Fair play
I notice that the soccer teams are gearing up for the new season with a series of tours and friendlies.
Some are travelling long distances while others are playing selective games closer to home. Premiership newcomers Hull City, for example, deserve praise for keeping a level headed approach and playing one of their games in front of local fans at North Ferriby.
Soccer is in the news throughout the year these days with various antics hitting the national headlines.
I cannot help thinking that the highly paid players at the top of the tree would do well to follow the example of tennis stars Federer and Nadal who starred in an epic final at Wimbledon.
There were no tantrums, no shouting and screaming from Federer when he lost his proud record and no agonising antics.
We were treated to first-class conduct from both players on and off the court.
I will be watching the next football season with interest . . .
And finally . . . readers occasionally spot the odd error in a newspaper and make a noise!!!!
With this in mind, it is worth taking note of the following from a recent leaflet produced by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council:
'Tick here if you'd like to here more about literary activities in theEast Riding of Yorkshire'.
I rest me case . . .
Published Date:
16/07/2008
Modified Date:
16/07/2008
Wanted: Real talent
So the marathon TV series that is The Apprentice has drawn to a close and Sir Alan has chosen his winner.
I am sure the successful candidate is a nice lad and will relish picking up his £100,000 salary and all the trimmings his new status will undoubtedly bring.
But I must say that throughout the series there was a serious lack of two things - bright ideas and imagination.
Sure, the series was entertaining and it was fun trying to guess who would get the chop. But if these contestants are the future of British business then we will soon all be wearing a frown instead of the winners crown.
Even in the final, there was a shortage of ideas and business commonsense.
One of the teams appeared to have a real struggle coming up with a name and found working together difficult.
I am sure most of us could come up with a great name for a fragrance for men, could design a bottle and a poster!
Here is one suggestion - hot news with a spicy aroma and packaging adorned with images from newspapers, magazines and even the odd page three should you be so inclined.
And I bet you this idea would not break the budget and could be cost effective. One of the entries put before Sir Alan was obviously wide of the mark on this front.
So, there you go . . . easy isn't it?
Coming up with the idea took me all of two minutes and the rest just fell into place.
I understand we can look forward to a further series of The Apprentice next year and that Sir Alan and his trusted team are inviting entrants to try their luck.
Let us hope the next crop of hopefuls are more concerned with business than posing for the cameras and chatting each other up.
And let us hope, above all else, that no-one lies on their CV.
This seemed to be deemed acceptable this time around.
So, the questions must be asked. What does this say about British business today and what image does this present to today's students who are on the verge of entering the big, bad world of work?
Surely, we should all be setting higher standards than this.
Come on all you budding contestants.
Let us show the true face of British business today ... pull your socks up, work hard, tell the truth at all times and prove you can come up with original ideas.
Then you can hold your head high and claim to be an original.
I will be watching the next series with interest . . .
Published Date:
12/06/2008
Modified Date:
12/06/2008
Vegetables . . .
I was interested in the story in some of the national newspapers about the gardener who was hauled over the coals for putting the trimmings from a home-grown cabbage in his garden waste bin.
He says the bin police treated him like a criminal and refused to collect his garden waste, claiming the cabbage trimmings were kitchen rubbish.
The man, from Norwich, was naturally upset and told the reporter: "When did you last buy a cabbage with a stalk at a supermarket? It should be obvious that this was garden waste that never came into contact with the kitchen."
These are fair points.
But what really caught my eye was this man's next comment.
"I pay £35 a year on top of my council tax to have a garden waste bin and I am being treated like a criminal for following the rules."
Now wait a minute?
£35 for a garden waste bin?
We have three bins at our house. That would be £105 if we were to be charged the same rate as the Norwich gardener.
Surely they would not do this to us. Or would they?
We will be watching . . .
And finally . . . good luck to Hull City at Wembley on Saturday. A win would be great news not only for Hull but for the whole of the East Riding. Come on you Tigers!
Published Date:
19/05/2008
Modified Date:
19/05/2008
Gold medal hopefuls
This week's Driffield Post features a formal statement from Driffield Town Council detailing their objections to the planned retail development at the former cattle market site in the town.
As regular readers will know, this saga has been dragging on for some considerable time with councillors ignoring an appeal from a reader in one of our popular letters column. The reader urged everyone concerned to simply GET ON WITH IT.
In its latest statement the town council has outlined where it currently stands on the latest developments.
This is the equivalent of the national yawning championships and at this rate Driffield will be in the finals of the all-age section.
If dithering was an Olympic sport then, on this form, Driffield would be bringing home a gold medal.
Picture the celebrations in the Market Place as our councillors paraded through the streets on an open-top bus! What a sight to behold.
Seriously, though, it is time someone had the courage to put forward a scheme which will work for the town.
Does anyone have the courage to make such a decision? It really does make you wonder . . .
At this rate, the new-look Spa Royal Hall in Bridlington will need painting again before Driffield even gets out of the starting blocks . . .
Published Date:
08/05/2008
Modified Date:
08/05/2008
Rough ride
We travelled to blustery Bridlington at the weekend and parked at one of our favourite spots close to the Expanse Hotel.
There were very few cars about, which is odd for this time of the year - the area is usually quite busy with people wanting to stretch their legs after Sunday lunch.
I took a casual stroll to the nearest car parking ticket machine and found a possible answer - the fee had suddenly risen to £1.30 per hour. Yes, £1.30.
This is a huge hike and it is difficult to imagine visitors ploughing piles of coins into the machines while their families enjoy a day on the beach. It is going to cost some folk, already drowning under a sea of bills and credit card charges, a small fortune.
This parking fees rise comes at a time when the Spa refurbishment, which has cost millions, is nearing completion.
At this rate, the building will struggle to attract the travelling public and audience numbers could well suffer. We will have to wait and see.
While on the subject of motoring, I must say that sections of the road between Driffield and Bridlington are in a very poor state. One stretch puts a car's suspension under great pressure. East Riding of Yorkshire Council please note.
What with poor roads and price hikes Brid could be in for a tough summer. A rough ride, in fact!!!!
Published Date:
22/04/2008
Modified Date:
22/04/2008
Your Driffield
Our superb 52-page FREE Your Driffield guide is going down a storm.
Published by the Driffield Times, the full colour Your Driffield is packed with eye-catching features and information which appeals to both residents and visitors to the area.
Your Driffield is available at various shops and businesses in town and, naturally, at our offices on Mill Street, Driffield.
Our publication is also now available at tourist information centres in Beverley and Bridlington. And it is vanishing off the shelves as fast as you can say print.
Visitors to Beverley have snapped up hundreds of copies already and in Bridlington demand is extremely high.
So, if you have not discovered Your Driffield yet, you must get a copy. Miss it and you will miss out!!!!
Published Date:
18/04/2008
Modified Date:
18/04/2008
It's in the bin . . .
You will have read the publicity. Seen the photos. Got the T-shirt! Now the long wait is over at last. This week we welcomed a new addition to our family of bins - Mr Brown Bin.
He now stands proudly alongside two other members of the gang - the original and the best, Mr Green Bin, and a relative newcomer, Mr Blue Bin.
The three of them look happy together - all lined up and standing in a row!
But one thing has puzzled me as far as Mr Brown Bin is concerned. He did not arrive alone.
He was accompanied by a welcome leaflet. This is fair enough, I suppose. But joining the welcome party was a wheel, informing you what to put in which bin.
But is this really necessary?
We have had a green bin long enough - we should all know what to put in his mouth.
And we must all be aware by now that Mr Blue Bin enjoys munching on our newspapers, magazines and, yes, leaflets.
We do not need a degree to know that Mr Brown Bin tucks into garden waste - grass cuttings, leaves, hedge trimmings, small branches and the like.
So why the wheel? Maybe it is a Christmas present for the children which has become lost on the way. It is certainly better than some of those gifts you get in Christmas crackers these days.
I wonder how many people will still have their wheels in a few months time? Not many, I would think.
I know where mine is going? In Mr Blue Bin, of course. Or maybe I should place him in Mr Green Bin.
Help!!! It doesn't say . . .
Published Date:
26/03/2008
Modified Date:
26/03/2008
Shell shocked!
Is it me, or is there a shortage of Easter eggs in Driffield shops?
I searched high and low at the weekend looking for these chocolate creations and they were quite scarce. Even a high profile high street store in town only had a few - and they came with a promotional mug.
Who cares about a mug? Just give me an egg!!!!
Fed up with the situation, I travelled to Beverley to see what was on offer there.
And, surprise, surprise . . . the town's main superstore - the one everyone in Beverley loves to hate - was piled high with Easter eggs. There were hundreds of them. And all were at a reasonable price, too.
Five minutes and I had made my choice and was heading for the checkouts.
So why has there been a distinct lack of Easter eggs in the Capital of the Wolds?
Are the traders afraid of having too many left? Are Driffield people really that poor that they cannot afford these traditional treats any more? Has there been an early rush to buy the eggs this year?
If you know the answer, then please let me know . . .
Published Date:
18/03/2008
Modified Date:
18/03/2008