THE WEATHER

I must say that our weather this winter 2011/2012 has on the whole been good and up until the end of January my geraniums were still blooming and my shrubs had begun to produce buds and some green leaves.

Poor things they certainly had a big wake-up shock on February the first when we started winter properly!. Then the snow arrived on the Saturday and those of us with mobility problems had our freedom were well and truly curtailed for a spell.

Both paths to my front and back doors were packed with ice which made it an impossibility to go out in my electric chair because all the two motorised wheels could do were spin and slide sideways.

As I live in a crescent away from the main road we get no snow clearance from our local authorities so have to wait for a thaw to clear the highway which luckily this time was only eight days. We were marooned for over three weeks during the early fall of snow 2010/11 relying on neighbours and friends for shopping etc.

When I first moved to my bungalow in 1987 my neighbours were much younger therefore those of us needing a little help were never short of volunteers for snow clearance but now as age has progressed everyone is in the same situation.

I would like to think that other close knit communities like ours are aware of their neighbours needs and notice if their neighbours are not seen for a few days especially when the weather is so bitterly cold.

Having lived in the country side for at least half of my life with neighbours scattered over quite a wide area my family used to be very involved in helping with emergencies when and where possible. We as children were encouraged to run errands and get shopping for those folk that were too frail but nowadays the young people prefer to do other things often to the detriment of older folk.

ANOTHER DAY IN THE LIFE OF!

Realising that I only had a few months left on my passport I decided to renew it ready for when I decide to take my next holiday. I duly completed the form had my photographs taken at a reputable shop had then countersigned by a professional friend before taking all the documents to the post office to be checked for an extra charge of £8.17. I did this for what I thought would be peace of mind and save them being returned from the passport office, how wrong can you be I ask myself now?

Ten days later I Received a letter from the Passport Office in Ireland to say that my photographs were not acceptable due to the fact I was too far from the camera and they did not show enough of my face and would I please send two new ones.

It was a freezing cold day but off I set in my electric wheelchair to town to re-visit the shop and ask for replacement photos. Unfortunately for me the gentleman that took the photos before was not there and because he did not give me a receipt for my £5 fee the lady that day said I had to pay again.

Feeling a little let down by the service I had received from the post office clerk who had re-assured me that the document and photos were in order I revisited said post office for an explanation. I was asked to produce the passport application day.

receipt and notice which was given to me after full payment of handling charge and passport fee. It was then pointed out to me in very small print the following (Post Office Limited will check your passport photographs for obvious errors but this does not guarantee that the photographs will be accepted by the Identity & Passport Service IPS) this being so I was not entitled to a refund of my handling charge.

No provisos were given me at the time of purchase and as the receipt was given to me after payment there was no way of me knowing there might be a possible photographic issue with the passport office.

I was given the managers apologies for any inconvenience experienced and assured that the counter Clerks would be given better instructions for passport checking for future transactions.

I have written to the Post Office Complaints Department for a refund of the handling charge as I feel I did not get the service I purchased and also to high-light the future possibility of the happening to other customers.

LIFE CARRIES ON

As they say “life carries on” and each day we wake up really is an adventure. Because we all have no idea which way it will go, rough or smooth tough or easy we really don’t have any choice but to do our best to ride the waves.

Those of us who have lost a partner will know that if we have a household problem something breaks down it is a personal one the only person to sort it out is you?.  Sometimes we are able to ask a friend to help out or to give some advice but more often than not we have to find the answer ourselves.

An example of this happened just before Christmas my beloved Westminster Striking Clock decided to give up the ghost! I tried the usual things like a little shake to start up the wheel but after a few ticks it stopped again. Oh well I thought it needs a visit to a clock doctor, after some time looking in yellow pages it was apparent that my nearest Clock repairer was over twenty miles away. As I have mobility problems this was not an option so I spent a good hour on the phone to try and find a local source. Success at last I found a local Antique Dealer who repaired clocks and agreed to look at my treasured procession if I took it to him.

I wrapped the clock up carefully put it into a large shopping bag and trundled off to Eastbourne in my electric chair. However when I arrived at said shop I could not enter because of steps, yet another hurdle to get over so I had to wait till I could attract some-ones attention to ask the shop owner to come out to me. On quick examination of my time-piece I was assured it was very dry and could be repaired. I was indeed very relieved when I was told that it could be brought back to my house when the repair was completed and five weeks later it was back on its favourite shelf striking away merrily another little problem sorted eventually.

I feel I should just add to this story that on my journey to the Antique Shop The train I was due to catch was cancelled causing me a thirty minute wait at the station and on my way to the Antique shop a young couple walked in front of my chair and accused me of driving recklessly at 3 mph!