Friday 24 December 2010

Seasons Greetings

Keith, Ken and Sue would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Cristmas and a Happy, Peaceful and Prosperous New Year.

Christmas is a time for family but also a time to look back and think of those we have lost over the last year. A special thought for all our servicemen and women serving abroad and away from their families whilst putting themselves in danger. As the parents of a serviceman who served in both Gulf Wars and the Falklands Sue and Keith know what it is like to have a loved one in harm's way. God bless you all!

Postman beware!

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Monday 11 October 2010

Keith and Ian.

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getting on with it

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Cllr Tim Huxtable and Keith

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Frankley Centre work begins

Work has started on the refurbishment of the Frankley Centre at long last.
Last week Keith joined with Cllr Tim Huxtable, Cabinet Member for Transport & Regeneration, to pose for some photos for the Birmingham Mail. These photos are always posed for, they show Tim & Keith lifting a paving slab. This should not be seen as showing that we spent all day lifting slabs but is symbolic of the fact that work is commencing.
We have some of our own photos of Tim & Keith and also of Keith with Ian Brookshaw, Chairman of New Frankley in Birmingham Parish Council. Again Ian's presence is as an illustration of the commencement of work and not, of course, any political affiliation to this blog.

Deficit deniers

There do seem quite a number of Labour Members who are still in denial about the seriousness of the economic situation that they left this country in. Of course when you have left behind the biggest debt mountain in living memory and condemned the people of this country to penury for years to come the best option may appear to cover your ears, shut your eyes and sing na, na, na na, na rather than face up to what you have done. There seems to be two strands of thought within the comrades' party at the moment, the "moderate" wing think they should follow Alistair Darling's plan and try to halve the deficit within the next five years. This means we will still be living beyond our means, borrowing money and adding to our debt mountain for years to come. The other lot, epitomised by Ed and Mrs Balls, think that we should not worry about the debt or the deficit and continue to borrow as before. Either one is the economics of the spendaholic. At this time we are paying interest on our debt to the tune of £43billion per year, yes £43BILLION!
There have been enough lists of what this could be spent on but suffice to say we get NOTHING in return and this is not even paying off the debt. If we cannot pay anything off the debt we will be saddled with this payment for ever let alone increasing it.
The Labour Party is in hock to the unions, this is why they are defending public service jobs so vigorously. That is their job of course but the country has to be governed for the good of everyone and not for a special interest group.

Sunday 26 September 2010

Congratulations Mr Miliband

The title of this post would of course be suitable whichever brother won. Ed Miliband is at pains to point out that he is not a left wing throwback but wants to appeal to Middle England. If that is correct then the question has to be asked "why did the unions get behind him so strongly?" After all if they had wanted a centrist Leader why did they not back his elder brother who had the support of the majority of MPs and activists? All very mysterious, you might wonder what the unions will do when they find out that they have not got Red Ed but somehow we think they know exactly what they have bought and paid for.

Welcome to politics

Our local socialist seems to have thrown his toys out of his pram.
He got upset that at the Constituency Committee political points were raised by ourselves in response to attacks from the opposition. It seems strange that the Labour group are able to make direct attacks on our decisions and policies but when we respond by reminders of their legacy of a debt mountain we are deemed as making political statements. Of course it has always been the leftist way to attack anyone who disagrees with them and, as usual, revert to name calling.
We are not one big happy family, we are political opponents intent on winning or maintaining power and it is a very strange politician who does not recognise this.

Saturday 25 September 2010

Monday 20 September 2010

Papal visit to Cofton Park.

Although the day started very early and wet it brightened up later and the sun came out as the Pope's helicopter touched down. Make of that what you will.
The coaches were streaming past before 4.00am and changing gear to get up the hill right outside Keith & Sue's house on Groveley Lane.
We were all at Wythall by 5.30am for identity checking and then boarded a coach for Cofton Park.
Instead of a commentary we have loads of photos and will try to upload videos for you to see.
A truly wonderful day for the city, for Longbridge and for Rednal.
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Sunday 12 September 2010

Opening of Edgewood Hall

Recently we saw the re-opening of Edgewood Hall in Rednal.
This was a facility that served a lot of people in the area but after the old committee disbanded we have made various efforts to keep it open but finally the decision was made to close it as it was costing Northfield Constituency £5000 pa.
Here in Longbridge we have been trying to find someone to take over and finally settled on an organisation called BLISS (Better Life Inspiration Support Services) who work with young people to help them into work. They are pledged to help other organisations to make full use of the hall and bring  this much loved building back into public use.
Keith was delighted to be asked to perform the opening ceremony and did so with an, as usual, short speech.

Sue & Ken with stage and choir stalls in the background

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The stage

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A very wet day.

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Ken & Sue with Cliff the Site Manager for WRG.

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Keith behind the stage area

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Second week

That was after the first week, now for some photos of last weekend.

The canteen

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turning area

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