Have A Go On My Poll

Cripes! With our beloved council booting out a critical report by its own Standards Committee last night, resulting in the mass resignation of the committee's independent, public members, and with every meeting now seemingly the subject of squabbles over whether or not cameras should be allowed in, it feels like political business over at Thanet Duffer Central is rapidly descending into chaos.

Of course, TDC doesn't have a lardy, crack-crazed alcoholic for a leader, like they do in Toronto. But nonetheless, we have still managed to carve out our own little corner of political notoriety here in the tip of Kent!

Readers with long memories will recall that it was ever thus. In the eight years I've been writing this drivel, I can barely recollect a day when I said 'Hurrah for TDC!'. That goes for both the reds and the blues.

True, there are some intelligent, dedicated and hard-working councillors around, albeit thin on the ground. And I'm sure that somewhere in the bowels of the administrative machine there are people beavering away, and trying to do their best. It must be extremely frustrating for them to have to deal with the numpties in their midst, but let's hope that sense prevails, and that we all live long enough to see TDC transformed into a modern, transparent, fit-for-purpose organisation that does what it's supposed to do - serve the voters who pay for it.

There, I've had my two pennorth! Now you can have yours by voting in my 7 day poll in the sidebar on the right!

Up For The D Cup

Now that I've been asked to dress up in the full hanfu garb and serve as the Generar Erection Collespondent on the Freeview Babestation channel, I'll be drivelling here less frequently.

However, while I'm up all night doing some in depth probing, you may like to have a go on my poll. So far Labour are ahead of the Tories by an inch, with a small piece of cheese coming up the rear.

Oh dear. I seem to be taking my new position far too much to heart.

Election Called - Nation Yawns

With all Nick Clegg's talk of a 'huge election' this morning, he must be hoping for a well hung parliament. Meanwhile Our Gordon Master's got on the fast train to go shopping with the missus in Kent.

As the proprietor of one of the most influential organs in the country, from now on I'm legally obliged to report the election in a fair and balanced way. So as I haven't yet mentioned the bum-faced Etonian, I'll leave you with this. Whatever you do, for f*ck sake don't vote Tory!*

*Although personally I will be voting for the lovely Laura Sandys as I didn't much care for Dr Steve Ladybloke calling me a liar during that Eurof*****s debacle last year!

'An Anonymous Spouter Of Spiteful Drivel'

Yes, dear reader. That's what I've been called by Cllr Wells in today's yourfannitinnit, in a comment on my recent Tory leadership poll. All the other Cons seem to have taken it in the spirit it was meant (apart from Cllr Wise who describes it as 'mischievous in the extreme', but that's probably just sour grapes as he came last).

That's the thanks you get from Thanet's Tories. And there I was, ever ready to praise Cllr Beardy as one of the few Duffers who seem to have integrity, particularly after his intervention to save Revolution Skate Park back in 2006. What a short memory he must have.

Although... hang on... perhaps it's a case of protesting too much? Maybe there's even the possibility of some sexual tension between us? He's probably seen my photo and, like most red-blooded chaps, has got the urge. And without the face fuzz, he's probably quite good looking too! Yes, that's almost certainly it! Chris, you know the poll wasn't my idea, don't you? Do forgive me, it was all Bertie Biggles' fault!

Click here to read more in yourfannitinnit

Poll Positions

Thanks to everyone who voted in my seven day poll to select a replacement for Sandy Beach, should he decide to take the honourable way out and resign as the leader of the Thanet Duffers this year. A record 181 votes were cast thus:

Question: Who would you prefer as the next Tory leader of Thanet?

Orville The Duck: 51% (94 votes)
Cllr Bruce: 23% (42 votes)
Cllr/Dr Moores: 7% (14 votes)
Cllr Wells: 6% (11 votes)
Cllr Bayford: 4% (9 votes)
Cllr Jarvis: 3% (6 votes)
Cllr Gideon: 1% (3 votes)
Cllr Wise: 1% (2 votes)

I hereby declare Mr Duck, Orville The, the winner! And guess what? He's already given me a sneak preview of his new cabinet:

Last Chance To Go To The Poll

With just one day left in my poll to find the next leader of Thanet's Tories, it looks as if you've gone all out for a duck! He's winging it! [Geddit!!????!!!!] Of those of you who haven't put your hands up for Orville, top billing is going to geology nerd Cllr/Dr Alasdair Bruce, with Cllr/Dr Moores currently nestling between a Rock Doc and a hard place (Cllr Wells).

If you haven't voted yet, there's still time to wade in if you want a real doctor rather than a quack at the top of the pecking order! A day is a long time in politics. As they say, you never know 'waddle' happen!! [That's enough duck jokes - Ed.]

Going To The Polls

In response to a request from fellow Thanet blogger Bertie Biggles, I've popped one of my seven day polls in the sidebar on the right. It's based on the premise that the current Tory leader of Thanet Council, Sandy 'Two Hats' Ezekiel, could be chucking in both of them this year, thus precipitating a leadership election and/or selection.

Personally, not being the least bit inclined towards the Blue Rinsers, I'd prefer to see them all cast off into the North Sea. Hence I've made my own suggestion, which would be a much more honest choice if you ask me, given that we could all be pretty sure whose hand was up his fundament, working him from below.

Everyone Loves Ramsgate!

One of the things I'm missing here in France is the English papers. But earlier today I managed to catch sight of yesterday's London Evening Standard et voila! A huge item about Ramsgate!

Headlined 'Kent Gets Closer To London', the paper swoons on about fast train links, Ramsgate becoming a 'super commuter hub', and top notch restaurants like Harveys Fish Market and Age & Sons, all tipped 'to transform sleepy, left behind Ramsgate into the next Brighton.' Hmmm, not sure I quite believe that particular hype, or endorse the description of our town as a 'left behind' (does that make Margate the right?) But a nice little puff for the Ms' P nonetheless.

And speaking of Thanet's premier restaurant in Thanet's premier town, I notice the aforementioned Age & Sons is up for a gong in the Kent Restaurant Awards. It's nominated in both the Best English Restaurant category and the Best Cafe category, where it's currently in poll position ahead of Boredstares' Oscar Road Cafe. So why not scuttle along now and place your 'X' for Age in both categories? Go on, you know it makes sense. As somebody once said in some advertising thing. Er, was it Jimmy Savile?

Click here to vote for Age & Sons in Best Cafe category
Click here to vote for Age & Sons in Best English Restaurant category

Good News!

Hurrah! Having had a quick chat with my local diminutive developer this morning, I'm told that my cliff top mansion could be a, er, hot property if marketed as a potential cannabis factory, or converted into ten bedsits for crystal meth crazed, swivel eyed, Stella swigging knuckle-shufflers! Kushti!

Just for the record, I suppose I should post the results of my Big Manston Poll. After an all time high of 254 votes, the results were:

Question: Do you support the proposed extension of night flying over Ramsgate?

No: 51% (132 votes)
Yes: 48% (122 votes)

As a postscript, I must say I find it a rather unfortunate irony that just a few days after Councillor/Doctor Simon Moores, our beloved council's aviation 'expert', wrote this...

The safety record of modern aircraft, certified to operate in the UK, is remarkably good and should hardly give cause for deep concern at Ramsgate... In fact, last month's 'Miracle in the Hudson', should illustrate this quite well, what can be done with a large passenger aircraft when the engines are suddenly shut down after departure, the most safety critical time of the flight.

...a plane plummets into a densely populated suburb in New York state on its approach to Buffalo airport. Hmm, yes Simon. I'll sleep much more soundly in my bed when it's relocated back in London!

Click here to read plane crash story on BBC News website

Manston Pickle

Apologies for the lacuna, but the Freeview SuperRoulette channel called me in to do a couple of overnight stints at the last minute. Well, you've got to pay the lecky bill somehow!

With just a couple of hours to go in my Big Manston Poll, it seems the Wantsum Want-Nots have carried the day ahead of tonight's council meeting. Unless there's a last minute surge from the Wants. So that's a slightly underwhelming 'No' to BA World Cargo's arm-twisting tactics to get night flying extended over the Millionaires' Playground.

Still, if I was a local MP or councillor with a marginal seat, I'd be worried by even a few percentage points one way or t'other, wouldn't you?

Meanwhile I see the chairman of the Chas'n'Dave International Airport Consultative Committee has come out in favour of more time to think about BA World Cargo's proposals. Click here to read his letter on Councillor Nottingham's blog. Interestingly, I see Cllr N has just changed the headline of that story from 'Manston - How To Bounce People' to the rather more anodyne 'Manston - A Late Submission'. I wonder why?

Enormous Poll Still Up

Er, nothing more to say really. This one's just for you, Tony!