Blogs - Newsroom and Reader Blogs from the Times Series
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news & views by texting TIMES NEWS to 80360, or email us
Posted at 12:20pm Friday 19th February 2010
Where have all the Cars Gone ?
Just got back from two weeks Rand R. I made the most of it as I suspect life will be hectic from now on. The local council elections are less than three months away. A General Election has to be called before the middle of June.
Posted at 1:30pm Tuesday 26th January 2010
Rudderless
Last night I attended two meetings at the Town Hall. First up was the Policy and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee. I am not sure what this committee does. It meets twice a year.
Posted at 1:36pm Thursday 14th January 2010
"All the Virtues of Man without his Vices"
Yesterday Jake my beloved companion for the past twelve and half years died. It all happened so quickly. He collapsed at home. When we got him to the Vet it was obvious little could be done , so we mercifully put him to sleep. He had a happy life and only that morning he had enjoyed his walk to Swan Lane Open Space. Jake was a rescue dog twice over. His previous owner a young girl died of anorexia.
Posted at 5:50pm Tuesday 12th January 2010
cat napping
I am not allowed to tell you what went on at the Corporate JNCC meeting last night. The whole meeting is held in what’s called part 2. This means the public and Press are excluded.
Posted at 9:13pm Wednesday 6th January 2010
innings closed
I don’t know how many of you have been to North Finchley Post Office recently. They have introduced a “no queue “system. You take a ticket and wait for your number to be called. On Monday I went to renew my Freedom Pass. The last time I was there I had a twenty minute wait, just to buy stamps This time I took my ticket, number 181. The current number being dealt with was 120! Sixty one customers were in front of me. Forty five minutes later and after doing my shopping in the High Road my number came up. The whole set up is almost surreal. You really do need to go there and see for your self. To be fair to the staff they are doing their best. One of them confided they were as fed up as everyone else. This is what happens when all the local post offices close. Another policy this Government has to answer for.
Posted at 11:12am Friday 18th December 2009
The Dowager Leader
The full Council meeting on Monday descended in to farce. I can not recall any Council Meeting under any Political Control that ever ended up in such a shambles. There were so many vignettes that I would be blogging well into the New Year with these delights.
Posted at 2:25pm Tuesday 15th December 2009
Christmas With The Aliens
No this blog is not about tonight’s full Council meeting. Last week I was at St Agnes’ RC Primary School in Cricklewood. I have been a Governor there since 1988. This was my twenty second Christmas play. As usual it was the story of the Nativity. But this time we had space ships and sat-navs thrown in. So hence the tile of their play “Christmas with the Aliens”
Posted at 1:17pm Saturday 5th December 2009
Talking Rubbish ?
On Monday I attended the Finchley and Golders Green Area Environment Sub Committee. My Colleague Cllr Monroe Palmer was unable to attend so I was there as his substitute. The meeting started at 7pm and was all over at 725pm. This committee is a bit like the Area Forum except it has the powers to make decisions. But nothing new in that the vice chairman did not turn up. Is there also a special allowance for the post of vice chairman?
Posted at 9:20pm Saturday 28th November 2009
Our Gracie
Finchley and Golders Green Residents’ Forum is always a good place to start the week. Last Monday’s meeting was better attended than usual. The Council suggested that the good turn out was because of the promise of consultation on the Council’s budget and the Council’s new planning document “Direction of Travel”.
Posted at 4:43pm Tuesday 24th November 2009
Brent Cross
Year ago, A Conservative Government, I believe it was commissioned an Inquiry into The Planning System. A report was produced by The Nuffield Foundation. Amongst the recommendations was one which said objectors should have the right of appeal in major planning applications. The Report was quietly shelved.
Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here.
