First of all, sorry for the delay in updating my blog!

But still do not have a laptop, so cannot do it in front of the TV, I know that is a rubbish excuse but its mine and I am sticking to it!

So I hope you had a great Xmas, and I hope you all got what you wanted.

I saw most of you at the Carol Service at midnight, and I hope the guy who got hit by the taxi pushing his way down Queen Street is OK! Just don't understand why they don't reverse back up!

OK, so it was the Horbury Community Council Meeting on Monday, and we had 2 members of public, YAY! (hiya A and A!)

So here is what was discussed.

The police are going on about a few bits, nothing too exciting.

The bins should be back to normal service by now.

The clearing of the snow was rubbish.

Xmas lights are better but still pants (that would be ace underwear shaped christmas lights!)

There is a group called the Horbury Town Centre Partnership, and it is run by Bill Ingham, and you may think, so what. Well the thing is they tend ro decide a lot that goes on in and around Horbury, they get some money from the council and they decide where it goes. You know those wishing well things that say 'welcome to Horbury' due to them. The old fashioned sign posts - Them. Where bins and things go - them. They also received 5000quid recently, and THEY will decide where the money goes, with no consultation with anyone.

Thing is, they are a closed group, you cannot just turn up to the meetings, they used to be an open group, but now they are a closed group, like some sort of evil quango from GI Joe run by MUM-RA (I know he is Thundercats), or some 80s Bruce Willis film!

So what can we do? Well, Bill Inghams son owns HanDIYman on Queen Street so if you have a suggestion of what you want them to spend the 5K on, drop a note in there for Bill, or just asking for an invite to the meeting.
Or asking if they have a secret handshake!

I know you won't but it would be cool!

There may be a bonfire at Green Park on St Georges day! Yeah thats a great idea, a bonfire in April, bonfires in daylight are RUBBISH, thats just a fire!

Oh and the Tupny shop wants plastic window frames, and we said yeah!

There is also a project on to sort the walled garden out in Carr Lodge Park, behind the mansion. They are thinking of changing it into a mini allotment type thing where they will grow vegetables and sell them to local businesses to keep it self sufficent, which is cool. Mike then said he was wanting to be more green, so I suggested he should turn it into a wind farm.

Errrrrrrrrrr and that was about it, Miike wants some winter scenes of Horbury if you have them, and if you do send them to him at friends@carrlodgepark.org.uk 

And he will be most grateful!

Anyway thats about it really, I will try and do more and be more regular!

Thanks

JA

Hiya!

Just thought I'd do a mini update, but to be honest I have not heard that much going on!

I went to the late night opening in Horbury the other week, and well, it was pretty dead!

Come on people, if we do not utilise it, they will stop doing it, although I think it will take a year or two to catch on, but I wish them all the best with it!

There is a new restaurant opened in Horbury Bar Bicardi (I think it's called), I have not tried it out yet, but will probably do so in the next week or so, and when I do you can read all about my culinary experience on here, and then you can eat there and go 'hmmmmmmmmmmmm the blog dude was right this really does taste like feet' or 'hmmmmmmmmm the blog dude was right this is divine' depending on how the review goes!

A few people have come up to me and said they agreed with my previous rant, about people playing chicken!Which was nice! And now I know more than 3 people read this thing. Which also makes me think I should say something more profound rather than the usual stream of nonsense I write!

But like I said not much happening, so I will see you all at the bottom of Queen Street at midnight on Christmas Eve, if you want to come and say hi, feel free, I will be the one leaning on some crutches, usually by coop travel (everyone likes to stand in the same place every year!) singing along to the half played songs played by brass band, but don't forget to donate to them! Hey who knows we may even get a full song out of them this year!

Just found this vid on youtube to get you in the mood - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtkyF_doPEI

So thats it, it will probably be next year now when I update my blog, maybe later as my laptop has blown up, a nice hardware fault that cannot be fixed sob! So if you have a spare laptop I can have I will be most grateful, or you can donate money via paypal to jonathanatkins26@hotmail.com I am not proud!

So thanks for reading, I hope you have an ace Christmas and you all get what was on your present list!

Oh, and as much as I like the coop, the manger of said establishment is NOT a celebrity! No offence, I am sure you are a really nice man!

How about next year we have a charity raffle and the winner gets to turn on the lights. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm?

Merry Christmas

JA

I am now going to have a rant, just because I am allowed!


Why oh why do people in Horbury always play chicken with cars.

There are 3 main areas where this happens and I just don't get it!

The first area is the centre of Horbury, at the end of Queen Street outside the coop. I understand that you have parked in the coop car park, and that you have done your shopping on Queen Street, hopefully from the Health Shop, but then why do you insist on crossing the road there, dodging cars and buses. I don't know if you've noticed there is a zebra crossing both outside Boulbys and Saffron Lounge, I know you may have to walk a little but further, but why risk it with arm full sof shopping, the other day I saw a woman dragging 2 kids and a load of shopping across the road dodging traffic. Why risk it, when you only have to walk a little bit further and you know not risk getting knocked over!

The other 2 are based on the school run for Northfield Lane.

The first are people who park at the WMC, I know that is quite hard to cross there, and you do not have much choice, but just try and be bit more careful, or wait till there is a big group of you before crossing. Don't just stick your head and out and walk blindly across, my fave are the people who have pushchairs, I know you are looking to cross the road, but you do realise that the pushchair is half way out into the road already. Idiot. 

I have asked to get a zebra crossing there, but GRAHAM JESTY (01924 374142 or gjesty@wakefield.gov.uk) says it is not possible because of the bus stop, but as he is your local councillor, feel free to ask him. Repeatedly!

The other is Northfield Lane. We know you are not allowed to park directly in front of the school, and for those that park on the opposite side, I don't know if you are aware but THERE IS A SUBWAY! USE IT! Why with upto 3 or 4 kids in tow do you insist running across the bypass? Why? Are you that lazy you are not bothered about your childs safety or teaching them how to cross roads properly? Oh, and at least try and get your kids in the car ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR THAT IS NOT ON THE ROAD! And when you get out of the car at least look to see if there are no cars coming! It's not great to be pootling along to have a car door fly open in front of you!

Just one more while I remember, Cluntergate, I know its a main road into Horbury but just so you know the side of the road that has The Sheps, WMC and The Cricks THERE IS NO PAVEMENT SO DON'T WALK ON THAT SIDE. The worst people for this are

A - Comp kids after and before school
B - Parents after dropping the kids off, though it does tend to be dads that do it more.
C - People going from the Cricks to the Sheps, or from the Sheps the WMC, I know its such a long way to walk across the road and back again, but when you are walking on the none existant pavement, with a 2 pint wobble, especially on a night when there are all the muppet boy racers flying up and down, even though its a 20 zone, it really does need speed bumps, if you want them contact GRAHAM JESTY (01924 374142 or gjesty@wakefield.gov.uk), you probably will get run over especially as you tend to walk 2-3 abreast!

Right thats my rant over with, I really did wake up on the wrong side of the bed. I also realise that this quite a hot issue, and I apologise in advance if I have upset anyone or brought back any bad memories, that was not my intention!

Righty I am off for a lie down now! And a brew!

JA

Right, let me start by saying sorry for the lack of updates, but I have been broken, and in hospital!

Anyway, last night was our November meeting, and what a great one it was!

We had a member of public there which was ace! Our first one in months! And after he bought me a pint, so he therefore rocks!

I wrote loads of notes last night so my blog would be both witty and informative, but I cannot find my notes, so I will do it from memory, so you are scuppered as my memory is rubbish! But here is what I can remember.

- Lots of bickering, the main reason I love these meetings! Just general raised voices and lots of 'you're wrongs and have no idea' type stuff, nothing too viscous, yet. But I am looking forward to one day when someone goes Hulk and goes slightly crazy! Hopefully without the ripping of clothes!
- We have discovered there are more groups popping up in Horbury all with different agendas and no one has a real idea of what they are doing, if you are a member of a said group, get in contact with me and I will pop along to a meeting and say hi. If you have biscuits, that would be awesome!
- Last month we talked about increasing the profile of the Horbury Community Council, and I have made contact with Wakefield in Massachusetts about being twinned with them, just for a laugh, still awaiting a reply from them though.
- Carr Lodge Park mansion is up for sale, closed bids with the deadline been end of January.
- Carr Lodge Parks seniour play area, this is for older children not old people, although I am sure they will be able to use them, I know my mum will, but she has two new hips to break in!
- There is a police meeting on the 19th of November in the library you should go to.
- Nothing to do with the meeting but my dog has just stole my last choc digestive. Most annoying.
- Horbury is having a light switch on party on the 27th of November, and then for the next few Thursdays some shops in Horbury will be open 'til late, with special offers and stuff going on, should be cool!
- There was talk of boycotting the coop pharmacy so they close and reopen near the top of Horbury making it easier for people at the top of Horbury to get to a chemist. So if all three of you that read this do that, that would be nice!
- We have no money.
- We have a flag! A proper union jack type thing and everything, though we are not sure where it is! So if you have seen it let me know!
- There are some lads from Manorfields that are doing a well long (I think something like 1000 miles, but could be and most probably will be wrong) bike ride for charity (I am sorry I cannot remember which) which is really good!
- There's parking issues on Stannard Well Drive. Apparentley.

And to be honest that's all I can remember, if you want the proper full minutes they are going to be put on the notice board by the burnt out chippy on Queen Street. Or if you want I can send you them.

There is no meeting now until January (I think it will be the 18th, as that is the 3rd Monday of the month) the meeting will start at 7PM as that is the AGM, but the meeting proper will start at 7.30.

There will be a get together before that in Boons on Queen Street and I will inform you of that on here, if you want to come and buy me drinks. That would be nice!

Anyway, until next time.

JA

As I am off for aggresive physio at Pinders!

Will be there for 2-3 weeks, and I don't think you will be that fussed about hearing me say 'today I did 3 star jumps'

But if you want to send me chocolates and things (not allowed flowers bizarrely) I am on ward 4!

Take Care

JA

The monthly Horbury Community Council meeting happened the other night.

And as normal there was a minimum turn out, and no public support.

We talked about a few things of no significance, and then there was heated discussions about a few things of great importance like parking on Stannard Well Drive and errrrrrrr insurance for the meeting (apparently we have to have it!).

We also talked about merging with another group, how there are no swimming pools, writing more letters about the chemist move (did you see me in the Wakey Express, I thought I could have looked more injured by the chemist move, but I was having trouble getting my inspiration that morning. Darling.)

But at the end when we were talking about how to raise the profile of the HCC, and someone came up with the idea of a newsletter and then volunteered me to help with that, which was nice, although to be far because of me he has to organise another conker attempt! 

So over to you guys, all three of you that read this, 2 of which don't live in Horbury, so Gav and Mark, no you cannot have naked ladies in it, if you lived in Horbury I may have thought about it, but you don't so you can nick off! So I think that leaves Bridie, who I think only said she read this to be nice! Just drop me a mail at horburycommunity@googlemail.com with any ideas! Which will help us out loads, I say us, it will be me, and I have no imagination, and it will probably be articles on things I find in the street and polystyrene aeroplanes, like this blog really!

After the meeting we went to the pub, where I had 2 pints of Blonde that was very tasty, and free thanks to Doug and Graham! And we talked about politics, Speed Racer, morris dancing getting banned from school and chickens!

The next meeting is on November the Somethingth, you are more than welcome to come along and sit there and bring up any concerns you have and then buy me a drink after!

JA

This is what village life is all about!

Firstly I would like to thank the Friends Of Carr Lodge Park for organising it, especially Mike who was the driving force!

Although I would NOT like to thank Mike for thrusting a microphone in my hand and saying "there you go, you can be the announcer" and when asked what he would like me to say replying with "dunno, say things about conkers, get the crowd excited, talk about Spider-Man if you want."

But thats by the by.

The atmosphere this morning was great, there was a real buzz about the place, everyone getting along, talking tactics, having a few practice swings, breaking a few conkers and meeting up with friends. There was just a sense of community! And that is what it was all about, that and breaking a world record!

UNFORTUNATELY we did not break the record, we were only 30 games away though, which is easily achievable, especially if the promotion isn't left too late, and concentrated on my Facebook page and a another events page that Mike made, oh and a few ads in shop windows!

Thing is, when it was announced that we did not break the record, it felt that the conker attempt was secondary, as people were just having fun, and loving their 'Friends of Carr Lodge Park' badges!

I have to say that to say that this was one of those ideas that started in a pub, and was actually seen to fruition, and you know what, it was great fun, and I cannot wait until next years attempt!