Latest Watford Blogs from the Watford Observer

Trusty House represents Watford Community Housing Trust, the town’s largest social landlord, which owns and manages 5,000 properties in and around Watford. The Trust, which is owned by its tenants and leaseholders, has been in existence for just over three years and during that time satisfaction with local neighbourhoods has increased significantly.

Trusty, to his friends, will be providing an update on what is happening at the Housing Trust and in the local communities. He will also be updating you on how people’s lives are changed by the things that he and the team at the Housing Trust do.

Lonely at Christmas

Christmas is a time with very mixed messages. It’s a magical time for children …..just by watching their little faces come alive brings the most incredible magic to this time of year. It could be a visit to Father Christmas, looking at shop windows with all their gifts beautifully displayed saying ‘take me home’. The lights twinkling in the evening air with nostalgic music adding to the atmosphere even an outing to a Pantomime.

Office Closure & Atmospheric Changes

Christmas is getting closer and closer and what better way to count down than by eating chocolates from my advent calendar. I don’t worry about calories at this time of the year so much yummy food to enjoy …..all those mince pies, roasted chestnuts and of course, Christmas pudding ….the list can go on and on. I decided to start my Christmas shopping earlier than usual and it has made such a difference. I am really impressed how organised I am with just a few last gifts to decide on and I am almost finished. It was my ultimate plan to try and avoid the usual last minute panic buying in the shops with the crowds at the checkouts and so far that is exactly what I have done. I even managed to stick within my budget setting myself limits of how much I was prepared to spend on each gift. It’s so easy to get carried-away and end up spending far more than you originally planned to and was no way I wanted any nasty surprises in January when the bills start to come in. I am really pleased how disciplined I have been with my shopping this year.

On the Air Waves & Networking

Although I do love watching television I also enjoy listening to the radio and last weekend I had the privilege to listen to our Chair, Diane Lee who appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme which was recorded at Watford Town Hall. Diane was taking part in a ‘Focus Group’ discussion about the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and was one of a handful of people taking part in the discussion with presenter John Humphrys. The other participants included Mayor Dorothy Thornhill, local residents, business people and a couple of students. I could listen to Diane speak for ages and ages, she is so knowledgeable and gave her views from both a personal perspective and as Chair of the Trust. It was a very honest and profound interview and the comments from the group discussion touched on the difficulties experienced by a large cross-section of the local community. I can tell you it made me even more concerned about the economic situation that is around all of us today.

Movember & Community Action Group (CAG)

November saw the sprouting of moustaches on lots of colleagues faces around the office. Of course, I always like to get in on the act and participate in most events where I can and the thought of not having to shave for a month and have the ragged look really appealed to me. Movember is a charity that raises funds for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and raise awareness for men’s health, and other cancers that affect men.

Its Party Season

The year has flown by so fast (hopefully not as quickly as the turkey I am hoping to have for my lunch this year), but it does seem like only yesterday when I was sitting at home watching the Queen’s speech on Christmas Day.

Youth Gateway - Yo!

Yo! is an ambitious youth community programme giving young people more of a say on what goes on in their neighbourhood. Whether it’s new youth activities, safer streets, or a way to help elderly residents and last Saturday, I attended the first event and did I have fun!!

Opening of Foxhill Playground & Youth Gateway

Last Thursday afternoon (3rd November), I was delighted to be guest of honour at the grand opening of the Foxhill Playground.

Remember, Remember………………

It was so much fun when I went trick-or-treating on Halloween, (I thought I would show you a photo of my really cool outfit. I couldn’t decide whether to be a ghost or a witch so I combined the two ideas and of course, took my pumpkin with me to put my treats in). This weekend we have Guy Fawkes….. ‘Remember, remember the 5th of November’ as the saying goes!

As the nights draw In

It’s coming up to the time of year that just makes me want to hibernate, particularly with the clocks going back at 2am on Sunday (30th October) marking the end of British Summer Time and the return to Greenwich Mean Time. Did you know that the clocks in the whole of the European Union and associate countries (including Russia) also operate on Daylight Saving (or Summer) Time?

Is my home too big and how can I save a few extra pennies?

Well look what’s been in the news recently, a new report about older people living in homes that may be too big for them. Of course we all know as the years go by family circumstances may change and suddenly your home is too large for what you need.