1953 Floods on Lincolnshire Coast

So today is the 60th anniversary of the disastrous floods on the Lincolnshire and the whole East Coast of England - January 31st 1953.

Let us remember the ones who died - 42 in Lincolnshire, I think over 1300 in Holland and Belgium, over 300 in England in total. Regardless of Global Warming lets remember the awful power of nature.

Unfortunately this area of Lincolnshire is now one of the most deprived in Europe. It has a demographic population of over 55s much greater than average and also because of low incomes there are a greater number in fuel poverty.

It seems the Government and council are unwilling to help because of the "Flood Risk". I can see that they don't want to put more people at risk but there are alternative arguments.

What should we do - just evacuate all the people and turn it into a no-mans land? 

It seems there are Wind Farm builders Queuing up to build their Wind Turbines - I know they can be built in the sea, there are hundreds off shore at the moment, but do they really want to put them on land that will flood? Or should we let them - the price being to beef up the sea defences for the Locals?

Its a choice to be made.

Alternatively with land so cheap etc. why can't other industries be attracted? After all we've seen in the last couple of years there are parts of the inland country that are prone to floods where it was previously unheard of. Weigh that one up - Environment Agency.

Don't want Horsemeat Burgers?

If you don't want Horse-meat Burgers then don't buy burgers from your Supermarket.

Support your local butcher get his minced beef or better buy your meat and mince it (or get him to mince it - he will).

We exclusively buy all our meat from our local butcher.

Don't tell me he's dearer that the Supermarket 'cos he isn't. 

1. If you get to know him he "treats you"
2. If you buy regularly and in quantity he may discount it
3. His chickens aren't pumped up with water
4. less waste on his meat
5. He's local, less food miles, you don't have to travel miles to his shop.
6. Our butcher delivers free.
7. Actually his prices are comparable with Supermarkets AND his meat is better quality

Our local butcher Bennetts Butchers Sutton on Sea, Lincolnshire.

I highly recommend him, especially his own made Lincolnshire Sausages.

Driving while using a mobile phone

I totally disagree with using a mobile phone whilst driving. Its dangerous - how can you control a car with the other hand holding a phone? I often encounter cars around here (Lincolnshire) with the driver having a mobile clamped to his ear, driving with his elbows! Why, you see they don't get caught. There's no deterrent in fines and points if you stand ZERO chance of getting caught, no police around here. 

Its like drink driving, people now almost universally agree NOT to do it. If you do it you are shunned as a pariah. Its genuine antisocial behaviour. Worse you could kill someone or even yourself. Its exactly the same with a  mobile but when are we gong to treat people the same as a society as DOL drivers?

I also think the same about smoking. If it started today what would folk say about lighting a piece of weed wrapped in paper,  holding it in one hand taking it off the wheel to whilst you were driving , then puffing on it breathing in the smoke! It would be banned. You can't have naked flames in a car! how stupid and dangerous.

Anyway, I watched a film the other night, and have you noticed how in America they often show the actors driving and using a mobile phone! (cell phone). Is it NOT illegal in America? I think the censors should rate these films/programmes X if they show a patently illegal and dangerous act in a film in this country. Or be forced to put a warning on screen, "this film depicts driving whilst using a mobile phone which is contrary to UK Law". If its part of the story like anything else (killing people is illegal but we all know that), then let them show it but like supposedly the rating stops children seeing it and  being influenced (like killing) only adults should be allowed to see it.

Any answers on US law?

Censorship and history

Recent repeat of classic BBC Comedy Fawlty Towers was censored by  BBC. If it was OK when it was first shown why can't we see it now? Yes there were racist terms used but that's what people aid then. No malice was intended it was just a name. Surely offence is caused by how the "name" is used? Any word can be used in an offensive manner if you choose to use it.

Classic is Guy Gibson, his dog was called Nigger. He was a black labrador. Can I say "black" labrador or is that offensive to the dog? Has the dog taken offence is he upset? Actually he's dead now. so doesn't care. In the remake of the Dambusters film they want to rename his dog! so as not to be offensive.

Its all stupid, Isn't it?

I nearly choked!

In my best Victor Meldrew voice "I don't believe it?"

David Cameron has made an Election Promise!!

Well we all "believe that don't we?"

"If he gets elected we'll have a Referendum on Europe" - do you believe him? Its like Labour in opposition they promise anything because you know, they know they can't deliver.

Look at David's track record. How many promises did they make before this election and how many have they honoured? I seem to remember there was a promise to - wait for it "have a Referendum on Europe", but where is it, "next time".

Sorry, where is the tax allowance for Married couples David? and there are more.

It won't wash so forget it, you're a has been. You WON'T win the next election - guaranteed.

You heard it here.

Snow paralyses the country

Here we go again. Its Winter and some snow paralyses the country. It makes me laugh.

Yes some places had had difficulties but why does it surprise people so? In winter it gets cold and sometimes it SNOWS..

I used to live near Halifax and we often woke up to and inch or two of snow. If I 'd stopped off work every time I' have lost my job. We just got on with it.

The council were great - roads gritted and [ploughed. You had to be careful but you could get about.

Here in Lincolnshire 2 inches and its lock down. And its FLAT.  We only struggled when the snow was that deep it piled up in front of your car. Then you walked to the main road and got a bus. Yes the buses kept running.

Water power - why not?

So we've had the wettest 2012 since records began, so isn't it time we found a use for this water?

2 things - tidal power and Hydro-electricity.

So why don't we harness the tidal power? The tide goes in and out twice a day GUARANTEED.

Then all this water that fell on us, build some dams up in the hills and make it generate electricity as it flows out? You never know it might protect the valleys below.

Miliband's Solar swindle?

Is it Miliband's Solar swindle? No its not a Solar swindle.

It is in fact a brave and revolutionary attempt to move the masses away from dependency on Fossil fuels which ultimately will bankrupt the country and poison the planet.

What would you rather have, a poisoned planet or a green and pleasant land where energy was inconsequential to your everyday life? We've had the dash for Gas and look where that has got us. Within ten years if we don't do something radical the lights will start to go out!

What has been wrong is two things, the scheme looks initially overgenerous in Feed in payments, but remember the cost of installation has halved as demand has risen so perhaps just a miscalculation  Secondly the scheme has been hi-jacked by commercial profiteers - especially "Rent-a-roof" schemes.

Genuinely we need to kick start the domestic Green Energy industry. I think if things stabilise then domestic Solar power has got off the ground. The same cannot be said for Wind Turbines. There is much opposition to their appearance though I believe we must accept them up to a point just like telegraph poles.

I sincerely hope that the day will come when all homes are built with Solar panels and a wind turbine  We have to get cheaper energy.

Are you Boled over with housing plans?

Mr Boles wants to get building new houses.

I wonder how it will work? Its supply and demand. No supply because there's no demand.

Don't get me wrong we NEED new house there's loads of folk who want them but can't afford them.

Where will they be built? Plenty of room in Lincolnshire but they won't be built near Mablethorpe will they although they say there's 5000 on the waiting list.

1. who are these people
2. where are these people now?
3. where will they work?
4. will the council allow building?

So the answers, when there's an estate of 200 potential house NOT being built. They stopped 4 years ago after building 10 - none of them sold. No demand.

1. Probably on the dole
2. In Nottingham/Sheffield etc.
3. nowhere there's no work but dole is the same here
4. no - there's a risk of flooding

Yes I agree houses should be built, and more they build the more they become affordable. But lets spread it out up North not just in the prosperous south. The economy needs jobs as well.

Also what about the BUNG? They say they want to build Wind Turbines everywhere but no one wants them. Why don't they start by offering residents FREE electricity if they allow building. I might consider it. After all "what's in it for me?" its my view after all not the Electricity Company's.

Tax Breaks for Married Couples at last

Hoorah, at last David Cameron is swayed to give in and Honour his election promise and give a tax break to married couples.

I know David wants Gay Marriage above all else, and I'm not against it but surely he must make it worthwhile. The new "Marriage" tax breaks will have to apply to all civil partnerships, and why not.

If David is promoting "Marriage" that must be good for traditional Marriage as well. Lets be clear here - the Government IS PROMOTING MARRIAGE. So show your support and give Tax Breaks.

No more pussy footing around saying "we can't discriminate against non-married couples. It s their right to choose" - why not?

If they choose to get married then they get the incentive. If their relationship is as sound as a married one - prove it.

All the research show that children do best in families where the couples are married. In Britain we are nearly bottom in the league table for children splitting up from their parents, why. Because our parents do not value a stable family life. Yes its not easy but society demands that families are the best way to bring up children. Why do folk cop out at the first hurdle. If they're not married its a doddle.

Being married confers more that Tax breaks its a commitment to share things. Why should non-married couples have the same rights.

No we must promote marriage.

Yet they are hurting couples with children by taking child allowance away. 

My solution TAX all BENEFITS. Its income, but you don't work for it. Yes they'll use thier tax allowance that's only fair and if its a married couple then they can use this tax Break. Higher earners pay more tax.

Oh, last thing, restict Child Benefit to 5 children. There can be no "meal ticket" for having children. Tough.

Not all kids have Computers

You may know I'm passionate about education. It makes me angry when it is taken for granted that all kids have a computer and Broadband access. They don't.

Besides I know that most kids do their homework by Google, copy, and paste!
Do they learn anything? yes, how to search.

What happened to Books?

My teacher wife knows a plagurised piece of work and it goes in the bin!

So sometimes the kid with NO internet gets the best marks and has learned something.

This school in Bolton has given ALL its 800 pupils iPADs. WOW - £500 each - where has that money come from? There are schools where they are short of books and the roof still leaks - this is not just sour grapes. Lets have iPADs for all.

I bet many get "lost" or broken? Then what do they do?

Same old story the rich get richer and the dregs get trampled on. But Bolton isn't Hampshire so how are they doing it?

GIVE the unemployed jobs

So Labour want to give the Unemployed jobs? Maybe if they'd looked after the economy better then we would be in such a mess with rising unemployment then there would be enough jobs.

but they want to pay for it using our Pensions again.

The Conservatives are doing better but they still don't get it. We need a society where it pays to work but the vulnerable are looked after. We know there is a pensions crisis. How are they going to solve it - make us keep working into our 70's.

Doesn't this government realise that basically the best way to get the pensions bill down is to encourage folk to save for their pensions, then they won't be dependant on benefits. Make pension fund charges fair and transparent. Guarantee tax relief on contributions, guarantee annuities at retirement.

Why buy water in bottles?

Why buy water in bottles?

It has always puzzled me why people buy "designer" water in bottles? In Our country we have the best public piped water in the world. Who would NOT drink fresh water from a tap?
Yet water costs a phenomenal amount in a bottle. 

Is it environentally friendly to put water in bottles and ship it miles around the country?

Some say it should be banned, I do think there is a case for people having the right to buy water in bottles if say you're going camping/hiking and what about civil emergencies? WE keep some bottled water in case of emergency.We could be flooded and cut off from mains. We only buy the cheap supermarket brand. Besides when the bottle is empty refill it from the tap.

Also why is it so expensive in pubs? I ask for a jug of water in a restaurant and don't expect to pay. 

Then there's soft drinks - often they are more expensive than beer! That is downright scandalous. WE are exhoted not to drink alcohol and certainly not if you're driving so why is a pint of coke" more than a pint of bitter - it should be pence!

In some supermarkets their own brand Cola is cheaper than bottled water so there, drink Cola!

ITS A RIP-OFF and should be illegal

Benfits should not rise faster than wages

Benefits should not rise faster than wages,  at least that's what IDS thinks.

I agree. Labour put us on this ever increasing spiral of benefits yet we are in this financial crisis and those who work are having to make sacrifices so why should benefits rise automatically?

WE are paying them. I work in local Government and have not had a pay rise for 4 years!! 

We all have to make sacrifices so benefits must be frozen.

All I can say is 

1.  when you lose your job, if you've been paying National Insurance, then you should get a better cushion for a limited period until you get another job. Linked to your previous wages with  cap.
2. where is the incentive for married couples David? 2 can live as cheaply as one.

If there is at least one wage earner in a household let the tax allowances be pooled. This will hep the unemployed.

Happy New Year 2013

Happy New Year to you all.

Lets hope for the future. I hope and wish things to get better. 

My opinion is we must all save energy. In the  future we'll not need to plug our phones/tablets/laptops etc. in the mains again. Devices will use less power and harvest power from the environment - its all around us, light and at night, radio waves.

Mark my words.