My name is Matt and I am the man about the town. Some of you might know me from the Barnet 4U magazine that was such a huge hit among the locals a couple of years ago.
Everybody enjoyed the free and interesting read but only a few of the local business backed it with the adverts needed to publish it.
Now I have a chance through this web site to have my say on various topics that does but usually does not get into the local press. If you have anything to say or a gripe or something of interest about Barnet then get in touch with me via this page or the "Ask Matt" page.

So here we go and let’s hope you like what is written whether you agree or disagree with what I have to say.

January 1st 2012.
Well I wish you all a happy new year and hope that it is a prosperous one for our local traders.

The High Street fair has come and gone and some people have said to me that they are not sure that
all the effort that went into it made it any better than previous years but the traders seemed happy
Even with outside help it seemed no different to other years to me.

Bit of a cook up when the Mayor was left on the stage to open the fair with no one to take charge of what she would be doing and it was a bit embarrassing that she had to introduce herself. Other than that it all seemed to go smoothly although I hear that the towns attempt to get into the Guinness book of records was a bit of a let down.

Once again some local traders did not back the fair with adverts for the programme but were happy to open up and take advantage of the day.
My friend Brian Carroll introduced the music on the stage and he thought it was a success, but there again what do you know about success Brian (meow)
We will try and get a comment and assessment from the people who organised it with their views.

Now the town has to face up to another tight year and it will be interesting to see how many more charity or opticians open in the town.

January
How much weight have you Barnetonians put on over the last few weeks? And how much money did you spend that you could do with now??
Well at least the pubs are not full up with those once a year drinkers who only get in the way on the shuttle to the bar.
Most of the Local ale houses looked busy and lets hope that not too many more of them shut down this year. We are an old coaching stop and we have a history of pubs in the town (read Richard Silbys excellent book "Barnet Pubs" available from Watermans in the spires or from the museum)

         MATTS GOLD STAR (Awarded to local traders and businesses who give a good service)
Walked into SNAPY SNAPS in the High Street the other day and was very impressed by the friendly and quick service. Not over priced and the staff were very helpful.
They get my first Gold Star of the year.
(Watch out for MATTS MEKON the ultimate award for a rotten service) You can put forward YOUR GOLD STAR or MEKON by E-mailing contact@barnet4u.co.uk and we will check it out)

Anyone noticed the abundance of people begging for money outside Sainsburys, New Barnet?
There is one person there every day standing outside for hours asking for money and they are joined by various others who make shopping there a nightmare. Don't mind the guy selling Big Issue as he is doing something but the other day a guy asked me for money and when I asked "What For?" he said "To Get a Kebab" Do you want chips and a coke with that sir?

Even heard of one guy who approached a local resident with the request of some money and he replied that he had none and was on the way to the cash point.The guy only asked to accompany him to the cash point so that when he withdrew his money he could hand some over. Cheek or what?

Only needs a couple of cops to pass by daily to stop it although there are rumours that these people come from a one way house that was suddenly put up in the new Barnet area without notifying local residents. Don't call me a bigot but someone has to say what the local people are saying.
I just tell them to bugger off but they could be upsetting to vulnerable people and I will be going among the people to find out more.

The thing is I know quite a few people in all three Barnets (High, New and East) and its surprising how many of them are linked through these areas either by friendship or work. Most love where they live and they love the history and heritage of Barnet.
My only beef is that not enough people of Barnet get behind things that matter to the town.

We have the power to vote people into Westminster or the Town Hall (Mordor) and WE should realise that WE have the power to change things for the better. WATCH THIS SPACE FOR MORE.

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT "WHAT GOES ON AT THE TOWN HALL"