Christmas and New Year are over but the winter weather continues. Everywhere is still covered in snow, including side roads, while main roads have been cleared. Pavements are still icy in most places, which makes me wonder why roads are made safe while pedestrians have to take our chances. Is there some difference in who pays, are those on foot expendable or is there a difference in litigation risk to the council from different types of road user?

by Chris Kemp

Not so long ago it was said to be every little boys’ dream to be a (steam) engine driver; maybe in the age of the computer and instant celebrity this is no longer true - today children perhaps are more likely to desire pop stardom. However the lure of steam for many remains, as demonstrated by the popularity and multiplicity of preserved railways in the U.K. Our local railway at Swanage for instance has enjoyed a record breaking season this year.

They shall not grow old as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

by Andrew Murton

You've probably heard that analogue TV signals are being turned off all round the country and being replaced with digital transmissions. People with little technical knowledge may be anxious about this change which makes a wonderful fertile ground for 'cons' by unscrupulous equipment and service suppliers who see great opportunities to make a lot of money by trading on people's fears and lack of awareness of the facts.

by Derek Cheeseman

Anyone who wishes to know more about African life and culture but can’t afford to travel these days would have benefited from a visit to St.Nicholas’ Church on Saturday 3rd October for their Africa Day. These special days are called Dream Days, (DREAM standing for Drama, Ethics, Art and Music) and are becoming well-known in our Corfe Mullen community. Previous recent Dream Days have featured dinosaurs, African Drumming, and Christmas Crafts.

by Martin Tuckey

Don’t let our British winters stop you from enjoying the benefits of cycling - it doesn’t actually rain as often as we think and with a little thought and preparation, you can continue commuting or cycling for leisure right through to spring whilst protecting yourself from the elements and the traffic.
In addition to improving health and fitness, cycling can save you money, which can, in turn, help to pay for both safety equipment to keep you safe and clothing to keep you warm and dry. You don’t need to spend a fortune on winter clothing and you may also want to consider a pair of mudguards to keep off the worst of the wet and grime.

by Lynda White

It comes as no great surprise that on more than one occasion ‘ghostly happenings’ have been reported by residents of Towers Way, the road that took its name from the previous ‘Towers’ house built by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Albert Duke George. Tales of the supernatural seem inevitable with the history of any, if not all, derelict, rambling old houses. Stories of sightings, moving objects and uncomfortably chilly rooms have allegedly led to residents moving house. Whether there is any substance to these so called sightings remains to be seen but I’m sure the stories began with mischievous youngsters venturing over the iron fence into the unknown, jumping with fear every time a bird fluttered in the trees. The sceptics amongst us will deny any possibility of ghosts or ghouls but nevertheless stories have been reported since the house stood empty some time after World War II and beyond its demolition in the 70s when the present Towers Way development began.

by Sandy Fennell

Has the world gone mad? No, don't answer!

We live in a society where a teacher at school is not allowed to give a 15 year old at school a paracetamol for a headache, even with the phoned-in permission of a known foster carer, but where a child of the same age can be prescribed the "morning after" pill by a pharmacist, without the parent's permission. That applies even though it is technically illegal for someone to have sex with a minor. Why else would someone need the morning after pill, I ask myself?