Nissan Micra For Sale

We have this 1994 Nissan Micra for sale at £320ono.  It has only done 60,000 miles and is taxed and MOT''d until the end of August.  You can contact me on 07801 507100.

Why not just say No?

I saw this notice in the doctor's surgery the other day.

Why should testing for chlamydia be a routine part of being 15 to 24 years old?  Sexually transmitted diseases only occur because people have multiple sexual partners and could not occur if they waited until they got married.  Some girls wouldn't have multiple abortions and everyone would be healthier.

The sad thing is that mine is a minority view now, but I'm pleased to say that I know many young people who wouldn't consider having sex outside marriage.  And they don't have to say No to each other.  They do this because sexual relations are the ultimate expression of love, are for procreation and because they value the sanctity of marriage.  They also know that children born within marriage are much more likely to be born into a stable home.

How to Park??

Recently I wrote about parking in which I quoted the Highway Code, which advised reversing into a parking spot.

Well, this person has certainly reversed in but needed two car widths to do so.  I saw this at Asda, fortunately not at a busy time or I think the parking attendants would have been after the driver.

Be a Smarter Driver and Save Money

Do you try to drive as economically as you can?

Like me, are you finding it increasingly expensive to afford a car, and are fuel prices driving you round the bend?

I always keep my onboard computer on the fuel consumption figure so I can ease up on my right foot and try to to brake as little as possible.  By reading the road ahead and keeping well back from the car ahead, you can avoid a lot of braking.

With this in mind, I was pleased to receive a leaflet from the DVLA when I received my car tax reminder.  This is what it says, in fact just reiterating what I've been doing for some time, but I thought you might find it helpful:

Be a Smarter Driver

Drive smoothly

Stop-go driving burns fuel.  Watch the cars ahead to avoid sharp acceleration and heavy braking.

Stay in Gear

Don't coast downhill or towards lights in nuetral as this usees more fuel.  Say in gear and ease off the gas gently to reduce fuel flow to the engine to virtually zero.

Watch the revs

Change up smoothly and change gear before 2,000rpm.  Drive in the right gear for the speed and road conditions.

Drive off from cold

Modern car don't need to be warmed up.  Switch on and go and you won't be wasting fuel.

Don't idle

Switch off if you're stationary for than an minute or two.  (This leaflet says) - Restarting the engine uses virtually no fuel until you press the accelerator.  (However, we were always told that keeping on stopping and starting the engine used a lot of fuel, but always to turn the engine off while waiting at a level crossing because that is for quite a long time).

Lighten the load

Dump extra weight - take off the roof rack when you're not using it and clear out the boot.

Plan ahead

Check the route and roadworks before leaving.  stop and ask for directions if you're lost.  Use satnav if you have it.

Take it easy

slow down.  You'll get to your destination safer and more relaxed.  Take the first parking place you find - and don't forget to reverse in!

Kamikaze binman - response from council

On 17th May I wrote this:
This morning at about 6.30 I was driving along the road behind our house when I came across a kamikaze binman. I stopped to let him cross in front of my car from the truck to the side of the road and then - blow me down - he then rushed in front of my car as I moved forward. Fortunately I managed to stop in time. When he reached the lorry I tried to move forward again - and once more he darted in front of me!! He's completely unscathed and I did manage to get home shortly afterwards.

So I contacted Eastleigh borough Council, with the result that today I received the following letter:
"The details of your telephone call of 17th May 2012 regarding the erratic behaviour of the refuse collectors have been passed to me to respond.

"Firstly please can I apologise that our staff behaved in this very unsafe and unacceptable manner.

"I confirm that we will e speaking to the refuse crew concerned informing them this is not acceptable and more care should be taken while collecting bins and crossing the road.

"I apologise for any distress this may have caused.  Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any further problems regarding refuse collection.
Yours sincerely
Peter Evans
Wasrte Collection Supervisor for the Head of Direct Services."

So it pays to complain - or at least provide feedback!

Road Safety - Roundabouts

On the radio the other day they said that a report had come out saying that the roads are a safe place.  However, I'd beg to differ.  I find that drivers tend to be very selfish on the road, giving little thought for other road users, on roundabouts being a good example.  

For some reason some drivers signal right when they're going straight on, but I am particularly concerned with traffic that is turning right, ie. taking the third exit.  (See 186 paragraph in bold).

184

On approaching a roundabout take notice and act on all the information available to you, including traffic signs, traffic lights and lane markings which direct you into the correct lane. You should

• use Mirrors – Signal – Manoeuvre at all stages
• decide as early as possible which exit you need to take
• give an appropriate signal (see Rule 186). Time your signals so as not to confuse other road users
• get into the correct lane
• adjust your speed and position to fit in with traffic conditions
• be aware of the speed and position of all the road users around you

185

When reaching the roundabout you should

• give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights
• check whether road markings allow you to enter the roundabout without giving way. If so, proceed, but still look to the right before joining
• watch out for all other road users already on the roundabout; be aware they may not be signalling correctly or at all
• look forward before moving off to make sure traffic in front has moved off

186

Signals and position.
When taking the first exit to the left, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

• signal left and approach in the left-hand lane
• keep to the left on the roundabout and continue signalling left to leave

When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

• signal right and approach in the right-hand lane
• keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundabout
• signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want

When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

• select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout
• you should not normally need to signal on approach
• stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout
• signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want

When there are more than three lanes at the entrance to a roundabout, use the most appropriate lane on approach and through it.


All too often, drivers signal that they're going on round the roundabout when, in fact, they're turning off.  This leads either to traffic waiting to enter the roundabout being delayed needlessly, or not believing the signal and pulling out anyway, thus pulling out on occasion in front of a car that is going all the way round the roundabout.

Eastleigh Rec under threat

Sainsbury's intend to build on the right - 500b sq metres.

Eastleigh Rec really is under threat, because it would appear that the council has every intention of going ahead with the full Sainsbury's development.

The main concerns are as follows ;-

1. Loss of Recreation space.
2. The effect on other Traders in the Town when we already have so many empty shops in the Town. Would new Traders  want to take these shops  with the wider range of goods being sold by Sainsbury’s if Traders and feel they can trade successfully?
3. Traffic generation. [This coupled with the re-location of the Civic Offices to Eastleigh House another move which I oppose] will create considerable difficulties for traffic movements and parking.
4. Air quality in an area which already has an air quality problem.
5. Loss of the pedestrian space between the store and the shops between Market Street and High Street.
6. The effect on the Market, which will have to be closed during the reconstruction.
7. I am sure that there will be many more.

It is strongly felt that unless a very positive case is make by a very large number of people in the Town this application is more likely than not to be approved.

You may remember that several years ago the Council wanted to build flats on Grantham Green a very strong campaign was launched and the Council backed down.   In the case of Sainsbury’s I think this is unlikely as I feel certain that it is an initiative negotiated and supported by the Council. 

It is most important, therefore, that we do the following:

[a] Muster a large public rally on the Recreation Ground.[with appropriate Media cover]

[b] Enlist the regular help of the Press, T.V. and Radio

[c] Get individual people to write to the Council.

[d] Get a petition signed particularly by local people.

[e] Lobby your Local Councillors regularly.

[f]  Try to put up Posters on Private property [you may be told to take them down but this just attracts more publicity]