Two Things, One Good the Other a Pain In the Butt.

First, our radio system has been playing up for a week or so. Breaking up, crackling and cutting out. The problem was a spare part was needed but couldn't be found. One finally turned up but the museum it was in was reluctant to let us have it and only finally released it when we promised to give it back when we had finished with it. So during the afternoon the sound of an engineer's voice came over the radio several times, each time getting louder until finally we had perfect reception. Nice to have a reliable radio again.





The second problem, the pain in the butt one, was sitting in a queue of traffic heading for Paignton at the road works by Holacombe Gas Works. The gas works have gone years ago but we have long memories round here. As we inched forward I started counting how many vehicles were coming from Paignton; on average 22. But we seemed to be moving a lot less than that. The queue on our side of the road started at the Grand Hotel, three quarters of a mile from the temporary traffic lights set to by Amber On, a company that provide roadworkers with said lights. When I finally reached the lights (15 minutes later) I counted how many vehicles got through from our side. Eight. And I have to report that it was only eight because vehicles 7 and 8 only went through because they ignored the fact that the lights had changed to red. Neither of them buses by the way. When I got through I noticed the queue of traffic on the Paignton side consisted of two cars, a white van and a scooter. So if your bus was late sometime yesterday, and on Monday, and on Sunday, because that's how long the lights have been like this, it wasn't our fault. Blame Amber On or the council who are supposed to watch traffic management at road works.



Talking of road works, there are going to be lots of road works in the Bay over the next few weeks, the main on being the section of Torbay Road between the Harbour and Belgrave Road. Expect delays and diversions.