Brighton and Hove have announced measures to assist the transgendered, there will be transgendered lavatories and the individuals can choose to call themselves “Mixter”.

As a straight, older female I find this puzzling and a bit worrying; not because I’m against transgendered, but I worry that it will cause more problems than it solves.

Before I go any further, I will point out that I used to know someone who had changed genders, the only problem I had with her was that she used to much perfume that caused me to cough and I had to open the window, no matter what the weather was, once she had gone; but I had to do that with one or two ladies as well.

I think, however, that most transgender people would prefer to live a quietly normal life and would like to choose who they revealed their medical problems to, and would be quite happy to call themselves either Mr or Ms. I am separated and quite happily use the title Ms and wonder why most would want to draw attention to themselves by calling themselves “Mixter”?

There will always be some who will prefer to stand out and use this new title, but I’m not sure that most would; as far as they are concerned, they had a problem which has now been rectified and want to get on with the rest of their lives and leave the past behind them.

The same with the lavatories, why not have unisex ones, spaced in between the other standard conveniences, we have all heard of “gay-pick-up lavatories” and about the other “delightful” people who hang around just to beat them up; don’t you think that these conveniences would also attract these thugs?

Sorry, Brighton, in an attempt to be more liberated, you have actually opened a can of worms and could lay these people open to discrimination by advertising their problems.

Well, the local County Council Elections are coming up at the beginning of May and our television screens are adorned with all the leaders of the main political parties telling us what they have or are going to do in Westminster – but what has that got to do with how my County Council is going to do in my or your locality?

As far as I can see – nothing! They may say “We can’t do whatever, because of this/last government have caused constrictions on our budget” But that’s no use to me, nor to most people I know – why can’t they forget the red/blue/green/ purple/ skybluepink with the colour washed out politics and tell me what I want to know?

Why can’t Fred Bloggs who stands for the upside down wave your knickers in the air party come up to me and say, I want to help the County Council with the education department and this is what I propose to do, if I like his ideas, I would vote for him – even if he was wearing clown shoes and a bright yellow curly wig – because he cared and showed me a way forward.

The same with the perennial potholes in roads and pavements and Mrs Jane Doe from the stand on one foot came to me to tell me that she had worked out how to resolve this problem, I’d definitely vote for her no matter that she was wearing a tutu and odd shoes.

OK, those are extreme examples, they wouldn’t get anywhere because the main parties would vote against them on principal, even if they were the best thing since sliced bread!

You get my point thought, I hope – why can’t we have the best person to run transport, welfare, education etc. – no matter what party they are?

Party politics should be left to the bickering elite in Westminster who can’t govern unless they can blame the other side when things go wrong – but it’s not what I want for my county, borough or village.

That’s if I get any flyers through my door to tell me who the candidates are – out of 10 standing, I’ve only had three – and I’m a postal voter, so will soon have to send my vote off!

Finally, after a tour of Westminster by a group of young school children, one youngster opined that he wouldn’t mind being a politician “Because you can stand up and shout what you want without having to go to the headmaster” – now what does that tell you.

Imagine waking up at about 8 o’clock on a Wednesday morning and waddling out of your bedroom in all your glory of a crumpled nightshirt and looking down the stairs to see your front door open. That’s exactly what happened to me yesterday morning!

I came rushing down the stairs to find that not only was the door open but so was the fanlight and casement windows – and my lap top was not on the table where I had left it the night before. With shaking hands I picked up the phone and dialled 999, it took three attempts because I kept dialling and then pressing the button to turn the phone off!

As I was talking to the person at the other end, who was extremely patient and helpful, I tried to pick my cigarettes and lighter off the table – now that hurt, because they weren’t there. Then I looked round and my purse had gone and a little box that was on the shelf that contained a front door key, a watch, some stamps, memory sticks with all my stories on and my bus pass – I thought that my new prescription had gone, but it hadn’t, thank goodness as I have COPD and diabetes as well as a few other niggles.

I was assured I had time to get dressed, so bundling some clothes together, I went into the bathroom, dressed and gave my face a look at the flannel and then made a coffee. Time to ring the family, one son in Wales was shocked and as he’s a bit fragile – dry alcoholic and other problems, he panicked and I ended up calming him down! Other son drove his council wagon back to the yard, picked up his car and came straight up to me – he was my rock that day.

We looked round and nothing else had been taken and then we noticed that my nebuliser had been unplugged, whoever had graced my home overnight had mistaken it for the laptop charger/lead, then we noticed that the lead was still plugged in, fortunately it was tangled up with the TV and Virgin box leads and they had been unable to take it.

A small victory for me, because I had always left the lead in the laptop and the battery no longer held the charge; so it wouldn’t be usable. Bank were helpful and cancelled my debit card immediately and you can be sure that I am keeping an eagle eye on my accounts.

I rang the insurance and the locksmith’s bill, watch, stamps and other small items were agreed on immediately, but I do have one problem – I think that I have thrown away the paperwork for my lap top; the guarantee had run out and in a rush of blood to the head when I cleared out other redundant paperwork, I have probably shredded it. So I may not be able to claim the insurance for that – so be warned ALWAYS keep the paperwork for things that you have in your house, no matter how old they are.

The police arrived and were very patient with me as I was a bit of a mess – it hadn’t helped that I had forgotten to eat and because my inhalers were on the table, I had been frightened to touch them; but a quick look at them by the police and I was told to use them.

Locksmith arrived and changed the barrel in the lock which I paid for and will claim back – I rent and had rung the estate agent for advice over this and A. Short Locksmith arrived and I now have a few spare keys which was more than I had before.

I know that there’s very little chance of finding the miscreant/s as gloves were worn and footprints to a generic trainer were found, but that was all – but I can always hope!

Once the police had left, James, my son, took me to the bank complete with cheque book and passport to get some money and off to buy a new laptop, I’ve now got to get used to using windows 8 and I don’t like it! Had Welsh son in hysterics as I was trying to find out how to turn it off last nigh.

I rang Sainsburys about my grocery order, but they couldn’t help me, you see I’ve no debit card now and so they can’t deliver – I even offered to pay for it before delivery at the local store – but no! So I had to catch a bus today and will do tomorrow to buy the stuff I need as I can’t carry too much in one go – no bus pass and it’s costing £3.20 return each time for a 5 bus stop ride to go shopping. I’m not one of these so called “wealthy pensioners”.

I have other, more expensive watches that have been given to me over the years, but my little £7.50 one with the expandable bracelet was in the box and I miss it – I miss the box that I’d bought at a boot fair, I knew where everything was! Before going out that little 1960s cigarette box would be taken off the shelf and my keys, bus pass and watch would be removed for use. It was only one of those fancy plasticky type boxes that graced a 1960s coffee table with matching lighter – but it was part of my life, part of me and I miss it more than the other more expensive things!

Why don’t they make purses with a change pocket any more, I couldn’t find one when I bought the new one.  A new key ring for the new key, it’s the little things like that which have annoyed me more than the big things. Of course during all the panic and the rushing out to buy new things, I forgot to eat and started to become hypoglycaemic which didn’t help much – silly me.

They missed my portable DVD player, the little digital radio that I bought half price in a sale and moved a vase when they climbed in the window – that vase was Italian lead crystal and was very expensive – I know because it was part of a retirement present and they had forgotten to take the price tag out – so these idiots had no sense or taste, I suppose my little 22 inch flat screen TV was beneath their notice!

Any way, thank you James for helping me and Paul, please stop worrying, I’m fine – shaken not stirred and definitely unbowed – my soul is in tact and things can always be replaced.

FOOTNOTE:

I slept a solid 8 hours last night and when a very nice man from Victim Support rang me, he ended up offering me a job!

So – a message to the house invaders, you may have taken my goods – but I’m still here and it will be you looking over your shoulders, not me!

So we have more “U-turns”, the so called bedroom tax will not be applied to parents of a service person, a disabled child, or foster parents – quite right too! These deductions should never have been applied in the first place – but these allowances are for those who live in social housing, will they also apply to those who already “pay the bedroom tax” – that’s those who live in the privately rented houses?

Those who, because there is not enough social housing, have taken the matter into their own hands and have rented privately already have housing benefit deducted for unused bedrooms. Will a parent of a disabled child etc. now receive the full housing benefit for that spare bedroom which is crammed full of medical equipment or clothes of the son or daughter away serving their country?

Most of these people would prefer the stability of a council or housing association house, but because so many were sold off and no building to replace them, have to rely on the unsatisfactory yearly tenancies of the private landlord.

These landlords are not letting their houses for the good of the people, but for the good of their pocket. One lady I know is suffering with her children because her boiler has broken down – social housing would either rush to repair or supply temporary heaters until the boiler could be repaired or replaced – but that would make a hole in the rent received by a private landlord and so they have to sit and shiver. Or like me put up with windows being replaced in February after months of waiting for a faulty window to be repaired.

So come on Government, will these tenants also receive the extra housing benefit?

And yes, welfare bills have gone up – sell off council houses and see private landlords let them out to desperate people, who are one millionth on the council waiting list, at an inflated rent, then bills will go up and landlords will get richer and richer.

So you have two options, keep paying inflated rent bills – and make sure that this bedroom tax is removed from those who qualify in the private housing, which will inflate welfare bills even more – or build more social housing now.

By the way, pensioners in private housing have paid “bedroom tax” for several years already!

This is not a knee jerk reaction as, if you are a regular reader of my posts, you will know I have advocated getting out of Afghanistan many times before -

But – Having watched the disturbing story on Panorama, I am so very annoyed that so many service personnel of ours and our allies lost their lives or were badly injured for what?

I’m not against defence and as many of you know, one of my sons served in Bosnia and Iraq, but what were we doing there?

The story varied from removing the poppy fields to “winning hearts and minds” – so what have we actually done?

The culture in that part of the world is so very different to ours that at times it seems as if it is not just the language that is different but the complete mind set.

Nations have been trying to sort out Afghanistan since the turn of the previous century, my grandfather was there in the late 1890s, and since then many have tried and failed, leaving their blood and wrecked machinery in the dust as the only souvenir.

I’m begging the government to get our troops out now – not next year but NOW, because as soon as we turn our backs on them, the taliban will creep back in and dominate the country again. Why waste one more life or injury for this?

Then there was the disturbing paedophilia incidents mentioned in the film and the so-called officers of the national force did nothing! It’s sickening, but apart from dropping an A-bomb on them all there is nothing we can do if they refuse to deal with it themselves. Not that I would like to see an A-bomb dropped, but I hope you get my meaning.

There must be some decent people in the country, but they are too busy protecting their own families and earning a living to stand up to these uniformed monsters, it is has exposed the worst of them and I hope and pray that one day the decent people in that country will have a chance to live safe lives. But it is a change that they need to bring about themselves, primarily by ridding themselves of the corruption.

Our sons and daughters, husbands and wives can do no more there, bring them home and instead of sending money to keep that corrupt government and its minions in power – lets face it as soon as we are gone they will be shaking hands with the taliban – use that money to make sure our injured service personnel do not have to fight for their disability allowances.

The rest of the money can be used to make sure all service personnel have decent living quarters and a good redundancy package.

Afghanistan is our Vietnam, get out of it now!

Listening to the news this week, I must admit to being shocked at the hospital news; please note, I wasn’t horrified – I should have been, but having heard it all before you somehow become used to this type of thing.

Now that worried me, why was I no longer horrified and jumping up and down shouting “No, this can’t be happening?”

The very sad fact is that most of us have been inured to this because it has been happening for too long and far to often. From Winterbourne View where vulnerable patients were so badly abused to Maidstone Hospital in my home town where there were so many C-Diff cases that it caused an inquiry and resulted in a newsworthy sacking, the cases continued and are still continuing.

I am upset with myself for just saying not again – and it is happening again and again and again.

I know there are members of the public who will always walk the other way when someone collapses in the street and that this has been happening since the beginning of time – no-one expressed surprise when the parable of the Good Samaritan was told – except that it was a non-native who showed compassion.

But those in the so called caring professions are now exhibiting the same attitude – not all because some have taken the profession because they really do care – but what about the rest? From the ivory towers where the pennies are counted to the lowliest cleaner, there is a number who don’t care  – or at least don’t care enough. So why are they working in hospitals and care homes?

Money must not over rule the basic necessities of care, no matter how tight the politicians pull the purse strings, people who are vulnerable because of mental problems, age or sickness need care as much as they need nursing and medication. Soiling your sheets because no-one cares enough and not having the basic need of a drink of water met is unacceptable, but not in the world where targets and costs are the primary concern.

We are all shouting now about the lack of care, until a different scandal comes along, but I’m wondering what will happen when much of the NHS is outsourced to private companies – will these scandals become so run of the mill that they are no longer considered news worthy. I sincerely hope not.

I want both sides of the house of commons to pledge their jobs on ensuring that caring becomes the heart of the care industry – after all their relatives are probably well looked after – so they should make sure that their constituents are also well looked after – or is caring and compassion dead – killed off by pounds and pence?

“Don’t panic, don’t panic Captain Mainwaring – it may be snowing, but you can’t have more than your coupon points say you can. Half a pound of mince and two nice lamb chops should see you and your good lady through the next few days, especially with whale meat available in the fish shop. I know it’s snowing, but if you get next weeks ration points as well, what about the others who haven’t got this weeks meat rations yet; any way I’m not allowed to do it”

It’s a pity shops don’t have that attitude now, seeing photos on line of shelves and freezers stripped bare, including the horse – beef burgers; so we’ve got some snow, OK it may last a few days and those in the north of Britain have evolved their own coping mechanisms as they are more used to the heavier falls.

But what about the rest of us, do you really need to squeeze that 10th loaf into the freezer – and it’s that economy bread that your family don’t like – and where are you going to put the dozen cartons of UHT milk that you grabbed on top of the three 6 or 8 pint pasteurised variety?

Oh look – you’re going to have to take one of those extra gateaux that you over bought at Christmas out and defrost it, what’s that – they really don’t like black forest gateau? Well it’s a case of “Let them eat cake” isn’t it.

I’m not saying don’t buy a bit extra, but was it really necessary to buy so much? Did you consider those who still had to shop? Did you even consider those on a limited budget when you grabbed those three economy loaves of the shelf – you know they will probably end up in landfill!

What about the elderly or disabled who have to rely on public transport which slows down to a snail’s pace or even stops at the first snowflake, they may have to rely on the good will of neighbours to get their meagre essentials in – they would have been glad of that last cheap loaf and carton of UHT milk that you thoughtlessly stuffed into your trolley.

And what are you going to do with it? The family hate it in their tea and coffee, you’ve already got 18 pints of fresh milk in, that may just about keep – the sell by date is Monday – Oh, you forgot to check! That UHT milk will probably sit in your cupboard until the date has expired and end up in landfill.

Let’s be honest, by the middle of next week the snow will be a distant memory and you will be back shopping again, moaning because you can’t get everything in your freezer.

I’ve got two suggestions for you – shop considerately, make sure others have a chance of picking up essentials as well as you and secondly – take a loaf and a carton of UHT along to the disabled/elderly person in your road, they will be glad to see you and will offer to reimburse you. There didn’t that make you feel better.

Finally, if all else fails, and like another lemming you follow the herd and over buy – there’s always food banks who would be most grateful for your rashness.

I’m not making any resolutions this year – I don’t any way because I always break them, but each year I do make some wishes and sometimes they do come true. I did wish to have a story published, not just on my web-site, but in a book – and it happened, Thank you Buddhapuss Ink. for making it happen!

But this year, my wishes are not under my control – but with your help, they could be under our control or influence.

1. Politicians to stop sniping at each other and pull together to get this country out of the mess we are in – it’s not about who’s right or who’s wrong – it’s about the UNITED Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, so get your act together and unite to get us out of this mess.
2. That MPs should stop looking at their own benefits and consider those who need benefits – do you really need £400 a month Grocery Allowance? And if you need it, don’t those who are genuinely sick or disabled need it more than you? OK 300 odd £400 may not seem much in the grand scheme of things – but when your leader says “We are all in this together”, then you should be – and if those who NEED it can’t have it, why should you?
3. Britain should stop interfering in wars in countries that we really can’t help because of extreme cultural differences – we’ve lost too many soldiers, sailors and airmen fighting wars that never end. – I’m including women in the services as well, because they have lost their lives or been injured as well as the men. The cost, not only in lives, whether lost or damaged, but in monetary terms is part of the reason we can’t afford to properly treat those who need it.
4. That all disabled service personnel should automatically be treated with dignity and that includes the necessary funds to assist those injured in mind and body. It is not fair that many have to fight for what any other employee with union back up can claim so easily.
5. All disabled/sick are not treated as scroungers, but are treated with sympathy and due respect
6. Charity/Aid payments should be examined before being handed out to all countries, many use it for personal gain and very little of it goes to the people it is meant to help. Give aid by all means, but through the charitable agencies on the ground – that way it is being spent on truly necessary things and not enriching nuclear power or corrupt officials. We would probably find that most donations would be reduced, because all of the money was used and not 50% being lost on the way.
7. Everyone to stop putting this country down, it is still a great country, and if we all pulled together we could be even greater.

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 5,600 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 9 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

I am extremely proud of all our Olympians and Paralympians, their determination and skill has produced wonderful results – and long may it continue.

Watching TV the other day, I can’t remember which programme it was; but there was a woman with MS and in a wheel chair who said “The trouble is they see all the disabled athletes and think we should all be able to do the same”, this lady was employed and worked in an office for which I congratulate her.

However, there is one difference between this lady and the Paralympians and that is the help the latter get with nutrition and physiotherapy. I am not complaining about it and they deserve this – but so do all disabled people.

Most disabled people are unable to work and, although ATOS expect them to, will never be fit enough and this is why:

Nutrition – on a low income you can only buy food that is cheap or on offer and not the muscle building, health enhancing top quality foods.

Physio – if you are lucky you may get a couple of sessions a year when you are at home – in hospital it can be rationed because of cost - and because most are on low incomes or even lower benefits, they cannot afford to pay privately.

Without these two essential needs met, muscles that are already weakened can start to fail and it would be impossible to get any employment, even though the powers-that-be decide otherwise.

So come on parliament – you can claim groceries as expenses – those on benefits can’t – so at least give them enough money to provide them with decent nutrition and perhaps the results will be that more will be fit to work. And at the same time ensure that there are enough physiotherapists to give the treatment that is so needed. Waiting for up to 18 months for an appointment is not acceptable.

Give the disabled a chance!