Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 140

Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. It was flaming like Tony on a night out.

9. Grab hold of it, you'll regret it otherwise.

8. Sandra wasn't even able to identify a sweet potato with a significant degree of accuracy.

7. Isn't one of those stolen Dubai passports from Coleview?

6. If he wants me, he'll have to get down and beg.

5. She came into work without a bra on this morning, hardly anyone noticed apart from the entire delivery bay.

4. No, tsunami isn't a type of sushi.

3. Apparently, I was being sarcastic, it's not that, I just don't care.

2. Back-seat!

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. Move over here, before a piece of grade II* listed masonry falls on your head.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Political Black Hole As Cabinet Collapses In On Itself

Komadori's reporting on the latest full council meeting shows a Conservative party in open warfare.

If that wasn't bad enough, they've topped it!

Councillor Bawden is seeking legal advice on 'inappropriate behaviour' by a fellow party member.

Swindon Centric Says ; The Conservatives today revealed six themes they want to fight the general election on. Are the Swindon Conservatives grown-up enough to handle that big a number?

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 139

Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. Let's go and wave it right under her nose, might make her sick.

9. White flour is out, as is sunflower oil.

8. He started off with 'it was a dark and stormy night', amateur technique.

7. A huge, musty book that I didn't know I had.

6. All these lovely people, it's very difficult for me not to rip off my clothes right now.

5. It's like being shackled, but with all the kinky fun taken out of it.

4. I wish she was here today.

3. Kiss me, Henry.

2. She owes me, she owes me big.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. I'm calling the bullying hotline, I don't need to put up with this, I don't work at Downing Street.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 138

Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. I had belief, but it wasn't enough.

9. The ring has gone and she is seeing other men.

8. Frost on the inside, yes, inside.

7. The backdoor is not somewhere you ever want to be.

6. Another goal and the same thing happened.

5. I've seen more inspiring stuff on Channel 5 than that.

4. Slap him and get it over with.

3. Out to lunch dar-ling!

2. It's the most important thing I've ever done and nobody knows.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. There's rumblings afoot in the Civic Offices, hold on for the earthquake.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 137

Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. Anyone who doesn't like it clearly doesn't like life.

9. It needs to showcase the very best and make our spirits soar.

8. No, you want the 19, the 16 just carries on and never stops.

7. She whacked me over the head with her thumping personality, well, there's a first time for anything.

6. It goes on and on and on and on.

5. Are they playing rugby or table tennis today?

4. What are the six nations, a new free-trade area?

3. A glass of sherry and a few grins, that was as far as it went.

2. The digital switchover is coming, hope it makes a difference.

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. It's a delightful, glossy show Glee, that knows what it is and winks at itself occasional.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.

And Now The Shopping Forecast

The forecast? Well, it seems to be steady as she goes, hold course and no sudden movements.

In a very tardy response to Rob, who commented on this story from September 2008, the BHS rebuild and the Canal Walk, Parade revamp seems to be the most we can hope for as the economy oh-so-slowly grows again.

But there is an indicator of how the recession has effected rebuilding work. The Debenhams store is to receive a modernisation, the retailer doing what it can in it's current premises as the Regent Place plan (which included a new Debenhams store) fell through.

House of Fraser is Swindon's split personality department store retailer. Selling racks of outlet discount ranges, while trying to do so under the 'House of Fraser' brand with the word 'outlet' bolted on smacks of not knowing their market, with there only being two other 'outlet stores' in the UK. Swindon seems to be one of a trio of locations where expectations for an up market department store weren't borne out by the shopper demographic that actually existed. Watering down a brand is not something that is easily reversed.

No new whispers to indicate whether House of Fraser will be moving out any time soon.

Swindon Centric Says ; Ask anyone who works in retail in Swindon how they would describe the profile of the town's shopper and they will only reply with one word, "cheap".

The Value Of Your Investment Can Go Up Or Down And Flap About In The Wind

Echoing Komadori's comments, the words of Matthew Singh look to be far away from the reality in Emlyn Square.

The North end of the building has become worse, even just over the past few months, with more of the scaffolding and netting seeming to be in place to prevent bits falling off onto the pavement and roadway of Bristol Street.

In late summer last year, a piece of the blue plastic that covers the theatre roof came loose and a small section of roof has been exposed to the elements ever since. As noted by Komadori last year, the plastic was put up when the titles were removed (goodness knows why).

Swindon Centric Says ; Who knew a small piece of flapping blue plastic could so much represent a town's attitude towards it's heritage - temporary, inadequate, and disrespectful.

Top Ten Things Heard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 136

Click here for the original and still the best at this brilliant idea, here's our own version for Swindon's buses from last week.

10. All the cool people are wearing them this season.

9. Sooner rather than later someone's gonna get caught and I'm sure it won't be me.

8. Yes, because there aren't enough dance shows on TV right now.

7. My God, she promised she wouldn't say, what we did with the fresh fruit was dirty and dishonest.

6. I will kill you three times over in the course of this journey if you don't shut up.

5. They swapped over then he started going in the wrong direction.

4. We need to start doing a little bit more of it right here, right now.

3. We've got celery, prunes, two fruit corners and no recipe.

2. The more we talk about this, the less interested I am in whatever it is we are talking about, shoelaces wasn't it?

And the number one overheard phrase on Swindon's buses from last week is...

1. I won't rest until I take ownership of the Mechanics and install a shark pool, monorail and disguise it as a volcano.

Overheard something we've missed? Then let us know.