Ban the bus pass

National news this morning:  as a result of “little publicised changes made by Alistair Darling in last autumn’s pre-budget report” (Daily Mail), pensioners will now have to wait longer for their free bus pass. 

Apparently eligibility is now being brought into line with the new later retirement age for women which is now being incrementally introduced. Both men and women will now qualify for the bus pass at the age at which women qualify for a state pension.

It would appear that yes, the government have been somewhat “sneaky” about the change, but “c’est la vie”. What is worse is that they have apparently denied reports that bus passes are to be scrapped or means tested.

For goodness sakes.  Apparently this simple delay to eligibility for the bus pass will save over a billion pounds in the next five years. How much more money to devote to pensions, jobs and other useful areas of expenditure could be saved if this outmoded and demeaning handout was ditched?

So the message to the government is  – Do it – immediately. Win some votes: improve pensions overall and let people pay their own bus fares. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1265287/Pensioners-face-year-wait-bus-pass-sneaky-rule-change.html

Beware the bus pass backlash

It’s obviously the media silly season if current bus pass headlines are anything to go by. Short of anything else to do in these untroubled times it appears that the powers that be have focused their attention on the thorny issue of  “how have we managed to shoot ourselves in the foot by showing nothing but generosity and inclusivity to pensioners by giving them all free a bus pass only to find that the ungrateful old ***s are now actually using them?”  Yesterday’s Daily Mail article put the issue rather more succinctly: “Town hall chiefs say millions of middle-class pensioners are taking advantage of the free bus passes, and only the poor deserve the privilege”. Hmm… taking advantage while being undeserving – what are middle class pensioners thinking of?

What Town Hall chiefs obviously weren’t thinking of when they introduced the scheme is what seems blindingly obvious. Pensioners are using their bus passes because they realise 1) that they have paid for the privilege and are – in most cases – continuing to fund the scheme through taxation 2) most pensioners get very little else of real value from the state, and 3) there is an underlying concern for the environment amongst a large proportion of the older generation.

A glance at the article today on the Daily Mail’s website shows that already it has elicited well over 400 comments – a veritable media frenzy – with Joan Bakewell warning of a “Grey bus pass backlash”.  What a shame all this furore isn’t about something a bit more fundamental like ageism, lack of jobs for the over 50s, or the pitifully low level of the state pension.  Never mind, perhaps like buses there’ll be nothing for ages then suddenly there’ll be a big backlash against all three all at once. Or not.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1204607/The-bus-pass-means-test-Middle-class-millions-lose-right-free-travel.html

Hands around the world

We are constantly amazed and impressed by the range of activities that in my primers embark upon both at home and abroad and the huge amount they contribute to society as a result. This month we feature details of a project in Uganda which is not only improving the situation of an entire community but, on a personal level, is enriching the lives of the volunteers who participate in the project. Jenny, one of the project volunteers, tells her story:

“This time last year I decided to join a project team going to the village of Siriba in Uganda in January 2008 for the charity Hands Around the World. The purpose of the project was to build a classroom block next to Siriba’s existing primary school and so provide space for vocational training (carpentry, brickwork, tailoring) for youngsters who have completed primary education (often a few years later than in the UK) but whose families cannot afford the costs of secondary school.  In fact a large number of the youngsters are orphans who have come south in recent years to escape the ongoing rebel activity in the north of the country – they have almost nothing except the goodwill of extended family or complete strangers who have taken them in.

Well, the January 2008 project team worked with local volunteers to build the classroom block and now it is now being put to some use.  But it isn’t fully complete or equipped yet and also the classrooms of the existing primary school are in a dreadful state - partly through lack of funds and partly because they are used by four or five times as many children as originally intended.  They desperately need substantial repairing and one block needs a roof!

So what’s happening now? Currently Hands Around the World is recruiting a small team from Hertfordshire to go to Siriba in August 2009 for four weeks.  The team will raise funds for the project and travel to Siriba to work alongside volunteers from the local community.  If you or anyone you know may be interested in a challenging and life-changing experience  all ages are being considered, as well as all levels of building experience (although building and DIY skills are extremely useful!).  Volunteers will also need to have enthusiasm for fundraising during the first half of 2009 – as a team and/or individually.”

For more information about the charity and its projects visit the Hands Around the World website (www.hatw.org.uk) or email Jenny (jennifer@jwiles4.wanadoo.co.uk) for details of the information and team selection day planned for Sunday 23rd November in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.

In my prime and on holiday abroad

As an alternative view on what it’s like to be in your prime, particularly for those over 55s who do have the resources to take holidays and enjoy themselves, comes a warning from the Foreign Office entitled “Overseas And Plastered phenomenon” (OAP – another witty acronym?). While the advice is basically sound, it did smack of coming from the John Cleese University of the B******g Obvious. Issued just before Easter it has aroused a great deal of indignation from journalists and readers alike. “Patronising” was a word often seen.

We don’t disagree with the basic sentiments and the call for sensible preparation and behaviour while on holiday but we are talking about people who are old enough and experienced enough to make their own choices and take the consequences.

And so, we reproduce the warning as published, and can do no better than then refer you to two articles in the Times Online (by Janice Turner and Minette Marrin) which provide another perspective.

“Taking risks abroad has no age limit
Foreign Office warns of Overseas And Plastered phenomenon

Although most of you might think that when your parents go on holiday it’s a civilised affair, this isn’t necessarily the case. Research from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office shows 1 in 5 older travellers take risks abroad that they wouldn’t contemplate at home, with favourite activities ranging from bungee jumping and parasailing to water-skiing and moped-riding. Hardly surprising then that 1 in 5 couples say they or their daredevil partner has been injured along the way, which is even more concerning when 65% of older travellers have previously admitted they didn’t take out travel insurance on their last trip abroad.

The research which surveyed over a thousand Brits aged over 55 further shows that older travellers are indulging in one Martini too many, putting their safety at even greater risk. Over half admit they drink more alcohol than usual whilst on holiday and a third say they’d indulge even more in an all-inclusive resort where the booze is included. This, according to the British Embassies in popular resorts, can lead to problems and has previously caused incidents of drowning.

What concerns the Foreign Office most is that more than 8 in 10 people don’t routinely have a health check before embarking on their travels, with more than a third never doing so, believing that they will feel better after a break in the sun. However, if pre-existing illnesses or undiagnosed symptoms flare up whilst away from home, receiving urgent medical attention can be costly.”

“I want to be a saga lout” by Janice Turner

“Saga louts cause ‘holiday havoc’ and ignore health risks” by Minette Marrin

Book Review

Silver surfer’s colour guide to travel and holidays

Simon and Susan Veness, Published by Foulsham, 2007

If you’re in the middle of the post-Christmas, mid-winter gloom, holiday planning process, you’ll love this hugely useful guide to researching travel and holidays on the internet. It’s practical, comprehensive and written largely for the UK market by a highly experienced husband and wife team who have been working and researching online for the past ten years.

 

Regardless of your existing level of expertise in internet searching, this simple, step-by-step handbook tells you everything you need to know about online travel from your first ideas of where to go through to the full booking process, taking in hotels, flights, sightseeing, insurance, and much more in between. Not only is it an easy read but there are loads of handy screenshots and illustrations to make the process extra clear.

 

These days, the complexity of options and prices on offer in respect of every aspect of travel can be daunting. So, even if you consider yourself an internet whizz, you’ll find the book contains masses of tips to help you access exactly what you want and get the best deal.