[Druid 2156]

Dick Clark really sounded bad this year. His stroke really took his voice.

[SilverMiniCooperS]

I watched a few minutes of it and to me he sounded worse than ever. But I do admire him for not giving up.

Ben, congratulations to your mum....that's very impressive. Now I can say I know someone whose mum is a MBE!!!!!

[kitchenwitch]

Congratulations from me as well to your Mother Ben. Definitely something to be very proud of. I presume you will be at the ceremony taking photos, or is that something frowned upon?

As for Dick Clark, I didn't see him last night although we had the show on the TV (I must have been refilling my glass). We were remarking how much Carson Daily looked like Dick Clark and were wondering if he was his love child, or perhaps Disney was up to something.

[bll]

Congrats to your Mum Ben, how wonderful.

We just got back from a housewarming party a friend held. I made all the food for her, and gave her a wine bottle cooler. I'm knackered.

[wakeyboy]

Well done Mammy Dragon!!!




There are quite a few more deserving people getting honours this year, Status Quo aside!

There have been a few people from West Yorkshire receiving honours this time too.

Most notable is Patrick Stewart, receiving a knighthood for 50 years service to film and television.

Also,
Mohammed Aslam - MBE- (executive chef and managing director of a chain of West Yorkshire-based curry houses),
Ian McGeechan - Knighthood- (Leeds-born British Lions rugby union coach),
David Nixon -OBE- (from Leeds, honoured for services to dance for his work as artistic director of the Northern Ballet Theatre),
Peter Box -CBE- (Leader of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, for services to local government),
Keith Moss -MBE- (from Pudsey was rewarded for his voluntary work as President of Bradford Cricket League and Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club)
Karen Harrison -MBE- (Wakefield mother who has worked hard to reduce crime in the district as senior project manager for development agency, Wakefield first which has tried to tackle crime targetted against businesses)

[Mr Retro]

1. Feeling kinda angry at the moment. I just got a bill in the mail for $122.00 for a recycling bin that I didn't order, don't want & don't use. It's being forced on every residential address in town. It's mandatory says the city

2. I also just realized that every single person that contacted me this week contacted me only because they wanted something. They either wanted money or some kinda favor

3. Gonna go to Wienerschnitzel & get some chili dogs for lunch. Maybe that'll cheer me up!

[mr dragon]

Thanks for the congrats to me Mum, guys. Appreciated. It was quite a surprise when we found out- not something you normally expect at all. It's also funny- when my Mum saw the official envelope come through the post a while back, she panicked and suddenly thought she owed some back taxes to HM's Inland Revenue. She wasn't expecting it and didn't know she'd been nominated by several people this year. I know she's my Mum, but I think she deserved it. She's spent over twenty years seriously pushing and promoting scientific research and awareness into deaf/blind disabilities, and also a thing called Usher Syndrome, alongside a disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa - which was barely understood when she started out in the business in the eighties. We read about the usual well known 'famous' figures who get these Honours awards every year- but nowadays about 70 per cent of them go to what they call 'local heroes'. Ie just ordinary people in the community who've achieved or done good things for society. It's a good thing. I'm quietly proud of her to actually get some 'official' recognition for what she's achieved in her work in the last twenty years. I couldn't do what she's done.

I'll also say this again. Glad to see that virtually no very senior bankers in industry, or retiring UK politicians, got any Honours Awards this year as they often usually do in the Honours List. After everything that's happened in the last 24 months- Nice

Congratulations from me as well to your Mother Ben. Definitely something to be very proud of. I presume you will be at the ceremony taking photos, or is that something frowned upon?

Lol Bonnie. That probably wont happen! I think they allow you to invite a person to go with you to the ceremony at Buck' Palace when you receive it- but personally I just think it's a day just for my Mum and my Dad, not for me or my brother. I'd rather not go and let them enjoy the day together. Though I've jokingly told her I want her to get Jensen Button's autograph when she's there- coz I fucking supported that guy through thick and thin this year and was standing by him all the way in this year's F1 season- even when he screwed up half way through! My Mum was like- "who is Jensen Button? I don't even know what he looks like..." I'm joking around. I'm not sure when the ceremony is to be honest- I think it's sometime in June.

1. Feeling kinda angry at the moment. I just got a bill in the mail for $122.00 for a recycling bin that I didn't order, don't want & don't use. It's being forced on every residential address in town. It's mandatory says the city

Man, that's a bummer. I'm all into recycling stuff- we've just had five recycle bins installed in our block of flats which saves me having to go down the road to do it at the nearest 'recycle bank', but I've never been charged for having to do it and don't know anyone who has. That sounds pretty unfair. They even gave us a 'free' reusable recycle tough 'bag' to put your recyclable stuff into in the flat, instead of into your waste bin, before taking it down to the actual recycle bins. I say 'free' but it obviously came out of our local Council Tax

[SilverMiniCooperS]

That would piss me off too Tom. It's like the city of Houston has mandated that all yard waste be disposed of in a special non-plastic bin liner. They look like plastic but aren't and biodegrade much faster than plastic. It became law January 1st. The only problems are: #1 they cost over twice that of regular bin liners and #2 none of the stores are carrying them!!! So, they extended the deadline for using them to February 1st.

[wakeyboy]

There has been talk of fining people in the wakefield district if they do not recycle. So if your glass and bottles box is not being used (and they'll check at collection times) then you could be fined. Or if your 'paper' bin isnt being used.

My Mum told them to take the paper bin away as she has enough bins down the side of the house. Its an eyesore!

Why SHOULD anyone be forced to recycle? If the council want to go through our bins and recycle it themselves then be my guest!

[kitchenwitch]

We recycle, and we have deposits on the majority of our beverage containers, so those all go back to the store. We have a recycling center not too far from us and WB is good about taking our stuff there.
Florida doesn't have a deposit law and when we were there it felt strange to just throw away the bottles. My friend whom we stayed with isn't into recycling, and that really bothered me.

But mandates from the government in which the citizen has to pay for out of pocket aren't right. What happens to the people who can't afford that $122.00 dollars for the privilege of being "given" a recycling bin? Will they send bill collectors after them? It's just not right.

[Mr Retro]

But mandates from the government in which the citizen has to pay for out of pocket aren't right. What happens to the people who can't afford that $122.00 dollars for the privilege of being "given" a recycling bin? Will they send bill collectors after them? It's just not right.

The bill I got for $122.00 was the "first" bill of many more to come. It is actually a total of 4 months billing at $30.00 a month everyone is being charged. I will be getting a bill for $60.00 every 2 months from now on.

From what I understand and what other residents have told me since I don't buy the joke of a local paper, the city council "misinterpreted" a state mandate that local land fills had to reduce the rate they are filling up. As far as I know, we are the only municipality in the entire state of California that has gone this route of forcing residents to pay for their own recycling. Of course, everyone is up in arms (including me) and have signed petitions to stop this unfair & outrageous practice. There are many people & seniors on fixed incomes that can ill afford this program. All I keep hearing is that the city council is "discussing" the matter. "Discussing it?" With a blue recycling bin laying in my yard right now that I didn't order, don't want, & don't use, it appears like they done decided.

Personally, I ain't gonna pay even though I can afford it. I detest the idea of something being forced upon me whether I like it or not. I'm gonna call sometime this week & tell them what they can do with their blue recycling bin when they pick it up. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.

[SilverMiniCooperS]

The only recyclables I have in any quantities are my aluminium Squirt cans and Cinnamon's Fancy Feast cans. I save both and then take them to the recycling place and get whatever is the going rate for them.
Aluminium is pretty low right now, but in the past when it's up in the 80+ cents a pound, it makes it well worth while.

The bill I got for $122.00 was the "first" bill of many more to come. It is actually a total of 4 months billing at $30.00 a month everyone is being charged. I will be getting a bill for $60.00 every 2 months from now on.

You mean from now on and forever or just for four months? Whichever it is, it is outrageous, especially as the council is probably selling the cans - that's a fair profit for them. I would be outraged also.

[bll]

Our city tried that for a while and we were a 'test' neighbourhood; I was actually harassed for setting out a nearly empty bin. I wrote a very strongly worded letter to the PTB that I buy with as little packaging as possible, can my own broths, pickles and sauces, compost the little bit of grass clippings I get, and generally told them politely to bugger off. They picked up my bin and never brought it back. This was a few years back; now if you want a recycle bin you have to get it from the private hauler and pay for the privledge. We simply take our tins back to the salvager and dump the rest at the free drops.

[Mr Retro]

The bill I got for $122.00 was the "first" bill of many more to come. It is actually a total of 4 months billing at $30.00 a month everyone is being charged. I will be getting a bill for $60.00 every 2 months from now on.

You mean from now on and forever or just for four months? Whichever it is, it is outrageous, especially as the council is probably selling the cans - that's a fair profit for them. I would be outraged also.

Yes, it's from now on & forever.

[JuanaLaLoca]

As for Dick Clark, I didn't see him last night although we had the show on the TV (I must have been refilling my glass). We were remarking how much Carson Daily looked like Dick Clark and were wondering if he was his love child, or perhaps Disney was up to something.

I don't know who he is, but Carson Daily was on a different channel from Dick Clark. Ryan Seacrest does the main hosting for Dick's show. It is sad to see Dick Clark having such a difficult time speaking, but his personality is still exactly the same as ever.

[ukus]

The bill I got for $122.00 was the "first" bill of many more to come. It is actually a total of 4 months billing at $30.00 a month everyone is being charged. I will be getting a bill for $60.00 every 2 months from now on.

You mean from now on and forever or just for four months? Whichever it is, it is outrageous, especially as the council is probably selling the cans - that's a fair profit for them. I would be outraged also.

Yes, it's from now on & forever.

Indeed it is outrageous !!!

Personally, I ain't gonna pay even though I can afford it. I detest the idea of something being forced upon me whether I like it or not. I'm gonna call sometime this week & tell them what they can do with their blue recycling bin when they pick it up. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.

You tell 'em Tom.

[kitchenwitch]

As for Dick Clark, I didn't see him last night although we had the show on the TV (I must have been refilling my glass). We were remarking how much Carson Daily looked like Dick Clark and were wondering if he was his love child, or perhaps Disney was up to something.

I don't know who he is, but Carson Daily was on a different channel from Dick Clark. Ryan Seacrest does the main hosting for Dick's show. It is sad to see Dick Clark having such a difficult time speaking, but his personality is still exactly the same as ever.

Well that would explain why I never saw Dick Clark.....We were watching a completely different show.

[kitchenwitch]

Personally, I ain't gonna pay even though I can afford it. I detest the idea of something being forced upon me whether I like it or not. I'm gonna call sometime this week & tell them what they can do with their blue recycling bin when they pick it up. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Good luck with that Tom. It sounds like there are enough angry people that they are going to have to address the situation instead of allowing it to stand as is.

[JuanaLaLoca]

After the town successfully refused to pick up trash from the condo developments (which account for a large percentage of the population) for decades, they finally started to do so this past July. This includes the recycling program, as well - it's about time! I'm not conscientious enough to go somewhere to recycle, but if they'll pick it up, I'll do it. The condo association coordinated getting the bins, but they did say that they 'purchased' a bin for every unit; I don't know what they cost. I believe that the trash bins technically belong to the town, and I don't think that they charged for those, although if you want a bigger one (the condos only got 1/2-size ones) or a second one, you have to pay an annual fee to the town. Now that I'm doing the recycling (which they pick up every other week), I find that I only have to put out trash every other week, too, usually.

What we are now facing is that the town wants to start charging the water bill on a different plan, which could be very expensive for us. We do not pay individual water bills; it is included in the condo fee. The town now wants to install individual meters and also charge us at a higher rate. The meter installation will cost us several hundred each and we will then also pay at least $40 more per month. The condo associations are trying to fight it, but it's probably a losing battle.

I guess the towns are trying to squeeze every penny out of us, Tom!

In the meantime, my condo fee has gone up again and is now about four times what it was when I first moved in.

[mr dragon]

It is outrageous Tom. I wouldn't pay either. We've always viewed recycling methods here just as an another alternate way of picking up your rubbish- which is paid for in your local council tax anyway. Either that or people just take their main daily recyclables- glass, cans/tins, paper etc to the local recycle bank- which are everywhere in the UK anyway (usually in the local larger supermarket's car park- which is a smart place to put them). Also, surely if they make money out of recycling (it is actually a business- where they create new products from the old), you shouldn't have to be forced to pay extra for them to have the privilege of using the stuff you've given them anyway...!

I don't believe in forcing people to do stuff like this against their choice- especially by making them to then have to pay even more money. Generally I've noticed that the majority of people are more than happy to do it regardless, particularly if you make it easy and straightforward for them to do it (as Juana pointed out). If they're offering you the service of collection and tell you that you need to separate your rubbish in the bins that's fair enough, but your situation- that's being put on you Tom, goes way too far.

[SilverMiniCooperS]

I am super pissed at Photobucket right now. I had all my stuff in different folders. smilies in one, photos in another, holiday thingys in another etc. etc. etc.

Well, the pillocks upgraded and super improved - again! Everything, and I mean everything is now all jumbled up in a folder they made and now I have to sort it all again. It will take me ages....

[ukus]

Yea ...I noticed they have been messing about with Photobucket quite a lot just recently.

[Druid 2156]

* Still freezing my ass off from the weather. Nearly fell at work due to the inches thick ice that we call a parking lot. If I hadn't been in front of a bus at the time, I wouldn't have had a bike rack to grab onto to prevent my fall.

* Had to break down and buy a new car after mine died a most unexpected death. The damn cold weather did it in! So now instead of my little Ford Escort, I'm driving a Chrysler Town and Country minivan with heated leather seats. My baby is white. Here's a picture of one :


* Realizing how much I miss my family out west. Especially my one brother in central California.

[kitchenwitch]

OOOO, heated leather seats, nice.

[Mr Retro]

* Realizing how much I miss my family out west. Especially my one brother in central California.

Do you mind me asking which city in central California? I used to live in the central part of the state, in fact, it was was referred to as the central valley. I lived in the city of Visalia for 15 years. The nearest large cities would be Bakersfield, 75 miles to the south and Fresno, 35 miles to the north.

[Druid 2156]

Tom, my brother lives in Red Bluff, I guess out of town. He works as a mechanic for the WalMart distribution center there.

[mr dragon]

OOOO, heated leather seats, nice.

I was going to say something really rude 'n cheeky there, but I thought better of it

Congrats on your new care Beth. I love the feeling when you get a new car. It's like being a kid again with a new toy.

[Caer Ibormeith]

Just sent a little email of congratulations to my Mum. We already knew about this awhile back because they tell you a few weeks beforehand, however you aren't allowed to tell anyone until the years Honours List officially gets published today. My Mum's received an MBE (Merit of the British Empire) for services to charity in this years official Honours from the Queen.

Heartfelt congratulations to your mum, Ben. You must be so proud.

[kitchenwitch]

OOOO, heated leather seats, nice.

I was going to say something really rude 'n cheeky there, but I thought better of it

Well that's a first! New Year's resolution?

You know I'm teasing.

[bll]

Nice ride , Beth!!

John's van was hit last night on the way home; he was stopped and the guy behind him didn't. Damaged the bumper on his van (he drives an E150) but totally wiped out the front of the other guy's Windstar. He's been on the phone with the insurance comapny all afternoon, but it looks like they're going to replace his bumper for him.

[SilverMiniCooperS]

Woke up this morning about 7 to find we had no water. Come to find out some pillock hit a fire hydrant in the subdivision. How the hell they did that I don't know as they are well away from the actual road. They finally got the water back on about 2 PM.

Got all the outside pipes checked and wrapped in anticipation of our deep freeze starting on Thursday and to go through Sunday. I guess we shouldn't complain as we haven't had one like this for over 10 years.

Made a big choccy cake with my own coffee/brandy buttercream icing and I'm about to have a slice!

[wakeyboy]

Jen! thats evil telling me about your chocolate cake and coffee/brandy butter cream.


I want!

[SilverMiniCooperS]

C'mon over.........I'll even make you a cuppa - tea or coffee - or whatever!

[wakeyboy]

C'mon over.........I'll even make you a cuppa - tea or coffee - or whatever!

That would be a very expensive and time consuming journey just for a cuppa!

[SilverMiniCooperS]

C'mon over.........I'll even make you a cuppa - tea or coffee - or whatever!

That would be a very expensive and time consuming journey just for a cuppa!

What about the cake???

[wakeyboy]

C'mon over.........I'll even make you a cuppa - tea or coffee - or whatever!

That would be a very expensive and time consuming journey just for a cuppa!

What about the cake???

I'm there!!!!

[SilverMiniCooperS]

I knew that would change your mind - I'll leave the back door unlatched for ya!!

I almost forgot - I also made little shit and carrots for dinner!!

[Mr Retro]

Tom, my brother lives in Red Bluff, I guess out of town. He works as a mechanic for the WalMart distribution center there.

Red Bluff, even though in the center of the state is considered northern California as it is north of Sacramento, the state capitol. Just about any city or town in the San Joaquin Valley, which is a large agricultural area exactly in the middle of the state, would be considered "central California."

[mr dragon]

OOOO, heated leather seats, nice.

I was going to say something really rude 'n cheeky there, but I thought better of it

Well that's a first! New Year's resolution?

You know I'm teasing.

I was actually impressed with myself!

You see- Ziiiiip!

Nada...

Silence....

[mr dragon]

Just sent a little email of congratulations to my Mum. We already knew about this awhile back because they tell you a few weeks beforehand, however you aren't allowed to tell anyone until the years Honours List officially gets published today. My Mum's received an MBE (Merit of the British Empire) for services to charity in this years official Honours from the Queen.

Heartfelt congratulations to your mum, Ben. You must be so proud.

Thank you Sandy. Yes, we are. She even got her name, story and pic in one of the local rags though they called her Ms instead of Mrs, which is quite funny. They also said she'd been doing it for forty years, when in actual fact this thing she got it for she's been doing for twenty years. Just shows how much the press often get their facts wrong...

[kitchenwitch]

OOOO, heated leather seats, nice.

I was going to say something really rude 'n cheeky there, but I thought better of it

Well that's a first! New Year's resolution?

You know I'm teasing.

I was actually impressed with myself!

You see- Ziiiiip!

Nada...

Silence....

I'm proud of you. It cant have been easy to have restrained yourself like that.
So many jokes, so little time...

[mr dragon]

It's tough being me sometimes, you just don't know.

Cue some violins.....

[kitchenwitch]

Want some cheese with your whine?

[mr dragon]

Lol. I've never heard that one before....!

Poor poor wee widdle Dragon......Only if it comes with lashings of sentiment...

[kitchenwitch]

Lol. I've never heard that one before....!

Poor poor wee widdle Dragon......Only if it comes with lashings of sentiment...

I don't think I can muster up any sentiment, but I think we can get a box of crackers for that cheese...

[mr dragon]

That'll do then! I'm starving.

[Mr Retro]

1. Thrilled at the good news I got today. They approved my leave of absence at work today for most of the month of April. They placed some conditions, but nothing I can't handle. My trip to the UK is on!!

2. Getting ready for my 4 day weekend in Las Vegas. It's gonna be a blast!

3. Also happy to find a particular song I've been looking for a long time amongst my hundreds of CD's.

*Whoa, I feel good! (humming the James Brown tune by that title)

[wakeyboy]

Pleased for you Tom!!!!!


Let me know your itinery when you have one, and I'll see if I can meet up with you. Others from the UK here should try too!

[eddie2003]

You can do it!

Go for the gold!

[ukus]

1. Thrilled at the good news I got today. They approved my leave of absence at work today for most of the month of April. They placed some conditions, but nothing I can't handle. My trip to the UK is on!!

That's great Tom