Steve from England

I have heard these words a few times now. Somehow things do seem to be dropping into place at work. It is just making sense and isn't so scary. What a shame it's so far away and so badly paid.

Every school report I ever had said this, every damn report from every damn teacher. It gave me an expectation of doing better whilst also a sense of absolute utter failure that I never achieved more. 'Could Do Better' has followed me around my entire life. I have not excelled at anything that I can think of. Not something that one could call a 'win'. I have no certificates which say I got somewhere, no trophy, no medal. Whatever I try I feel like I 'Could Do Better'. I was always told, 'It's not the winning, it's the taking part' ... it's an easy statement to make from the point of view of the winner. Taking part knowing that in the bottom few, if not the bottom, is not rewarding. The only thing the loser achieves is that they, by taking part, have saved someone else from being the loser. This is my only real achievement in life, I help others. I am sure it is appreciated and has been, quite likely will be but, knowing I might have done ... ...

There are places around the world I still want to do. Some I have done before, and want to do again, others are part of a set so, I really have to do them all. Case in point, every Disney theme park on the planet! I currently tally 4 so, two left and both in Asia. Asia gets three parks, Europe just the one and the US gets 2. I personally find that quite peculiar!  The Grand Canyon from the top. I have done the helicopter trip which lands down below so, obviously, I've seen it from the top but, I just want to stand there and look down. Palawan, Philippines, it just looks so amazing. Washington DC. It is just so iconic. Of course, I'd rather the orange peril wasn't the sitting tenant of the White House. There is so much to see in the city. Further on the list would be a return to Venice, so unique. I really feel I am missing out by not seeing Greece, Athens and all that. Los Angeles again because there was so much I didn't have time for (and a lot I want to do again). Aus...

What happened? When we first moved here in 1995 we loved the place, were proud to have friends and family visit but not any more.  Contributing to the demise is the continued under-investment from Legal & General in the Grosvenor Centre and ridiculous demands on tenants meaning we have lost some really good quality retailers from there. What kind of centre management loses House of Fraser? The Disney Store ... cannot do a deal so that Ed's Diner moves in? BHS went months ago, the building sits empty still a demonstration of what is typical for our town. House of Fraser was replaced by Primark, we gained an upgrade on the store but we already had one in town. Ed's Diner would have taken over from the Disney Store but Vision Express just moved along to do that. Two Seasons has moved to Rushden Lakes and who can blame them? The council decided to open up Abington Street to traffic again, all it did was to totally kill off that end of town ... unless someone is desperate for Sp...