……….I have been holding off with an opinion about the thinktank that has advised northerners to move south, because they in their ‘infinite wisdom’ have arrived at the conclusion that there is little or no chance of things getting any better for anyone living north of Watford.

I have taken a few deep breaths and still can’t get beyond the thought that the people who are members of these so-called thinktanks appear to know little about life beyond their own back yards. If they want to get a true grasp of life ‘up north’ they should live the life and walk the walk. There is, apparently, a great negativity about these people, that could be changed by their mixing with the wholesome people of the north. OK, so I am in the Midlands, but am neither so blinkered, nor so inexperienced in life’s hardships as to be unaware of the difficulties  that exist for people in the terraces and back streets. I have lived the life and walked the walk. I have gone from a well to do family, to living in a 1 bedroom flat, to owning a two up, two down semi and I have run the gauntlet of life through good and bad times.

To say that there is no hope is tantamount to throwing in the towel and that is NOT what we British are about. We are a proud race and those up north are perhaps the proudest, even though they may be considered by southerners to be of least importance in the scheme of things.

Success is all  relative; not everything in life hinges upon material success and prosperity. I know full well, from experience, that money helps to grease the wheels of life and to live a life in poverty is not a happy existence. 

However, by this Thinktank publishing such tosh, they are insulting some of the strongest people in this country. To survive whilst sucking on a silver spoon is a simple task; to survive without a spoon at all is a monumental task and those who do so should be admired.

……..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!!!!!!

..getting old is a fascinating thing; the older you get, the older you want to get.

This is oh, so true. Today is my birthday and it says on so many of my cards, ‘ MANY HAPPY RETURNS’. I am hoping for many happy returns; there is still so much for me to do before I shuffle off this mortal coil!  I have a book of things to do before I’m old and boring and I have achieved quite a good number, but I am stuck on the one where I have to teach my grandparents something new ( I lost my last grandparent in ‘85) and the one where I have to learn to play a musical instrument (does a comb and paper count, do you think, or the tambourine?)

The Liberal Democrat Party is very old, having been formed as the Whigs  during the reign of Charles II (1630-1685) and after some changes over the years has evolved, to become the Liberal Democrats.

We see change as a necessity for survival and we are hoping soon to see a change in the Labour Party, from being the party that rules, to the party that sits in opposition and to see the Liberal Democrats change from being a party in opposition to the party that rules!

If you would like to join us and help us become the ‘Party that Rules’ there are many ways to become a member and these are clearly shown around this site, both to the left and right of this column. Hope to hear from you soon.

….Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.

Today, I had a constructive meeting with Kathey Bailey, a personal development trainer, courtesy of MDC, to discuss my Personal Development Plan, designed to empower me in my role as Councillor. I received advice on how to make the most of my strengths and how to lessen my weaknesses. (Modesty forbids me to boast about my lack of weaknesses!! - Could my ‘modesty’ be a weakness?)

It was a chance to take stock and evaluate just how far I have progressed since my election and  an opportunity to plan the harnessing of my abilities to make the most of myself. It was an enjoyable journey of nostalgia through the past 14 months and a look forward to the next 3 years.

…….The darkest places in Hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality during times of moral crisis.

I recently had a  moral crisis, when against my better judgment I ‘went with the flow’, but I have now ’seen the light’ with the help of Dante’s Divina Commedia. In future I shall always go with my conscience.

One of the reasons that I joined the Lib Dems was because I am allowed more opportunity to use my own judgment in decision-making. If you want to make a difference, join the LD Party. Details are left of screen.

……….to be asked to help in presenting the awards at The Greenwood Awards Ceremony to be held at Rufford Abbey on 19th June. This annual ceremony acknowledges the hard work put in, during all weathers, by the Friends of Greenwood Groups.

These groups toil to keep Nottinghamshire’s parks and nature reserves in tip top condition and plant wildflowers, hawthorns and an unending variety of other plants. They also have regular litter picks and endeavour to involve local schools in park life and are always hoping for new recruits.

Nesting boxes, works of art, paths, seating and willow sculptures have all been built by the various groups, without whom a lot of our beautiful open spaces would disappear. I have been fortunate enough to visit a number of the sites and they are all a credit to the dedication of the Friends.

I am glad I only have to present the awards; to decide on the recipients would be a hard task indeed.

……..a heady combination. I have passed the starling chick I have been raising to the owners of the Cedar Bird Rescue Centre at Kirkby-in-Ashfield. I felt a pang of sadness as he left my hands to fly up to the top of the branches in the aviary. Funny how after only 10 days he had found a place in my heart, but I was so happy that he would not have to live his life in a cage.

He was ready for flight; in fact he had his maiden flight, purely by accident, in my bedroom and he was a sight to behold.  Whilst I was feeding him he got out of his cage and flew around the room. It was obvious that my term of care had come to an end and he needed more than I was able to give. He needed to socialise with other birds and have the chance of life in the wild, which was always my hope for him. I was very impressed by the setup at Cedar. Wendy and Phil are committed to releasing birds and I have every confidence that ‘Joey’ will leave the aviary when he is equipped with the social and survival skills he needs.

Cedar Bird Rescue Centre are having an open day on Sunday, 8th June and I shall go back to visit and see how much he has grown. It took a couple of days to adjust to not having to feed him every 45 minutes, but it is good not to have to get up at dawn for the first feed of the day!  

…….currently working in the park, clearing the ‘wetland patch’ ready for planting wildflowers. The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers are worth their weight in gold; they laid the pathway from the rear of Peafield School through to the Whinney Hill Woods, including steps down and up  (or up and down, from the opposite direction!) through the small dip alongside the Flood Dykes fencing.They are a very committed group who give their time and efforts freely and are always pleased to have extra helpers, so why not go and have alook at what they’re doing and maybe give a hand. When I went today they were busy clearing all the existing plants, consisting mainly of nettles and docks!

Unfortunately I couldn’t stay, because I am rearing a starling chick which fell from my loft into the cavity wall in my bedroom.  it was lucky to survive as there were 5 dead birds in there. I have to feed it every 45 minutes at the moment, but thankfully only during daylight hours. It has survived now for 9 days in my care - thank Heavens for the internet; I have been able to garner lots of infromation about rearing and releasing into the wild. That’s the little chap (or chapess) at the head of this post. Wish me luck!

A relatively quiet week so far as meetings are concerned……

Monday, Friends of Peafield Park, mainly discussing plans for Green Flag judging, which is expected to take place in July.

Tuesday, a.m  Activity at Peafield School - helped with a class of 30 children on a nature walk in the park and in Whinney Hill Woods, taking photos of plants and flowers and trees, for the children to produce artwork for the Mansfield in Bloom Painting Competition.

Tuesday, p.m Group meeting at Civic Centre and afterward popped in to see the ladies at Navi Saheli.

Wednesday & Thursday, I spent reading the amendments to the Constitution, which are to be discussed and voted upon at the next meeting of Council.

Friday, I took a day off, but worked at home.

…since the election that brought me to my current position as Councillor for Leeming Ward and the Mansfield portion of the Ashfield & Mansfield Liberal Democrats met to discuss our roles for the coming year. We all chose to remain on our present committees, roughly speaking, with the odd small change to accommodate changes in personal circumstances.

I am still on Planning Committee, Health & Safety Committee and Select Commission 1. I am also taking the role of Leader of our LD group for the next year, so that will be a few more meetings to attend.  I hope to retain my seat on the board of Greenwood Community Forest, when the vote is taken next week. During this past year I have attended working groups and training sessions which in number were far beyond what I expected when I was elected, but the whole experience has so far been one that I feel very fortunate to have had. I look forward to the next 3 years.

We at the Liberal Democrats are always looking for people to join the party and if you feel the need to be a part of local politics and have your voice heard, then look to the left of this column to find out how you can join us.