Andy's Blog

[Alan2]

A quick skim of your 'Schools Out' blog shows similarities to my own early education,  Andy.  I left a grammar school at 16, too, having started at the top of my class aged 11 and finished somewhere near the bottom at 16. Yes, there was bullying, mostly done by teachers, and I became as unkind as some of my peers were to me. Teaching was about as unprofessional as it could get, when done by unqualified people who happened to have a university degree. There were at least 2 known paedophilies, and in the climate of the times it simply wasn't talked about.

Leaving school didn't solve anything for me, in the long term. I worked for the local authority for a while and a long period of unemployment followed. Basically I had mental health issues which had gone undiagnosed. Again, things like this were not part of the general discourse,  as they are now.

Life hasn't been  a total car wreck - I got back into education as a mature student and hold a degree and a masters by research. I won't go into my work history, which is sporadic to say the least, but I look forward to the state pension next year, which seems to be the only thing they can't withdraw or threaten to.

Stay safe,

Alan.

"Looking forward" to one of the lowest state pensions in the developed world is perhaps not the right terminology to be used, but I certainly hope you enjoy it nonetheless...

Yes I know its **** in European terms David, but as far as I can tell I'll be better off than I am now, which makes me unusual,  I guess.

[Andy]

Today's Blog is about Music that makes me smile: "There Must Be An Angel" by  Eurythmics.

[Andy]

Today's Blog is about our brushes with three varieties of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The third being at Cropredy two weeks back.

[Andy]

Today's Blog is about dementia and memory.

A serious subject I know, but it's increasingly common in our peer group.

[Andy]

Today's blog is about January.

[Alan2]

A quick skim of your 'Schools Out' blog shows similarities to my own early education,  Andy.  I left a grammar school at 16, too, having started at the top of my class aged 11 and finished somewhere near the bottom at 16. Yes, there was bullying, mostly done by teachers, and I became as unkind as some of my peers were to me. Teaching was about as unprofessional as it could get, when done by unqualified people who happened to have a university degree. There were at least 2 known paedophilies, and in the climate of the times it simply wasn't talked about.

Leaving school didn't solve anything for me, in the long term. I worked for the local authority for a while and a long period of unemployment followed. Basically I had mental health issues which had gone undiagnosed. Again, things like this were not part of the general discourse,  as they are now.

Life hasn't been  a total car wreck - I got back into education as a mature student and hold a degree and a masters by research. I won't go into my work history, which is sporadic to say the least, but I look forward to the state pension next year, which seems to be the only thing they can't withdraw or threaten to.

Stay safe,

Alan.

"Looking forward" to one of the lowest state pensions in the developed world is perhaps not the right terminology to be used, but I certainly hope you enjoy it nonetheless...

Yes I know its **** in European terms David, but as far as I can tell I'll be better off than I am now, which makes me unusual,  I guess.

Just looking back at this, which like most of my contributions to this forum I've completely forgotten.  My state pension is in sight. With the triple lock in place, and even without it, I'll be experiencing a rise in income. I dont like talking about my income- was brought up not to - and in my case it looks like reverse bragging.  But imagine an average salary then yhink of a third of it and you have my annual income.

In the course of my life, and particularly since I got interested in such things, I've heard a lot about how overgenerous our system is in terms of working age benefits.  These, as much as pensions, need to be compared with their European counterparts.   It's how they look in comparison to average earnings in the country concerned which is the key.

[Andy]

Today's Blog is entitled WTF? and explores that last week of Lineker's Tweets and the reactions thereto.

[Jules Gray]

Bang on, sir.

Jules

[Andy]

Today's Blog is about the idea that 2023 was, in fact, quite predictable from the 1960s (or earlier!).

[Andy]

A lot has happened - some updates.

[Jules Gray]

Link?

[Andy]

Link?

Sorry, just click on the caption.

Or here.

[Jules Gray]

Link?

Sorry, just click on the caption.

Or here.

Doh! Brain not working. Thanks.

Jules

[Andy]

Today's blog is a brief appreciation of Peter Gabriel's third solo album, sometimes known as "Melt".

[Andy]

Today's Blog commemorates the 38th anniversary of Live Aid.

[Andy]

Today's Blog is about Breakfast.

[Andy]

Today's Blog reflects upon the four festivals we attended this summer.

[davidmjs]

Today's Blog from me reflects upon the four festivals we attended this summer.

I did laugh at the description of Solstice.  Plenty of marmite bands on this year by the sound of it.  Increasingly perhaps, Fairport become one of them themselves...

I like that “a lack of patience on your part does not constitute an emergency on our part” quote  Entitlement?  Don't get me started...

[Andy]

I did laugh at the description of Solstice.  Plenty of marmite bands on this year by the sound of it.  

Except I like Marmite!

[davidmjs]

I did laugh at the description of Solstice.  Plenty of marmite bands on this year by the sound of it.  

Except I like Marmite!

And I don't