Jacintha Saldanha

I found the news of the untimely and unnecessary death of Jacintha Saldanha extremely upsetting and must admit to shedding quite a few tears.  People can dumb down the act leading to Jacintha’s death by calling it a ‘prank’ or a ‘stunt’ or by using neutral terms such as ‘tragic event’, in order to avoid proportioning or accepting blame.  But in doing so, they must also realise that people are responsible for their actions.  Nobody forced 2DayFM to make the telephone call.  While the presenters were laughing and joking on their video, Jacintha was entering a living hell.  

Now her children have lost their mother.

I refuse to listen to several radio presenters because I have found their unsolicited telephone calls to unsuspecting strangers to be a form of bullying.  Others call it ‘fun’, but I call it ‘nasty’.  There is no place for this kind of behaviour in a modern society irrespective of whether or not it an attempt to ridicule a person, or to extract confidential information.  Any such act is morally wrong. 

I do not accept the argument “the station hadn’t broken any laws” either.  Bullying is a terrible thing, bullying comes in many forms, and there are many examples where the victim has committed suicide.  Manslaughter is a crime, obtaining confidential information, whatever the method, is an invasion of privacy laws, obtaining a pecuniary advantage is a crime.  But Jacintha’s death is not about criminalising the two presenters involved.  I suspect that the worldwide disgust far outweighs the outcome that they could suffer under any penal code. 

The publicity surrounding Jacintha’s death is a reminder that those who do stupid things run the risk of being called to account when those stupid things go badly wrong.  Those who are responsible must be held to account.  They need to be sacked, as does anyone else at the radio station or its parent company that was involved or has moved to try and protect the company while losing sight of the death of Jacintha.  Play music and chat, run competitions, invite guests onto the station, give the sports results, tell us the news, talk about the weather, play more music, but remember that you have no right in any form whatsoever to telephone anyone that you do not know.  And that folks is the bottom line so stop being in denial and wise up.  The outcome was foreseeable, if not this time then at a point in time, as all actions have a reaction.  

Bearing Gifts

I am absolutely flabbergasted, having received an astonishingly nice and unexpected gift through the post today.   I’m always the one that does the nice things, and until today no one ever does that sort for thing for me.  Strange I know, but that’s the way it’s always been, and the family tend to accept it.  So with that in mind you can imagine my surprise when the chap arrived with the parcel, I even commented that I was not expecting anything and checked that he had the right address.   

I was outside in the garage gluing some bits and bobs to a small table top 'n' gauge railway layout for Mr Tister and me, so I sort of pounced on the driver when he pulled up, poor chap.  He even said, “You are Roger Bennett, aren’t you?” Yes indeed, I am. 

Enclosed with the Special Next Day Delivery Box was a note; “just a little thank you for your help”, along with a gift wrapped Vinho Do Porto Messias 10 year bottle of Port. 

Scrummy, just what the doctor ordered.

People

Why do people queue up in a coffee shop and then get miffed when there's no seats after they order their drink. It makes sense to bag a seat as you enter the premises by placing a magazine and an old pair if glasses on a table and then queue if you are alone, but one of you sit and the other queue when there's two of you.

Yet I watch person after person calmly queuing, as others walk in ages after them and breeze past to get the seat.

Is the lack of common sense a British thing? Or do we simply crave the drama and frustration that the lost seat brings? Wise up folks, bag your seat and then get your drink, or always order a take out in case you have to go.

Across the Pond

Brilliant, some new friends from across The Pond have been in touch today.  That's fantastic news as they are all such lovely people. Oh happy days

Preparedness

It’s been almost a month since I have posted on my Blog but maybe this post will be useful to some of you preparing for your next holiday.  I like to try and link some of the posts, and this one is no exception.  Leading on from the last post about two good Samaritans that helped me out prior to my holiday, part of this post is also about being a Good Samaritan for those of you who are First Aid trained and hold a current first aid qualification.

  

The latter part of my working life involved preparedness and contingency planning for organisational resilience.  In many ways I am safety conscious and alert how we should prepare, but as always I offer my tips and ideas on a no liability basis for you to accept or reject as you see fit.  Just because I mention it here; doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s right or accurate.  This bit of preparedness is for those of you who are going on a cruise holiday and by default in any close quarter environment (land based holidays equally apply) where you may encounter a Gastro Illness commonly referred to by the trade as a GI event.

Along with any traveler first aid kit that you might carry, consider packing:

·         In all cases; an alcoholic gel hand cleanser sanitizer with a lockable cap for carrying in your handbag or man-bag when you are out and about on shore excursions (there are various brands available and a fair sized item should only cost somewhere around £4.50 or less),

·         A supply of hygienic surface wipes for your stateroom and when you are out and about on the dreaded coach where everyone and anyone touches and sneezes over things,

·         A supply of Dioralyte or similar rehydration brand sachets for your group as it is unlikely that you will be able to purchase them in the on-board shop (a supply of  sachets of oral electrolyte powder should come in at circa £3.50 or less, so this is another low cost item),

·         A supply of sturdy plastic cups or beakers for your group as the Cruise line may remove all glasses from your stateroom during a GI event,

·         If you are diabetic, then a supply of Glucose Boost from your Pharmacy as it is unlikely that you will be able to pick up Lucozade or similar glucose based drinks on-board the ship and you may need a glucose boost if your sugar levels drop through sickness and diarrhoea,

·         If you are first aid CPR trained then it is always a good idea to carry your personal Resusci-aid hygienic barrier for use whilst giving artificial respiration (I bought my St John Ambulance Personal Protection Kit from Amazon for £2.87 including P&P so this is not a big cost item and a standalone one way valve Resusci-aid is even cheaper),

·         During a severe GI event it is probable that you will come across fellow passengers being sick while out and about on an excursion, if you are first aid trained and would go to their aid on the basis that something else may be wrong with the casualty; then it might be a good idea to carry your own small supply of disposable gloves,

·         Your common sense, just because a GI event is ongoing, that doesn’t mean that the person in your group is ill from that event and he/she may have something else wrong with them, so please remain alert and do not assume anything,

·         2 x your supply of medication for the duration of the vacation plus a few days in case of any delays.  I pack one full supply in my carry-on bag and another full supply inside one of the suitcases.  A full supply in both in case either the bag or the suitcase is lost or stolen.  (In all cases remove all medication from your bag and suitcase when you reach your final destination and store all medication out of reach of children by making use of any lockable safe or other secure storage facility),   

The Resusci-aid and disposable glove supply may appear to some to be a case of over-kill.  But you are either willing to step in and try to help a fellow human being or you are not.  If you are prepared to step in then it follows that you also should be health and safety prepared and carry a few small items in a pouch inside your bag, camera bag, or coat.  It just makes good sense.

So there we have it folks.  My take on a bit of sensible personal protection for you and others in your group that could become a bit poorly on any holiday where you are mooching around with fellow guests in a relatively closed environment and sharing the same dining and leisure facilities.  All it takes is a couple of bob, and a bit of common sense.  Hopefully you will avoid the GI, but if it hits you or one of your group then at least you may be better prepared.   

The Good Samaritans

My faith in human nature is partially restored today when two Good Samaritans came to my rescue.  The first handed my wallet untouched into a local store, whereas the second placed my expensive titanium framed glasses undamaged on the top of my car for me to find some three hours later, having returned to the car once already to look for the said wallet and glasses.   

This is particularly good news as I am at a loss these days without the glasses, and having caught nickel salts dermatitis when my former employer issued me with cheap metal framed spectacles; the titanium framed jobbies are an essential part of my life.  With our annual holiday looming the loss or fraudulent use of my debit and credit cards would have been a disaster.  New cards would have taken too long to be issued and the lost funds would have been irreplaceable on my occupational pension.  Even replacing the titanium glasses would have been a problem.

So a very BIG thank you to both Good Samaritans. 

Meanwhile I shall promise to buy a new ‘Man Bag’ complete with a zip or secure compartment for the essential gear as and when I have enough money, which unfortunately may not be for some time.  Nevertheless a new bag is now on the cards, along with of course, new Chris Brasher boots, or at least re-soling of my existing pair given that they are really old and now wearing out fast. 

Spacejumper

Felix Baumgartner is not a Skydiver; he is in fact the first of a new breed of Spacejumpers

April - An original poem called 'Faith'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVBrJzBCYAM

April

Let's Bring April Home

In my last Blog Post I wrote about the terrible people that are found in some organisations and how these bad people often hide their individuality behind the organisation facade.  They rely upon the image of 'it' rather than taking responsibility for their own behaviours.

What has happened in Machynlleth this last week is in stark contrast to that Blog post.

In this rural part of Wales with our close communities we on the whole care for one another and do our best to do what is right.  Many years ago I used to be the Supervisory Officer for Machynlleth Fire Station, and have fond memories of a great team and a great community.  I remember well our fund raising 'ladder climb' outside of the Clock Tower in the centre of the town.  I was always met with warmth and friendship from the crew at Machynlleth, who at that time many years ago, had two fire engines and very little financial reward for a demanding job.  Little has changed as the pay does not reflect the service to the community, and that in itself is a reminder that the community pulls together at all times.  It is sad to hear this week that the Fire and Rescue Service are removing one of those two fire engines from this isolated community and instead replacing it with a silly van.

If they do need a van, then they should have it as well.  it should not be instead of a Major Pumping appliance.  Little pay and little reward and a shed load of bureaucracy; so at least let them keep their two fire engines.

A lost fire engine pales into insignificance compared to a lost child, and on Monday night we went out and about searching as soon as the news broke on a well known Social Network website.  With my mental ill health problems I could not stay out late on my own, so we returned when my wife had to have some rest for her early 0630 start for work the next day.

I suppose like many others, I have found the last week extremely traumatic.  Others have mentioned about my health and emotional state, but sometimes the call of the community is greater than the personal implications or responding to that call.

I cried this morning when thinking about April and again when the Church Service was relayed on SKY News.  It is quite an emotional time. and I have had to rely on the support of family and close friends as the community pulls together to bring April home.  Good people working hard to do what it right.  People who unlike me have to get up to go to work each day; but still spend their time searching the mountains and woodland.  I doff my cap to you one and all and each night say a prayer for April and for your continued safety.

The photograph is me 'papping' the 'paps'. They were both really good sports and I must say that they were nothing like I expected true paparazzi to be.  I also admire their Canon equipment especially the Canon 5D Mark III shown in the picture, along with the £5000+ EF L Series 300mm Prime Lens just dangling out of sight and fitted to yet another professional Full Frame body.  This of course is stuff that I can only dream of as it is out of reach on my pension.  Which is a pity as out and about with the camera is good exercise and of course aids mental ill health.  Mind you I had agreed a price with someone for a secondhand Canon 135mm L Series f/2.0 prime earlier this week, but alas he disappointingly changed his mind while I was out on the mountain helping.  Pretty sad really as I was doing my bit, with my usual sense of duty, but he got greedy and decided to go for more money after agreeing a price with me.

Hey ho maybe one day, but for now, let's bring April home.



If you have any information that would help the enquiry - then please contact the Police.

Organisations

An organisation is not an 'it'. There is no entity or greater force or structure. An organisation is simply people. Individuals who individually or collectively choose to do the bad things that they do to others in order to increase their own income or attain some other perverse incentive or misguided reward for the suffering that they choose to impose upon others. It is not an 'it' but rather 'them'. People and choices, people they like, people they dislike, but it's always 'people' and never a thing.

Having a Laugh

Ha ha ha, the New York Mobster programme called Lilyhammer (Lillehammer) that is about the relocation to the town of the same name in the municipality of Oppland county in Norway of one of New York's finest; is so FUNNY. 

Having not fully recovered from watching Episode 1 a week ago, Ha ha ha, I'm still smiling away at Episode 2 as I type this into the Blog.  Brilliant, just brilliant ; "get me off the bar" Ha ha ha.

Costa Skinny Cortado

A BIG Thank You to the lovely Pauli for the coffee money earlier today! That was a nice and gratefully received surprise. With the Double Dip Recession biting me as hard as anyone else, I have had to make significant cutbacks on my caffeine intake.

Gone are the days when I could on a whim order two large speciality coffees and scoff a cake and or sarnie. Nope, now is the time of frugality. Over two years down the line with a static pension and prices and bills rising everywhere.

But today is the 'Day ofFays' and a nice skinny Cortado has now been ordered, and made, and is now about to be consumed :-)

Happy Days indeed. But not the first time in the last week. On Sunday one of my friends ran down the centre of town shouting my name AND when I eventually heard him, I stopped to chat and then he bought me a coffee as well.

Nice things come in three's, so who will step up to the mark and buy me a coffee next?

Justin Potter

The QR Reader and the other thingy are likemagic. Pretty good as the page came to life earlier this afternoon while I wasenjoying a single shot skinning Macchiato in a double shot cup and a read afterplaying wizards and magicians in the local park earlier this afternoon.

Justin got us with a 'frozen' spell, but Imanaged a 'Tree Fu Tom' one; while Jodi YouTubed it all and everyone walking bylooked at us strangely. What - You've never seen a four year old and his granddadplaying Potter Spells in a public place before to the extent that the said fouryear truly believes that he can freeze and unfreeze you and your 28 year oldhas to explain that it's not "Three Two One" with speech impairment,but is "Tree Fu Tom" when you roll up and chuck another spell at the Grandson.

Note: (1) the hood, (2) the twig doubling up asa magic wand, (3) granddad has a picture of him at Wizard School on his wall [BlackCap and Black, Red and Grey Gown Masters Graduation 2008 doubling up as the believable 'Wizard School' image], (4) the direction ofthe spell aimed at the Granddad who then stood like a statue until a suitablerelease spell was worked up. 

Mind you I only moved one leg and one arm at the four yearolds first attempt of unleashing an unfreezing spell. Well, he hasn't been to Wizard School, has he?  There's no way that he could have got that spell right aged only four!  Who says that you need a television, playstation or a train set to have fun. Just get out there folks and start enjoying your self.  Tree fu tom, go!