We go to the Paignton & District Fanciers Association dog show in Exeter. We have agood time and at the end of the day make our way to the  Tom Mogg Inn, in  Burtle, Somerset. The former station master’s house has been turned into a B&B Pub. It’s set in the Somerset Levels (an Area of Outstanding Beauty).

They have comfortable accommodation for up to 23 people, have a full range of local beers and legendary full English breakfasts.

Important for us was the fact that they are dog friendly and within easy reach of Street with Clarks Village – a visit to which turned out to be quite worthwhile. http://www.ukpubfinder.com/pub/4489

Dear Mr. Cameron,

Please find below our suggestion for fixing England ‘s economy.

Instead of giving billions of pounds to banks that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan: You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan. There are about 10 million people over 50 in the work force.

Pay them £1 million each severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

1) They MUST retire. Ten million job openings – unemployment fixed

2) They MUST buy a new British car. Ten million cars ordered – Car Industry fixed

3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage – Housing Crisis fixed

4) They MUST send their kids to school/college/university – Crime rate fixed

5) They MUST buy £100 WORTH of alcohol/tobacco a week …..and there’s your money back in duty/tax etc

6) Instead of pfaffing around with the carbon emissions trading scheme that makes us pay for the major polluters, tell them to reduce their pollution emissions by 75% within 5 years or we shut them down.

It can’t get any easier than that!

If more money is needed, have all members of parliament pay back their falsely claimed expenses and second home allowances

Also…let’s put the pensioners in jail and the criminals in a nursing home. This way the pensioners would have access to showers, hobbies and walks. They’d receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs etc and they’d receive money instead of paying it out. They would have constant video monitoring, so they could be helped instantly, if they fell, or needed assistance. Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them. A guard would check on them every 20 minutes and bring their meals and snacks to their cell. They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose. They would have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counselling, pool and education. Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, PJ’s and legal aid would be free on request. Private, secure rooms for all, with an exercise outdoor yard, with gardens. Each senior could have a PC, a TV radio and daily phone calls. There would be a board of directors to hear complaints, and the guards would have a code of conduct that would be strictly adhered to.

The criminals would get cold food, be left all alone and unsupervised. Lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week. Live in a tiny room and pay £600.00 per week and have no hope of ever getting out.

Courtesy of Grumpies of the World Unite http://www.experienceproject.com/stories/Am-British/1550918

I  get a ‘phone call from Brian Lazenby (former Lib-Dem Councillor for  South Cosford) to talk over various social issues. We discuss the possibility of my being nominated as a trustee for the South Suffolk Leisure Trust. In talking to Jennie Jenkins (to promote my cause) he mentions that initially he didn’t like me as a Tory and was surprised that I got elected in what was considered a solid Labour ward.

However having heard me speak on social justice issues at Council and seeing the way I nurtured my relationship with the residents of the ward he had changed his mind and reckoned that I was a good chap to have on board.

High praise indeed!