A visitor to my garden was the perfect shot for a card.
Feel free to add yours.

For those of us who don't hear that well, it's good to put the text on screen. Sometimes hilarious scripts appear. On a recent BBC TV election programme the ex-Speaker of the Commons appeared as Joan Perko.
Seen any good ones yourself?

Done the important ones already. Just had to do about 16 that are on the Christmas card list that we send every year, even though I am not sure who most of them are.
Wrote out 12 yesterday before running out of cards and stamps. Put those in my inside coat pocket. They only just fitted in the pocket. Got to the postbox and couldn't get them out of my pocket. Took me a good few minutes to eventually get them out. Why do they make inside pockets so small?
Went to card shop to get one of those boxes of about 20 cards. All of them were only 2 different designs. So disappointing. In the past, in the box that I had finished there were 20 cards, 4 each of 5 designs.

https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/04/first-look-trailer-mackenzie-crook-worzel-gummidge-bbc-christmas-reboot-11267968/

Winter Burglary Update
With the dark nights and mornings upon us, we expect the number of burglaries to increase during the winter season. To tackle these criminals it is important that we work together in trying to prevent and reduce crime.
From looking at recent crimes we have found that in a large number of recent cases burglars are using items from the garden to gain entry into houses.
The impact of having your house burgled is immense both financially and mentally. Yet it is common for us to delay doing things until a close friend or yourself has been subjected to such an attack. Having the time or money to buy security measures can also be a reason.
I have listed below a number of security top tips. How many boxes do you tick with your security?
1; Make it appear that someone is at home.
Leave a light and the radio on when the nights draw in. Use a fake TV light device.
Use timer switches.
Do you have an internet assistant e.g. Alexa? Some have a new security App so try it out.
Make sure your doors and windows are properly closed and have British Standard locks.
2; Improve your security
Camera Doorbell as most burglars will knock first. This is about the cheapest way to get CCTV.
Install an SSAIB or NSI alarm or at least have a fake box installed.
Get motion sensors inside your house so you can see if something is wrong whilst you are away from the address.
Install CCTV or consider CCTV signs depending on your budget.
Improve your locks and get window film to stop windows easily being smashed.
Advertise your property is security marked. Use SMARTWATER /Selecta DNA window stickers.
3; Do not display your wealth
Performance cars will often be targeted if you have a top end car lock it in the garage.
Do not have your keys on display on the sideboard. Keys can be fished through letter boxes.
Get a letterbox guard or cage.
Just who are you updating with the Facebook Posts when you are on holiday.
Asian gold is being targeted. What identifies your house as a place likely to have such gold?
Do not keep large amounts of cash at home.
As Christmas is approaching try to make sure that presents are not visible to anyone outside.
4; Consider the garden
Consider a ‘beware of the dog’ sign or dog bowl will make the burglar think twice.
Padlock the gate and close the front gates.
Secure your fences. Trellis is a great obstacle for burglars due to it most likely collapsing, consider cheap spikey fence options like prickly strip (make sure you put the signs up) This is a real cheap option and can result in us getting suspects DNA.
Plant prickly plants at tactical places around the garden boundary.
Burglars can use large ornaments or rocks or garden tools to break in, so look to remove opportunities and make sure you securely lock away any tools after use.
5; Look out for your neighbours
Join NHW.
Set up a no door step selling zone. Eliminate a reason for burglars to knock on your door.
Speak to your neighbours and tell them if workmen are coming or you are going away.
Be a good neighbour and conduct checks if your neighbours are going away.
And finally if you see something suspicious call it in to the police. You know your area best!
To beat the burglar we need to work, with the most important partner in tackling crime, You the public. I hope that you will take the first step in helping us to help you create a safer, more resilient and friendly neighbourhood for you all to live in.
As Shaw Taylor would say "Keep em peeled!". Have a safe and Merry Christmas.
Yours sincerely
Darren Walsh
Police Sergeant Darren Walsh
Amersham Neighbourhood Policing team

Message Sent By
Darren Walsh (Police, Sgt, Amersham)

From the Lancashire Hotpots
As on Radio 2 this morning

https://youtu.be/G9jqyZck-AU

Anyone else get a PM from someone they don't know seemingly on this group????

Message from Anything !:
Hello, can I discuss an important issue with you confidentially. Please send me an sms at this number with your name and I will get back to you immediately with the details. ‪(732) 596-7218‬

Cheza
geri.quinteo@aol.com

Whatever you may think of beauty competitions you have to admit the new Miss World is beautiful and extremely talented.
Hear her sing.

https://youtu.be/CeOWd_GMzDk

It will probably never happen but during his election campaigning Boris said he was thinking about ending the tv licence and decriminalising the offence of not having one.
If the licence fee is scrapped would you rather have advertising on the BBC or pay a Netflix type subscription?

My paternal grandfather Herbert was a builders clerk in rural Suffolk, and his wife Fanny had 12 children. My maternal grandfather Alfred worked as a plater in the Clyde shipyards and his wife Elizabeth brought up 3 daughters.

A seasonal smile but avoid if you are vegan!

I Love Sausage Rolls (Official Music Video) - Lad…: https://youtu.be/K-WCAEwMJhI

You will probably never be able to hear the original song again without hearing these words.

Our NHS is being taken over by private companies. All because of a law that forces the NHS to put services like cancer scanning up for auction - even if they’re being run well.

But now NHS bosses have told the government this law isn’t working - and it should be scrapped. If that happens, the NHS would be able to keep running good services, instead of auctioning them off to private companies.

The government is feeling the pressure on this - from MPs, experts and now NHS bosses. All that’s missing is hundreds of thousands of voters like us piling in to add our voices too. It could be enough to push the government to scrap this law for good.

sign the petition
http://bit.ly/2nOy1ZZ

Used to love his programmes

How my any seats will the main parties.
330 tories
297Labour
20 Lib Dem
Brexit a big zero

This one was featured on BBC Breakfast this morning.
It's about a man reflecting on the visits he's made to the local cinema.

Watch "The Palace Cinema Longridge Christmas Ad 2019" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/SnM_XfB_Le0

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-50726500

You couldn’t make it up.

Please list the 3 foods you really don't like.Here's mine
.Aubergine
Chickpeas
Grated Carrots in salads

Just watched Dispatches under cover.
Nothing changed re: working conditions.
Products do not meet safety standard.Toys tested were 500 times over limit (DEHP).Your data is one of its top products.

and it does pay taxes --- 2% ---

Link is worthwhile reading.
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/nov/11/the-secrets-of-amazon-review

There was a thread on this but is now closed [don't know why]
Yesterday I went to my local shops where there used to be 2 free ATMs - now 1 has gone and the other one is charging.
Asked for cash back in the Co-op when buying shopping - 'No cash' they said, really, at 12,30 on a Saturday ?
Ended up queueing for 25 minutes at the one little PO window in Nisa [our PO closed a couple of years ago]. It's ridiculous and bloody annoying.

In the last week I have had at least 30 from various companies about diets and weight loss tablets etc. I have never looked at any of that type of site as I am 5ft 6 and weigh 8.5 stone so why bombard me with these ?
Funny time of year to be doing it too,

Got on bus today last in the queue because I still let females get on first. had a full Sainsburys bag of M&S food shopping hanging off my forearm and holding wallet with same hand. In other hand I had my contactless credit card.
The moment I tapped the card reader the iignorant ,probably Chinese, driver slammed his foot on the throttle sending me sprawling down the bus. Luckily I wrapped my arm around one of the poles and avoided falling.

Has anyone seen members of this club out with their 'babies' usually in very expensive old fashioned style prams.

The strangest thing? Or are you okay with it?

https://m.facebook.com/wioliq/

Many Western Christian churches observe Advent as an expecting time and preparation for the upcoming Christmas. The second Sunday of Advent has it's own traditions.

Celebration of Advent is connected with the fasting before Christmas, that is why people should spend a lot of time thinking about the eternity of soul and the sacrifice Christ made for all of us. However the Sundays of Advent are really jolly and people prepare to celebrate Christmas.

The second Sunday of Advent is mainly marked by special masses in churches, that begin in the morning. On this day the pastors' readings concern the birth of Christ in manger and other prophecies.

The second candle of the Advent wreath is also lit on this day. This is a purple candle, which is sometimes called the candle of Bethlehem. This candle represents the hope of Christ coming to the world. Two purple candles, the first is lit on the first Sunday, have to burn at the same time, together they symbolize God's peace and remind us about the prophets, who said that the Messiah would be born.

https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/05/womans-maine-coon-cats-have-oddly-human-faces-11274381/

Spooky or sweet?

M+S, Aldi, Morrisons, Lidl and a number of other stores offer products at sell-by dates.
It sounds too good to be true, but you can be assured, Rotary Clubs have been working with this scheme for the past year. Please spread this information to local good causes you might know, must be a registered charity to take part.
www.neighbourly.com is worth your attention. PM for more info.

Could anyone advise me please which batteries I need in a key fob for a Honda Jazz.
I came up with CR2032 but there are other numbers.
Where do you buy your batteries. Thank you

From F/book

Watched a program recently re: Ryan Air advertising describing itself as Europe's greenest and cleanest airline.
His planting trees would only offset 0.01% in the next 20 years and called "Green Gimmick"Most flights carry more fuel so using more fuel just to fill up in a country where they can buy it cheaper saving about £40.00 per flight. However calculations on all flights in Europe means a saving of 230 million.


Copied from the Telegraph Oliver Smith:
Does 9.9 megatonnes sound like a “low” amount to you? That’s how much CO2 Ryanair’s 419 aircraft collectively belched into our atmosphere in 2018, making it one of the continent’s 10 biggest carbon emitters, according to a European Commission report. The other nine? They’re all coal-fired power stations.

Will deaths from it be our next epidemic?

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/vaping-leaves-e-cigarette-user-with-rare-form-of-lung-scarring-11878561

The new non vegetarian Mcveggie burger

https://i.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/117958578/mcdonalds-mcveggie-burger-isnt-vegetarian-and-veggies-are-angry

He is like Marmite. Do you love him or loathe him.
Is he right to criticise?

https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/05/jeremy-clarkson-brands-climate-change-activist-greta-thunberg-16-mad-dangerous-11274425/

She sells books explaining how to declutter. Now she advertises items to fill the house back up.

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/2019-in-review/the-best-jokes-of-2019

This advert (referred to by Michael B on the Deliveroo Post) was featured yesterday morning on BBC Breakfast, where the father and son were interviewed. As a comparison to the John Lewis advert which cost a fortune to make, the estimate for this advert was around £100.

I think it's an absolute charmer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDtCXO71FJU

Some thick people thought, after watching the ad, that they could order Burger King, Kfc, a Chinese, an Indian and a Thai all on the same delivery. So the ASA have banned the ad for misleading them.

Also banned is the KFC advert with the strapline "What The Cluck"

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/11/29/miss-world-model-launches-legal-challenge-barred-sexist-pageant/

The rules were there and whilst they may be outdated shouldn't she be blaming the person or people who encouraged her to take part, who she doesn't name, instead of the Organisation who clearly stated their criteria.

What do members think?

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/02/worlds-largest-ritual-animal-slaughter-goes-ahead-despite-ban

I always respect other people's religions or beliefs but this has just left me shocked.

What do others think?

The Mr Men books are accused of being sexist because Mr Clever mansplains to Miss Curious why there is a Forth Bridge but not a First , Second or Third bridge.

https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/03/mr-men-books-accused-sexism-mr-clever-mansplains-little-miss-curious-11258475/

There have been recent reports of people trying to trick residents.
Pause....and think: Police officers and staff will never ask you to handover cash or your bank cards.
If you are in doubt, you can call 101 and speak to the force the officer claims to work for. Our call operators will be happy to check their identity and officers will be happy for you to confirm their legitimacy.
All police officers and staff are issued with unique warrant cards which they will be happy to show you.
Report all scams to Action Fraud
Message Sent By
Ian Stacey (Police, Neighbourhood Policing Administrator, Chiltern & South Bucks)

Several years ago I used to send many parcels via MyHermes, as a private ebay seller. Very few problems, and those were always resolved quickly. The company seems to have gone massively downhill since then, and I would strongly advise against using them for sending anything, or buying from companies (such as ASOS) who use them for deliveries.

Last week I bought something from an eBay seller. Hermes were supposed to deliver the parcel on Saturday afternoon, while I was in. No call, no card. The tracking information now shows it on its way back to the sender! The courier is supposed to try three times, but didn't even once!

Trying to contact MyHermes Customer Support is a joke. There is a phone number, if you can find it, but it directs you back to the predefined website answers. There you will also find a digital assistant, which is not very good. Eventually I found a route to request a phonecall. I'm not holding my breath!

Judging by the evidence on Twitter, Hermes are utterly shocking for customer support and for the (lack of) success delivering parcels -- many, many reports of lost, damaged, mis-delivered, or stolen. (Incidentally, the Twitter account is @hermesparcels, NOT @myhermes, who is just some joker with a deliberately confusing handle.)

Hermes are cheap for a reason. I would not be surprised if we see them going into administration very soon. I used to use City Link, who were cheap but very good, and I narrowly avoided losing parcels and money when they suddenly folded a few years ago. So that is another reason against using Hermes.

writer and television presenter, born 7 October 1939; died 24 November 2019
Did like some of his programs. RIP

I’d forgotten all about these. And apparently lots of people have forgotten that their children were eligible and have lost track of the funds. The Labour Govt between 2002 - 2011 invested for all children.

https://www.onefamily.com/talking-finance/finance/how-to-trace-a-lost-child-trust-fund/

Pets, or companion animals, play a very important role in many people’s lives. Some people even regard them as family members. So it’s not surprising that many pet owners (or “guardians”) celebrate World Pet Day. This unofficial holiday has several possible dates, the most popular ones being September 27 and November 30.

The inaugural World Pet Day was observed on September 27. It was initiated by the non-profit organizations PVBLIC Foundation and +SocialGood in collaboration with Klooff, a social media website designed for sharing moments with pets. They created the holiday to celebrate all of the happiness that pets bring to their owners, as well as to raise awareness of animal abuse.

The organizers suggested that animal owners visit the World Pet Day website, take a selfie with their pets, share the resulting postcard online, and tag three friends, asking them to follow suit. In addition, all participants were encouraged to donate to the Humane Society International or other organizations dedicated to saving domesticated animals from cruelty and abuse.

Another World Pet Day is celebrated on November 30. There’s no information on who created it or why this exact date was chosen, but it seems to originate from the Russian-language segment of the Internet. Anyway, it’s really great that pet owners have more than one occasion to celebrate their animal companions.

Computer Security Day was started in 1988 to raise public awareness of computer related security issues. This observance annually falls on November 30 and it's very popular among some organizations.

Computer security specialists certainly remember about this observance, because today they have a great opportunity to remind about computer viruses, security in the Internet and importance of protecting personal data.

There are over 50 activities, that you can organize to celebrate Computer Security Day. They include the simplest measures, like installation of all security-related updates, backing-up you data and deleting all unneeded files. Even announcement of Computer Security Day would also help draw attention to the issues of the day.

Many organizations were involved in observation of this day, including Security Awareness Incorporated, Association for Computing Machinery, Native Intelligence, Inc etc. unfortunately, the official site of the project was updated for the last time in 2008, but still it's a good source for organization of different events. Maybe you can find an idea or an inspiration for celebration of Computer Security Day in your office or at home.

What do members think about this strange law. Doctors are ordered to undertake a medical procedure that is so far impossible or face prosecution.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/29/ohio-extreme-abortion-bill-reimplant-ectopic-pregnancy

A man has been sacked for sending a racist email to a colleague. He started the email with "Dear Hash Brown" which he said happened because of auto correct.
If the recipients name is Brown and that's the reason for the sacking, everyone that emails her is getting sacked.

https://metro.co.uk/2019/11/29/uni-worker-sacked-calling-colleague-hash-brown-11237840/

Another warning from Neighbourhood Alert this afternoon.

Scam Messages - Beware of text, emails and Social Media messages purporting to be from Argos. The message will be asking you to click on a link which will take you to a website controlled by criminals to steal your personal and financial information.

If in doubt do a web search for Argos, and look on the official website for the gift card offer. Do not use the link within the message.

Message Sent By
James Adnitt (Police, Cyber Protect Officer, Hampshire)

I've started seeing bits of Christmas items in a few windows in houses near me this week so wondering when everyone puts theirs up and do you go mad and put loads up or just a few subtle touches here and there? 🎄

and is estimated to cost the country £9 billion a year - that's around half of all the extra money that the government promised to the NHS.

The poorest 90% will pick up the bill, either directly through taxation or indirectly through the scaling back of public services.

Link for support:
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/stop-tax-plans-that-only-benefit-the-highest-10-of-earners

3.8 million women have been caught up in government efforts to cut the costs of paying for the state pension and to equalise the age at which men and women receive the state pension.

Link to petition and support.

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/support-the-1950s-women?share=12752f0e-f136-4c24-ae3b-4ca0215e55c2