New Years Eve - What to do?

Years ago we used to go to a golf club do. They left it to the last minute (August) to arrange entertainment, so we got the worst.

You go to your local pub get charged at the door and the place is full of people you don't see for 364 days of the year.

Taxis cost a mortgage.

So we are staying in. Everything under control.

Happy New Year !

So ends 2011

As far as Chester Rd is concerned (it's where I live)

1. Increased traffic levels to trunk road levels on occasions.
2. Token traffic policing.
3. Our rat run still hammers through every work day morning
as it has when I pointed this out to Penyffordd Cllrs five years ago

Presuming this stays as it is up to local elections in May.

Last election on a voting of 2000 approx the three county council contenders
were I seem to remember within 10 votes of one another.

Presuming the main three groups put forward a contender

What if I stand as a county councillor ? How does that alter the numbers?

Happy 2012 councillors !


ps. It must be said that both Labour and the Independents have betrayed Chester Rd and other main roads within the village used instead of the bypass.

Perhaps someone else will stand, it would make things even more interesting.

Or perhaps its all off if we get the Higher Kinnerton speed bumps treatment?

Penyffordd meanders into the new year

One of these in the garden this afternoon. I've lived here nearly 30 years and never seen one in the garden. I released one from a trap last year which is apparently against the law. You have to watch what your doing as they bite.
Traps should be made illegal they're barbaric.

I'm familiar with their lifestyles. Lots of other wild life such as robins and blackbirds are nasty when you get down to how they live.

If you want a little free entertainment buy a rubber robin and nail it to the top of a post in the garden with a view from the house. Then watch what happens when the local robin sees it. He'll knock five buckets of guano out of it.

On the allotment front it's tidy up time. Strawberry runners to be potted up.
I have a large box of vegetable seeds that are a few years old. I have a friend who planted out seeds that were ten years old. Many  were successful.

I have ten old varieties of lettuce, we shall see.

Places not to go on Xmas Eve

Two years ago we ended up due to circumstances beyond our control booking haircuts in Wrexham on Christmas Eve. Traffic and parking was dire.

It would appear this issue had an extra ingredient this year.

In The Daily Post

ps. The chap in the photo looks remarkable like the Green Man from Treuddyn. Our nickname for the man who drives only green.

Happy Christmas

May your God smile upon you.

Simple Seed Swapping 2012

Black Krim Tomato

I am in the process  of ordering tomato seeds on Ebay.
I have ordered 9 different tomato types. This will bring me over 1000 seeds!
You get a 100 seeds for 99p whether you like it or not.
This of course is a little over the top.

So I am open to some plant material swapping
in groups of 10 seeds.

What I have.

Tomato

1. Principe Borgese
2. Black Krim
3. San Marzano 2
4. Cherokee Purple
5. Striped Stuffer
6. German Orange Strawberry
7. Beefsteak Pineapple
8. Soldacki
9. Cuore di Bue

I also have to swap fruit tree scions, please enquire.
As examples I have victoria plum, bramley, various pears, quince.

What do I want?

Cucumbers, peppers, other tomato, fruit tree scions, strawberry plants, grape cuttings.

I'm looking for a simple swap. No money exchanges just stamp addressed envelopes or packages. (perhaps adjustments may be needed for post)

Email Colin in the first instance tresmegistes@gmail.com
The comment box below can also be used for communication.


keywords: surplus, seed swap, 2012, growfruitandveg, growyourown, grapevine

Church metal thefts in Wales rise five-fold in two years

Among the biggest claims was for nearly £53,000 after metal was stolen from St John the Baptist Church in Penymynydd, Flintshire, in 2007.

read BBC News

Speed Cushions

Higher Kinnerton which has a similar issue (speeding /short cut traffic) but smaller volumes than Chester Rd is to have speed cushions along its main road. (presuming not too many objections)
Last week Chambers Lane, Mynydd Isa was advertised for similar.

Is Chester Rd,  Penyffordd to get road cushions?

They have the data, they know what's happening.

Are we to carry on being a major support for local trunk roads?

We shall see.

Penyffordd schoolchildren perform Christmas carols in Ewloe

in The Flintshire Chronicle

Winter Solstice

Link Winter Solstice

Alison Halford Part 2 - Control Freakery, Anarchy, Indiscipline and Back Bench Muppets

Link Alison Halford

Alison on Perjury and Malfeasance in Public Office

Link Alison Halford Blog

There's nothing on the telly

Tonight a feast of a program about food and culture in Jerusalem in houses and restaurants of Israeli's and Palestinians.

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Internationally-renowned chef Yotam Ottolenghi returns to his home town of Jerusalem to discover the hidden treasures of its extraordinarily rich and diverse food culture. He meets and cooks with both Arabs...

Links
Yotam Ottolenghi
Yotam Ottolenghi (2)

Shopping List from PACA

Mr Sian Le Tissier presented Penyffordd Community Council with a wish list of facilities for local organisations.

1. Premises modification for Scouts / Cubs / Beavers and possibly Brownies.
2. A youth pitch for Penyffordd Junior Football Team. (one presumes a pitch without sheep grazing)
3. Penyffordd Senior Football Club would like some assistance for a wet room.
4. A skate park ( not near my house please)
5. BMX outdoor adventure area ( again not near my house please)

Mr Le Tissier's letter included realistic costings.

Copies of letter were sent to Flintshire Chief Planning officer and Chief Leisure Services Officer.

Penyffordd Community Council decided to support the above aspirations.


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Penyffordd District comment.

Sian Le Tissier's efforts are a breath of fresh air, he is to be congratulated over his efforts.

Penyffordd has many little play areas dotted around. How often are these areas used? I think very little.

Would it not have been better to have one large area and buildings that all the sports teams could use? From a social point of view people would mix more readily in one central area.
Why do I ( and any one else) have to drive to Padeswood to watch Penyffordd Senior's football?

224 Housing plus points

Cllrs David Williams and Cindy Hinds' meetings with Flintshire Planning has borne the following developments some of which are ongoing.

1. Large play equipment on the Millstone Playing Field.
2. Section 106 gain for Penyffordd and district would be in the region of £150,000.

Sunday Morning Walk

Dog walks get colder

We have had a little trouble with the roads. In the end we left the car on the trunk road. Perhaps a 4 x 4 is the best way forward.

It seems the A55 is best avoided when we have snow. Further tales on the A55.

Link Daily Post

Penyffordd Traffic

Meanwhile........http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/108864/arctic-conditions-cause-traffic-mayhem-for-commuters.aspx

Plans for 224 homes in Flintshire village approved

Bad news for Chester Rd, Flintshire County Council's covert trunk road. More traffic, no policing, no traffic calming, increased traffic from A55 Warren Bank. Of course traffic calming can't be put on trunk roads can it?

Cllr Cindy Hinds spoke against the plans.

Link Flintshire Chronicle

ps. I tell a little fib. Gosafe was seen last week....................
A lot of traffic continues to ignore the limits. We are just a big fast short cut.

Penyffordd farmer's cows stray on bypass three times in one day

in The Daily Post