Made In Preston – the blog

Took a weird phonecall today in a friends home in South Ribble. Some security company wanting to tell them ‘what’s happening in your road tomorrow’.  Sounded interesting so I asked for more.  Said they were visiting homes to advise about the sort of crimes occurring in that area.  Didn’t sound like a happening. When I said they were just trying to sell stuff there was no admission just a repeat of the message and a request to speak to the house owner along with a sarcastic sounding ‘hope you have a good day’ or words to that effect. It made me uneasy.

That they wouldn’t admit to selling burglar alarms and want to tell you about crimes makes you feel they’re playing on fear. The initial deception makes you wonder how far they’ll go if they get into a gullible persons house. Alarms, spotlights, CCTV, on-call service no problem at all.

They were quite up front about their name and they have an attractive website. I won’t name them in case they send someone round.

Hot on the tail of the Rail Electrification Plan comes an announcement yesterday that the first High Speed Rail link costing £34bn will be on the West Coast Main Line.  No need to get too excited it won’t reach Glasgow till 2030ish so Preston will be in that later phase. Although Birmingham and Manchester will get it sooner.

The line through Preston is part of the grand plan to have a fast link from London to Glasgow to reduce air travel. Although if I was connecting at Heathrow I’d rather fly, especially if the airline has some liability to get you there.

I’m not sure if the route will follow the existing line or be a new one as it’s a big job to iron out the curves. 

The announcement claims London to Glasgow in just over 2hrs which is an average of around 200mph.  I read an article saying the UK should go straight to a 300mph train and skip the 180mph.

Where in Preston is a train going to pass at 200mph?  Preston Council said they want road traffic limited to 20mph on every road in Preston last week. Trains will shoot through at 200mph – crossing the Ribble at 8am and out of Fulwood at 8.01.  Not that the two are related but it seems road and rail transport are going in opposite directions. By 2030 cars will be limited to 10mph on clear days and not allowed out in the rain, so a ride on High Speed Rail will be for kicks.

The cost of £34bn for 500 miles of track sounds a lot. Is it worth it?  Nearly £2bn a year sounds easier on the ear, but that’s 20million tickets at £100 every year just for the track. The scheduling and reliability of these trains sounds ambitious on such complex routes over such long distances but the French are doing it.

An interesting announcement, look forward to learning some more.

The government has released its Electrication Plan with 2 routes given the go-ahead: Manchester to Liverpool and London to Swansea. This effects the north-west as it is planned to re-route Manchester to Scotland trains onto the new route although I’d think Bolton will be the main loser. Also diesel carriages currently being used on the lines to be electrified are to be transferred onto non-electric lines like Manchester – Preston – Blackpool.

I read Northern Trains are already saying that the planned update of their carriages will be hit. My own observation is that Northern operate worse carriages than Trans-Pennine to the extent that you would pay more to go on the better ones, well I would.

The plan also repeats that the line from Manchester to Preston is being considered for electrification. I’d think a large town like Bolton would justify it. It isn’t clear where that leaves Preston to Blackpool as the map doesn’t show that being considered so the Blackpool to Buxton trains will still be diesel whatever.

The plan is available on-line: click here

Shouldn’t be on this blog but a few August days in Edinburgh.  Six shows, an art exhibition and a few bits and pieces. Our tale as it happened.

Best of John Betjemen – St Cuthberts Church – It’s not advertised as in 2 parts. We only went to the evening performance and discovered that this covers the latter part of his life. Can’t say I’m well up on JB so it was enough. Lance Pierson the actor who recites the life story and poems does a good job of making them come to life and I think is a member of the John Betjemen Society. Good show for showing how poetry can be brought to life, broadening knowledge and a sense of culture if you want that but don’t like JB much.

Art Exhibition – Spain – National Gallery –  I’m not a particular fan of Spain but this awoke some interest. It tells a story through art of the links between Britain and Spain. Whether through art itself or through military and political events that have resulted in art. The different styles and art of Goya and Picasso, with some El Greco and someone beginning with a V, as well as British and Scottish artists who lived or visited.

John Hegley – Pleasance – I’m a fan of JH. This year was an improvement on last years and very good, although he might be overplaying his French family background. His props are good especially the ironing board and Henry. These are one of his strong points as well as his trademark turns of mood. Even up against a baby making sounds right through the act – can’t think how anyone would bring a baby into a show like that – I can probably understand the PC arguments for it even if I don’t agree. Ban the baby.

4 poofs and a piano – Pleasance – A late choice and thought it would be in a small place. No, it’s in a big place. Pretty full as well. One of the best shows for entertainment and upbeat. A bit doubtful at times bringing you into their world of 4 poof behaviour. I’d recommend this to anyone who won’t be upset about their world.

Rhod Gilbert – Pleasance – Big place, full, big build up.  Fast talking bad tempered show. Pretty good, a lot of laughs although you might agree that going insane about a washing machine isn’t worth the bother. Seems to build up to about 10 minutes from the end and then starts to go downhill with a levelling end.

Clive James – Assembly – Conversation with Garrison Keillor around midday in a large hall. This was a late choice and probably my favourite show. Never heard of Garrison but he was interesting. Clive looked a bit worn and admits to being close to death with his creased clothes and walking stiffly and breathlessly across the stage. You might not agree with what he says and sometimes he seems to be just wrong but somehow whatever comes out of his mouth is interesting and entertaining and I want to hear more.

Paul Merton Impro Chums- Pleasance – Sold out and this year we got tickets at last. If you like party games you’d like this and most of the audience seemed to. Personally I hate party games and Paul and his chums were witty at times but it seemed a bit pointless. Wished we’d seen Grave Situation instead by Young Pleasance, I think, their costume and props looked good.

Life of Lola Mendez – New Town Theatre – A youngish cast playing a true (I think) story about a Flamenco dancing lady from Spain or was it Ireland. This was a typical Fringe theatre show and the sort I like to see at Edinburgh. Well played, if overplayed, by people you’ve never heard of with plenty of imagination. Shame we didn’t see more like it.

Went in Canongate Kirk and there was a rehearsal for a Chinese Music Show featuring a counter-tenor. After the hubbub of the Royal Mile this was an oasis of relaxation in a nice church. The rehearsal sounded good and different.

Book Festival – We like to nosey in here and would like to hear a talk but I’m more interested in technology and so my wife has to find something that will be at least tolerable for me. This hasn’t happened yet although I did enjoy hearing Garrison Keillor talking to Clive James so I can feel an in on this.

Meals: David Bann – good veggie meal, staff seemed to be going through the motions. Pizza Express near Holyrood – smart building a bit echo and squeaky, pleasant service. Hendersons Café – OK veggie, well worn but cheapish, friendly chappie cleaning tables.

We’re foot sloggers and came home well worn. Pleasance – Assembly Hall and back becomes a chore – needs a tram line. Princes Street dug up for trams – makes it quiet though. Other thing is watching big names makes you want to queue and this sucks your  time.  Also long queue at the Fringe Booking Office, I’ll do all my booking on the internet next time.

Overall a good visit – must see more theatre and less ‘names’. What would I see again: Clive James, John Hegley and 4 poofs so negating my previous sentence but I’d add in an unheard of or two.

Off topic. According to the BBC website a new build UK house is just under a third of the size of an Australian or American house. Then in the small print it says the UK survey is based on asking owners of  houses built between 2003 and 2006 located within 1hr of London.  The UK has shrunk to within 1hr of London, one of the most densely populated areas in Europe. How valid is the sample and the measurement? 

Can I guess that the American house survey was based on asking a man walking down a street in Lubbock, Texas who said he owned a ‘ranch’ built last year and said it is pretty big say 40 steer long.   The Aussie house survey was based on the number of  barbies that fit in the barbie storage room in Alice Springs and it was measured as a lot, quite a lot and a few but the biggest is 3 times more than the biggest balcony in Paddington, so there’s the answer.

It was only on the news page.  Why get involved in the details if a story sounds good, plausible and might cause discontent.  Wheel in Joe Egg and he’ll tell us the man in Texas wore a big hat and he thought the barbie was a valid unit in Australia and it would be non-PC to doubt either.

I guess the story is plausible. We visited Queensland and they were chopping down forest, but calling it bush, to build new houses in vast suburbs and the unbuilt land seemed to stretch endlessly beyond.  Nothing like that in London. What about Sydney though?

Great news for the Lancashire Wildlife Trust that its application has been approved by Preston council ( I didn’t know it was in Preston)  to build a Visitor and Education centre on the reserve by the River Ribble. I hadn’t previously thought there was any doubt but the Lancashire Evening Post is reporting objections from local residents about traffic. The Trust is forecasting 250,000 visitors a year. Sounds a lot, could it be optimistic?

The locals had 24hr gravel diggers for several years and I read 30 lorries a day plus the M6 and A59 traffic. They didn’t like the thought of these slow moving cars carrying people with an interest in nature. Looking at the map if the same access road is being used there are about 20 houses nearby and nice houses they are as well although the motorway takes some shine off it.

The North West Development Agency (NWDA) introduces a couple of new terms for me;  Newlands – New Economic Environments via Woodlands which has £59m to spend.  DUNS – Derelict Underused and Neglected Lands Survey. 

As far as DUNS is concerned this was beautiful land before the gravel diggers arrived so I don’t know how this works. Someone moves a load of gravel making some money and leaves a DUNS for the taxpayer to sort out?

The NWDA also states that this land is close to an area in the top 10% of multiple deprivation in the UK. Maybe a bus service will be needed?

The plans which are costing around £8m include a stylish floating building, as it’s on the flood plain and in a water filled gravel pit, and a roofline below the tree height. The total size of the reserve is 106 hectares which is over 100 football pitches and over half of it is existing woodland. It certainly looks and sounds good and I look forward to visiting.  Hope there’ll be hides and decent coffee and not too much motorway noise.

I was reading some of the fuss from Alan Duncans statement that MP’s are on rations. It isn’t clear if he’s speaking for himself or for MP’s in general.

The economy is a mess and over 2 million are out of work including a lot of youngsters, also MP’s have mis-used their expenses. You might also think an MP would have a mission and salary might only be an issue if you could earn massively more. Also the pension and expenses are generous but the job can be consuming and precarious.

So what should an MP earn?

Someone who earns 50 to 65,000 a year is probably titled something like ‘Head of ….’, just below director.  Better than most but not top dog. So you could say the salary and pension isn’t bad for an ordinary MP without any special responsibilities many of who probably wouldn’t reach that level.  Although attracting top calibre people might be  a problem without the mission factor and I’m not aware of any grading or fast tracking.

So without going into much depth or even understanding it too much I’d conclude that the salary package is reasonable for most MP’s but needs to have recognition for performance in both government and opposition. Some kind of grading.

Alan Duncan is a very visible MP, and maybe that doesn’t make him any better than someone who is great for their constituents, but we are pleased when our MP’s excel on the national level.  So his personal case is good,  just badly timed,  and he should be forgiven.  Probably that wouldn’t be so for about 500 MP’s out of the 645.  Maybe more.

Considering the MP’s in the areas around Preston: Mark Hendrick, David Borrow, Michael Jack, Ben Wallace, Nigel Evans, Rosie Cooper. I wouldn’t say much for or against them but they tend to being worker bees for who the remuneration package is probably fair. Mark Hendrick has got a special role which might give him a bit more. Nigel Evans raises his head from time to time but can’t say I hear much of the others even though one of them is my MP.

As a postscript. It wasn’t apparant on national news but Nigel Evans MP for Ribble Valley was on the secretly taken video and in the Lancashire Evening Post is reported saying he can’t manage on his salary or words to that effect. He is also reported as saying it was a joke. My own opinion is that it sounds so ridiculous that I’d agree it was a joke although I can understand people doubting it based on other remarks MP’s have made. However like Alan Duncan, Nigel Evans is a visible MP and seems well meaning so I’d give him the benefit of any doubt.

I wasn’t going to write but the worst TV programme I’ve ever seen was driving me crazy in the lounge, something about Jam and Jerusalem. Up till then it’s been a good day with full sun and we went to several events in Blackpool.

First there was an allotment open day near Stanley Park so we had a look in. Some commendable plots and some demonstrating how nature can take over quickly. One lady said the owner next door had been ill and in that year it had grown 4 feet high rushes from the neighbouring marshland.

That was before we went onto Stanley Park which was looking healthy with its floral displays. There was a cool group with the coolest singer on the bandstand making pretty good covers of Rolling Stones numbers – Not Fade Away. Being of the age that NFA was the song of a new era I wanted to join in but one mustn’t be an embarrassing grandpa.  Good turn out as well sitting in the pseudo-Roman ampitheatre by the lake.

There was a steam train taking passengers from Blackburn and Preston to Blackpool in what is being called Wakes Week festivities in Blackpool.  It was intended to see this but the allotment was an unexpected time sucker and we missed it.

Then we walked to the prom to watch the Blackpool Air Display. The new headlands are ideal with steps like an ampitheatre to the sand and it was packed. RAF Typhoon life size replica and a Tornado cockpit. Flying dispaly of Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Extras, Vulcan, Red Arrows and lots more. The Vulcan made a short display with a pass followed by a steep climb away to emphasise the noise and that made it all worthwhile – I felt suddenly exhilarated and wanted to shout yah-hoo but thought it might not have looked too good. Although there was a punk meeting in Blackpool and there were some amazing outfits around who might have sympathised. I thought a lot of them looked a bit self conscious yet it’s good to see people being different. There seemed to be a lot of big motorbikes about as well.

The other thing about the headland is that there is now grass on Blackpool prom and people seemed to like it.  It’s time they finished the prom it seems to have been in progress for years although the bits finished look good.  It was a good day out, didn’t cost much either.  Nearly time to watch Louis Theroux, so neat timing.

It’s a long time since I walked from Miller Park into the centre but I noticed that it is proposed to make a cycle and pedestrian greenway linking Fishergate Shopping Centre with Avenham and Miller Parks.  This includes replacing a  missing bridge. Interesting about a missing bridge, I wonder where it was and where it went.  I seem to recall a metal bridge many moons ago somewhere north of the park and crossing the river on the old L&Y bridge is still possible.  Sounds a good scheme and I’ll be looking out for the signs to it.

Alan Irvine bought Paul Parry from Cardiff and Veliche Shumulikoski from Ipswich in the last 2 days. Both players are 28.

Parry is a winger, Shumulikoski a midfielder.

Irvine had been saying the midfield must be strengthened so Shumulikoski fits that. He  was wanted on loan last year but Ipswich didn’t want him to come to Preston, maybe it was because of their proximity in the league.

During the week Alan Irvine starred on Sky Sports with a demonstration of flicking balls into a bag during a public training day.

Got a quote from a plasterer to re-board a wall and the ceiling and to skim in our smallest room 18 square metres of plaster. £410. 

Sounds a lot although he was recommended by a decorator I know. I thought around £300 a reasonable price. I think he could do it in under 2 days and materials aren’t much. I’ve seen these guys work and plasterers seem to be leaving almost as soon as they arrive. Do you get what you pay for or should I get another quote.

I’ve always avoided plastering but having taken the tiles off, removed the plasterboard on one wall and fitted a frame for a false ceiling I have the urge to carry on and maybe buy  better fittings with the saving. I reckon that 3 sheets of plasterboard, 50kg of plaster, edging, nails and a plasterers toolset will cost under £100.