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Tuesday, June 30With all the Michael Jackson jokes doing the rounds in the office, the newsdesk is slightly suspicious when it gets a message from an unknown man ... ()Sunday, June 28Friday June 26Two political heavyweights were speaking at a business breakfast, Mid Beds MP Nadine Dorries and Bedford Mayor Frank Branston...() Wednesday June 24The definition of irony was well documented at tonight's Bedford Borough Council executive committee...() Monday June 22While all eyes have been peeled to the MPs' expenses scandal, according to the Daily Telegraph Bedford's Labour MP Patrick Hall has, unnoticed, done a spot of ‘flipping' of his own... ()Saturday June 20A friend tells me how annoyed he was not to be able to find a copy of his favourite daily newspaper at Luton Airport...() Friday June 19A trip to the bookies could be in order this weekend if the press release that arrived in our inbox is to be believed ... ()Wednesday June 17It appears that not everyone is disappointed at not being elected to Bedford Borough Council ... ()Tuesday June 16Editor Lowe is in London this evening. As he arrives at St Pancras for his journey home, he receives a text from Mrs Editor asking if he is on his way ... ()Tuesday, June 9It's that time of year again. Today the office receives its first notice of a Christmas pantomime ... ()Monday, June 8Friday, June 5With the election count well underway at Bedford Corn Exchange our reporter Simon Hutchinson's heart drops ... ()Thursday, May 28Thhere's rather a lot of early morning vehicle noise outside Chez Ball which turns out to be TWO rather large DSD wagons ... ()Wednesday, May 27Mid-Beds political wannabe, former pop star David Van Day, is making an early appearance in his quest to win over voters in Woburn ... ()Sunday, May 24It is one thing writing and producing Bedfordshire on Sunday... but the bloke in the royal blue football shirt pushing copies of this newspaper through doors in Bedford looks remarkably ... ()Saturday, May 23Friday, May 22It's amazing how many of our readers forget that we are a NEWSPAPER ... ()Thursday, May 21Take That are in town and our deputy editor Chris Gill is in hot pursuit – with just one problem ... (23/05/2009)Tuesday, May 19Monday, May 18Former sports editor Mike Green was not renowned for his fitness routines ... ()Sunday, May 17I call in at the Pilgrim's Progress for a quiet drink, where there is no hint of having to show my passport to gain admission ... ()Thursday May 14There's a feisty football match on TV, but it fails to match the outrage of Mrs B who has been doing her Tesco shopping on the internet ... ()Friday May 8We get a story of an A level student who has had his coursework stolen. Thieves broke into his family home and among other items took a memory stick with his ... ()Tuesday May 12Councillor Barry Huckle, finance portfolio holder in the mayor's cabinet, has shown that not every politician is out for everything he can get ... ()Thursday May 7A visitor to Bedford Tourist Information gets a bit of a shock today as he tries to purchase a pin badge ... ()Wednesday May 6Traffic is one of the few issues where I find myself in agreement with my editor. The morning school run is a nightmare ... ()Sunday May 3There's great expectancy at Bedford railway station as families head for a day out in London – which I hope it will be once they get over the drag of ... ()Thursday, April 30Editor Lowe has a a five o'clock assignation in Bushmead Avenue, Bedford ... ()Wednesday April 29Monday, April 27We get calls from loyal subjects who work at Police HQ in Kempston concerned a repaint of the canteen has coincided with the disappearance off the wall of pictures of ... ()Wednesday April 22Monday April 20I GET a Google alert on a Bedfordshire story. As usual it is one of our stories coming back at us from another newspaper ... ()Sunday April 19Thursday April 16The Cross Keys pub on the corner of Bedford's High Street has been up for sale for some considerable time ... ()Wednesday April 15Readers of a certain age may remember a TV show called ‘The Beverley Hillbillies' which was popular in the 1960s, when I was still in short trousers. (Mrs Ball remembers ... ()Tuesday April 14I call the First Capital Connect press office about complaints their staff had been rude over delays at the ticket office ... ()Monday April 13My editor is out with one of his mates (yes, he has more than one) enjoying a pint in the Kings Arms, Bedford ... ()Friday April 10The Bedford Athletic manager Mick Bowden has two players being called up for international rugby duty (see sport) ... ()Sunday April 5Saturday April 4Our sports editor gets a call shortly after bringing the afternoon shifts to order following the Grand National ... ()Thursday April 2A colleague returns from the LA Fitness gym on Kimbolton Road less refreshed than he might have hoped ... ()Wednesday April 1Oh how the office loves April Fool's Day! For a number of weeks snapper Steven Prouse has been whingeing that he hasn't had a new car as promised, so the ... ()Monday March 30Friday March 27Thursday March 26Sub editor Tom Leech is recalling a story to our Luton Town photographer on the phone today about his mate's girlfriend ... ()Wednesday March 25With days to go it seems that Bedfordshire County Council is holding on to the small amount of power that it still has ... ()Tuesday March 24A few weeks ago I wrote of a colleague's problems at Flitwick railway station ... ()Monday March 23Thursday, March 19We have some information for the UK Borders Agency but it is not easy trying to improve the country's security ... ()Monday March 16The phone trills and it is Wilstead councillor Barry Huckle lamenting his apparent departure from public office, as incorrectly stated in last week's BoS ... ()Sunday March 15Yet another tale of woe and mishap from people trying to get in and out of London by public transport at the weekend ... ()Friday March 13Chairman of the Conservative Party, Eric Pickles is in Bedford today. He is here to put some steel into the local party, which has been at odds with itself lately... (14/03/2009)Thursday March 12A funny little ‘thought for the day' story is sent out by a council press officer, on the way women always give back more than they receive...(14/03/2009) Monday March 9A few weeks ago we reported that production worker on our sister paper, The Advertiser, Alex Hough, who lives in Rydal Crescent,Biggleswade, has had his underwear stolen from his washing... (14/03/2009)Friday March 6Residents of the Stewartby area will be well aware that there are plans afoot to build a giant incinerator in the neighbourhood ... ()Thursday March 5It is proving to be an extremely testing day for young reporter Keeley Knowles ... ()Tuesday March 3No names, but this particular BoS staffer (okay he is the one who mans the camera) gets his credit card bill and sees one of his transactions relates to Tesco, ... ()Monday March 2A friend mulls over how good business must be at one of the town's car dealers ... ()Thursday February 26The reputation of our modest scribe Keeley Knowles (she blushes when people actually ask her if she is THE Keeley Knowles) continues to grow ... ()Wednesday February 25Labour group members are having a chuckle to themselves at full council tonight at a note that is being passed around by ... ()Tuesday February 24There is a belief today that young people will go to any lengths to have their 15 minutes of fame ... ()Monday February 23An eagle-eyed reader, driving past the newly built Spires development on ... ()Sunday February 22If you wish to see a film at Cineworld, Milton Keynes, you look at teletext and are told Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino is on at 3.20pm, so you set off ... ()Wednesday February 18Snapper Steven Prouse is not having a very good morning ... ()Tuesday February 17We receive a press release today from the county council, stating that a joint ‘bus users' surgery' is to be held on Friday ... ()Monday February 16The Mayor's office receives a letter from a Mr SJ Tidd complaining in forthright terms that the Mayor has not taken his shovel and cleared the snow from outside his ... ()Sunday February 15Wednesday February 11News reaches the office today that when not falling out among themselves and calling each other nasty names, the local Tories are encouraging people to join them every week to ... ()Tuesday February 10Sub editor Brian Barron is a man for whom the words ‘cool, calm and collected' are woefully inadequate ... ()Sunday February 8It comes to my attention there was one lonely trader on the gourmet and farmers' market on Thursday ... ()Wednesday February 4Scenes from office life, number 38 in an occasional series ... ()Tuesday February 3In common with many other parents I am listening to Heart Bedfordshire Radio (formerly the ill-fated Chiltern Radio) to check whether or not our little cherub's school is open ... ()Wednesday January 28Today Ms Knowles irons her finger instead of her blouse (ouch) ... ()Tuesday January 27Chasing a Freedom of Information request to the Ambulance Service, reporter Keeley Knowles finds herself being directed to various people, none of whom seemed to know who the officer involved ... ()Monday January 26Thursday January 22It's a dismal, wet day in the east – except as far as Bedfordshire on Sunday is concerned ... ()Wednesday January 21We call a London press office regarding a query over the Argos distribution centre. We often get answer phones, but this one tells us they are closed over the Christmas ... ()Monday January 19I am heading to Northampton on the A428. The road has more cameras than Hollywood ... ()Friday January 16ONE of the rejoinders journalists often make to the complaint about news always being bad news ... ()Thursday January 15The Times & Citizen today has a story about Bedford's annual state of the borough debate, which took place yesterday ... ()Wednesday January 14I receive a package, which contains a box, inside which is another box. Inside that is a puzzle ... ()Tuesday January 13One of our number asks his wife what she would like to do on her birthday ... (17/01/2009)Thursday January 8News reaches us today that Bedfordshire County Council will be holding a special concert on February 8 at Bedford Corn Exchange as part of its final farewell ... ()Wednesday January 7A press release informs us that homes in Bedford are infected with more than 103 thousand billion dust mites ... ()Monday January 5My editor receives a letter today blaming him for a social faux pas ... ()John Crystal BallA seasonal look into the future from John ‘call me Crystal'Ball... ()Wednesday December 24Bedford Borough Council can now be considered on a par with Ebenezer Scrooge himself with their purse pinching tactics. Everyone has been pleased all week that the town centre car ... ()Tuesday December 23Sports Editor Alex Finkenrath is visiting Bedford Hospital to take some pictures of Bedford Eagles on their seasonal visit ... ()Friday December 19I arrive at work this morning to a less than pleasant sight ... ()Thursday December 18Advertisements are being shown for the new development at Britannia Riverside,Bedford. To those of us of a certain age, that used to be the George Fischer site opposite Bedford Hospital ... ()Wednesday December 17Last week I mentioned that new colleagues from the Northampton Herald and Post series of newspapers were surprised to receive a letter from Trinity Mirror asking them why they had ... (20/12/2008)Friday December 12Reporter Keeley Knowles comes to a grinding halt on a stylistic point while writing an article ... ()Thursday December 11Nadine Dorries, MP for Mid Bedfordshire, has finally made it ... ()Wednesday December 10If you are freezing your nether-regions off while Christmas shopping then we have a handy hint for you ... ()Tuesday December 9I am in a hostelry discussing the forthcoming Test match between India and England with Cllr Apu Bagchi ... ()Monday December 8Friday December 5We are always having a go at public bodies which send out letters on automatic pilot...() Thursday December 4Further delight is inspired by the news that the county council's Cllr Madeline ‘Maddy'Russell is to join the East of England Development Agency..() Wednesday December 3I receive a call today from an irate woman who believes that the State Opening of Parliament should be abolished...() Thursday November 27Our sports editor is lucky enough to attend filming for a new television sketch series from Gavin and Stacy star James Corden ... ()Wednesday November 26While I am still delighted with the fact that the Environment Agency has a fisheries officer called Mr Hooker, I receive news today that ... ()Tuesday November 25A colleague's missus is having a chat with their precocious five-year old on the eve of her sixth birthday. It goes something like this ... ()Monday November 24Deputy editor Chris Gill tells of son No 2 being stopped by police as he is driving through Bedford town centre late on a Sunday night ... ()Thursday November 20Reporter Keeley Knowles' injured partner takes a trip down to A&E after dislocating his knee. While waiting to be seen he overhears the receptionist asking what she believes are necessary questions ... ()Wednesday November 19My editor has to be in Luton today, as he was yesterday. After his constant moaning about the traffic and parking we suggest he catches the train, as it is faster ... ()Tuesday November 18At a press launch for Peter Pan, the panto at MK Theatre starring Henry ‘The Fonz' Winkler, Leisure Editor Sue Brickay says hello to a pretty girl with blonde hair ... ()Monday November 17Leisure editor Sue Brickay is happily tucking into a six-pack of McCoy's Meaty crisps ... ()Friday November 14Working on a newsdesk you get used to being fobbed off every now and again but today our reporter is left speechless when he calls Vodafone and asks to speak ... ()Thursday November 13One of our reporters gets an email from the Treasury asking if he want a media press pack on the pre-budget statement. He sends back ‘yes please' on the chance it ... ()Wednesday November 12What councillors use their email addresses for can be very questionable sometimes. Today I am flicking through the growing list of blogs that elected members now seem to have when I ... ()Tuesday November 11A hard of hearing caller wants to send over a press release about something so exciting I can't remember. She asks reporter Keeley Knowles which email address to send it to.Keeley ... ()Thursday November 6To County Hall to hear details of the county council's ‘legacy' plans. We learn that among various other delights, the council is planning a final meeting before it slips beneath the ... ()Tuesday November 4A friend of mine catches the train to Heathrow. Knowing of my complaints that our train service is the least enlightened, most expensive in the world, he texts me to say ... ()Monday November 3Residents have often complained of bureaucracy at the tidy tip so one prankster decides to have a laugh at the county council ... ()Sunday November 2Borough councillors Andrew McConnell and Peter Hand stop off at the mini-supermarket in Church Lane, Goldington so that Cllr McConnell can get some essential provisions for the week ahead ... ()Friday October 31New boy on the block Chris Gill bumps into an acquaintance in Bedford and informs him of his job at BoS ... ()Thursday October 30Phone calls can be very trying at times. Reporter Simon Hutchinson calls Bedford Pilgrim Housing Association's press office to ask about overgrown hedges but is mystified by the receptionist's response ... ()Wednesday October 29News that a £235,542 lottery prize remains unclaimed, the winning ticket having been bought in the Bedford area, provokes a hopeful search of pockets in the newsroom ... ()Tuesday October 28Monday October 27One of our reporters spends part of last week pursuing a story of unrest among staff at E.ON in Bedford ... ()Friday October 24We get a lot of extra mail at work this morning, which may be good news – cheques, stories – or bad news – bills, solicitors' letters ... ()Thursday October 23Sometimes the politically correct cannot help making fools of themselves ... ()Wednesday October 22Saturday October 18I call Mr John Watson, the chairman of the local Conservative party ... ()Thursday October 16I get a phonecall from an irate consumer who says he was charged 50p for a glass of tap water at a restaurant ... ()Wednesday October 15I am stuck in a traffic jam around Bedford's market square ... ()Tuesday October 14Web editor James Cunliffe turns up for work telling the newsroom that he's lucky to be at work at all ... ()Monday October 13I receive a very proud British Wind Energy Association press release that confirms Prime Minister Gordon Brown will be addressing the delegates on the first day of its annual conference, ... ()Sunday October 12Having enjoyed a lunch with friends we take all our children to the little park off Hatfield Crescent to make the most of the glorious weather... (25/10/2008)Thursday October 9I get a call from an irate reader who tells me Bedford took a hit on TalkSport radio this morning. In a discussion about Noel Gallagher's claim that Britain is now ... ()Wednesday October 8While watching the latest twist in the credit crunch unfold, enjoying the irony of the most right-wing Labour Government in history nationalising the commanding heights of the economy, I notice ... ()Tuesday October 7Editor Lowe meets a minister today. Not the religious kind, which might be a step too far for both of them ... ()Thursday October 2Is it just me? I get a press release today which I quote: ‘When it comes to sexy eyes, Doctor Who stars David Tennant and Billie Piper have the peepers ... ()Monday October 6I am driving into Bedford and have to steer clear of a cyclist wobbling in the traffic on the railway bridge near County Hall, Bedford ... (25/10/2008)Wednesday October 1I am told by a press release that today is UK Older People Day. It has been launched by the Government and aims to ‘take a positive view of later life, ... ()Monday September 29My friend is at the Conservative party conference.He gets about a bit ... ()Saturday September 27Friday September 26The water-ski picture is sent to me by Tony Margiocchi. Which shows that you do not have to be a spring chicken to partake in such sports, or one to take ... ()Thursday September 25Friday September 19I receive a press release today telling me that Monday is Goose Day, and according to an old English proverb if you eat goose on this day you will not ... ()Thursday September 18Wednesday September 10It seems we have overlooked a famous actor in our midst ... ()Tuesday September 9‘Summer' is over, the weather is depressing and the nights are rapidly drawing in. Is there anything that could make us more miserable? You bet there is ... ()Monday September 8Two Tesco shoppers contact the office to vent their anger at being banned from Bedford stores ... ()Saturday September 6After a hard week two of our sub-editors wend their way out of the Bedford office. On opening the back door they see a car and driver not known to them ... ()Thursday September 4CONSERVATIVES may not be too hot on policies but they are certainly beating the opposition into a cocked hat when it comes to blogging. A few months ago Nadine Dorries, MP ... ()Wednesday September 3WHAT goes around comes around. In the good old pre quango days, Bedfordshire had a county NHS, which was part of the regional NHS, which was part of the national ... ()Tuesday September 2MY editor Steve Lowe is at our sister newspaper offices in Hertford today. He gets about a bit these days.While there he is in need of a comfort break – they ... ()Saturday August 30AFTER enjoying a day of music and festivities at the Rhythm Festival at Twinwoods it is a relief to see a bus running from the arena to the car park ... () |
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