MPs in general are out of touch and tied up in tangles of protocol and parliamentary procedure; fortunately not all of them though. On Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour this week, something brilliant happened. Being discussed was the proposal that mothers... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

James is destined to become an Anglican vicar, and currently works in a Christian mission. He posted this on Facebook the week after Stephen Fry’s now famous encounter with Irish broadcaster Gay Byrne, who asked him the question “What would... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

When my company first started to trade with EU countries outside the UK, we started to receive EC sales list forms from Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs. Stupidly, we didn’t really register that we had to do anything apart from... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

OK, I’ve talked about the dire state of our economy, which is what should really matter to all of us, particularly those in power. But let’s look at that one incident which has caused so much jabber and the use... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

So here’s a thing… you’re in a damaged vehicle at high speed… there’s an experienced driver at the wheel… and you tear him away from what he does best, replacing him with someone who smiles nicely but has never driven... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

In 1941, with Europe under the rule of Hitler’s Nazi Germany, Winston Churchill sent out a message to all those who awaited or fought for the end of tyranny. It wasn’t a long message, or one that was particularly full... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

For anyone fighting an unfair, unjustified or illegal PCN from Brighton & Hove City Council’s illustrious parking department, you may be interested to know that my appeal with the Parking Tribunal (now properly named the Traffic Penalty Tribunal) won by... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

The so-called riots in London are of course just theft, looting, arson and vandalism on a large organised scale. Disgusting and offensive as this may be, we have to ask ourselves why it has happened, and what we can do... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

Today is Sunday. The parking restrictions on my road are clearly displayed as Mon-Fri noon-1pm. There are very faded, patchy single & double yellow lines which haven’t been repainted for years, and a few months ago there were Council notices... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

After I reported my parking ticket woes in my post entitled Brighton & Hove Parking – A Criminal Racket in Disguise, I appealed the PCN and got a rejection notice from the Council. No surprise there – after all they... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

All we were promised for the future... and what have we actually achieved in the last forty years? Are you one of the disappointed generation?

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

People are always bemoaning the state of the country. They always have been, for as long as I can remember. “It’s not like it used to be, is it?” they say. They’re right of course, and perhaps it’s also right... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

This unadvertised special offer from Brighton & Hove City Council occurred on… yes you guessed it, April 1st. So how many others received PCNs (Penalty Charge Notices) erroneously? How much has it all cost to sort out? Just to explain,... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

Sometimes, just occasionally, inspiration comes along and in a flash you have the answer to a whole raft of problems, all at once. It was a bit like that for me one morning as I fought my way up the... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

The Royal Mail is the arbiter of all addresses. If it’s not on their database, it doesn’t exist. Thankfully my studio is on the database. So are quite a few other businesses in the local area. However it doesn’t stop... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

The BBC has long been known for its excellent science & nature programmes. I grew up on them; some thirty years ago David Attenborough himself introduced me to Darwinian evolution through the process of Natural Selection in his seminal series... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

Having witnessed the Police presence in Brighton today for the “Smash EDO” protest, which led me to have to drive a 10-mile diversion to deliver my girlfriend to work, I read with interest the statement issued by the Brighton &... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

Incredible. This morning (about half an hour ago actually) I witnessed an Adur Council refuse collection vehicle being driven into my childrens’ school at we arrived. The driver was self-righteously waving away parents dropping their kids off at school as... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

I love taking my shoes off at the end of a busy day. It’s the first thing I do when visiting my friends’ houses. But through the airport security, when I’m already being made to carry my outdoor coat, having... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.

0800 GMT: Yay it’s Christmas Day. I’m alone because my girlfriend is working today, and this year my sons are with their mum for Christmas day. I am going to make it a really good one. 0801 GMT: Get up,... Continue Reading →

Originally published on A Brighton Boy Blogs - Consumer issues, recipes and apolitical thoughts from a Brighton native.