27 October 2016

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.

Friday 21 October 2016

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.



Monday 17 October 2016

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.

Sunday 16 October 2016

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.

Thursday 13 October 2016

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.

Thursday 6 October 2016

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.