Thursday 16 May 2019

Bank Holidays and bin days...


I was going to say Bank Holidays are like buses, as in you wait ages for one and then two or three turn up together, but with the current state of bus services in Northamptonshire that expression has lost some of its meaning!

I know the May Day Bank Holiday is a fairly recent addition, but I was wondering if it should perhaps be moved?  We have a long gap between August's and December's, could we perhaps do with one there somewhere?

Or should we all have one to celebrate our Patron Saint's Day?  The Welsh could have 1st March, the Irish the 17th March, the English the 23rd April and the Scottish the 30th November.

You can't beat a Bank Holiday for causing confusion over the bins though, can you?

There's always someone who forgets it's shifted a day, and puts theirs out on what should be the 'right' day.

This then causes bin confusion with the neighbours - who's right?  Do you put yours out just in case?  You can't run the risk of not having the refuse bin collected as it's now done once a fortnight.

So you check up and down the street.  Now one person's done it, other people are getting twitchy too.  There are bins appearing everywhere, as if by magic.

There's also the food caddy - that's done weekly, you've got to get that out there as well.

Then you remember there's been two Bank Holidays over Easter, you've lost the note from the council, now you don't know what to do.

So you err on the side of caution - you're pretty sure you're right, but you don't want to be the only one that doesn't get their bin emptied. 

Then your bins stand there for a day and a half, kerbside, handles out, looking dejected because of course it's shifted a day. 

You remind yourself to double check next time and make a note because the stress of having a Bank Holiday is all too much where the bins are concerned...

Wednesday 24 April 2019

Education, education, education...


The headline on the Northants Telegraph 28th March made worrying reading - School Places Crisis.

I read Sarah Ward's report - there will be a shortage of secondary school places in Kettering, Corby and Northampton from September, and a deficit in the county as a whole for as long as projections are available.

The reasons given were a baby boom which is now hitting secondary school, migration to the county, the number of new homes being built, and the local education authority's reliance on academy trusts and free schools to provide additional spaces.

Then I read "Education levels are not at the level we would wish them to be", this from Cllr Fiona Baker, the county councillor responsible for education in Northamptonshire.

Shockingly, over a third of secondary schools in the county are ranked by school inspectors as 'requires improvement' or 'inadequate'.

Interestingly, 40 out of 42 schools in Northamptonshire offering mainstream secondary provision are run by academies or have free school status.

Therefore, although the county council is the local education authority and has ultimate responsibility for the education of the county's youngsters, most of the schools aren't actually under its direct control.

Apparently, as a minimum, extensions are needed to six existing schools, and two new secondaries are needed by 2023. 

But into this mix must be highlighted the fact that this crisis will be passed onto the two new proposed unitary authorities once NCC is disbanded in 2020.

Cllr Matt Golby is quoted as saying "Schools are going to be the big question as we move to unitary as well.  Whether we set up two local education authorities and how we are going to provide the infrastructure is a massive, massive ask and so that is another big strategic question that we need to be dealing with on this road to unitary."

As a concerned parent, could I please suggest that all relevant bodies urgently get together and sort this out.  The children of Northamptonshire deserve so much better.  So much for Tony Blair's clarion call of 'Education, education, education' and his legacy of academies.

Cleaning


Now, to anyone who knows me this won't come as much of a shocking revelation, but I don't consider myself much of a housekeeper.

Yes, I do my own cleaning, washing and ironing, but it's not something that I relish and enjoy - I do it because I have to.

So I couldn't quite get my head around the latest social media stars who love cleaning and share pictures of their newly polished sinks, for example.

Don't get me wrong, I love a clean sink as much as the next person, but I wouldn't have dreamed of taking a photo of the areas I've cleaned to post on social media, and not just because my cleaning prowess would be negatively critiqued by all and sundry.  Up until this point, I figured that nobody would be interested, but it appears that my assumption would be wrong.

I read an interview in a Sunday paper with Sophie Hinchliffe, AKA Mrs Hinch, who is a superstar in the world of cleaning.

She has a loyal band of followers - the Hinch Army or Hinchers - the verb 'to Hinch' means to clean, and areas that have been cleaned are dubbed 'Hinched'.

Even as a non-fan of all things domestic, I couldn't help but warm to her, and she imparted some interesting hints, tips and short cuts which I may try out.

She mentions various products, and I do use some of the same stuff, perhaps just not as effectively.

But even I can't deny the joy I get from treating myself to a new dish-washing brush or wave-shaped sponge, which I always thought was a little bit sad to admit!

In the spirit of sharing the knowledge, Helen's Handy Hint to deodorise and clean the inside of your microwave without using harsh chemicals, is place half a lemon in a dish of water, heat on full power for three to five minutes to create some steam, remove very carefully as contents will be hot, and then wipe out the inside of the microwave with a cloth, et voila!

Thursday 28 March 2019

Baked beans for Brexit


The lady from Bradford being interviewed for BBC Breakfast was adamant - she was stockpiling baked beans for Brexit because, she said, you can live on them if you have to.

I'm not sure that's been scientifically proven, and Doctors probably wouldn't agree that this is a long term dietary solution, but I could relate to what she meant.

They're tinned with a reasonably long shelf-life, you can stack them in the pantry/cupboard/spare bedroom/garage/shed (depending on numbers requiring storage and availability of room), and they are pretty tasty. 

I also hear that they can be consumed cold, but despite the number of years I've walked this planet, I've yet to try this so can't really comment.  My personal recommendation is hot, on buttered toast, perhaps with a side serving of cheese, if you're feeling fancy.

But although I'm quite a fan, I do think that to eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner over a period of several days would get a little repetitive, and would probably lead to some unfortunate side effects which might add to the climate change crisis if the whole nation followed suit.

It did make me wonder though if we should perhaps be putting a few extra items in the trolley each week, just in case?

I'm not talking about going 'wild in the aisles' Supermarket Sweep-style, but it's probably sensible to make sure that you're not going to run out of loo rolls, particularly if you are planning on partaking in the Brexit baked bean diet, as detailed above.

And tea - never mind the numerous coffee shops and the low-fat, one-shot cappuccino with chocolate sprinkled on the top - we all know that this nation runs on tea, so it might be worth buying another box of your favourite brew to tide you over.

So onto my list goes extra baked beans, loo rolls and tea.  Oh, and cheese - you can never have too much cheese.  Again, this is my own personal opinion, I'm not a Doctor: a medical professional would probably say you could have too much cheese...

Thursday 21 March 2019

World Book Day 2019


Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of World Book Day.

Anything that encourages children to read books is something to be applauded, and I think it's fantastic that so many schools get involved with this event.

But I'm sure I'm not the only parent who breathes a sigh of relief once their child reaches secondary school age so no longer has to, or has any desire to, dress up as their favourite book character.

I know, the kids love it, but it's just another thing we parents have to worry about, ensuring a suitable costume is ready, sometimes with short notice because we didn't see it on the newsletter/didn't get the letter/missed it because the dog and/or cat was being sick on the carpet at the time and we were distracted with more pressing matters, and then we just forgot.

Yes, I also appreciate that a lot of people just buy a costume, or let their children wear their favourite superhero outfit on the day - that's ok too.  Life's complicated enough, and trying to shoehorn a reluctant child into an outfit they don't want to wear only ends in tears for all parties concerned.

Speaking from personal experience, if you're not particularly crafty in any sense of the word, creating outfits for dress-up days or school plays is a nightmare.

I remember the time mine announced she had to go to school dressed as a mini-beast, as they were studying bugs for their topic.

Rather unusually for me, I somehow managed to handcraft a spider costume, using one of husband's old black t-shirts and four pairs of my M&S black opaque tights, stuffed with copies of the Northants Telegraph.

This, however, is my one and only triumph at creating a costume for such an occasion.  And yes, I'm pretty sure I disassembled it and gave himself back his t-shirt and continued wearing the tights once the newspaper was removed - 'reduce, reuse, recycle' as Bob the Builder would say, hopefully in a book somewhere!

Thursday 14 March 2019

Dr Martens


I was so pleased to read in the Northants Telegraph about the £2 million expansion of the Dr Martens' site in Wollaston.

At last, some good news for the county, and indeed the whole country.

I'm going to admit to also being very excited about the new heritage centre and factory tour too - please sign me up!

You see, I love DMs, always have.  I've been working it out, and I've been a proud wearer for over 30 years now.

My DMs have evolved as I've aged though:  my ten-hole black boots, customised with Guinness laces from my tour of St James's Gate Brewery in Dublin - I love a good brewery/factory tour, you see - have long since been replaced by a slightly more demure pair of heeled Doc shoes, still with the proudly distinctive chunky bouncing soles.

I had a 'proud parent' moment too when I bought my daughter her first DM boots - a purple pair from the factory shop in Wollaston, naturally. 

Everywhere she went in them she received compliments.  Sadly now outgrown, I can't bear to part with them.  Not sure I can find her first pair of baby shoes, but I know where her first pair of Docs are!

The new heritage centre will be a boon to the local tourist economy, as visitors are sure to flock to see an iconic brand being produced and learn more about its history to boot (pardon the pun!).

I also found it extremely heartening to read about the success of Dr Martens' 'Made In England' range. 

As somebody who always tries to buy British and support our economy whenever I can, it's good to know that this part of the business is thriving.

Truthfully, we really have so much to be proud of in this county, let's celebrate a great Northamptonshire success story and focus on some good news for a change.

Well done Dr Martens!

Thursday 28 February 2019

Bonsai


I felt very sorry for the Japanese couple who had seven specimens from their priceless Bonsai tree collection stolen, including a Shimpaku Juniper which was over 400 years old.

In a plea for their return, the couple also gave instructions on how the trees should be properly cared for, and said they were like their children.

Doubtless the thieves have already got buyers lined up for the precious plants, we can but hope that they do some research and care for the trees.  Or even better, do the right thing and return them to their original owners, unharmed.

But as I read this story and marvelled at the age that these tiny trees can get too, it also made me think of every single plant that has crossed my threshold only to reach the end of its lifespan long before its expiration date.

It's not that I don't care about plants - I really do, and I love trees and my garden.

It's just that when they come into the house, sit pride of place on a windowsill in a plant pot, I just forget to water them.

It's become embarrassing though, as any time I'm presented with a plant I tell the kind bestower that of course I'll water it, feed it, talk to it and nurture it.  I tell myself that maybe this time will be different and this one will survive.  Except they never do. 

The one exception is a particularly hardy Aloe Vera which has made it past the ten year mark.  How this has happened is a mystery.  It perhaps needs donating to science to have its DNA sequenced or whatever they do as I may have stumbled across the secret to eternal life, unwittingly and unknowingly.

When my family teases me about the demise of yet another plant in my care, I remind them to be thankful that at least I remember to feed and water each of them, and to please note that the dog is exceptionally well cared for too!

Thursday 14 February 2019

Interview


Olivia Bland's interview from hell made national news after she tweeted about the ghastly experience she had where her interviewer belittled her, took apart her application line by line, and even criticized the way she sat amongst other things.

Apparently this is called a 'stress interview', a technique used to gauge how people cope under pressure.

Surely the fact it is an interview is sufficient stress on anybody though?  Only candidates on The Apprentice breeze into these situations supremely self-confident and sure of their own abilities!

Her experience reminded me of an interview I had years ago for a public sector role.

The interview panel also used this stress technique, expect I didn't know that it was a technique at the time - I just thought they were being incredibly negative, hostile and downright rude!

The questions I was asked included why I thought I could even do this particular job, given the degree I had, and why had I even applied in the first place?

Obviously, this threw me, and after concocting some sort of answers only to be faced with further negativity, I heard myself saying "Right, let's stop there shall we and not waste any more of your or my time - I'm obviously not what you're looking for."

Not that I would recommend this as a typical interviewee response, but it did have the effect of stopping them in their tracks and becoming friendlier, however by then it was too late for me and I left the interview room with as much dignity as I could muster under the circumstances.

I probably cried when I was in the safety of my car, but to be honest I can't remember that bit.  I do vividly remember though how worthless and stupid the panel had made me feel.

The upside of this story is that when I had to interview people for jobs many years later, I always tried to put candidates at their ease and never treated them the way I'd been treated on that occasion - I'm hoping that Olivia will take that lesson away with her too.

Thursday 7 February 2019

Rutland - Multum In Parvo


I was genuinely pleased for our neighbours in Rutland that their county was placed third in the best places to live in the entire country.

It is indeed a lovely county, with beautiful towns, villages and countryside - worthy of its Latin motto 'Multum In Parvo', meaning much in little. 

Slightly more inspiring than our Northamptonshire's 'Let Yourself Grow' which doesn't really mean much, does it?  I preferred to be greeted with 'Rose of the Shires' when crossing back across the border, but there you go.

Anyhow, it seems even Rutland isn't immune from bank closures: the last branch standing in Uppingham - Barclays - has announced it is to close, the same week that Santander announced their Corby branch was shutting.

Claims that it's down to the fact people bank differently these days are starting to ring a little hollow, well at least to my ears.

While I accept that some people prefer to bank online or on their smartphones, others are being forced to bank differently because banks keep on shutting branches!

I've lost count of the number of times I've been standing in my bank queue and have been approached by a member of staff, 'helpfully' pointing out that I can use a machine instead.

Well, I don't want to use a machine thank you - I want to deal with an actual human being.  I actually like exchanging pleasantries with a bank clerk, and making sure that my transaction is being carried out correctly.

On the last occasion I was approached thus, I said to the member of staff concerned, very politely, that she was actually talking herself and her colleagues out of a job.

Her reply was that she much preferred using her iPad and encouraging other people to use the machines instead.

I'm not sure she appreciated the irony of this statement, or she perhaps just didn't care.

But I'm really concerned for all our towns if banks and shops keep closing down - what will be left, and where will people work?

Thursday 31 January 2019

Seatbelt


I'm just about old enough to remember the 'clunk, click, every trip' ad campaign that ran to remind us all that it was the law to wear a seatbelt.

As far as I'm aware, the only exemptions were drivers of milk floats - not because their lives were worth any less than other road users, just that when they're driving around at silly o'clock in the morning on an electric milk float at 5mph, they're hopefully unlikely to be catapulted through the windscreen.

Plus, as they had to leap swiftly in and out of their vehicle, a seatbelt would hamper this speedy manoeuvre, or so the reasoning went I seem to recall.  I could of course be incorrect - it was about 40 years ago and I was very young at the time.

In today's modern cars, there is an alarming buzzer that rings relentlessly to remind you to put your seatbelt on too, lest you somehow forget.  In my car it screams at such an annoying level that you couldn't possibly continue driving, as your ears would be bleeding, and that would be extremely unpleasant as well as potentially dangerous.

So to be honest, I was very surprised that the Queen and Prince Philip were both pictured appearing to be driving without seatbelts, just after the Duke of Edinburgh's car crash on a busy Norfolk road.

Firstly, I was surprised that they were driving themselves.  Now don't get me wrong, this isn't an ageist comment in the slightest.  If their eyesight is fine and they're safe and competent, why shouldn't older people continue driving?

No, I was surprised that with the number of staff they have - personal protection officers, chauffeurs etc - that they would even want to drive themselves.

Personally, I would happily take a back seat and let a professional chauffeur me about!

What with one eye on the potholes, another on the traffic, plus monitoring speed limits, and the sheer volume of cars and lorries, I would much rather sit back, relax and watch the scenery scud past.

Sadly, despite my love of all things automotive, I find there's little pleasure in driving these days.

Thursday 24 January 2019

History


Tony Blair is history.  Perhaps I need to clarify that statement - Tony Blair's time as Prime Minister is now being taught as part of the GCSE History syllabus.

Now, I don't know about you, but for me that's a scary thought.  How can something which seemingly happened so recently be taught in history lessons?!

I remember it all too vividly - the Blairs sweeping into Downing Street accompanied by their 'Things Can Only Get Better' D:Ream soundtrack, which truthfully could now become our national song, recited every morning to encourage us to get out of bed and face another day in Great Britain.

But yes, I realise it's actually over 20 years ago, so even though I might think of it as yesterday, it really does qualify as history.

I felt a bit like that watching the BBC Icons programme on Leaders too.  Not the segments on Churchill and Roosevelt, obviously - I'm not that old - but certainly the pieces on Thatcher and Mandela.  This was history that I actually lived through and could remember clearly.

Although I did wonder why the Brighton hotel bombing by the IRA and the Falklands war were omitted from the piece about Margaret Thatcher - surely these were key events from her time in office?

I think it's safe to say that Mrs Thatcher was a fairly divisive figure at the time, so I wasn't entirely surprised that she didn't win the public vote to go forward to the final for the Icon of the 20th century.

But having heard Maggie's achievements listed out by Sir Trevor McDonald, it was hard not to admire her grit and determination to rise from her humble beginnings and smash the glass and class ceilings of the Palace of Westminster.

We shall probably not see the likes of her again - which I appreciate some may say is a good thing - but you have to wonder what she'd make of the state of the nation currently, and how the history books will view it all in 20 years' time.

Thursday 17 January 2019

Build communities, not just more houses


Having watched both parts of 'Billy Connolly: Made In Scotland', I can assure The Big Yin that it didn't depress me in the slightest.

On the contrary, he was inspirational - funny, honest, witty, intelligent, multi-talented, multi-layered and insightful.  His perceptiveness remains undiminished, and reminiscing about his Glasgow childhood revealed points which still have resonance today should people care to listen.

He discussed the importance of libraries, particularly to working class kids, and said "The Library is the key, all the knowledge in the world is there.  Books are your ticket to the whole world, a free ticket to the entire earth."

He also discussed being relocated to the new housing estate at Drumchapel, along with tens of thousands of other Glaswegians.  Of this he observed:

"Drumchapel had indoor plumbing, problem was we had f*** all else.  No amenities.  It was a crime to move thousands of people to a housing estate with no cinemas, no theatres, no cafés, no shops, no churches, no schools, just houses.

"Even as a boy I knew cafés, cinemas, community were the key to a sane life.  If a place has none of those things a dullness descends, a kind of anger develops, and if you have no way of articulating that anger you just lash out."

How often, particularly around here, do we hear about yet another planning application for hundreds, even thousands of homes?

And how often are shops, community centres, cafés, schools, nurseries, medical facilities or churches built simultaneously to accompany those houses?

Priors Hall Park is to finally get its own shop - a Sainsbury's Local - many years after its first residents moved in.

Why can't all councils make it a condition that if developers want to build more houses, they have to ensure that the infrastructure and ancillary facilities are first in place? 

Improve the access roads, make cycle-ways and well-lit footpaths, build community parks, centres and facilities before, or at least at the same time as, the houses are constructed.  Otherwise it's cruel to move people in and not ensure they have decent community facilities necessary for a sane life.

Thursday 10 January 2019

Saddened by the plight of HMV


Not being a 'streamer' I was saddened to hear about the plight of HMV, my go-to source of music and DVD entertainment.

I am a regular shopper in the Kettering and Leicester stores, where I've been going since I was a teenager, so my loyalty stretches back for many years.

I appreciate times are changing - I've moved from buying cassette tapes to CDs after all - but it greatly saddens me to think of our High Streets without music shops.

In my mind, you can't beat going in and browsing through the shelves of a good music or book store.

You often find things you weren't expecting, can ask the knowledgeable and helpful staff for recommendations, and can enjoy the general vibe that comes from being in the company of like-minded people.

Because there is a tribe that inhabits music shops, of which I'm proud to be a member.

The people who feel passionately about music and would actually like to hear a whole album just as the artistes intended, rather than pick out the hit song that's played repeatedly on mainstream media.  The folk that like to appreciate the album sleeve artwork, read the sleeve notes and study the lyrics - that's not just me, right? 

So yes, it'll be a shame if a buyer isn't found for HMV, and yet another great British institution disappears forever.

I would urge you all to shop there, or continue to do so if you do already, but you're perhaps getting bored with me saying 'use it or lose it'.

It seems the digital world is swiftly replacing our physical purchases, so I'm in danger of becoming a Canute-like character, simply shouting at a relentless and remorseless tide.

I don't have a solution, other than to carry on shopping there as usual until the metal rollerblind doors clang shut for the final time should a saviour not be found. 

If that day comes, I reserve the right to openly and unashamedly weep for what we've lost, and I'm sure I won't be alone.

Thursday 3 January 2019

New Year's Resolution? Buy a paper


Friends, readers, county-people of Northamptonshire, lend me your ears!

Firstly, happy New Year to you all, I hope this first column finds you hale and hearty.  Secondly, I'd like to talk about New Year's resolutions and one that I'd like you all to make please.

I appreciate that if you're reading this I'm probably preaching to the converted, but please spread the word to your family, friends, neighbours, colleagues, people on the bus, in the queue at Asda or Tesco (other supermarkets are also available) - and make it a New Year's resolution to buy a local paper every week.

No, I'm not being paid to say this before anyone suggests that, but I am happy to support the #BuyAPaper campaign which emerged on social media late last year.

Local papers, such as the Northamptonshire Telegraph, are struggling because of a fall in revenue from hard-copy sales and advertising.

More and more people are just accessing their news online from various sources, so don't buy an actual paper.

But the NT and Chron websites, which I'm sure that everyone in the county looks at on a regular basis, wouldn't be the same without the quality writing of the journalists who have been properly trained and write the stories which appear weekly in those papers.

In this era of fake news, local newspapers are a source you can trust to be truthful, report on what's happening in your area, and hold our local councils and politicians to account when needed - something we all know in Northamptonshire to be absolutely vital.

So please, buy a paper every week and make sure that the great work of these local publications can continue.

As respected politician and academic Toomas Hendrik Ilves said:  "Fake news is cheap to produce.  Genuine journalism is expensive."

But at just £1.55 per week - and cheaper if you subscribe - you can get genuine quality journalism for less than the price of a coffee, and you can support a paper that's been standing up for your local community since 1897.