Older peoples' Freedom passes

The older people & disability Freedom Passes are being given out this week in Islington. Probably the same applies across London and the rest of the country. I've always thought it was a marvelous concession and something to look forward to when one reached 60 years of age. An entitlement given to all senior citizens & disabled people throughout the country. Seems I hadn't done my homework properly.

It was quite distressing to many people when last year some London councils were considering scrapping the passes to save money.

Seems the Labour government stepped in, in a backhanded way. It was only recently when Gordon Brown announced that from the 1st April 2008 it would a right of everybody over 60 years of age, I realised what a wonderful advantage those living in London had had all these years.

From April, Freedom Pass holders will also be able to travel free of charge on local buses outside the morning peak anywhere in England as part of the National Concessionary Bus Travel scheme. This additional benefit is being paid for by the government.

It been suggested that a person can now actually tour all over the country for free via the buses. I thought about the possibility of doing this and I don't think so. It would be a nightmare in logistics planning routes by buses and then there's all those stops. The arthritic bones couldn't handle it. Will be nice though to go somewhere by train or coach and be able to jump on a bus within the towns. Then there are the moans that it will cost too much for local councils and other services for older people will suffer. Shame on any council which goes down that route.

Another welcome change is that the Freedom Pass for the over 60's (blue) will from April be usable anytime of the day or night. Always seemed rather ridiculous to me that they had to wait until 9.30am before travelling and had be on their way home before 11pm. Unlike the disability (brown) Freedom Pass which has always been usable anytime.

The official Freedom Passes launch by Leslie Phillips in London last week is characterised by some very clever and funny cartoon adverts. Older people image friendly. Much nicer than the flash modern ones which do the eyes in trying to understand them.

Sorry to have to say it but this post about the passes is from a real sado. "Yes, spotted at my local tube station, one Vince Cable can quite clearly be seen flogging unsuspecting old people Freedom Passes on a bizarre advert that looks like a seventies cross between On the Buses and Pigeon Street". Miserable crow. Who the hell does he think he is. A smart ass middle class stuffed shirt of course. Where does he get off deciding what older people will like. He should realise he'll be old one day.

Well it may or may not be a caricature of Vince Cable in the advert. I haven't a clue if it's him or not because in all honesty I can't see the likeness myself. I know Vince through politics so his facial expressions are not unfamiliar to me. Well, I'm an oldie to many people so some will say it's a case of somebody needing new glasses. If truth be told, if it really is Vince I'm quite sure he wouldn't mind.

Leslie Phillips, who holds a Freedom Pass, said:
“The Freedom Pass is a fantastic scheme which can really have a positive impact on people’s lives. It is the best thing I have ever been given.

“Thanks to the generosity of London’s boroughs, older and disabled people do not have to depend on others to get them out of their homes and get around the capital".

Think that sums it up nicely.

Thursday's election results

Camden & Islington Mental Health Foundation Trust Governors election: Was pleasantly surprised this morning to learn that yesterday the votes were counted and on behalf of Islington residents I have been elected a Governor of the Trust. That's a turn up for the books.

The election being professionally run meant that a couple of weeks ago I had to attend a hustings. Not a big issue for me talking in front of people, especially if they are smiling and keen to hear what you have to say. It was actually quite fun. Least I kept my speech to the allocated 3 minutes. Not sure how many votes I received but it tickled me to bits that the majority of people, several hundred, who voted for me didn't really know me from Adam. They cast their vote on what I wrote and my picture. It is presumed however that some of the residents may have been familiar with my mugshot after all the times it has now been in the Partners Residents' Gazette as the residents' interim Chair and again there's my blog.

Can expect some snide remarks from some of my neighbours who have nothing better to do than talk a load of cobblers when they see me just for the sake of something to say.

From Camden another early morning email as well, the result of Fortune Green by-election, Nancy has duly been elected with a thumping majority on a 30 per cent poll, actually managing to garner more votes than her predecessor, the much loved and lamented late Jane Schopflin, scored in 2006. The finishing order was as before, Conservative second, Labour third and Green fourth.

Not really a great surprise, it was considered a safe seat by the LibDems but the great news is that Nancy Jirira becomes Camden LibDems' first female Afro Caribbean councillor. That is something to crow about.

She joins Russell Eagling and Flick Rea, the other LibDem councillors in the ward.

Later - the results: LD Nancy Jirira 1206 (51.5; +4.0), Con 551 (23.5; +1.6), Lab 405 (17.3; -1.7), Green 178 (7.6; -4.0).Majority 655. Turnout 30.2%. LD hold. Last fought 2006.

Britblog roundup 157 and Steve Fossett

This week's roundup is hosted by Mr Eugenides. A touch of wit and sarcasm makes for a very interesting writeup. Have been watching the writing styles of the others in the syndicate to see if I can improve on mine. Yes folks, it's my turn again in two weeks. Don't all clap too loudly yet, I might fall flat on my face. Anybody want to nominate any post from any British blog at any time send to the usual email.

That's the boring bit over now. Now one for the curious to add a bit of excitement to the post.


Ever wondered what happened to Steve Fossett the daredevil eccentric millionaire who disappeared over Sierra Nevada in USA over five months ago? I have.

Trust Liberal England for sniffing out tit bits for his blog. JC seems to have bags of time to be trawling the web for hours late at night. Here's an up date on the story. Ta Jonathan, keep trawling.

We all presume Steve Fossett's plane went down somewhere and he's dead. A Chicago court a few days ago declared him dead. What a sensible judge. It must be an eerie feeling for family members when somebody just disappears like that and there is no body to lay to rest. A state of limbo. It's the not knowing which haunts the mind.

In the meantime the extensive search for his body goes on. His family have the funds needed to pay for the latest imaging techniques. This has inadvertently helped in the discovery of the wreckage of eight other planes which went down without a trace. Some of these going back decades. This could lay the ghosts for the families of other fliers who went missing.

It's hoped one of the planes is that of property developer Charles Ogle, then 41, who took off from what was then known as Metropolitan Oakland International Airport on Aug. 12, 1964 in his four-seat Cessna 210 on a fine day in August, without filing a flight plan.

One can really feel for William Ogle who was only 4 at the time, growing up with the shadow of his missing father over his head.

"I definitely need closure," Mr Ogle, a 47-year-old scientist from Gainesville, Florida, told the BBC News website.
He says that what has happened to Mr Fossett has revived vivid memories.
"We simply don't know what happened to my father. While I was growing up, I was in a perpetual state of limbo,".

With the speculation at the time surrounding his disappearance, money, power, pregnant mistress and all the stuff movies are made of, they only actually declared him dead 11 years ago. Imagine the pain of the uncertainty for all those years.

Jonathan keep trawling the night away and if you come up with any more riveting news let us know.

Labour's councillor Paul Convery with egg on his face

Other local news from the Islington Gazette.

Have to admit it's something I'd probably have done, but in the cool light of day what did Caledonian Ward's Labour councillor Paul Convery really expect he would achieve?

It's claimed that for the last few months a late-night walk through middleclass Thornhill Square, Islington, has meant running the gauntlet of packs of youths armed with eggs and rotten fruit.

When Paul Convery riding past on his bike saw the kids in action he decided to confront them. What did he get for his effort a pelting of eggs and stones himself. There is no respect for councillors these days. Can't really imagine most of Islington's wussy LibDem councillors standing up to them in this way. Some might say that to face a group of 'hoodies' at night is foolhardly. Suppose like all reasonable people with a 'have a go mentality' he thought he might be able to reason with the group but to give him credit at least he tried.

Islington: Fat Christ in pink underpants banned

What a wacky news headline. Seems so little is happening locally in Islington that's newsworthy, local freebie newspaper Islington Tribune have scored a blinder this week. Well they have to write something and it's a known fact half naked bodies on front pages always attract attention.

Incredibly, bosses at London underground have banned this poster from Angel Tube station. Crucified man in boxer shorts ‘likely to offend‘, rules Underground UNDERGROUND bosses have banned a poster of a crucified man in boxer shorts advertising a play at Islington’s King’s Head Theatre.

Tube censors rejected the advert for Fat Christ, a black comedy starring topless model Abi Titmuss, on the grounds that it was “likely to offend ethnic, religious or other major groups”.The poster depicts a portly man on a cross. He is wearing pink underwear and a crown of thorns. It was banned from Angel Tube station, where the Upper Street theatre had booked an advertising spot.

Wonder which old fossil decided this one. Who is it really offending? Not my choice of a male pinup. Bit tubby round the middle and his pink underpants are a real turn off but his physique depicts the majority of middle aged men. Yuck! Have to give him kudos for having the guts to pose for the picture in the first place.

A sickening news report from across the Atlantic

The most nauseating news story I have heard for a long time.

Couldn't believe my eyes when a USA, Tampa Florida TV news story reported that four sheriff's deputies had been suspended for tipping a quadriplegic man out of his wheelchair onto a jailhouse floor. Honestly if I hadn't seen the sickening video clip myself I wouldn't have believed it.

Brian Sterner apparently broke his neck 14 years ago and drives a specially adapted hand-controlled car.

Surveillance footage from Jan. 29 shows Hillsborough County deputy Charlette Marshall-Jones, 44, dumping Brian Sterner out of his wheelchair and searching him on the floor after he was brought in on a warrant after a traffic violation.

Sterner, 32, said when he was taken into a booking room and told to stand up, Jones grew agitated when he told her that he could not."She was irked that I wasn't complying to what she was telling me to do," he told the Tampa Tribune in Tuesday's edition. "It didn't register with her that she was asking me to do something I can't do."

Couldn't bring myself to put the YouTube video on my blog but you can watch it curtesy of CBS News and read the full story.

Camden's latest bus crash an accident waiting to happen

TFL what a load of plonkers. With several roads closed due to the Camden market fire, some bus routes have had to be diverted.

An accident waiting to a happen AGAIN. A 24 bus, has smashed into Prince of Wales Road railway bridge injuring six.
with one person suffering serious head injuries.

It is claimed that the route is a recognised diversion route and regular drivers know to drive straight through the middle of the low lying railway bridges. That's all well and good but for a driver unfamilar with the area it's an accident waiting to happen. Luckily there were only 6 people on top of the bus this time but it would have been a different story if it had been during the rush hour or school home time when the top deck is usually filled with school children.

TFL should be charged with negligence. It was only last November the same thing happened. Fortunately it was a bus 'out of sevice' so no passengers were involved. However since then no bridge warning lights have been installed and the old warning signs can a hardly be read. Knowing the danger why do TfL continue to use it as an emergency route?

I'm waiting to see what excuse TFL will give for this latest incident.

Camden, an irreplaceable loss of history

The breaking news today everywhere. The huge fire last night at the famous Camden market. There are actually six markets in the area but the one that is affected is the Lock market which is steeped in history.

Because of the locks close proximity to the bridge and Chalk Farm Road and buildings in the area it has meant the evacuation of many local residents. Sadly it's also engulfed with flames the popular Hawley Arms on Hawley Street. Wasn't brave enough to go and look at what was happening but not far from my flat the smell of the fire permeated the air overnight.

The Market is busiest on a Sunday and is well known for the spiritual, cultural, historical, new age and the weird and wacky. A major tourist attraction, the area has millions of visitors a year from all over the world. An absolutely amazing place. It has a calming effect. I often go just to walk around. It really is a sad state of affairs. Can trust the CNJ to be quick off the mark with local news. There are some amazing photos already posted on their website.

Later: An eye witness account from a rather dippy young man who I can confirm does live where he says he does.

Feb 7th is my ME day

Today is my birthday. At my age birthdays just come and go. I was however deeply touched by the incredible number of emails and cards I received from all over the world. However closer to home the best one has to be the handmade card from my grandchildren. One to go in my box of memories. Wish I could find a way of saving the little voice singing traditional Happy Birthday 'to Nana' song on my phone digital answering machine.

My best present is a mini self assembly greenhouse. Not everybody's cup of tea but I'm delighted. After the success of my garden, I'm going to try to plant some seeds and make them grow. Seems the only solution with so many squirrels and birds around.

Another nice surprise, lunch time today a large bunch of six-formers from Acland Burghley school surrounded me chanting a happy birthday rap song. Never heard it before but it was quite uplifting. Funny situation really, a local passing by rushed over a bit concerned that I was being mobbed.

That's the good news, the sad news are the media reports that Rose Hacker the worlds oldest journalist, penning for the CNJ, died last Monday shortly before her 102 birthday. She's been ill and in Whittington hospital after a stroke but nethertheless her death will have hit many people hard.

Her last column was 31st Jan. CNJ's offices have been inundated with get well cards and messages from all over the UK. She was an inspiration to all. Her news columns were famous locally and she had a literary fan club both young and old. Read John Gulliver's review of her remarkable life. There are glowing tributes in many other local papers.

The funeral will be held on Monday at 2pm at Golders Green crematorium.

The most appropriate photo I could find of her at this time is the one of her with her sons. Back row, from left, Rose Hacker’s sons Michael and Lawrence. Front, from left, Lawrence’s wife Tessa, Rose and Michael’s wife Liz.

BBC tour going back in time

Such a fascinating morning. Can't remember how it came about but I received an invite for a pilot tour of the BBC building at Portland House which has just been renovated under a Public, Private Partnership finance agreement (PPP).

Had no idea the building housing BBC radio existed in the Centre of London - my experience is usually to the main BBC centre at White City. Everybody loves a freebee. Absolutely delighted at being given the opportunity before the public tours begin.

Many of the things we viewed can be read about on an old BBC post - The historical facts of the building.

Before we went inside, the trainee tour guides seem to take an amused pleasure in relaying the story which made some men wince.

After Broadcasting House was opened, the sculpture of Prospero and Ariel (from Shakespeare's The Tempest) above the main entrance caused controversy.

In the Evening News of 23 March 1933, St Pancras MP G.G. Mitchelson, who lived opposite the BBC, suggested to Parliament the naked Ariel provoked comments about the size of his genitalia, prompting a question in the House of Commons on the offence to public morals caused by the image. It is said Gill was ordered to adjust Ariel's dimensions to more decent proportions.

So many interesting things to see. For many older people it will bring back poignant memories. It was really breath taking entering the famous BBC Radio Theatre. Was like going back in time. All the technical aspect is now digital. Very impressive the way they have incorporated modern digital technology within the history of the building.

The public tours will be on Sunday's. Not sure how much the tickets are at the moment but for those interested in history and radio broadcasting it a tour worth taking.

Lembit or Lemsip

What a scream Al Murray's Happyhour - This evenings show was a real corker, absolutely hilarious, a laugh a minute. Having a chat with the pub landlord, Westlife and the world's unlikeliest couple Lembit Opik MP and Gabriela Irimia - Cheeky Girls fame.

You have to have a real sense of humour to agree to appear on the show. Al takes the Mick out of anybody and anything. Not sure Lembit was to chuffed at being referred to as Lemsip but he soon joined in with the frivolity. Even his concern about astroids got a mention. A bit stiff and starchy as only an MP can be but he does try and is certainly not worried about making a fool of himself. Gabriela and her twin sister Monica who was in the audience revelled in the 'Cheeky' fun. The LibDems got bit of slack. Hardly surprising but Lembit laughed it off.

Will be worth watching the catchup when ITV publish it.