Now your Pedigree dog is what it's says it is. It's a breed that's bloodline has not been tainted by any other species of dog.

Your pedigree dog, let's say its a Labrador, is cute, loyal, pretty thick lacking any creativity and for the most part all it wants from life is to be fed, watered, be able to lick its own testicles. It's only problem in life is its back and forth from the Vets, it's back legs start to go when it reaches eight and the poor creature often drops down dead before it celebrates its ninth birthday.

Now, your Mongrel dog is an entirely different proposition. Coming from its parents, who's ancestors were highly promiscuous beasts, it's DNA contains the traces of dozens of breeds and its development has been very different from its snooty pedigree Labrador that's not mixed with others of its species.

Your Mongrel is very clever, highly creative, resourceful and it's only commonality with its pedigree cousin is, it likes to lick its own testicles as well. Unlike the pedigree, the Mongrel is extremely healthy, it rarely visits the Vet unless it's infested with fleas and it lives for near on twenty years.

And that then pilgrims is why we in the British Isles are the way we are. We are by nature an extremely fortunate race of people. Invaded by the Scandinavian Viking horde, the Romans and the Normans we, the indigenous people of the British Isles are a nation of Mongrels.

Highly creative in the Sciences, the Arts and a huge raft of influences we've gifted the World, we are the way we are because of immigration.

In modern day Britain we are still reaping the rewards of immigration following the arrival and influences from Africa, the Sub Continent and the Carribean and it's this and our English Language that sees us at the top of the league of global creativity. It's no accident that wherever you are in the World you will listen to British music on the radio. None of it, whether it's music, a film, a play, a book or anything else that captures the imagination emerges from this tiny island nation and it's all achieved because of immigration.

The current wave of immigration that sees near on two million people originally from East and Central Europe now living and settled here? Well, like all the other passages in our history it'll eventually be good for us. The people from behind the Old Iron Curtain are highly educated, highly motivated to have a better life, they work and they work and they work and they are extremely tough and resilient and these traits in their national psyche will in time have a huge and positive benefit to us. It's inevitable because this is the way of things. This latest, and often bludgeoning movement of people from there to us will only ever help us and that's why I know that immigration is a great thing.

Course, people like me who are still intent on voting UKIP ain't tending to think, 'Hoorah! Thank you to the European Union. Hallelujah and Lord be praised! In about fifty years time we're really going to appreciate this'. Moreoften than not they're worried about the 'now' and why it is that our social housing, our public services and our way of life cannot cope with this onslaught of free movement of people.

Yep! Despite it all. Despite the obvious that immigration is a good thing for the prosperity, creativity and mental and physical health of a Nation, I still want out of this bloody European Union!

If Im right and its true that Councillor Mark Hubbard is considering not standing at the next local elections then I'd say to him, 'think again'.
I've watched from a distance the way in which this chap carries out his duties and there's no doubt that Mr Hubbard is a gifted and dedicated public servant and, given the state we are in, we can well do without losing people of his calibre.
During the time I've been contributing on this site and the Hereford Times you can't fail to appreciate the hard work and commitment some Councillors display. At one time, because I knew buggar all, I had no time for them at all. Now, because I've watched, read and listened I now appreciate the hard work of Mr Hubbard, Liz Harvey, Jim Kenyon and more recently Jon Norris.
Then of course there's our Glenda and Chris Chappell who, like their IOC colleagues work so hard to provide their best efforts to support their constituents. It's all these things that I once didn't know that I now know which compel me to thank these people who represent out interests.
But back to Mark Hubbard. He's founded a political party that's strong, its growing and its impacting and affecting the way in which we all now look at the political scenery in Hereford. My guess is, and it really is just a guess, is that Mr Hubbard handed over the leadership of his party because he was knackered and facing burn out. You can't graft like he does without it impacting upon your time and energies. Mind, I know buggar all. Im just guessing, but, if Im right, and I may be, we are going to lose one of our great local politicuans simple because he couldn't find a way of pacing himself.
Well it can be done. You can pace yourself and learn to manage your time and energy better. You simply stop trying to do everything, stop trying to please everybody, give of your best and having done that, do not give things a backward glance and worry about an outcome.
Now, more than at anytime Mark Hubbard needs to recharge his batteries, as do all the Coucillors who I've mentioned previously, and position themselves ready for the next election. This is very important and this offering is not meant to embarass Mark. If anything, he should take this as a compliment and feel good about himself.
The reason I've posted this? I've had the good fortune to form friendships with a lot of the regular bloggers. Many are like me, Gridnocker and Ubique. We are old. Our back legs have gone and our best, if we ever bloody had any are gone. However, there are many younger bloggers emerging and they are the future and they need people like Mark Hubbard to continue, get to the finishing line and when this Cabinet have gone, be in place to help rebuild our shattered economy and public services.
I'd say to Mr Hubbard, you've achieved remarkable things in a relatively short space of time and you owe it to yourself to fulfill the promise.
Today, I had the good fortune to meet Cambo. This is a young, highly intelligent young chap who's driven to make a change. It's people like Cambo, Dippy and Smartiano who are the ones who'll eventually pick up the baton, stand for Office and help get us all out of this mess.
Frankly, we don't need Mark Hubbard or any other hard working Councillor leaving the theatre now. Not now. If ever there was a time not to go its now.
My hope is that Mark Hubbard remains, I actually hope he gets rested up and returns to lead his party and rid us of this chaotic and deluded Cabinet who are bringing us all to a point in very close proximity to ruin.
On a personal note, I say to Mark Hubbard, you and your colleagues should be very proud of your many achievements but now is no time to be considering whether or not you should end your tenure as a Councillor. Have a little heart. Have a little faith and get the youngsters within these pages to help you with the burden and the load of responsibility.
Do this, pace yourself and delegate more and very soon, quicker than you might think, the fire in your belly will rise and you'll begin to feel like I do. Desperate and driven to throttle Jarvis and roll him round in nettles. Stinging nettles. Nettles harvested in August. The worst nettles. Bloody Jarvis!

I was listening to a Radio 4 programme last night on the cost of running a Council's Pension Fund very shocking I had a little look on the net to see what there was on HC's Pension Fund but surprisingly very little recent stuff has been posted.  Anybody know where I can find this information. 

This looks as if the floodgates for housing are about to open. Letter from Sport England making good points about open space and playing fields - at least they are "on the ball".

Lot more detail in letter of what they would expect from developer contributions.

Frustrated by an inconclusive meeting in the council's plush Plough Lane redoubt, a friend recently exploded: "Those merchant bankers (that's Cockney rhyming slang folks) are all living in a bubble!"

Here's a classic example of our council's blinkered thinking, which confirms this 'bubble mentality'.

Charity Football Match 

https://wirralleaks.wordpress.com/2015/03/08/election-special-uncle-franks-hunger-games/

“The one thing that does not abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience†– Harper Lee

As the momentum grows towards the May elections we thought we’d start our series of Election Specials with a profile of the leading political figure on Wirral…or should we say the Master Puppeteer himself – Frank Field.

Field’s anti-poverty, anti-slavery,anti- global warming stance makes him sound like an ideal candidate for the Green Party – but as you will read further on he works to an entirely different agenda.Frank likes to be where the power is and preferably to be the one with the power and is anti-anyone who disagrees with him.

The Right Honourable Mr.Field has been MP for Birkenhead since 1979 and has one of the largest majorities in the country. However considering that he is a leading advocate for people taking responsibility he seems particularly averse to taking any responsibility for the poor quality of life in Birkenhead – preferring to run the town down rather than getting his mates at Wirral Council to run the place properly.

We are therefore asking you to take some time out and read this learned study of Field by our academic correspondent Professor G and give the motivations of our most prominent MP some further consideration.

Thank you to Councillor Chris Chappell for providing this information.

HEREFORD LOCALITY WEEKLY BRIEFING – WEEK ENDING 13^th MARCH 2015

Dear Councillors and Parish Clerks,

During the last week we are pleased to report that the reactive team in the locality completed the following works:

·         150 square metres of carriageway patching (potholes and other surface deterioration)

·         1 square metres of footway patching

·         10 gully’s cleared

·         7 fly tips removed

·         2 traffic sign plates re-fixed

·         3 litter picks.

Please see below a summary of our key activities within the Hereford Locality over the last week.

The third in our series of free activity days at Central Park, off Central Avenue, behind the Fire Station (or via Daws Road). Thanks to Herefordshire Housing for funding.

I certainly was.  And today's news from the Local Government Chronicle certainly did the trick...

http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/11851526.From__abnormal_to_inspirational____Wirral_wins_Most_Improved_Council_award/

Last night of trading tonight ... Drinks from 50 pence ...

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Don't tell Bobby, but this could be the last straw.

Dan Glaister, The Guardian - Saturday 7 March 2015

 

Four out of five cider-makers under threat from EU tax call

 

Plan to end exemption for small producers ‘would hasten demise of traditional orchards’

 

The day of the oppressor is over,†reported the Gloucester Journal in 1766. “The calamity of the cyder drinker is put away; the deadly excise man shall appear no more in our quarters.â€

 

But the Journal had not reckoned with the European commission when it declared that the attempt by the Earl of Bute’s government to raise a duty on cider producers had been defeated. Last week the commission demanded that the British government do away with a duty exemption worth £2,500 to small-scale producers of cider and perry.

 

Under the exemption, introduced in 1976, cider-makers who produce fewer than 70 hectolitres a year – about 12,000 pints – do not have to pay duty. The National Association of Cider Makers calculates that this accounts for about 80% of the UK’s 480 cider-makers.

 

(read on)

Yep! It's here. We've now got it in Hereford. Never a break! Never a boost and never a slither of good tidings. My God! That its come to this. Yes, we all knew that Thrush was rampant and on the march and yes, we'd held fears that Gonorrhea might come a calling, but bloody Syphilis!

That's the last thing we'd wanted and in our case it'll be the last thing we'll be getting unless God decides to smile on us and give us some other disgusting ailment to worry about.

I know God does everything for a purpose. I appreciate that he has a master plan but why, given our fiscally knackered state, does he think it necessary to give us Syphilis. Makes you think doesn't it?

Of course folk who now have Syphilis shouldn't be shunned and made to feel ostracised by society. I ain't saying that it'd be easy to stagger into the pub, join the round and casually say, 'had a bit of bad news today. Me left testical dropped off and I've subsequently learned that I've got the Syphilis'.

Difficult isnt it? A knotty issue to address.

Of course if you've got the Syphilis and tiny parts of your body are beginning to drop off then I suppose you've gotta display a certain amount of responsibility and say to your mates, 'whilst I do have the Syphilis and its been confirmed by several doctors, I intend to be a responsible lover and wear nine condoms in case eight bloody split'. Speaking for myself, if someone said that to me, I'd say, 'I've no desire to engage in acts of manly love with you but thank you for disclosing the diagnosis that you are now riddled with the Syphilis. You are a very responsible person and if I had a hat on I'd take it off and bow to you'.

Mind, I don't suppose that those who now have the Syphilis would agree to wear some sort of badge that says, 'hello I've got Syphilis' and Im pretty sure that if you said, 'I'll be damned if I engage in intercourse with you', they'd throw the Syphilis card, crying, 'bloody discrimination. You won't let me love you physically because I've got the Syphilis. Im going to sue you'.

That's the problem nowadays isn't it. Equality and all that. I suppose you'd just have to say, 'fair enough, I've no wish to be prosecuted for discrimination, I agree to have intercourse with you despite the fact that you've got the Syphilis.'

That's it isn't it. That's the answer. If someone who has the Syphilis wants you and wants you to scurry outside up some dark alley and be subjected to physical intercourse, the best bet is to simple say, 'yes, I'd love to. Thank you very bloody much'.

I have acquired a briefing letter for councillors:

HEREFORD LOCALITY WEEKLY BRIEFING – WEEK ENDING 27^th FEBRUARY 2015

Dear Councillors and Parish Clerks,

During the last week we are pleased to report that the reactive team in the locality completed the following works across the named Wards:

Burghill, Holmer & Lyde Ward

• 20 square metres of carriageway patching (potholes) in Broomhill, Burghill Lane (C1103 to C1095), Aylestone Hill, C1127 from Lyde Cross to Stone Cottage, C1095 (A4103 to Burghill) and Munstone Lane

Hollington Ward

• 10 square metres of carriageway patching (potholes) in Norton Brook Road
• Grit bin in The Furrows, Little Dewchurch re-filled

Sutton Walls Ward

• 24 square metres of carriageway patching (potholes) in Ash Close and on the C1120 (A49 to Old School House)

St Martins & Hinton Ward

• 9 square metre of carriageway patching (potholes) in Walnut Tree Avenue, Pine Grove, Hinton Road, The Appleyard, Belmont Road, Hunderton Avenue, Honddu Close, Pencroft Road, Home Lane and Hillside Avenue
• 2.25 footway patching in Hoarwithy Road
• Gully clean and repair on Belmont Road

Please see below a summary of our key activities within the Hereford Locality over the last week.

Update from Shane (City South – Belmont, St Martins & Hinton, and Tupsley Wards; Rural – Backbury and Hollington Wards)

This week I have –

·         Raised defects in respect of potholes in Church Road outside Hampton Dene School (x3) and near to the junction with Canterbury Avenue (x 3), in Old Eign Hill (x 3), in Waterfield Road near to junction with Kingfisher Road (x 2), in Weston Beggard Lane (x 3), in Green Street, in St James Road, in Webb Tree Avenue, in Pilley Road

·         Liaised with a landowner in respect of a blocked ditch at The Rhydd, Much Dewchurch

·         Inspected and raised a works order in respect of loose and broken kerbstones in Norton Avenue

·         Raised an order for grips to be cut at several locations along New Mills Farm Road, Little Dewchurch

·         Approved 2 dropped kerb applications

·         Attended the Annual Plan Members Briefing 

·         Carried out 17 NRSWA (street works) inspections.

Update from Mike (City North – Aylestone, Central, St Nicholas, and Three Elms Wards; Rural – Credenhill and Hagley Wards)

This week I have –

·         Completed the monthly Hereford City Centre safety inspection

·         Raised a number of c/way repairs to C1197 Stretton Sugwas in the vicinity of the village hall

·         Raised gully cleaning orders for drainage along the A438 by the junction with the C1197

·         Raised gully cleaning orders for drainage along the A480 from the jct with Priory Road to Stretton Sugwas roundabout

·         Raised gully cleaning orders for 5 x gullies in College Road and 3 x gullies in Penn Grove Road

·         Met with Cllr Wilcox to discuss issues in College Road and Bodenham Road

·         Raised an order for repairs to a sunken cover in Kings Acre Road c/way

·         Inspected / raised an order for repair to a damaged verge in Barrs Ct Road

·         Inspected and passed 6 x NRSWA street works jobs and 1 x failed

·         Approved 3 x vehicle dropped crossing requests

·         Inspected damaged guardrails in Barton Yard by Sainsburys

·         Spoken to a resident about an overgrown hedge obstructing the footway and the need to cut this back Credenhill

Update from Phil (Rural – Burghill, Holmer & Lyde, and Sutton Walls Wards)

• Annual Leave – 23^rd to 26^th inclusive
• 27.2.15 - working in Hereford Rural.  Drive around ward with Cllr Guthrie primarily to look at issues on Franklands corner – 30 verge marker defects raised.  Gully defect logged outside S & A produce.   Pothole defects logged C1120 X 5, Ash Close X 1,  C1125 X 2 Cat 1’s ( both to be fixed today).  I also raised 5 X gully defects on C1125 after a site meeting with a resident.

Herefordshire Council website is the one-stop-shop for up to date information

Maps for pot holes are available on the Councils website –

https://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/transport-and-highways/maintenance/potholes

We hope the above is of interest.

Kind regards

Shane, Mike & Phil.

Shane Hancock | Senior Locality Steward (Hereford – City South)

Balfour Beatty Living Places | Unit 3, Thorn Business Park | Rotherwas | Hereford | HR2 6JT

www.bblivingplaces.com

Any thoughts on Cllr Bramer picking up Roger Phillips portfolio?

Not sure if the title is right for this topic, but a place to add people who you think have put Hereford and the County on the map through their lives, careers and interests. It should be a long list - just add a name and a link for further information if you have it. I will start with John Bulmer as his photography inspired me to think about this.

They're bloody at it again. Bloody Council! They've hoovered up yet another 'interesting' area of business at the expense of something less bloody interesting that'll soon find its way into the outsourcing tray.

Well I've had enough! That's it for me. To think what the Council will do with this little slice of joy frightens the life out of me. Good bloody grief!

Well I for one ain't going to have anything to do with them and their programme that'll be sure to attract more pointless jobs, more management tiers, endless bloody meetings, and the loss of half a bloody acre of wood destroyed to create the bludgeoning bilge of paperwork that'll be flying around Plough Lane.

They can get stuffed. On principle I refuse to have anything to do with it. I'll be damned if I do.

If, for some strange reason I suddenly wake up and decide to buy a bag of 'smack' cook it up on my wife's stew spoon mixed in with me blood and I jack it directly into my loin and within days I become addicted to Heroin, I will not, under any circumstances hurtle down Plough Lane and beg Geoff bloody Hughes for a forty milligram slug of their delightful Methadone. Never! I'd sooner say to my loved ones, 'tether me to the bed, lock the door and no matter the dreadful sounds of wailing and begging you hear, do not release me.'

Yes! That's the limits of my cooperation with the Council and their Needle Exchange and Methadone Programme. I will never, ever sit in Hughes Office, listen to him preaching on telling me why it was unwise to inject this dreadful opiate into my and beg him for a quick swig from his bucket of Methadone.

I'd sooner buy it off the streets. Yes, even if I had to pay for it. I'll be damned if Geoff Hughes is given the golden opportunity to look down his nose at me as I crouch between his legs begging him to put me out of my misery and allow my senses to be dimmed by his opiate substitute.

The whole bucket of sludge is now completely out of control. Not satisfied with the many other areas of Health Care they've managed to latch onto, they've now grabbed hold of the needles and the Methadone. They've no business involving themselves in any of this and I refuse to have anything to do with them and bloody it!

I understand that advertising has it's place and helps with costs but the HT website lately looks horrendous in my opinion, I just had a look and faced this lot! What a mess... I find it difficult to differentiate between the stories and adverts, maybe it's just me but they seem to have lost their way.