Author Archives: Pete of MIP

Firing Squad

Posted on 19 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

Went to visit Mr Growing With Nature at Pilling last Saturday as he was to tell us how to grow our organic vegetables better, which seemed a bit of a contradiction as he sells them to us.  A murky and … Continue reading →

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The resilience of Preston?

Posted on 18 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

Todays Times newspaper names Preston as one of the top ten most resilient places in the UK during the recession.  The story is from a report by a group called the Centre for Cities. It says the claimant count has … Continue reading →

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Combined Heat and Power from Baxi

Posted on 11 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

Baxi say they are geared up to deliver up to 20,000 combined heat and power units a year from their Preston, Bamber Bridge, plant.  The government is issuing contracts worth billions of pounds for green energy but the great majority of the … Continue reading →

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Garden Bird observations in snowy weather

Posted on 10 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

Two Fieldfare birds have been visiting our garden this week.  Have never heard of them before, let alone seen one.  The snow has driven them out of the country and they’ve nearly stripped our holly tree of berry’s. We read … Continue reading →

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Darren Ferguson in at PNE, Alan Irvine at Sheff W

Posted on 8 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

Certainly adds spice to the managerial roundabout when PNE get a new man and Sheff W, a rival Championship club, take on the old one. On Wednesday at 4pm Darren Ferguson and Derek Shaw had a press conference to introduce … Continue reading →

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Darren Ferguson imminent?

Posted on 5 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

Around 9pm news organisations started announcing they ‘understood’ Darren Ferguson is to be the new PNE manager.  Started on the BBC, then Sky, then LEP.  LEP comments pages still on the daily 200 inputs.  Most supportive of the new appointment. … Continue reading →

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Coldest for years

Posted on 4 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

Don’t remember a cold spell like this for a long time. Certainly not at this time of year. Seem to recall 1981-ish being very cold in early January.  Went out this morning at 10am and it was minus 3C and … Continue reading →

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Preston 7 Colchester 0 FA Cup

Posted on 2 January 2010 by Pete of MIP

After a week of events with the sacking of Alan Irvine and the speculation and controversy surrounding it the team answered back. Some say Colchester are in a league lower than PNE but they are 4th and it would have … Continue reading →

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High Speed Rail to miss Preston?

Posted on 31 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

The High Speed 2 Company submitted its plans to Lord Adonis who will declare the preferred routes in March 2010.  To date the proposal has shown a line up the west coast via Preston to Glasgow but yesterdays newspapers seemed cooler on this idea.  … Continue reading →

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PNE sack Alan Irvine

Posted on 29 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

Big surprise news today – PNE have sacked their popular manager Alan Irvine. It was thought he’d have more time.  Not long ago everyone was sweating on whether he’d go to WBA and even if he’d manage Scotland.  There was gratitude he stayed and it … Continue reading →

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St Ledger returned to PNE by Middlesbrough

Posted on 25 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

Middlesbrough announced that they are returning all 4 of their loan players and that means Sean St Ledger back at Deepdale. He played 15 games and scored once for Boro. Since he left both teams have had poor results and … Continue reading →

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Verge of a crisis or just a phase at Deepdale

Posted on 20 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

Notts Forest 3 PNE 0.  With died in the wool North Ender Paul McKenna scoring the opener for Forest.  Forest are on a roll at the moment under Billy Davies. Can he get 3 clubs into the play-offs?  So from that point … Continue reading →

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Avenham, Miller Parks and Lancashire Museum get lottery funding

Posted on 17 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Big Lottery Fund (BIG) agreed a grant of £1.75m to Avenham and Miller Parks. This tops up the £2.7m granted in 2005. Also the Lancashire Museum in Stanley Street has been allocated £0.9m from the … Continue reading →

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Manchester – Preston – Blackpool Electrification

Posted on 14 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

Lord Adonis, today, put more substance behind the pre-budget statement that seemed to cover electrification of only Manchester – Preston. It now includes Blackpool, which makes more sense.  His statement reads: ”The first line is between Huyton – on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Rail | 5 Comments

Harris Institute, Avenham, bought

Posted on 13 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

It is reported that the Harris Institute  at Avenham has been bought by Yousuf Bhailok, a local businessman, for just under £300,000.  Mr Bhailok also bought Harris Park in Fulwood and has been involved in the campaign to keep the football museum … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 1 Comment

Peace at Christmas

Posted on 11 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

President Obama made a great speech with many messages in Oslo when receiving his Nobel Peace Prize. The part below stood out as a lesson to everyone if viewed in the context of your personal life. ‘I know that engagement with repressive regimes … Continue reading →

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Preston to Manchester Rail Electrification in pre-budget statement.

Posted on 10 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

Yesterday, 9th Dec, the Chancellor stood up in Parliament and said in his pre-budget announcement; ‘I can tell the House today that I have also given the go-ahead to further plans for rail electrification between Liverpool, Manchester and Preston. The … Continue reading →

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Lostock Hall Engine Sheds Regeneration

Posted on 6 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

Householders in Lostock Hall have been sent a questionnaire asking what use they would like to be made of the designated open space on the old railway engine shed and sidings. It is quite a large area on both sides of … Continue reading →

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Digital Switchover Day – 2nd Dec 2009

Posted on 2 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

What a shock only a black and white fuzz on  TV.  After watching it for a while decided to tell my old aunt that the signal had gone off. It wasn’t the signal that bothered her though,  it was the … Continue reading →

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Winckley Square facelift

Posted on 2 December 2009 by Pete of MIP

After reading letters in the Evening Post about the selected design for Winckley Square I was expecting something gross, and being someone who doesn’t want heritage areas defaced feared the worst.  Yet the design seems fairly minimal and doesn’t appear to change the … Continue reading →

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