The snow is back and I have been clearing the drive and the extension roof of the 5 to 7 cm of snow that fell on Friday night and the white-outs we have had since. Friday was particularly cold before the snow came.

I was in East Boldon though on Saturday night and there was no snow, nothing. That's only 10 miles away. I was at a pub The Grey Horse. A nice place although the beer wasn't up too much and it wasn't a cheap place ( almost 12 quid for a pint of Carlsberg, a coke and a glass of merlot).

In past days this time of year was a frantic rush around organising parties, visits from relations and present buying because this last week in February holds the birthdays of my son and daughter.Now they are all grown up. I no longer have any teenage kids as my daughter turned 20 on Friday. I feel quite sad about that.

I also feel sad, mind you, because Posh lost to Birmingham at home 2-0. Less than a week after thrashing Millwall away from home 5-1.  The games are running out and in this post Boyd world I doubt our ability to survive in this league. I am next down there on 5th March watching us (probably) lose to Charlton. My wife says I shouldn't go because I'm a jinx as I haven't seen them win since the League 1 Play Off Final almost two years ago. Neither had my son until last Tuesday at The Den, I tell her and anyway I don't believe in all this superstition nonsense.... touch wood.

Music wise I have been listening to Absolute Radio. This is sort of a guilty secret, cos this is not a cutting edge station. I don't like the adverts though so no doubt I will be returning to the 6Music fold shortly.

Out with the dog late last night after returning from The Grey Horse, two New Order tracks popped up on my Mp3 player, which is always set to shuffle unless I am listening to the latest  offering from some hot new young band ( ha!). The first one was Temptation the 7" version which is one of all time favourite songs and imediately transports me back to our flat on Lingbeck Crescent in early 80's Manchester. It's one of those records I remember buying, putting on the Record Player and being completely blown away by. Along with Blue Monday this record got me into electronic dance music in a big way. The next, which came on straight after, was Procession. I had almost completely forgotten this one. Its quite charming in its way but not a classic.

Procession 

Goodbye, George Boyd

So George leaves The Posh and goes for the rest of the season on loan to promotion contenders Hull.

My son was at The Den on Tuesday to watch Boyd single handedly take Millwall apart, making a fitting end to his time at Posh.

I should be devastated and in some respects I am, as George's move almost certainly condems us to relegation, but George was, on his da,y( and there were many days) simply too good for us. Even more so after Craig Mackail Smith left and he had no one to pass to. So I wish him the best and hope Hull sign him permanently in the Summer and he gets to play in the Premiership.

Watch this video of some of his best moments to get a sense of what a player he was for us.

Goodbye George you (almost) made a grown man cry.

February News

I have been lacking a bit of inspiration recently hence the gap between posts. I am really busy at work and this has meant I haven’t felt able to think of exciting things to post about.

The reason I’m busy is the Government’s changes to the benefit system, and principally

 "the bedroom tax”.

 In the Social housing world there is a lot of debate , mostly of it anti , this reduction in Housing Benefit ( rent rebate) for those who are of working age and unemployed.

After doing numerous visits and having numerous discussions about it. I have to say that in all honesty I am not against the principle but as always it is the detail that lets it down,.

Firstly the 14% reduction in benefit for under occupying by 1 room is too high. Here in my city this works out on average at  £12 PW from an income of between £56 and £111 per week depending on whether you are under 25 ( lower rate) or a couple ( the higher rate). Secondly it is a bit of a one size fits all solution to the undoubted issue of under occupation in the social housing sector. There is little flexibility to accommodate individual circumstances. Thirdly it could have been phased, say 3 bedrooms( yes there are some) first then 2 bedrooms then 1 over a couple of years.

A smaller reduction coupled with flexibility and phasing would have rendered this policy totally politically neutral. I don't see a future Labour Government overturning these plans. They are probably just relieved that the Coalition has done its dirty work for it. 

 

As it is I think the working majority ( particularly in the South east) will support this up until it causes problems on the street.Although I'm not sure it will. Its more likely the new Council Tax Benefit proposals will. 

 

4 Years

This years is racing by. Normally January lingers on like an unwelcome visitor you can’t wait to leave but this time round it whistled by in a blur of snow and door knocking.Here we are in February and this past weekend it felt like Spring was coming. The morning’s are lighter it’s not dark when I leave work for home and daffodils re pushing their way out of the soil, straining to reach the pale sun.

 

And the 4 year anniversary of this Blog went by without fanfare or comment.

February Arrives

I went to see Posh on Saturday. We drew 2-2 with Burnley . We didn’t lose but should have won, you shouldn’t come back from 1 nil down at home and then lose your lead. Still Boyd was good, the best I’ve seen him play for a while. It’s as if the rejection on spurious grounds by Forest has spurred him on. I hope he stay until the end of the season and beyond.

Weather wise it’s been warmer and no snow, just rain. Apparently global warming/climate change means that the Gulf Stream is less powerful and more erratic than it used to be, so we get prolonged dry or prolonged cold or wet periods now rather than a proper four seasons a year.

 

Today is bitterly cold and on the way home there were tiny flecks of snow.

I’ve started my running properly now and I am already enjoying it.