Boxing Day

At the beach with all the grandkids.

Is it me? Or has the BBC lost the plot?

Do you get pi**** off with the BBC?

Who the hell is running it these days?

Bet it's a thirty something prat with a sociology degree.

Bring back Moira or even Sylvia Peters (who?).

Yesterday one of the main stories was that more and more people are using their mobiles whilst driving.  I couldn't believe it but the Beeb fuzzed out their faces and number plates on the film.  WHY?  They were breaking the law.  Their faces should have been left visible for the police to track them down and confiscate their phones and their cars.   It's no use telling me that they aren't allowed to identify people they film when only this morning they showed a pensioner (I assume) WITHOUT his face being obscured, queueing up to collect his money at a post office.  Did they ask his permission?

PUBLISH AND BE DAMNED!!

Whilst we are on the subject of pensioners, yet again the BBC jumps onto the stereotype bandwagon by tending to suggest that it is only oldies who have trouble with supermarket unmanned checkouts. 

I know of several hundred pensioners who know more about technology than many folk half their age. 

STOP ASSUMING!!

Another thing.  How many bloody times do we have to be told about Tiger Woods?  I would suggest that every 15 minutes over the last 2 days on BBC Breakfast is overkill.  He's only a bloody golfer.

STOP FUELLING THE "CELEBRITY" CULTURE.

Poor young Carol was out in the garden again, muffled up to the eyballs competing with the weather, traffic, and bin men noises. WHY?  What does being outside contribute to anything.  Has a risk assessment been done?  What are the implications for her catching pneumonia and then suing the Corporation with the consequences that we (the viewers) end up paying out of our license fees.

BRING HER BACK INSIDE

 It's our (exhorbitant) license fee.

START TAKING SOME NOTICE OF YOUR AUDIENCE

Grumpy Old man?  Not a strong enough description.

I'M ANGRY AS HELL

Official Progress on Thaxted

Received a copy of the letter (in favour of our plans) sent from UDC's Conservation Officer to the Architect. 

Now we can go ahead and submit full blown plans to UDC's Planning Department for consideration and hopefully approval.

Had a constructive meeting with a potential groundworks contractor to quote for laying a concrete slab throughout the groundfloor and laying drains etc.

Met Electrician on-site where he installed a new consumer unit and temporary power sockets.  Wrote to Electricity Company asking for a power connection.

Heavily into MS Project planning the sequence of work packages.

Sunday & Tuesday

Sunday
Took Meg, Adam & Gus for lunch at ASK and Meg / Adam (Gus had a party planned) to pictures to see "UP".  Great little movie (mini Mailman / Scout and wierd chocolate loving bird).  This is the best way to move a house.

Tuesday (don't remember what we did on Monday)
Took Gaz and Dee to  picture framers in Castle Camps, on to Thaxted then to Prezzo for lunch.

Thaxted Phase 1 - Clear the decks

Spent yesterday helping (just a little) the guys clear out the building.

You wouldn't believe how much muck there was behind the plasterboard or how insecure the roof looks where previous renovators have cut through tie beams and purlins and rafters.  Still, all that will be addressed when the tiles come off and we remodel the roof. This morning joined a conference call to Bain Munich which seemed to go quite well.