Woody............

At last, something good comes out of 9/11.

It seems the former World Trade Centre and former favourite haunt of Mr & Mrs Wilt is, in its further excavations, throwing up new insights into how Manhattan extended its defences against the surging Hudson River.

See here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/7892972/Ground-Zero-excavators-find-18th-century-wooden-ships-hull-at-World-Trade-Center-site.html

We hope they preserve it in some way, perhaps as a feature of the new complex in that part of New York – probably the best US city to visit, anytime.

Wilt

Abroad............

Here we are again on the foreign contract, the usual nice hotel suite and thank Gawd for the swimming pool (indoors and out) and indeed the air conditioning – its sunny and 90 degrees J

The cider however is still piss poor but in this heat either chilled bottled water or iced tea is the only sensible option. The food however is brilliant. If only Wilt could recommend it; but then that would lead to the identification of Wilt – a closely guarded secret, despite the efforts of some including Mrs C of Royal Leamington Spa.

The other excellent thing about the hotel is that it has free very fast Wi-Fi in each room/suite. Talking of which Mrs C has again reverted to her T-Mobile (Android software driven) mobile phone that uses the Safari web browser to access Regulator Watch. Four times she was on the site yesterday (Saturday) right up to 21:15 pm.

That tiny screen really must hurt the eyes!

Other good things:

• The staff – really helpful/friendly and any assistance is assured;


• They park the car and get it ready in the morning after breakfast;


• Satellite TV including many UK channels;


• Complimentary laundry service (suites only) – nice fresh suit and shirt every day;


• Free newspaper (Times for UK guests)

Looks like a couple of new contracts coming on line and thus the air miles will keep growing – not that Wilt intends to benefit from them; that would simply make him no better than those thieving MPs . You see, Wilt is good value, and although I say it myself does a good job. For all this sun, nice hotels and hire car Wilt is working solid from 08:00 am through to 19:30 pm, on multiple case matters.

And those air miles? The next business trip here will be free, benefitting the contractor.

It is however rather expensive here – hence the higher than normal fees Wilt charges. It still seems cheap to the contractor compared to employing someone themselves – even if they could find someone to employ of any competence.

Fortunately the language/culture differences are not a barrier – most people speak English fluently.

Well, I suppose I should do some prep-work for the appointments (six) tomorrow.

Life is good.

Wilt

No thanks..........

Gulp: http://www.communitycare.co.uk/blogs/childrens-services-blog/2010/07/marion-davis-to-gove-dismantle-the-role-of-independent-sws.html

Wilt feels an earlier than planned ‘early retirement’ might be coming on.

Actually Wilt has always believed that local authority social workers are “experts” in their own right (notwithstanding the occasional idiot) but to totally exclude the option of independents (ISW’s) in the Court system would be both unwise and unworkable. As Wilt has said many times on these pages, it is possible to reduce the number of experts and indeed to be more selective when appointing Guardians – and of course getting rid of Cafcass.

Both Guardians and ISW’s can and do make a very significant difference in terms of their much broader and greater experience. Most often ISW’s (Independent Social Workers) save money by shortening proceedings, despite Marion Davis claiming:

"Removing this role from the family justice system would not only contribute to reducing delays in care proceedings, but would also reduce costs."

In fact as Wilt knows only too well, not infrequently ISW’s are brought in by social services because they lack either the resources or skills. Thus excluding ISW’s would cause more delay.

Very often local authority social workers are not given the “status” they rightly deserve and in that sense ISW’s are drafted in on occasions unnecessarily – that is because inevitably birth parents (etc) demand another opinion and Guardians, who should in appropriate cases challenge, fail to resist the instruction of an ISW. Judges depend greatly on their Guardians – who are hopefully rooted into reality. On occasions Wilt has thought that his appointments were unnecessary – the evidence was already there?

On the other hand, ISW’s play a vital role, not just in terms of expertise and to overcome a lack of resources in the local authority, but also because many social workers actually welcome it, and regrettably on occasions because local authorities are quite simply incompetent.

Yes reduce the number of experts, and Guardians can be more robust in this regard, but Marion Davis has, it seems, attacked the ISW outright as a waste of money. That is not very clever, unwise and the next time her authority is looking for an expert they may just say, “No thanks.”

Now where was it Marion Davis works - must add it to the Dork list.

Wilt

Blackmail...........

The GSCC http://www.gscc.org.uk/Home/ have listed their latest upcoming hearings here:

http://www.gscc.org.uk/Conduct/Conduct_hearings/Upcoming_hearings/

Four cases are listed, all rather interesting in their different ways, and all to heard at the GSCC HQ, as follows:

http://www.gscc.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/76CB674E-1AD4-4753-ABD2-03FC00FC8E30/0/SummaryCarmody.pdf

And:

http://www.gscc.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/15F1C782-0D25-49E1-AA3F-D1D64A190807/0/SummaryHavell.pdf

And:

http://www.gscc.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/34519A4A-AC66-4420-A48B-697E034FE17D/0/SummaryArnhem.pdf

And:

http://www.gscc.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C966ECAD-D938-446B-AD39-04746ED008E1/0/SummaryTrounce.pdf

Each is listed for a single day hearing, except for one which is two days (Trounce) which involves, it is alleged, blackmail. Oooooeeeeerrrr!!!!

Wilt

Comrades.............

Now we all know that Wilt is something of a simple minded chap – at his age keeping things simple is necessary. The previous Gordon Brown led Government complicated (and generally fucked up) almost everything. The only uncomplicated thing Brown can be thanked for, to wilt’s mind, is the “flat rate” VAT scheme – it’s too complicated to explain! However Wilt’s bookkeeper and accountant sort all that out.

You see, if Wilt’s services were no longer required, or if he were short of work (which he aint), he would just move on to other new work. No severance pay (except for breach of contract) and no pension either – not until it matures after years of contributions by the said Wilt, and no one else. The only exception is his current pension (taken in a lump sum – thank you) and his pending local government pension to kick in soon – and very good it is too. He was very lucky that the LA pension is so generous, and “locked” until he shortly falls off his desk chair and hangs up his Court/business suit.

To Wilt, simple minded as he is, he made good provision for the future, and indeed for the future of his offspring, friends and family – together with Mrs Wilt probably a combined portfolio in excess of £Xm. Not a lot we admit, but enough for the prudent and well in excess of that which most can hope to bestow upon their journey to their maker (or the devil).

However, what about our current civil servants and local government officers pensions and severance? Pensions will without doubt require them to contribute more, a considerable amount more, and their severance pay will be reduced, Wilt is in no doubt, the up to “6 years” redundancy payments will not now happen further – what fucking idiot ever agreed that? Probably Gordon Brown advised by Ed “Ferkin” Balls, the smarmy bastard.

The Telegraph has about the best article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7871570/Ministers-to-slash-pay-offs-for-civil-servants.html

And others include: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10504840.stm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/jul/05/government-war-unions-strike-redundancy

What rather confuses Wilt is the threat of strike action – “OK comrades we will go on strike cos we are to be sacked.........And sacked without severance pay of six years” The “comrade” union official on a £250,000 salary thinks and then adds “Comrades you deserve better, you have served (sic) your country and the public well – what reward are you given? A few weeks’ severance pay and a p45 with the option to actually work (I mean do a real days work) for a living in the private sector, no expenses, no huge paid holiday and sick leave entitlements.”

The man dressed in a very expensive suit continues with a lump in his throat: “Comrades, I need you, my children in public school need you, my wife (who shags many of my colleagues) needs you (although I hope not all of you 600,000) and I have a standard of living to expect from your union contributions – how else am I expected to live? I would have to go out to work, for Gawd sake – is that reasonable?

A lone, very shaky voice peeps up – “ahem, so I go on strike, lose my job anyway and I have less money than I would have had if I had not gone on strike, and yet you still get my contribution to your trade union that pays you 70 times more than me to achieve what exactly?”

The “comrade” replies – “It’s your duty to serve your comrades and the union.”

Union member: “Can I get a rebate on my union contributions?”

Wilt kind of thinks most civil servants and local government officers realised, albeit too late and regretfully, that at some point they were to join the real world – the real world beyond state benefits and state salaries.

You see there is not a lot of difference between a state benefit and a state salary – both waste space and both drain money from those who actually do a day’s work!

Wilt

ps: There are more recent articles since the above was drafted. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/politics/10519726.stm

And: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7874285/Civil-servants-redundancy-pay-to-be-capped-as-soon-as-possible.html

The gloves are off – a big scrap in Whitehall is pending.

Next: the quango, local authorities and, possibly, MPs!

Perhaps the nice civil servants can develop an Iphone application for calculating the difference between what they could have expected to get and what they will get in redundancy payouts. See http://regulatorwatch.co.uk/2010/07/iphone/

iPhone..............

What is wrong with these people? They have no fucking clue about proper budget management and have been spending money we do not have, on toys phone the iPhone! See the article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/10514367.stm

Did they not realise there was a thing called a recession and now a major fiscal deficit? An application for your iPhone on how to change a wheel on your car – that must be a priority! Generally the car manual is useful for that kind of thing, I find.

Well, how can they then complain about reduction in both civil service pensions and redundancy packages?

Beam me up Scotty, please!

Wilt

Tree Surgeon..........

The other week when Wilt was away he had a letter from the local Council advising that his large tree at the back of his garden and was overgrown.

Wilt sent the nice man a, for him, very positive and courteous reply.  It is overgrown, and the tree too!

Anyway, finding a properly qualified tree surgeon is harder than you think, and it is a large tree.

About 12 months ago a man knocks on the front door advising me that a couple of trees at the front of the house could do with a trim and he could do it at a reasonable price. “OK” says Wilt (like a jerk) and the man hacks away at the branches and carries off the wood in the back of his van – job done, money paid. Wilt felt satisfied that he had supported local business, which he regards as very important – a further example the Wilt’s have their milk delivered by the local milkman (a small family business) albeit at a much higher price than if the milk was purchased at Mr Sainsbury’s. Likewise meat from the butchers and veg from the local farm shop – it all helps to keep local business (and employment) running. Anyway you get the idea – buy local and British.

You see Wilt is always bemused by these chaps who during the World Cup (either rugby or football) fly the St Georges Cross from their car windows but are driving a BMW or some other foreign motor. If they are so fucking patriotic why do they not buy British? Wilt does and has almost always done so, after he got the “boy racer” period over with the help of his former sporty Italian cars.

Anyway, back to the trees at the front of the house . Mrs Wilt kept saying to Wilt, “You know that one tree looks dead.” Wilt pretending to be knowledgeable on such matters dismissed the observation and said “no, it is just a little distressed and will grow back.”

That was when the Wilt’s had two trees on the front lawn – a largish lawn. They now have just the one! The other one required a little more “trimming” with a bloody large fucking chain saw – all that remains is a stump, albeit Wilt passes it off to friends, family and neighbours as a “garden feature!”

As for the said overgrown tree at the back of the house, that needs some serious attention. Hence this time a proper tree surgeon is required.

Wilt telephones the local council – “hello, this overgrown tree problem, do you have a list of tree surgeons I might be able to consult?”

Council employee: “We do have tree surgeons but they only work for us.”

Wilt: “Sorry you misunderstand me, do you have a list of private contractors which I could consult.”

Council employee: “Oh so you intend to do the work then.”

Wilt: <pause> “no, I thought I would phone you just for a chat!”

Council employee: “Ah well you see lots opf people telephone and say they are going to do the work, when they don’t.”

Wilt: <pause again, a little longer> “I sent you a letter explaining I would sort it out.”

Council employee: “So when exactly, can I say by next week?”

Wilt: <loses the will to live> “Um, well that depends on if I can find a tree surgeon and when they can do the work.”

Council employee: “Our tree surgeons only do work for the council.”

Wilt: <now utterly frustrated> Yes, and in what way does that help me? My query was do you have a list of tree surgeons that the public might use?”

Council employee: <mumbles in background to colleague> “We are not aware of any tree surgeons. I will update the system <some database> that you will be doing the work.”

Wilt: <lost for words> “OK, thank you for not helping me today.”

What is fucking wrong with these people?

Is it any wonder why the general public feel so bemused by the local services offered by their ‘public servants.’ What was intended to be a ‘public service query’ transpired into an interrogation of the very same public who pay those (so called) ‘public servants’ wages.

Eric Pickles, where are you mate? Please give some relief to Wilt.

No sooner asked and this appears in the news: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/10517915.stm

Eric the man does come to the rescue – I only hope he reads my blog. He might deduce that some “surgery” in environmental services is necessary. Sadly his CV does not list ‘tree surgery’ as one of his vocations, otherwise he would get the job.

For Gawd sake!

Wilt