Free Falling Foxes

I've emailed Count Binface and asked him to include in his manifesto, the complete and utter banning of us having any connection with Southampton FC.

Walking around our neighbourhood this morning, it dawned on me how very few homes have what you might call a traditional front garden of lawn, borders, flowers etc. I would estimate that 75% or more, were block paved, slabbed, tarmac/concrete etc. Oh I get why, it's usually to accommodate a car or 3. However, in the most recent David Attenborough series, Secret Garden, he mentioned the vital role our gardens play for wild life, especially as we lose more of our green spaces in our increasingly crowded island. We are the most nature depleted country in the world. Not in the top 10, not in the top 5 - No1. What an unwanted accolade and with gardens diminishing too, it ain't good.

I remember receiving a new referral once when I worked for ASC. During our initial meeting/assessment, she asked me if I could look into getting her a mobility scooter. Looking into her needs, it certainly looked like she would qualify. But then it came to my attention that she already had a mobility car. When I pointed this out she said, 'Oh my daughter uses that.' Her daughter was fully ambulant.

We've had a few squadrons of Dragon Flies in our garden this last week or two. 5 or 6 flying around at any one time. Previously, I've only seen the odd one here and there - and that's pretty rare.

Is the Falcon still there or flew away to enjoy his breakfast? In our back garden we have had a couple of pigeons having a go at each other at least twice this week. Clear unrest in the ornithology world.

'Do you sell chocolates?' 'No'

What does the Red and orange denote, ferocity?

That's not true. I wasn't expecting t................ I mean, he wasn't expecting to train too.

Possibly, but one thing is consistent; far far fewer female drivers acknowledge you when giving way.

Since Western Golf Course closed approx 10 years ago, it has become an even more wonderful green space. You see all sorts of wildlife there and it's so picturesque. Arguably, it is a more beautiful open space than any of the city parks. It would make a truly wonderful city Arboretum .

Youngsters steals from 'Honesty box' Fair play to the boys mother.

I worked there from 1977 to 1995. It was Marconi Radar Systems by then before becoming Marconi Command and Control. If you look closely, you'll notice the left hand side of the site was designed as the front of the building. This was because when it was built in the late 50s, it was already envisaged that a new road (A563) would be constructed to feed the newly built M1 (J21) The roads at the lower part of the photograph are Liberty Road and Scudamore Road. The latter of which now continues to a roundabout on the aforementioned A563. Many of the buildings on the left hand half of the photograph/site remain with countless further development including residential, commercial and industrial, taking place in the area. One noticeable exception on the site is the taller square building towards the top left of the photograph which was known as the 'High Test Bay' Unfortunately, what does remain as a green open space in that area, the old Western Golf Course, is also due to be concreted over.

Will that continue though? More likely such costs will be rolled-out across the new 'city'. My prediction is that for the average current county household in the affected area, the negatives will outweigh pluses. Then there are the consequences of more green spaces being grabbed for city development. Unfortunate times.

It's free now for domestic use.

I'm willing to bet that very few, if any, of the benefits City residents currently enjoy such as more frequent rubbish/ recycling collection, free bulk waste collections and pest control will materialise for us. They'll claim now they have a larger area of responsibility, they can no longer afford such things. Also, if our house rateable value is higher than a currently comparable in the city, it will remain so.