December 2011
I’d love to know who’s responsible for turning the piece of land bordering  Beechwood Lane (on the way to Markyate) into a tip. They should be put in the stocks and pelted with rotten tomatoes! This used to be a pretty lane with green verges and pristine hedges. But then the owner of the land on the south side allowed it be used as a site for storing wood chippings. Since then the entrance and the lane has become a magnet for fly-tippers. The road is strewn with litter and the entrance, as my photo shows, is a disgrace.

Joining the advanced booking list of the Rex Cinema, Berkhamsted, has been like winning on the Premium Bonds at your first attempt. My first ABL arrived last week and I couldn’t wait to hit the phone. After years of endless calls and frustratingly long waits, as noted here on several previous occasions, I got through straightaway and booked the best of the month’s offerings. Fantastic! Why didn’t I do this before? Well I did, back in the early days when the ABL was only half its current £150 price tag.  I think I gave up on it after several over-enthusiastic bookings which left me with spare tickets going begging. With so many films sold out, if that happens again I think I’ll try and set up a black market on ebay!

Christmas lights in Piccotts End are a bit thin on the ground. Driving through the village a few nights ago it seemed that only Mill Close had got into the Christmas spirit. Maybe we should start a competition for the best illuminations next year. There will have to be safeguards  of course, like a light bulb limit to prevent anyone attempting to recreate the Blackpool illuminations!