Walking in the Shadows

Random musings from Warwickshire on life in general... Things that make me laugh, make me cry, things that wind me up beyond all endurance - and everything in between.

Books, and more books

Well, it’s back to what I enjoy the most. Reading. I’ve been hooked by George R.R Martin’s Game of Thrones series, after I picked the first book ( A Game of Thrones) up May / June last year and was hooked within the first chapter, whilst sitting in Costa in Waterstones Nottingham. (And yes – I did buy the book I was reading!)

So, I read the first one, and got caught by the style (and I have to admit one of my favourite characters is Jon Snow) and gradually got the series (Books 3 and 5 were published as two paperbacks, due to the humongous size of the hardbacks!):

1. A Game Of Thrones
2. A Clash Of Kings
3. A Storm Of Swords – Book 1 – Steel and Snow
4. A Storm Of Swords – Book 2 – Blood and Gold
5. A Feast for Crows
6. A Dance With Dragons – Book 1 - Dreams and Dust
7. A Dance With Dragons – Book 2 – After The Feast

I’m on to the second part of A Dance with Dragons and I have to admit that it is better then the first part – to the extent where I am staying up until silly o’clock reading (and ignoring the fact that I have to be up at a reasonable time to get ready for the playpen).

To be honest, I cannot wait for the next instalment, which promises to be a real corker – especially if the preview at the back of ADWD – After the Feast is anything to go by….

Ah well, guess I should call this quits – I’m supposed to be getting ready to go out – not blogging!

Back later…


Karen

What I've felt, what I've known
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there?
'Cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven, too?

Fuel Panic

Great. Just what I didn't need. Since the Unite union announced their intention to bring the fuel tankers out on strike, the coalition government has been running about like headless chickens, fuelling the panic buying of fuel.

It doesn’t help when you get idiots like Francis Maud saying that people should not only fill the tank on their car / van, but fill a Jerry Can as well. Then you get the Energy Secretary Ed Davey saying that there is no need to do that, but if you’re going past a fuel station, and you’ve got ½ tank, then fill up.

Ok – I don’t like going below ½ tank on the Peugeot, as I run the risk of dragging the crap that may have accumulated in the tank though into the fuel lines, so me filling up like that is part of my normal routine.

But the trip into work this morning was… Interesting. I go past a couple of garages – one is an independent local garage (I used to refuel there, but since it’s been taken over, the price has gone silly), and Sainsburys.

Now normally, the little independent garage has a couple of cars there, and Sainsburys is usually quite busy, as it’s a reasonable price, and the fuel is good. Not today. Today, they were queuing for fuel at the local garage, and Sainsburys? Well put it this way, I was waiting to hear the sirens howling down the road, to deal with an accident, as the queue was down onto the mini-roundabout by the retail park, and was starting to back up onto the main road.

So how does this affect me? The same as it affects most responsible drivers. The muppets who panic buy drain the fuel stations dry, meaning that when I need to refuel, I’m unable to get fuel, meaning that it’s more grey hair trying to find somewhere with fuel. Meaning that I add to the problems of people trying to find fuel…

Equally, it may well bugger my plans for the Easter break, as this time next week, I’m planning to head up to Cheshire Oaks for a shopping trip with Mum, and I won’t be very impressed if we have to cancel that, as I’ve been really looking forward to that (and I’ve booked the day off!)

All I will say is that the sooner the unions and the employers start talks at ACAS, the better this will be for everyone – me included!

Ah well, guess I should think about calling this quits – my lunch break is nearly over.

Back when I get the chance…

Karen

What I've felt, what I've known
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there?
'Cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven, too?

Another 'phone bite the dust...

Yep - the Cookie has bitten the dust.  I dropped it into water (don't ask where - other than it was clean) and it appears to be working for the moment (other than the call volume sounds rather low, and the ring tones sound... waterlogged) and the screen appears slightly soggy on the inside at the moment.

When I got it (the Cookie) I was really pleased, as I thought the colour was really good:



However, I did discover that there were drawbacks - primarily the fact that it was touchscreen.  Yes, this was a novelty at first, but it was one that soon proved bloody annoying. 

I had to use the stylus to do *anything* on the screen, as it didn't recognise the input when I was using my finger to do things on the screen, meaning that the screen itself soon became scratched.  Ok - I could have put a screen protector on it (did at first) but the response from the phone was even worse than normal, meaning that it was almost unusable. So, I took the protector off, and the result was a scratched screen.  Ok - annoying, but nothing that I couldn't live with.

I will admit, I have been thinking about replacing the Cookie, but it was half-hearted, as part of me loved the idea of the apps from the Android store, but the other part of me was not really happy, as it would have been yet another touchscreen phone, and I really didn't want to go down that route.  I also didn't want to have an Apple iPhone, as I really didn't (and still don't) see the appeal of the blasted things (not to mention it's bloody expensive for what I want!)

So, now that the Cookie has met yet another body of water, I've had to bite the bullet (or should that be 'phone bill) and get a new phone.  This time I've opted for something cheap (as in under £50) and reliable (I hope!)  I've gone for the Nokia C1-01. 





Ok - not exactly the most up-to date 'phone,  but this does exactly what I want it to - i.e. make calls (has bluetooth), and send texts.  Ok - if it's got games on it, then it's a bonus.  The only thing that would make it better is if it was waterproof, but I guess the remedy for that is me not putting the damned thing in the back pocket of my trousers (and keeping it off the edge of the bath!)

Ah well, time to call this quits - I need to test the Cookie to see if it works, and more to the point, keep praying that it lasts until I can get the Nokia.

Back later if I get the chance...


Karen

What I've felt, what I've known
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there?
'Cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven, too?

More Potholes...

This comes from the BBC Website, and as per normal, I'll put my thoughts on this story at the end.

Karen

What I've felt, what I've known
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there?
'Cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven, too?


********************************************************************************

Pothole repairs cost £90m, says asphalt industry report

Councils spent £90m repairing 1.7 million potholes across England and Wales last year, a survey suggests.



Engineers, forced into short-term planning,
are unable to do preventative work, the report says
But it will still take more than a decade to clear the backlog, says the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) report.
 
Local authorities say that while repair costs have fallen, £10bn is still needed to bring roads up to standard.


Councils received £200m in emergency funds after freezing weather in 2011 exacerbated the problem and ministers say they recognise an "ongoing need".


Potholes are formed when water runs through cracks in road surfaces, freezes and so expands, causing the surface to rupture and creating a void which later caves in under the weight of vehicles.

However, the AIA report suggested two-thirds of local authorities had been unable to make good damage caused by the cold weather of 2010-11, despite the emergency funding and a milder winter this year.

'Decades of underfunding'


It said the number of complaints to local authorities from the public about the condition of roads increased by 10% last year.


AIA chairman Alan Mackenzie said: "Severe winter weather would not, in itself, produce a plague of potholes on well-maintained roads.

"These disastrous figures result from decades of underfunding and enforced short-term planning."

Highways engineers had been unable to carry out necessary preventative work, leaving one-in-five local authority roads with a life of less than five years, he added.

The report did not cover Scotland, where authorities paid out £1.7m over four years in compensation for damage to vehicles caused by potholes.

A recent AA study suggested Scotland had a higher number of potholes per mile than the rest of Britain.

The motoring organisation says its Streetwatch survey last October resulted in volunteers across Britain reporting 14.9 potholes on average, compared with 12.5 in 2010.

We need a new approach to stop this vicious circle of decline which causes danger to all road users
Edmund King
AA President

AA president Edmund King "We need a new approach to stop this vicious circle of decline which causes danger to all road users, particularly those on two wheels, and expensive damage to vehicles."

On Tuesday, MPs on the Public Accounts Committee warned the UK's road network could deteriorate as a result of cuts in road maintenance spending.


'Chasing tails'


Overall savings would not be made if this ultimately led to higher repair costs and more claims by motorists against councils for damage to their vehicles, it said.

The Local Government Association, which represents councils in England and Wales, said the average cost of filling potholes had reduced from £64 to £48 apiece in the last two years.

But its economy and transport board chairman Peter Box said: "Councils are currently stuck in the position of chasing their tails, repeatedly patching up a deteriorating network rather then fixing it properly."

Increased central government funding would save billions of pounds in the long term, he added.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said the government was providing £3bn to councils for road maintenance between 2011 and 2015.

"I recognise there is an ongoing need for highways maintenance that can't be fixed overnight," he added.

**************************************************************************
Ok - so the roads need repairing.  Fine.  I thought that was the idea of the so-called "road fund licence" was so that the UK roads are kept in reasonable repair, instead of being used to swell the coffers of the bloody government.It appears to me, that the motorist (be you a biker, car driver or HGV driver) are seen as "cash cows" to prop up the coffers. 

Right. If we're going to be treated like this, then surely we have the privilege if not the right, to demand that our roads are kept in reasonable repair, so that we don't have to fight the insurance companies and the local authorities to get them to accept that we have damaged our vehicles / had accidents because of the poor state of the roads.

As I've said in the past, would it be possible for my family to get the 4.8 potholes repaired that we damned well pay for???

Lol Cats strike again

Amazing what I get sent when my best friend is bored at work...

Karen

What I've felt, what I've known
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there?
'Cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven, too?







Staycation? I don't think so...

The latest idea to be pushed by the UK tourist boards for the Olympics & the Queen's Diamond Jubilee is the so-called "staycation". Ok - not a problem there, as it does help the UK economy. But what it doesn't take into account is the weather. And the cost of the so-called attractions.

Now I'm all in favour of the staycation, and regularly escape to various locations in the UK, but what does annoy me is when I hear some over-paid spokesperson saying that the cost doesn’t matter. Ok – maybe it doesn’t to him, but I have been looking to go to the Ironbridge Gorge museums  - or more particularly, the Jackfield Tile museum and the Coalport China Museum.

But what gets me is the fact that each of these two museums charge for the exhibits (£7.60 for the Coalport China Museum & the Jackfield Tile museum for me) or you have the option to pay £22.50 for a ticket that does all the museums. Ok – I don’t mind that as the ticket does last a year, but it’s a bloody long way and is very much weather dependant.

Now to me, £7.60 for 1 – 2 hours is ok value, but you still have to factor in the travelling, and at this time, the cost of the petrol. So, to do the two museums that I would like to do, would cost about £50 just for me. Imagine trying to do that sort of trip with two or more kids, and you start getting silly money. Add into this equation, the great British weather (as I type this, it’s raining!) and you get the reason why so many people (me included) say “Sod the UK for my main holiday!"

Ah well, time to call it quits - I'm due back to my desk in a couple of minutes...

Back when I get the chance.

Karen

What I've felt, what I've known
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there?
'Cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven, too?