razorkitty

This is a local paper, for local people

As I dutifully slogged my way through my local newspaper The Harrogate Advertiser (the Court Round-Up first to see if I knew anyone who had been shoplifting or speeding, followed by the Planning Applications, ditto, usually requesting permision to build a conservatory or convert the garage into a granny flat, both topics counting as heavy news round here) I was interested (ie fed up) to read a story regarding Harrogate Borough councillors bravely agreeing a 4.3% rise in council tax. How very good of them. The one ray of light in the gloomy darkness of the article was learning that my hard-earned will be not going towards a suggested £5,200 grant for 'floral displays' at mayor making ceremonies, even though one councillor felt the money was vital because these ceremonies are apparently attended by 'people from outside the district'.  Indeed, so eloquent was her argument it felt churlish to begrudge such a footling sum in order to impress those dignitaries, presidents and crowned heads of Europe who even now are no doubt massed at our borders, waiting with bated breath for the announcement of the date for the next Harrogate mayor making ceremony.   

Other big news?  'Planners turn down fence idea', a story about planners turning down a fence idea.  Next week: Man makes tomato sandwich.

Back For Good - and Life's a Gas

I'm back!  Yes, I apologise for neglecting my readers for such a long time but believe me, I've been busy.  I spent the whole of Christmas and New Year choked with 'flu (the proper sort, not the "touch of" variety, before anyone says anything) and then what seems to be the entire month of January alternating between telephoning British Gas and NPower who between them seem to have been happily trousering large sums of my hard-earned cash whilst at the same time threatening to cut me off/demand money with menaces/ignore me completely. 

I won't go into the whys and wherefores of this unhappy saga, suffice it to say it is NOTHING to do with anything I've done.  Having spoken to what seemed to be several hundred members of staff for both organisations, all of whom promise to sort the mess out and none of whom do, in sheer desperation I tracked down the name of the head of corporate affairs at British Gas.  Hey presto.  What a great bunch of people.  I was dealt with in a cordial, professional manner and everything that could be done to help me - was.  So far, NPower haven't quite come up to the same standards.    So I've got in touch with their Press Office - a tad surprised to hear a real, live consumer on the end of the telephone, I must say - and they too are apparently going to get everything fixed.

I'll keep you all posted as to the results of this sorry saga but so far - BG, I shall be returning to you if your promises all hold good.

And thank you Mr Mark Duffell, who can't have been pleased having me complaining to him but sorted everything out nonetheless.

There is, I feel, a lesson to be learned here.  The power of PR, in essence.  If I hadn't worked in the PR industry and known how to go about contacting the right people, I might be in a very difficult situation now with no-one to help me. 

Boring Teachers

I read in The Times today that "Boring Teachers Blamed For Rowdy Classes".  Well, dur, as my own children would say.  Apparently it has taken a report by Ofsted to reveal this hitherto unknown fact.  No doubt it came as a surprise to the schools watchdog to learn that "Some pupils disliked individual teachers so much that they would bunk off if certain members of staff were in school rather than turn up to class.  This particularly affected schools with a high turnover of staff."  No manure, Sherlock.  I know I've said it before, but it bears repeating.  Why do we need time and money spending on reports that do nothing other than state the obvious?