A very Happy New Year to everyone... I am sure we can make it a good one if we try!
And I am pretty sure that is the key - we have to roll with the punches and accept change.
As far as the recession goes the government seems determined to do as much as it can to soften the blow with "fiscal policy" as they call it... which seems to mean things like interest rates and taxation. Maybe we can expect some more tax cuts in the actual Budget in March.
I am also hoping that the economic downturn will make the powers-that-be hereabouts see some sense. It is bad enough that the rail fares have gone up by five per cent... we certainly do not want an increase in the Mersey Tunnel Tolls for example!
Some recent research that shows that drivers in the Merseyside region forked-out something in the region of £23m last year in parking fines. How about the town halls getting some common sense, and encouraging people to park legally by cutting the cost of parking in designated areas.
Perhaps we will see an extension of free parking after 2pm in the afternoon... it is working well in Chester and elsewhere!
I know of one pay-and-display car park in Birkenhead that is almost always empty - even on a Saturday!
With free parking periods traders in struggling shopping centres like Birkenhead might stand and chance of luring some customers in their direction rather than the malls with free-parking like Cheshire Oaks and the Trafford Centre.
Talking about shopping malls. I want to "name and shame" a shopping outlet for some of the most expensive "dining out" in the North West. It is Bents Garden Centre at Glazebrook, near Warrington.
I popped in there with two other people a few days ago and we each had a bowl of soup and a sandwich. It was served in a VERY slapdash manner by a kid of about 17 who at first tried to butter the bread with a fork! The cost £8.95 each... and even the soup did not taste very good. I would guess the mark-up was something like 800% and the surroundings are basically a glorified shed in a field!
We will avoid it in future.
On the other hand a great value-for-money dining tip: just off the M62 at the Burtonwood Services turn-off is the Memphis Belle. Come off at the new junction, head for Marks and Spencer and when you sight M+S ahead of you, turn right at the roundabout and it's about 200 yards down that road.
The Memphis Belle is a large carvery pub where they serve huge plates of excellent food fresh food for £6.50 a head during the week and £8.50 on Sundays. It's a real gem, and I gather The Cherry Tree at Arrowe Park on the Wirral is in the same chain (we have yet to try that!)
Anyway.... all the best for 2009... things can only get better, can't they?
Closure of the CUC in Liverpool - sad day
(Tue 03/01)
Banksy the religious bigot
(Thu 29/12)
The Big Yin is on his way... I can't wait
(Thu 10/11)
A tale of two museums
(Tue 30/08)
Rosie Cooper - we need more politicians like her
(Mon 06/06)
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