House of Lords' reform
27/06/2011
More Stories
Not RIP to POs just yet!
Like Peter Bray (March MT 2011, letters) I endeavor to support my local PO when possible. While many services have left the PO, others have taken their place. It is now possible to withdraw cash for customers from a number of banks and building societies and for several - including Loyds, Barclays and the Co-operative bank - customers can even pay in cash and cheques.
An experience of Meningitis
We’ve all heard of meningitis and fear its consequences, but would we recognise it? One MT readers shares her experiences.
A sense of togetherness
I believe that if we want to ‘End the scandal of winter deaths’ (Mature Times, December 2010) we should really ‘work together to provide a solution.’ I do also agree that behind any social ill ‘lie deep-seated social issues.’ But is a life dependency on grants, funds and volunteers the only way forward? Is it the only show in town?
More motorcycle memories!
I only recently sold off my two Matchless motorcycles, both of which was used to carry a sidecar. In the first instance I learned how to drive a 600cc Matchless twin with an attached sidecar. This machine was purchased for just £40.00 ! After some years as first a learner then a qualified driver, I drove the sidecar around to work and also to Dymchurch for long weekends.
Wartime Christmas - what do YOU remember?
In the run up week to Christmas I watched on TV a feature about what children received from Santa during WWII.
It took me back to that moment in time when, aged about 12, the most memorable Christmas gift for me was a beautiful gas mask case!
Don’t forget the carers this Christmas
Mike Padgham, Chair of the Independent Care Group (York and North Yorkshire), urges us all to remember Carers this Christmas.
Backstage memories of the Windmill Theatre
What are most people's earliest memories of Christmas parties? Mine are of beautiful showgirls in scanty pantomime costumes serving orange squash, holding my hand and pushing me round on tin toys. Sounds like a male fantasy? Well, it's all true and I have seen the photographs that prove it. It was the 1950's. My dad George Martin, was the resident comic at the Windmill Theatre in London's Soho - famous for its nude girls in artistic poses.
Dealing with ageing
The good news: we’re living longer, healthier lives than ever before. Now for the bad news: at this rate we can’t afford to live so long.
What does 'retirement' mean to YOU?
"To the majority of people who are of an age where the word 'retirement' is something yet to worry about, the word itself conjurers up the idea of sitting about doing nothing in particular. But the sixty-year-old of today is still a relatively young person when compared to our forefathers." MT Reader Neil Cairnes explains how he gets the most out of his retirement.
Use YOUR library to learn together
I am a frequent user of my local library, mainly to go online. I prefer the library to working at home because it leaves problems such as virus protection to professionals. I also think that there are social benefits in sharing facilities.
One of my areas of interest is languages, and I have established links with people in Bulgaria, Romania, Portugal and France. There is a huge amount of useful learning material on the internet, but what is good - and how best to use it? How better to find out than though the experiences of others? Self-study is possible, but learning together brings one huge benefit: enthusiasm is infectious!
University funding cuts - are they fair?
"Why are the students on these demo's demanding their right to free education? In a national emergency there are no rights! " One MT reader gives his views on the student demonstrations.
Lest We Forget – the other victims of war
With Remembrance Day approaching, MT reader Brian Heale calls for us all to remember not only British wars but the conflicts still ongoing in other countries.
We need a referendum on Afghanistan
Why can we not have a referendum on Afghanistan – should we be in or out? I do not believe the excuses given as to why we should stay, so why are we sacrificing so many young lives? Are the politicians locked into this just to save face?
NHS Costs: what are YOU doing to help?
We are constantly being bombarded with details of the financial cuts required to stop standards falling. As we get older we will all rely upon the National Health Service more and more, whether we want to or not. We are told about the very high cost of providing this service and we all fear that some of the inevitable cost will be from the NHS budget.
My point is this. Can we as individuals help? YES we can!
