March 2004
March 19
After an exhibition at The Lambe School, East Bergholt, it looks like the village is finally going to be getting Broadband!
The campaign, “Get On Board” (see this poster for an explaination), seems to have worked, as there is now significant interest in it (250 homes) to warrent its installation.
We await further news, as the exhibition only took place on the 13th, but early rumours suggest it will arrive some time in June/July… not soon enough for many, but after months of waiting already, what’s a few more?
March 11
Two issues in a row now, F1 Racing has failed to be delivered through their subscription service. It’s getting ridiculous. After re-ordering the last issue twice, I thought they would have made damn sure this issue arrived on time, without reason to complain.
But, it all proved too much for them, and as of today, shoppers once again have the chance of buying F1 Racing before me. It really does take the biscuit; whereas last time there was a reason behind it (albeit a very frustrating and confusing one — one that shouldn’t ever have brought my subscription to a close), this time they simply cannot explain it.
It’d better arrive by Monday (like the help assistant promised), else I’ll be demanding a written apology and another extension to my subscription.
March 10
To come in to work after your day-off and find half the previous day’s round still needing to be sorted, and posted, must be a totally gutting feeling.
That’s what the “posties” at East Bergholt are faced with at the moment, and so I’m struggling to see how the Royal Mail’s new 5-day week is of any real benefit to the regular postman — and anything but a lesser service to the customer.
Although ‘Bergholt are suffering more than I’m sure most delivery offices are (including Dedham, where I’m based), there are still issues surrounding the new 5-day week. All customer-focused, but all will affect a good conscientious regular postman. It’s doubtful however, whether those same issues will affect just a relief postman… I guess only time will tell.
March 4
In twelve and a half hours time, the 2004 Formula 1 season will official have begun when the cars finally roll out onto the track, for the first of two Friday practice sessions at Albert Park, Melbourne. Still, we won’t be able to tell who’s really got it right over the winter break for another thirty-eight and a half hours, when qualifying one starts… though I guess then you could say it won’t be until after the race that we can really tell. But just remember, Coulthard was last year’s race winner!
After the ups and downs of last year, Ferrari still managed to complete a record double, but it wasn’t plain sailing like the year before, when Ferrari walked it. Let us remember though that Ferrari were on their back foot throughout the Summer, because of the lusterless Bridgestone tyres.
For Ferrari’s continued glory in 2004, Bridgestone have really got to pull their fingers out and make some bloody good tyres. Have they done enough over the winter? It’s too early to tell; Ferrari on the other hand, I’m sure have done enough. The car is a logical evolution of last seasons F2003-GA, but brings it closer in wheelbase to one of the best-ever F1 cars, the F2002, and I might add, the Williams FW25, which many believe to be the best car of 2003.
Williams have famously gone radical, as have — but not so dramatically — McLaren. People seem to think that because the Maranello team evolved, while the others revolutionised, that that is a weakness. It’s not. Ferrari’s logic is quite clear: “if it aint broken, don’t fix it”.
Sure the ‘GA (which, everyone forgets, was a championship winner) had problems, but they know what they were (setup, low speed corners), and what its strengths were (aerodynamics, reliability)… so because the F2004 will be an evolution, I’ve every confidence that it will be the car the F2003-GA was touted as being.
A couple of Q&A:
Question: How competitive will the new Williams be?
Answer: Extremely. I think they will be Ferrari’s biggest threat to the crown.
Q: Will Schumacher have lost any of his speed?
A: Don’t be silly! Michael is still — and will prove himself to be — the fastest driver in the world.
How about that for a prediction, Rob?
March 1
A return to updates at The Programme Covers Project has seen a significant rise in hits through the month of February. The hits have surpased the peak of last year — September — in which every stat was beaten by a huge amount. From the stats it is plain to see that visitors are looking around the site more, and importantly, downloading more.
I believe the increase is due to a complete lack of updates over the previous three months, and to an extent, the new layout. There’s another update coming soon, and I aim to continue making regular updates over the months ahead… see if that keeps the visitors happy, and my stats high!