h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Nah, the area where she lives is full of surprises! lol

Full of burning houses?

Stolen and burned out cars, trashed and burned houses, discarded hypodermic needles, stolen guns and stached drugs. Abused children, and the worst cases of poverty you've ever seen in a "civilized" country.

Not a good place to live then.

Some parts of Coventry are fine, in fact most of it is. It's the one particular area where I work, where all the trouble is concentrated.

It's like that in Nottinghma too, most places are fine (except the roads) but there are a few areas where crime is very high.

It all really the Council's fault. 20 years ago they made a conscious decision to "put all the rotten eggs in one basket". That is to say, all the families that had a history of crime, or were anti-social in some way, or who didn't look after their properties, or pay their rent, were all moved into one area. This policy suited the police fine, as they now only had one area to worry about. It suited the rest of the citizens fine too, as all the problem families which were previously spread around the city were now removed from their vicinity. (Out of sight, out of mind).
The problem is, that now 20 years later, the population in that area has exploded. Crime is out of control, and it's virtually a no-go area for the police or anyone else. The prosecution rate is next to nothingm, as no-one will stand up in court for fear of reprisals, and the council has simply turned a blind-eye to the housing problem for so long, that it is now not much more than a ghetto.
Having said all that, there are still some really nice people living in there, and they deserve better.

A shame the place has gotlike that. Sounds like it's in need of being dug up and rebuilding.

That's exactly what is happening. They have received £200,000,000 for a complete rebuild over the next ten years. The first phase starts late next year. Each resident has been promised a brand new home, and already there are residents protests groups being formed to fight the redevelopment!

they don't want a new house?

I know, crazy isn't it! My old grandma used to say, "There's nowt as queer as folk!", and she was right.

But then some people just like complaining

That's right Ace, others have an inbuilt resistance to change, it frightens them, even if they can be seen to benefit by it. There are lots of people like that.

I guess they want to protect their way of life and don't want to loose the security of familiarity, however flawed that might be.

Far too tired to make any sense

Is the summer meet definitely July 10th? Has a final meeting place been settled yet?

Yes to 10th July, not sure about meeting place but I expect it'll stay at Hyde Park for the afternoon event.

OK thanks, Ace.

I had another look at the page, looks like we're having a picnic in Hyde park but the destination for the evening event isn't decided yet. The place we normally go to plays some really annoying loud music and the bar staff are few and grumpy, so it's been suggested that we break the tradition and try a different pub.

ok, wherever, it's ok with me.

Doensn't make much difference really , just a good idea to know what tube stop to get off at