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October 2023 October 2023
the Khyber Pass was no NEWS FROM WESTMINSTER
comic ‘Carry on up the
Khyber’. There was a September is always a strange month in politics.
s t u n n i n g v i e w i n t o Parliament sits for three weeks, and then rises again
Afghanistan but curtailed for the Conference Recess. The House will sit again
when party had to rapidly later this month, and soon after that will be the State
return to the fortress safety Opening of Parliament in early November. This is
because of an attack on the good news and means that I have more time in the
head of the local police. constituency and at home. Please do stop me and
Normal shops were gun say hello as you see me out and about - and as
foundries manufacturing AK47 always let me know if there is an event you would like
rifles. Guns could be heard me to attend.
firing at any time of day. No
girls were on the streets only I recently visited Poole Men’s Shed in Canford Heath, and heard about the
boys helping their fathers. It may have improved in Pakistan now but perhaps its opportunities they offer to retired and single people in the area. They do some
an indication of what things might be like over the border in Afghanistan even brilliant work for the local community, sharing their experience and skills. If you’re
now. I know we might complain about our police force at times but compared i nterested in getting involved, you can emai l them
to the situation there it makes me glad I live here. poolemensshed@outlook.com
After that we really enjoyed our tea. I’ve also been out right across the constituency – meeting and chatting to
residents in Bere Regis, Merley, Broadstone, Upton, Colehill and Wimborne.
Next month 5 October we are back to Dorset. Janey Gordon is talking about
th
going underwater off the Dorset Coast. We will find out what goes on and the During September I also
complications of diving and surviving underwater. raised awareness about
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Please pop along on the first Thursday 2.30 pm at the Scout hut. Talk or music poisoning. CO is a gas that
followed by tea . Cost £3.00 No need to join just come for a chat. can be produced from any
appliance that burns gas,
LPG, oil, or solid fuel like
wood. This is a subject close
OVER THE HILL to my heart, as almost 18
years ago my younger
brother was killed by CO
Now we are in the throws of autumn and as I begin to write this article on the
fourth September, I believe it is the beginning of summer time. A few minutes after poisoning – he went to
writing this last sentence, I heard on the television the local forecast ending in sleep and never woke up. A
almost these exact words. The weather of the last few days and that forecast for faulty gas heater in his room
the whole of next week must surely be for the true summer we should have had was giving off CO gas – he
earlier this year. The only true indication that it is not, is the darker evenings that we breathed it in, and he died. You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, so you
are now experiencing. Certainly the countryside around us does not accept that don’t know if it is in your home. To prevent it, it is really important that you have
autumn is here. For example, the trees around us, particularly the oaks, seem your chimneys swept before use, and boilers serviced regularly by a Gas Safe
determined to hold onto their foliage for much longer than usual. The trees not registered engineer.
only seem to be determined to refuse to start to change their foliages’ colour but It is also vital that you have a CO detector in your home. These make a loud
also seem determined not to lo lose any of their leaves. noise if they detect CO, and could save your life. I have partnered with British
Gas, and have a number of detectors to give away for free. Please sign up on
The leaf cover this year has been tremendous. You only need to look at the oak my website if you would like one. www.michaeltomlinson.org.uk/gas-safety-week
woodland as you drive around our local roads and you will see what I mean. The

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