Nick's Ramblings

I find it very amusing during American film or TV series, that whenever they show a new city, they always caption the city's name and state e.g. Los Angeles, CA.

However, when somewhere outside the USA is mentioned, the caption is 'London, England' followed by pictures of Big Ben, Tower Bridge etc. Now I know most Americans don't know much about the outside world, but you'd have to be fairly thick to assume that London referred to London, Ontario (that's Canada!) or London, Minnesota!
But I guess Hollywood has to make things as idiot proof as possible!

When Carol and I were in Canada, they showed foreign news on the TV. They made a point of showing the Special Olympics which were on at the time. In America, the only foreign news was Iraq and sod all about the Special Olympics. Says a lot really!

Well there is a light falling of snow today and schools are closing left right and centre! Except mine. There would have to be a small nuclear explosion before we’d close!

To be fair, it’s not too bad today, so I wouldn’t expect us to close. However, there are a lot of schools that have closed and there is no real reason. Some schools near to where I live are closed. Now it’s not very hilly or particularly exposed round our way so why these schools have closed goodness only knows why!
Probably scared to get sued if little Johnny gets a bit cold 😉

I see on the NUT website that they are banging on about teachers being underpaid again!
THEY ARE NOT UNDERPAID!
To start as a teacher you get over £19000 plus up to £5000 as a signing on fee. The teachers where I work get extra for working in a special needs school. I guess the minimum amount paid to a full time teacher at my school is around £25000. Over £10000 more than I get. Some of them who are not even management are getting over £40000 a year!
Again the poor dears are not badly paid. My wife works 50 hour weeks, has a hell of a lot more responsibility and still earns less than a teacher who is starting.

Message to the Teaching Unions – try a job in the real world and then see how poorly paid you are! :@

Well Staffs County Council are showing their true colours again as they now want to close all of their old people’s care homes in 2008.

I think they are determined to upset as many people as possible. I’m sure my County Councillor won’t get off his arse to do something to stop this. Interesting that it’s Newcastle Borough Councillors that have something to say and not the County ones. Mind you it wouldn’t suit my County Councillor’s self promotion to say anything. I’m sure this is supposed to be a Labour council……..
I’ll be glad to get rid of these fools at the next Council elections!

Well on Wednesday the County Cabinet threw out the Job Evaluation proposals! Seems they had a bit of feedback from the people! I suspect they were concerned for their jobs come next election!

My County Councillor is a waste of space.  I e-mailed him before Christmas about the County's job evaluation process. It took him over SEVEN weeks to respond and then he didn't do it himself. He got the deputy HR director to do it instead.
The only time you hear of him is when he's in the local paper – useless, lazy sod. Last year he got over £25000 for representing me. The only person he's interested in is himself.

I’ve been a bit poor at putting stuff on here recently, but never mind!

Happy New Year!

Well we break up tomorrow and the whole School has stopped doing any work! To say I’m bored would be an understatement!

Should have stayed in bed!

A few weeks ago, I e-mailed my County Councillor about the County's proposed pay restructuring. I won't loose out exactly, but my chances of promotion have diminished.
It's now over 4 weeks since I e-mailed and the ignorant sod hasn't replied. I know he's not ill or anything as I know he's been attending Council meetings. Had a similar problems with him a couple of years ago. It took a letter to the local paper to get him to wake up! 'Broken computer' was the excuse!
Now this is a man whose main career is politics. Last year he was given around £25000 (which includes around £2500 expenses) for the privilege of representing his ward. The only time you can see him is when he is promoting himself in the local paper! Useless! Trouble is we've got to put up with this fool until 2009 🙁

Typical of Labour in our area – they think they have the 'right' to be on the Councils!

Anyway I'll keep e-mailing – I wonder if he's heard about delivery receipts?

Feeling awful today after 2 hours sleep last night. I have a cold, although Carol calls it 'Man Flu'! +o(

Well, Christmas is coming and has been since September! The shops are decked out with their decorations, the Chavs round where I work have the decorations on their Council houses and the TV adverts are nothing but Christmas and it isn't even Advent!
After spending 13 years working in retail, Christmas doesn't really start for me now until Christmas Eve!
Oh well only 35 days to go…………………..