The beauty that belongs in our oceans

I’ve never been to Florida, it’s a part of the US that simply doesn’t appeal to me. However if I was ever in that State, I’m sure I wouldn’t be visiting SeaWorld in Orlando. Killer Whales are beautiful, socially aware and intelligent animals that belong in our oceans where they can swim up to 100 miles a day; they do not belong in small tanks performing for hotdog guzzling tourists. If you feel the same way, why not click here and send PeTA’s message to the Blackstone Group, the company that owns Sea World, and ask that it immediately set in place a firm and rapid plan to release the animals to sanctuaries that can provide them with a more natural environment.


nick

How to get Communities First running right

I find it disappointing to read this in regards to the accusation that Communities First "has not delivered good value for the significant amount of public money spent on it".

Last December I was invited to the AGM of one CF, the Oldford estate in Welshpool. Everything that is right about CF is typified there. A three-year Action Plan launched in December 2007 involved over half of the households on the Oldford estate. There are a number of sub groups that concentrate on the environment, young people, training and education, crime and community safety, active community and facilities. The annual reports from these groups showed significant yearly improvement. In short the estate is a better place to live than it was and the Chair confirmed this to me when we had a chat.

If there is a genuine need to improve CFs in other areas, they couldn’t do much better than follow Oldford’s example.


nick

Shop Direct

I'd like to put on record my thanks to Ian Lucas MP for taking the time to speak to me this morning about the dreadful situation facing the folks in Newtown who work at the Shop Direct call centre. It is very re-assuring to know that his department are doing all they can to help to sustain this as a going concern.


nick

Ray Gosling arrested

The whole Ray Gosling story that has unfolded this week has left me with some very uneasy feelings. Now it emerges that he has been arrested and is currently being interviewed by the police. I found his emotional account of allegedly taking the life of a former lover by placing a pillow over his head extremely disturbing, not least because it was still transmitted when clearly the producers realised the position Mr Gosling would be placing himself in. A visit to his website shows him to have been a man of little luck recently. Bankruptcy, home repossessed and the death of his long term partner appear to have taken their toll on him and he looked frail and sad. Whether his admission has helped absolve his guilt is a matter for his own conscience. However there are also rumours that the whole episode is a fabrication in an attempt to seek attention. Whatever true circumstances emerge in the future, there’ll be no winners and Mr Gosling won’t have advanced the argument for assisted dying one inch.


nick

Old Pele's Almanac

We’re getting to that time again. Every four years just before a World Cup, dear old Brazilian legend Pele (forget Maradona, the greatest player of all time though he actually thinks it was Garrincha) is rolled out and asked ‘Can England win the World Cup?’ Being a consummate diplomat, Pele replies that they can and then the media go into meltdown with headlines stating ‘Pele says it's England ’. We all believe the hype and then get crushed as a result of a penalty shoot-out defeat.

Mark my words it’ll all end it tears and you read it here first.


nick

World Cup 2010, Durban's magnificent stadium.

This is the magnificent Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban, built for this year’s World Cup. Named after a former leader of the SA Communist party, the stadium will host Brazil v Portugal amongst others. It has an enormous arch similar to Wembley, which is open for visiting either by 550 steps or by a tram, you are given a safety harness! However, at the top of the arch it is impossible to view the stadium, only the panorama.





I have an apology to make here. I was one of the many sceptics who thought SA was incapable of building the stadia to host the World Cup. Having seen this one, I realise I was completely wrong and I have no doubts that we shall be watching a memorable tournament.


nick

A True Star of British Cinema

From time to time we lose a figure from the world of entertainment who truly can be called a giant. For me Ian Carmichael is one such giant of British film making. Although the media seem to be reporting 'I'm All Right Jack' as the quintessential Carmichael movie, my personal favourite and one I play regularly is 'School for Scoundrels'. I shall never stop laughing during the feisty tennis match with Terry Thomas and any scene with the complete pile of cr@p that is The Swiftmobile is pure cinematic bliss! From the days when British comedies were funny, Mr Carmichael's work ranks amongst the finest.


nick

Another tragedy for Oswestry

Dreadful news coming from Oswestry and the initial reports of the McFall family tragedy appear similar to those of the Fosters in 2008. Too much sadness for such a small, peaceful town.

Whatever problems we think we have in our lives are always insignificant to the matter of life and death. For me, depriving anyone of his or her right to live is an abhorrent wickedness. To do it to such a young person, inherently so.


nick

£170k pa to watch porn

Is it me losing the plot or does the salary of The Auditor General for Wales at £170,000 seem obscenely high, especially based on the fact that the newly departed title holder appears to have been too tight to buy his own laptop in order to surf pornography? I smell a possible investigation on the horizon, but I digress. Just to emphasise my point here in Wales, the First Minister receives £78,355 on top of a basic AM’s salary of £50,692 (based on 2008 figures).

‘Ahh’ they used to say to me when I was a County Councillor, ‘but in the private sector these people could be earning so much more’. That would be the sector where salaries are based on results and non-performers are here today and gone.….later today.


nick

A Cricketing memory of Johannesburg

Finally getting around to loading some pictures from South Africa.

Well the result was a disaster, but on a personal note it was simply brilliant to finally attend an overseas Test match. The euphoria of achieving that was short lived as Andrew Strauss was out to the very first ball of the match, but what an astounding catch by Amla. I was still on a high from having being wished a 'Good Morning' by Mike Proctor. It was still a nasty shock to see England fielding by teatime and it was already obvious that the game was lost. On day 2 we’d managed to acquire box tickets via our niece and I am indebted to her boss, the Head Teacher of HeronBridge College whose box it was, for inviting us to spend the day surrounded by Proteas! In fairness, they were brilliant and the day instantly became a life memory, not least because I simply can’t believe the ground staff cleared the equivalent of Lake Windermere in an hour. The one hope we had of saving the game and it was sponged up before my very eyes!

Trotty arriving on Day 1


Big trouble in the 1st hour


The view from our box, Day 2


Lunch, Day 2


The Heavens open





nick

Save these jobs!!

It was good to speak to Jon Edwards this afternoon. Jon is the USDAW rep at Shop Direct and he is working damned hard to try and save over 180 jobs at the Newtown call centre. I hope he receives the full support of cross party politicians who can help save these jobs or find a buyer who recognizes the opportunity of acquiring a ready trained, efficient workforce.


nick