This was said by comedian Bob Hope as the reason why the United States was ahead of the Russians in the race to outer space - The story goes that after the war the US and the USSR bribed top German scientists to work for them and win the race to be first to the moon. This thought occurred to me when reading about the current controversy over installing incinerators nationwide, hopefully to cure our rubbish problem. As that the majority of residents are vehemently against these factories, planning permission, it is thought, will be decided in the courts.

Let us hope that 2009 is kinder to us than 2008 was. Yes, why not take a happy view and think things can only get better! Well, we can think nice thoughts, and log on to the day dreams section. But to be honest and sensible about these things as this Credit Crunch is only just starting, it seems we are due one of those frustrating bits of life, where we have to endure the blood, sweat and tears until the situation returns to normal. During the war - (no not another uncle Albert story) but at times when things were really bad, I do remember my Mother saying "There is always some body worse off than we are"

Firefighters tackled a car fire on Bakeham Lane, near the junction with Callow Hill, at around 10.05pm on Thursday, December 18.

The firemen spent 45-minutes putting out the flames and making the scene area.
No-one was hurt during the incident.

To read in the Staines & Egham News the story of the woman who, for the third time, was a victim of Distraction Burglary is really beyond belief.

Far too often, we hear of residents, usually pensioners, being mugged in their own home. Due to the very nature of this crime, and speed with which it is committed, it is very difficult for the Police to take remedial action.

Students from Royal Holloway took time out of their busy schedules to host a Christmas party elderly people in Englefield Green on Saturday(13).

A group of 23 pensioners from the Aldwyn Place residential housing enjoyed a festive raffle, bingo and musical entertainment in the Founder's Building at Royal Holloway.

Land in Runnymede that could provide new housing over the next 20 years is to be recorded in a new register.

Runnymede Council is calling on landowners, developers and other public bodies to come forward with sites that could accommodate 10 or more homes in order to assess what land in the borough could be developed for housing.

A cypress tree in Englefield Green, that 'leans dangerously' towards a busy road, could be protected by council planners on Wednesday (December 10), despite the owners' fears it may cause an accident.

The mature cypress conifer tree, prominent on the corner Tite Hill, near the junction of Middle Hill and lies on property belonging to Harald and Stephanie Hovland, who fear stormy weather might cause it to fall across Tite Hill and cause an accident.

They applied to Runnymede Council to chop it down, but the council served a TPO on the tree, as it lies in a designated conservation area, which, if confirmed at tonight's meeting, will mean no work can be undertaken.

Lighting is to be installed in an Englefield Green alleyway a year after a Royal Holloway student was assaulted nearby.

Surrey County Council has approved five street lamps and some lower-level lighting in the alleyway joining Larkfield to Blays Lane, a route regularly used by university students.

.......We are no nearer to seeing our Prime Minister's words about a Post Office's being an essential part of village life being taken seriously. Sadly this promise will join the long queue of his empty ministerial promises. Truth to tell, we are actually worse off now, than when he uttered all that hyperbole. The latest news is that the staff of Postwatch, who were tasked with overseeing the Post Office changeover, have all been made redundant. It seems a brand new Quango "Consumer Focus" are now responsible for dealing with our problem. When I asked them who I should contact regarding the Post Office at Englefield Green? There was a gasp of surprise, it seems that they were not exactly ready, and still had a lot of organising to do.

The Christmas show of the popular stand-up night, Laughter on the Green, takes place on Tuesday, December 16 at the Social Hall in Harvest Road, Englefield Green, from 7.45pm.

Headline act will be heckler-bashing Ray Peacock, with support from Nathon Caton and the popular, Maff Brown.