THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014

The Thackley Trumpit

( Incorporating ‘The Idle Chatterer’ & ‘The Closing Times’ )

Tel. 07944969335   Email: billco@blueyonder.co.uk

More Health Cuts

It would appear that this tiny, yet relatively prosperous corner of Bradford is again in the firing line when it comes to chopping its services! Now it is the brilliant work carried out at the Eccleshill Health Centre. It would appear we are OK to absorb over 700 new houses (approx 3000 residents) along with their cars and other possessions, fit them into the school system and health service yet  they wish to close the one shining light on the health front i.e. Eccleshill Health Centre.
Just what is the matter with this city. We already have several “Doctors Clinics” which, to listen to many residents, are incapable of running a whelk stall, never mind a health surgery and they wish to close down the one service everybody seems happy to use.
Closure will mean 80 jobs gone with no chance of relocation and thousands of treatments which will not be handled just because of a few paltry pounds when millions are being wasted every day by the NHS. Below is a statement by our local CCG, but it doesn’t make much sense:

Message From the Authorities

Bradford East MP David Ward believes all possible action is being taken to safeguard the   future of services at a city treatment centre shrouded in uncertainty.
There have been questions about the future of the Eccleshill Treatment Centre since it was revealed Care UK, which has a contract to provide services there until July, would not continue beyond that date.

Mr Ward has now had a meeting with both Care UK and NHS Bradford Clinical Commissioning Group, which pays for patient services to be provided there.
Payment levels are dictated nationally but Mr Ward said it was not viable for Care UK to     continue under the terms available.
He said: “The only thing left was for the CCG to seek alternative providers. It is just not viable with the funding made available at national rates for Care UK to continue with the contract. I understand the position Care UK is in and I am satisfied they are committed to working with the CCG to ensure that services and staff are protected.”
A spokesman for NHS Bradford Districts and NHS Leeds West CCGs said: “We are finalising specifications to re-procure some of the services currently provided by Care UK at Eccleshill, either from a single  provider or a number of alternative providers within the area.”
“There is now capacity within the local NHS to deliver some of the diagnostic and treatment services available at  Eccleshill.”
So there is spare capacity within the area! Where is that then? NHS has been cutting services at every level (apart from the top brass) to a point where it hardly exists. It should not be too long now before we see a NHS with only managers and admin staff with nobody at the sharp end to actually do the jobs of treatment itself.
A petition is being organised which already carries over 2500 signatures. The following is a quote from the Facebook page by the local Leader Magazine “Patients are referred here by GPs and it offers many services available at hospitals but with a shorter waiting time including orthopaedics, MRI and CT scanning and X-rays. Patients are very happy here with the cleanliness, service and results. The local community do not want to see it go!”

Below is a quote from a worker at the Centre:

“I work at the centre as the outpatient manager and have worked in the building for 9 happy years. We offer a cost effective efficient service for both patients and GP referrers. My manager (the hospital director) has worked so hard as we all have over this last year to develop the service and improve things for everyone. It's a fantastic place to work, all staff see each other as friends and this is very evident to patients in this lovely little "cottage" hospital. I'm totally devastated that this fantastic hospital will shut and the services we provide for Bradford will be lost. 
The closure of this facility would be a very serious blow to our community and must not be allowed to happen. The ’Trumpit’ joins all other organisations in its support of Eccleshill Health Centre. 

THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014 ALEX'S CORNER

Alex’s Corner

We are joined this month by a new staff member, Alex Mohammed, Below is his first contribution.

Northern Wisdom: Give a man a fish; you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish; you get to keep the fish! (Lee Mack: Going Out Tour)

As a student, I watch some terrible television. Day-time television. However, every now and again, hidden in the midst of tedium, I spot a diamond in the rough. This one came from the infamous Jeremy Kyle. As usual there were two young people, a boy and a girl, arguing about cheating on each other and whether the baby was his. Anyway, the argument is going to and fro between the two of them and it appeared as if the girl was gaining the moral high-ground. Clearly sensing this, one of the lad’s mates in the crowd stands up and says loudly. “How do we even know she’s the mother, she’s a right s***!” Of course, the whole audience (and myself in disbelief) burst into laughter while he just looked around him, bemused. Anyone who feels like they should educate this bewildered individual, please do.

Politician

Smiles may curl the lips

But eyes reveal the truth

You listen to opinions

And nod at what we say

Smile your plastic smile

Give a speech or two

Twiddle your thumbs

Think where you’d rather be

Conclude to sparse clapping

Exit the room swiftly

You don’t like those commoners

With their monetary trouble

Or their health issues

Always begging for change

You have your millions in the bank

Politics is for your  benefit

Not the publics

You wear that smug smile!

Walking out of the building now

To your car, and the chauffeur in tow

But wait

Look!

A commoner coming towards you

What does he want?

To congratulate you surely?

Plastic smile is prepared for use

But the commoners smile is real

As is the egg in his hand.

THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014 THE IDLE LORD

The Idle Lord Brings his Blog to ‘Trumpit’ Readers, (With no apologies to sensitive ears) 

Sport England’s CEO Jennie Price, recently announced its four-year funding programme for grass roots sport; the headline grabbing news was that almighty football was losing £1.6m of it’s £30m slug because of a reduction of some 100,000 participants over the last six months.

Apr 2012-Apr 2013  Oct 2012-Oct 2013

Source: Sport England’s Active People Survey – Participants

Swimming 2.88m - 2.93m

Athletics 1.95m - 2.02m

Cycling 1.86m - 2.00m

Football 1.94m - 1.84m

Golf  771,000 - 751,000

Tennis 423,400 - 400,600

Squash 257,100 - 240,700

Rugby Union 166,000 - 159,600

Boxing 149,700 - 154,800

Cricket 189,000 - 148,300

A glance at the table above suggests few sports are in rude health and remember this quote from Sport England’s Annual Report from Price herself.

“In December 2012 we published results showing that 15.5 million people play sport, once a week, every week. This is the highest ever figure, over 1.5 million more than in 2005 when London won the bid to host the Games…”

The only sport showing real growth is cycling which is largely because people cannot afford petrol; dodging buses and cars to work does not count as sport!

The quango also claimed that the £1.6m would still be directed to football but funding a new project, in other words more twee ideas from people who just do not have a clue.

If football, the most accessible and popular of all sports kids play today, is losing numbers what does that say about our approach to sport and any Olympic legacy? Well actually it says just what we all knew; it was and is a total load of bollocks.

Thank you for the money?

Of course, football is awash with cash at the top level.

For example, Wayne Rooney earns from Manchester United alone, over £15m a year; yet the grass roots struggle on with a disinterested elite and a pointless quango doling out cash on useless surveys.

Just to prove how in touch with real grass roots they really are, Price, interviewed on Radio 4's Today programme, claimed that the grass roots was struggling “…because up North on muddy pitches…”.

This is typical of the insulated arrogance that dominates these pitiful quangos with their ivory towers funded by you and I.

For Price’s salary alone you could employ half a dozen PE teachers and that would be a good use of public funds for a starter.

And here’s a thought. As most grass roots clubs are dying through lack of funds with charges to use council slag heaps going through the roof how about this?

According to Deloitte’s Sports Business Unit, the average Premier League player earns £30,000 a week. There are 18 Premier League Clubs and each squad has 25 players at least.

If the FA had any balls, introducing a scheme where a player donated one week’s salary to grass roots annually would generate £13.5m. We could then sack Price and her cronies and save a fortune.

Debts No Honest Man Can Pay – Part 2

There was a very interesting piece in Private Eye (1362) on the continuing saga of the slow but inevitable de-railing of the Punch Taverns Gravy Train. Regular readers will know I am no fan of these faceless, corporate blood suckers and nor is the Eye.

Punch is known as a “Zombie” company; although generating cash, typically, these only have enough funds left to pay off the huge interest on their debts, but not the debt itself. So they are, in effect, the walking dead.

When did Maths teachers ever look like this?

So here’s a crude bit of arithmetic; the current debt aligned to the leased pub estate tots up at around £575,000 per pub. Fine perhaps if all these are in central London selling champagne.

Part of their bold plan, according to the Eye “is to raise £100m through selling 1,100 pubs designated “non-core” – corporate bullshit meaning we cant make enough money here as these are shit-holes even though we paid a fortune for them.

So, selling over 25% of the estate will reduce debts by some 4%! Brilliant!

And the debt to pub figure goes to circa £760,000. More brilliance!

Punch resemble a Third World dictator, rumbled at long last by the people, now using the last few days to gather what they can before making off into the sunset with the dry roasted nuts in the corporate helicopter.

All smiles for the cameras…even if nothing changes

(Picture from CAMRA – Campaign for Real Ale)

Unregulated, unchecked and unashamed this is corporate greed at its naked worst. As for Vince Cable, Business Secretary, his response has been pitiful with threats as flat as a pint of three day old lager.

Here We Go…Again

The smell of cut-grass – the club cricketers’ marijuana – can only mean one thing. Gear is being dusted down, wives are being  placated and dreams of impossible glories crowd heads up and down the land. On a doubtlessly freezing cold night we will soon all assemble again for another summer of    attempting to preserve the great game of cricket for future generations so that Sport England can keep doing surveys; junior training is back again. Footballs will be put aside for the time being and skills that have been ignored for decades in schools up and down the country will be demonstrated by old lags, not long for this world, as we part kids from various devices. Volunteering glues together so much of our changing society and yet we few struggle on under expectant gazes of those that could and should help more. We don’t need surveys we need bodies. We do it because we care and because we value this part of life. So we hope that the cakes are fluffy and the tea is warm come closing time on practice night and that the kids have not pushed us one step further to assisted dementia.

THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014 THACKLEY ACTION GROUP

Thackley Action Group

On behalf of the Thackley Action Group I would like to say a big THANK YOU to those twenty  stalwarts who made our Traffic Experiment such a success. As you may have seen in the T&A we managed to create quite a queue even if it was a Saturday morning. Unfortunately Persimmon don't seem to take note so it's back to the drawing board and on with the thinking caps as it is possible that the planning meeting could be in June.    
Jeff Thelwell

THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014 MY ETHIOPIAN ADVENTURE

My Ethiopian Adventure

When I was first offered a place on an International Girl Guiding trip I couldn’t believe my luck, I realised this was a great opportunity and I couldn’t wait to accept my place on the trip. However after my first wave of excitement doubt inevitably began to appear. The cost of the trip was a total of £2500 and there were undoubtedly going to be other expenses on top of this. How was I going to manage this fundraising on top of my A-level studies? Would I even raise the full amount? If not, how would I pay for this trip? How would I cope in Ethiopia, over 6000 miles away from my family for 3 and a half weeks? All of these questions appeared, yet I simply couldn’t ignore what a great experience this was going to be. So after receiving full support from my  parents I embarked on my journey towards Ethiopia.
Fundraising seemed daunting, as £2500 is a colossal amount for a 16 year old! Yet with the support of my family, friends, girl guiding network and my local community it was done with bag packing, cupcake sales and  raffles all going towards the efforts to fundraise. I also received many kind donations and for that I am very grateful, as without that generosity my attempts to fundraise would have been a great deal harder. Despite a lot of early mornings, long days and lots of planning I quite enjoyed the fundraising aspect of my International experience as it allowed me to explain my cause and really helped me raise awareness not only of Link Ethiopia and the work they were doing, but of Girl guiding and the investment they were making in helping girls all over the world get the best opportunities in life. Fundraising took up the large part of 9 months and in this time I also met the rest of the girls involved in the trip. This was also another hard part of the experience as the girls I was going to be spending 3 weeks in Ethiopia with, I’d only met them 3 times.
Before I knew it the trip was just on the horizon and many preparations had to be made before I could go. This included many vaccinations, a kit list and materials for our project such as paint, paper and pencils that had to be collected. Our project whilst in Ethiopia saw us working with a school in a local suburb of Gonder, a town in the north of Ethiopia. It involved a six-day summer school that our group constructed to teach the children of the school some English. In addition we created two gardens at the school and painted one of the buildings with an educational mural. The money raised for Link Ethiopia also went towards building two new classrooms for the school, which were safer for the children and the staff to use. This was because in the summer the ground became dry and dusty meaning that any ground kicked about became a breathing hazard for the children in the confined spaces.
After arriving in Ethiopia it was quite easy to adjust to the routine of our trip and the lifestyle of the cities we stayed in. This was in part due to our supportive leaders on the trip as well as the other girl guides who were taking part. Despite having met only a handful of times before we worked together as a team very well. The long days and early starts did make me weary as we had a lot planned for the trip and only a short space to fill it in, despite being in Ethiopia for over 3 weeks. Some of our nights were spent relaxing and it was amazing to experience some of the food and culture of Ethiopia, even if it was a little too spicy for me!
 We started our journey in Addis Ababa, the capital city of   Ethiopia and then moved to Gonder. The capital city was very vibrant if slightly run down and it was on my first night there that I ate some authentic Ethiopian food, it was set out on injera (a sour flatbread which is a staple in the Ethiopian diet) and on the injera were portions of meat and vegetables such as potato, cabbage and beef. This traditional dish is eaten by hand and consists of a portion of meat or vegetable wrapped in injera like a parcel. One of the great things about visiting the capital of Ethiopia was the trip to one of the cities banks, where we discovered that the Ethiopian calendar is 7 years behind the one we have in Britain. So by   coming to Ethiopia we had essentially travelled back in time!
Our next destination was Gonder and it was here that the majority of our community work took place and where I began to truly see the consequences and depths of poverty that grip countries like Ethiopia. The highlight of this trip for me had to be the Summer School in which I helped teach English to school children; our group covered topics like the human body, animals, colours and clothes. The smile on their faces as they learnt the alphabet was truly humbling and it was such a great feeling that I was contributing to their education; an education that is vital for them to gain the best future in life.
Whilst at the school we also painted a mural on one of the school buildings and constructed two gardens. We were unable to do some construction work during our trip as there was a cement shortage in Gonder. Also we wanted to ensure the best quality of building for the school, considering this we left the job to the professionals!
On our last day at the school a leaving ceremony was organised where we donated any remaining goods to the school as well as three laptops that were donated to our cause. Other items donated were jumpers, woolly hats and personal gifts from us, the girl guides. Leaving the school was one of the hardest parts of the trip but we left with the hope that our work would impact the children at the school and many more children to come.
I would just like to say a big thank you to everyone who helped me on my journey to Ethiopia, including my family, friends, girl guides and my local community as I couldn’t have done any of it without you. Through your generosity and kindness you have helped give a child one of the best things in the world, not just an education but a chance of a better future.
Thank you.
Megan Clifford 

THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014 HEALTH MATTERS - HAY FEVER

Health Matters - Hay fever?

By Consultant Pharmacist - Nick Parmar

Now the summer weather is on its way, some of you may have noticed your nose has been itching, or you’ve been sneezing more than usual...

What is hay fever?

Hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitisis) is an allergy caused by pollen grains released  during the pollen season which normally runs from March to November in the UK.

What are the symptoms?

Common hay fever symptoms include sneezing, runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes, mouth and throat. Less common hay fever symptoms are headaches and hives.

How can it be relieved?

Although it is very difficult to avoid exposure to pollen there are a number of measures you can take that will help you to minimise exposure and ease the severity of your hay fever symptoms. Following these steps may help provide some relief from your symptoms:

Keep windows closed when at home and overnight. Most pollen is released in the early morning and falls to ground level in the evenings when the air cools.

When outdoors, wear sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes. Hay fever sufferers can experience itchy eyes when coming into contact with pollen spores.

Avoid drying your clothes outside when pollen counts are high. If you do, shake items before bringing them inside. 

Keep car windows closed when driving and fit a pollen filter to reduce the impact of pollen spores.

When indoors, there are a number of useful tips to reduce the impact of hay fever symptoms such as: vacuuming regularly, avoid bringing fresh flowers indoors, and be aware that pets can bring pollen in on their fur.

Don't allow smoking in the house as this will irritate the lining of your nose, eyes, throat and airways, making your hay fever symptoms worse.

After being outside, shower and wash your hair to remove pollen.

Hay fever sufferers can benefit from a wide range of medication which can be prescribed by your GP, or alternatively purchased over the counter here at the Pharmacy. 

OTC treatments include:Antihistamine tablets or nasal sprays – 

Antihistamines treat hay fever by blocking the action of the chemical histamine, which the body releases when it thinks it is under attack from an allergen. This prevents the symptoms of the allergic reaction from occurring. Antihistamines are   usually effective at treating itching, sneezing and watery eyes, but they may not help with clearing a blocked nose.
Corticosteroid nasal sprays and drops - Corticosteroids (steroids) are used to treat hay fever because they have an anti-inflammatory effect. Corticosteroids (steroids) are used to treat hay fever because they have an anti-inflammatory effect and also can help treat a blocked nose.

Nasal decongestants - 

A decongestant, in the form of a nasal spray, can relieve blocked nose. Decongestants reduce the swelling of the blood vessels in your nose, which opens your nasal passage and makes breathing easier.

Eye drops - 

Eye drops are available from your pharmacist to treat the hay fever symptoms that affect your eyes, such as redness,     itchiness and watering. These drops contain antihistamine to reduce the inflammation in your eyes, which will relieve the symptoms.
Please do not hesitate to come and speak to us if you are  suffering this pollen season so we can help you find the most suitable OTC treatment for you!

THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014 JOE'S JOTTINGS

Joe’s Jottings

Apart from the really mild winter in general the last two months have been normal. Especially April which true to form has been full of April showers, sunny intervals, a bit of cold weather and a bit of warm weather. The plants will know what time of year it is. That is not to say that May won’t throw up any surprises as it has in the last few years. Red hot May freezing summer and freezing May and red hot summer. I like normal and I hope that is what comes our way. The mild weather has started the season off with a bang and the plants are growing at a pace. Everyday something new pokes its head out of the ground including the weeds which have to be kept in check at this time of year or they will take over the whole garden.
When it comes to grandkids the Kitchen Skirt is in her element, although when she is out with her so called mates she can be a tad loud and boisterous. With the grandchild she takes her responsibilities very seriously. Young Henry was at the house the other day as his parents were having a well-deserved bit of R and R round at the local pub. At nearly two years old he is a bright and happy child who seems to be taking a keen interest in the garden and its contents. He pointed out flower and flowers showing he had started to master plurals. The rest of his conversation centres round the odd decipherable word and chuntering which he obviously understands but the rest of us don’t. On the whole he  appears to understand what adults are saying or at least gets the drift. The Skirt took him up the garden where he was pointing out the flowers, passing bees and the birds on the bird table. Bearing in mind this is the day after we had some very powerful winds and one or two plants had suffered some wind damage. On seeing a prone tulip he toddled over the lawn and picked it up, muttered something we couldn’t understand then brandished the tulip like a sword and doing his pirate impression arggh! As the flower was still serviceable, The Skirt quickly told him to be gentle with the stricken stem and unopened flower. Immediately Henry looked round and cradled the stem like he was carrying a baby and walked back over the lawn to The Skirt’s side. “Let’s take it inside and Grandma will put it in some water” she said. Carefully he carried it to the door and then with a flourish shouted Ha arggh! And slapped the hapless tulip against the kitchen wall, as if using it as a pirate sword. The terrible two’s having started. I wait with bated breath to see how The Skirt and I cope with a wild child.
Occasionally something you had given no thought to whatsoever comes out of the blue to slap you in the face. As we all know Buck woods has a sizable Deer population. They are very shy creatures and as a rule stay well clear of humans. You may be lucky to spot one in a clearing or up on a ridge, a sudden rustle of undergrowth as it flees to safety. But to some residents of Brackendale they pose a problem. They have been coming out of the woods and like a hoard of  shoppers at Tesco’s been helping themselves to the local flora on offer in peoples gardens. To some people this will not be a problem and they would like nothing better than seeing these magnificent creatures in their backyard. But others who are of a more horticultural bent may have some difficulty in having their pride and joy reduced to a few twigs or a bit of greenery poking out of the ground.
There are several methods which can be used to keep them out of the garden. Fences are the obvious one. The fence will have to be substantial and have no gaps in it, so unless you want your garden to resemble Stalagluft 13 it is not really an option. Marking your garden out as a beast would in nature is an idea. The mind boggles at The Skirt crouching down every few yards. This has its obvious drawbacks of common decency and the rain will wash it away. Lion and Tiger dung if you are able to source some is said to work. Scarecrows have limited success as the deer get used to them and eventually ignore them. Audible alarms are very good at keeping them at bay, but have the problem of upsetting the neighbours at all hours of the night and day. A good way to protect plants while maintaining a healthy, diverse garden is to provide natural, alternative browse for the deer. This can be achieved simply by allowing brambles, rosebay willowherb, rowan (mountain ash), dandelion, campion, hoary cinquefoil, knotweed, sweet lupin, redleg, ribwort and yarrow to grow within the garden. Deer will then preferentially eat these and may avoid your favourite roses. Added benefits include a more diverse garden, richer in beneficial insects and birds. A mixture of effective plant  protection and eco-friendly gardening combine benefits and should protect your garden from attack by deer, which can instead be viewed as welcome visitors to the garden boundary.
Vulnerable plants, Bluebell, Calluna, Clematis, Crocus, Fuchsia (hybrid), Geranium, Holly, Honeysuckle, Lupin, Pansy, Pines, Rose, Rowan, Sweet William. 
Deer-resistant plants, Camellia, Cistus, Fuchsia, Hellebore, Hosta, Hydrangea, Iris, Lavender, Poppy, Primula, Rhododendron, Sedum
There are sheets from The British Deer Society available on the tinterweb http://www.bds.org.uk/about_the_bds.html  http://www.bds.org.uk/deer_in_your_garden.html
Links available http://idlegossiper.blogspot.co.uk/ JOE’S JOTTINGS - GARDENING - DEER

Top ten jobs for this month:

1. Watch out for late frosts. Protect tender plants.

2. Earth up potatoes, and promptly plant any still remaining.

3. Plant out summer bedding at the end of the month (except in cold areas).

4. Collect rainwater and investigate ways to recycle water for irrigation.

5. Regularly hoe off weeds.  

6. Open greenhouse vents and doors on warm days.

7. Mow lawns weekly.

8. Check for nesting birds before clipping hedges.

9. Lift and divide overcrowded clumps of daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs.

10.Watch out for viburnum beetle and lily beetle grubs.

THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014 100 YEARS OF BELL RINGING AT HOLY TRINITY

100 Years of Bell Ringing at Holy Trinity, Idle    By Nick Thomas

The TV and printed media are full of documentaries and articles   recounting the dreadful business of the Great War. The anniversary of the official declaration of war on August 4th will be marked in a measured way in villages, towns, cities, and various institutions at home and abroad.The war memorial at Holy Trinity Church lists the names of 149 local people who would never to see their homes and families again. At the same time that Idle was swept up by the oncoming rush to war, the local church was in the process of ordering, commissioning and installing the casting of a ring of 8 new bells to be housed in the church tower. To be “... cast  of the purest metal and to be of the best tone and in perfect tune, with true harmonies. In entirely new fittings, consisting of new oak wheels, tough iron headstocks bored and fitted with steel gudgeons, hard gunmetal bearings fitted in iron pedestals, wrought iron clappers with improved crownstaple joints. Ropes of Italian hemp with worsted salleys, rollers, stays, sliders, and the requisite smithwork – all of our best make throughout, fitted to the bells. Strong and massive iron framework for the bells, of improved construction, well braced and firmly bolted together, with stout steel supporting girders and all requisite stays, plates, bolts, nuts,  washers, and rivets.”
The hard language itself seems consistent with a country readying for war. By August 1914 the preparations for the installation of the bells was well under way. During this early period of the war people were saying “It will all be over by Christmas.”, alas it was only the installation of the bells that was over by Christmas. The war had only just begun. Perhaps the requirement of “strong and massive iron” and “improved construction” is a human desire to build something which will endure long after the war is over. The bells were officially dedicated and first rung on December 31st 1914. But new bells require new bell ringers – and with most young men occupied elsewhere it’s no surprise that Harry Foster is listed as the only bell ringer in 1914. It’s not until 1918 that William Feather joins to double the numbers. By 1921 the outstanding quality of the new ring of bells is attracting quality ringers, and a dedicated team of 9 ringers is in residence.The 2nd World War sees an interruption in ringing. All ringing of church bells is banned by the government, and the ringers disappear. But, in 1945, the ringing of church bells signals the end of the war, and ringing at Idle resumes. New ringers are recruited and Emma Briggs, the first female ringer, joins the team. The 50’s and swinging 60’s are arguably the best period for Idle bells. With good numbers of ringers, and good quality of striking. But the 80’s saw another period of decline. In 1998 Carole Shaw became Idle’s first female Tower Captain, and proceeded to rejuvenate the bells and ringers, and taught a completely new band of ringers in time to ring in the new millennium at midnight on December 31st 1999. And so it is that 100 years later, with a popular Church, the bells are still ringing out to the glory of God for Sunday Services, Christmas, and Easter. Not forgetting the traditional weddings and funerals. Idle will host two events organised by the Yorkshire Association of Change Ringers this year. The Annual General Meeting is on Saturday 10th May and ringing will take place from 3:30 until 4:30. Also, the annual 6 bell striking contest will take place on June 14th starting at 2PM, and finishing at approximately 6PM. Idle has been selected to host these events primarily to help us celebrate the centenary of ringing at Idle. Let’s hope and pray that this very English of traditions flourishes for many more generations to enjoy.

THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014 FORMERLY OF THIS PARISH

Formerly of this Parish

A Good BookA Blog from John Woods

I always begin to slow down as I near the end of a good book. Its like the approach of a parting, from a friend, (they are emigrating) the end of an opportunity for direct interaction which, once arrived at will change the relationship. Good books, fiction or none fiction are companions with whom the relationship is both stimulating and a two way event. The information or the story told weaves its way into your make up, into who you are as we absorb experiences that strike a note in our own experience and substantiate our opinion. The profound pleasure of reading is in this melding of our own memories or opinion into the narrative, we are not alone and are rewarded by the camaraderie. The books on my shelves form the backbone of who I am in so far as they track my interests down through the years. They still speak to me as they did years ago and on opening a book one is, like Alice drawn into another world. Reading brings another persons perspective, you might not agree with it but you learn from it and if for no other reason, it enlightens you to the fact that your 'fact' is only one of many. How we fall into the surety of our own opinions and prejudice how resilient we are to argument against our way of thinking. One of the pleasures of doing a blog is that my own thoughts, however inadequate are placed on a page for   others to consider. I thought that writing a blog would release from others their own opinions even their inner conviction but its surprising how few have the time or inclination to take up the pen. I believe writing is cathartic it allows one to vent off the frustration that we sometimes feel  because of our inability to effect change.
We are becoming more and more ineffectual as the globalisation of our lives means that decisions taken have little  local relevance and we are cast into the turbulence of 21st century, short termism  with little or no reference to our own way of living.Only through expressing ones own feelings or reading literature which resonates with our own experience can we find a footing in this pressured life we lead.         

http://twocents2012.blogspot.com.au/ 

THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014 JOE KING

Laugh

 I nearly passed me sweets round !

by Joe King

Sorry, Wrong Number

The phone was ringing......
"Hello"
"Hi Honey ..... this is Daddy .....is Mommy near the phone? "
"No Daddy, She's upstairs in the bedroom with Uncle Paul."
After a brief pause, Daddy says, " But honey, you haven't got an Uncle Paul,"
"Oh yes I do, and he's upstairs with Mommy right now."
Another brief pause, "Uh, OK then, this is what I want you to do. Put the phone down, run upstairs and bang on the bedroom door and shout to Mommy and tell her that Daddy's car has just pulled into the driveway. "
"OK Daddy, just a minute." After a short while, she came back and said, "I did it Daddy." 
"And what happened honey?"
"Well Mommy got all scared, jumped out of bed with no clothes on, ran around screaming, tripped on the rug and banged her head on the dresser. She isn't moving at all."
"Oh my God !!!  What about Uncle Paul?"
"He jumped out of bed with no clothes on either. He jumped out of the bedroom    window into the pool, but there is no water in it Daddy. I guess he forgot that you started to clean it last week. He is in the bottom, I think he is dead. "
Long pause...longer pause....even longer pause....then Daddy says, "Swimming pool ???  is this 8486 -5731...No...then I think I have the wrong number...Sorry !!!"

Wrong Toon

Alan Pardew  flies to Kabul to watch a young Afghani play football. He is  suitably impressed and arranges for the player to come  over.
Two weeks later Newcastle are 4-0 down to  Chelsea with only 20 minutes left. The manager gives the  young Afghani striker the nod, and on he goes. The lad is a  sensation. He scores 5 goals in 20  minutes and wins the game for Newcastle. The fans are delighted, the players and the  coach are delighted and the   media love the new  star. When the player comes off the pitch he phones  his mum to tell her about his first day in English  football. 'Hello mum, guess what?' he says 'I played  for 20 minutes today, we were 4-0 down but I scored 5 and we  won. Everybody loves me, the fans, the media, they all love  me.''Wonderful,' says his mum, 'Let me tell you  about my day … your father got  shot in the street, your sister and I were ambushed and  assaulted, your brother has joined a gang of looters and all  while you tell me that you were having a great  time.'The young lad is very upset. 'What can I say  mum, but I'm really sorry.'  'Sorry?!!! Sorry?!!!'  says his mum, 'It's your bloody fault we came to Newcastle  in the first place.'

Cheap Diagnosis

The phone rings and the lady of the house answers,
"Hello." 
"Mrs. Sanders, please."
"Speaking."
"Mrs Sanders, this is Doctor Jones at the hospital laboratory.. When your husband's doctor sent his biopsy to the lab last week, a biopsy from another Mr. Sanders arrived as well… We are now uncertain which one belongs to your husband. 
Frankly, either way the results are not too good."
"What do you mean?" Mrs Sanders asks nervously.
"Well, one of the specimens tested positive for Alzheimer's and the other one tested positive for HIV. We can't tell which is which."
"That's dreadful! Can you do the test again?" questioned Mrs Sanders.
"Normally we can, but the NHS will only pay for these expensive tests once." 
"Well, what am I supposed to do now?" 
"The Helpdesk recommend that you drop your husband off somewhere in the middle of town.. If he finds his way home, don't sleep with him.

WHY OLDER MEN DON'T GET HIRED

 Job Interview:
Human Resources Manager:
"What is your greatest weakness?"
Older Man : "Honesty."
Human Resources Manager: "I don't think honesty is a weakness."
Older Man : "I don't really give a s*** what you think."

THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014 BRIDLEWAYS

BridlewaysBy Christine Hardaker

I usually start off with how the weather has affected us at the farm.  I am constantly checking the weather forecasts to try to predict whether I need to take rugs off or put them back on, and whether to leave the horses out in the fields overnight or bring them in to save churning up the grazing too much. Traditionalists don’t usually have that problem because they tend to stick to a regime of once it gets to a certain date, they are turned out until the autumn or winter. A bit like some households get to a certain date and they turn their central heating off. Me being a chilly morsel cannot do without my heat and I’m too soft to make my horses do without their rugs if the weather turns chilly again or stay out in the pouring rain! Just as an exception to my softness though, I had to leave my horse out when it was pouring with rain as he was the last one to be stabled and he was fretting overnight, he wanted to be with his herd.  My reluctance to leave him out overnight was because his leg has still not fully returned to its previous size since he developed cellulitis earlier this year and I was worried it might flare up again if he wasn’t comfortable enough to lie down and rest. I had to concede that he wasn’t getting the rest anyway, as he was stressed pacing up and down in the stable so would be happier out with his herd.
The two large planning applications that have been submitted in our area, are Cote Farm and Simpson Green.   Objectors are still campaigning against these developments because of the devastating effects this will have on the local infrastructure. I wrote about the actions being taken at Cote Farm last month and these are continuing, but there have also been over three hundred objections to the Simpson Green site.
The traffic is already a nightmare when trying to ride to bridleways further afield in Calverley, Woodlands and Esholt, as you have to negotiate Leeds Road from the Thackley area and Apperley Road is very busy and quite narrow so it would be much worse with an extra three hundred plus houses on Cote Farm and two hundred and seventy houses on the Simpson Green site, especially as the access to the development is onto Apperley Road! Although this is bad news for the area, if the developers do get permission to build, this could potentially be very good news for horse riders. The rights of way department are consulted about planning applications that involve a right of way, and there is one bordering the northern edge - namely Mitchell Lane.This right of way runs between Simpson Green farm and Mitchell Close and carries on downhill towards the canal where a long gone swing bridge took it over the canal onto the towpath. From there back towards Shipley and under the bridge is also part of the bridleway and it carries on down to the river, resumes at the other side of the river in Yorkshire Water land and crosses over to the long driveway through Esholt, called Coronation Avenue. It then takes a left turn past the Home Farm and then turns right up the blocked Gill Lane and continues up towards Emsleys Farm but takes a left turn before that and then crosses the main road to Guiseley, going behind the Woolpack to Henshaw Lane up to Yeadon. This would have been an old drovers track for driving animals to Otley market or there may have been one at Yeadon in the olden days.
Local groups have campaigned for more than twenty years for the whole length to be reopened and also the Bradford Rights of Way team have expressed in their comments to Planning Department that the developers should be required to open it up and pay for a new bridleway swing bridge across the canal as an access route to the countryside for the new development residents. Also they have suggested that a new bridleway be constructed across the new development from Mitchell Lane and exiting the site near the canal bridge on Apperley Road. This will also benefit the whole community as not only a link from Thackley to the canal but also for children to use as a safe route to local schools, and for cyclists to gain access to the canal to commute to work or for leisure. Not only have Rights of Way made this a strong suggestion, but it has also been endorsed by the Highways Department report and also the Transport Planning department report. This is really good news for horse riders as it will mean missing out the heavy traffic on Leeds Road and also Apperley Road, and we are one major step further to opening up the whole length of the old track leading through to Esholt. Of course the other major step is finding a way of getting across the river but there are other options in the pipeline waiting to be explored.Since I wrote last month, my mini mare has been passed on to another family with a smaller younger girl who is moving up from riding a Shetland, whom she has grown out of now.  I know the family and they will be keeping her at our yard.  She will have a good home with them and the little girl will be able to progress with her riding.  The mare is so well behaved she is perfect for a child rider, probably off the lead rein too.
In her place comes a slightly bigger and definitely wider pony! He is an older gelding but I’ve been told has taught lots of children to ride over the years, and as a bonus is just big enough for my daughter to ride too. He is rather portly to say the least so has had to be muzzled all the time when in the field but at least he is able to socialise with the mini mare and move around to burn off more fat whilst being able to graze, albeit only getting a small amount at a time to help slim him down.
The grandkids have already had a few short riding lessons on him and he has behaved perfectly so hopefully they will learn to ride properly and they will be able to come down twice a week in the school holidays to gain more confidence.
The rider action group WHOA met again in the Baildon Golf Club house and we were updated with replies to letters sent out to MP’s who control funding for improving rights of way, and to Natural England. Unfortunately the replies were not very promising because of the recession cuts in general but we will keep pressing for help to get all our long lost tracks registered on the Definitive Map before the deadline, otherwise they will be changed to footpaths and will be lost to riders for ever!
We are always being told we shouldn’t be on the roads so we ought to be getting more funding to enable us to create more bridleways to get us off them.
If you have any horsey news or problems you need help with, contact me on: 07739708727 or
christinehardaker@supanet.com

THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014 GONE FISHIN with Idle and Thackley Angling Association

Gone Fishin...

with Idle and Thackley Angling Association

River Fishing Coarse Season Opens June 16th

The rivers will all reopen to coarse angling on June 16th so now is the time to start making your plans and organising your match programme for the coming season. If you are pleasure fishing fast water areas are the place to head to for big early season catches. There are several areas on the river Swale including Topcliffe, Cundall, Asenby  and Thornton bridge which produce well early season. If you are going to our length of the R. Swale at Swainby pegs 18, 23 to 25, 39 to 48 and 71 to 75 are usually very good early season. The Nidd is also an excellent river and the Bradford  No 1 stretch at Cowthorpe in the first few pegs below the weir usually produces large early season weights of barbel and chub. Other areas on the Nidd include Skip Bridge, Green Hammerton and the Knaresborough stretches. On the Lower Wharfe, Boston Spa below the weir is also a known hotspot for chub barbel and dace.
The river Ouse on the York lengths at Benningborough, Red House and Poppleton all produce well early season and the Ripon Stretches  on the R. Ure is another noted area.The river Aire below the weirs at Saltaire holds large shoals of chub and barbel early season and our length at the Rugby Club at Cottingley and the Bingley reaches at Myrtle Park are also a good fast water areas for early season. On the Calder its the weir pools areas again which tend to provide the best early sport including Lillands Farm and the Ship Inn at Mirfield.This is also the time of year to thoroughly check that all your tackle is in fine fettle and up to the job! Remember to thoroughly check all nets and replace all reel line etc. Time also to clean up those forgotten bait boxes lurking somewhere in the garage!  Environment Agency bailiffs are usually very active in the first few weeks so don’t get caught out and makes sure you have a rod licence.

Leeds Liverpool Canal Report.
Roach perch and skimmers now feeding throughout the length. Bream and odd Tench from opposite Marina Mouth. May is also usually a good month for large Carp Bream and Tench between the locks and Bottoms Farm. Day tickets £3 Adults with Juniors £1.50 and yearbooks are available from Eccleshill Angling Supplies.

Contacts- If want any further information or have any reasonably sensible suggestions contact.
Phone 01274 615016.
Web Site - idleandthackaa.supanet.com.
Email idleandthackaa@supanet.com

THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014 VIEW FROM MUPPET HILL By Waldorf

VIEW FROM MUPPET HILL   By Waldorf 

THACKLEY AFC

Thackley's season concluded on Saturday with a trip to Rotherham to play Parkgate. The Steelmen were a couple of places above the drop zone and Thackley had beaten them at Dennyfield at the turn of the year. Could they finish the season with a double and a victory? Ross Daley and Mike Garrod were both available for the match, but Paul Whiteley was missing. The Parkgate pitch looked very green and in good condition for the time of year. 
A good break in the opening minute, saw Mike Garrod's shot clear the bar after Matt Mathers had headed the ball into his path. It was a bright start for the Dennyboys, but they were forced into making a change just seven minutes into the game, Adam Sharkey replacing Matt Morgan (groin strain). Keeper, Ben Higginson, came out to block a Luke Johnson shot on ten minutes after the Parkgate forward had latched onto a long ball. The game was being played in a pretty relaxed atmosphere, the players probably aware that the result would have little effect on the final table. Thackley were knocking the ball about well and first Mathers, then Luke Hudson had shots deflected for a corner. On twenty three minutes, the Dennyboys took the lead from a well worked move which ended with Mathers crossing in front of goal, Garrod, coming in from the left, shot, keeper David Reay parried the ball back into the Thackley forward's path, he netted at the second attempt. Straight from the restart, Parkgate were level. The ball was played long to Ben Langford on the left, Higginson came out and he crossed for Scott Whittington to slot in from close range. A minute later, the home side could have been in front, Danial Abdulla getting clear but Higginson saved with his legs. The goal had given   Parkgate impetus, and they were looking quite dangerous, especially from throw ins, which were launched into the box. Just after the half hour the Steelmen took the lead. Abdulla got the better of Liam Hudson just inside the away half, the Thackley defender raced back to stop his run, and was adjudged to have brought him down unfairly just outside the box. Scott Lowe deceived the wall, firing low into the bottom corner. It was not long before the Dennyboys were back on level terms. Garrod rode one tackle by defender Reece Wesley as he entered the box, but the home defender upended him with his second, and the referee pointed to the spot. Chris Davey took responsibility and hammered the ball past Reay for the equaliser. Langford got clear and Higginson did well to save whilst at the other end Garrod volleyed over and Mathers miscued after Garrod had work hard to provide the cross. The half ended all square.
Half Time : Parkgate 2 Thackley 2.
The second half started with both sides still hoping to bag maximum points. Davey fired just wide from outside the box and Higginson managed to push an Abdulla shot around the post for a corner. Play was even, neither side really looked likely to break the deadlock. Again Parkgate's main threat was coming from long throw ins, whilst Thackley's build up was slow and seldom created much in the final third. Both teams made changes, Josh Eastwood replacing Davey for Thackley. Home  substitute, Oliver Graham, was in action almost immediately, his shot had Higginson scrambling to save. More changes were made by both teams, for the Dennyboys Mohammed Rizwan coming on for Pat McGuire. It was the home side that finished slightly the stronger, Langford having his shot blocked and Lowe firing over from a free kick. The game ended rather tamely, it had been a typical end of season game with nothing at stake for either of the teams.
Full Time : Parkgate 2 Thackley 2.
So, the curtain comes down on another season, one that started so well for the Dennyboys, but finished so poorly. I am not really sure what went wrong from the end of November, at that time Thackley was second in the league with 45 points from 20 matches, and had games in hand of most teams around them. Since then they have picked up just 25 points from the remaining 24 games. The final points total of 70 is one of the highest achieved by the Dennyboys, having said that there are now more teams in the league, so more points available, but their finishing position of thirteenth is the lowest since 2008.
Yesterday the season ended, today a new one starts.

2014 VAUXHALL NORTH WEST 200 ROAD RACES

VAUXHALL NORTH WEST 200 WEBSITE

DEAN HARRISON AT THE VAUXHALL NORTH WEST 200

The first practice session has taken place for the prestigious Vauxhall North West 200 road races in Colerain Northern Ireland. First off was the Supersport 600, followed by the Superbikes, Super lightweights and the Superstock 1000 bikes. A beautiful afternoon greeted the riders for the first practice session of the meeting. A stark change from last year. When torrential rain caused the cancellation of most of the meeting.

William Dunlop topped the leader board after the first session on his 1000cc Tyco Suzuki with a time of 4.41.401at an average speed of 114.754mph, followed by Michael Rutter, Alastair Seeley, Lee Johnston, Gary Johnson and Guy Martin. Dean Harrison on his Mar-Train Yamaha R6 qualified 14^th ahead of Keith Amor on a Honda. A good position for Dean as it is a couple of years since he has done some dry laps of the circuit.

Superbike practice was headed by Michael Rutter on his Bathams prize winning ales BMW with a time of 4.26.643 averaging 121.106mph. Rutter was followed home by Alastair Seeley, Guy Martin, William Dunlop, Martin Jessop and Josh Brookes. Dean’s RC Express Racing Kawasaki managed 16^th place with a time of 4.35.166.

In the Supertwin qualifying Keith Amor was top of the class on his KMR/SGS International Kawasaki 650 with a time of 5.02.933 an average speed of 106.598mph. Keith led a closely bunched pack with the top eleven separated by just eight seconds. Ryan Farquhar was second followed by Connor Behan, Ivan Lintin and in his best qualification of the day Dean Harrison on his RC Express Racing Kawasaki 650 with a time of 5.06.805 an average speed of 105.253.

The final practice of the day saw Austrian Horst Saiger top of the board in the Superstock qualifying, on his saiger-racing.com Kawasaki with a time of 4.32.427 an average of 118.535mph. Horst was followed by Michael Rutter, Stephen Thompson, Martin Jessop and Simon Andrews all on BMW’s Dean managed eighth place on his RC Express Racing Kawasaki with a time of 4.34.997 an average of 117.427mph. The session was halted four minutes from the end due to a rider crashing at Primrose Corner. With the course under re d flag conditions some of the top riders were unable to complete a fast lap with Martin, Dunlop and Johnson out of position. With James Hillier, Connor Cummings and Alastair Seeley failing to qualify.

ALEX TOTH - JONES

Who is …Alex Toth-Jones – Senior Rotax Kart Racer with Griffin Racing.

 I used to watch the Grand Prix with my Grandad when I was little and loved everything about cars and racing. By the time I was 11 I’d decided I wanted to be a racing driver and started working out how I could make that happen.
 I persuaded my Dad and Grandad to take me to the indoor track at Pole Position in Leeds. I think they wondered if this would get it out of my system, but it didn’t. Next came outdoor karting and my dad hired a kart from Tockwith race track. This is when I noticed that he had the racing bug just as badly as I do. He sold his motorbike and bought me my first kart and we would practice at Tockwith until I was ready to take my ARKS test.

photo courtesy of www.picturesports.co.uk

 The differences between and great racers is slim, but those few tenths are vital. If I was going to make a career from racing I needed to know if I had the required talent. Desire will carry you a long way, but when you get there you need to know you can deliver. So Dad and I decided to race at PF International in the Trent Valley Kart Club Championship, reasoning that if I could race competitively there I wasn’t wasting my time and Dad’s money.
 My first ever race was in Junior Max April 2010 Summer Championship. Sadly my Grandad died of a brain tumour before he could see my first real race.
 In my first full year as a Rookie in Junior Max I came 9th in the championship and took 2nd place Rookie. Dad was preparing the kart and making the changes, working from the back of van and with a gazebo from the local DIY shop. Yet despite our shoe string budget and limited experience we were able to attract some sponsors and with their help put together enough funding to join Griffin Racing and expand the number of tracks we raced at.

photo courtesy of www.picturesports.co.uk

 In 2013, as soon as I turned 16 we made the jump to Senior Max, the class I’m racing in today and staying with Griffin Racing who provide a excellence team environment for us to work in.
 2013 was a real turning point for me. At the British Kart GP after 4 days of qualifying races, heats and fighting may way through to the B Final, the Pre Final and to the A Final, I was awarded the Spirit of Kartmasters at the British Kart GP, by the club for my efforts.
 If getting to the Kartmaster final against the best karters in the UK wasn’t enough, I was also chosen by the MSA to be part of their Academy driver excellence programme, AASE. As well as it being a fantastic honour, being selected gives me access to some of the best coaches in motorsport.

photo courtesy of www.picturesports.co.uk

 Funding karting is always a challenge. Dad is my mechanic and Mum is my marketing department and has developed some great relationships. Stepping on to the next level needs an increase in the budget and we are always keen to investigate how we can help companies expand through cross marketing, advertising and partnership.
 The roadmap for the next few years is to move in to Formula Ford or BRDC F4.
 If you would like to contact Alex please do so though his web site. www.alextothjonesracing.co.uk

Twitter @AlexTJRacing
Facebook Alex Toth-Jones Racing

THACKLEY TRUMPIT MAY 2014 MEN'S FORUM

Men’s Forum

Meetings each Wednesday, 10.30am,Thackley Methodist Church Hall.

Coffee 10am.

May    7th  Mrs Jocelyn S Brooks (Roundhay)  “Turkey”

May  14th   Mr John Holroyd (Saltaire) “Southern Finland”                                                                              

May  21st   Mr Malcolm Bentley (Cottingley)“My Musical Menagerie”

May  28th   Members’ own choice

Jun     4th   Dr Eileen White (Idle) “My research into Idle’s history”

Speaker Sec. Mr John Vickerman - 618312

http://idlegossiper.blogspot.co.uk/