Ladies, Do You Want To Play Football?

I run the line for the ladies football team in Newbury. Normally it's for the reserve team as my daughter, Lauren, plays for them. We are always looking for new players so I have produced the above poster. If you know of anyone who would like to play ladies football (girls have to be over 16 years now), please let me know.

Mr Plonker

It's a few days since my last post, and boy, loads have happened since then!

I've been out loads of time canvassing both in my Ward - Victoria - and fellow candidates Wards. I was a little aprehensive at first. I didn't really know what I was doing. However, now I really enjoy it. It's good to see that only a minority of people, whatever their political persuasion, are rude or offensive. Mind you, I am beginning to spot voters from the "other side". In fact I think I am getting quite good at it. I can recommend another great blog for people to read which really has some great observations about this.

Last Saturday I spent the morning helping the Lib Dems in the Market Place in Newbury. They were raising a petition to ban the buses from Northbrook Street. I made a bit of booboo though. I was introduced to the leader of the Lib Dems on the District Council. He mistook me for a member of the public and tried to get me to sign the petition. Unfortunately, without thinking, I blurted out "you plonker, I'm a candidate". He went off on one. I can understand it. I think in the end I was the "plonker". We had a good chat later though. I think I probably tempered his first impression of me when he realised I seemed to be quite good at getting signatures for the petition. In fact I think I probably did as well as if not better than the others! (Sounds of blowing own trumpet in background).

C'Mon You RZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Bought our tickets for the Newcastle and Watford games this morning. C'mon you RZZ.

Blonde in Disguise!

Yesterday, I got in from work to find my eldest Daughter, Siobhan, in the biggest strop I'd seen for ages. It seems that my youngest daughter, Lauren, had written a note, forging my writing, requesting that Lauren put some washing in the washing machine and for Siobhan to clean the toilet.

It seems that Siobhan saw the note and thought that I would be cross if I got home and the jobs weren't completed. She duly cleaned the toilet and asked Lauren if she had completed her task yet. Lauren replied in the negative and Siobhan said in a very matter of fact way, "Well, you'd better hurry because Dad will not be pleased with you!" At this, Lauren just fell about laughing and Siobhan eventually realised what had happened.

You may not see the humour in this - but my eldest daughter is clearly a blonde in disguise!

To Start With

I thought it about time I started to keep a record of my life as it happened. Some may find this boring or some may find it interesting.

2 weeks ago I got a knock on the door of my flat. The knocker was my old friend Arthur Johnson who I have known for over 20 years or so. Would I like him to put my name down as a candidate for the Town Council at the upcoming elections? Well, I must admit I hadn't really thought this much in recent months - or at least since the last time Arthur had mentioned it to me which must have been a year or so before. Ok, I said, go on then and lets see what develops.

I have always been interested in local issues, especially the devils who allow their canine friends to foul Stroud Green which my flat overlooks, the other devils who place graffiti all over the town, a better place for my daughters to grow up and live in, etc., etc.

The next thing I know I am meeting David Rendell - someone I have had great regard and respect for over the years I have been in living in Newbury - and then having to meet a couple of eminent local Lib Dems the next evening. Mind you, I think what really swung it for me was, when questioned about the reasons why I would like to be considered as a candidate, I told them I hated the Tories and what they had done to West Berkshire in the short time they had been in power!

Since then I have been out canvassing a couple of times with Paul Walter and Roger Hunneman and others and I have to admit it, I rather enjoy doing this. A bit knackering after a day at work and also before my evening dinner, but quite rewarding.