Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 306

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

10. Just me and the cat pretending not to look at each other.

9. It protects it with no cover, so the draft keeps it from sticking.

8. You don't need any qualities to do the job, just turn up.

7. A lovely piece of classical music.

6. A sausage roll according to Mary is an evil that must be banished.

5. I already got two boxes of them cheap, now we've got nowhere to put them in the chest freezer.

4. You've got to see these pictures of the way she was dressed on Friday, it'll make you jump off the bus.

3. 27 years man and rude boy.

2. See that woman, she was the one that got me sacked, fair enough I had taken the money, but she was such a cow.

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

1. That's the driver I think is hot, don't you think?

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

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 305

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

10. It's a slipper slope, I've always said that, haven't I?

9. But there's no goodness in that at all, it's just sugar.

8. I wish I could be like her and her amazing house.

7. That was just for starters, I want you.

6. But that industry has all moved on, it's not like it use to be when you were running the division.

5. Martin thought I wouldn't mind despite not asking anyone else's opinion, or getting it signed off.

4. You need to learn how to keep time or it will never work.

3. We went to KFC first because we hadn't had a proper meal all day.

2. Brilliant, you will not regret what I've got planned for us.

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

1. I kept those shoulders pads for years afterwards, I just thought they might come back in, like ripped jeans.

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

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last Week ; 304

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

10. It'll be closer and more interesting than you think.

9. There's a lot of power in that office, but not much productivity.

8. She's been full-time, part-time, now she's got no time left.

7. Ganging up on people is never a good idea, unless you've got surface-to-air-missiles in your garden.

6. I got everything that I promised that I would do, so blame should not be coming my way.

5. The detail I was told turned out to be entirely wrong, but they based all their predictions on it.

4. You always under-promise and over-deliver, it makes you look like the dog's bollocks.

3. They're all on benefits, I could live like that and look people in the eye.

2. Keep your coat on, you're not going to be sitting down for very long.

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

1. In light of what happened last week, I don't think it's a good idea we keep seeing each other, it's just too hard on him.

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

Top Ten Things Overheard On Swindon's Buses Last (Last) Week ; 303

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

10. There are seven categories, but we have to reduce it before it becomes too much.

9. Come with me before I forget and no-longer care.

8. There was something attached to the end of it and no, I couldn't see it in the dark.

7. You need to be as helpful as you can.

6. Try using this one, it appears I'm doing better.

5. Look, it's over there, there!

4. No, it's a rolling attachment, I can come round in the morning and help you take it off.

3. I wonder whether you should bring Paul into this discussion.

2. It's a bit of a cliche, so I've heard.

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

1. I'm two minutes away, but we're waiting in traffic, so you really can't rely on that estimate.

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

The dismantling of Swindon 2 : Now they've come for our libraries

First it was leisure centres, then it was Lydiard, now it's the libraries.

The dismantling of Swindon's civic infrastructure has taken a frightening twist.

Swindon Borough Council wants to cut the budget for Swindon Libraries by 65% by 2020, and wants to save £300,000 in the next year. Eventually, it wants 14 of the 15 libraries to be run by volunteers, with the Central Library being the only SBC-funded library in the entire borough by 2020 (no doubt with less services in it than currently).

That's it. No other option, it would seem, is being entertained by SBC. 

Last year, Swindon Libraries loaned 1,013,108 books. That's 5 for every person in the borough.

Last year, Swindon Libraries had 1,049,172 people visit.

Out of 16 comparator authorities, Swindon Libraries came third for engaging with the public, placing Swindon 3rd for the number of active borrowers per 1,000 population.

Despite being a smaller library service, in the South West, Swindon Libraries is ranked 2nd for number of visits and 1st for the number of books issued.

Swindon Borough Councillors will talk endlessly about making the town better, about vague visions, aspirations and a town we can be proud of with a new museum and art gallery, a university, waves of private sector investment and a town centre that's nice to look at and be in.

Well here's a bit of our town that functions well, actually, better than well, excellently well when compared with library services in many other places and costs us each 3 pence a day. Yes, changes are needed, but cutting out a town's access to a high quality service that serves children, young families, students, the jobless, the socially isolated, the economically isolated, the geographically isolated, the uneducated, the education-hungry, the elderly, ethnic minorities, the poor, those with learning difficulties, those with dementia, the homeless, the new arrivals, visitors, those with low confidence but high hopes, the weak, the ill, the ambitious, the studious, the driven, the curious - the people of Swindon, is a cruel and cowardly act.

Who amongst our councillors will stand and fight against this and for all these people above? 

Do they have the guts? 

Because they certainly have the votes, because we elected them.

Our town's motto is 'Salubritas et Industria' translated as 'health and industry', a healthy town is an educated one, the Victorians knew that, but it appears Swindon Borough Council either doesn't understand it, or doesn't care. 

Maybe they need to visit a library for some help.