The Blog of Adrian Hollister

Berks and Wilts Canal

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:26:26 +0200

Great little walk along the Berks and Wilts canal yesterday. Started at Grove and finished near Steventon. I couldn't quite get to Abingdon in the time available, but it's a start. It's not an easy walk though as most of the foot paths are very overgrown and fallen trees, flooded field boundaries and local deer don't help. Was a good hour and a half romp though.

It's amazing to see how much of the old canal infrastructure still exists - lock gates still in situ and others seem to be delicate frames hanging in the air. I'll post the route later, but here are a couple of pictures.

Update, I completed the walk easily today. After crossing the road between Hanney and Steventon it's a very straight forward walk with a good path, track and well managed footpaths.

Long Term Review of Egg Skelter

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:53:00 +0200

Need somewhere to keep your eggs? Have chickens and want a neat way of showing your slightly unusual eggs? Well quite some time ago we purchase an Egg Skelter. This was well before they started showing up on various TV programs and boomed in popularity. They are a darn simple but amazingly effective design - two rows of welded steel wire allow you to stack your eggs. The eggs roll down the wires to the bottom or the last egg, and whilst running eggs down the 'skelter' is great fun for the kids, it's a sure way to produce an eggy mess on your worktop. If used as designed though you start at the bottom with your eggs and pile them up the skelter. So the oldest is at the bottom and the newest at the top. When you take the oldest eggs from the bottom they all neatly shuffle down the skelter freeing up room towards the top for more eggs. So it's simple, you use up the oldest eggs first (though in my house oldest egg's don't seem to be more than a day or two old!)

Egg Skelter

So here is ours, it's in green obviously and has survived various moves, serious abuse from the kids and a trip in the dishwasher (it doesn't look like the sort of thing that would appreciate a dishwasher so I don't recommend it). Not too many egg's on it at the moment, the kids are going cake and boiled egg mad, but you get the idea. These egg's are small from our new batch of chickens - not the best size for this standard Egg Skelter, but the size should improve as they grow up a bit.

The only problem that I've ever had is with egg's that are too large or too small. My old black rocks used to fire out giant egg's that wouldn't fit, but egg's that size don't usually last past breakfast!

The only comment I get from people is - "why don't you keep your eggs in the fridge?". Of course, when they are as fresh as my egg's you don't need to keep them in cold storage - they don't need to last too long. I keep them out of sun light and I've kept them perfectly ok after a few weeks of being away on holiday. The whole issue is a bit debate - fridge or no fridge, I am firmly on the 'why bother - keep them on the worktop' side of things. You can always check your eggs by them by dunking in water - if they sink they are good, if they swim they are bad. Bit like the old witch trials eh - wonder if that is where they got it from?

So was it a good purchase? Oh yea. One of the best and most long lasting things that I have bought for ages.

Adrian Hollister

Another day of drought - flooding and tree's down

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 16:22:40 +0200

Well, it's another day of drought in the Downlands of West Berkshire. Today we have heavy rain, high winds, local flooding and tree's down. If only Thames Water gave out free water butts we all could capitalise on this deluge and save some water for plants when the sunshine comes back. A quick trip to the shops not only seem to have confirmed that the Landy needs some attention, but that many roads are closed due to flooding and tree's. Getting to Lambourn from Great Shefford is not possible and several roads around Brightwalton have been closed. Hasn't stopped people from driving at nutty speeds though, we were narrowly missed by a beemer out of control after aquaplaning on a flooded stretch of road. Let's hope these darwin award hopefuls don't take anyone else out in the process. Safe journeys out there everyone.

Road closed near Brightwalton

15 weeks and the new chickens have good egg production

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:22:04 +0200

At 15 weeks the new chickens are in their stride giving us eggs. We are getting a good mix of pure white and traditional brown eggs. All are a bit on the small side at the moment, but they are a great taste and have been making some stunning cakes. The new batch are also very friendly and already come when called (!) and are happy to 'play' with the kids, eat shoe laces etc. But it seems that the more eggs we have the more we use!

More A34 accidents

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:30:46 +0200

Yet more accidents on the A34 this week. Couple of bigger ones and another car has crashed off the A34 at East Ilsley. Newbury News have covered the story as have other local rags. How long before we see real action on this issue?

Date for the diary - Brightwalton Fete 6th May

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:12:00 +0200

A date for the diary is the Brightwalton Fete on the 6th of May. It's in the village hall and the playing field and is always great fun for the kids and adults alike. I will be face painting again this year, so feel free to come along and say hi.

I am just bored of Local Lib Dem's disassociation from their own MP's

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 03:01:00 +0200

Is it just me, or do the Liberal Democrats in West Berkshire consistently disassociate themselves with their governing MP's? The slightest poor PR ratings head their way see's them running to the press to hail their innocence. It's seems astonishing that they can on one hand stand up and say 'listen to us, we are serious and in power' and on the other say 'but any bits you think are bad are all the Tories'.

They give the very name of a coalition a bad name. They have single handedly moved good chunks of society from supporting them and PR, to being in abject horror of what it could bring.

Please someone remind the Lib Dems in Newbury that they are part of the government and they are helping decide some very bad things at the moment for our society and our country; and they should recognise that fact and take ownership of it.

If only we had more Green MP's - it seems that we are the only ones out there with enough bottle to do what is right and fair for the country as a whole; stand up for a liberal and fair society with justice for all; and, as Jenny Jones recently brokered in the London Mayoral hustings, we are the only political party that look to bring complete truth, honestly and transparency to government.

Stop Government Snooping into your Private Internet use

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:23:29 +0200

The government will be able to monitor the calls, emails, texts and website visits of everyone in the UK under new legislation announced by the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Government. Under the new legislation, Internet firms will be required to give intelligence agency GCHQ access to communications on demand, in real time. Whilst on one side the Home Office is looking at this as a way to tackle crime and terrorism, it's clear that the impact personal liberties and the potential for political, military or terrorist abuse present a risk to every citizen.

The risk is that George Orwell's portrait of a nightmare state could easily come true here. If left unchecked it will be possible for the state to examine your personal life in detail. They will be able to do this without your consent. The boundaries of this intrusion have yet to be defined – so who would stop the government of the day using the information for social control and social manipulation?

The Digital Economy Act from 2010 is often seen as the first stage of 'controlling' the Internet and starts to open the doors for abuse of personal liberties – it's a stepping stone for the Chinese style Internet manipulation and control. Our local MP, Richard Benyon spent a great deal of time at the pre-election hustings asserting that he opposes the Digital Economy Bill – all this was for nothing though as Richard Benyon MP went back on his claims and failed to vote against the bill in 2010 (being absent from the debate). So much for the letter I have from Richard Benyon...

So we can't trust Richard Benyon MP to help here (especially as our MP has almost never voted against David Cameron's dictation – how can he represent Newbury when he is looking after his political career?)

Let's just look at what they are attempting to achieve – the government want to look at everything you do electronically – phones, email, social networking, browsing, blog entires – you name it. They are looking to do this because knowledge is power – power to catch the bad guys – power to manipulate the good guys; and lets face it, the majority of us are good guys. Quite frankly, I would oppose any type of social manipulation – especially for political, military or terrorist goals. Remember, if the government can do it, someone can pay for the government to do something else (remember those that paid to eat with David Cameron – does the lobbying abuse stop there?)

Let's break it down into the two key groups they are following. The bad guys (let's not get into who 'bad' people are for now) are the minority. They are generally skilled and trained on how to avoid detection and monitoring and they generally make things a bit difficult for the intelligence agencies to form a complete picture.

The rest of us, don't use any of this technology and at the moment don't see any need (why would we need to be afraid of our own government?)

So, if the majority of people who they do want to monitor would know how to get around it (using Tor for example), this will leave them monitoring the rest of us. If we are doing nothing special, then the only purpose would be for social management or social control.

So what are the risks? Analytics can be used to map relationships, communication streams, social groups, class structures, targeted demographics, keep all your personal information etc. They can with some simple software know your entire life in detail.

Bit like phone hacking for government, but with the added power that serious analytics can bring. For example, at the moment you could track your social network usage and other public documents to form a picture of people (try your name in 123people); but this generally only works with your consent. The government could force access to this information without your consent, add your emails, browsing history, how long you spend on sites, track what you clicked on, etc. Like google on steroids they could track your life. Would you trust any government or the military with this type of information? How quickly would the Conservatives or Liberal Democrats sell this out to business or to the US (who funds their political parties and second jobs)? What would happen if the information was 'lost' on a USB key (terrorist would literally kill for this type of information - such as who are most likely to support their cause)?

Making you feel more secure yet?

So who will police GCHQ and do it in an honest incorruptible and non-political way? How can we ensure political paymasters don't abuse the information or buy access to it? How do we ensure we keep the freedom of our press? Where do the courts come in here? This is a badly thought move towards a Tory police state.

The Green Party will consistently and openly oppose these deeply flawed and illiberal moves by the Government. The Conservative, Liberal Democrat and New Labour attempts to control the internet and snoop on our personal lives, our social networks and our personal communications are a disgusting move towards a police state. If you are looking to oppose these Orwellian moves, look for a fresh and honest approach to politics - join us, help us and vote Green at the next election.

Adrian Hollister, Newbury Green Party.

Katy's Hot Cross Bun & Butter Pudding Recipe

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 21:12:53 +0200

It's the time of year where we brits buy loads of Hot Cross Buns and a good deal of them go stale. Whilst you can still toast them, there is also an alternative to a Bread and Butter Pudding that my eldest came up with - Hot Cross Bun & Butter Pudding. So here is the recipe that takes at most 10 minutes to prepare and a further 40 minutes to stand and cook.

What you need:

100g of English Butter
550g of Hot Cross Buns - about 8 of the standard supermarket baked buns
A good handful or two of Sultanas or Raisins
6 medium Free Range English eggs
900ml of Organic Whole Milk (1.5 pints) - you can always replace some of this with cream if you wish
6 table spoons of golden sugar

What you need to do:

1. Grease a 2 litre oven proof dish - we use a lasagne type dish
2. Cut the Hot Cross Buns into thirds and butter both sides. You may need to warm the butter slightly. Use all the butter up, so be generous - this is not a dish for the health conscious.
3. Put the buttered Hot Cross Bun slices into the dish. You want some poking up to get crispy when cooking, so a good jagged pattern works well.
4. Sprinkle with your Sultanas or Raisins.

it should start to look something like this...

5. In a mixing bowl add the milk, eggs and sugar. Give it a good mix up - the egg yolks should be well dispersed.
6. Pour onto into your oven dish over your buttered hot cross buns. Spread evenly and ensure that the sugar is even distributed as well.

7. Now the easiest bit - put the oven onto 180 degrees C or 160 for a fan oven. Don't put it in the oven yet, leave it all for 10 mins at least. Bit longer if you have time.

8. Sprinkle the top with a bit of extra sugar and put in the oven. Takes about 30 mins in ours but might take up to 40 mins. It should be crispy on top and the custard set.

You should end up with something like this...

Hot Cross Bun and Butter Pudding - best hot with a nice single English cream

West Challow to Sparsholt on the old Wilts & Berks Canal

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 11:38:00 +0200

Following the old Wilts and Berks Canal, I continue the journey at West Challow Bridge. Most of the canal from here is private land, so this is not going to be an easy route to follow. Heading out as best as I can to follow the route, I've headed towards Sparsholt. This is a short walk, but it's hard going in places with some footpaths deep in mud.

This track starts out easy along paths and field paths well walked. There are some amazing parts of the canal still intact, full of water and looking amazing.

Start: West Challow Bridge
Waypoint: End: Sparsholt
Distance: 2.6 miles
Time taken: 1 hour 17 mins
Elevation change: flat
Dog walking: 60% off lead. No dogs, walkers or cyclists. Several horses.
Track condition: Stretches of field grass and deep mud. Occasional road and track. In dry conditions this may be easier.
Accessibility: Some stiles, narrow paths, overgrown in places. Note that there are lengths of deep mud.
Difficulty: Average

Wantage to Challow via Childrey Walk

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:59:59 +0200

This could easily be a circular walk, but I'm still taking it easy with the knee so wanted to limited myself to 4 miles. It's an easy walk with no significant hills and it's mostly solid footpath. Good for the dogs and some good views of the Thames Valley and edge of the North Wessex Downs.

Start: Wantage Park. There is good parking and you could easily extend this route back to here (only add's a mile or so).
Waypoint: Childrey
End: East Challow
Distance: 3.9 miles
Time taken: 1 hour 16 mins
Elevation change: not recorded but there are no significant hills
Dog walking: 80% off lead. Few dogs or other walkers.
Track condition: Good gravel/tarmac short stretch of field grass and mud.
Accessibility: Some stiles, narrow paths, overgrown in places. No shelter. Occasional seat.
Difficulty: Easy romp.

Wantage to West Challow Abandoned Wilts & Berks Canal Walk

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 08:23:00 +0200

Simple walk here, from the centre of Wantage town via the old Wilts and Berks Canal to West Challow and back. There is quite a bit of off lead walking for the dogs and it's an easy level walk. From Wantage Town Centre, head towards the old canal following what appears to be an old branch in the canal. There is a tarmac and gravel foot path following the route which can be easily found next to the mill and passing to the west of the new housing development, I followed the path through the new shops car park and rejoined it over the bridge to the new houses. The path goes through the various housing estates in Wantage, keep going straight ahead and you will end up with a gravel section - this appears to be the start of a branch in the old Wilts and Berks Canal.

This track takes you directly to whats left of the Wilts and Berks Canal on the border between Wantage and Grove. It's here that you find a roundabout, best to follow the path on the road until you can rejoin the canal route. The route from here follows the canal West. Once over the road an in the field you can lets the dogs off to have a play. Follow the 'tree line' as it's what's left of the old canal. Towards the end of the field you should start to see canal workings again. Over another style at the end of the field and your straight onto a shallow silted and rubbish filled canal. Follow this into East Challow - beware that there is a fast road in East Challow that needs to be crossed - get the dogs back when you start to see houses.

Cross the road and your back onto what's left of the canal. It's built over and filled through most of East Challow, but when you start to leave the village it returns and it's possible to find canal workings. It's all off lead for the dogs now, straight to West Challow. What's left of what must have been a bridge has been filled in at West Challow, so it's a good place to stop and about face.

If you look at my other walks in the area, it's easily possible to join other footpaths that will take you back into Wantage via Childrey or past what's marked as an old Roman Villa (nothing to see though).

This is an easy walk that anyone who can climb a style can do. Whilst there are no seat's, there are plenty of opportunities to stop on bridges, canal workings and village facilities.

Start: Wantage Town Centre
Waypoint: West Challow Bridge
End: Wantage Town Centre
Distance: 5.4 miles
Time taken: 2 hours
Elevation change: flat
Dog walking: 70% off lead. Several dogs, walkers and cyclists.
Track condition: Good gravel/tarmac short stretches of field grass and mud.
Accessibility: Some stiles, narrow paths, overgrown in places.
Difficulty: Easy romp.

Richard Benyon continues to enjoy tax avoiding 'Trust Fund'

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:44:00 +0100

Apart from MP Richard Benyon and his family estate, I'm struggling to find anyone in West Berkshire that benefits from the new budget. Whilst the Chancellor targets his version on 'morally repugnant' tax avoidance, he fails to tackle tax avoidance from Trust Funds and other vehicles set up to hide the super wealthy from the tax. If they were looking to be fair and honest, they would ensure that all loop holes for Trust Funds are closed and that these bodies pay their fair share. But with all his family silver tied up in one of these tax avoidance schemes, why would Richard Benyon want to do this?

Only the Green Party offers a fair tax system. Let's start with the closure of the nearly £30 billion a year lost to fraud and tax evasion. That would help balance the books and allow us to keep the NHS whilst investing in our future. If you feel suckered into voting Tory or Liberal Democrat in Newbury last time around - don't you think it's time for a real, honest and fair change? Join the Green Party, vote for us, and help us change this country for the better.

Quick review of Cetane Boosters for WVO and SVO

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:06:00 +0100

The Land Rover I have, may be old, but she run's just fine on a combination of veggie oil, biodiesel and diesel. This gives me a good choice on how I fuel the vehicle and how much I pay to fuel the vehicle. With WVO being a premium now, I am finding it ever more difficult to get good consistent sources; and then why I do find something it ends up being 50% bit of crap and 50% WVO. SVO is not my ideal choice, not only for ethical reasons (we cannot produce enough of it), but also the added things like anti-foaming/gelling agents don't help combustion. I've no evidence to suggest that they are removed when used as cooking oil, but the stuff I use as WVO always seems to make a smoother sounding engine. So I've been testing Cetane boosters to see how effective they are with SVO and to see if they take some of the knock out of ordinary SVO.

First up is the Diesel Nitrox Cetane Booster. It claims to do the same as the much more expensive branded products. It's one of those bottles where you have to guess a bit on how much you add, but if your doing a whole tank full it's quite easy. It worked well and certainly reduced the diesel noise as well as appearing to give a little more performance. Nothing scientific here, it's all perception. For the money it's easily the best available.

For a few pounds more, you can get Millers Oils - Diesel Power Eco Max 500ml. It claims similar things, but suggests it boosts the Cetane number by 5. It's much easier to measure how much you need to add with this bottle layout and it did just as good as job as the cheaper product's here. It doesn't claim anything fancy, but suggests your car will be more environmentally friendly by using less diesel and putting out less emissions. There is a tentative link to the claim, but your not saving the environment with these products directly, just helping WVO or SVO do their job better.

The last one is Morris Superclean DD. Nothing on the package to show it's a cetane booster, but it's in there. No claims on how high you can boost it by either; just simple honest - "this will make things a bit better" marketing. Give them credit for that. They seem to be a UK company too, but I can't see where the product is manufactured. Like the others, it did what it said on the tin and was definitely better than nothing and as good as the others. Like the Millers Oils product, it has an easy measure which makes it a lot easier to use.

Search around for the best prices for these products, but they are all around the £7-£12 bracket for their standard size. So which one do I use? I'm sticking with Morris Superclean DD as it's seems a good working product, with an easy measure and it does what it says on the product blurb.

Found anything better? Let me know and I will try it out. Adrian Hollister.

Roy McNulty is just McNutty for Newbury/Thatcham trains

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:18:01 +0100

Newbury Greens have slammed the McNulty review as potentially disastrous for Newbury's commuters and has suggested that Newbury and Thatcham area does not need fare increases and less station staff, but more investment and more regular trains to and from London and the West Country.

Adrian Hollister, Newbury Green Party said, "Roy McNulty perceives his 'value for money' report only in terms of immediate cost and not value for the community, our society or longer term value for the country.

“Newbury area train stations have seen a gradual reduction in quality of service provided to the communities they serve. Ever decreasing quality of station services will only go to show how detached McNulty is from the consumer.

“A clear example of this are the plans to remove station staff at our busiest stations. We cannot rely upon the current train information systems as they are most often out of date; and we cannot rely upon ticket machines to help us with the cheapest fare nor answer the question 'so which platform is that?', let alone 'can you help me with my bag?'.

“Twitter and iPhone app's are a much more reliable source of 'where the train has got to?' than First Great Westerns on station automated signs. Thinking that these systems and automated ticket machines can replace friendly station staff, is just not true.

“The icing on the McNulty cake is that to deliver less in a less convenient way he is suggesting that we increasing fares! For our commuters will be a real slap in the face and is completely contrary to the aim of reducing prices and encouraging lower carbon and sustainable travel models. Fares from Newbury to London are already ridiculous, they need to be reduced not increased. The way to reduce prices and ensure financial viability is to get more passengers by getting people out of cars and on to trains. We can only do this by making trains more appealing, more reliable and travelling to the place where people need to go.

"Privatisation has brought nothing but increasing costs to this country, however we should expect nothing less of Lib Dems and Conservatives who are wedded to the principle of putting markets before people."

End Dog Breeding Abuse

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 08:32:00 +0100

A BBC programme on Pedigree Dogs and the methods used to produce the 'perfect' dog has hit the headlines again for highlighting breeding issues for pedigree dogs. It's one of those shock programmes that highlights the risks to the welfare of pedigree dogs. The documentary, from 2008, was updated with a 'Three Years On' version highlighting that some positive changes have taken place, but that deeply troubling issues are still prevalent in an industry that has historically cared more about the appearance of dogs rather than the animal's health and well being.

Adrian Hollister, Newbury Green Party: "I agree with the recommendations to create an independent government-backed regulator. This will help the Kennel club as it's in a difficult position juggling their commitments to both breeders and dogs."

Green Party Deputy Leader Adrian Ramsay said on the Green Party web site:

"The breeding practices that have been exposed in the BBC documentary show that dog welfare is being disregarded. It is perverse that some breeders deliberately breed dogs with major health problems and deformities for prestige and to win competitions.

"The Green Party has long supported the measures that the journalist called for in the documentary. An independent regulatory committee is crucial to safeguarding the health of dogs."

Green Party Animal Welfare Spokesperson and Vet, Caroline Allen also comments:

"In my job as a small animal vet it is clear that the Kennel Club alone cannot deal with this problem. I have seen no sign of a decrease in breed related problems and there are many other issues associated with irresponsible dog breeding that the Kennel Club can simply do nothing about. Many breeders act outside of the Kennel Club, as do puppy farms. We need to regulate the whole industry to prevent the sort of suffering that vets are seeing on a daily basis. The financial cost of irresponsible breeding is also a high one, with increasing number of strays and dog attacks, costing local authorities and the NHS millions. The Green Party would introduce a requirement that all dogs be micro-chipped and would require that all breeders be licensed. It is time to tackle all aspects of irresponsible breeding."

References:
1. BBC Documentary: http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2012/09/Pedigree-Dogs-Exposed-Three-Years-On.html and the original http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00d4ljk
2. Green Party call for action to end Dog Breeding Abuse: http://www.greenparty.org.uk/news/green-party-call-for-action-to-end-dog-breeding-abuse.html

Pure Evoke-2 gets a new PSU

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 23:27:00 +0100

Well, my new power supply turned up today for my Pure Evoke-2 radio, the old one released magic smoke and gave up the ghost. Could have got a genuine part from Pure, but they are very expensive and ended up getting one from Amazon (Pure 9V YHAD-48-091500VB replacement power supply). Although only a couple of quid, the unit has turned up and seems quite substantial, run's cold and has all the right approvals stamped on the side. So far, so good. Good for the money for sure.

A34 Fatality

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:29:10 +0100

It's sad to see another accident on the A34 in West Berkshire/Oxfordshire again. This is so frustrating. It's clear that there is a problem on this stretch of road. It's clear that the impact is not only on the local community, but our economy and the reputation of West Berkshire. So why don't West Berkshire Council act? Where is Cllr George Chandler (Downlands Ward)? and why is this one stretch of road ignored by the Highways Agency?

Posh Dog ready for Crufts 2012

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:56:53 +0100

Our three year old Finnish Lapphund called Rauhan is ready to strut his stuff at Crufts this year. Rauhan is a three year old Finnish Lapphund dog, with a string of wins and top 3 places. A few notable wins are the following:

-Best puppy in breed 2009 in Welks and Southern Counties (Newbury)
-1st Junior Dog at the Finnish Lapphund Club 2009
-A string of 1st and top three places
-2nd Post Grad Dog at Crufts 2011
-My eldest daughter, Katy Hollister, has shown Rauhan twice in the 'Junior Handler' competition and won both times (Finnish Lapphund Club show 2009, 2010)

Rauhan is Finnish for Peace and despite his name, he is very noisy when excited and full of energy. Rauhan is often out with Adrian Hollister on long Downland walks, where he is happy to be running all day. He lives with a family and was brought up around children. He is completely soppy and the girls refer to him as 'posh dog' as he doesn't like getting dirty.

Finnish Lapphunds are an easy going pastoral dog and with their long thick double coats are water proof and usually happy to be outside in rain and deep snow. They are a highly intelligent and active breed - they take well to training. They moult once a year and shed over a short time, making them good for people who normally have dog allergies. They are also amazingly family friendly as they readily accept family life as pack life. They are great herders and are good rounding up the kids and making sure everyone is present. You can find more details of my walks in my blog.

Consumption of drugs should be a personal choice - not something promoted by society and not forced on other people

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 11:17:00 +0100

So what's Adrian Hollister's position on drug use in Newbury and the UK? I have a rather simple view: “Consumption of drugs should be a personal choice - not something promoted by society and not forced on other people (such as through obvious consumption in a public area).”

For such a general statement I need to qualify my comments some what. There are boundaries to personal choice and there are those that choose not to consume or be forced to consume.

To understand the where they can be consumed, I should qualify my definition: where anybody around would be in full consent. So, for example, train stations are an unlikely location to consume drugs as people would object either through forced consumption (in the example of smoking), but also because it's not something that should be promoted in or by society. Perhaps an acceptable example would be single drug private clubs that could be labeled as such.

We have examples of these already with alcohol being served in places where people choose to consume it and it's not acceptable to consume it on the streets or on the train. How many people now use cafe's or similar avoiding the association with drugs (alcohol or smoking).

Clearly there would have to be exclusions such as proximity children, the vulnerable and on health or welfare grounds, as well as input from the local community (including those that do not want to see or consume drugs).

Inherited need

The change in our society brought about by the smoking ban could facilitate this change. We are starting to look differently on drugs now, especially smoking, where it's no longer something generally promoted by society but people are still legally allowed to consume the drug. There is a long way to go to reduce our inherited need to consume drugs, but as the generations go by the approach taken to smoking could be used to removed all inherited need – and that should be our goal. Remove the inherited need for drugs and allow personal choice and freedom to take over.

The classic example is the need on a Friday and Saturday night to binge on alcohol. This is not something seen (to this extent) on the continent, but it does seem to be an inherited right of passage that we as a society don't seem to be able to break. It's what everyone does and it has it's own badges of honour and gives people a shared experience, and it is that that appears to be missing in our society. Bonding without drugs and the shared experience can be difficult in our society today.

The Shared Experience Gap

It's the shared experience gap – an excuse to meet and bond with peers, to gain badges of honour, to impress, and perhaps to find a mate. So what's missing and where do we differ from our friends overseas? To keep to the point, I will cover this in another blog entry.

Modern Society Drug Use

We have the starting point of a modern system today. In effect a pilot has been conducted, mostly on health grounds, to break the inherited need to smoke. It's a compromise that has allowed people to retain their personal freedom whilst respecting other peoples right to avoid drug consumption.

I would extend this scope to other drugs and would look to single drug private clubs (consenting clubs) to allow freedom of choice (to consume and to not consume), to provide for the shared experience gap, and to create an environment that would not be promoted by our society but accepted and tolerated.
I would also place further safeguards than there are today, for example, ban drugs from any where near children (even at home), the vulnerable etc. It's just not fair to inflict drugs onto people who are not able to choose for themselves.

The Summary

I would both extend the use of the current system for nicotine consumption through smoking and provide further safeguards for those that need it.

So going back to my original statement: Adrian Hollister's position on drug use “Consumption of drugs should be a personal choice - not something promoted by society and not forced on other people (such as through obvious consumption in a public area).”

20's Plenty for West Berkshire Communities

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 03:29:00 +0100

Inspired by the recent introduction of 20 mph speed limits across Portsmouth, Oxford and Reading, spokesman for Newbury Green Party, Adrian Hollister, said:

"By allowing communities to introduce their own 20mph speed limit on their roads, we would be clearly define areas within our communities that our residential areas are not designed for high speed motoring, short cuts or through roads."

"Reducing this speed not only improves safety it also allows eye contact between drivers and residence which helps to further discourage anti-social driving habits. This may be especially important for communities around and near schools, community centres and areas of high pedestrian traffic."

"These decisions should be taken by local people and I would also like to see the option for residence in West Berkshire, through their Parish Councils, to choose to change their road priority from 'the car is king' to one where pedestrians and cyclists have priority over other traffic."

ENDS

Facts you need to know:

1. When hit by a car at 40 mph your chance of being killed is 90%, at 30 mph this drops to 20% and at 20 mph it drops again to just 5%.

2. See http://www.20splentyforuk.org.uk/fact_sheets.htm for briefing materials

We have a right to know how our food is farmed

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 00:04:00 +0100

Following great success by Compassion in World Farming on production method labelling on shell eggs, they have launched a new campaign to introduced EU wide mandatory method of production labelling on all meat and dairy products. Their campaign is in partnership with the RSPCA, WSPA and the Soil Association. This is something that I wholeheartedly agree with - we need to be informed and we need to be given the choice. So if you can take a moment, visit their site and sign a petition to your local MEP's asking for method of production labelling for meat and dairy products.

Compassion in World Farming site

Thames Water put up Solar Panels in East Ilsley

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 23:51:00 +0100

Despite what appears to be a lack of consultation or PR from Thames Water, they have installed quite a large array of solar panels at their East Ilsley sewage works. A commendable feat and something that Thames Water think will return more to the grid that the site consumes. Thames Water describe the array as 50KW. This is a good example of how industrial sites can be used to sustainably benefit our local communities. It's a shame that the subsidy for renewable power systems like this is being dropped by the current government - something that I would look to overturn.

Local Press: Newbury Weekly News Article

When will the mobile operators work out that they are just wireless data providers?

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:38:00 +0100

When will the mobile operators work out that they are just wireless data providers? A commodity place with what needs to be commodity pricing? The likes of Vodafone and O2 desperately cling on to the hope that their value add is in reception, availability and price of their calls; when most people don't want these things, they expect them as basic parts of the service.

Mobile operators have started to feel the data provider pinch – data based mobile messaging is killing the text message scam that the operators have enjoyed for so long. SMS messages costing up to 20p each have been a great source of income, but iMessage and Blackberry Messenger run over the internet and sip very lightly on internet bandwidth. They are cost effective and they are a sign of things to come.

The ingress of IP phones have also crept onto the smart phone. Skype, SIP phones and similar all use tiny amounts of data traffic whilst providing a good enough service. Apples own Facetime seems at this point to be banned on the data networks – not for any good reason that I can see other than quality of the connection may be too variable; but again this is a case of waiting for the mobile operators to work out that they are just a wireless data shop.

So where do they need to go? Three to some extent has the right idea – it's all about data. Virgin Mobile in the UK are also getting there, with trials of 4G starting connected directly into Virgin's fibre network.

But there is a problem. Mobile operators have been making a lot of cash out of basic services, long contracts and hardware lock-in. They lock people into two year contracts for whilst offering discounts on handset hardware costs. This is massively attractive for some as they pay over time and not up front. Whilst those that can afford it and are the most savy are likely to just buy their phone and take the cheapest 'Internet' tariff, the majority will look to continue this buying behaviour.

You can't expect 3rd party resellers of mobile services such as Car Phone Warehouse to start selling mobile phones at a fair price and separate to a contract – it would destroy their revenue stream; but there is an opportunity out there for a companies to start selling the hardware at a fair price without a contract. A contract free phone would give the consumer the ultimate choice of provider based on real performance and not perceived value of discounted hardware.

If we want consumer choice at a fair price, we must look to break the cycle of contract based on hardware discounts. It's time for the mobile operators to realise that they are just a wireless BT and, as BT have tried to do, they need to reinvent themselves around the highest quality of internet service and drive the cost of their core services (calls) to commodity prices.

Didcot to Newbury - the old Railway walk - Part 2

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 23:31:11 +0100

Continuing to follow An Historical Survey of the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway - Layouts and Illustrations and starting at Upton and heading to Compton I continue my walk from Didcot to Newbury. The original Upton and Blewbury station has gone, but you the station building is now a house and much of the local railway land has been sold for housing, so you can't just walk from the old station, but right next to the pub is a footpath that roughly follows the route of the railway.

Start: Upton near the George and Dragon Pub (closest point to original railway that's a public footpath).
Waypoint: Reclamation works near Chilton
End: Compton Station
Distance: 6 miles
Time taken: 2 hours
Elevation change: 30m
Dog walking: All off lead. Few dogs or other walkers.
Track condition: Variable from shallow mud/chalk to good gravel/old rail track.
Accessibility: Some stiles, narrow paths, overgrown in places. No shelter.
Difficulty: Easy romp.

Starting at the George and Dragon Pub, it's possible to follow a newly fences foot path behind the pub and houses to join along side the old railway. It's a simple route from here, follow the public footpath signs. There are long sections of the railway that are not public rights of way. The track conditions are mostly good but narrow, with some muddy patches and a few stiles.

It's a great walk for rolling countryside, open fields, few houses and even fewer people. The first shock of the walk is going near the reclamation works near Chilton. The railway has largely been filled in with rubble and at the time of the walk there was a massive wood fire in the reclamation yard. It's disappointing to see the old bridges covering no cutting.

But past Chilton the walk resumes into rolling hills and open fields. Churn Holt is clearly visible from the path, but 'private no entry' signs are all around the station site. If I get a chance I will find out who owns the land and ask them if I can go and wander. Churn is an odd station as it's in the middle on no where and I'm not joking there. No houses, buildings or real roads approach the station. My guide book tells me that at one point Churn was considered for the Rifle Association, but Bisley was eventually chosen. The station highlights part of the problem with this walk - there is no shelter anywhere on the route. No shelter from the elements could make this route more difficult for some and you might need to think about the weather before setting out.

The walk from Churn into Compton is only a couple of miles of largely flat land. The foot path crosses the Ridgeway and at this point you can take a quicker route into Compton and use the roads or keep to a footpath that loosely follows the railway. I have taken a chunk of journey here along the old railway itself. This is private land and I asked the farmer for permission - please don't go onto private land without permission. There is a suitable footpath following the old railway, check your OS map.

The walk into Compton is, from a railway perspective, disappointing. Most of it is private land and a lot of it has been developed. The station and sidings are now an industrial estate and there is no right of way to walk over the bridges in Compton itself. I ended my walk near the primary school and playground - it's as close to the original station as you can get and a good spot to grab a short break.

The next leg in the journey is from Compton to Hermitage. It's not a long walk, but in places the original railway has been ploughed away and there are no close public footpaths.

Reference material:
-Not high quality photo's, but they give an idea of conditions... Photo Set - Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway. Upton to Compton.
-Wikipedia
-An Historical Survey of the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway - Layouts and Illustrations

Springer Spaniel puppies stolen in Compton

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:24:16 +0100

Gulp, not too far from here. Hope they are found ok.

Official Police notice: "Sometime between 8am and 5pm on the 20th February two Springer Spaniel puppies were stolen from kennels in the rear garden of a property in IIsley Road, Compton. A suspicious white Ford Transit was seen in the vicinity, index PE51NJK. If you have seen/see this vehicle in your area please call the Police Enquiry Centre on 101 and quote the URN number 1176 of 20.02.12"

Is 3 minutes of additional journey time on the A34 too much?

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:14:00 +0100

The closure of the A34 last week has highlighted the problem with the road. All southbound traffic diverted through the Downland's via the A338 or via Newbury. The traffic until late morning on these roads received a constant flow of HGV's and cars and, in the view of the residents that I have spoken to, very few respected the communities or speed limits of our Downland villages.

The cost of this closure to our economy is likely to be measured in the millions, but who has counted the number of minor accidents due to the sheer volume and recklessness of the traffic through our Downland villages? Great Shefford took the brunt of the traffic this time with Wantage a major sticking point just north in Oxfordshire.

For the HA to find no problem with accident rates on this route exposes the narrowness of their vision. They see the most serious accidents and nothing in their figures represent the number of minor incidents attended by the emergency services/motoring services and none seem to include any information from the insurance industry - one of the better measures of the true number of incidents.

It is still clear that there is a problem on these roads. A variable speed limit based around 50mph common speed could reduce the number of accidents to near zero and would add at most three minutes to the journey time of an 80mph average speed motorist (and next to nothing for anyone on or below the speed limit).

So why do the HA defend these three minutes? Where is West Berkshire Council? Where is Cllr George Chandler? This complacency shows why we need the Green Party represented in West Berkshire - we are the only party interested in constructive citizen centric change.

Drought heading to West Berkshire - time for Thames Water to step up

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:15:46 +0100

The recent announcement by Thames Water shows that groundwater levels in the Thames area is lower than during the 1976 drought. This is compounded with low rainfall over the past couple of years. They admitted that drought was inevitable and “it's a case of when and how bad”.

I've already covered the 'for profit' nature of the business and this investment required to fix leaking pipes, to make more efficient use of resources and to invest in the future; is based totally on our ability to pay up front for the investment.

Thames Water and the other utilities must work to ensure we make the most out of our precious resources. It's time Thames Water stepped up and lets see some real give back from Thames Water. Adrian Hollister's 2p worth of advise for Thames Water is:

1. Grey Water(1). Work with new builds, rentals and renovations to ensure that grey water is installed in houses by default. If 5% of our water consumption could be replaced by grey water systems, the net saving (in terms of extraction, processing, pumping, loss and any household net savings i.e. low lime scale) would be significant.
2. Smarter working. Increase the roll-out of smart meters to all homes. Help home owners/businesses to use water more efficiently and pay for school education on the issues. Use smart meters on junctions points to automatically monitor flow and identify leaks/fraud.
3. Fix Leaks. Reducing general leakage by just 1% would save millions of litres a day. Thames Water's targets for leak reduction must be accelerated.

(1)Grey water systems use rain water and other untreated household waste water (such as water from showers) to flush toilets, feed washing machines and other not for human consumption systems.

Where's Wally? Actually finding Cllr George Chandler is more difficult

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:22:39 +0100

I've been on the accident black spot issue on the A34 at East Ilsley for a long time... there is a standard pattern, usually involving slow traffic, panic breaking from high speed and the ripple effect back around the bends. No rocket science here, just common sense.

What I find amazing is that West Berkshire Council don't seem to be representing residents here - where is the ever illusive Councillor George Chandler who covers the Downland's Ward? Pipe, slippers, and a copy of the times springs to mind.

So come on George, kick off your slippers and start earning your right to represent us - it's time West Berks Council started to pull it's weight.

Snow free roads in the Downland's

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:39:00 +0100

It's good to see that all but the very minor roads up here in the Downland's of West Berkshire have been salted and cleared. There are a few snow covered roads still, but there are alternatives to the same destination that are clear and I urge people to think before attempting snow and ice covered roads. So well done West Berks, keep up the good work!

Snow in Brightwalton

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 08:03:00 +0100

A good 3 inches of snow here in Brightwalton this morning. It stopped snowing at about 1am and was followed by some showers until about 3am. Whilst we have lost a bit of the snow we had a 1am last night, there is still a good a crunchy layer. There is lots of ice out there, so please all take care.

Update on campaign to improve A34 near East Ilsley

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:37:00 +0100

The response to this campaign has been amazing, with even the most hardened pro-speeder agreeing that there is a problem on this stretch of road. I would also back a suggestion from the Newbury Today forum, which is to introduce variable speeds on the section of road with the variability based upon the conditions ahead. A common theme with all suggestions though is to ensure that they are actively monitored and managed; something the recent 'no overtaking' for lorries trial seems to have failed on. Average speed cameras along the section would meet these needs.

But, please remember, that whilst reducing the accidents on the A34 is a critical thing to do, we are also trying to stop reckless and thoughtless diversion driving through our Downland villages, and we are trying to protect the reputation that West Berkshire is an amazing place to live (and not an accident blackspot).

p.s. there are also plenty of statistics and real speed related detail from this document:

http://20splentyforus.org.uk/UsefulReports/TRLREports/trl421SpeedAccidents.pdf - Page 2 is a good start. Where you can find details such as "The percentage reduction in accident frequency achievable per 1mile/h reduction in average speed is between 2-7%"

Why are people shocked when a profit driven water company puts up the prices?

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:09:45 +0100

Thames Water have announced a nearly 7% rise in prices in West Berkshire and both the people and press are complaining over the hike. I do wonder if these are the same people that spoke up against privatisation of our nation's assets? It's yet another reality check - private profit driven companies are out there to make money. Thames Water are looking to make money out of you. There are not operating for the betterment of society, to reduce prices, nor are they looking to invest heavily in their obligations without taking your money first. It's all about profit - and you are providing it.

Smug David Betts gloats at 2,274 fines in Newbury

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:47:00 +0100

The new road layout at the Parkway in Newbury has caught out many drivers. David Betts spoke to the Newbury Weekly news saying "some people just drive about with their eyes shut". He admitted that some people had been fined multiple times. Not really fair looking at this as a cash cow, it's greedy and arrogant. We should give the cash back and perhaps issue a 'smug tax' on councillors gloating like this to make up the difference. At the very least David Betts should issue an apology and consider moving to a more suitable role.

I call on West Berks to do the right thing: Give the cash back, issue warnings (always best to educate people before punishing them) and never look on fines as income - they are a penalty and not a tax.

Fines like this should be put into a community fund and distributed in a way that helps to fix the causes of the fines and protect our communities.

Adrian Hollister
West Berkshire Green Party

Daylight Savings Bill - kicked into touch by administrative process

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:21:00 +0100

Dear Sir George,

I write in reference to the recent timing out of the Daylight Saving Bill. It seems a disappointing state of affairs when a significant minority can destroy democracy in action. 140 MPs turned up to vote in favour of the Daylight Saving Bill and only 16 voted against, but those against talked for so long that the bill ran out of it's allocated time. To use administrative process to block the bills progress seems petty and anti-democratic.

Clearly there is a substantial process and administrative problem with the way bills are handled in parliament; something I do hope that you are working to resolve. But, given the cross party support, support from a large number of organisation and support from the general public, I do hope that you can urgently find additional government time to look at the Daylight Savings Bill (there are strong precedents for giving Private Members Bills more government time when needed).

Yours sincerely,

Adrian Hollister

cc Richard Benyon MP

This message was sent in support of 10:10’s Lighter Later campaign and the Daylight Saving Bill. http://www.lighterlater.org

Didcot to Newbury - the old Railway walk - Part 1

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:13:00 +0100

After Beechings massive railway cuts, several of the local downland branch lines have been closed. Newbury to Lambourn and Didcot to Newbury are two of the most well known. I've walked the Newbury to Lambourn route, something that was just amazing, following the original route in many places and touring the wonderful villages of the Downlands and Lambourn Valley. But in what I hope will form a nice series of blogs, I am going to walk the Didcot to Newbury railway in sections that I hope most people could complete and rate them for their dog walk potential.

So I am following An Historical Survey of the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway - Layouts and Illustrations and starting at the Didcot end of the route. Partially because it's easy to get too, but also because it's the easiest part of the route to follow (well sign posted). The route is a very easy 5 mile walk from Didcot Parkway station to the original Upton and Blewbury station.

Start: Didcot Parkway Station
Waypoint: Upton and Blewbury Station
End: Didcot Parkway Station
Distance: 5.1 miles
Time taken: 2 hours
Elevation change: Level ground, less than 10m.
Dog walking: 2 miles on lead, 3 miles off lead. Some cattle. Lots of other dogs and people.
Track condition: Tarmac surface along entire route
Accessibility: Mostly flat, smooth ramps available. Cattle gate at Upton end restricts access. Quite a few seats available on the route.
Difficulty: Very easy walk.

Starting at the Train station in Didcot (called Didcot Parkway), it's possible to follow the new link road east past Riches Sidings to a roundabout that marks the first remnants of the original embankment through Didcot. From here there are good sign posts showing routes to Upton. This largely follows the original rail line. Once out of Didcot the embankment climbs above the surrounding countryside and it's possible to see quite a distance.

On the route back, I diverted through Didcot itself and through some of the estates and past schools. You can follow the return journey here .

Reference material:
-Wikipedia
-An Historical Survey of the Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway - Layouts and Illustrations

Don't forget to object to the Incinerator at Chieveley

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:13:00 +0100

It's only eight days to go to have your say on the Incinerator plans at Chieveley. The Green Party and I are in complete objection to such plans. So I urge all those with an opinion on the subject to get onto the West Berkshire web site and register their opinion now!

You can find the online planning site in West Berkshire here. You will need to register, but you can see other public comments and you will get a letter in the post to confirm your opinion.

There is also a web site http://www.wbagi.org that can give you a little more detail from local residents and some details from Grundon here.

Discovery headlight falling out? Simple repair

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0100

If you've a Landrover Discovery 1, doesn't seem to matter which engine (200TDI, 300TDI, V8) and your headlight keeps falling out, there is a simple repair and a cheap part number to sort it out.

Get yourself some of these... its part number STC3368.

STC3368 Landrover Discovery Headlight Plastic Clip

You need three of these for each light, or just check the broken ones and replace them. They are cheap, so I've replaced all three for a nice snug fit. Pull out your headlight and you will see three plastic clips in three corners of the headlight. It's a simple bit of screw driver action to take the old ones out and put the new ones in. Don't over tighten them as they could crack your plastic headlight unit - and you don't want to have to replace that.

Three plastic clips holding the Discover headlight in place.

When your done, just push it back in place. Remembering that it may be a little tight now. Shame this sort of thing isn't included in my Land Rover Discovery Petrol and Diesel Service and Repair Manual: 1989-1998 (Haynes Service and Repair Manuals).

Unlawful subsidies for UK Nuclear power

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:52:00 +0100

It's interesting to think that the UK could be subsidising nuclear power unlawfully. This stance raises awareness of the problem of nuclear power - there are a lot of hidden costs. It's not just the building of a plant (with all it's concrete etc), the running, or the decommissioning; its a combination of all three. We will leave a radioactive legacy for generations. Not just a few years, not even in your life time or that of your kids and grandchildren.

For all that time, we will have to actively manage the power stations and radioactive waste:
-We have to keep it secure and protected from terrorism or threats from other states. It's interesting that in London Under Attack: The Report of the Greater London Area War Risk Study, the nuclear power stations and stock piles are targeted because of the devastation they would cause to most of the country.
-We have to keep in cool and contained.
-We have to protect it from our environment. Storms, rain, earthquakes, land slips, etc. Anything can damage our storage systems and nothing is as immune as you think (re: Fukushima).
-We have to protect our environment from it. I'm not too keen on drinking contaminated water or eating foods contaminated by radioactive particles.

All of this costs money - a lot of money - and we have to pay for that and so do our future generations.

If we included these additional costs, would Nuclear power ever be seen as viable?

A34 mashed up again - who is going to fix it?

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:56:00 +0100

Another big one today at East Ilsley. Nightmare for us around here. There are essentially three key roads feeding the down lands - the A34, the A338 and the B4494. When the A34 is mashed, traffic diverts to the other two - neither of which are designed for this level of traffic and all of which get bottled up towards Wantage or through the narrow Downland roads.

It seems that because its on the border of Berks and Oxfordshire, no one takes responsibility - or only takes it on 'their side'. I can't find any evidence that west berks and oxfordshire have sat down independently or together to fix the problem or raise the issue with the Highways Agency. Can't help thinking that the Tories in West Berks won't do anything about it because they rely upon voters in the 'bmw' classes who I see regularly breaking speed limits for fun and often causing these very problems.

Not helped I'm sure by two different fire and rescue services, two different ambulance services etc - and now that their budgets are squeezed they are not even prioritising proactive or pre-emptive activities.

The effect on the Downlands is mostly traffic - speeding traffic and the pollution they cause racing through our narrow lanes, disrespecting our local communities with anti-social panic driving as they try to get back on their original route. My year living in West Ilsley was hell - traffic hell. You've no idea if you going to be able to get out of the drive way, to school, works or the shops, and certainly no way of knowing if your kids are safe cycling in the village. This must be a nightmare in East Ilsley. Great Shefford is often hit too with cars racing down the A338 diverting around the A34 accidents.

Personally I think there should be a 50mph zone from the M4 to the Oxfordshire border, and it must be monitored by average speed cameras (the only thing drivers seem to respect). By doing so, I recon 99% of all the accidents on that road will go away, the traffic will flow more timely and the Downlands will be spared the anti-social driving of the panicked drivers searching for a diversion.

Vodafone in another massive Tax dodge

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 16:09:01 +0100

Private Eye have uncovered a further massive Tax dodge from Vodafone.

"£6bn… and then some
The latest major tax avoidance ruse slipped under the public radar because Vodafone stopped setting aside money in its accounts for its offshore disputes in 2006. But the agreement with HMRC, which the company said covers “all outstanding [controlled foreign companies] issues from 2001”, must have cleared the scheme (Vodafone would only say it was “confidential”), letting the company off well over £2bn plus whatever it can funnel through the set-up in future and making the Eye’s initial £6bn estimate of the cost of the dodgy deal look conservative.

The revelation also seems to contradict Hartnett’s repeated assertions that nothing less than the full force of the tax law was applied to the company, since this scheme is if anything more squarely caught by the UK’s tax laws than the Mannesmann arrangement and on its own would have brought in more than £2bn. More troubling questions, then, for the NAO and retired Judge Park."

So, Newbury based Vodafone have yet again swindled us all out of cash. Swindled, because we as a country could have used that money for investment in services, debt payment, or even reducing the tax bill for the poorest. But no, the money goes to shareholders, a good deal of which won't even be in the country. Shame on you Vodafone.

Milk and More Reivew - get yourself a local milkman

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 10:43:00 +0100

Ok, it's been a while since I've seen a local milkman. But Milk and More and seeing a bit of a come back. Being in the middle of no where there are no local shops, so when I found out that Milk and More deliver out here I thought that I would give it a try. Our local branch is based in Newbury and they deliver three times a week to the downland area. They have a good web site and if you order before 9pm, they can deliver any extras the next day.

I've switched now from loads of darn plastic bottles of milk (we are a big family) to some nice glass pint bottles - something that can be reused and not just recycled. They also do organic milk in the glass pint bottles, so that's what we have. So the big question - is it more expensive that Tesco? Simple answer is yes. More complex and honest answer is No. But why no? Ethics aside, if I took a regular trip to the local shops I generally tend to buy things I don't need - chocolate, that two for one bargain and similar. With the milkman service I buy what I need. Bread, milk, cheese and some other basics.

So has this worked for us? For sure. It's working out very well. Things turn up just when I need them and I don't need to take that 'could be expensive' trip to the local shops. I've not been woken up by the milkman and the quality of the service is second to none. The thought of having bottles that can be reused appeals too. My plastic recycling bag is half empty now and this has to be a good thing. Therefore, it's a big thumbs up for Milk and More as a local milkman here in West Berkshire's Downlands.

Blame culture on Teachers, no news on under performing Heads or Govenors

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:40:47 +0100

The Tory and Lib Dem government has that it plans to make it easier for head teachers in England to sack under performing staff. According to the press release it is due to go ahead from September 2012. Seems to me to be another blame culture thing - point the finger and not fix the problem. I wonder if head teachers and governors will be under the same pressure? It would be interesting if we could have a public review of head's and governors, especially around here in the Downlands of West Berkshire.

Debt soars in West Berkshire as the squeeze in the middle hits

nospam@example.com (Adrian Hollister) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:46:00 +0100

I applaud Newbury Weekly News for raising issues such as the growing personal debt mountain, but I wonder why they ignore the fact that this has been created by the policies of the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in Government? They are deliberately using money from ordinary people to pay off their banking chums - the end result is that the majority of people have growing debt mountains - debt accrued to pay off the pure greed of the Tory and Lib Dem's old boy networks in banking and big business. Sickening.

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=18858