Put a stamp on Swanton Morley sleeve maker

The attractive village of Swanton Morley, just the other side of Dereham, is perhaps best known locally as the home to the army's Light Dragoons and their Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance tracked transport, of which signs warn locals.

The village was also the base, however, of a graphic designer whose work any 40 something rocker, cross dresser or not, would recognise. Terry Pastor colourised an original photograph, taken near to the studio of photographer Brian Ward in London, to create the cover of Bowie's 'Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars'. Terry's work has been chosen to celebrate the late lamented foot square art for a range of Royal Mail stamps. Terry is now self exiled in Suffolk, a sin I'm sure we can forgive him after producing such iconic art for the masses.

Brotherly love 2

Damp squib from the Chilterns, no prize for a tenth of an inch of slush!

Brecklands Green to remain green

A planning application to build nine houses on Brecklands Green, opposite St Andrew's School in North Pickenham, has been rejected. The adjudication can be viewed here but most of the reasons were supported by development policies within rural areas and loss of existing green space.

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Turbine Green Light

A thousand plus new turbines have been sanctioned today, by the Crown Estate, off the east coast of Norfolk. Secretary of State for the Department of Energy and Climate Change, Ed Milliband, is enthusiastic for Great Britain to gain a strategic role, and therefore commercial prominence, in offshore wind energy to promote research & development and jobs in this sector. Mr Milliband is keen to reverse the missed chances surrounding onshore production with only small farms like the turbines at North Pickenham coming to fruition.

More snow and unwelcome biting wind

Although Pickenham broke free from zero at lunchtime today, gusting winds up to 30mph made it feel rather raw. Over a couple of inches of powdery snow covered the compacted icy stuff which made Bertie very frisky indeed!

© J Reed

Don't mention the war!

The Second World War and toilets are British obsessions and we don't need to be hit over the head with a frying pan, a la Basil Fawlty, to insult the neighbours.

After smoothing over an international incident with the Russians yesterday, I was dismayed at the Watton & Swaffham Times headline 'D-Day looms for Swaffham's toilets'. In the past this would have remained a local indiscretion but now, with the Wonderfully Wired up World, our bodily function European meltdown fixations can be viewed around the globe instantaneously. Sorry to our German cousins, especially the more royal ones, we'll try not to mention it again (or the World Cup in '66, after all that was 44 years ago).

Serious subject locally, though. Next Wednesday sees the final meeting to decide whether or not to close the only public toilets in the bustling market town of Swaffham, as detailed in last October's EDP. After taking over the running of the facilities from Breckland Council in 2007, Swaffham Town Council spent £105,000 of the £245,000 golden handshake on refurbishments. They reopened in March 2008 with the remaining funds meant for running costs for the next 10 years. After only a year, over £23,000 has been spent repairing vandalism and paying unexpectedly high water/rates/cleaning costs. Plans are afoot to close the inconveniences to tourniquet the hemorrhaging. So, no rest stop next to the bus stop and no latrine for those soldiering on their market stalls each and every Saturday. I'm not sure that this news is any relief to those business premises being asked to take the strain, I'll surely be heading down to swanky Strattons for my ablutions should they sign up to the scheme.

As the sign says, use a WC (if you can find one). Lots more toilet humour here.

Hijacked by the Russians

I've been Soviet blogged, well livejournalled, from a picture I sent to Telegraph on line yesterday.  You saw it here first. Small world.

Yeah, I know the Soviet Union has gone - old man shorthand.