Wandering Off Topic

[Vertigo Swirl]

It's amazing how much clutter you can build up over the years. When I decamped the family back to the UK in 2002 with most of our personal belongings boxed up, little did I think that most would still be taking up space in a farm outbuilding 20 years later. 

If you haven’t used it or even looked at it in 20 years it’s probably time to get rid.

[Vertigo Swirl]

I’ve shaved approximately 100 hours of heating time per year and one degree off the thermostat today so that will reduce my bills a little bit. 

[Wonderfulspam]

It's amazing how much clutter you can build up over the years. When I decamped the family back to the UK in 2002 with most of our personal belongings boxed up, little did I think that most would still be taking up space in a farm outbuilding 20 years later. 

We tend to get sentimentally attached to junk, It took some persuasion at first to convince my dad he had to clear out, but my mum had just been diagnosed with dementia (although I noticed it was coming before formal diagnosis) & I knew she'd be gone within a minimum of 8 years
She lasted six years, was doubly incontinent & couldn't speak by the time she went, but he had space in the house for all the equipment she needed during that time & I beat dad into getting an accessible bathroom fitted before it was really needed. He's getting both knees replaced next month, so he's quite grateful now I had the foresight to make him change things.

[G-Unit]

My parents in law's house was bought by a single man. He got the house fully furnished including all the kitchen equipment, a shed full of tools and even half a coalshed full of coal.

[G-Unit]

The wives and families of Service Personnel were priviledged, often without realising.

I don't have a problem with this.  It was the way things were.  A job for life and a Pension. 

It was a teensy bit difficult for the wives on occasions when they had to uproot and live somewhere else.  Or worse still to be left alone with the ghastly children.  My children were always ghastly, by the way.  Still are as it happens.  But then three boys were never all that much fun.

That is what I meant.  I thought that you were nearly as brave as I was.  I am so sorry that I lost you somewhere along the way.

I don't think the lives of the wives and families of service personnel were privileged at all, just different. The men had job security, but the price was to be sent to dangerous places where they could die. Friendships were difficult because of constantly having to move to new places and start again. Being so far from relatives was hard too, especially if there was illness at home. My husband was flown home on an Air Force flight when his Dad had a heart attack, but no flights were offered to me and the children - we were left to wait and worry.

My children were a constant delight and helped me to cope with my husband's absences. I wonder why you only knew 'ghastly' children? Surely they weren't all horrible and scary?

[Vertigo Swirl]

I don't think the lives of the wives and families of service personnel were privileged at all, just different. The men had job security, but the price was to be sent to dangerous places where they could die. Friendships were difficult because of constantly having to move to new places and start again. Being so far from relatives was hard too, especially if there was illness at home. My husband was flown home on an Air Force flight when his Dad had a heart attack, but no flights were offered to me and the children - we were left to wait and worry.

My children were a constant delight and helped me to cope with my husband's absences. I wonder why you only knew 'ghastly' children? Surely they weren't all horrible and scary?

Quite right too.  Why would you expect the army to fly your whole family home in such a situation?  If I worked abroad for a private company I would expect to pay for my own flights home even in an emergency.

[G-Unit]

Quite right too.  Why would you expect the army to fly your whole family home in such a situation?  If I worked abroad for a private company I would expect to pay for my own flights home even in an emergency.

Really? You'd be surprised then. I worked on the accounts of a multi-national oil company and employees received free travel and subsistence. Colleagues at PwC who were sent abroad received free travel and housing costs. I received a free lunch every day from our own staff restaurant, with lots of choice ranging from sandwiches and cakes to a cooked main course and pudding. Completely free Summer and Christmas Balls with overnight accomodation too. I did feel privileged there and didn't retire until my 70th birthday.

[Vertigo Swirl]

Really? You'd be surprised then. I worked on the accounts of a multi-national oil company and employees received free travel and subsistence. Colleagues at PwC who were sent abroad received free travel and housing costs. I received a free lunch every day from our own staff restaurant, with lots of choice ranging from sandwiches and cakes to a cooked main course and pudding. Completely free Summer and Christmas Balls with overnight accomodation too. I did feel privileged there and didn't retire until my 70th birthday.

I guess it depends on which company you're working for and what package you're on doesn't it?  My father worked for an advertising agency for many years abroad and he took unpaid leave to visit his sick mother and had to pay for his own flights there and back (KL to UK).

[G-Unit]

I guess it depends on which company you're working for and what package you're on doesn't it?  My father worked for an advertising agency for many years abroad and he took unpaid leave to visit his sick mother and had to pay for his own flights there and back (KL to UK).

When my husband first joined up he was on poor wages. If he went away they reduced his pay to cover the cost of his food while he was gone. That was stressful. He went to the foot and mouth outbreak in Shropshire and to the Investiture of Prince Charles in Caernarfon, both times for six weeks. I struggled because in addition to the reduction in pay my husband needed spending money too.

Eventually the pay was restructured and it got easier, but very often we had little choice of shops, so had to rely on the NAAFI shop. The cost of living in the Hebrides was high, due to items having to be flown in, for example.

As I said, our lives were different, but by no means privileged.

[Vertigo Swirl]

All very fascinating but none of this really addresses the issues that so many families and individuals will now be facing in this country.  Yes, we will have to suck it up, grin and bear it, put on another jumper, make do and mend, find joy in the little things and all the other helpful little epithets that more privileged people like to trot out at such times but that doesn't mean that the suffering won't be real and long-lasting.  What it means for the political landscape of this country remains to be seen.  I can't imagine the Tories clinging onto power at the next GE and the local elections in May are likely to be disastrous for them IMO.  Perhaps it will serve as a wake-up call, that the electorate is fed up of being led by donkeys and taken for fools.  Perhaps they will be forced to take more effective action to curb the crisis of poverty that that many in this country are plunging further into.  Or perhaps not...

[G-Unit]

All very fascinating but none of this really addresses the issues that so many families and individuals will now be facing in this country.  Yes, we will have to suck it up, grin and bear it, put on another jumper, make do and mend, find joy in the little things and all the other helpful little epithets that more privileged people like to trot out at such times but that doesn't mean that the suffering won't be real and long-lasting.  What it means for the political landscape of this country remains to be seen.  I can't imagine the Tories clinging onto power at the next GE and the local elections in May are likely to be disastrous for them IMO.  Perhaps it will serve as a wake-up call, that the electorate is fed up of being led by donkeys and taken for fools.  Perhaps they will be forced to take more effective action to curb the crisis of poverty that that many in this country are plunging further into.  Or perhaps not...

Well I won't be putting my faith in any government. I remember in the 1980's we lived in the country and my three children all got on a bus to school. It was free because we lived more than three miles from their school. Thatcher's government decided to scrap that scheme and charge the parents for the bus rides. With three children the cost would have had a disastrous effect on our finances. The House of Lords stopped that Bill going through (probably because it would have affected those who worked on their country estates).

[Vertigo Swirl]

Well I won't be putting my faith in any government. I remember in the 1980's we lived in the country and my three children all got on a bus to school. It was free because we lived more than three miles from their school. Thatcher's government decided to scrap that scheme and charge the parents for the bus rides. With three children the cost would have had a disastrous effect on our finances. The House of Lords stopped that Bill going through (probably because it would have affected those who worked on their country estates).

Interesting that you would consider having to pay for 3 children’s bus fares disastrous to your finances but seem to have little understanding or sympathy for those whose current finances are being impacted by hugely rising costs across all areas including transport, food and heating/electricity. 

[G-Unit]

Portugal Newswatch
Reflections on current affairs in Portugal by journalist and author Len Port.

Sunday, March 27, 2022
Madeleine inquiry in the UK - questions still needing answers
https://algarvenewswatch.blogspot.com/2022/03/madeleine-inquiry-in-uk-questions-still.html

[Vertigo Swirl]

Portugal Newswatch
Reflections on current affairs in Portugal by journalist and author Len Port.

Sunday, March 27, 2022
Madeleine inquiry in the UK - questions still needing answers
https://algarvenewswatch.blogspot.com/2022/03/madeleine-inquiry-in-uk-questions-still.html

What a load of baloney.  Sounds like he spends too long on conspiracy forums.

[G-Unit]

What a load of baloney.  Sounds like he spends too long on conspiracy forums.

I agree with some of his points.