Petrol Pandemonium

I'm packing for a weekend away with the BM Riders. British motorcyclists who share my love of the big Bavarian bikes. I got petrol so the weekend is on.

Petrol Tanker drivers have voted for strike action in support of pay and pension claims. Right or wrong I believe should be a matter for ACAS and binding arbitration. For god's sake keep the politicians out of it. Oh shit, too late! If there is a tanker drivers strike it cannot happen before Easter, so all was looking reasonably OK at the moment. So this morning I found myself in a twenty minute queue at Sainsbury's supermarket. ASDA have already run dry. All over the country it's the same. Demand is up 100% and filling stations cannot keep up. There is now a three day backlog of deliveries (overtime for the tanker drivers? fill your boots lads!) What went wrong? A government minister had one of those moments we all have from time to time. He opened his mouth and put his foot in it! He suggested that since there may be a petrol strike sometime soon, drivers should fill up now, and even maybe take a 20 litre "gerry can" to store at home for back up. Sainbury's laid on marshalls to manage the safety and efficiency of the queues. That boosted local casual employment.

So home again and the weekend is on. I at least have enough fuel to get to the venue and home again. Our Saturday ride out rather depends on finding more fuel. Plan B is find a good pub within walking distance, that is open all day! Lolo is attending so I hope to cadge a couple of her excellent photos for the blog.

I'm used to seeing news casts from the BBC's left of centre point of view. I see no reason not to get onto my own Blog spot soap box and have a go occasionally. My views for sure, mostly informed through research, but my views only in the end. I am not about to criticise Minister Francis Maude for his gaff. Having had to remove his foot from his mouth, he is now probably having to remove the Prime Ministers boot from his arse. I'll make my own gaffs as I go along for sure.