Well we survived the end of the last Millennium and the beginning of the next. It is only a few weeks in but nothing much seems to have changed, despite all the speculation about Millennium bugs and hype about the future. The Dome is still in the headlines, if looking a little deflated, and the government seems to be slipping into the pattern of its predecessor with more spin, more resignations and more u-turns.

In one way the New Year did come in with a bang, with seemingly more fireworks than any November 5th. No doubt an increasing trend for new year celebrations and perhaps more appropriate than remembering a failed attempt to get rid of parliament.

Nothing may have changed in the short term, but looking back it seems only yesterday that nobody had heard of the internet, let alone mobile phones and home computers. Seems strange that today’s generation will never come across carbon paper or bulldog clips. And what I wonder will they think of today’s electronic wonders in 100 years time, let alone another thousand.

Back to today. Wherever you turn in Bradway it seems we are faced with empty shop premises. The parades at the top of Twentywell Lane, on Bradway Road and Wollaton Road all have empty units. Yet there must be businesses that could thrive with a little support from the community. More local competition is probably not what we need, rumour has it for example that the refurbished unit on Wollaton Road is to shortly house a second hairdressers.

What additional services would readers like to see provided in the area? Letters [or e-mail] please to the editor for our next issue. Who knows, they might just prompt someone to open a new shop.

Oh dear! I disagree: Some parts are pleasant, but the last half mile or so are a disgrace. Houses bordering the path seem to use it as communal dust-bin and throw garden rubbish and waste over the fence. This quite often necessitates wading through ankle deep mud on already badly maintained paths.

Sadly we seem to be lacking in pride in our environment and care and responsibility for our neighbours here in Bradway.

Our garden is a rich and varied source of wildlife and there is always something interesting to see, I cannot believe that we live in a city. Being a member of B.T.O’s. Garden Birdwatch has certainly helped me to learn and understand more about the secret life of birds and garden birdwatching has become an obsession rather than a hobby!

Like Mrs Newsome, I am still an enthusiastic member after five years, and I was delighted when the birds returned in force to their garden habitat in November after a six-week break foraging elsewhere for natural food. The berries and plant seeds had disappeared and my bird food purchases have since greatly increased to provide a running buffet and the garden has become alive again.

This morning, the little round wren has been dancing up and down on the kitchen window sill to inform me that the mealworms (‘live biological specimens’, very gingerly handed over by the postman) have run out and he is starving; the gentle song thrush and timid nuthatch are haunting the back door to feed by my feet protected from thirteen bullying blackbirds who are waiting for their soaked wholemeal bread and grated cheese. The robins are wasting time and energy chasing each other and the squirrel is doing acrobatics on the squirrel-proof bird seed feeders to the annoyance of the bullfinches and greenfinches.

Now I really must go and replenish the bird table and fill in my survey - ah well, the washing up can wait!

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