The Phishing Flow Chart

Here is a handy phishing flow chart that can help inexperienced computer users in analyzing potentially dangerous emails. Check out our how to identify phishing attacks guide for additional information and tips on phishing attacks.

The flow chart basically walks a user through the analysis of an email. It begins by identifying the sender and then checking consecutively if the email contains links or attachments and if it requests personal information.

The red end points define potentially dangerous emails while the blue end point an email that is likely safe.

Haven't The B-Losers Got Anything Else In Their Empty Lives?

Man Utd 2:1 Aston Villa...

The UK B-Losers Channel on BSkyB a few years ago, featuring "The Lost World"

Villa didn't deserve to lose, but not many teams have beaten Man Utd twice in a season. However, following their 5th minute penalty concession, Utd should've had Vidic sent off, and Villa might have had a chance. Firstly, the foul on the player impeding a scoring chance (no red card, not even a yellow) was followed by another foul on a Villa player by a different Man Utd player (again, no yellow card). The first bookings of the game were against Villa players, firstly Collins and then Petrov, for fouls equal to or less than the severity of the Man Utd ones...

Either Referee Dowd didn't want to feel the backlash of Ferguson's tongue or simply the laws of the game never apply to Sir Alex do they? No not sour grapes, just a statement of fact.

As to the blue nosed cunts sending me shitty little emails and text messages, you never were truly a friend, and my attitude to you now will be one of animosity and not support.

THE FOUR OF YOU ALL KNOW WHO YOU ARE...

... DON'T YOU?

Aston Villa 3 - 1 Crystal Palace

John Carew won and scored two late penalties to see off Crystal Palace and keep alive Aston Villa's hopes of reaching a second Wembley final.

Gabby Agbonlahor glanced home Ashley Young's corner to put the hosts ahead.

Darren Ambrose levelled from the penalty spot after Stephen Warnock's clumsy challenge on Alan Lee.

Carew was then twice fouled by Matthew Lawrence in the box and blasted home both spot-kicks as Villa made the last eight for the first time in 10 years.

It was a sorry end to a brave display from the Eagles, who went into administration last month.

Villa will be relieved to have survived Palace's spirited second-half fightback as they prepare to face Manchester United at Wembley on Sunday.

The two sides had starkly contrasting preparations for the match with Villa basking in the build-up to the Carling Cup final and Palace left to contemplate the expected exit of boss Neil Warnock, who has been strongly linked with Queens Park Rangers.

The sides' previous meeting had ended in controversy when Warnock fumed at the erroneous award of a corner that led to Stiliyan Petrov's late equaliser.

If he was angry then, he is sure to be further inflamed by a near carbon copy of the Selhurst Park incident that led to Villa's first goal.

The hosts started in blistering fashion as Palace keeper Julian Speroni kept the visitors in it with two smart stops from Carew and another from Young.

The best early chance fell to Agbonlahor, who expertly spun past Claude Davis and burst into the box only to see Speroni parry his low shot.

Warnock then wasted a golden chance to tee up the poised Carew after being brilliantly sent through by Milner.

Palace centre-back Davis made numerous crucial last-ditch challenges and was possibly fortunate not to concede a penalty when one of his clumsier efforts on Agbonlahor went unpunished by referee Martin Atkinson.

But just as it seemed Palace would reach half-time unscathed, they fell behind after another disputed decision by the referee minutes before the break.

The ball appeared to touch Milner last when it rolled out of play as he tussled with Nick Carle by the touchline but the England midfielder's sheepish appeal rendered a corner-kick.

Young duly whipped the set-piece into the mixer and Agbonlahor shook off Shaun Derry and converted from four yards out.

The goal inspired Palace to create their best chance of the half as Carle's 25-yard strike from whistled just past the post.

The Eagles began the second half brightly with Darren Ambrose twice testing Brad Guzan from long range.

Agbonlahor was then foiled by Speroni in a one-on-one, before Young saw his effort brilliantly tipped around the post by the impressive Palace keeper.

Neil Danns had a great chance to level when he lashed an effort across the face of goal from a few yards out after Villa failed to clear.

But the visitors didn't have to wait long for an equaliser, with official Atkinson again in the thick of the action.

Warnock bundled over Lee eight yards from goal and the referee gave a penalty, which Ambrose struck sweetly into the right-hand corner.

Villa, mindful that extra-time would do little to help their Wembley preparations, immediately found an extra gear as they searched for a winner.

Ashley Young and Richard Dunne both blazed over from close range before a rush of blood from Palace defender Lawrence helped the hosts regain the lead with nine minutes remaining.

He needlessly hauled down Carew in the area and the Norwegian striker picked himself to blast the spot-kick into the roof of the net.

The brave but tiring visitors had no riposte and Villa continued to pile forward, with Speroni performing more heroics to superbly tip over Stewart Downing's drive from the edge of the box.

The win was secured when Lawrence again conceded a spot-kick with a rash challenge on Carew just inside the box.

The Norwegian once again finished emphatically as Villa made the quarter-finals for the first time since they finished runners-up to Chelsea in 2000.

Back to footie...

Aston Villa 5 - 2 Burnley

Aston Villa remain in the thick of the race for a top-four Premier League finish after overwhelming Burnley.

Steven Fletcher put Burnley ahead from close range but Villa levelled when Ashley Young's cross flew straight in.

The Clarets collapsed after the break with Stewart Downing turning in Young's pass and scoring with a deflected shot.

Emile Heskey met Gabriel Agbonlahor's cross to make it 4-1 and Agbonlahor bundled home a fifth at the near post before Martin Paterson's consolation.

Villa scored four of their goals in the space of 13 second-half minutes - a capitulation by Burnley that shows exactly why they are deep in relegation trouble at the bottom of the table.

The Clarets have the worst away record in the country, with one point from a possible 42, and have conceded more goals - 55 - than any other top-flight team.

But until Downing found the net for the first time, in the 56th minute, it was difficult to tell which team was the one chasing European qualification and which was battling for top-flight survival.

Villa have an FA Cup fifth-round replay against Crystal Palace to look forward to on Wednesday, ahead of next weekend's Carling Cup final against Manchester United but, while Martin O'Neill's side have been in excellent form in knockout competitions, they have been less assured in the league in recent weeks.

The home side were certainly lacking in fluidity in the opening minutes and paid the price when the Clarets took a surprise lead. Jack Cork slid David Nugent clear and he had the presence of mind to look up and cross for the unmarked Fletcher to tap in at the far post.

That was Burnley's first away goal since Chris Eagles found the net in their 5-3 defeat at West Ham on 28 November - a run of 550 minutes - and they almost added another seconds later when Nugent fired in a shot that looped off James Collins and dropped wide with Brad Friedel stranded.

Villa had created little but as soon as they did put the visitors under some sustained pressure, they drew level.

Brian Jensen may rue his decision not to catch Young's free-kick from the left because, from the corner that followed, the same player cut inside before flighting in an inswinging cross that flew through a crowd of players and took the merest touch off Daniel Fox on its way into the net.

Burnley made it through to half-time on level pegging easily enough, and even started brightly enough after the interval, but their afternoon soon became a defensive horror show that must be familiar to their travelling fans.

Young carved the visitors apart down the left before sliding the ball to Downing, who found the bottom corner of the net despite the best efforts of Leon Cort.

Seconds later it was 3-1, with Jensen doing brilliantly to deny Agbonlahor after he raced clear but left helpless when the ball was fed to Downing and his shot flew in off the hapless Fox's leg.

Burnley were shell-shocked and it soon became clear that this was going to be an exercise in damage limitation for Brian Laws' men when Agbonahor's pace left them exposed down the left and he sent across an inviting cross for Heskey to turn the ball home.

By now the home side were rampant and added a fifth goal in the 68th minute when Heskey and James Milner combined down the right and Agbonlahor got on the end of Milner's low ball.

It could have been far worse for Burnley as Villa substitute John Carew scuffed a shot wide when well placed inside the area, but Paterson did at least give their long-suffering supporters something to cheer when he met Cork's excellent cross in injury time.

---

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill:
"We needed to threaten them a lot more than we had done in the first half and close players down, and we did that successfully.

"We had started a bit slowly but that burst after half-time was conclusive and will boost our confidence.

"The equaliser galvanised us and the spurt after half-time was exceptional."

Burnley boss Brian Laws:
"It was a 13-minute chunk where we fell apart, that is the disappointing thing.

"We limited Villa to very little in the first half - they had only pockets of chances - but the second goal after the the main turning point.

"After that, instead of shutting up shop, we opened up - and, if you do that, the good sides will hurt you."

Only found this out today...

JOHN TONKINSON : Obituary

Published in the Birmingham Mail on 14 January 2010 (Distributed in Birmingham):

TONKINSON John James. On 4th January, 2010 aged 79 at his home in Sandness, Shetland. Beloved husband of the late Barbara father of Simon and Johanna and grandfather of Christopher and Robert. Retired Chief Superintendent of Police in Birmingham and Dudley.

David Wilson writes: "As a teenager I spent many an hour at the Tonkinson's homes in Southam Road in Hall Green and later at Dayhouse bank in Romsley. JT had a wicked sense of humour, much sharper than even Simon's and a depth of knowledge I've not seen in anybody else in nearly the 40 years since I first met him."
"I remember the Birmingham Pub bombings in 1974 and JT (who was off duty at the time) rushed to the city centre to help out."
"JT's son Simon was at school with me, from 1971 to 1978 and his daughter Johanna (how many times was that atypical spelling drummed into my thick skull, Jo?) also went there five years later. I suppose you could say that 'Tonky' and I best friends for at least some of that time. It was always a treat to visit their house. The smell of wholemeal bread either proving on the boiler, or being baked filled the whole house (and it was a big house). More recently, I know from passing comments from Simon that firstly Mrs T and then JT suffered from acute illnesses."

"My condolences to Simon and his family and to Johanna and her family for their losses"

RIP JT

DTW 15/2/2010

Fridge Update

The Fridge is working and we can get our stuff back from friends and family...

Fridge update...

Phone call from Samsung...

"Repairman is ill, can we rebook for Thursday?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"Well yes, the alternative is Friday!"

"No I don't have a choice. OK then!"

The Fridge Freezer...

Conked out on Saturday Night/Sunday Morning. The repairman is due to visit today. Lets hope he doesn't have to come back with the part!!!

Fulham 0 - 2 Aston Villa

Gabriel Agbonlahor scored twice in three first-half minutes as Aston Villa beat Fulham to breathe new life into their quest for a top-four spot.

Agbonlahor outmuscled Chris Smalling to head the visitors ahead from Stiliyan Petrov's fine right-wing cross.

And the England man took advantage of some poor defending to turn Brede Hangeland and curl in a superb second.

Fulham's dominated the second half with Zoltan Gera and David Elm both going close but Villa held on.

And although the Londoners will consider themselves unfortunate not to have gained a point after a dominant second-half display, Villa will point to a professional first-half display and some ruthless finishing.

Martin O'Neill's side may have booked their place in a cup final for the first time in a decade, but their league form has suffered an alarming dip so this result will be a huge boost.

The midweek goalless draw with Arsenal, although creditable, was Villa's fourth game without a win or a goal in a spell where they have collected only two points.

But after a dull opening 20 minutes, Villa started to show their quality against an injury-hit Fulham side who have now lost five successive Premier League matches.

The pace and trickery of Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing showed that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was far from fair in dismissing Martin O'Neill's side as a long-ball team after their midweek meeting.

O'Neill was furious with Wenger's comments but with Petrov and James Milner pulling the strings in midfield and the defence looking comfortable, Villa began to get on top.

The damage was done in the closing stages of the first half and Agbonlahor's double allowed Villa to play on the break on the turnaround.

Villa led when quick thinking on the right wing allowed Petrov to cross and Agbonlahor got in front of Fulham's Manchester United-bound centre-half Smalling to nod the opener.

The visitors' second came just three minutes later when Carlos Cuellar's ball into feet inside the box saw Hangeland get the wrong side and Agbonlahor showed great composure to take a touch and curl the ball inside the far post.

Villa's double blow came just after Fulham's best spell of the first half.

Brad Friedel did well to stop a deflected effort and had to be alert to pounce at the feet of Erik Nevland to prevent the striker turning in the rebound.

And then Bobby Zamora seemed certain to stroke the home ahead from Chris Baird's raking long cross-field pass only for Cuellar to race back and poke the ball over his own bar for a corner.

With Villa then happy to play on the break, Fulham started to dictate play but despite stacks of possession they could not find a breakthrough.

Gera was denied by Brad Friedel's excellent positioning, the American keeper getting his angles spot on to deny the Fulham midfielder from wide on the right.

The Cottagers thought they had pulled a goal back when substitute John Elm produced a lovely volleyed finish from Gera's exquisite through-ball only to be denied by the assistant's flag.

Richard Dunne then threw himself in the way of another Elm effort on goal and although Fulham continued to press, they were unable to avoid a first home defeat since September and Villa closed out the game.

The result may have got their Champions League dream back on track but their top-four credentials will be tested to the limit with games against Tottenham and Manchester United at the start of February.

Out of retirement...

I stopped writing my THEDAVIDWILSON blog last autumn, following the Blues-Villa derby game. It just became dull and boring and I lost interest in things. I've been persuaded to re-open my personal blog by a friend of mine. I went to college with him and he wants to run my blog for me. I will allow him this, and will send him an occasional email with my goings on, but will keep an eye on it to make sure that he's not bringing me down. He says he will 'standardise' my blog to be like his others!

DTW 29/1/2010

Derby day success for Villa

Sunday, 13 September 2009

---

Home team	Score	Away Team
Birmingham	0 - 1	Aston Villa Agbonlahor 85

• 13th Sep 2009
• KO 12:00
• Ground: St Andrews Stadium
• Att: 25,196

Match Report

Gabriel Agbonlahor struck a late winner as Aston Villa beat derby rivals Birmingham in a tight game.

The England striker nodded in after John Carew had headed an Ashley Young free-kick towards him.

The goal settled a match of limited chances and quality, although it did belatedly set up an exciting finish.

Birmingham pushed for a leveller, but Agbonlahor should have added a second when he was clean through only to put his shot high.

The brief late drama was not in keeping with a game in which both defences had the upper hand for the most part.

And Birmingham fans will feel their side could have done more earlier as they adopted a similarly cautious approach to the game as Villa.

McLeish feels Blues deserved more

The St Andrews faithful certainly provided a vociferous atmosphere for their side as they tried to encourage them to avenge the 5-1 thrashing dished out by Villa the last time these two met.

And, although Birmingham showed plenty of intensity, Villa had a more controlled approach as they tried to keep the home side at arm's length - hoping their extra quality would provide the breakthrough.

The strategy almost paid off during the first half but James Milner and Agbonlahor failed to take the chances which came Villa's way.

Milner shot wide and sliced an effort horribly off target after a driven cross from Agbonlahor, who had a near post header diverted just wide by defender Roger Johnson.

Villa were playing with a new-look defence as central defenders Richard Dunne and James Collins made their debuts along with left-back Stephen Warnock.

Their first real test came when Garry O'Connor chested down a ball and had a shot blocked by Warnock, who quickly got himself up to get in front of Sebastian Larsson's follow-up strike.

Lee Bowyer had a 20-yard shot saved and ex-Villa trainee Keith Fahey steered a shot just wide for the home side who suffered the loss of James McFadden because of a thigh injury.

O'Neill relieved after derby win

Birmingham closed into their shell more the longer the game went on as Villa started to increase their threat on goal after big striker Carew entered the fray.

Steve Sidwell headed straight at Blues keeper Joe Hart before Milner again shot wide.

But any hopes Birmingham had of a battling point were quashed when Agbonlahor struck for Villa's third league win on the bounce and saw them continue the away form which served them so well last season.

---

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish:
"The defeat was very harsh. I thought we played really well. I'm sorry we couldn't get something more from it as I think we deserved more.

"I can't fault the players but the only criticism is that we allowed two headers from an Ashley Young free-kick (for their goal).

"I didn't think there was a huge gulf between the teams in terms of quality."

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill:
"I said before I'm not sure there's great enjoyment of or about the game but it's nice to have won.

"It was a game of few chances. We played solidly and nicely without exerting a great deal of pressure.

"Gabriel Agbonlahor was absolutely terrific. His confidence is getting greater and greater with each game and the goals obviously help any centre forward."

From BBCi website.

Aston Villa 0 - 2 Wigan

Rodallega unleashes a stunning strike to put Wigan ahead

Hugo Rodallega scored a stunning goal to help Wigan to victory over Aston Villa in manager Roberto Martinez's first game in charge of the Latics.

Charles N'Zogbia's shot had hit the post for Wigan before Rodallega angled in a spectacular half-volley from the corner of the area.

Wigan's Jason Koumas slotted in at the far post for their second goal as Villa's fans booed the home side.

Steve Sidwell headed a rare Villa chance wide but they were well beaten.

It was a thoroughly disappointing afternoon for Villa and their 35,000 supporters as Martinez enjoyed a dream start to life at Wigan.

Both teams had lost key personnel during the summer with Villa losing Gareth Barry to Manchester City, while Antonio Luis Valencia and Lee Cattermole had left Wigan.

The Latics have also seen a new manager installed in Martinez and they appear to have regrouped more quickly than the home side.

Wigan had wrestled the initiative from their hosts and, even before their opener, were the more threatening side.

Villa centre-back Curtis Davies got the benefit of the doubt that he had touched the ball when tackling Rodallega, who would have been clean through on goal but for the challenge.

N'Zogbia thought he had put the visitors ahead when he beat Villa keeper Brad Friedel with a low, angled 22-yard shot only to see his effort come back off the foot of the post.

The Midlands outfit were a side with the lethargy of pre-season still heavy in their legs and they eventually buckled.

Villa left-back Nicky Shorey could only flick a ball down Wigan's right side to Rodallega and the Colombian striker allowed the ball to bounce before sending a half-volley from the corner of the area dipping past Friedel for the first goal.

Only a goal-line clearance from James Milner after Rodallega's far-post header kept Wigan from extending their lead before Villa's restless fans were finally given a reason to hope.

Ashley Young curled a free-kick towards the top corner of the net but keeper Chris Kirkland was equal to the effort as he palmed the strike round the post.

Martinez rose to prominence during his stint at Swansea with the stylish passing football he instilled in his side.

His influence on the Wigan side was clear to see as their passing and movement was too much for a poor Villa side, epitomised by the second goal in the 56th minute.

Wigan's willing runners dragged Villa's defence out of position and allowed N'Zogbia to find Koumas, who slotted through the legs of Friedel to end a swift counter-attack.

Sidwell summed up Villa's frustration when he put a free header wide as the home side got their season off to an inauspicious start.

Wigan's over-confidence nearly cost them when a poor back-pass nearly allowed Young to score late on but Titus Bramble flung himself to deflect the strike over.

---

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill:
"After the initial 15 minutes, we were second best all afternoon.

"You can analyse everything but at the end of it all I thought we looked tired, which was a wee bit of a surprise considering we've had a pretty decent pre-season.

"We've been beaten when we should have been ready to go, and it was very disappointing indeed."

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez:

"I always felt that we had too many disruptions this pre-season and we knew the key to the game was going to be the first 10, 15 minutes.

"Villa put us under massive pressure and I'm proud of the players for the way they dealt with that situation.

"After that, Wigan Athletic deserved to win. It's been a big turnaround and credit should go to the players."

Aston Villa vs Wigan Athletic

	0 - 2
Date: 15/08/2009		Venue: Villa Park
Attendance: 35,578		Referee: M Clattenburg

'Ow long ya bin gorn?

On Tuesday morning 30th June 2009, John Burke sent out his lackey, Gary, to give us two extra green and two extra blue boxes... Whoopee, as we now have 4 of each on site. Imagine my shock/horror/surprise when on Thursday night 2nd July 2009, I returned from a evening out at my frail parents house, to see that two of my green bins (the ones I hadn't yet marked) had disappeared!!! In fairness to the old Burke, he did say that having more than a couple of bins might attract the same attention as having a wheelie bin!

DTW 3/7/2009

O'Dreary and Deadly Doug Revisited...

Forrest Gump is a Villa Fan

(because the sound 'Quaint') Villa First Team Squad 2008 to 2009

(Some players on there have moved on or retired)

Is it me? Or are Villa going through an O'Leary moment? Lots of noise in the end of season about 'funds' being available for transfers, and then as the pre-season approaches. A deafening SILENCE from all quarters!

Remember the DARKER DAYS when Deadly Doug was in charge of the purse, and the only expenditure was to 'finance companies' and other 'contractors' who were allegedly indirect paymasters for... Douglas Herbert Ellis? And on the transfer scene, we couldn't even sign a 5th rate African Cup quarter finalist squad player... well at least we were being linked with 5th rate African Cup quarter finalist squad players in the press.

Martin O'Neill is a fine manager and is known for conducting all of his transfers in secret, not wishing to give other clubs awareness of his own agenda or plans. That helps keep the prices down. Remember Randy Lerner is one of the wealthiest owners of a premiership club, and although not in the same financial league as Chelsea and both the Manchester Clubs, but any mention of Aston Villa still adds a hefty percentage to a price.

So why aren't Villa being being at least mentioned by the rumour mills? Last season, in January we were 3rd/4th in the league, and with a very small squad, ran out of puff, and ended up being barely in 6th and were blown out of the UEFA Cup by deliberately selecting under par teams by O'Neill (For which he had to appease travellors to Moscow, by giving them some hospitallity at a later date) and blown out of the FA Cup through being tired. We have lost Gareth Barry to Man City, and Martin Laursen to injury. The only position where we have a relative strength is at Goalkeeper, where the two yanks have it covered (Although Friedel is in the twighlight of his career) Its now 6 or 7 weeks from the start of the premier season. and 2 or 3 weeks away from the start of our Europa (Uefa) cup campaign, and all we have signed is a 16 year old prospect from Northampton.

Over in Small Heath, it seems players are queuing up to sign for our second rate rivals...

It doesnt make sense at all.

DTW 3/7/2009

In memory of 'Aunty Fran'

Frances Hadlon 1918 to 2009

Four Generations of Hadlon at Jonathan and Samantha's wedding reception December 19th 2008.
Is Jane doing a Larry Grayson?

I started going out with Annette in 1975, aged 15. So I've know Fran since then too, as she or husband John were always visiting Betty and Albert, or we were passing and popping in to her lovely house in York Road, Hall Green, right on the corner of Russell Road, opposite Yorkmead School. Fran was charming and tiny. I can remember, once, being the bodyguard and escorting her home after she'd been visiting Betty and Albert and darkness had set in, just up Tetley Road and down Reddings Lane to York Road. (She was so tough, that she probably would have ended up protecting me) With her familiar East Midlands "Hello me duck" and "Taraa Duck" she could endlessly talk about anything with a surprising depth of knowledge. As time went on, we all found ouselves having to shout at her as her hearing deteriorated... In fact, apart from her fragility, her deafness was the only thing that did affect her in later life.

Today I sadly attended her funeral at Robin Hood Crematorium. The funeral program is here. Jane, Sue and Pete were all there, along wih their own families. I was there to represent Annette and of course, Betty and Albert, who along with John enjoyed many a night out at The Home Guard Club in Hall Green. (One Sunday a month when Annette and I could be guaranteed to NOT be disturbed...)

It was a moving service, and I choked in the 4th or 5th verse of "Abide with me" and then luckily I had my sunglasses as Eva Cassidy's 'Over the rainbow' had me in floods. When I hugged Jane afterwards, my snotty nose was directly because of that and not to down to the swine 'flu doing the rounds in Solihull and Birmingham.

Here's to you Fran, born 17th January 1918, died 18th June 2009, Aged 91, God bless you, and rest in peace. XXX

Post Script: Gifts in memory of Fran (and John) to SSAFA (c/o Braggs, 562 Stratford Road, B90 4AY)

DTW 1/7/2009

Following on from my previous blog...

So true to his word, Mr Burkha told his troops not to start work until 6am. Did he? If he did, then did they listen? Here is my photographic evidence of the refuse collectors 'working' before 6:00AM. (Identities of the workers has been concealed)

The Runner

Pictured is the "Runner", a team of either one or two men who run ahead of the lorry, collecting black packs and piling them into larger piles. Here seen at 6:00AM coming out of FAWLEY GROVE 14. In driving past him to the top of Brandwood park Road, its a fair estimate that he has been running for at least 30 minutes, maybe even 60 minutes.

The Lorry

The lorry at the junction of Yarningdale Road and Brandwood Park Road with bin men (faces and registration number blocked), pictured at 6:02AM.

The Area covered by 6:00AM

Google map of the area cleared by 6:02AM. Red area is completely cleared. Green area has been prepared ready for the lorry by the 'runners'.

The Aftermath

10am and the recycling boxes AFTER being emptied. It must be pointed out that there are 3 teams on recycling day, team 1 collect normal black back refuse, teams 2 & 3 collect blue box recycling -paper/card and green box - aluminium and tin cans, milk and pop cartons and glass bottles. There the team that left this mess is not the one referred to above. Lets go back to yesterday's blog...

Birmingham City Council's Refuse Department refuse operator is VEOLIA, a company which boasts on its website a turnover of €36.1 billion at over 300 sites. Averaging £100 million per site. And my council tax pays for this? If I'd bought an item from a shop and it wasn't fit for purpose, then I'd go back and expect a refund.

DTW 29/6/2009

Tomorrow is Monday

8.30pm the night before refuse collection day. We have grossly inadequate recycling boxes, and our refuse collectors wont collect back bags from the front door.

Tomorrow is Monday, and whilst my ire (or Fire) is still close to boiling, I thought I would prepare for my usual Monday Morning run in with Birmingham City Council's Refuse Department (which is currently being under performed by worldwide transnational refuse operator, VEOLIA, a company which boasts on its website a turnover of €36.1 billion at over 300 sites which by my reckoning averages just short of €120 million (approx £100 million) per annum per site assuming American billions were quoted). Do Tyseley and Lifford Lane count as one site or two?

At my own ward meeting on 15th June, in Brandwood, I'd raised issues over the continual poor performance of the operator. Only little things, but each and every Monday, missing out recycling stuff, not collecting green waste, missing out black bags, allowing black bag contents to spill out all over the road. Representing the refuse department was John Burke, who handed out a flyer with his email address mis-spelt as john.burker@birmingham.gov.uk instead of john.burke. Sounded like a politically incorrect pun to me. I told him that I thought that the blue and green boxes were grossly inadequate for the amount of recycling my household made. He told me that I could have as many boxes I wanted. I then said I could easily use six green and six blue (In Birmingham we have blue boxes for recycling card and paper-but not Tetrapak or pizza boxes, and green boxes for recycling plastic pop bottles, aluminium and steel cans and glass bottles- not plastic bags, tin foil, milk bottles or Pyrex). No problem said Mr Burke, whom I'd told that 'Contact Birmingham' phone line had said all I could have was two of each box. I also commented on the fact that black refuse bags were no longer collected by the bin men from the bin, and had to be put out by us. Another comment was the timing of the bin men in the road. The 'pre crew' often came between 5:30am and 6am, and on a couple of occasions, so did the lorry. I'll be watching them, and using Mr Gregory's ward meeting as a precedent, will be filming them with a clock on hand to prove the time! Other issues of spilt refuse were blamed by Mr Burke on factors outside of his control, such as foxes, Rats and Cats. I will now post email correspondence between Mr Burke and myself, which didn't start for 10 days due to his email address error.

1) Is an email To John Burke (click here to see a snapshot of the email)

Dear Mr. Burke

Re Brandwood ward meeting on 15th July

Please note your email address on the supplement you presented at the ward meeting actually said john.burker@birminghamham.gov.uk I hope that that was a typing error and not some politically incorrect amusement on your staffs' behalf. This has resulted in 3 emails bounce back to me. so as one of the people whose council tax pays for your salary, I am therefore not impressed with your performance at the moment. It has taken me till now to phone you as I have had further pressing problems with the council. My local councillor, Mr. Mark Hill have been most helpful in the negotiations and I am sending him, out of courtesy, a copy of this email too.

At the ward meeting you specifically said that I could have 6 blue AND 6 green recycling boxes, despite what the staff on 'Contact Birmingham' phone lines told me. With regard to the extra recycling bins. On Tuesday afternoon 16th July, we were given ONE extra blue box. We now have two of each.
You also gave an undertaking that my house would be earmarked for 'collection point dustbins in front garden'. This did not happen on Monday 22nd.

We therefore require 4 more blue AND 4 more green recycling boxes. In phoning you just now, one of your colleagues suggested that we might benefit from a blue wheelie bin and a green wheelie bin, but then you have the additional problem of them being a 'most sought after valuable and nickable asset', particularly by people who don't have one.
Would it be impertinent to request 3 black dust bins too? With 5 adults and a toddler in the house we are finding our land fill output increasing too. We are finding it quite impossible to store our household waste beyond Thursday, and have to visit Lifford Lane regularly each week.

Best Regards

David Wilson

2)Is A reply from John Burke (Click here to see a snapshot of the email)

Mr Wilson

I am sorry for the confusion with the email address.

I did wait to see you after the meeting but I am afraid you had left before
me.

Following the meeting one of my staff did call the next day but the young
man at home could not advise him what you needed. I had agreed to look at
supplying additional boxes if there was a need and Gary did drop off the
additional box. I understand you have a large household but it would be
extraordinary to supply 6 of each type of box.

I will print this off and arrange for my Ward officer Gary to call on you
to discuss both your recycling issues and refuse problems.

John Burke
Principal Operations Manager
Fleet and Waste Management
Environment and Culture
Lifford Depot B30 3JJ

Now is it me? Or is he talking from his arse? I said those things to him after the meeting, in front of my friend Frank and my cousin Jim. How can he reply with such condescending, presumptive arrogance? Is he standing for election next year? And just brushing up on his brushing aside?

(Mental note to self: You're still going on about presumptive arrogance)

DTW 28/6/2009

"SHAME ON YOU MR GREGORY" or "DAVID GOES TO SWANSHURST GIRLS SCHOOL"

I have been not that political during my lifetime. Recently following run ins with council employees I have found it is possible to make a difference to my lot by accessing my local councillors and local MPs. That in mind, on Friday 26th June 2009, I attended the Billesley Ward Meeting, as a member of the public who uses facilities in the ward that are currently under threat. Due to a mix up with my cousin Trevor and friend Frank, thinking start time was 7.30PM, we mistakenly arrived at the venue, Swanshurts Girls School, half an hour late. We found ourselves in the middle of the item that I was interested in, The fiasco at the Billesley & Yardley Wood Community Centre. From what I gather, the centre not only has an annual general electrical inspection, but also a five yearly major inspection. This years 5 year inspection had unearthed several major problems in the electrics. The inspection had been performed by a Birmingham Council Contractor called Dodds, and they had also given quote of £50,000 for repairs. The councillors attending the meeting were Sue Axeford and Len Gregory. Colin Hughes (billed as the invisible man by some other attendees, as he never answers his phone or returns calls) was absent.
Mr Gregory blatantly, with a presumed arrogance, failed to answer adequately every single question put to him by the floor. He was evasive and vague.
EVERY SINGLE QUESTION WITH AN AIR OF ARROGANCE ONLY POLITICIANS SEEM TO EXHIBIT!

Swanshurst Girls school, venue for the meeting.

Then, having talked to my own councillor, Neville Summerfield the next day, (who was just out pushing leaflets into the doors of my road) I told him about my own voting habits, being Labour from age 18 right up until the last election, and then having been told with a Glaswegian presumptive arrogance by New-Labour MP Steve McCabe, that "if I didn't vote New-Labour, my vote would be wasted", I promptly voted for the opposition. I firmly told Neville that following Mr Gregory's blatant lack of regard for his ward (which is part of my electoral constituency, Selly Oak), I would not vote for his party at the next election either. I am now wondering whether to go green or orange or indeed, just spoil my paper letting New Labour Whip Mr McCabe and the Tory fighting the seat, Councillor Dawkins, what a couple of despicable toe-rags I think they are! Then as my voting paper is not secret, I would probably be rounded up, and made an example of...

Back to Friday night, following Mr Gregory's arrogance I left the meeting. I made sure that both he and Mrs Axeford were aware what I thought of them by repeatedly shouting "Shame on you Mr Gregory" and "Shame on you Mrs Axeford" as they left the meeting.
Furthermore, I am not sure what action I can take as to the police filming the meeting, with one junior plod pointing his camcorder and focusing on the faces of people speaking. Surely there is some point of law or byelaw being broken, or freedom being infringed here?

As Eric Blair wrote "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU"
Mind you he also wrote "ALL PIGS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME PIGS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS" which is quite profound knowing some of modern uses of the Porcine adjective.
DTW 28/6/2009

Diana Revisited

Marc Bolan ironically said following the death of Elvis on 16th August 1977 "I'm glad I didn't die today" meaning that his death would be greatly overshadowed. Ironic because a month to the day after Elvis Presley died, Marc Bolan died too on 16th September 1977, two weeks before his 30th birthday. He was a passenger in a Mini 1275GT driven by Gloria Jones.

Who remembers that week, twenty years on, in September 1997, a week of outrageous mourning for Diana Princess of Wales, a woman who, if you believe the press, had had more cocks than Bernard Matthews! Working in retail at the time, the shop where I worked was forced by the press to close on the day of the funeral or made to feel uncaring. I remember a column in the local rag, The Birmingham Mail, where 'concerned' Brummies could whistle blow on shops that had said they would remain open on that Saturday Mourning.

Well who else remembers the other people who died on 31st August 1997? Henri Paul, the chauffeur and Dody Al Fayed, Diana's boyfriend of the moment. Searching the internet for other deaths on that day is quite difficult. One of interest (And purely because I love the film, Back To The Future) is an American character actor called Will Hare who played Old Man Peabody in that film. (Hare is picture here)

Fast forward nearly 12 years. The internet is more comprehensive, and the list of deaths in Wikipedia for yesterday is currently 8. The list is Don Coldsmith, 83, American author; Farrah Fawcett, 62, American actress, anal cancer; Michael Jackson, 50, American singer–songwriter, cardiac arrest; Shiv Charan Mathur, 83, Indian politician, Governor of Assam since 2008, Chief Minister of Rajasthan (1988–1989); Mian Tufail Mohammad, 95, Pakistani politician, cerebral hemorrhage; Sky Saxon, 63, American rock musician (The Seeds); Anil Wilson, 62, Indian academic, Principal of St. Stephen's College, Delhi (1991–2007), pancreatic cancer; Yasmine, 37, Belgian singer and television presenter, suicide.
As you know this may be subject to editing by the faceless c*nts at wikipedia (who removed my edit in 1960 births, announcing my birth, because I was neither famous nor infamous) as causes of death may alter in hindsight, and of course others may yet be added.

Of those 8, Sky Saxon, Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson are familiar to me. As a young teen, I enthusiastically watched Farrah Fawcett in Charlies Angels. Say no more.

Of those 8 only one will allow the public grief shown over Diana's death pale to insignificance. That's right, Michael Jackson. On the radio today as I chauffeured my daughter to work, she listened to a well known national radio station. I heard the same DJ who made derisory comments about MJ four years ago, singing his praises and shedding a few crocodile tears. You are a disgrace, you Fat Unshaven Hypocrite...

DTW 26/6/2009

PS. Of all the MJ jokes currently going around my favourite is this one:

Farrah Fawcett has passed away on the early hours of Thursday morning Pacific time. At the pearly gates St Peter and God said to her 'Now you have passed and led an exemplary life, I will grant you one wish. Ms Fawcett thought long and hard and then said "I wish that the world were a safe place for children" God paused for two seconds then he killed Michael Jackson...

OPEN LETTER TO VODAFONE

From: David T Wilson

Wednesday 17th June 2009

To: Vodafone Ltd
Vodafone House
The connection
Newbury
Berks
RG142FN

Dear Vodafone

I have been a customer of yours since 1999, when I moved from Mercury one2one. My first number was 07******029 and it was cancelled by you about 5 years ago, after I’d changed numbers and was not using it. My second number was 07******442 and I have had that since 2001.
Since last year I have been using this as my back up number to a contract phone (with a different network) I moved networks as I was getting fed up with the continual pettiness of Voda, coupled with the fact that you could give some 3rd rate cricket players hundreds of thousands of pounds in sponsorship deals at my expense. You have made no attempt to contact me to find out why this phone was not being used as much as it had been in the past, but recently this number has received a spate of texts from you telling me about tariff options, and that your roaming charges are being reduced by YOUR benevolence. I was under the impression that all the UK mobile operators had been obliged to cut roaming charges by The EU? I digress. I did not receive a single text from you informing me or reminding me of the terms of service regarding minimum of at least one call or text every 6 months. You just cut it off.
Phoning your 0870 0776655 number last night TWICE from my landline, I was told by a Scottish sounding female called WYNN that it was my duty to check the terms and conditions AFTER 10 YEARS!!
Well you also took about £15 to 20 of credit from me at the same time. In my world, that is theft. Whether it’s in your small print or not.
Vodafone have now lost one customer, in me, which won’t make any difference to the vast amounts you make off the other saps nationwide, but I will make it my business to tell as many friends, family and colleagues about my dissatisfaction and disgust with you.

Yours most unsatisfactorily

David T Wilson

DTW 17/6/2009