Had a great time at the Mayor’s Charity Ball last night. Good conversation, the wine flowed, and the food by the Garfield Girls was fabulous. I must be getting old, because although I thought the music was good, it was far too loud. and I’ve never been ‘into’ dancing.

The guest of honour, Sir Nick Harvey, made not a single political point in his speech, and apart from mentioning the Tesco fiasco, told only jokes – none of which I can remember!

We’ve had an abundance of pigeons and crows in our garden recently and have found several dismembered pigeons. We blamed our local cats, but this morning I saw a bird of prey flying low over the garden clutching a pigeon in its claws. It’s a shame that  they can’t ‘take out’ the crows as well.

Dire Straits – not the band but the state of the roads in Devon!

In  May 2014 Devon County Council produced a report called  “Extreme weather resilience report:  Devon” in which they highlight the problems caused by the severe weather of the last two years.

In essence the County Council don’t have enough money to get the roads into the condition they were in prior to 2012 – let alone improve their condition.

Here are some quotations from that report (my highlights):

“Devon [has] 13,000 kilometres of highway network, the biggest of any authority in the country. . . 52% of the network is unclassified roads connecting villages, hamlets and individual properties to the main [road] network. . .”

“[I]t is clear there is a need for a series of interventions including the decommissioning of some parts of the [road] network and bringing other parts up to a safe standard. . .

• Invite community self-help to maintain and repair the highway asset,
• Managing demand for the service by downgrading or stopping up parts of the network and by managing expectations and levels of service.”

“The unclassified road network needs to be reduced in size and the remaining network made safe with additional funding. This will involve a combination of new maintenance methods and greater community involvement.”

I’m wondering what form this “decommissioning” will take, which roads will be affected and what the “greater community involvement” will consist of. I’m also intrigued as to what “new maintenance methods” might be. It’s basically not good news at all.

I’ve been busy trying to create a new, revamped website and therefore haven’t been adding posts for a while. Hopefully I’ll start again shortly.

I’m using a new website creation tool and at the moment I’m struggling a bit to get to grips with it. I’m sure I’ll get there in the end.

A visit to the Civic Centre to deliver my filled-in election expenses to the returning officer (and no, we don’t get them reimbursed as some people seem to think). Then on to a meeting at the Barnstaple Hotel to learn about, and discuss, mooted changes to the way health care is delivered in North Devon – more about this on myCommunity Hospital page later. Whilst walking from the Civic Centre to the Barnstaple Hotel I decided to go to the top of Barnstaple Castle, something I’d never done before. Two thirds of the way up I encountered barrier tape strung across the path. It would appear that people on mountain bikes have been using the old castle as a course and have caused extensive damage. I presume that’s why the tape was there.  However, why not put a notice at the bottom if the path is closed?

I’m heartened by the very many messages of support I’ve had from various people following the by-election. The majority of whom told me that they were surprised that I didn’t get in – and hoped that I would stand again in the May elections next year.

It was exciting for me to obtain only 37 votes less than the leaders. All of this as a one man band: I created, ran and managed the whole of my campaign myself. I now know every nook and cranny of South Molton as I delivered my leaflets (printed at home) to each household in the parish!

This is in contrast to Tracey Lewis, who had the help of various councillors, as well as her partner, and all the resources of Printworkx. Jean Foster was supported by an enthusiastic and large team of Lib Dems, and had the advantage that the local MP, Nick Harvey, canvassed on her behalf in the centre of town two weeks in a row.

Harvest festival in the ParishChurch, a civic service, with the town clerk and town mayor in full regalia, accompanied by the Mayor’s Cadet (Francis Huntingford) and many councillors, as well as the Carnival Queen and her attendants. Other dignitaries, including the mayor of Livarot, were in attendance. The South Molton Town Band led the large congregation in the first and last hymns. The Rev Dr Michael Grandey officiated, assisted by the newly ordained Rev Lynn Flatt. He preached an inspiring, humorous and interactive sermon. The church looked beautiful, decorated with flowers and assorted produce – congratulations to those responsible.

Probably the biggest and best South Molton carnival for many years. These events don’t just ‘happen’, they take a phenomenal amount of organisation and preparation. Thanks and congratulations to the South Molton Rotary Club for organising it and special thanks to the very many people who took part. Without you there would be no carnival!

The Mayor (Cllr Stephen Lock) at the head of the procession being driven by the President of South Molton Rotary.

How groceries used to be delivered before the days of Ocado, Sainsbury and Tesco.

An old style tractor.

A slightly more modern tractor. Doubtless a reader of Tractor Magazine could tell us the exact vintage and the model. I suspect all the modern behemoths with GPS, stereos and air-conditioning were out working.

Mervyn Way’s show of power – Scanias, Volvos and Mercs in convoy up New Street. The whole fleet could probably encircle the town centre and cattle market like a modern day equivalent of the wild west waggon trains. Apparently there were 21 of Mervyn’s vehicles there, with 19 drivers plus Mervyn and his son. The vehicles positively gleamed, and I’m sure the tyres had been painted black. A stunning display!

Once again the people of South Molton have proved to be very generous. This morning  I went to a Macmillan Cancer Support’s Big Breakfast hosted by South Molton Bowling Club where over £750 was raised. There were a few other Big Breakfasts around South Molton this morning so I suspect the total raised across South Molton was probably well over £1,000.

In late breaking news: apparently Tesco have pulled out of the central car park deal! So some good news – or possibly not.