Forshaw Heath & Earlswood BoD in Warwickshire

http://www.stratford.gov.uk/news/news.cfm/current/1/item/1067 Stratford-on-Avon District Council is proud to confirm that on Sunday 1 July 2012, the Olympic Flame will reach a number of communities in Stratford-on-Avon District who will have the honour of seeing the Olympic Flame pass through. The communities in Stratford-on-Avon District are: Earlswood Alcester Newbold-on-Stour Alderminster and Stratford-upon-Avon The communities make up five of over 1,000 villages, towns and cities announced by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) through which the Olympic Flame will be carried by Torchbearers during the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay which is presented by Coca-Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung.  LOCOG has worked closely with representatives from a number of sectors in Stratford-on-Avon District to devise the route. Cllr Chris Saint, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the reside...

I once wrote on this blog many moons ago about people being accountable and responsible for their actions. Today the news that Sharon Shoesmith has managed to gain god knows how much money for being unfairly dismissed has gob smacked me. There is of course the typical mix up of why she gained the compensation. She went to court for unfair dismissal, if my boss did that to me in public irrelevant of my actions previously I may well do the same. Go to court for unfair dismissal. There are two different things at stake the woman's ability or should that be inability  to be accountable for the actions of her process,procedure and staff and the fact that being dismissed at a press conference by Ed Balls was actually a contraindication to Employment Law. That is like me saying your fired in front of the rest of the office. I can't do it. So no matter what I think of the woman's inability to be accountable in her previous £130k job a ...

Whilst we all Tweet away and use our blogs and Social Media to share with the world our thoughts and interests. I can’t think why there should be a super injunction on some footballer who may have had an extramarital affair. To be honest I am not even interested the only thing that does interest me is why such a person thinks he is so important that he warrants a super injunction. I am not so sure why such trivia is even news worthy and that’s just it isn’t it! With our 24hr news channels even the most un news worthy item appears to become big news because media outlets have nothing more interesting to write about. It’s nothing more than a giant gossip machine. I am about to contradict myself there is a lot of interesting news to write about but it appears to me gone are the days where a reporter or a journalist has time to investigate facts and build an interesting story it just appears to be about  a quick turn around. Its about filling newspapers and news channels up with “...

I am very pleased that the Madeleine McCann case is to be reviewed by Scotland Yard. However I am less pleased that a 3 million pounds has been ring fenced for the review and is reported as possibly taking years.  Whilst the rest of us are undergoing cuts to our Police Forces, resources and funds are been allocated for the review of one case and I am not 100% convinced this is the best use of these funds and resources, unless of course the one case leads to the resolution of many others. As far as I am concerned all missing children warrant the same importance and perhaps I would feel more comfortable if the £3 million and the resources were allocated to a police department who specialises in such cases. I suppose you shouldn't believe everything you read in the papers it may just be that Madeleine's parents have offered to help pay for the review from the proceeds of the recent book as that was why it was written in the first place to pay for the ongoing investigation.

BBC News - Q&A: Alternative vote referendum As we all start receiving our Poll Card I thought it might be a timely to remind myself what it was all about. Shirley Station It was open again yesterday but I noticed the signal box had gone. What a shame. Oh well never mind. Car Parking Whitlocks End Because it was Monday I thought I would take advantage of regular trains at Whitlocks End. LOL forget it if you leave on any train after 8:30 there wern't any parking spaces. I found myself back at Earlswood. Environmentally friendly BoD racing around the Countryside trying to find a parking space :o) Sunday Spent pennies at Earlswood Nurseries, spent loads of time in the garden, saw a Buzzard soaring over by Small Lane then saw another one (may be the same one hovering by the copse in Poolhead Lane. Made friends with a cheeky Robin whilst in the Garden. Left the plastic bit on the piece of gammon I was roasting. (It tasted OK)

A TIDBURY Green man is fuming after a mountain of furniture was left piled up outside a neighbour’s home following a police raid. Mark Payton said that officers had scoured the address, in Norton Lane, a fortnight ago - removing belongings from the house. But after West Mercia Police had finished their search, carried out over several days, they left the possessions outside. A washing machine, fridge freezer and cooker were among the household items left out on the garden. <a target="_blank" href="http://ad.uk.doubleclick.net/click%3Bh%3Dv8/3ac9/3/0/%2a/i%3B235657823%3B2-0%3B0%3B59468476%3B4307-300/250%3B40946979/40964766/1%3B%3B%7Eaopt%3D0/ff/22/ff%3B%7Efdr%3D235706767%3B0-0%3B0%3B48876659%3B4307-300/250%3B40500089/40517876/1%3B%3B%7Eaopt%3D2/0/22/0%3B%7Esscs%3D%3fhttp://pfa.levexis.com/ancestry/tman.cgi/tmad=c&tmcampid=3&tmplaceref=1051573&tmclickref=pid_59468476-cid_40946979-aid_235657823&tmloc=http://www.ancestry.co.uk/s46861/rd....

http://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/news/8897826.Wythall_car_trader_prosecuted_for__clocked__and_unroadworthy_vehicles/ SUCCESSFUL prosecutions have recently been brought against a Wythall car trader by Worcestershire Regulatory Services for offences relating to vehicles which were unroadworthy or “clocked”. In January 2010 Christopher Davis, trading as Portway Motor Centre, sold a Porsche 944. Prior to its sale the purchaser was told that it was in excellent condition, however, a subsequent examination revealed the bodywork to be so badly corroded that it was too dangerous to drive. In October 2009, Portway Motor Centre advertised a Toyota Celica for sale on the Ebay website. The advertisement stated that the vehicle had covered 86,000 miles and on this basis it was sold to a Worcestershire resident. When the new owner decided to sell the car he discovered that the mileage had been reduced by 34,000 prior to its purchase. In March 2010, a BMW 323i was simila...

http://www.waterscape.com/features-and-articles/news/3015/good-tern-from-wildlife-enthusiasts British Waterways has teamed up with a local wildlife group near Solihull to improve facilities for visiting terns on Earlswood Lakes. A British Waterways ecologist will work alongside Earlswood Wildlife Partnership to install a tern raft at Terry Pool on Monday 14 March. The location may be just a thirty-minute drive from a major Midlands city, but it’s also popular with a variety of wildlife , including common terns, which spend the summer in Africa and come to the UK to breed each April. Although seabirds, terns often venture inland to build their nests on islands safe from predators and tern rafts provide an ideal artificial breeding habitat. Earlswood Wildlife Partnership identified the requirement for a tern raft after several seasons of common terns visiting the Earlswood lakes but not having anywhere to nest. The partnership has worked hard on the island an...

As I watch the terrifying media footage of the earthquake followed by the tsunami and now the nuclear power plant explosion in Japan. I can't help but feel for all of those people. Obviously it stands to reason everyone will be moved and saddened by such a chain of events and the death and destruction left in its wake. I feel the earth will always fight back no matter what, history shows the earth has always suffered from natural disasters. Here is a thought are we Humans the root cause of creating what appears to be disaster after disaster in short periods of time? I am no expert and I don't know if they used to happen as frequently as they appear to now or whether the fast moving progress of the human race is so fast and needy the earth just can't keep up with us. As we drill for its oil, chop its rain forests down dig holes, build and use all its resources, it can't possible replenish itself quickly enough to continue providing for us. We don't give it e...

The Ministry of Defence says the first wave of redundancies in the armed forces will be made in September. The MoD must make 11,000 job cuts and the RAF is the first service to set out where its share of 2,700 will begin. Those on operations in Afghanistan in September will be exempt, but troops due back in April could lose their jobs, it has been announced. The government says the cuts are necessary, but Labour says the handling of the news has been amateurish. The armed forces are looking to shed 17,000 posts over the next four years as defence spending is cut. A review has found that, after natural wastage, a total of 11,000 redundancies will have to be made in three or four tranches. The RAF is the first service to set out details of its plans, with the first 1,020 jobs due to go in September. Disbanded Up to 170 trainee pilots will be made redundant, although the RAF says no qualified pilots will be affected. Another 100 posts will go from the Weapons System Officers Branch, 100 ...

 Yet another thing gleaned from Twitter but not widely known about. Gain confidence in using 'online' facilities - course enrolling now!!! Our UK Online Centre, at Elizabeth House , offers free training to anyone in need of catching up with, and getting onboard, the ‘online digital age'. In other words learning how to make best use of the Web, email, and other important IT topics of interest, confidently - through online learning. What's on offer for free : Signup for up to 10 weeks, and, if you wish, continue from home during and after that period One and half hours of support each week at the Council Work at your own pace through the coursework Get a certificate for each course you complete Come away with your own email address as part of the deal To do the course it is preferred you have some experience using a mouse and keyboard, but more importantly a dollop of enthusiasm and motivation to learn. Currently we have places on Monday afternoo...

Good News. The Residents Association is now on line. Please see the new tabs at the top of the page. Nothing to with me but I am so pleased it is at long last there. What is a Mop Fair? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mop_Fair Bod

Dad was chatting away this morning about a programme he saw late at night last night. In short it was about the Sun (I mean the solar Sun) and not the red top newspaper Sun and how it is expected in a couple of years time to have one of its natural turns and how it will affect the earth. As I listened to him reciting what the programme was all about it sort of pricked my interest. Its true I have never heard of the possibility before and thought maybe Dad was exaggerating. When said programme said we could be without electricity in 2013. So I googled Sun Activity and came across a report in the Telegraph dated last year. Its strange how these things don't hit the head lines big time because the ramifications of no electricity is huge. Anyway here is the report! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/7819201/Nasa-warns-solar-flares-from-huge-space-storm-will-cause-devastation.html Guess we will all have to do without TV,Computers,Sat Navs, Light and any other electrical item w...

A main road in Warwickshire was closed after a light aircraft made an emergency landing on it. Pilot Chris Hall walked away uninjured from the damaged Piper PA-28 which landed on the A429 at Wellesbourne earlier. Mr Hall, of Earlswood, Warwickshire, said remembered his "instructor's words" during the incident. The ambulance service said it was "more of a heavy landing" than a crash. Senior paramedic officer Martyn Scott added: "The pilot got up and walked away. There was not a mark on him. He was totally uninjured." Mr Hall said: "On climb out the engine decided that it wasn't going to play any more, so I remembered my instructor's words, which were 'find a field', so I did." The pilot added he had just taken off. He said: "I'd just been doing circuits actually, so I'd done six or seven take offs and landings in the previous hour. "So I was very familiar with what the plane was doing and what the conditions w...

I am absolutely astounded at the disgraceful behavior, violence and sheer lac of respect the students have shown during their recent demonstrations. Any sympathy I may have had for their predicament has been replaced with disappointment and concern that the majority of these people are our Nations future. If this is the way they behave there appears very little hope for us as a Nation. The damage they have caused, the lack of respect for law and order and the unbelievable attack on Prince Charles and the Duchess Of Cornwall makes me cringe. As I watched a video with students chanting off with their heads I wonder if this is tantamount to treason. I must admit I do wonder what an earth the Royals were doing in that neck of the woods. Who the hell put them in that predicament? Of course I suspect it was the minority that has tarred the majority. In the end it will be the majority that will suffer from the actions of the minority as always!

Well with all the talk about how the future Royal Wedding will help the economy I do have to ponder on exaxctly how the below will help the economy? Don't expect to see Prince William and Kate Middleton's faces adorning tea towels, T-shirts, biscuit tins or even china come the Royal wedding next year – Buckingham Palace has imposed strict guidelines on commemorative memorabilia, and has banned all of the above.Although admitting that unofficial merchandise could not be prevented, the Palace has imposed rules for use of the official engagement photos, taken by Mario Testino.A statement from The Lord Chamberlain, Earl Peel, who is senior official of the Royal household, outlined which items would not be permitted, including traditional royal wedding tea towels.A spokesperson explained, 'We want items that are permanent and significant.' http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/news/world/509456/palace-sets-strict-guidelines-for-royal-wedding-memorabilia.html Bang goes any addition...

I just love the way the Aussies go about their business. Straight talking no holding back. They always appear to say exactly what the rest of the worlds population are thinking but never quite get around to saying. Asked what governments should do in response to the leaked cables, Rudd said: "Rule No 1 for our friends in the United States is – how do you tighten things up a bit? "I think that's a fair old question. Maybe 2 million or so people having access to this stuff is a bit of a problem.''   So true   Full Report   http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/08/assange-security-breaches-kevin-rudd

Well it just goes to show you can't trust anyone, with the use of technology those that are paid to represent their Countries quite happily tap away at keyboards passing their thoughts backwards and forwards by cyberspace.  Then some clever git chooses to release cables/emails or what ever you wish to call them on to the Internet for all to view. In some ways I am glad it has been done, on the flip side of the coin I am not so sure it is a good thing.  I have mixed feelings towards it all. If in the first place people were open and honest there wouldn't be a problem with the leaking of of documents. On the other hand these people have passed comment and records go back more than a decade where many things can't be changed. In fact some things have changed because of the reports and thought these people have put forward to the USA.  There is no turning back time however  learning from the past is possible From a previous post.   What makes me happy? ...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3047002/Old-age-mutant-Brummie-turtle.html ANGLER Steve Bellion was shell-shocked last night - after catching a giant TURTLE. Steve, 23, was fishing for carp when he hooked the 57lb monster in a lake near Birmingham. He was amazed when he got it on the bank and it was identified as an 80-year-old alligator snapping turtle, from south-eastern USA. Tales had abounded for a decade of a vicious creature biting through anglers' lines and attacking ducks. Steve said: "It was hissing and snapping and could easily have taken your hand off." The ancient female is believed to have been a pet which grew too big and was released into Earlswood Reservoir. British Waterways staff moved it to West Midlands Safari Park - where it may now mate with a resident male. Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3047002/Old-age-mutant-Brummie-turtle.html#ixzz0tHkIC4lH