Friday 1 February 2013

Pinch punch or stamp on toe, for being slow and a ramble about food drink and blogs


First the link to last months referral statistics http://michaelsbookshop.com/laptop213/ for the other local bloggers, who link to this site, this is some sort of indicator of how their blog ranks in comparison to the other local blogs.

The counter thing on the side of this blog says that there were 59,195 visits last month, I don’t for one moment believe that all of these visits were genuine readers, but I do think this blog has a growing readership, and I guess I have some responsibility to write something interesting.

A mixture of spam, crazy comments, way off topic comments, rude and unpleasant comments, has become an increasing problem, any help with this would be appreciated, I delete a fair amount but things are bound to get through that shouldn’t.

The Gazette is covering the Royal Sands on the Pleasurama site in Ramsgate again today, here is the link to the article http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Developer-s-bid-growth-grant-cash/story-18022988-detail/story.html

There is a sense here of the developer looking for money to finance what is fundamentally a new build on a high risk flood zone with no flood risk assessment, and having found no private sector takers hoping for public money.

The site has already had had a large amount of public money spent on it, I am fairly certain that most of the highways work was paid for by KCC and absolutely certain that most of the £1m spent on the cliff, so far, has come out of TDC coffers.

There is of course the sense that getting on with anything is preferable to the ongoing building site, there is also the ongoing concern about the public liability for maintaining the cliff and sea defence.

On to food, if like me you work in the town centre there is an ongoing problem associate with getting something out of your hours break at lunchtime, my normal method of dealing with this has been to get a filled baguette from Rooks for £2 and wander around the town eating it.




The cost of lunch for a five day week is a tricky one, even the £2 mounts up to £10 per week, but a useful addition to my lunchtime now is Gerrys in Albert Square with a baguette and a sit down for £3.

The salad aspect is much better too, I guess the photo gives you a fairly good idea of what of expect.


I was surprised that there is no mention of Gerrys on http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk and have filled out their form to get it listed.

There is a bit more on the Cllr Zita Wiltshire resignation in the Gazette see http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Zita-turns-Tory-group/story-18022587-detail/story.html personality clashes apparently, as these have to have been within the Conservative group, there is a sense of investigative journalism failing to get at the nub of the matter here.  

I will endeavour to ramble on here if I get time. 

67 comments:

  1. I see from today's Gazette that Ted Watt-Ruffell STILL hasn't paid back his overpaid mayor's allowance, though I'm sure the local tories will just say that "we should move on"...

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    1. Haha, I was right! To quote the good doctor himself today, "Perhaps its time to move on and learn from the experience."

      So that's ok then. Those who rip us off financially deserve sympathy, not outrage. Perhaps you feel the same about all benefit cheats Simon?

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    2. God Peter you're getting almost as boring as Retired. Simon Moores doesn't like you and you don't like him - get over it. You peddle your 1960s hippy love everyone views all over the place but you don't really believe them yourself. If you have nothing grown up to say then pop off back to your pornography and leave us adults alone.

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    4. We can't all be as interesting as you, or as easy-going on animal abusers & thieves...

      Simon hates everyone who's younger than him, prettier than him, & those who's getting more pussy (or cock) than him, hence his particular dislike of myself, John, Will, Jodie, etc.

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    5. Simon Moores' and Bob Bayford only expect Gay and Bi-sexual councillors to call by-elections when they become independents, they don't expect Zita to call one because she is not Gay.

      In fact its ok to drink drive, hurt cats and leave hate messages, but if you try to expose the truth and aint hetrosexual you will be bullied, abused and told to call a by-election

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    6. To be fair Simon did say that Shirley should quit as it was the right thing to do... then went silent on the matter when she changed her mind!

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  2. I see that Peter, who is somewhat obsessed with the former mayor, has left this same comment across all the blogs. I would remind him that only grown-ups are welcome on ThanetLife

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    1. I see that Simon, who is somewhat obsessed with John Worrow, has completely ignored this on his blog. I would remind him that this is OUR money that your former colleague owes us.

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    2. 0% from Moores again.

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    3. Simon why are you and your extemist colleagues not demanding that Councillor Zita Wiltshire calls a by-election.
      Is it because she is not Gay or Bi-sexual?

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  3. For anyone who thinks I've gone off-topic, I'm sure it's THIS sort of attitude that has made a hard-working cllr quit the Thanet Tories after 35 years, with the return of Ken being the final straw ("Plain Jane" made a good point in Friday's Gazette when she said that he didn't sound "angry" on the phone message to John, merely childish... maybe they should be telling each other to grow-up, not those who happen to disagree with them).

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  4. http://checkerskenttreks.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/the-continuing-saga-of-margate-cat.html

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  5. Blimey, this is all a bit esoteric for me. I do not have the faintest idea what anyone is talking about, especially with the assorted nicknames, presumably pejorative.

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    1. I do. But the Gazette does not help me to unravel the arcane comments that crop up on this blog from time to time, such as those above. Not that this much matters, so long as the interlocutors understand each other and are presumably content.

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    2. Please explain what you mean by "assorted nicknames". I'm certainly using my real name, and as far as I'm aware, Ted Watt-Ruffell, Simon Moores, John Worrow, Zita Wiltshire, Will Scobie, Jodie Hibbert, Ken Gregory and Jane Wenham-Jones ALL use their real names too...

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    3. Peter my apologies, I was not referring to pseudonyms and I appreciate that you write under your own name, as do others.

      I was thinking of people being referred to by others with nicknames such as 'Plain Jane', '0%' and by their first names such as 'John, Will, Jodie, etc'.

      Still never mind; the important thing is that you all seem able to understand each other.

      Oh the joy of TDC petty pygmy party politics. Should anyone need a refreshing, hilarious and relevant break from all this then I suggest reading Keith Waterhouse's tales of the Glogthorpe District Council.

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    4. You're right Pollution Holyer. Although many people and their children would disagree with your blithe views on Manston pollution.

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    5. Anonymouse 5:33PM

      Get lost you muddled headed troll.

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  6. "Plain Jane" is what Jane Wenham-Jones' column in the Isle of Thanet Gazette is called, so the nickname is her own!

    As for John, Will & Jodie, I would've thought it quite obvious who we're talking about when discussing people who Simon doesn't seem to like... unless you've never seen his blog "Thanet (get a) Life", in which case you haven't missed much.

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    1. Thank you Peter,

      I was not talking about people that Simon does not seem to like. After all I cannot know for a fact whether or not he dislikes those you mention. Nor whether Simon dislikes them for their opinions or for their character. Whatever the truth may be, I am confident that these rough tough politicians and journalists are well able to look after themselves.

      I do read Simon's blog. Subject matter aside, in my opinion Simon's 'Thanet Life' is the best written of all similar blogs that I have come across. His writing is clear and concise.


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    2. My photos are better though! ; )

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    3. Of course they are, Peter. But I suggest that some of your photos would benefit from more flattering lighting and touch of Adobe Photoshop. What lens do you mostly use?

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  7. Goodness you're really eaten up with hatred Peter. You'll have to be a bit of less uptight or you'll have a coronary. I recommend a lie down in a dark room whilst you contemplate just how boring you have become recently. So the disgraced former Margate Mayor hasn't paid back his allowance - I don't suppose the rantings of an amateur pornographer masquerading as a second-rate artist is going to change this. I suspect that the reason he hasn't paid the money back is that he hasn't got it and that may be tied in with his fall from grace and conviction. In this matter I suspect that Dr. Moores is better informed than you are. Once you have something positive to say then we will listen.

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  8. The only "hatred" i feel here my lovely is hatred for those who kill poor defenceless animals... as for "pornographer", if you saw what REAL porn looked like then no doubt you'd be the one having a good lie down! ; )

    Plenty of people can't afford to pay back money, but they at least make small token payments of a couple of quid per week instead of ignoring letters.

    Oh, and thanks for your support: as a tax payer(?) I'm sure you'd like to know that I've been awarded an arts council grant for the 3rd year running!

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  9. You forget that I'm ex-RN so there's little I haven't seen and even less that can shock me. I have no problem with you caring about the fate of small animals, although you're generally strangely silent on the live exports issue. No, my problem with you is your vendetta againsy Mr Watt-Ruffell. Yes he took taxpayers money and hasn't paid it back but his sums are trivial compared with the amount I as a taxpayer have to cough up every year for the Margate Railway Shed on Fort Hill. And don't even get me started on Arts Council grants - the mere fact that your smutty pictures qualify you for one says it all.

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    1. Tim,

      TDC could learn much from a spell in HM Forces; or even from having held down a proper job in the private sector.

      Much of my experience with the RN comes from my time with the BE in Lisbon. Where once a month I was the (willing) victim of Navy hospitality. The submariners were the worst, or the best depending how you looked upon it. Happy times.

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    2. Well at least we partly agree on something Timothy. I too think the Turner Thingy is a waste of money.

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  10. I felt obliged to include some facts about the Mayor's cat case. First and by all accounts, this was a feral cat that Ted took in and which then had kittens under his sink. Whether Ted was guilty of neglect or omission I don't know but he was reported to the RSPCA by a council worker who knew his position very well.

    The RSPCA as they had done in a notbso disimilar case with a Mayor in Norfolk, saw a high profile prosecution opportunity and pursued it.
    One could reasonably argue that it was excessive in contrast with other prosecutions and I understand that Ted was advised to plead not guilty and test the strength of the evidence in court. Pleading not guilty carries a risk of a higher tariff if convicted and the RSPCA then offered to moved Ted's wife from the prosecution if he pleaded guilty.

    Ted, to relieve his wife of the risk, then decided to plead not guilty, believing the evidence of his goodwill towards animals would clear his name. It didn't and now thanks to the consistent efforts of Peter Checksfield, who has a personal axe to grind, Ted is now labelled as the Margate Cat Killer.

    Let's remember for a moment that Ted lost everything as a consequence of the death of a neglected kitten. Right or wrong there are people walking the streets of Thanet who have committed far graver crimes and suffered much less.

    I very much doubt that he will ever be in a position to repay the Mayor's office. Our local benefit fraudsters, owing sums of up to £50,000 normally are told to pay as much as £5 a month, that's if they actually do it

    Finally, leaving outrageous sexual comments on blogs, directed at me and the family of Tony Flaig, must leave readers to wonder at the troubled and perverted mind that is capable of such actions.

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    1. Much as I'd like to take the credit, I believe it was other bloggers (or was it the local press?) that came up with the "Margate cat killer" tag, not that it isn't deserved. A recall one former Margate mayor telling me as soon as Ted was elected what a liability he'll be, adding an "I told you so!" a few months later, and I'm sure he wasn't the only one who was incredulous.

      As for my "outrageous sexual comments", I replied to Tony's accusation that my fine art is "porn" with an offer of an artistic nude shoot of his wife and / or daughter. If you think that's perverted, then you must feel the same about the fathers / husbands / boyfriends of every other woman I've photographed nude (and there's been over 200 of them), men that include a former Thanet mayor (and colleague of yours) and two high-ranking local police officers.

      I stick by my comment that you're jealous of everyone younger, prettier and having more sex than you... well, you've proven time and time the first two, haven't you?! How else are we to explain your constant dismissal of Will Scobie and Jodie Hibbert (now THERE'S a "personal axe to grind"!)?! Will you ever admit that you were wrong in his unsuitability as a mayor, while still defending the action's of a former mayor who brought shame and ridicule to Thanet?

      Finally (for now), why aren't you calling for a re-election following Zita Wiltshire quitting? Why is it different from the John Worrow case, or is the latter also a "personal axe to grind"??

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  11. seriously Peter have you really photographed a nude ex Thanet mayor?

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  12. Haha Peter 1 "Dr" Thanet Get-a-Life Moores 0

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  13. or the Cat Killer geeza

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  14. Simon is only angry about the RSPCA because they prosecuted his upper-class toff hunting mates and his Tory farmer chums who wanna shoot badgers for no good reason. Tally ho you outa touch has-been, your seat will be lost to UKIP soon enough

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  15. Simon doesnt mind badgers, its only gay badgers that he is hates

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    1. Me too, can't stand the poofy little beasties!

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  16. I wonder why Peter is so very interested in everyone else's personal lives? As for the unsuitability of young Scobie for Mayor of Margate, I'm hardly alone in my views.

    Zita and John Worrow occupy rather different sides of the political spectrum and have very different reasons for choosing to become independent

    As for any of your other thoughts Peter, you must be confusing me with someone who cares.

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    1. Dude, what do you mean by "everyone else's personal lives"? Are you referring to crime-commiting mayors that are in the news (and are STILL deemed newsworthy enough by the local press just 2 days ago, despite you making out that I'm the only one keeping this story going)?

      What has "young" Scobie done to give you those views, in comparison to say "middle-aged" Watt-Ruffell or "old" Tomlinson? At least he (and Jodie) haven't had any standards complaints against them as far as I'm aware, unlike some people who are "old" enough to know better.

      Zita and John were BOTH voted in as Tories, so whether or not they're from "different sides of the political spectrum" is immaterial, as you with your zen intelligence know full well. There should be a set rule for all.

      ...and no, I don't think many people could confuse you with someone who cares, hence you always putting your own ego before the interests of Thanet as a whole.

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  18. O come on Michael you've probably heard the same stuff.
    Peter knows all about Will and Jodie's life because he's done lots of photos.
    Will and Jodie said nice things about his arty stuff and he got his grant or have I heard wrong?
    Why delete me? It's not like I'm swearing is it?

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  19. I can't recall Will and Jodie ever saying anything (good or bad) about my arty stuff. So you'll have to do a little bit better than that if you want to dig the dirt on mayors... best to stick to a disgraced former mayor instead, eh?

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  20. I don't care what they said about your arty photos.
    I'd love to see the ones you took of Jodie though.

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  21. Grow up?
    WTF does that mean? I only want to see the photos so why are you getting so precious?

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  22. You go on and on about your genius photos and how you make money and get grants. Now you get upset when I want to see the bloody pictures you get all the money for.
    Or were they pix of Will?

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  23. I've just asked you to email me, haven't I?

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  24. If we email you do we get to see the pictures of Jodie?

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  25. Anon, either email him or shut up! It's obvious you're Tory cllr who wants to distract from this thread.

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  27. Anon, I've no idea whether he has photos of her or not. But please explain how he's supposed to show you them.

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  28. Who are you then? His Mum? Peter again?
    On-his-website Duh

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  29. Well look at his website then!

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  30. To bring things back on topic... Should there be an election following Zita's resignation? I know that plenty have been saying that there should've been one after John Worrow quit, but where are these people now?

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    1. Peter, I am here and as I have said on many occassions, any elected representative who resigns from the party under whose banner they stood for office should be required by law, unless within six months of an election anyway, to stand down and seek re-election if they wish to. No one should be able to hold office under false credentials whethedr that be Worrow, Driver or Wiltshire.

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    2. Thank you Tom, and I'm inclined to agree. It's a pity that some people seem to only want this rule if and when it suits them.

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  31. Why is loud Peter so quiet?
    Maybe he's not happy about his little arrangement to get grants that belong to better artists being known about?
    This is a small Island.

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    1. I don't post everything on my website, so EMAIL ME if you want to see them!!!

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  32. Quite? He's replied to you at least 6 bloody times.

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  33. For those Jodie pix I'll happily email you.
    Thankyou.

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    1. So there's no Jodie pix then Peter?

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    2. Who I do and don't do private photoshoots with remains strictly private, ok? Now, if people want to contact me with enquiries then I suggest they do it either through my blog, facebook page or email address, and stop filling up Michael's blog with this rubbish (Michael, feel free to delete these messages if you want).

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    3. Who's Jodie and would I enjoy seeing pictures of her naked (that's her naked - not me)?

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  34. You have very probably already seen better, John, so do not lose any sleep over it.

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Comments, since I started writing this blog in 2007 the way the internet works has changed a lot, comments and dialogue here were once viable in an open and anonymous sense. Now if you comment here I will only allow the comment if it seems to make sense and be related to what the post is about. I link the majority of my posts to the main local Facebook groups and to my Facebook account, “Michael Child” I guess the main Ramsgate Facebook group is We Love Ramsgate. For the most part the comments and dialogue related to the posts here goes on there. As for the rest of it, well this blog handles images better than Facebook, which is why I don’t post directly to my Facebook account, although if I take a lot of photos I am so lazy that I paste them directly from my camera card to my bookshop website and put a link on this blog.