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HEAR'SAY
"I don't believe it" No. 8 already. Valentines Day is here or just gone,
depending on when you get this publication. |
Well I hope you all received a little something romantic
in keeping with the occasion from a loved one and if you didn't I suppose a card from the
"other half" would suffice. Oh what it is to be loved? The romance, the
laughter, the cuddling up on cold winter nights; the inexplicable expense of a single red
rose! "Ah but they're imported from Holland" we hear them say, with those prices
they could have come from mars! Sorry, still in shock, next year I'm growing my own.
Now then, down to the business of the gossip and/or news from Sheringham and as promised
from a couple of issues ago some latest results from my 'Sheringham Star Rating Awards'.
In this run I hope to have started the ball rolling. Also I've some other local bits of
news to muse over that seem to have bugged a few of you lately, so here goes.
Firstly WIND! No I haven't got any of the unsavoury variety but, to be more precise, I
should have said wind power off our coast and particularly at Cromer. At last me thinks to
myself, officialdom has finally recognised the true potential that town has to offer.
Loads of it, both on and off shore.
It seems that Cromer is not alone in its appraisal of "hot air" after the
triumphal cacophony of oral delight was given at the turning down of St. Peter's Parish
Hall planning permission for both proposals. There's certainly been plenty of hot air
being blown around here in recent weeks. We should have erected a few wind turbines of our
own around the church, as there's been enough storm force wind to power the Christmas
lights for fifty years! But on a more serious note perhaps we could have a wind turbine in
or around the town anyway and not just off shore. In fact I think every town should have
at least one, after all it's only a big windmill. Perhaps a good place to start would be
at the high school or at a specially built adult learning centre specialising in foreign
languages, just in case another Force 12 gale hits our region. On the one hand the wind
would generate an independent supply of much needed clean energy, and on the other, should
all the power lines come down again, we could have all learned a few lines of French in
the meantime to help assist the ensuing repair personnel.
Now moving on to what I've called Sheringham's "star rating awards" where shops
and businesses score points/ star ratings based on a number of factors. This however has
proved to be somewhat complicated as they all show different levels of excellence in the
various categories to be judged. I was thrilled to see that in the other " Free news
paper", a lady had started a public spirited source by recording her praise for
"Solo 's hairdressers". That's the idea Mrs. Lowe, I do hope others follow your
example and bring other well serving businesses to our attention and there are several in
this town.
For this week I have chosen the category of "Ease of Access" as a starting point
and will endeavour to cover other topics as the week's progress. Obviously I can't cover
each and everyone in the town but some good and not so good examples spring to mind. Some
more than others for ease and/or hindrance of entry, especially for those of our disabled
community or who have charge of little darlings. So this is for the Nannies accompanying
baby laden coach-worked, Silver-Cross perambulators. (Although I guess in this day and age
they are as rare as "Hot pants and buttoned up boots" or as likely to be seen as
an early peace treaty with Iraq). For disabled persons with mobility difficulties, this is
your guide to some of Sheringham's best and worst offenders in the access to building
category. Starting with the worst.
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These premises will, I'm sure, in the near future have to
comply with Europe's rules of access shortly to come into force, should we ever conform
that is. I'm afraid to say that in joint last place would be a certain bank in Church
Street, it's as difficult to enter as it is it getting SOME illegal immigrants to go back
from whence they came. It has steps (no ramp) leading to heavy doors that open inwards.
Even if you have two good legs and work out at the gym three times a week, they make entry
extremely difficult if on the phone or laden with shopping bags full of bills, I gave up
in the struggle to get in the correct queue in Budgens. I checked out that Solo
place, they've got a ramp for wheelchairs up to their door and parking. Another good point
of entry shop is the Whistlestop, which is great for absolutely everything. This would tie
I think with the Chocolate Box but no good for any wig wearing ladies or gents, as those
fly trap hanging things in the doorway pose a threat to any loose hairpiece! Also across
the road at the butchers, their door is always open as are the rest of the town's shops
most of the time. The only cause for concern with some is that too many have far too much
produce in or near the doorways. The over-loaded boxes of dusters just out on the street
is nearly always too much of a temptation for poor old rover who's been busting to go
since the market car-park.
Anyway we now come to those whose doors are as open and as easy to cross as our external
borders to asylum seekers and have access as easy as our country's policy on first time
offenders. These, with 10 points lie jointly with the Nationwide Building Society and
Woolworth's, both of whom have automatic doors, as long as there isn't a power failure,
hence the requirement for a Wind Turbine. Just as a post script, I did try to evaluate the
post office but on entering I got hopelessly lost and ended up coming out of that
labyrinth of games, cards and puzzles in Holt, Spooky! I never actually found the counter.
Incidentally and perhaps slightly ironically, one of the most inviting, easily accessible
and most spacious places to enter were the amusement arcades, obviously appealing for a
reason. A penny for your thoughts?
Until next time we meet.
Vic
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Darling, what is that?
It's to annoy Scamrod Dear |
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