Cambridge Spooked

Summer has returned...

2010-09-02T16:35:00.002+01:00

but not the woodpecker, saw a right old punch up between a wood pigeon and and dove the other evening. Feathers flying in all directions but not attached to a bird. ( didn't know birds were racist). Tried to find some pictures of the birds but too many to search through at the moment, but you have all seen doves and pigons before anyway.
To change the subject, did you get a letter today from HHS? telling you there was no longer a emergency call out team run by the tenants. It seems you now have to ring an 0845 number, but I notice they did not tell us how much those calls cost or indeed how much HHS will be paying for the call center to take these calls. Not that it matters, the rents pay for it!! After all it's only money, ours!

Summer must be over

2010-07-14T11:19:00.002+01:00

I guess that the summer has come to an end, rain, strong winds (not baked bean variety) yellow grass, dead plants, Oh happy days!
Even the birds seem to be sulking, but I did see a Red Headed woodpecker in the garden the other day. I knew there were some in Chesterton but I had never seen one, although I have heard them banging away in the distance.

Take it in your stride

2010-07-05T21:51:00.005+01:00

Just for strider. You can relax, I have got my moles searching low and lower to see if we can ferrit out an answer to the mail problem.

Good on you sport

2010-07-05T10:11:00.002+01:00

Comeon strider,
Surely you need written proof of what is happening, get the people who are getting wrongly delivered mail to save it and take it to the office and let them deal with it. I don't know any of the people you mention, I assume they all live in Inverness Close. I can't think of an answer to the problem other than just writing on the envelope "return to sender not known at this address" and see if that gets any reaction. Maybe then the residents in Freeman House might do something about it themselves.
Other than that chill out,enjoy the warm weather, it will soon be winter.

Return to sender

2010-07-03T16:50:00.004+01:00

This postal problem seems to be getting right up striders nose. but I have to ask just how many people in Inverness Close have got this problem?

Have you done a survey of the tenants in the close to see just how many are getting mail that should be going to Freeman house?

Surely once that number is known, the Tenants Association can take it up and take the problem to HHS. They (HHS) never seem to do anything until there is a big hooly about it. So may I suggest that you do a bit of research, see what house numbers are affected and pass it on to the TA.

There has to be an answer, even if it means banging a few heads together somewhere along the line.

2010-06-29T14:42:00.003+01:00

You need eyes like this guy to see the comments on my last few posts.

I go from a fistful, to nothing in a matter of days, amazing!

Even the complaints about the wrongly directed mail has come to a stop.

One throught I had on that was to catch the postie,(afterall they come late enough these days) and point out their error maybe even check the names on the envelope. That is something our old postman on this round, Roger, always did as a matter of course.I appreciate that "things ain't what they used to be" to quote a well known song, but a bit of common sense would not go amiss. not that yougsters seem to have a lot of that.

Oh dear,Oh dear!

2010-06-27T19:39:00.002+01:00

Having watched the Histon united youth team this afternoon on TV. I wonder where all the St Georges flags have gone? One minute they're over the place, the next, consigned to the rubbish bin.
I think most of the team and their manager should go the same way.
Lets find some real players, not these overpaid fairies that run around a field like headless chickens, I am sure we can find them somewhere.
How about we get rid of all the imported players and start fielding teams of English players instead that way we might find some real talent. Cut wages to a reasonable level and start from there. otherwise it will be "come on Histon" again for the next world cup.
Sorry, but they were total rubbish and I don't even like the game, but know when things are going in the right direction and this team isn't..

There will always be a hic-up somewhere

2010-06-26T12:07:00.003+01:00

Not sure how we can sort the postal problem in Inverness/Freeman House. Other than put up a big sign saying Freeman House mail that way! with a big arrow. The other possibility is that, as the mail boxes are at the Elmfield Road entrance would be to get the residents to put Elmfield Road on their mailing address. Who knows what the answer is. For sure HHS won't be bothered, does not affect them. Just water off a ducks back as they say

A funny thing

2010-06-23T22:32:00.003+01:00

There I was complaining about all the football on telly and blow me down everything has been cancelled/delayed/will be shown on Hd channel (if you have it) for? yep you've got it, tennis. Wouldn't be so bad if we had some English players but like most of our football teams they are all foreigners. Still I suppose the money comes in handy somewhere. Specially if you own a big house in Wimbledon. (rented out for up to £20.000 for the two weeks) Players only of course, they have got the money!

For the really "fed up" the good news is there is a Grand Prix coming up shortly at least it's something to watch and we have two English people at the very top, (at the moment anyway).

Keep your chins up the longest day has passed and it will soon be winter again.

I do enjoy the snow and rain and freezing cold..I don't think.....

I am gob-smacked

2010-06-21T12:51:00.002+01:00

There I was. thinking no one cared! been doing this for ages and never got above 3 comments. ALL OF A SUDDEN I GET HEAPS.
Further to some of the comments I think you may need to take them up with your tenants reps, While it's handy to air your feeling on here, (Very grateful) I'm not sure if the points raised will be seen by the right people?
With regards to the postal problem, I think there is a possible solution given in the new news letter on-line.
I have learned that it has been changed, the on-line news letter that is, in as much as as there is not the space restrictions there will more more photo's and the articles will a bit bit longer and in more depth.

Come on some one!

2010-05-29T16:23:00.002+01:00

I get the feeling that the idea of free speech has vanished forever!!!
There has not been a response to any of my ramblings for so long I just might go back to sleep for another couple of years.
But further to an earlier entry, I have now come to the conclusion that the Freeman House complex is actually part of the new Chesterton millionairs row. They even get their very own set of traffic lights. how posh!
Going back to the original meeting held for residents in the immediate locale to Freeman House I seem to remember one of the "EXPERTS" told the meeting that and I quote "statistics show that in the age group that would be living in Freeman House only 2.2% would have a car"
I seem to remember the words "cloud cuckoo land" being muttered somewhere in the room. The old addage - lies, more lies and statistics springs to mind. Once everyone has moved in I get a photograph for you all, to prove my point.
There is also the point that there are not enough parking spaces for residents so where are visitors going to park? in Inverness Close no doubt, and how long before a driver runs in to the bollards? and don't say it won't happen, just look at Bridge Street and there are big signs there.

Now there's a thing

2010-05-25T10:40:00.002+01:00

It no seems that apart from one mp who will remain nameless (GB) who sulked because the lib dems would not join him - so quit, apart from originally saying he would hang around until the party conference.
The coalition seems to be working! it more than likely will, if the anti- press leave them alone to get on with it.
But as a few of them have an axe to grind because they wont get their backhanders from the spin docters anymore, they will just keep moaning about the financial cuts and other changes that have got to be made. Just so they can justify their exsistance.
I'm not saying all will be perfect, but at least give it a good try chaps

Hanging government!

2010-05-08T15:35:00.002+01:00

Just think, a few people can't get in to vote and the "human rights" persons are thinking about taking legal action. How about jumping off a bridge? These people had 13 hours to get to a polling station, why wait till the last minuet? If you are at work and there is a chance you would not normally be able to get there TRY A POSTAL VOTE!.
Not that those few votes would have made much difference anyway.
We have a loser who won't move out of No 10 and another loser trying to play one party off against the other. All for his own benefit. I dispair at the greed of our political masters. Out for glory or trying to line their pockets, all at our expense, god bless-um..

It's strange what you find in your pool

2010-05-06T10:35:00.002+01:00

Sitting watching the idiot box the other afternood just after lunch and heard this strange splashing sound. Went outside and this is what I found in the pond.

Needless to say I told the pilot chappie that if he had hurt any of my piranahs I'd sue.

Tell you what! I did not realise how fast pilots could swim.

But on a more serious note, I took a look at the new Tenants News website and was very impressed. Someone has taken a lot of time and effort to put that together and is right up to date. Even the latest "One Tenant to Another" appeared on the date it was issued, very impressive.

Well worth a look and if you came here via the link you already know this.

If you didn't the link to the site is:- www.spanglefish.com/tenantsnews

A new meaning to getting stoned!!

2010-05-01T21:48:00.005+01:00

You may enjoy having a wee dram now and again, but getting this smashed is a bit over the top.

Has anyone noticed?

2010-04-19T20:09:00.004+01:00

Been busy out in the garden, fighting off alligators and bald eagles (look back through earlier entries if your interested), sorting out the pots and planting new stuff for this year.
Well every time I come in for a cupper or a bite to eat, the blackbirds are in the pots kicking all the new plants and compost back out again.
It could be that for the first time in years we don't have a cat, she never ever caught a bird but would sit and watch them for hours, while I watched her (just in case) well thats my excuse anyway. Hard work cat watching!

My saying for this week is

"If at first you don't succeed Destroy all evidence that you ever tried"

Works every time. Just don't tell the missus.

I think I've missed something

2010-04-17T21:06:00.002+01:00

I watched the big debate on ITV the other night. There were the resident members of "Have we got a suprise in store for you" brigade, (polititians in other words).
Two of them stand a realistic chance of forming the next government, the other one is hoping that the" Brown" one, will win so he can grab his bit of power by shareing the limelight.
All of a sudden all the "experts" are saying what a wonderful job he did on TV, he came across far better than the other two. Does no one realise that he can afford to be relaxed and at ease. HE'S GOT NOTHING TO LOSE!
But on the basis of a rigged TV show where only eight chosen people were allowed to ask pre-chosen questions. His party shoot to the "top of the charts" on the promises he made knowing he will never have to keep them, apart from using them as a lever to grab his bit of fame from the Brown one. (He would not join the other side cause most of his party are almost on the Brown side of the fence anyway).
Get real people, come back to the REAL world. We will get screwed, no matter which of the other two win.
If we are going to have TV debates just let the public loose on them, no pre-knowledge questions that the spin doctors can work out the answers to, before it ever gets broadcast. Just normal. ordinary people off the street. Then lets see who can really perform.

2010-04-13T11:00:00.003+01:00

While browsing around I found this.
As it's not very "PC" I'll hide it on here

It's here, it's now, it's live

2010-04-06T10:50:00.008+01:00

After minutes!!! of hard labour (I'm told) the all new Tenants website is up and running. For those of you who just can't wait here is the website address.

http://spanglefish.com/tenantsnews

So how is that for (Hot) off the press information.

Judging by normal reactions....(nothing) you can put whatever you like!

To change the subject, global warming is throwing up some very strange things in my back garden. Couple of years ago we had alligators in the pond ( if you can't remember go back through the past entries). This year, a strange bird dropped in on it's way home!!! long haul flight, hope he's not using a well known airline.

As Freeman House nears completion, I have wondered if this is a housing society developement or millionairs row?

First of all we hear that there will be gates across the entrance, then rising bollards!
The story being given, is that it is and I quote "to keep out unwanted traffic". The only unwanted traffic has been all the construction traffic that the tenants in Inverness Close, were promised would enter the site via Elmfield Road.

This is just an example of the traffic congestion they have had to put up with, even having to sit in their cars for up to 10 minuets waiting for the drivers of the lorries to reluctantly move so they could get out of the close. Thank goodness there was not an emergency in the close where fire or ambulance had to get in.

It's coming!!!

2010-03-30T20:40:00.004+01:00

What am I on about? The all new never washed, ironed or mangled (mangled? old fashioned way of getting water out of wet clothes) See you learn something new every day.

Anyway back to the big announcement... Your very own "One Tenant to Another" all singing, all dancing website. I understand that it is being put together as I write and will include everything you need to know about the Tenants Association, so there.

As far as I know, spys everywhere, you will even be able to add your own comments on to the site as well as on here. Not that anyone does these days.

The all important web address is.....wait for it...

http://www.spanglefish.com/tenantsnews Just click on the link and your there

Some more Hampton Court Pictures

2009-10-05T12:02:00.004+01:00

Imagine carrying 10 or more courses for dinner up these stairs

A Henry lookalike and very good he was too.

Ring around the moon

2009-10-05T11:49:00.004+01:00

It never ceases to amaze me what you can see just by going out into the garden day or night. Just went out the other evening to have a smoke, (yes I am banned from the house) looked up and saw this most amazing ring around the moon. Wasn't too sure how it would photograph but with a bit of perseverance I got just what I wanted.

So if I can get it to load, you can see what I saw.

Although you can't see them on this picture I got the stars as well, It was a nice clear night so that helped.

Hampton Court

2009-09-14T13:55:00.004+01:00

Due to Techie problems elsewear I have been asked to highlight some of the photo's taken on the trip to Hampton Court.

Please note these photographs all are copyright of Dreamweaver International and may not be used for any purpose without express permission which can be obtained via tenantsnews@btopenworld.com

The dreaded elf n safety

2009-09-10T12:36:00.005+01:00

Ever noticed how some people are obsessed with "elf n safety". I sometimes wonder how they ever find time to do any work because they are too busy doing "risk assessments". Better put it under lock and key in case it falls???

I have reason to believe that there are those that do a risk assessment before blowing their nose in case the brain comes out through the two holes...never happened but it might.

After all I have seen workers on the building site not a million miles from here with no "hard hat" on while up on the building, bet the "elf n safety bloke don't know about that. Just waiting for the photo's to prove it.

Talking about photo's, got a good on the other day in my back garden, one of the smallest on the estate, a Sparrow Hawk catching a starling.

I knew it!

2008-11-14T11:03:00.003Z

Two new enties on the blog and no one has even noticed. Why do I bother, why? because I enjoy it. Come on, someone at least write something. Even if it just says my comments are rubbish.

The cat got away with the cream.

Hot Air

2008-10-17T17:42:00.002+01:00

Wow, the wunderkind are now going to reduce pollution by 80 %, and signing a legally binding document to boot, so when they fail they will be handing over more millions of our money to the EU.

(Always assuming the banks recover and pay back tax money used to bail them out).

Does that mean they are going to abandon our government? Lets face it there is more hot air comes out of Westminster than any other source in the UK. Get rid of that and our emissions would go down 75% at a stroke.

Do these muppets really believe they can achive this. Given that they are approving expansion at airports amongst other things.

Looking at their past achievements I guess they will just use that as an excuse to raise our taxes even higher

Still awake?

2008-10-15T15:34:00.005+01:00

Long time since last post, but as very few ever bothered to read it I thought a long break might work!

I see the nutters that run our council are now considering closing off Mill Road.

Hows this for a theory..... Block off Mill road, nowhere for lorries doing deliveries to turn round. End of business in said road, including the new Tesco's!!!! Artics need a lot of space to turn round so no access to Tesco. Who said local councillors aren't devious.

It seems a pity that having caused total chaos throughout this city with traffic lights, closed roads or making them narrow so that buses can run on time (joke of the day) They are now considering further road closures.

Where do they think traffic is going to go? Newmarket, Ely,B-S-Edmunds, St Neots. At the rate that bus fares and parking charges go up in this city I think we should just close Cambridge down and leave it to the tourists who are stupid enough to pay these silly prices.

I would suggest that they go and do what this guys does...bury their nuts in a big hole somewhere. Trouble is the EU would then put up the landfill charge for throwing away too much rubbish.

The GREEN TAX

2007-09-03T20:13:00.000+01:00

On a side to my earlier ranting about the congestion charge. How about this little gem? Taken from a report in todays Metro newspaper.
Households in Britain are paying £400 more in GREEN TAXES than their carbon foot print.
A total of £10 billion nationwide.
A report from the Tax Payers Alliance claims that "GREEN TAXES" raised £21.9 billion in 2005 but the social cost was just £11.7 billion. That is not all there are other ways used to raise money, the truth is frightening.
Only 20% of people think that polititions are trying to change our habits by using the tax system. But no less than 63% think it is just an excuse to raise money.
What do You think?
If you want more figures from these studies, just leave a comment and I will be happy to oblige.
I can be certain that you won't like it. We are being screwed and we can do nothing about it other than at the ballot box. Vote for the Monster Raving Luny Party, which one is up to you!

The poor cyclist

2007-09-01T17:34:00.000+01:00

One really has to feel sorry for all these poor cyclists. They pay nothing for the facilities they have. Cycle lanes, ride on the pavement without being fined, special places to park their bikes. Do I need to go on? Oh! and god help a motorist that hits one when they ride straight across zebra crossings, red lights and anything else you can think of that a car driver would be pilloried for. In my humble opinion they come second only to artic drivers and white van man. Do I ride a bike? you bet.

You don't need to spell

2007-08-29T21:02:00.000+01:00

Trying to do things in a rush is not a good idea. Just look at that last effort. But as only two people bother to read it, I beg the forgiveness of both of you.

Prickly situation or a load of bull

2007-08-29T20:09:00.000+01:00

Well !

What do we believe, the county council want to introduce congestion charging to pay for improved public transport, albeit with a share of £500million from the government. And now our city council want to introduce resident parking TO PAY FOR IMPROVED PUBLIC TRANSPORT. How many buses can our roads hold? (miss-Guided or otherwise) Have they not realised that part of the problem is all the new traffic lights that have appeared all over Cambridge during the last few years. For example coming from The Royal Cambridge Hotel at the top of Lensfield Road to Elizabeth Road/Chesterton high street roundabout at my last count there are now 19 sets of lights where there used to be 1.

The idea of a charge from 0730 til 0930 just about sums up their brain power, firms just start later in the day! and as for city residents having to pay even to drive out of the city. the word cuckoo springs to mind

The bull pen was cleaned before the photo was taken by order of environmental health or was it health and safety or some other quango. Who knows, there are too many to even speculate.

Bird or Bull

2007-07-30T20:31:00.000+01:00

Wow got something to load at last. Not sure if I'm getting the bird or a load of bull!

A picture? might be

2007-06-25T21:06:00.000+01:00

There might be a picture this time.
Not a bird but a black squirrel, taken
on the Scotland farm Estate

SPECS the next instalment

2007-05-07T20:37:00.000+01:00

I see the SPECS cameras are now live on the A14
One thing that our wonderfull leaders have not rumbled is that average speed is a complicated thing. You can travel a distance at one speed, say 60mph. If you then have to slow for a couple of miles to say 50 (like behind a lorry that has pulled out in front of you with no indication) Once he pulls in, you can then drive several miles at 65 mph and still not exceed the overall average for any given distance. I can supply the formulae if anyone is interested.
But as that requires a little working out, I doubt if our leaders would know how to do it.

Still trying

2007-03-28T18:06:00.000+01:00

still can't get pictures to up load, but don't dispare I'll get them there eventually.

To go back to an earlier post re the SPEC's cameras.

I agree whole heartedly because I can not see for the life of me how by putting up specs cameras will stop the accidents on the A14. Even if they reduce the overall speed to 60 MPH it will not solve the problem, as lorries will still pull out in front of cars without any regard to other road users, all without exceeding the speed limit. I use the A14 every working day and see it happen several times in just 15 miles and nearly every day! One thing one does not see on the A14 is police cars, until there is an accident and they appear out of the woodwork like beatles and then close the road for hours.
Still back to trying to upload some pictures

Watch the birdies

2007-02-22T19:29:00.000Z

As promised some bird pictures. (Only trouble is they won't upload at the moment, but I'm working on it)
But these are not the birdies you need to watch. They will be the "SPECS" camera's they are saying they will place along the A14 to cut down on accidents.
Why not just ban lorries from the outside lane and use a few unmarked police cars to enforce it. much too simple. Lets spend a few more hundreds of thousands of pound of tax payers money.
"After all we will soon recover it with our road charging income"
Income neutral! who do they think they are kidding?
How about getting every motorist in the country to hand over £600 to have a black box fitted so they can charge you to use the road. That will be interesting to watch.
Add to this a very little known proposal to reduce accidents and speed limits without changing a single road sign. Change all speed limits to KPH instead of MPH. So 70 MPH becomes 43 MPH, should successfully increase Co2 by 2/3rds. Who says MP's don't think.

A rather delayed Happy New Year

2007-01-26T21:03:00.000Z

A very Happy New Year to all of my reader, (it is meant to be singular)
Not that it seems there are too many people hanging on my every word!
I know now what every "would be" author feels like. Write a story, good or bad, and nobody reads it. Still it keeps me off the streets these dark and dismal evenings.
There will be some good phtos in the next entry, I have been going through my wildlife portfolio.
The videos are better but cant get them on here!

Happy New Year

2006-12-30T10:25:00.000Z

Welcome, I hope you all had a great Christmas and not too much falling down water!

We can now look forward to a New Year filled with the prospect of a new PM and even bigger taxes. All in the name of the environment of course.

At least we have now finished paying back the Americans for the lease/lend of the last world war, so that will be a few more million they can throw down the NHS pit.

Thats enough of my ranting for this year, have a great time over new year and standby for more in the new year

Don't say I didn't warn you

2006-12-22T19:48:00.000Z

Increased taxes!
As I said once before, If our leaders seem to think that adding yet more money to our already overwhelming tax burdon is going to save the world. They are living in cloud cuckoo land. It would not be so bad if we actually believed the money will go towards saving the planet. Right minded people will have already worked it out, that the last thing it will be spent on is enviromental protection. It will end up being poured into the bottomless pit called the NHS. Again no problem if it were going into front line services, but it isn't, it to goes to supporting an ever growing admin with senior officers being paid far more than they will ever be really worth.
If they really want to save the planet, why not turn off the thousands of street lights on motorways and left on all night, what are headlights for?
I read an artical in the Scotsman newspaper last Tuesday while on a flying visit north of the border, on the of subject tax, and I quote "The government want to talk about tax, lets talk about the abolition of married couples allowance, increases in national insurance, increases in tax on fuel, increased council tax (and how), raiding pension funds and savings, (50 billion) and many other stealth taxes that would take up far to much space.
To quote a prime minister from many years ago "we have never had it so good" but now it would be"so bad"
Mind you become an MP and get a gold plated pension, so who cares about the peasants who have to pay for it, they don't.

It's all changed!

2006-11-23T19:29:00.000Z

As with everything that is just becoming established, the goal posts get moved. In this case it is where you can find your spooks rantings? Hopefully this will be picked up fairly soon so that I can start upsetting people again, because at the moment no one knows where I've gone.....shame!
This was not of my choosing, just an "UP GRADE" to the service, but if no one knows where you've gone, its not to great an idea. I see there is now a link from the Hundred Houses website so maybe some of my fans will find me from there.
I wont hold my breath.

TAX-TAX-TAX-TAX-TAX

2006-10-29T09:04:00.000Z

You have all read it. Our masters now want to tax us out of what little bit of cash we have got left,all in the name of the enviroment.

Drive a 4x4 or a car over 1500cc,(your safe if you drive an electric car, [just where can you get one?]), live in a house with a nice view, live in a good area with good schools, throw your rubbish away?

You do, you had better put in for your £10000 a year pay rise now.
As for the rest of us? Never mind, all the extra money they are going to raise will go in paying increased benefit so we can live.

Just where do they think people are going to find all this extra money to pay for all these new taxes.I suppose it's a good thing they haven't yet found a way of taxing the air we breath. Mind you there is more than likely a "quango" somewhere working on that as well.

Pity that USA, China,India dont conform. Why should this small insignificant island pay to protect the world from global warming when no one else does!

The doom and gloom merchants have been at it for years. Some years ago we were told that by 2007 the sea would have reached Ely and we only would need to go that far to get to the seaside. I'm still waiting. Like to fly off on holiday? Kiss that goodbye, This will be for the wealthy or MP's only

Come on readers, lets see your answers to this one. Then again you might earn enough not to worry about a big rise in stealth tax. Or have you been been brain washed enough to believe all this rubbish, yes there may be a problem, but there again how many times has the earth been through the cycle of ice age/global warming and back to ice age. I bet the cave men thought the world was coming to an end at the end of the last ice age because it was getting so warm.

2006-10-14T15:12:00.000+01:00

With all this "PC" crap going on how long before the ENGLISH people of country becomes totally BNP.
It seems a pity that the "Do Gooders" of this country seem determind to make all of us "English" become nothings. We are not allowed to be patrotic (might offened someone), cant wear religious sysmbols,(ditto) Dont fly the St George's flag and so it goes on and on. What are your thoughts. let me know!
Parents are not allowed to control their kids, the source of a lot of our anti social problems. The police can't do anything either, their hands are tied with laws that say they can't do this that or the other and the Yobs know it, even very young kids know it.
When are we going to wake up and start telling our "do gooders" where to get off and take control of our country again. Enough is enough!
There are a bunch of crooks (sorry, legal profesionals) out there making a fortune out of litigation and our judges are so out of touch as to make our legal system a joke. A bit like our political leaders really.
Never mind, if we are unable get it right after a thousand years of history, the EU will tell us how it should be done. That is unless you happen to be French,German,Spanish or any of the other member states. If they don't like it they ignore it. Unlike our lot that accept everything and then add to it.
That is my rant for this week, will be interested to see your comments on this one!

Big Brother is nearly here

2006-09-18T10:08:00.000+01:00

As forecast in my last report, along with all the hundreds of new laws pasted by our "glorious" leaders (well in their minds anyway)
we now have our local bunch of crooks adding to the spy ring.
While I have no doubt that some of our readers are well into the P.C. thing!and enviromental issues and all that. Do they approve of what is being done by our local councils?
SPYING!
Spying you ask?
Yes there are bugs in our bins. Not the creepy crawley type either,
electronic bugs. These bugs are used to spy on how much rubbish we put in our bins, if we put too much in they are going to charge us.
As yet Cambridge dont appear to have fitted them, but Peterborough has, so it is only a matter of time, unless we take action now.
Where do you find this BUG? If you have read your newsletter there is a picture of the top half of a bin on the front page. The bug is about the size of a penny and fitted up under the front edge of the bin, at the front. These are being fitted at sometime during the day when people are at work so would not know they were there.
If you find one attached to your bin, do not destroy it (this could be classified as criminal damage)just remove it and send it back to the council. Any covering letter and what it says is your choice.
As I said they do not appear to have been fitted on Cambridge bins yet, but I keep checking and will update you if I find one.
It just gets spookier and spookier

At Last!

2006-09-12T21:10:00.000+01:00

Yes indeed, at last I have got a response. I did wonder if the world had crept away while I was surfing the net! Now I know this is being read I will follow up just a bit more often.
There is no way I am going to give up on this, just want to get more people from our association to participate. After all everything that happens around us effects us all. I can't say that anything we say on here will make a difference but you never know. If enough of you get involved we might change the world, (well Chesterton anyway).
Stand by for some important information that will need to be dealt with by all of us in the very near future. Read your new Tenants News Letter, basic details are shown on the front page. I will go into it further shortly.

Am I wasting my time?

2006-08-20T12:12:00.000+01:00

Just one comment since July! and even that was annon. Is it worth the time and effort taking photos, trying to instill a little interest in our association. I feel not, Cambridge apathy seems to rule, it is not just confined to this organisation but many others in this area. Wake up.....what happens around here affects you. You live here. Do something, even if it is only a rude comment on here..... DO IT.

Has summer arrived at last?

2006-06-30T14:07:00.000+01:00

Well it's Friday and the sun is shining, don't know how long it is going to last (haven't seen the weekend forcast yet). but never the less make hay while the sun shines as they say.
Just about recovered from the USA trip, but went to Scotland just to re-adjust, well thats my excuse anyway.
Are there any golfers out there? I know someone who would like to meet up to see where to start.
Just leave a posting on here and I'll pass on the message.
Spook

The promised Photo

2006-06-24T19:49:00.000+01:00

The old spook did say that a photo fron Maine would appear on the site and here it is.While we all agree that Chesterton is a nice pleasant place to live I really don't think that the river Cam could produce a photo that matches this scene, not unless you allow grotty old house boats that is.

We made it back, turned right at Nova Scotia

2006-06-10T19:10:00.000+01:00

Well despite the well laid plans we got back. Horrific thunderstorms,whales,and boat trips as well as 1500 miles of driving. You could say we had a great time. Although we love living in Chesterton, there are times when other places and vast houses do seem attractive.Even more so when there is a lovely convertable to drive about in. But, we are back and looking forward to lots of comments on our blog site but that is down to you my faithfull readers.

For those that like to gloat

2006-05-26T17:25:00.000+01:00

We arrived here in the Land of the Free with no problems, we even landed 20 minutes early. BUT, apart from our 600 mile trip across to Ohio, which was sunny, albeit a little chilly,(not warm enough to put the hood down on the car) we have had some great thunder storms! Lightning, thunder, heavy rain causing the cancellation of a local event we were going to. No big deal as it is due to run each evening through till Monday.
Looking forward to Saturday night as there is one of the best Beatles tribute bands in the US playing here in town then, so really looking forward to that. Sorry no photo's yet as the weather has not been good enough, but wait until Sunday.
In the mean time look after Chesterton for us!
P.S. Can some please tell me why, whenever We travel overseas uncle Tony has to follow us? Must be that he feels the need to keep an eye on the "SPOOK" to see what he's up to.

Well it's that time again

2006-05-22T02:52:00.000+01:00

Due to demand of my many readers I am taking a much earned rest!!!
I'm sorry but its true, Mrs Spook and I are going to the land of the free, to soak up some sunshine, get a bit rusty in the rain and see some very dear friends.
Apart from maybe a "Letter from America" (if they will allow me the priviledge) the blog will be left to vegetate for about 2 and a half weeks. I know my readers will be gutted at this but there you go.
But watch out for some stunning photographs when we get back, well I think the're stunning and that is the important bit, you are free to make up your own mind when you see them.

How to earn big money and do nothing!

2006-05-12T10:57:00.000+01:00

Become deputy prime minister of the UK!
Just think if you have a bit on the side and are totally incompetent you to can be paid in excess of half a million pounds a year. That does include your free car and and a couple of rent free houses but I'm sure you could cope with that.
But apart from that, the weather has been super over the last few days. The weekend is coming so that will change.
Hopefully by now there should be a link to this blog from the HHS web site, if it's not there yet it soon will be (I've been told)
In the mean time I will carry on making my useless comments and hope that someone will post a reply within the next few days, before I go off on holiday for two weeks to see how the other side of the pond put up with incompetent government and the like.
Speak to me somebody, its getting very lonely here on my own.

Whose sorry now?

2006-05-05T15:48:00.000+01:00

With due apology to the song writers.
I guess old Tony is smarting a bit today, still never mind he got out the big stick and beat a few of his minions over the head. Does it not occure to him that maybe it could be his style that is at fault.
I guess not, egomanics always blame everyone else.
Did anyone notice the almost complete absence of auntie Prudence over the last few days? Usual ploy, keep your head down and maybe the flying brown stuff coming off the fan will pass over your head!
I am not particularly political,but I don't like be spun a load of BS and this lot have been at it since day one. I not sure if any of the others would be any better, but for sure they can't do any worse and maybe not add so many stealth taxes to our already over taxed lives.
Have you checked out some of the new proposals that have surfaced over the last few weeks.
You know the ones that aren't announced at the budget!
Our local lot are not much better, imagine the chaos on Elizabeth way with Victoria Avenue closed to traffic? Mind you if you ever get to speak to one of out local bunch of wasters, its not their fault, it's the County Council. So why do we have them I haven't worked it out yet.
I think my son summed it up several years ago when asked by one of our prospective local members how he was going to vote. His reply was "the Monster Raving Loony Party" when told by the fallguy "isn't that a waste of a vote" his reply was "No! I just haven't made up my mind which one yet!"

Out of the wood work

2006-05-01T14:03:00.000+01:00

Isn't it strange, as soon as it gets to local election time, every Tom, Dick or Harriette suddenly pops up from where ever they have been hiding since the last election! Telling you just how good they have been and how much they have done for YOU.
If you work out how long they have been in office and how much they say they have done, it ain,t much.
OK! they spend a lot of time spending our money and then working out how much they are going to squeeze out of you next time round.
Just think, a stone has only so much blood. What with local and national government wanting more and more, it won't be too long before the stone will crumble into dust. Even quarries run out in time.
If your working, do you get an annual pay rise to cover all the increases? I doubt it, unless you are a politition that is.
Still the cat has been studying some of the gumph that has come through the door as you can see.

Newts ?

2006-04-07T10:03:00.000+01:00

My gardener came rushing up to the kitchen door, doffed his cap as he is required to do and I gave him permission to speak.
After a couple of seconds he got his breath back and said that I really should come down to the pond as the Newts were a bit on the large size this year and kept trying to catch the birds as they come to the pond to drink.
I thought he had been on the falling down water, but what I saw was a bit of a shock to say the least as you will see from the picture.
Anybody want a new handbag?

Cambridge Spooked

2006-04-07T10:01:00.000+01:00

Cambridge Spooked

Is any one There?

2006-04-05T14:13:00.000+01:00

Well so far there has not been a single visitor, so I guess our tenants are a little shy.
The sunshine continues, but for how long.
The Blackbirds are still sitting and the doves are busy building their nest in the tree. How any eggs will ever stay in the nest only
time will tell but it is very "see through" just have to wait and see.

The spring continues?

2006-04-02T10:04:00.000+01:00

To bring you up to date, the Blackbirds are busy sitting on their clutch of eggs, I don't know have many, as I wont get that close so as to disturb them.
We have also got a couple of Jenny Wrens hanging about, so with luck they might just decide to set up home here as well.
Just a quick reminder don't forget that one of our tenants under the aspices of our tenants association are holding a table top sale next Sunday the 9th at the Hundred Houses office. Doors open at 1000am.

Spring has sprung (or something)

2006-03-25T13:12:00.000Z

After the whinges of the last few enties a positive note.
I've got Blackbirds nesting in my garden,the daffs are in full bloom
and I have seen about 8 different species of birds on the feeders and bird table. One sour note was a rat decided to pay a visit! So just bear in mind when you put food out for the birds, try and keep it off the ground and up on a bird table. Make it difficult for the rats and if you see any get in touch with the council, not the HHS office they can't help.
Although it's a little way ahead there will be a lack of entries on the blog during late April and again at the end of May beginning of June. Mrs Spook and I are going to spirit ourselves away for a well earned break (well thats my excuse anyway).
There will be a reminder nearer the time but with all my thouseands of readers (?) I don't want you to be too disappointed.
You never know there may even be an entry from the Great Lakes and Niagra, if your really unlucky.
May the sun continue to shine and get dark at least once a day so the Spook can come out to play.

Cambridge Spooked

2006-03-23T11:12:00.000Z

Cambridge Spooked

Its spooky - I've cracked it

2006-03-23T10:10:00.000Z

After all these years I have now realised that all it takes to be a a member of parliament is the ability to stand up in the the house, spout on for over an hour and says absolutely nothing other than promise to rip off a few more tax payers.

As usual old "Prudence" has got it wrong! He is going to increase the excise duty on the good old Chelsea Tractor. Big deal, but has he not realised that there are two different beasts lurking under the same skin. The truth is the difference between the V8 4.2 Range Rover and the TDV6 are as different as chalk and cheese. This applies to other models not just the ones mentioned

I had the dubious pleasure of taking two of the new Landrover sport vehicles to Glasgow several weeks ago. The first week it was the V8 4.2 and used over £140 pounds of petrol, yet two weeks later I took the oil burner TDV6 on an almost identical trip, drove it exactly the same way and arrived with over half a tank of fuel left. Yet under Prudence's plan the owners of both will have to pay the increased duty, WHY?

Don't get me wrong I am not a supporter of these vehicles. Using a small bus to take the kids half a mile to school is totally ludicrus.

Another consideration is that if you can afford £72000 to by one of these things, a extra few quid on the duty will achive absolutely nothing, except raise of few more bob for him to waste on some other pet project.

What about the pensioners? It never ceases to confuse me how quickly you forget. Only very recently He gave you a 75p rise in your pension, yet given the promise of jam tomorrow, you all vote for them again!

We all complain about rent rises, where do they come from? Not your landlord, but by direct instruction of the office of the deputy prime minister, Johnny 2 Jags, to the National Housing Federation. Who, when told to jump ask "How High". Never why!

With the number of stealth taxes introduced by this government I am suprised anyone can afford to live.

2006-03-21T20:01:00.000Z

Its real spooky around here, I keep right up to date with the latest news. Has any one read the bar room banter in tonights (21st) CEN page 21?

Has the world gone mad? Everyone want more money for rent,water, gas,electricity you name it they want more.
Does our income match these demands, of course not.

The way things are going there will be more people on benefit because they earn less than £30000 a year but still need to pay the basic bills of living.

Mr Prudence Brown will no doubt screw even more of our hard earned cash out of us tomorrow. Just think what he will inflict on us when he becomes Prime Minister, god forbid.

Another bone of contention is the "Key Worker" issue. Has no one considered that the real "key workers" are the cooks, porters, cleaners that keep these essential services moving and earn a pathetic wage in return. Do they get preferential treatment when it comes to housing, not on your sweet life.
Johnny 2 Jags has decreed that all rents are to be at a commercial rate. Who decides what is a commercial rent. Is it the rip off merchants that buy up property and then charge why over the odds for what is frequently sub standard property. Or could it be that those in politics on grossly inflated incomes have totally lost touched with reality. Mind you if anyone out there has a few million that they could lend the spook for a new polictical party I'm all ears.
Spook

Its that time of year again

2006-03-17T23:29:00.000Z

I guess just like us, you have received the latest demand for money from our local authorities. While we all agree that services have to be paid for, but when you look at the unbelievable degree of waste and wasted money that our councils spend, you should start to think "hang on there baby" why?
Have you ever asked a a local polition why such and such is being done in our city? If you do, I bet most of the time the answer would be "well its not us, its the county council/goverment" or any other excuse that springs to mind at the time. If its not the city council then why do we have one? Save money and just have one council to run the entire county. Look at the mess South Cambs have got themselves into and who is going to pay for it? There is only one answer and it aint difficult to figure it out.
Any thoughts contact the Spook, thats what I'm here for

The story begins

2006-03-16T16:49:00.000Z

The first entry on to the Spooks blog site is are you happy if not why not?
Over the next few days and weeks we will spirit you into the world of happiness or not as the case may be.
If you are unhappy with some aspect of Cambridge life or HHS. put your comments (clean please) on here. Let us work on the assumption that if we work on and discuss problems together we might find and suitable solution to our mutial benefit.
The Spook

My mission

2006-03-16T14:11:00.000Z

Hey,

My name is Spook. Well, that's not my real name. My real name is a secret.

My name is a secret because I don't really exist. I am an imaginery character, an observer of life. Specifically, an observer of life in Cambridge (UK). Even more specifically, I am a tenant of the Hundred Houses Society - a Cambridge-based social housing association.

My mission is simply to observe and report on the everyday issues of ordinary folk. The ordinary folk in this case are the tenants and residents of the Hundred Houses Society.

My objective is to establish an online presence for us folk, and hopefully to create a bit of an online community for us, and for anyone with an interest in life in Cambridge.

My (imaginery) life will be much easier and more fulfilling if other people join in. So - if you are a fellow tenant or resident of the Hundred House Society, or a Cambridge resident, or anyone at all with anything to say - please join in. Please comment, ask me questions, and contribute.

Keep checking back here, and keep in touch.

Spook