Day 60 of (is it?) Lockdown
Day 60 happens to fall on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s birthday. So we turn to Sherlock Holmes’ for some light relief at the end. First some Lockdown updates from the Environment Agency and Essex Council, then we have Parish Council updates and finally Sherlock – elementary.
Anyone for boating?
The latest Environment Agency update reports on progress made in preparing their waterways (including the Thames & Anglian waterways) for leisure activities:
You can now do all non-powered water sports on EA waterways and some waterways will be ready for leisure cruising as early as this week, with the rest by 1 June, unless hazards in the waterways prevent us from doing so.
You can read the full update here.
Waiting up to 3 hours!
That is how long some folks are waiting to get rid of their recycling after 15 centres reopened this week! ECC report:
Essex County Council is thanking residents for showing patience and understanding during the first week of recycling centres reopening following the COVID-19 lockdown and is asking for this spirit to continue over the upcoming bank holiday weekend.
New restrictions and strict social distancing controls are in place to ensure the safety of residents and site staff. These restrictions include limiting the number of cars on site at any one time.
These necessary restrictions, together with some residents using the centres when perhaps they don’t need to, have caused long queues to form at some recycling centres, with waiting times of between one and three hours being reported.
Patience, understanding & good humour
Recycling centre staff report the majority of Essex residents visiting using the recycling centres have shown patience, understanding and good humour.
As the bank holiday weekend approaches – traditionally the time for a spring clean clear out – Essex County Council is repeating the call for residents to make a decision if the household waste they have really needs to go to the recycling centre right now, or if it can be stored safely until recycling centres return to normal.
Does it really need to go now?
If it does need to go to the recycling centre, residents must be aware there will be a long wait.
The safest way to get rid of your waste and recycling is using your kerbside collection. A visit to a recycling centre is only essential where there is no alternative available.
Any residents showing symptoms of COVID-19, self-isolating or shielding should not visit any recycling centre and should follow advice from Public Health England.
Parish Council Activities
The planning committee met on 20th May via Zoom and considered 6 applications from Maltings Park, Bourne, Pirie, Albany & Colchester Roads. Three were supported, 1 objected and the others not commented on. Read the minutes here.
The whole Parish Council will be meeting next Tuesday via Zoom. Members of the public may attend, please contact the Parish Clerk for link details. The Agenda can be found here.
Sherlock Holmes
Ten Sherlock Holmes’ Parodies
Ten Sherlock Holmes’ Quotes
- “You have a grand gift for silence, Watson. It makes you quite invaluable as a companion.”
The Man with the Twisted Lip. - “You see, but you do not observe.”
A Scandal in Bohemia. - “It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data. Insensibly one begins to twist facts to suit theories, instead of theories to suit facts.”
A Scandal in Bohemia. - “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?”
The Sign of Four. - “Watson. Come at once if convenient. If inconvenient, come all the same.”
The Adventure of the Creeping Man. - “To a great mind, nothing is little.”
A Study in Scarlet. - “Crime is common. Logic is rare.”
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches. - “My name is Sherlock Holmes. It is my business to know what other people do not know.”
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle. - “I abhor the dull routine of existence. I crave for mental exaltation. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession, or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world.”
The Sign of the Four. - “The game is afoot.”
The Adventure of the Abbey Grange.