HAPPY New Year folks. Welcome to 2010. Thinking back about the mixture of global problems during the previous 12 months, it's understandable that ordinary citizens become frustrated by the lack of positive action from those elected to represent us.

Close to home, during the two years that Brixham Town Council has been in existence, many residents have phoned, written or emailed complaining about relatively simple items that have caused some frayed tempers.

One particular matter concerns indiscriminate parking in Higher Brixham's Mathill. Drivers heading from the Monksbridge crossroads towards Laywell Residential Home or the Summercombe Estate take unhealthy chances manoeuvring past traffic parked between Park Avenue and Longcroft Avenue.

Often the guilty parties are unattended transporters or coaches, mixed with a number of private cars. Okay, there are no double yellow lines along that stretch, but drivers coming up the slight incline are consequently forced onto the 'wrong' side of the road and cannot see any oncoming traffic.

Residents tell how they've lost count of the number of times they've contacted Torbay's Highways Department. Chairman of Torbay Council, Martin Hodge, who's also a Brixham councillor and an ex-traffic officer, assured me he was 'on the case' but sadly, after nearly two years, the congestion problem still persists. One concerned Cowtown resident even organised a petition but...

Does it really need a bad road accident to happen before any notice is taken of the situation? Let's just pray that any such accident doesn't involve schoolchildren on their way home from school.

Not to worry, you might say, worse things happen at sea, and the problem certainly isn't high on PM Gordon Brown's 'sort-out-list!' The Simple answer is of course ... applied commonsense in the form of double yellow lines.

FOLLOWING this column's recent 'leaking porch report' I was deeply touched by the kindness of a lady reader who telephoned to give me the number of a repairman (Andy) who'd done wonders to cure her own porch problem.

However, a week before Christmas, one morning over breakfast, my lady said: "The bad news is we haven't won the lottery but, don't laugh, the good news is I'm convinced the porch problem is caused by rain coming through the door."

Yeah! Like suddenly she's a double-glazing expert?

Nevertheless, out came the garden hose, which was directed against the door... and in rushed the water. Bingo! What a fantastic woman!

Meanwhile, having made arrangements for DLW (Brixham) to come and inspect our problem, without disclosing my wife's 'weeping-door' scenario, I watched him walk around the porch and when he came to the door his eyes lit up: "Ah, you don't have a bubble seal joint fitted. It's a wonder you haven't experienced rain problems years ago!"

Well, truth is, we might well have because the front door faces south west and during the past month it's been blowing smoke with lashings of rain from that direction.

It only took Dave and his mate James about 10 minutes to fix the problem and his charge was very reasonable. It's a treat these days to encounter honest tradesmen who do the job and don't cost an arm and a leg! So, bring on the rain!

ANOTHER unusual event happened just before Christmas. The ol' sailor took fright because he thought he'd pulled!

Walking through the outdoor Christmas Market in Paignton's Victoria Street, his attention was drawn to a colourful stall containing an array of exquisitely-created flowers. The attractive young Taiwanese lady on the stall gave him the warmest of smiles: "You want beautiful kiss, mister?"

"Well..." Trying to get his ancient nautical mind around the question, the retired mariner hurried on towards the post office. Later, returning to the car park, the ebb tide again took him down Victoria Street and past the same flower stall.

This time the Taiwanese lady's smile was even bigger: "Ah, I knew you come back! You buy lovely flowers for your special lady and she give you big beautiful kiss. If she no kiss... come back next year, I kiss you!"

How could he refuse? Anyway the flower arrangements were so cleverly constructed and such a reasonable price, money changed hands. Turns out the lady from the Far East was correct. The ol' sailor's wife thought the display was wonderful and, well... he's no need to return next year!

JUST before the Christmas break, mayor Nick Bye took me to task over comments in this column regarding Torbay Council's negative attitude to Brixham's Youth Enquiry Service.

In a personal letter Mayor Nick pointed out that I'd been harsh, because he really valued the work done by the YES group and everything was being done to resolve the issue of their accommodation.

Being a clever politician he eased my questions towards Torbay Council's lead member for children's services, Cllr Anna Tolchard, who is also a Brixham resident.

Cllr Tolchard kindly took a few moments from her busy festive preparations to explain that because of some 'minor internal departmental misunderstandings' people hadn't grasped the cabinet's full intentions. She stressed that Torbay Council would certainly be offering YES a new lease and plans to demolish the corner of Brixham Town Hall at Bolton Cross had been tossed into the tide.

She also hinted that several other possible solutions were being investigated to improve the air and traffic problems at that crowded junction. Thank goodness!

If proof were needed how Brixham Youth Services contribute wholeheartedly to the community, a visit to their fantastic Santa's Grotto display would have brought tears of joy to the doubters' minds. Over the years, tea dances, gardening for the older generation, the 'Brick' awards and other activities must surely prove that these young citizens fully appreciate the kindness and dedication of those who quietly care about their future.

With the abundance of complicated questions that youngsters are faced with, YES surely have the answers.

Nevertheless, thank you Mr Mayor for taking time out to show me you care. If, along with other members of the community, I read the script wrong, I'll gladly acknowledge my error!