One thing I love about the Aussies is that they don’t beat around the bush, no pun intended.  They don’t worry about being PC, they just say what they mean.  The Police Minister, Michael Daley issued this advice to New Year revellers..

“If you’re one of these fools that can’t handle their grog and likes to go out and ruin other people’s nights, make yourself a new year’s resolution to grow up and behave yourself and start practising that on New Year’s Eve.” 

How refreshing!

Out with the old and in with the new, as they say and I certainly won’t be sorry to see the end of 2009.  I shall be embracing 2010 with open arms, in many ways I think it will be a year of change.  On the conveyor belt of life, you just have to keep moving forward and remember, if you snooze, you lose! Later, I shall raise my glass and wish everyone a happy and healthy 2010….

Bins emptied just after 10.00am.  Sadly, some residents were unaware and didn’t have their bins out on the pavements so their bins are still overflowing in the front gardens, what a mess!  The green bins are out for tomorrow, fingers crossed…

Seeing as residents are now phoning me at home,  I called Streetscene this morning to find out just was going on.  Apparently, they’re still trying to catch up after the ‘adverse weather’ we’ve had and still can’t say for definite when this part of New Brighton will have their bins emptied.  I asked what we should do when Thursday comes round and we need to put the green bins out and was told to put them out as well as the grey bins.  Don’t know about everyone else but we’ll have 12 bins blocking the pavement if that happens!

Like many other New Brighton residents, our grey bins should have been emptied on Christmas Eve as Thursday is our bin collection day.  However, this didn’t happen and I received an email to say that due to ‘adverse weather conditions’  (that light sprinkling of snow) they were unable to empty on that day.  We were advised to take our bins back in and put them out again by 7am on Sunday 27th.  It’s now 8.00pm on 27th and the bins are still unemptied.  A further email now says take them back in again and put them out again on 30th as they should be able to clear the backlog by then!  With all the Christmas paper, packaging, bottles, cans and glass, the bins are full to the brim.  This is totally unacceptable and Bank Holiday or not tomorrow, the bins should be emptied as promised.  Come on Streetscene Mamangement, actions speak louder than words, get it sorted!

On Christmas morning, we headed over to St John’s Beacon to guest on the City Talk FM  Christmas Breakfast Show with Duncan Barkes. We chatted about past Christmas memories and best and worst presents!  It was then back home to prepare dinner and to open presents from Santa, who’d brought me some lovely gifts!  I cooked a delicious dinner for my mum, dad, sister and of course, Mr T and the wine flowed nicely as we watched the Queen’s Speech.  The evening was very traditional, turkey butties, Quality Street and the telly – Perfect! The pic shows festive capers in the City Talk FM studio with Producer Mick, Me and Duncan Barkes.

It’s supposed to be the season of goodwill, however the person who said that obviously hasn’t had to do battle in M&S or Asda!  I am hoping to have a few well-deserved days off over Christmas to spend with family and friends but before I become further engrossed in matters of stuffing balls, trifle sponges and a sellotape shortage, I would like to wish all my blog readers a very Merry Christmas. 

Last night I attended a special meeting of the Full Council to supposedly agree important changes to local governance.  It was a complete farce as the decision had already been made by a rather animated Cllr Foulkes and his not so happy throng.  The changes will affect how the Borough is governed from May 2010.  The ruling Labour/Lib Dem alliance chose to retain Cllr Foulkes as the Elected Leader with 10 members of an ‘Executive’ to make the decisions.  The majority of Wirral residents will know nothing or at best, very little about these changes due to another inadequate consultation process.  It is obvious by some peoples’ conduct last night that cracks are starting to appear in this clapped out administration.

It’s a bit of a strange time of of the year for political stuff as most people are in ‘wind down mode’.  On Thursday night I had the Mersey Ferries Christmas Dinner at the Home restaurant at Woodside.  On Friday I had the Mount Primary School Governor’s Dinner at the fabulous Peninsula Dining Room.  Yesterday, after delivering Newslines I took my 8 year old nephew, James to the Tranmere .v. Bristol Rovers match at Prenton Park.  His main concern was that he was being unfaithful to his LFC roots but once the Tranmere goals started coming, he was up shouting and clapping with the rest of us!  Saturday night was a much needed night in and with the brilliant film, ‘10 Rillington Place’  and of course, MOTD.  Today will be housey chores whilst watching the cricket and ploughing through the papers.  It’s another full Council meeting tomorrow night to rubber stamp a decision which has already been made concerning changes to local governance!

Last night I went along to Oldershaw School’s Christmas Concert where I met up with Cllr Leah Fraser.  It was a selection of Christmas songs, dance and musical pieces performed by some very talented pupils.  The older children were joined by the the younger children from St. George’s Primary and they put on a great performance.  It was obvious that a lot of hard work had gone into the production so well done and big thanks to everyone involved.  I am a bit hoarse this morning as I think I gave my all to ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’.