Good riddance to 2012.
Personally I'm
glad to see the back of 2012, as anyone who know me knows I managed to get cancer -
again, that's the second time and as anyone who has had cancer know the side
effects from chemo, the sickness, being susceptible to other illnesses, weakness
and keeping away from other people because while on chemo you are at
greater risk, even a simple cold can be fatal, thank god for my wife Pauline without her it would have been unbearable so 2012
was a bad year for us both. Add to that we missed our holiday (the day we should have flown out I went into hospital) and of course the continuous
rain that has got everyone down.
As far as the town is concerned we lost the opportunity
to drag ourselves into the 21st century by missing out on a new supermarket,
the first major company in three decades to show interest in the town. Instead
we opted for a rubbish tip meanwhile those who opposed the supermarket can be
seen shopping in Tesco's in Banbury. The town has welcomed the relocation of
the doctors to be alongside the hospital and nursing home on London road unfortunately
both ends of town will become ghost towns but hey ho you can't have it all. On
the positive side new small shops have opened a Cafe, Deli, Wineshop to name
three and as we see a Yacht club here in the middle of England whatever next?
Chipping Norton is known more than ever though out the world thanks to the
Prime Minister and the so-called Chipping Norton set, surely there must be some
enterprising person who could capitalise on this free publicity for Chipping
Norton? Perhaps Chippy could do with its own 'Bicester Village' that would bring visitors into town the only
thing is would the shops open?
So what have
we got to look forward to in 2013? Hopefully better weather and less rain, they
might actually start on the Co-op development this year, the Mayor opening the
new rubbish tip, more houses on the old hospital and nursing home and empty
doctors, perhaps two new trees to replace the ones cut down in the town centre,
the A44 being reclassified as a B road to get rid of HGVs and probably any
tourists, still it would keep happy all those who moved here wanting to live in
a quiet Cotswold town. Sorry I can't be more optimistic but WODC (Witney Only
District Council) are determined to follow their decision and keep Chipping Norton
in the dark ages. So the best thing I can wish for is good health, a big win on the lottery
and everyone a Happy New Year. Ed: