“Can’t you afford socks?” My Mum’s approach to Jesus sandals.
Idle village hit the “news” last week via a website called Yorkshire Live. Apparently, we have mob rule.
You can read the full story here. I can only think the journalist must have had a slow news day as this is a very poor representation of a village that has improved beyond recognition.
Describing the mayhem the writer states: One business owner said: “It’s not that bad around here. I have not heard about anyone being intimidated. Police are always here because it is a hotspot for crime and drugs – that’s just the neighbourhood.”
Anybody spot the contradiction?
He added: “I have never had any trouble and I have been here for 40 years. We have a good police presence and you do see beat officers on foot. Police do a good job around here.
So all is well then?
Well not really as we do have a bunch of clearasil clowns causing friction at present. How we deal with them is as much of the problem, especially if you have your head in the sand.
Local councillor Jeanette Sunderland said that coming out of lockdown had led to young people – and adults – getting a “little bit excited” now that they had some freedom.
So lets go trash the Co-Op? Wakey wakey!
Maybe I am getting old and forgetful; surely somebody will remind me I was no angel at this age. But all we do is make excuses which is why a tiny minority of kids grow up thinking they are untouchable.
Having witnessed this in years of “coaching” in primary schools, I can confirm an ancient proverb: A little shit will become a bigger shit.
And once you start labelling them as gangsters, there is every chance they may believe it.
GB News
Week two and my hopes that this new station would have sharpened up are sadly misplaced. I can only imagine the smug smirks coming from the boardrooms of the BBC and Sky; so far this is lightweight rubbish.
The two main evening slots feature some awful presenters, excluding the excellent Simon McCoy. Why oh why have they sat an irritating bit of fluff next to him whose only purpose seems to be to make stupid faces and squawk.
But it gets worse; Dewbs & Co in the primetime six o’clock slot features a mouthy blonde as if out on a night on the prosecco rather than bringing the news of the day. Apparently, she won The Apprentice years ago – point made!
And before you accuse me of being sexist, try Dan Wootton later. With a background of The Sun and The News of the World, need I say more.
So far, so very bad.
City of Cronies – More
When the swimming pools “strategy” was announced several years ago there were no surprises as to the areas of Bradford favoured and those marginalised by the announcement. Funding was not an issue either, it was claimed, as the proceeds from the sale of the Richard Dunn site would more than cover the grand plan – all was well in Pyongyang!
Wind forward and nothing has happened with what is clearly a prime site whilst the new Sedbergh facility is now open serving South Bradford. Bowling Pool has had a fortune spent on it whereas the futures of Bingley and Queensbury remain in the hands of local people.
A few weeks ago the Government invited local authorities to bid for its Levelling Up Fund only for Hapless Hinchcliffe to wail it was so unfair, just give us the money, I’ll show you how to blow it! Now she has a plan from her Back of a Fag Packet Dept.
Squire Lane, supposedly a £10m new pool, never happened. Now it could be reborn as a £20m facility to fit in the with fund – how very convenient. Lets count those votes now!
This council are not fit to run a tombola stall and consistently ignore large parts of the district for political purposes only.
The Apostrophe and Why It Matters
Abuse of the apostrophe is illustrative of the collapse of society in general. Indeed, the approach to the English language was summed up recently by an announcement that consideration was being given to simplifying the spelling of certain words.
Imagine if our forebears had taken that approach to developing the motor car?
The Daily Mail took a light-hearted look at this recently – see As reformers vote to make it easier for children to learn English… These nu, sili speling rools tayk the biskit
The English language is complicated, challenging and can be frustrating but these are not good enough reasons to dumb it down. I often find myself checking a word or sentence but each time I learn something.
The apostrophe is continually abused, so much so that it has almost become an irrelevance. I make the point that beauty is often in short supply in our **** it society and our language is a thing of real beauty.
Be kind to those who struggle with it but do not just give up coz itz ezi!
The Dopes Strike Again
Bradford Council is proud of the so-called clean air initiative. Levels of pollution are deemed as too high in and around the city centre. Prompted – and funded – by the government things have to change.
But did anybody from Westminster to Windhill consider the outcome if they suddenly stuck an unused cycle lane on one of the busiest roads in and out of the city? As I waited to get a key cut, I watched as the traffic backed up down the hill and waited for the peloton to arrive.
Although I was only there some twenty minutes, not one lycra-clad, suicidal cyclist did I see. I did see plenty of cars crawling up the hill in low gear, stop-starting, belching away.
Dopes win again.
Phil Marks says
Couldn’t agree more with you Steve regarding the cycle lanes.
Unless of course we are anticipating the return of The Tour de France in our area!
Steve says
Hi Phil
Hope you are well. I’m neither a climate change denier nor a tree hugger but cycle lanes in Bradford are a farce. Workable perhaps in places like York but with our mix of topography and brain dead drivers, it is a waste of public money. Far better to invest the millions in electric charging points or more reliable public transport.
Have a good weekend.
Regards
Steve
Michael T Leahy says
It has been said in the T&A comments on line that the Wakefield Road cycle lane hasn’t been opened yet, so it must be true.
The c/lane appeared to be full of debris last time I went up there.
Dudley Hill roundabout to be closed for a week for repairs ?
That should be fun.