General Chat

i live in a village but, because it is in the Central Belt, has a good bus service which is well used. Our buses also have a moveable step for wheelchairs and is also used for mums with buggies and people who can't get up the steps.

We also have a volunteer minibus, fitted out for people who cannot use the ordinary bus for whatever reason, which runs a couple of days a week, on request, and goes door to door. I have never had any need to use it, but I know people who do and they say it is a brilliant service.

On the subject of volunteer minibuses - Hampshire County Council has also cut funding to groups who run these buses, and others who use their cars to run the frail and elderly to doctor and hospital appointments, and to social gatherings..
Why do thy need funding, one may ask. Well, the drivers need a yearly DBS, and their cars have to be checked every 3 - 6 months, rather than (but as well as) a yearly MOT. Funding paid for this.

My brother used to be a volunteer driver of a minibus - it picked elderly and vulnerable up from various areas of the New Forest, and took them shopping.
It wasn't an easy task!
One lady regularly forgot to get dressed, :-0 Brother had to remind her.

Another thought that anything on display after the checkout was free!
He managed to persuade the supermarket to not charge her with shoplifting, but did suggest the supermarket provided some staff to help these people - 'Or', he said, he'd 'Find a supermarket that wanted their custom'. I believe he also mentioned that he used to work for the local newspaper (he did - about 50 years ago! ) :-D

You can hear the cogs of the manager whirling - if the local press used it as a story....

They provided staff to help! :-D :-D

But, it appears, the elderly and frail no longer need to visit hospitals, neither do they need any form of social life. :-| :-|

It does seem when they need to save money they first look to those who probably won't or can't make a fuss. Next thing will be cutting free bus passes.

I've already seen something about that :-|

Here it is:
Consultation opens on proposed changes to County Council financial support for transport and travel
Hampshire County Council is seeking views on proposed changes to supported passenger transport services (local bus and community transport services funded by the County Council) and the County Council funded enhancements to the Concessionary Travel scheme in Hampshire.

This was issued on 6 June

They've also already cut funding for the homeless.

It's a sneaky gradual erosion of the welfare state .

All these old/ ill/ poor people are such an expensive nuisance.


"welfare state, concept of government in which the state or a well-established network of social institutions plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good life. "
https://www.britannica.com/topic/welfare-state

It's not just the welfare state, it's the support agencies that back up/fill the holes in the welfare state.

maggie talking of technology. who knew that when that photo of you (your avatar) was taken, it would appear on computers etc so that lots of people could see it, in so many years time?

Ann - so true! Unfortunately/fortunately, I look nothing like that now, so no-one who saw me would recognise me :-D

Also, without technology, I wouldn't have been able to find / 'stalk' the grandson of my grandad's best mate to offer him a couple of letters his grandad wrote to my grandad.
I haven't quite got to the position of messaging him on facebook, but have written an apologetic note in preparation!! Now I need to find the letters, and take photos of them.

Technology also enabled me to donate a cap to a museum. My mum's second husband (el fascisto) was given it when he was evacuated from Battersea to Devon.
Somehow, I ended up with it, didn't want it, looked online - realised it's possible historical significance, contacted a Devon museum, and sent a photo of it - and they really wanted it!
No way would I have travelled down there to see if they were interested, I would have just thrown it out..

I think most of us have a love hate relationship with technology. Good when it goes well and helps us and bad when it goes wrong. :-D