Let yourself GROW

I could imagine hearing it on the radio.  Me, on Chris Evans' Breakfast Show, on the segment where the kids usually ring in to say what they've done for the first time, but during the summer holidays it's adults, presumably because anyone under the age of 18 is still fast asleep.

'Next on the line we have Helen, from Northamptonshire.  Hello Helen, what did you do for the first time?'

'Well Chris, on the first weekend of the summer holidays my family and I went to the inaugural Grow Festival in Corby - and performed with one of the acts.'

'Wow, that sounds exciting!  Tell us more.'

'It was the Maritime Show, featuring a pair of pirates.  It took place outside the Paletto Lounge and Corby Radio.  First up my daughter had to confirm that the eggs being used for a juggling act were real, by shaking one, listening to it and then cracking it open on my head - she, quite wisely, refused the last part.

'I then had my mind read in an amazing feat of telepathy using cards - the pirate quite rightly said that I wasn't thinking of the ace of hearts.

'But my husband had a starring role.

'He was selected from the crowd because he was tall, bronzed and looked like a Greek god from the island of Domestos, or so the pirates said.  This made me laugh heartily, perhaps a little too heartily in husband's eyes.

'He then had to become the glamorous assistant who held a seven feet high unicycle steady while the pirate climbed aboard, using husband as a human ladder.  After this he had to throw three cutlasses at the pirate, who then proceeded to juggle them from his unicycle.  Husband received a well-deserved round of applause for his gallant efforts.'

'That sounds great Helen - mark the experience out of 10.'

'Ooh, definitely a 10 Chris!'

Not what you usually expect to see in Corby town centre on a Sunday morning, but a thoroughly enjoyable and well organized event - thank you to all involved.  We're looking forward to next year's already!

I'm a little bit in love with Gareth Southgate...

I'm a little bit in love with Gareth Southgate,

It's hard to explain, but here goes...

I love his natty ties, and his waistcoats,

And his long, noble, crookedy nose.

I'm a little bit in love with Gareth Southgate,

And in truth with some of his team.

I love Kane, Dele Alli and Trippier,

Maguire and his 'put the bins out' meme.

I'm a little bit in love with Gareth Southgate,

He seems like a nice, decent bloke.

He trained a team we could all be proud of,

Which doesn't happen often to us English folk.

So I'm a little bit in love, Mr Southgate,

Could I have one of your big, warm hugs?

Can you come and help us sort out Brexit,

I'll make the tea, builders' strength, in mugs.

We need more people like (Sir) Gareth Southgate,

Who can make England unite once again.

Football may not have come home this time,

But in another four years, who knows then?

I'm a little bit in love with Gareth Southgate,

This much I know to be true.

He made me care about English footie again,

So can I just say a big 'thank you!'

Northamptonshire's woes by Helena Handcart

I sometimes think I should write this column under the byline of Helena Handcart.

Despite being repeatedly informed that the UK is the sixth richest country in the world, it sure doesn't feel like it if you're a resident of Northamptonshire.

Without wishing to sound like a broken record, every week we hear of another council service that's being reduced.

At the time of writing, the latest item on the seemingly endless list of cutbacks is road gritting.

Admittedly, while I'm sitting here at my computer in 80 degree heat 'glowing' unpleasantly - there's an image for you all, apologies if you're eating! - road gritting for winter seems like a long way off.

But cast your minds back to just March this year and the snow drifts that were nearly double the height of my little Fiat 500.

I rejoiced when the gritter went past my window on a nightly basis, knowing that this meant we hadn't yet been completely cut off.

If the council want people to be able to leave their homes to go to school and work, then gritting the roads is a necessity, it's as simple as that.

We've already lost vital bus services - the children from Gretton that attend Corby Business Academy, who relied on the service bus to take them to and from school, have a temporary bus in place until the end of this term but haven't been told what's going to happen after that. 

As the county council has a statutory duty to ensure they get to school, I can but hope that plans are in place for them - it would be good if they let the parents know this though.

Also, I have been asked to tell you that the Future Northants information and questionnaire about the proposals for the local government changes in the county are available in hard copy format from council offices, libraries, leisure centres etc for those unable to access it online.

Please take the time to complete this and let those in charge know how we feel about what's happening to our beloved Northamptonshire.