Tree cutting

16 January 2012

And a very good morning to all.  This morning we were to shouts and a large machinery working away at something.  A look out the window showed us that it was actually tree surgeons trimming the trees that line the street.  They came around last year and even though the council let us know they were coming the one or two morons didn't or wouldn't their cars so the workers could get on with the job.  So now this year they have had to come back to finish it.  One of the trees in question has my VW Golf under it so it was quick rush to get out and move it for them.  We had no notice this time either and of course it will cost the tax payer more dosh because of it.

Dorktown News front page carries the story of a proposed 35p hike in taxi fares.  But one of the licensing committee has come up with the idea of putting the decision on hold while the council holds a public consultation about deregulating the taxi trade in the town.  The thing behind this idea is that because cost to taxi firms is on the increase on a regular basis, why not them run themselves and not keep coming to the council every time they want to increase fares.   As stated, the council has no say in bus fares or plane fares or train fares, so why should we have a say in taxi fares?  On the face of it I would agree - but hang a minute ... just how far will the deregulation go?  Will it just on fares or will it also included the actual licensing of taxis and drivers?  And where will the taxi ranks be?  Will the town centre suddenly become one big taxi rank?  All questions that will need answering before the decision is made and I'm sure I haven't covered them all.

I love rice!  Jan doesn't so I have rice when I want it more or less and Jan has something else.  I buy my rice in three different categories.  I buy the American easy cook rice which I use as a sort of risotto-type dish; I but uncooked basmati rice which I boil up in a huge great batches and once it's drained I portion up and freeze and use as I want it.  Lastly I found some packs of  already cooked rice for a £1 a time which is enough just for little old me.  Now here's what I do with a pack of that rice.  I buy green, red and yellow peppers and some mushrooms.  I slice about a third of each pepper and a couple of mushrooms along with an onion.  Then I stir fry them; onions first with a touch of garlic in with it, follwoed by the peppers, then the mushrooms.  By then I have nuked the rice in a bowel and that goes in last of all and it's all mixed in together.  I then nuke it all again to make sure its piping hot.  And very nice it is too.  But then I don't get to use the rest of the peppers for some time, by which time they are either well past their best or rotten.  I've just thrown the last lot out yet again.  So next time I shall try freezing them unless I can find some already frozen at Asda later today. 

Now what photo can I post today ... now let me have a look ...ah yes, I know ...

this one was well received when I posted it on Flickr.  I snapped this in Dorktown market a couple of years ago ... http://www.flickr.com/photos/15764683@N00/

And from the Sage ...

A woman was in bed with her lover when she heard her husband opening the front door.

'Hurry,' she said, 'stand in the corner.'

She rubbed baby oil all over him, then dusted him with talcum powder.

'Don't move until I tell you,' she said. 'Pretend you're a statue.'

'What's this?' the husband inquired as he entered the room.

'Oh it's a statue,' she replied. 'The Smiths bought one and I liked it so I got one for us, too.'

No more was said, not even when they went to bed. Around 2 AM the husband got up, went to the kitchen and returned with a sandwich and a beer.

'Here,' he said to the statue, 'have this. I stood like that for two days at the Smiths and nobody offered me a damned thing.'