Putting the 'ha ha' in chihuahua
The Model T fraud
At a Foyer Federation do in London last Wednesday, chancellor Gordon Brown told housing association chief executives about a novel way to raise funds. He told the story of an enterprising mayor who tried to get a donation for a community project from car magnate Henry Ford.

After writing twice with no reply, the mayor decided that hard tactics were needed. He went ahead and told everyone that Ford had given $20,000 to the project.

Totally stumped, Ford agreed to give on condition that he could have a plaque on the building. "Great," said the mayor. "Saying what?" "I want an inscription from the Bible," said Ford. "Matthew 14:12: I was a stranger and you took me in."

Lunatics take over asylum
After the row over asylum-seekers being housed in hotels, the question remains: where is an appropriate place to accommodate them? Baroness Trumpington put forward a novel solution in a recent House of Lords debate on asylum. "My Lords, would Dorneywood and Chequers be considered suitable?" she asked. "My Lords, to my knowledge, they are not empty," replied Home Office minister Lord Filkin. But surely there must be a spare bedroom or three?

Marathon man
Those of you of a more sadistic nature, and able to make it to London in April, will be rewarded with the sight of Housing Today hack Stuart "one pack" Macdonald dragging his frame around the capital on behalf of Shelter in the London marathon.

Macdonald will, of course, be joined by various of housing's great and not-so-great athletes. Any pledges of support gratefully received at the usual Housing Today address. God speed …

The promo and the goatherd
Eschewing targeted advertising for global coverage, Progress Housing Association has reportedly made its mark in both Siberia and North Africa. One of Progress's T-shirts was spotted half-way up the Altai mountains, close to the Russian border with Mongolia and China. Meanwhile, the son of a Berber chieftain now uses a promotional umbrella given to him by a holidaying Progress staffer to stay dry when tending goats. Makes a change from seeing them on golf courses.

Handy for the airport
It's not often you come across an estate agent deserving of pity, but I did this week.

Hobcroft House south of Manchester seems to have everything going for it – lovely old country house, lots of bedrooms, choice of bathrooms. Cachet too, as mountaineer George Mallory once lived there. Just one problem, though – it's slap-bang, if you'll pardon the expression, at the end of Manchester airport's new runway. Those transatlantic jets will have to clear the roof by at least 100 metres.

Or what? I ask myself.

Laugh? We almost did

It seems the stink kicked up over the handling of asylum-seekers has finally resulted in the good members of the press reaping what they sow. When Housing Today’s own favourite paparazzo turned up at shadow deputy prime minister David Davis’s office to take the former Tory chairman’s picture, Davis saw the funny side. Our man was laden with the tools of his trade and as he unloaded these various bags onto the office floor, Davis quipped: “I hope you’re not another asylum seeker.” So, the Conservatives haven’t entirely lost their famous sense of humour.

Source

Housing Today