What is the world coming to?
Wednesday January 17
That new editorial system I was talking about put paid to my New Year resolution of blogging every day ...
Still, I think I'm getting to grips with it now so hopefully it will be normal service resumed.
Having just watched an episode of Celebrity Big Brother for the first time this series - purely because of the controversy - I have to say I can't believe political relations between the UK and India are potentially being influenced by the antics of Jade Goody, some no-mark Miss England contestant and a has-been teen pop star.
TV - and life - gets more surreal by the day.
I also can't believe the comments of a British athlete competing in some junior Olympics competition in Australia on Radio 5 today.
The report was talking about the size of the British team which has been sent Down Under in a bid to groom lots of winners for the London 2012 Games.
This particular chap, commenting on the benefits of travelling to Australia to compete and prepare him for success in five years, listed the things he had learnt as ...
Now knowing to put sun block on when basking in the sunshine on the beach and how to recover from jet lag.
Sorry, but was it really worth sending him all that way to get such wonderful tips for sporting success?
And how is sun block sense and getting over jet lag going to help him land gold in London?
Published Date:
17/01/2007
Modified Date:
17/01/2007
Changes afoot
Tuesday January 9
On the work front
IT'S going to be another interesting year for the Free Press, our company and the newspaper industry as a whole.
We're getting a new editorial system at the end of this month called Miles which has a number of advantages over our current one but also means extra work in some respects for the subs - the people who put the pages together, write headlines, decide how and where to use pictures and edit copy.
There will also be more focus on the digital revolution with improvements to our websites and more inter-action with readers.
It is fascinating how the industry is changing.
Many experts are predicting the demise of newspapers in this e-focused world but at a time when the circulations of many papers are falling, sales of the Free Press - I'm happy to say -remain strong.
There is a general migration to online news but I think it will be a long time before the desire for a newspaper which you can read on the bus, on the sofa in front of the telly or while you're eating your tea will be totally gone.
At the Free Press we aim to produce the best possible newspaper and the best possible website to keep everyone happy, whether they're reading their local news in a paper in their front room or online at work.
The two things complement each other, with the website offering us the chance to use audio and video clips such as the music of local bands and the footage of our ghost-hunting night at the Bull and Sun pub on Hallowe'en.
And we've got plenty of ideas to keep both the paper and the website fresh, bright and breezy over the coming year so keep tuned.
On the home front
As well as my computer going on the blink, things on the home front are proving a pain with electrical faults and leaks.
There's always something to do or fix.
I can't remember the last time I got home from work, put my feet up, played with the kids for a while and enjoyed a leisurely night of inactivity in front of the box.
Current faults and jobs to do include:
Two bathroom lights not working
One kitchen light not working
One hall light not working after sparking
Roof springing leaks left, right and centre
Every room in the house needing re-decorating (according to my wife who, by the way, yet again opened every wardrobe door this morning with the words "I've got nothing to wear for work" - apparently all 15 wardrobes are full of summer tops!)
The hoover needing emptying
The garage needing sorting out (major, major job - can't see it happening before Easter ... Easter 2008 that is)
The loft needing sorting out (a massive dumping ground which would rival any landfill site)
And countless other minor and major tasks
I'll leave you with a few on this day in history facts ...
Russia's secret service released a CD in 2001 to celebrate 80 years on the job, including songs such as Spy's Motto and Here Goes Your Friend Off On A Mission.
Sven Goran Eriksson resigned from Lazio on the same day that year and immediately took up the England manager's job ... if only we could turn back time!
And on January 9 a year later an internet poll named Man Utd as the ugliest Premiership team, with the Neville brothers and Luke Chadwick named three of the ugliest players in the league.
Published Date:
09/01/2007
Modified Date:
09/01/2007
An upset Wessie and a broken PC
Monday January 8
On the work front
I'VE been sent a letter from a "very disappointed" ex-resident of Bridlington.
The writer has moved back to the West Riding of Yorkshire from Bridlington because the town is so unfriendly.
I quote:
"Bridlington people must be very sad, lonely people to keep calling Wessies.
"I had a property in Bridlington for 14 years and only found about 15 people who were nice in all that time.
"Give me Wessies any day!
"Bridlington people deserve to live in a ghost town and I wouldn't care if I never went to Bridlington again.
"It's only the money the Wessies bring in to Bridlington that keeps it going anyway."
Now I know Free Press columnist Paper Clip has been known to have a pop at Wessies from time to time (although he has cut back over the last year) and many Bollington folk do likewise but I've always understood it to be a jokey thing and not to be taken too seriously.
Indeed, many people who have moved to Brid from the West Riding like to joke about the Wessie invasions.
Obviously the writer of this letter felt like he was being antagonised rather than having his leg pulled, which is a shame.
Bridlington needs the visitors from the West Riding and elsewhere and should also welcome people who choose to retire or move here.
Even if just one person feels the town is too unfriendly to live in then that is one person too many.
I know Brid has its problems, crime among them, but I've always found it to be full of friendly folk and very welcoming.
It's a pity not everyone else does.
On the home front
My home life has been totally taken over by computer problems of late.
For the last four nights I've been locked away for hours on end trying to resolve various issues with a machine which I would be lost without.
I work with computers and thought I knew a bit about them but I seem to be digging myself into ever deeper holes as I try to do DIY fixes on my PC.
I dread to think what it will be like in years to come when everything in the home is run by one mega-computer.
Anyway, if anyone out there is a computer and internet whizz kid, please offer me some help!!!
Published Date:
08/01/2007
Modified Date:
08/01/2007
The indications aren't good
Friday January 5
On the work front
Over the last few months we've had quite a few e-mails, texts and letters about Chapel Street.
Most people seem to think that what is being done in one of the town's main shopping streets is not the improvement it was supposed to be.
I'm not talking about the new building, which will house a bigger New Look and a Peacocks store, but the changes to the road and pavements.
Lots of drivers have moaned about the logic behind reducing the width of the road and I can see what they're saying.
I like pedestrianised areas - especially when they are used for outdoor cafe culture and the like - but what has been created in Chapel Street isn't massively impressive.
But the real point I want to make is ... are drivers supposed to indicate left to turn into Marshall Avenue or right to continue down Chapel Street on the paved area?
I don't know and, judging by just about every vehicle I have seen, neither do other motorists.
The obvious answer I'd say would be to indicate to go left because you are turning at 90 degrees - but I haven't seen any driver indicate either way, which makes crossing the road when there is a stream of traffic a gamble.
Either that or you stand there like a spare part waiting to cross while car after car goes the other way without indicating.
On the home front
My two-year-old (who is nearly three) is trying every trick in the book these days to delay going to bed.
Her favourite bedtime story at the moment is about a bear which invites various animals to a party.
One of the animals is a frog and on every page which features the frog (about four in total) she insists on jumping across the bedroom shouting "ribbit" and pretending to be one.
This usually comes after delaying tactics eating tea, at bathtime, brushing her teeth and so on.
So it came as a bit of a surprise (and a blow if I'm honest) when it came to the final instalment of the bedtime routine - song time.
She usually has two songs from me if I'm home in time.
First is a rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star or some variation of it such as Twinkle Twinkle Chocolate Bar.
That is always followed by my piece de resistance, and the only song to which I can ever remember more than a few lines of the words - True by Spandau Ballet.
I know it's embarrassing but I guess blogs have to be honest.
Anyway, last night I was all set to start with "True, funny how it seems ..." if those are indeed the right lines when she shouted out "no".
I thought she meant no, sing something else, but she actually then said: "No more singing please Daddy, want to go to bed."
For the girl who will do anything to stay up on a night it was quite a damning indictment of my singing abilities!
Published Date:
05/01/2007
Modified Date:
05/01/2007
How not to save the NHS money
Thursday January 4
On the work front
The first Free Press of the new year continues in the same vein as the end of last year with more fears of hospital cuts and controversy at Bridlington School.
We're still getting criticised for knocking Brid School but, honestly, we're not, we're simply reporting the story as we see it, ie the facts and the views of various people and groups involved.
The fact that the headteacher has resigned and a new, interim one appointed is a story and the fact that the board of governors has been replaced by a council-appointed interim board is also a story.
People may see us reporting those changes as negative but do people expect us to ignore it?
We are here to keep people informed of events in the community and the goings-on at Bridlington School is of major importance to the town.
Personally, I was sad to see Barry Davies go but I understand his reasons for resigning.
I'm not privvy to behind-closed-doors meetings and conversations but can sympathise when he says his position was "untenable".
I felt Barry had some good ideas and judging by letters and comments we have received he was well liked by many pupils and parents.
Barry was actually the brainchild behind the popular Schools Noticeboard page in the Free Press and I wish him well.
The latest fears over hospital services involve a "review" of the local pain clinic.
Patient Ron Tyler says he was told by staff that it was going to close but local NHS Trust bosses say no final decision has been made.
It comes at a time when the formal public consultation into the future of Brid Hospital and other local hospitals is launched.
The Free Press Operation Lifeline campaign which we are running is aiming to prevent the axing of Brid Hospital's maternity unit and cuts to other services.
We now have until March 18 to make our voices heard as the trust looks to find millions of pounds in savings.
I understand books have to be balanced and savings have to be made but surely there are other ways to make savings rather than closing the maternity ward and shutting the hospital to admissions overnight?
What gets me is that people can send their views on the trust's proposals by Freepost.
How much is that going to cost the trust?
I'm sure anyone who cares enough to write to the trust about its plans is prepared to pay 30-odd pence if it means the trust doesn't have to cover the coast of thousands of letters being posted!
On the home front
My two-year-old was on form again last night.
Every time she goes to the toilet she says she has diarrhoea - usually she doesn't, last night she did.
A while later she walked into the kitchen with a cotton bud which she must have found in the bathroom bin.
"What are you doing with that?" asked my wife.
The reply as our daughter went to stick it in her ear was: "Need it, got diarr-ear!"
I'd love to be inside their minds sometimes ...
Published Date:
04/01/2007
Modified Date:
04/01/2007
Don't blame it on the bosses
Wednesday January 3
On the work front
A NATIONAL story which has tickled me this week was about bosses at B&Q's Norwich store asking applicants for van driving jobs to pull funny faces and dance to the Jackson Five's Blame It On The Boogie.
Management thought it would be a light-hearted ice-breaker before the formal interviews but they have been criticised for humiliating interviewees with the bizarre request.
It (sort-of) reminds me about the time the Free Press was looking for a new reporter almost 12 months ago ...
Staff thought I was a bit tough on prospective employees when I asked applicants to hit the streets of Brid in search of stories when they came for interviews.
Okay, it was February and probably bitterly cold out there (I don't know, I was in my warm office) but it was back to basics stuff as far as I was concerned and what journalism is all about.
The result ... we employed Thom Kennedy, an enthusiastic, chomping-at-the-bit trainee who is prepared to head off to the pub in search of a good story at the drop of a hat.
And I'm sure Thom would choose trudging through Brid on a rainy winter's day, pen and soaked notebook in hand, rather than strutting his stuff in the editorial office every time.
On the resolutions front, the blogging is obviously still a goer but the keeping my home and place of work tidy is only hanging on by a thread.
The desk blitz did not happen as planned, it was more of a token tickle ... still there's still time before the knocking-off bell goes.
On the home front
We had a return to disturbed nights of sleep last night - for the first time since before Christmas - because of a Charlie and Lola (kids' TV programme - very good!) tin and an incy, wincy little spider.
My six-year-old was asked to wash her hands before tea last night and came charging back into the kitchen to say there was a spider in the bathroom and she didn't dare go in.
My two-year-old loves creepy crawlies and wanted to see it.
She was in her high chair and just polishing off her tea so brave Daddy, armed with a spider-catcher and the Charlie and Lola tin (which is supposed to be used to keep crayons in) ventured forth to capture the spider.
It wasn't big and so I wasn't scared and I manager to coax it into the tin to show my youngest.
She was delighted and decided it would be her new pet so my wife and I left her for a few minutes happily looking at in the tin and coo-ing over the spider while we got our six-year-old fed.
But my two-year-old's delight turned to horror when a few moments later she let out a scream and burst into tears as the spider crawled up her arm and onto her shoulder.
We managed to get the spider back into the tin and then both my wife and I let it crawl on us, pretending it was incy, wincy spider and showing our youngest that it was no harm and all good fun.
After all, we didn't want her scarred for life.
The spider actually disappeared after crawling up my wife's sleeve and we didn't find it again after that but it seemed to have done the trick and our two-year-old was happy again.
Until a few hours later, and every hour after that, when she repeatedly woke up and brushed at her arms and shoulder.
Poor lass, I feel really bad ... and tired ... and it's the last time I'll encourage her to play with creepy crawlies.
I suppose I'll also have spiders' rights groups after me as well!
Published Date:
03/01/2007
Modified Date:
03/01/2007
Predictable but ... New Year Resoltuions
Tuesday January 2
I'M not one for New Year Resolutions normally but will make a couple this year:
1 Get back into blogging every day
2 Be more tidy at home and at work
Right, that's the first one sorted for today ... I'll blitz my desk while I'm having lunch and replying to a few e-mails!
Published Date:
02/01/2007
Modified Date:
02/01/2007
Disgusted, of Brid
Monday December 11
I HAVE to say I was pretty unimpressed with Zara "Amazing" Phillips winning the 2006 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award last night.
I was convinced Joe Calzaghe was yer man but my wife was right with her confident prediction that the royal would win it by virtue of being more well-known in most households.
I would have given it to Joe. What more does he have to do? Defend his title 40 times over a 25-year career?
He's got more personality than the Queen's grandaughter (and many previous winners such as Damon Hill for that matter) and has many more triumphs under his belt.
Compare his superb career and achievements to those of the former royal rebel - winning equestrianism's top prize. Big deal when you think about the advantages she has had in life.
Surely her dressage, cross country and show jumping skills are down to her pampered lifestyle, having probably been taught to ride at the age of two and probably possessing the very best of horses!
She won't have had to pound the streets at the crack of dawn in pursuit of sporting glory, training for her is probably fun - most people ride horses for a hobby anyway, don't they?
No, her's is not a deserved success in my eyes, it is a reward for privilege over hard, solid graft.
Guess Who?
Maybe next year I'll be in the running for Sports Personality of the Year for my boardgame prowess.
Let's face it if a cricketer who is nearly in his country's first team can be in the shortlist why not?
I totally thrashed my daughters at Guess Who? at the weekend and am now ready to take on all-comers and my bid for world boardgame domination - even John and Thom.
I saw off my six-year-old in style. Her weakness was that she kept asking questions based on what her own person looked like, eg "Dad, does your person have green earrings?"
She always chose a woman (seven women, 17 men) which was a bad move.
And she kept going for blonde Anita "because she looks pretty".
She then teamed up with her two-year-old sister who was equally disadvantaged by her choice of person.
She kept choosing Sophie because she had "sweets" in her hair and she would tell me who she had chosen.
When I told her to choose another one she obviously picked the same card again because my six-year-old told her not to.
"No," my two-year-old shouted back, snatching the card back. "Want Sophie" and then ran off with it and that was the end of that!
Published Date:
11/12/2006
Modified Date:
11/12/2006