Author Archives: Pete of MIP

On your marks for a General Election

Posted on 17 February 2010 by Pete of MIP

The starting grid for the General Election is taking form.  What can be expected in the region? In 2005 the results were: Preston – Labour – majority 9,407.  Achieved 50% of the vote. South Ribble – Labour – majority 2,184. Achieved … Continue reading →

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National Football Museum goes to Istanbul

Posted on 17 February 2010 by Pete of MIP

What a shock!  We all thought it was going to Manchester. Having a quick look at the NFM website – it seems it’s gone to Istanbul.  Closer look shows it’s a few pieces for a while.  Istanbul, Manchester perhaps hard to … Continue reading →

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H.J.Berry in administration

Posted on 15 February 2010 by Pete of MIP

The old furniture maker in Chipping went into administation this week. A blow to a way of work, skills and manufacturing as well as the staff and village. Last year it featured on Gerry Robinson’s TV programme and he offered … Continue reading →

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December 2009 house prices in Lancashire

Posted on 15 February 2010 by Pete of MIP

According to the Land Registry average house prices in Lancashire reached their lowest in August 09 and have since risen to £117,750 in December 2009,  equal to February 2006. This change is fairly uniform across the range of houses from … Continue reading →

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Angel of Preston

Posted on 14 February 2010 by Pete of MIP

There is a flurry of commentary about placing a statue next to the M6 to symbolise Preston.  One is a semi-buried soldier denoting the historic battles that took place in Preston and the other is a statue symbolising a military … Continue reading →

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Island of Preston

Posted on 29 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

The Coastal Management Plan for the next 100 years has been issued and the coast around the Ribble estuary is largely to be protected except for an area on the south bank that will be allowed to make a managed … Continue reading →

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Winckley Square as it was

Posted on 26 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

A couple of thousand are said to have completed cards objecting to the plans for Winckley Square.  As I wasn’t aware of what the objectors are voting for, except a vague statement that the square should be restored to its previous appearance … Continue reading →

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North West football ups and downs

Posted on 19 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

North End well beaten with a mixed display at Bristol with Mr Ferguson in charge for the first time. There’s time, but with Chelsea scoring 7 and playing PNE in the cup next week the defence are no doubt practicing … Continue reading →

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Firing Squad

Posted on 19 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

Went to visit Mr Growing With Nature at Pilling last Saturday as he was to tell us how to grow our organic vegetables better, which seemed a bit of a contradiction as he sells them to us.  A murky and … Continue reading →

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The resilience of Preston?

Posted on 18 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

Todays Times newspaper names Preston as one of the top ten most resilient places in the UK during the recession.  The story is from a report by a group called the Centre for Cities. It says the claimant count has … Continue reading →

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Combined Heat and Power from Baxi

Posted on 11 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

Baxi say they are geared up to deliver up to 20,000 combined heat and power units a year from their Preston, Bamber Bridge, plant.  The government is issuing contracts worth billions of pounds for green energy but the great majority of the … Continue reading →

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Garden Bird observations in snowy weather

Posted on 10 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

Two Fieldfare birds have been visiting our garden this week.  Have never heard of them before, let alone seen one.  The snow has driven them out of the country and they’ve nearly stripped our holly tree of berry’s. We read … Continue reading →

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Darren Ferguson in at PNE, Alan Irvine at Sheff W

Posted on 8 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

Certainly adds spice to the managerial roundabout when PNE get a new man and Sheff W, a rival Championship club, take on the old one. On Wednesday at 4pm Darren Ferguson and Derek Shaw had a press conference to introduce … Continue reading →

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Darren Ferguson imminent?

Posted on 5 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

Around 9pm news organisations started announcing they ‘understood’ Darren Ferguson is to be the new PNE manager.  Started on the BBC, then Sky, then LEP.  LEP comments pages still on the daily 200 inputs.  Most supportive of the new appointment. … Continue reading →

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Coldest for years

Posted on 4 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

Don’t remember a cold spell like this for a long time. Certainly not at this time of year. Seem to recall 1981-ish being very cold in early January.  Went out this morning at 10am and it was minus 3C and … Continue reading →

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Preston 7 Colchester 0 FA Cup

Posted on 2 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

After a week of events with the sacking of Alan Irvine and the speculation and controversy surrounding it the team answered back. Some say Colchester are in a league lower than PNE but they are 4th and it would have … Continue reading →

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High Speed Rail to miss Preston?

Posted on 31 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

The High Speed 2 Company submitted its plans to Lord Adonis who will declare the preferred routes in March 2010.  To date the proposal has shown a line up the west coast via Preston to Glasgow but yesterdays newspapers seemed cooler on this idea.  … Continue reading →

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PNE sack Alan Irvine

Posted on 29 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

Big surprise news today – PNE have sacked their popular manager Alan Irvine. It was thought he’d have more time.  Not long ago everyone was sweating on whether he’d go to WBA and even if he’d manage Scotland.  There was gratitude he stayed and it … Continue reading →

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St Ledger returned to PNE by Middlesbrough

Posted on 25 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

Middlesbrough announced that they are returning all 4 of their loan players and that means Sean St Ledger back at Deepdale. He played 15 games and scored once for Boro. Since he left both teams have had poor results and … Continue reading →

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Verge of a crisis or just a phase at Deepdale

Posted on 20 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

Notts Forest 3 PNE 0.  With died in the wool North Ender Paul McKenna scoring the opener for Forest.  Forest are on a roll at the moment under Billy Davies. Can he get 3 clubs into the play-offs?  So from that point … Continue reading →

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