I thought I would tell you about my rather eventful week!
On a recent Thursday, after a very stressful day at work, I sent a text to a work colleague which apparently was sent 504 times!
Stress levels increased to the maximum but after spending an hour on the phone to a call centre the problem was resolved by a very helpful gentleman.
I poured myself a glass of wine and sat down to relax for the remainder of the evening. BANG!
There was a loud noise and I rushed to the kitchen to find my washing machine on fire!
Acrid smoke belched out of the vents and the bottom was blown clean off! I managed to turn off the electricity and tried to unplumb the machine so that I could drag it outside. I was unable to turn the "screws" so in a panic I decided to cut the hoses.
Big mistake – water gushed everywhere and over my beautifully tiled kitchen floor which had only been laid the day before!
Not being the most practical of people, I rang the local fire brigade who arrived in minutes, made the machine safe and even mopped up the mess. They also managed to calm down a very distressed middle-aged woman – not a pretty sight!
My thanks in particular to their chief Gary Dawson. I suppose it is not the end of the world having four fireman in one's kitchen!
On the Tuesday night, I went for dinner at my boyfriend’s house. He had cooked a wonderful joint of pork with all the trimmings.
As we laughed and joked with his son, Alex, I recounted the tale of how, years before, I had choked on pork.
Sharp intake of breath and I was gasping for air - I was choking again!
Despite valiant efforts by Phil and Alex – lots of back-slapping and the Heimlich manoeuvre, reminiscent of that wonderful scene in Mrs Doubtfire, the piece of meat remained lodged in my throat.
I was beginning to panic as it was becoming harder and harder to breathe.
Alex/Phil had no choice but to dial 999 (again!). Within minutes paramedics from Towcester arrived and  relieved my distress. My thanks to them for all their help.
I returned home to find my house had not been burgled – otherwise it would have been a full house – all three emergency services in one week! I have been teased mercilessly by friends telling me that surely it would be cheaper and less dramatic for Phil to hire a uniform if I am that determined to entertain men from the emergency services!
Sandra Gilbert
Via e-mail


I’m not ‘fanatic’ says Elvis fan
I AM writing to you in accordance of the article printed about me in the Banbury Guardian, (August 16).
Your reporter refers to me as an Elvis Presley ‘fanatic’.
I have been an Elvis Presley fan for more than 35 years and during that time I have collected various records and memorabilia which I am proud to own.
It does not mean that I am a fanatic.
My house is not a shrine to Elvis. I have two rooms dedicated to Elvis – my living room and bedroom.
I simply enjoy his music, live shows, films and documentaries.
Its very unfair for reporters to deem Elvis fans fanatics. I am proud to be a fan and always will be.
On Saturday I went to the Elvis tribute night at Banbury Town Hall, which had a good turnout from Elvis fans.
It was terrific to see so many nice Elvis fans having a good time.
Just for the record, we are normal people who enjoy Elvis – not fanatics.Apart from that the article was very nice.
E Bortkiewicz
Dairy Ground
King’s Sutton

IT WAS so nice to see a picture of Eva Bortkiewicz on the front page of last week’s Banbury Guardian.
I have also been a lifetime fan and have visited Gracelands in 2005, which was a lifetime dream for me.
I also had the honour of chatting on the Radio 2 show Don’t Start me Talking About Elvis on the evening of his anniversary, August 16, at 10pm.
It really is amazing that 30 years after his death he is more popular than ever!
I attended the tribute show at Banbury Town Hall last Saturday as I was unable to get to Gracelands this year, along with my other friends.
It’s nice for the ones left at home to be able to show their respects to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
V Southam
Mascord Road
Banbury


Dogs do not pose problem
WhilE I do not wish to make any judgments on the treatment of Mr Cunningham by the two Indian restaurants (‘Two eateries turn away blind man’, Banbury Guardian, August 9), I would like to reply to the question J Mawle poses at the end of his/her letter (Your View, August 16).
For the past 59 years I have eaten a large proportion of my meals in rooms shared with various dogs, with no ill effects.
I fail to see why anyone, unless they suffer from an allergy to dogs, should object to a well-behaved animal sitting on the floor of a room where they are eating.
Their health is far more in danger from the habits of other humans who cough, sneeze and fail to wash their hands and their enjoyment from those who drink too much and become loud and objectionable.
A dog lying quietly under the table with its head resting on its paws; what is the problem?
Max Garratt
Myers Way
Charlton

Last week’s letter from
J Mawle highlights the problem restaurateurs have with guide dogs and the general public. 
Do they obey the law and let guide dogs in, or do they break the law to appease a smallintolerant proportion of the public?
By definition, all assistance dogs are highly trained, obedient and skilled at working in public places. The dog is extremely unlikely to present any problem to other diners.
Rob Jones
Bignolds Close
Claydon


Great to read BG
I am so very happy to be reading your paper again, via www.banburytoday.co.uk, after some 25 years.
I attended the North Oxfordshire Technical college in 1981-1982. I also played cricket for the Banbury CC during that time as the fast bowler, partnering with one Allan White. The captain at the time was Martin Phillips of the Swann Foundry fame.
I have lost contact with all of my friends over the years as after I came back to Jamaica many things went wrong. I would like to meet some of my "old" friends eg Joe Derry and Martin.
Neville Atkinson
Jamaica
neville_atkinson@hotmail.com


Sandbags now smell
On the night that Lower Cherwell Street flooded the police were superb, but they did mention that they could not get any more sand bags – then from somewhere sand bags arrived.  We were lucky we did not need them. I have asked the council to take the sand bags away but I have been told they do not collect sand bags.
So who does and if no-one collects them, what a waste?
At the moment the street is awash with sand bags, plus they do not smell too good when one walks past them.
Any ideas on how to recycle sand bags?
Pauline Washington
Cherwell Wharf
Banbury


M40 exit is dangerous
The exit from the M40 on to Ermont Way is very dangerous.
It is almost impossible to see any vehicles coming at you as you exit. I thought that when they built the new road recently it would have improved it. I think they have made it worse.
Peter Durkin
Main Road
Middleton Cheney


Listen to law
K Jones says (Your View, August 9) that it is not up to the owner of a club or premises to monitor an individual's alcohol intake. The law says otherwise.
JR Batts
Horton View
Banbury


NHS trust’s ‘strange sort of logic’
THE Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust has decided it is unable to provide optimum care at a consultant-led maternity unit at the Horton, so the proposal is to withdraw medical cover altogether.
This is a strange sort of logic.
Despite the usual consultation process is seems it is not established to the satisfaction of many people (notably almost all the area’s GPs) that a midwife-led unit will provide as safe a service as at present, even with its shortcomings.
It is not sufficient to say that women will be carefully screened and high-risk cases will be delivered at the consultant unit at the JR. How many emergency caesarean sections were there at the Horton last year?
I question what would have happened to those who would not have been assessed as having high-risk pregnancies.
If the current proposals are put in place, when a midwife at the proposed new unit decides a woman in their care needs emergency medical attention, the mother – possibly in an advanced state of labour – will have to be transferred by ambulance to a consultant unit.
The clinical working group found that an ambulance transfer from the Horton to the JR could take 48 minutes.
This delay could lead to serious damage occurring to mother or child. As a former midwife and solicitor who acts for children brain-damaged in the course of their birth, I believe claims of this sort could rise as a result of this proposal.
In particular I question whether the PCT responsible for providing a maternity service for the women in Banbury may be liable if its decision results in damage to mothers or babies because a baby can no longer be delivered by emergency caesarean section at the Horton.
C Hopkins
Darbys Solicitors LLP
New Inn Hall Street
Oxford

ONCE again Labour has ridden roughshod over our so-called democracy by banning Tony Baldry MP, in the company of Conservative leader David Cameron MP, from visiting the Horton Hospital on August 3.
A Munktell
Dog Close
Adderbury

I JUST had a recent spell in Juniper Ward in the Horton Hospital, where I was very well looked after by the doctors and nurses. I would like to thank everyone who got me better in only one week. I was very seriously ill, but everyone rallied round and got me better.
R Oliver
Edmunds Road
Banbury