I can only say how excitied I am that M&S Simply food is joining us in Ashbourne.
My Daughter is fond of calling them Marks And 'Spensive, but I think they are going to be a great addition to Ashbourne.
It is one quite big step to Ashbourne being the Food Capital of the midlands. This is my vision for Ashbourne, and if I had the time I might be a councillor or something to make it happen.
Fortunately I am not a political person, and would quickly get very frustrated by the politics, and would probably end up getting beaten up for saying the wrong thing.
Anyway, back to my point. An M&S foodhall will bring people to Ashbourne shopping for food. While here, if properly directed, they will discover Smiths, The Cheddar Cheese, Partick and B's, All of our butchers, the fish mongers.... the list goes on.....
If this can then be added to, with the market being made food focused, and promoted arround the area (even in Birmingham), then I can see a bright future for Ashbourne, a town in Danger of getting old and worn out.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Call me old fashioned but...
It seems that Toshiba are playing games with me. I bought a Laptop from www.laptopsdirect.co.uk on Friday, and it was sold with a £50 cashback.. Now I went to claim the cashback today, and got this message:
When To Register You purchased your qualifying Toshiba laptop less than 30 days before today’s date. You can register your Cash Back claim in 25 days from 28th June 2009.
Hang on? So I the condition for getting the cashback is I have to apply for it between 30 and 60 days after my purchase??? WHY?
With technology being soooo clever these days, I doubt there is any reason for this other than the fact they hope I will forget. Is this reasonable?
Now on the Laptopsdirect website, it does say terms and conditions apply, but it does not specify anything else. It does not say "Unreasonable terms and conditions apply" .
They might as well say, cashback available if you breed toads with pink toes. Maybe I am on an Amazonianian Safari then? I bought my laptop and want the cashback I have been offered now.
Or am I being unreasonable?
When To Register You purchased your qualifying Toshiba laptop less than 30 days before today’s date. You can register your Cash Back claim in 25 days from 28th June 2009.
Hang on? So I the condition for getting the cashback is I have to apply for it between 30 and 60 days after my purchase??? WHY?
With technology being soooo clever these days, I doubt there is any reason for this other than the fact they hope I will forget. Is this reasonable?
Now on the Laptopsdirect website, it does say terms and conditions apply, but it does not specify anything else. It does not say "Unreasonable terms and conditions apply" .
They might as well say, cashback available if you breed toads with pink toes. Maybe I am on an Amazonianian Safari then? I bought my laptop and want the cashback I have been offered now.
Or am I being unreasonable?
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Ashbourne Parking Fines
Well, I read in Our fine local rag, The Stunner, about how the parking police were getting carried away with getting everyone they could, and it worried me. So I wrote to the editor:
Dear Sir,
It was with interest that I read your article about how the parking police were getting carried away at Shrovetide getting everyone they could, and it worried me.It worried me because I could see how this would be driving away local shoppers to shop from home. I am not adverse to shopping online myself, and personally hope people do, as I have my own sites like www.SuitsMen.co.uk and www.LucyAlice.co.uk but I always try to support local businesses when I can, as I appreciate what they have to offer.However, today, I went to town on my motor bike, for a dentist appointment, a hair cut, and to buy a few things. I parked outside Bagshaws on Church Street, on the 1/2 hour free parking taking up very little space. The row of parking spaces was virtually empty, as it was when I returned.After only 41 minutes I had a fixed penalty fine. Now I know I broke the parking rules. But why do they have a 30 minute limit? My guess is so that there is a regular turn over of quick shoppers. I was that Shopper. So I broke the letter, but not the spirit.My next job is to go to Amazon to buy the items I could not get in town. My reluctance to shop in town has been increased by this experience, which is not a good thing for Ashbourne.In summary, this is another classic case of the Council taking money, and the Town losing out. The council should be making it easier for people to park, to use the leisure facilities and make the most of our wonderful town. Instead, they are steadily killing it.
Kind Regards
Rupert Bowling
www.Suitsmen.co.uk
Dear Sir,
It was with interest that I read your article about how the parking police were getting carried away at Shrovetide getting everyone they could, and it worried me.It worried me because I could see how this would be driving away local shoppers to shop from home. I am not adverse to shopping online myself, and personally hope people do, as I have my own sites like www.SuitsMen.co.uk and www.LucyAlice.co.uk but I always try to support local businesses when I can, as I appreciate what they have to offer.However, today, I went to town on my motor bike, for a dentist appointment, a hair cut, and to buy a few things. I parked outside Bagshaws on Church Street, on the 1/2 hour free parking taking up very little space. The row of parking spaces was virtually empty, as it was when I returned.After only 41 minutes I had a fixed penalty fine. Now I know I broke the parking rules. But why do they have a 30 minute limit? My guess is so that there is a regular turn over of quick shoppers. I was that Shopper. So I broke the letter, but not the spirit.My next job is to go to Amazon to buy the items I could not get in town. My reluctance to shop in town has been increased by this experience, which is not a good thing for Ashbourne.In summary, this is another classic case of the Council taking money, and the Town losing out. The council should be making it easier for people to park, to use the leisure facilities and make the most of our wonderful town. Instead, they are steadily killing it.
Kind Regards
Rupert Bowling
www.Suitsmen.co.uk
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Adwords made Easy
This is a beautifully simple explaination of adwords pricing, and how Google calculates what we pay.
If you are interested in internet Marketing, then this is a must, as the consepts here can be translated into how Google ranks your site in organic serps too.
Simply put, your price is dependant on your bid, and your quality score, and the bid and Quality score of the person bidding below you.
Your quality Score is measured by the combination of Click through Rate, Ad relevance and the quality of your landing page.
Simple eh?
Two blogs in One day, I can feel a song coming on!
If you are interested in internet Marketing, then this is a must, as the consepts here can be translated into how Google ranks your site in organic serps too.
Simply put, your price is dependant on your bid, and your quality score, and the bid and Quality score of the person bidding below you.
Your quality Score is measured by the combination of Click through Rate, Ad relevance and the quality of your landing page.
Simple eh?
Two blogs in One day, I can feel a song coming on!
The Benefits of Being 80
My Neighbour Vera, will be 80 soon. She is doing well, 21 with 59 years of experience.
She told me that the government kindly up your pension when you get to 80, by a whoopping 25p per week.
If she saves that up for a month, it will buy her a whole 1 litre of milk, and if she shops carefully, there will still be some change left over.
Gordon is doing great things with th £150 billion extra he is printing.
So next time there is an election, don't vote, or the government will get in.
She told me that the government kindly up your pension when you get to 80, by a whoopping 25p per week.
If she saves that up for a month, it will buy her a whole 1 litre of milk, and if she shops carefully, there will still be some change left over.
Gordon is doing great things with th £150 billion extra he is printing.
So next time there is an election, don't vote, or the government will get in.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Ipod Nano
I am not an "Apple Fan", but I do find the ipod a nice bit kit. Apple irritated me somewhat in the way they try to control my world, but I generally get round it, using Media Monkey instead of itunes. It took the programmers a while to get over the hurdles that Apple put in their way, but it is better software for me.
Recently however, I bought a nano for my wife Sue. I plugged it into our speaker in the bedroom where we charge ipods, and a message came up saying:
Charging is not supported by this device.
WHAT?
Apple have now changed the charging, so that after market equipment, have to change something to be able to charge the damn thing.
The only way we can charge this new nano, is in the computer. The wall charger does not work either. I have not tried the car yet.
As you can tell, we are set up for ipod. One of the reasons we went for them, is because there is plenty of after market neat kit about. I can take my music with me to the car, without having to resort to a bit of wire hanging down the dashboard.
Signing off, irritated of Ashbourne.
Recently however, I bought a nano for my wife Sue. I plugged it into our speaker in the bedroom where we charge ipods, and a message came up saying:
Charging is not supported by this device.
WHAT?
Apple have now changed the charging, so that after market equipment, have to change something to be able to charge the damn thing.
The only way we can charge this new nano, is in the computer. The wall charger does not work either. I have not tried the car yet.
As you can tell, we are set up for ipod. One of the reasons we went for them, is because there is plenty of after market neat kit about. I can take my music with me to the car, without having to resort to a bit of wire hanging down the dashboard.
Signing off, irritated of Ashbourne.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Elggin Sports Centre
We just got back from a trip to see friends in Scotland. It is perhaps unfair to compare Scotish Facilities with our own, as we know that Scotland gets something like £1500 per head more money than England from the Govenment.
However, I would like to say what a superb set up they have. Not only is the pool modern, with a slide, Childrens pool, and "showers" in the pool itself, but it also has an ice skating rink, a relaxation area, sauna, spa pool etc, a bar, a cafe, oh and of course Squash courts.
Not sure I would be doing the Pole Dancing lessons, but I am sure there is something there for everyone :)
However, I would like to say what a superb set up they have. Not only is the pool modern, with a slide, Childrens pool, and "showers" in the pool itself, but it also has an ice skating rink, a relaxation area, sauna, spa pool etc, a bar, a cafe, oh and of course Squash courts.
Not sure I would be doing the Pole Dancing lessons, but I am sure there is something there for everyone :)
Friday, March 28, 2008
Dad and Ivy on Trees
Dad and I have for many years discussed the problem of Ivy on trees.
I see it as a part of Nature, and Dad sees it as a parasite, that kills trees, and spoils the winter tracery of the trees. This we disagree on.
However he has for some time been developing an interesting twist on this, and that is that there are two types of Ivy, one that is fairly harmless, and the other than does indeed live off trees as a paracite. His frustration is that he cannot get anyone to see this, and so if there are any botonists out there who might be interested in investigating this further, please drop me a line. I attach his latest letter to a notable countryman, as he is now 85, championing this beyond the written word is becoming more difficult:
I see you have joined the discussion on the highs and lows of the so-called “common” ivy. You may remember that I wrote to you a year or so back, regarding my experiences of cutting the main “trunks” of two apparently different types of ivy only to find that one(male?) died and within a year was blown off the tree. That ivy grew close to the tree trunk and so did not materially affect the tree trunk diameter. The other with flowers(female?), continued to grow despite not being connected to a ground root----perhaps a parasite or getting food from it’s outstretched leaves and branches?
At the time, as now, you simply extolled the virtues of ivy, particularly on walls, for it’s shelter for small mammals, insects and birds------which I have no quarrel with—but wouldn’t accept my facts of two ivy’s and the detrimental effect on the fine tracery of, especially, winter trees .If it’s not affecting the majority of all sizes of trees in the area where you live, do please come to Mid-Derbyshire and I’ll show you lots!!
My recent letter to The Telegraph was heavily “editored” by the removal of all the facts leaving it with just general agreement and a headline “Kill Ivy”! The editor simply ignored my complaint----I wonder what else he “edits” out without us knowing?
So to sum up. I have no problem with anyone growing ivy up a house or shed if they so wish Whether the female variety behaves the same way on walls as it does on a tree I have no idea.
To destroy the beautiful tracery of a new or fully grown tree with it’s branches of all sizes and making a one foot diameter trunk or branch become three feet diameter does not seem a good idea to me nor, I would think, to any true nature lover or countryman.
Why not try my experiment on two trees near you and write to me (again) in one or two year’s time?!!
I hope the evidence is clearer this time.
Thanks for answering my letter last time.
Sincerely,
I see it as a part of Nature, and Dad sees it as a parasite, that kills trees, and spoils the winter tracery of the trees. This we disagree on.
However he has for some time been developing an interesting twist on this, and that is that there are two types of Ivy, one that is fairly harmless, and the other than does indeed live off trees as a paracite. His frustration is that he cannot get anyone to see this, and so if there are any botonists out there who might be interested in investigating this further, please drop me a line. I attach his latest letter to a notable countryman, as he is now 85, championing this beyond the written word is becoming more difficult:
I see you have joined the discussion on the highs and lows of the so-called “common” ivy. You may remember that I wrote to you a year or so back, regarding my experiences of cutting the main “trunks” of two apparently different types of ivy only to find that one(male?) died and within a year was blown off the tree. That ivy grew close to the tree trunk and so did not materially affect the tree trunk diameter. The other with flowers(female?), continued to grow despite not being connected to a ground root----perhaps a parasite or getting food from it’s outstretched leaves and branches?
At the time, as now, you simply extolled the virtues of ivy, particularly on walls, for it’s shelter for small mammals, insects and birds------which I have no quarrel with—but wouldn’t accept my facts of two ivy’s and the detrimental effect on the fine tracery of, especially, winter trees .If it’s not affecting the majority of all sizes of trees in the area where you live, do please come to Mid-Derbyshire and I’ll show you lots!!
My recent letter to The Telegraph was heavily “editored” by the removal of all the facts leaving it with just general agreement and a headline “Kill Ivy”! The editor simply ignored my complaint----I wonder what else he “edits” out without us knowing?
So to sum up. I have no problem with anyone growing ivy up a house or shed if they so wish Whether the female variety behaves the same way on walls as it does on a tree I have no idea.
To destroy the beautiful tracery of a new or fully grown tree with it’s branches of all sizes and making a one foot diameter trunk or branch become three feet diameter does not seem a good idea to me nor, I would think, to any true nature lover or countryman.
Why not try my experiment on two trees near you and write to me (again) in one or two year’s time?!!
I hope the evidence is clearer this time.
Thanks for answering my letter last time.
Sincerely,
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