A few of those things one needs to say!

I sat and watched Rio Ferdinand's being mum and dad
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08kzclp/rio-ferdinand-being-mum-and-dad
I had little knowledge of his loss of his wife, other than remembering that she had died at a far too early age. I did not know he had three children. Yes he is an ex-footballer and therefore well known and had it not been him, maybe the programme would not have been made. He is a wealthy man and not struggling to give his family a comfortable life. Grief, however, is no respecter of fame or wealth and it was courageous of him to reveal his, so publicly. He admitted that he has not grieved properly yet and naturally his first concern has been for his three children after the loss of their mother.It is difficult, particularly for males to express their grief and raw emotion, to face the tragedy of losing your life partner. It is not easy and it can never be got over, no matter how long it takes to try to ease the pain. I do not speak from experience but I can imagine that as the one left behind,it is almost impossible to process what has happened. No two people will handle it the same way, how could they! 
One thing that stood out, was the advice he was given. He should try in time not to be afraid to be happy and that no matter how much he wanted to make sure his children coped, he should not forget that he must look after his own well being, a lesson I think we could all learn in our everyday lives loss or no loss!
I am lucky, in so much, as I have never had any major loss in my life and that my personality lends itself to being quit an open person who has never been afraid to express my emotion or the way that I feel and as many of you know, old Guesty is never afraid to express an opinion!
So for those many, many people who are going through the tragedy and grief of loss of a loved one, there is no easy route, no "solution", no balm that will ease your pain, only time will heal you, you will never forget and no words can really help, including these but it is good to know that there are those who care even if you never know who they are!

Well it is me Sir Guestling once more back to tickle your conscience and skew your perception! 
What a world , full of wonder and woe. I have decided that whilst I can never lose interest in world events, it is time to stop concerning myself with spouting into the ether. so from now on I am going to leave the concern to others and concentrate on enjoying my later years to the fullest.
I can't change anything and I have no wish to involve myself in any way that will detract from my enjoyment. I've done my time and I am going to leave it to others. 
Sometimes we get too wrapped up in events that we have no control over and forget the simple pleasure of living. 
Last week the good lady and I took a few days and stayed in Llanduno in north Wales. Now there are more spectacular places in the world, certainly more exotic but in the early spring sunshine this place was glorious and had almost a picture postcard feel to it that made you appreciate how great, Great Britain's landscape is. These are the pleasures I am going to enjoy, never mind all the crap that is going on elsewhere, savor what we have, experience the new and leave the world to sort it itself.

Yes I am moaning again!!

I hate to harp on about this subject but I feel my rights are slowly being eroded and will disappear forever!
Unopposed, the bill for triggering article 50 has been passed by parliament. My right to remain a European citizen is dead, alongside all those from Europe who live here. what a bunch of weak pathetic MP's we have. Many did not vote for leaving and yet they seem afraid, unwilling, unable or just plain apathetic in standing up and following their conscience or speaking in opposition. What has happened to democracy? Don't give me all that crap about the referendum has spoken and that's the way it is, I think I have explored that crumbling foundation enough on these pages. The liberal generation that understood tolerance, independence, freedom and inclusion, have been disenfranchised, abandoned and left without any real representation or voice. Replaced by narrow minded, frightened, xenophobic, right wing scare mongers who think we are better off being "independent" !  Do they not understand that the world has moved on and we are part of a global community which trades and interacts in a vastly different way, we cannot be a lone wolf even if we want to be.
I have not liked our country for some years and were it not for family, I would have left a long time ago and yes I hear those of you saying good riddance if you do not like it here, go! 
Look around you at this 21st century country of ours, there is inequality, poverty, homelessness, racism, prejudice, an insatiable desire for commercialism, the break down of family life and generations who are buried in technology and no longer know how to interact and communicate without it! And if I sound like a whinging, grumpy, old man, I make no apology for that, for you see in a real democracy, my view is just as valid as any other.
They say that an opinion is like a penis, every other person has got one, well that is mine!!!! 

It breaks my heart!

I was trying to write nothing more about Britain leaving the EU but having just watched Brexit: Britain's Biggest Deal with reporter Laura Kunessberg on BBC 2.
It breaks my heart that, on such a poor turnout, we have voted to leave based on the flimsiness of evidence etc!
Laura interviewed a cross section of politicians and others from Europe each of whom expressed different views and concerns about the outcome of the negotiations. what struck me and here, I declare my absolute opposition to leaving and make no apology for that, what struck me was the complacent and unrealistic attitude of nearly all the pro-leavers, Johnson, Gove, Duncan-Smith and the minister David Davies. Their bland blase view of how we unravel over 40 years of membership within a 2 year period and the success we will then have, is frankly astonishing, at best naive, at worse like driving a truck headlong towards a cliff with no intention of testing the brakes before approaching the edge. 
Every time a point was made about trade or the real basis of why the vote was to leave, immigration, it only reinforced the argument as to why we should have remained. Nothing they said was definitive and most of it was prevaricating and platitudinous, they reminded me of a ships captain who has to go down with the vessel if it sinks!
I have stated my opinion a number of times on this page and like all polarized views, it is very difficult to persuade those whose view is diametrically opposed to your own to understand your concerns, as it for me to agree with theirs.
I truly believe that it is the biggest mistake we in Britain have made in my lifetime but for those who truly believe that it delivers independence and freedom, well they have what they think they want.
My only hope is that I can remain a European citizen and that we do not become a isolationist, inward looking nation.
History will prove that those who engineered this situation are the villains and it was and is a huge error!!!!  

Prague

I walked into the main office and there to my great surprise stood Freddie Halsopp. 
Freddie, what are you doing here?
Ah Guesty, I am here to see you. Can we find somewhere private?
I turned and motioned for him to follow me. I lead him to my own office, not a plush cubby hole but comfortable.
Sit please.
Freddie took the chair on the other side of my desk. He looked his usual handsome self though definitely a little nervous.
Haven't seen you since Prague. he said
No, that was quite an adventure, just got out by the skin of our teeth! Freddie smiled Maria still chides me about that time.
Maria was Freddie's wife and was not keen on him placing himself in any danger, real or perceived. 
Yes, I understand Katarina, has much the same opinion. Freddie laughed I rather face Maria than your good lady.
Wise man! I replied also laughing
So what can I do for you Freddie? You have not come here to reminisce. 
He gave me a resigned look.
Do you remember Helen Wezdranova?
The tall lady with the odd accent and even odder dress sense?
Yes her. She is in trouble Guesty and I need your help. Freddie shrugged and raised his eyebrows.
I said nothing and waited.
I know you thought she was strange, well we all did and she was a bit but unknown to you and others she was and has been a great source of information, a lot of which has proved to be very useful. Her very strangeness makes her appear to be harmless, simple even and often people would drop their guard when talking in front of her. Her real talent was collating that info and after sifting through what she had heard, some how she managed to filter out important stuff.It has at times given us an advantage and at the very least gave us a heads up. He paused and fiddled about in his pockets. Sorry I was looking for a cigarette but I have given them up He shrugged again You don't.......know of course you don't, anyway she is danger and I want to get her out.
She is still in Prague?
Freddie nodded She has managed to get out a message, she thinks a man called Verner has become suspicious of her. That was it. 
It is not much to go on Freddie. It does not mean she is in danger just that this Verner is suspicious!
Would you not err on the side of caution? 
I paused before answering, it was not pleasant in any communist country to even be suspected and if that led to more than just that, you could easily disappear.
Okay Freddie, get me all the details and I will see what I can do. I'll speak with Giveny he has contacts everywhere.

Two days later I got an a call from Giveny, he rarely spoke directly these days, most of our contact was passed through a third party. He had explained that things at home had become a little fraught with the advent of the new government and he was being circumspect.
Guestling, good to talk to you. This situation is more important than perhaps you had realised.
I see 
This woman is not just some ordinary citizen, she is the daughter of a high ranking party member who defected some 10 years ago, bringing his family with him all but for Helen, she refused to leave and as time was pressing and she an adult, there was little he could do.
You think they want use her as bait, leveridge or some other purpose?
I have no idea Guestling but she needs to be brought out. I understand she is a little eccentric? 
From what I remember, she certainly seemed it but you know the more I think back on it, I beginning to wonder if it wasn't an act to offset any closer inspection. It seems this Verner is looking closer. Do you know who he is?
No I'm afraid I don't but I suspect he is KGB or StB, one way or another his interest is not pleasant I'm sure.
What can we do?
I'm using my contacts but as you can imagine information is difficult to obtain, especially when it's specific to one individual. Our mission in Prague know nothing and of course are watched like hawks, so using them is fraught with danger. Do you want to send "someone" in and don't tell me you will go because that is not going to happen.
The good lady would divorce me if I told her I was going back to Prague, so you have nothing to fear there. Do you have anyone in mind?
I do, a young man who I have placed my trust in a few times, he seems able to carry out the job and look after himself as well. He is free at present so we could send him.
I know Freddie would be grateful he really thinks she is in danger.
Sources seem to indicate that he could very well be right.

Two weeks later I was at home going through some diplomatic reports, when the doorbell rang, Katarina answered.
Freddie, how delightful, come in please
Thanks, you are as beautiful as ever Katarina.
And your a terrible flirt Freddie. Guesty is in the dinning room.
They entered the room
You have a visitor, Guesty.
Hello Guestling, how are you?
Freddie, I take it you have news? Please sit, drink?
Thanks,that would most welcome.
Katarina poured out three whiskeys.
Well old man spit it out, good news I hope, I'm afraid other matters have taken my time and I have not kept abreast of the Helen situation.
Freddie took a sip of his drink and smiled 
Most surprising, most surprising he sighed
Freddie? I said in an exasperated tone.
Sorry Guesty. He smile once more. It appears that Verner was not interested in her because he was secret police but because he had been sent by her father to try to persuade her to leave.He still has contact with his former country and had got wind that she may be in danger. Verner is an old colleague of his and he got him to watch over her and if necessary get Helen out.He paused and took another drink. Anyway it all got a bit excitable, it seems Verner himself had come to the notice of the StB, his nosing about had drawn attention to himself and in turn to Helen, who it seems was, up until then not even on their radar. Ironic eh!
Bloody hell! So whats happened exclaimed my wife. I had told her brief details of the story.
Well we have had to extract both of them and thanks to the man Giveny sent, it has been done successfully, although not without a few glitches along the way. He laughed and drained his whiskey. Helen is kicking up a storm however, once she found out that her existence had been interfered with and she would have been okay, well I did not understand the language but I am certain that it would have been pretty strong in whatever the tongue was being spoken. Certainly Verner blanched and looked as though he would like to be anywhere but in the same room. She may not have seen her father for some years but I am sure when she does he will be subject to her fury as well!
She has agreed to go to the UK? 
It took some persuasion but once she realised she can't return she grudgingly accepted the situation. Secretly I think she was rather pleased to be seeing her family again.
I shook my head with a smile And Verner?
He has disappeared, probably relieved to get away from Helen's temper!

I had only met Helen Wezdranova no more than a couple of times when in Prague and spoken no more than a few words to her. She was a distinctive looking lady and not one you ever forget. Five years after she had been "rescued" I was at a cocktail party at a high ranking civil servants home in Bayswater, I was sitting on a couch, drink in hand contemplating nothing in particular, when a voice from above spoke in a husky east European accent.
You are Guestling Thorn, correct? 
I looked up a very tall lady was looking down at me with a beaming smile. She sat next to me.
I am I replied And you are Helen Wezdranova, if i am not mistaken. She nodded. I am
I never forget a face she breathed You are a friend of Freddie's are you not?
Yes, though I have not seen him for ages
Neither have I She touched my arm and beamed another smile. If you do tell him he is forgiven. 
With that she got up and walked away. I looked for her before I left but she must have already gone. 

I did not see Freddie for another 5 years or so, when eventually our paths crossed again, I was sad to learn that his wife, Maria had passed some 5 years earlier and he had decided to take early retirement and go and live with his sister in Kent. He had a son Raymond but it seems they were not on speaking terms.We reminisced as old colleagues do and I wished him well. Before we parted I remembered my meeting with Helen and passed on her message. He laughed like the Freddie of old. Thank goodness for that then!

NatWest the resolution

You may recall in a previous blog I lambasted the NatWest for poor service in a transaction that was taking time to complete.
Well, well done NatWest, eventually you redeemed yourselves.
I escalated the problem to as senior level as I could find and 
Jonathan Fleck

RBS Chief Executive Office

Executive Response Team

replied, promising a through investigation.

In the meantime the issue coincidentally was resolved.

Today I received an email from Jonathan and it was certainly a very full reply and definitely a through investigation,which upheld my complaint and offered a full apology! Further more he has awarded a £150 compensation for the time and trouble it took. At no point did I ask for any, nor did I expect it, I just wanted this sorted.

So well done NatWest, you did salvage some credibility from this, by applying some much needed customer service.

Battery Life

This last week has been consumed by more calls on my mobile than I have ever received or made. Mostly to do with my father and his ongoing care and attention.
Now I understand that we are living longer and therefore the social services are stretched to a level that they were not designed to cope with but the wheels do turn slowly. It is only and some might say ironically, by calling in the medical profession that he has managed to get any attention at all. 
Nursing homes, as I have discovered, are not inexpensive. So we have an ongoing dilemma as to how best to provide his future well being.
So with fully charged phone I labour on in my quest to get him the help he needs!
More reports will follow!!!!

Dad brother Julian and me
ready for sisters wedding (disaster)