………with guns on display and ‘camo’ gear and even a sniffer dog, Alfie, who was very friendly and welcoming to their arena, safe in the knowledge that there were no weapons or explosives to sniff out. He rolled over to let me tickle his tum and he was an absolute delight. I’m sure in ’sniffer mode’ he is less approachable!

The TA lads were collecting for the charity  Help for Heroes and raised £100. If you would like to know more about this charity and the work it does for injured soldiers and other forces personnel, log on to www.helpforheroes.org.uk

…….A new ‘fat map’ of Britain shows that obesity is becoming as big a problem in parts of the South of Britain as it is in the North. Dr Foster Research, the company that produced the map, said that obesity is becoming more of an issue in outlying areas and is no longer confined to urban areas. The Department of Health said obesity was the biggest challenge the country faced.

Another big problem facing the country is the lack of affordable housing - the Treasury has kept its hands on £200M pounds of council tenants’ money, rather than ploughing it back to build more council houses. Makes me wonder how on earth they are allowed to get away with it. MDC received a measly allowance from central government which places ever more constraints on local services.

As Cllr Paul Bettison from the Local Government Association is quoted: “At a time when more families are finding it difficult to get access to housing, it is unacceptable. This money could be spent building thousands of new council homes for people in genuine need.”

   ……….I have just returned from the raising of Mansfield’s flag of the 2012 Olympics at Watermeadows, which coincided with the raising of the flag in 400 venues around the country. To a fanfare from the Cornets of Blidworth Band and the waving of Union Flags, Mayor Egginton and party raised the flag, which billowed proudly at the top of the flagpole

Local townspeople joined the 1500m record holder (1964-69) and European Gold Medallist, John Wetton, Executive Mayor Tony Egginton and Rebecca Adlington’s family to celebrate the sporting potential of Great Britain. Local Councillors present with me were Christine Smith, Ted Dubowski, Nicholas Bennett, Derek Birkin, Sally Higgins  Steve Garner and Vic Bobo.

There is to be an official reception at the Civic Centre on Tuesday to welcome back double gold medal winner Rebecca Adlington and she will be taken in to Mansfield on an open-topped bus, so please do try to be there to welcome home our swimming heroine.

……..There is nothing so pitiful as a young cynic, because he has gone from knowing nothing to believing nothing.

The louts who perpetrated the vandalism to cars and fencing after the wonderful Carnival day have shown a massive streak of cynicism allied to cowardice, performing their acts when any respecatble soul is in bed, or at least indoors. This being Sunday, I suppose we should in Christian fashion ‘forgive them for they know not what they do’, but I am only too sure they knew exactly what they were doing!!

 …….….not only has Mansfield’s very own Golden Girl, Rebecca Adlington,  got two Golds at the Olympics, breaking records as though they were chipped plates, but Team GB are in THIRD PLACE in the medal tally so far.

I am always ‘banging on’ about being proud to be British, but, oh my, this week has topped it all!!!

Further to my post on Think Tank Tosh, would politicians please note that this Olympics success story is not confined to the South; we northerners are doing our bit.

……..as I said, it’s my birthday and two lads have just knocked at my door to ask if I need my car cleaning. Do I? They are still in one piece even though I almost pounced on them with gratitude! When I bought my car, I swore I would clean it every Sunday. You know the saying…the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. 

My car was in need of a good clean, so how fortuitous that these two young lads should turn up, full of enterprise and with bucket and sponges at the ready.

Cory and his mate, James, have done a terrific job and ‘Butch’ looks showroom clean. What a birthday gift, even if I did have to pay them! Well worth it!!!!!!

….”Nice work if you can get it”

Britain’s Olympic squad will be outnumbered two to one in Beijing by politicians, civil servants and BBC staff whose trips to China will cost the public almost £7 million, (according to the Telegraph)How obscene is that, when we have people living in poverty in this country? How ever high the cost of living rises there will always be some free-loaders who will milk the system.

Don Foster, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on culture, media and sport, said: “I’m simply staggered by the amount of money being spent by public bodies sending their staff to the Games for questionable reasons and benefits.

“The Olympics are always an incredible spectacle but that does not give people the right to waste taxpayers’ money.  Anyone who does use public funds to go on this type of trip must be held to account and made to justify exactly what they managed to achieve during their attendance in Beijing.”  Hear Hear!

……..we British are renowned for our sense of fair play and the proposed price rises by ‘British’ Gas are far from fair. 

On 30 July, commenting on the British Gas decision to raise gas prices by 35% and electricity prices by 9%, Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg said:

“For many families, and particularly for the elderly and the vulnerable, this will be a devastating price rise.

“The announcement may have been made in a hot spell in July, but when winter comes round thousands will be forced to choose between heating their homes and cooking their meals.

“British Gas has thousands of customers paying fixed rates, but when those terms expire they will be hit with staggeringly high bills.

“Instead of fighting over who should be sitting in Number 10, ministers need to be dealing with the real issues that are causing real problems for people across the country.

“Energy companies are benefiting from a £9bn windfall yet continue to hike up their prices on the Government’s watch. This is unacceptable.”

blah, blah, blah….just a test page. Normal service is resumed…..Hooray! Support your local LibDem Councillor

..………..by a gritty young woman who survived the London bombings on 7th July, 2005. Gill Hicks lost both legs in the blast and for some time looked as though she wouldn’t live through the trauma.

The idea behind the walk is to encourage thoughts for our fellow men and is about engaging  with people, regardless of race, creed or colour, talking to people you might otherwise never meet or talk to.  She and her supporters are walking the walk and stopping off along the way to take refreshments with ordinary townsfolk, chatting en route with anyone who cares enough to join the walk for a time, whether for 10 minutes, an hour or for the whole of the walk. I joined at the Civic Centre, where Councillor Christine Smith and I put together a Mansfield District Council posy of roses, picked by Christine from the Civic Centre rose bed and wrapped in the silver foil from my pack of mints! We walked to the Stanhope Centre on Bridge Street and after speeches by Mayor, Tony Egginton and Gill, we went outside to launch balloons with our hopes and aspirations written on attached cards. My admiration for Gill knows no bounds. What a lady!