Homeless Shelter

Recently I have volunteered, in my home town, to help at the homeless shelter (men only)
It sleeps 17, when full and they can stay a while, leave their possessions, the purpose is to assist them using all the agencies and social services, to progress towards, permanent residence, jobs and get their lives back to some semblance of “normalcy”. It doesn’t work for all and many don’t stay or leave and maybe come back two or three times. They have to fill in a questionnaire before entry and if the break the rules, they are excluded, temporarily or if serious for good. No alcohol, no drugs.
I have done a few evenings and one morning (they aren’t allowed in before 9pm and have to leave by 9am), generally it’s a calm place, relatively quiet and the residents are very appreciative of the volunteers. We do basic stuff, serve food and drink, wash up, clean. They can charge their phones, shower, clean clothes etc and everything is donated and free.
The residents are young and old, the reasons for their situation are as varied as they are. Job loss, relationships breakdown, drugs, drink both, bereavement, being kicked out of home, all of the above and many more stories besides.
The overriding impression, is one of, complete lack of confidence, life has beaten them down and they find it difficult to trust anyone or anything. They’ve been let down many times, of course they have contributed to their own problems but society has not treated them well. Don’t get me wrong, there is humour, kindness, love and the spark of determination,  to get themselves out of their current situation. It’s not a sad place, though there is sadness present. There is the presence of how substances have affected many of them, how their character has been altered by this abuse.
It humbles one to understand how some are trying to rebuild their lives. Many will never achieve it, some don’t really want to or are to entrenched in their homelessness.
If one person can be helped then that’s enough.

To nobody in particular

I have for sometime been thinking about removing myself from all forms of social media. This may seem ironic to write in a blog! 
I have written previously about the triviality of the format but of course it is also a platform for abuse, bullies, predators, groomers, racists, right wing and left wing agitators and every other label you care to mention. Whilst some steps have been taken to police the medium, it’s not really in the Facebook and the Twitters of this worlds interest to be to stringent and is always open to interpretation, as media has always been. It’s worldwide openness, makes it particularly difficult to legislate against (although China seems to be quite successful at it).
It is, as with many things about revenue, the more they have they more they want. Power and influence is the game and anyone who does not understand that these “younger” players are just as dangerous as Murdoch and his ilk are fooling themselves.

I am not a prolific commentator on social media but I confess it is quite difficult to wean oneself from spouting into the void. I have had to make a conscious effort to either not view or having looked not commenting! To be honest this is just an exercise to clarify my own thoughts! We all think we have something to say but a period of absence, perhaps permanent is required!

Euro Elections

Whatever spin you put on the results of the U.K. Euro elections, however you add the percentages to determine leave or remain, the fact is the political landscape of our country is a giant mess! Perhaps just perhaps this political shambles is in the long term exactly what was needed?
Brexit (how I hate that word) has brought into sharp relief the divide in both the population ,our parliamentary representatives and politicians in general. Is there now an opportunity to bring people together? The underlying feelings that have been festering within society have surfaced into the light, might we have the chance of doing something about it? I know these issues have been talked about, discussed and around for a long time but Brexit has shone a torch 🔦 highlighting nearly all of the the broad range of attitudes across the generations. It has brought out the worst and given a platform to many, most do not want to hear from, the racist, bigots, misogynists, anti-semites, isolationists etc but has also shown there are many who care passionately about society and their country.
So with a nod to what could be misguided optimism, maybe we can use this time to grasp the change that is obviously needed and get a consensus on how to go forward. It will take time, probably a long time but it must be worth the effort because we cannot go on as we are!

P.S. I find it rather ironic thar Nigel Farage a man who clearly despises the EU has been a member of their Parliament for three decades🤪

Monday

I have tried very hard to be optimistic and upbeat in recent weeks about everything and generally have succeeded. It’s not easy given the state of the world. The people in charge at the present time are frightening. I have always erred on the side of looking for the best in people, albeit with a healthy dose of cynicism but it is difficult with the Trumpster and 
May’s in power. I am not going to harangue you about them, I’ve made my feelings very clear in this column!
So something to gladden your Monday. I’ve recently volunteered to help at a homeless shelter in Northampton. It is a men only facility and takes up to 17 residents. 
Homelessness is a huge problem and my poor understanding of it has been disabused by the training given prior to starting. The cause of homelessness are many from the obvious of drink and drugs through bereavement, divorce, loss of employment, mental illness and much more. It happens to all ages, rich or poor, men and women. 
The shelter opens at 9pm and empties again at 9am. A resident can leave their gear. When you return at night a hot meal (all supplied by charity and everything is free) and drink is available. You can have a shower. Charge a phone. If you want to talk fine, if not fine. 
Now this is not a place just to sleep at night, the whole idea is to encourage , help, assist in  anyway to help get them back to normality, jobs, homes etc: but off the street. Sometimes it takes a while and may not succeed straight away. 
There is a whole network across the county and country of all stripes that can be part of the path back to life off the pavement. 
Unfortunately the problem is increasing and the resources reducing, so I encourage you to help if you can.

Stuff

I understand Trump is arriving for a state visit in June, fortunately I will be on a state visit to our home from home in Crete. I understand he is the elected (cheated) President but really, without re-stating all of his faults, he should not be afforded any pomp and ceremony.
Having said that, I do think he should be allowed to address Parliament because that will be hysterical. Just imagine the rubbish that he will spout and without doubt he will try to tell us how to put things right. Parliament has itself has talked so much rubbish over the last few months that he might actually, in a strange way, make sense!
Please line the streets in your thousands and jeer and boo, don’t stay home as a protest!
You know I’ve read a number of articles, recently, espousing the idea, that we get the leaders we deserve! Well if this is the lot we have got, the world is in a shocking state! Blindingly obvious!
Most democracies are no longer fit for purpose and the primary problem is the voting systems that are antiquated and do not fairly represent the voters.
For many elections I and my peers have had little or no representation in local or National Assemblies because of the “first past the post” system in the U.K. I know it is an old cliche and has been promoted for many years but proportional representation is the only solution.
I am approaching the final stage of my life, I turn 67 this year and am retired, so I am not so concerned for myself but I do despair for the future of those generations just starting their paths. Not just because of our failure of democracy but also the other massive issue Global Warming, much bigger than politics and anyone who denies it, surely do not believe the evidence of their own eyes and the irrefutable scientific evidence. Unfortunately the politics and action are intertwined and look at those who are in charge😬
I have put forward the argument, that it is inevitable that humans will destroy the planet and it is why we are here and just the inevitable consequences of nature’s intention. Everything dies and we are the pest that will kill the Earth.
I will sign off with that cheerful conclusion 😇

Optimism

It has occurred to me that, generally people are miserable, pessimistic, apathetic and pissed off? Not every one of course there is always those who remain positive and happy. I myself vacillate between complaining and positivity.
So I am going to make a conscious effort to be happy and optimistic, banish negativity, try to see the best side of things!
I am not suddenly going to become one of those insufferable people we all have met, who are so naturally high, you want to punch them. Joy and happiness are to be aspired to but one must temper these emotions with everyday life. I am older and I believe it is our obligation to set an example for the generations that follow. If we are not optimistic about the future then how can they be? 
There are numberless wrongs that need to righted, prejudices to be eradicated, equality to be achieved, cruelty and killing for any reason eliminated, these unfortunately all part of the human condition and don’t seem possible but unless we are positive and optimistic about the viable solutions it won’t happen, never if we don’t try!

So I make a sincere request, can everybody just try, try, to be a bit more positive, we all have problems, many have little to be positive about and cannot but lets

My MP

I have been corresponding with my Member of Parliament, Mr Michael Ellis. In the election before Mrs May disaster of an election, I am ashamed to say I voted for him. I am not and never have been a Conservative Party supporter but I based my decision on the candidate whom I though would best representative my constituency. I espoused the idea that if everyone did the same the face of British politics might be radically changed? How stupid I was!
Mr Ellis has proved to be a Tory toady and a tows the party line. Needless to say I did not repeat my mistake in Mrs May’s disaster in 2017, in spite of knowing he would win again, although with a small majority of 900. Since then we all know the saga that has beset the country and the impasse that has taken place in Parliament!
So recently, having been encouraged by a very dear friend, I emailed Mr Ellis. My missive explained my feelings and options regarding the current situation ( I am a remain man and my views are clearly laid out in previous posts)
I criticised him for being admonished by the Speaker of the House, twice, amongst other points.
His reply was long and detailed and I confess this surprised me. It was the standard reply one would have expected from a man who backs Teresa May and her deal and was in parts dull and completely predictable.
The enlightening part, was the kicker at the end which referred me to describing John Bercow from the year 2000 when he as an MP behaved badly and apparently was referred to as a “ Tory Rottweiler “ , as though this was an acceptable defence for his own behaviour 19 years later!
I have subsequently written to him twice more as now, though it is a serious matter, it has become an amusing distraction just to read how he spins his Tory bullshit.
I would suggest everyone writes to there MP expressing your opinion, of what ever stripe it is but NOT if you did not vote either, in the referendum or general election, you have forfeited any right to complain by not exercising your your democratic right!