Council papers

Good to see the Hoaries have got their eyes on the issues that matter. So let's get it right - the cost-cutters are worried about the expense, the free-marketeers are worried about the revenue they may be taking from the commercial sector. Well the former must reduce the impact of the latter and really I don't care about commercial news organisations which in themselves are just as guilty of propaganda as any council-run paper.

The Church of England or Rome?

JINGS just ignore Wycliffe and the true story of Protestantism why don't you.

As someone who was raised a Presbyterian and who now follows in the wake of the aforementioned Englishman, Jan Hus and Martin Luther I find any kind of structural religious authority laughable whether it is exerted by Rome or Canterbury.

Lloyds losses

"This will be a considerable disappointment to Lloyds sharholders. Given that information about the depth of the crisis at HBOS was withheld from them before the takeover by the Treasury, they must be fuming even more! I'd imagine they have a good case for compensation."

No they bloody don't. Investing is supposed to be a long-term process - if they don't like it when bad things happen, they can go and swivel. That's the market kids.

Rock' n roll on

"We are in danger of destroying rock-star mystique because the web is less in thrall to image than traditional media"
If anything, the Blog is destroying the mystique of good journalism - I get every Guardian blog on RSS (yes I'm that sad) and they are depressingly similar: the end of this and that mainly. If there is aything constructive and positive, it is usually about something ephemeral. Paper-thin would perhaps be more apposite.
Who cares about the end - look forward with a grin and glint in your eye - isn't that what a rock star should be about?

Bosworth Field

I can't believe the actual site of Bosworth has been found - and with such a great array of artefacts. I mean, a boar badge on the site of a marsh!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/feb/19/battle-of-bosworth-site-confirmed

On Elvaston Castle

Like most well-meaning friends of groups, there is limited acknowledgement of the reality of the situation. This is a site of limited historical interest - indeed it is surprising that it survived the early twentieth century unlike far more interesting piles such as Chilwell Hall. If it didn't have the enigmatic name "Castle" I don't think most would take any notice. It's a pleasant enough site but the hall has not been open to the public for a long time now, and was a failed enterprise before that.
Sadly I think the site is doomed, as the delays in obtaining the investment required has been impeded by groups such as the Friends, and the money just isn't there any more. Witness the empty building sites around the city to see where all the development cash is, or rather isn't. I'm sorry if having a hotel or function site next to your home would impair its value more than a decaying country pile but alas, them's the breaks.

Bloody garages

I work in the Motor Trade
Why is the motor trade so poor when it comes to the basics of customer service? Twice I have tried to get work done on my Subaru at company site, twice I have been told I would be contacted by the service department and twice I have received no call.
So for the second time my car is in the service department of an external Subaru garage. This is a different one to the one that I used last year – on a separate occasion they sent my wife home with a car that wasn’t fit to drive. (screaming wheel bearing – the wheel sounded like it was about to fall off)
I took my car in to the Subaru garage yesterday – they did the service, and the MOT and I went in to pick it up early this morning and book the further repairs it needed. It is still there because they were able to do the repairs today – why couldn’t that have been arranged yesterday? Because the service chap that spoke to me was completely useless at communicating on the phone. The poor receptionist had to go through the report with me this morning because he hadn’t done so…
Their garage closes at 1730…no-one seems to be available to speak to me on the phone. I need to know if I can pick up my car first thing tomorrow, which will entail another early start.