HAPPY NEW YEAR! A survey just before the end of 2006 showed that the majority of people were staying at home to greet the new year. When you hear what happened in town, you can t blame them. Several cars were vandalised by having their wing mirrors

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A survey just before the end of 2006 showed that the majority of people were staying at home to greet the new year. When you hear what happened in town, you can't blame them. Several cars were vandalised by having their wing mirrors damaged and one had its windscreen smashed completely. Another source of enjoyment for these morons was to destroy the lights on the tree outside the Blue Donkey offices. The fact that the tree and its decorations had been instrumental in raising more than £2,000 for the good of the town means nothing to idiots like this.

If you know any of these creatures would you read this next bit to them please? Next time try destroying your own stuff; see how much fun that is!

As the tree is a few yards from one of the town's television cameras you might wonder why it wasn't picked up. Could it be that for all the cameras in Cambridge, Ely and Soham there are only two people monitoring them? You may want to bring this up at the next meeting of the Neighbourhood Panel where the local police will be talking and, most importantly, listening. The meeting is in Beechurst at 7pm next Wednesday (Jan 17).

JUST AS WELL

Did you see the piece in last week's Standard about East Cambs being the 10th healthiest place in the country? My first reaction was, 'that's just as well as both our local hospitals have been effectively closed and the hard-pressed GPs are having to cope with the thousands of extra people moving into the area'. We keep being told that once the demand is there the infrastructure will follow. This probably won't be much consolation when you're lying on a trolley in Addenbrooke's Hospital car park because all the corridors are full. Just as well we're all fit, then, or could it be that once you show signs of illness you are forcibly removed to Mildenhall or Brandon?

THINK ABOUT IT

If you are not completely happy with the way things are being done locally there are a couple of ways you might be able to make a difference. In May, various local people will be spending the day in halls and caravans all over the district watching people pass by. Yes, it's council election time again. We will get the chance to endorse or replace our representatives on the town and district councils. If you are not sure who represents you on these bodies there is and easy solution - stand yourself. You can learn more on the East Cambs website at: www.eastcambs.gov.uk or from our town council clerk, Mr Giles on 01353 723472.

NIGHTS OUT

There are three evenings out coming up in the next week if you fancy a change. On Sunday, there will be a review of the year quiz for charity in The Fountain at 8pm. Teams of about four, £1.50 per head entry. I bet you wish you hadn't thrown away all those supplements in the December papers now!

On Wednesday, the blood donor people will be in The Pavilion again from 1pm until 3pm and again from 4.30pm until 7pm. Tea, biscuits and a lie down, what more could you ask for?

Next Thursday (Jan 18), the Soham Community History Museum will be holding its annual general meeting in The Pavilion, from 7.30pm. At the moment the museum is lots of items with no permanent home, but they are working on it. To find out what is planned for the next year, go along and have a listen.

It would be nice if some Lottery money could be found for a building for them. Apparently, the first English state lottery was held on January 11, 1569 when tickets were sold at the west door of St Paul's Cathedral. I wonder what they spent the money on; there wasn't much opera in those days!

COMMUNICATION

BT might be getting in a muddle in some areas, they're withdrawing my internet connection in March, but they appear to be improving in others. According to the large posters stuck in the phone boxes you can now text from the Bushel to half way down Staples Lane (or vice-versa, the system is that flexible) for only 10p per message. Exactly why you would want to text when you can talk to the person at the other end I can't quite figure out, but it's nice to have the option, I suppose.