If it is any consolation, I feel exactly the same about the placing of my precious vote.
Really enjoy your vivid description of the Working Day…quite a while since I had one. I miss the stimulation .. mine was in education….but love the quiet. Thank you and you OH for your struggles with our terminally sick NHS. Would love to know your ideas for reinvigorating it.
Loved reading these ramblings, Bear. Your words feel like a gentle push into that autumnal rhythm.
A society that stops caring about the support it offers for all of citizens, regardless of the immediate benefit to them, is a society that contains the seeds of its own destruction.
If you don't want to fund childcare for other people today, tomorrow someone may not see why they should help fund any care you need and once you stop working you will be most likely be considered a leech to the system. That’s not a world I want to live in.
Unfortunately the UK has two big problems: extreme individualism and a feral aversion to anything that smells of, even remotely and particularly if it's a good thing in the long-term, social reforms intended to support citizens in moments of need.
"Benefits" has become a curse word when it should be a resource the state provides to show they care about their people. Unfortunately, the British mindset has evolved into seeing anyone unable to fend off for themselves, whatever the circumstances, as a tax burden.
Hope everyone who thinks like this never finds themselves unemployed, homeless, chronically ill, has a very healthy private pension, and no dependents whatsoever to be in with a chance of never needing any support.
I do kind of like that domestic stuff. It sounds settled. It sounds secure. It sounds like it's the reluctant acceptance of the state that must be by the love that makes us one thing in two bodies.
I fear it's something I can see, and appreciate, but through the choices I've made in my life, and continue to make, will never find for myself. Again, it is a reluctant acceptance of a state that is and must be. Only without the scent of a 5am cup of coffee, without the post it notes on the Pyrex in the fridge, without the currency of cuddles across an eloquent silence. I have maybe another 10 years or so to go before I can hang up my lab coat and maybe then move away to a place I can find that kind of companionship and belonging. Of course that plan very much depends on the political decisions of this nation and that of others. I read articles full of mistruths that stir up loathing and jealousy around public sector pensions and academic institutions. I see what was once an amusing display of ignorance and stupidity becoming a credible threat to the values our nation holds dear by cynically claiming to be defending the very same.
TL;DR? I for one appreciate the words you choose to share.
Great ramble and insight to a life that horrifies me with its pressure.
My mind has the same assumption as yours: constructive criticism is aiming for improvement and accountability and to say otherwise is blackmail. I do not vote for anyone blindly, I will always be looking for what is actually being said and done. Yes, sadly without any noise beyond Hansard, good things are happening, but I’m not swayed that it’s enough. Too many important promises are being buried.
I hope you reach your dream before burning out. My autumn is the opposite of yours, it’s a fight against the urge to hibernate 😆.
I have the luxury of being retired, so I adore spring, with it's seed-sowing and garden planning, it's returning-bird watching and warming days.
For me, autumn is a mad scramble to gather and preserve food - picking, drying, fermenting, jam/chutney-making, roasting, apple pressing and, MOST important, finding enough sloes to make sloe gin. (But love it really)
Chazers don't have children. My parents paid for private school for me as well as paying hefty taxes for other people's children to be educated at the state's expense. I married one of them.
We're child-free by preference, often with a low tolerance for small stuff shenanigans. I recognise that this means Mr Chazer and I will be taken care of by strangers in our old age, should we be so lucky as to survive that long. So it makes sense to put back into the kitty to ensure they know what they're doing should that time come. Anyone who says otherwise is selfish.
Sadly, that appears to be modus operandi for far too many these days. They will pay happily for what they need, but refuse to pay to help anyone else. This goes for subscriptions, taxes, charity donations. And children. "Shouldn't have had them if yu can't afford them!". Gah, so there you are, an entire future race of wealthy people procreating while leaving the ordinary folk in their wake. Nice...!
What a lovely piece of writing dear Bear 🐻. I left the Labour Party a while ago and have now joined your party in the hopes of getting a truly left wing opposition to the horrendous right wing we are seeing. Maybe you agree, maybe not, but it's where I feel like I'm at last going to be listened to.
I love your daemon cat - ours is the same, but fortunately she wakes up my long suffering husband, rather than me ( yaaaaayyyyy!).
I also love how you treat your nieces and nephews, as a great grandparent I thoroughly approve of spoiling them and then handing them back!!
How on earth do you manage to fit so much into your day? Getting up in itself is exhausting ( thanks fibromyalgia! Not!)
Please take care of yourself, your lovely husband and your fur daemon, and I really hope that in the future you manage to make your dream of full time writing a reality. Sending you loads of love as always ❤️ xxxxxxxxxx
It’s good to learn a little bit about you & where you are ‘from’ - it adds relevance to what you say, it provides context to your thoughts and helps me better understand what you write. I’m also childless but I’ve always placed their health, education & well-being very highly in my professional life & political choices. Power to your elbow sir!
There’s been similar conversations with friends (and my partner) but I always remember Keir saying it would be a long job, be patient and he would quietly get on with the job. I’m in the minority but I liked his message and am willing to wait to make a judgement but people have short memories. To be frank the rise of the right in UK, EU, US and across the world frightens me. I’ll stick with Labour while I can. Thank you for your well balanced writing.
1. Do people prefer to pay for police and jails to protect them from the disaffected kids who grew up poor with noses pressed against the double glazing of the haves?
2. I sort of disagreed with your abandonment of Labour but hopefully was with a polite thought of my own not an attack. What is wrong with us these days always fighting and mud slinging never debating? Can’t for the life of me think what it is in your reasoned, eloquent posts that invites that.
No kids here either by choice but never really gave it a thought about ‘paying for other peoples children’ it’s what society’s do to keep the system going. I might need the help of those children one day (probably sooner than I like to admit😳).
Very poignant, Bear. Autumn is my favourite season, I love the colours and the nights slowly drawing in. I was a mental health nurse and am still absolutely passionate about the NHS. Thank you for your work behind the scenes to keep it going, despite the odds being against you and all your colleagues. I agree with your perspective regarding investing in our children, if anyone thinks otherwise, then I hope they never need any benefits, social care or any kind of safety net they might ever need.
I am also very disappointed with the current iteration of Labour. I did vote Labour last year, but, unless something changes, my vote will go to a more progressive party.
Re Health Service being worst it's ever been, was it not worse during the height of COVID? Is there not improvement under Labour? Round my way, there seems to be big inroads being made into Waiting Lists, with more weekend and evening appointments happening.
COVID was operationally very, very hard - but we had the resources we needed to get things done.
There has definitely been improvement in the secondary care/elective sector under the Labour Government, but in the Acute/Unplanned and Community Services sectors… it’s really not a pretty picture at all.
If it is any consolation, I feel exactly the same about the placing of my precious vote.
Really enjoy your vivid description of the Working Day…quite a while since I had one. I miss the stimulation .. mine was in education….but love the quiet. Thank you and you OH for your struggles with our terminally sick NHS. Would love to know your ideas for reinvigorating it.
Loved reading these ramblings, Bear. Your words feel like a gentle push into that autumnal rhythm.
A society that stops caring about the support it offers for all of citizens, regardless of the immediate benefit to them, is a society that contains the seeds of its own destruction.
If you don't want to fund childcare for other people today, tomorrow someone may not see why they should help fund any care you need and once you stop working you will be most likely be considered a leech to the system. That’s not a world I want to live in.
Unfortunately the UK has two big problems: extreme individualism and a feral aversion to anything that smells of, even remotely and particularly if it's a good thing in the long-term, social reforms intended to support citizens in moments of need.
"Benefits" has become a curse word when it should be a resource the state provides to show they care about their people. Unfortunately, the British mindset has evolved into seeing anyone unable to fend off for themselves, whatever the circumstances, as a tax burden.
Hope everyone who thinks like this never finds themselves unemployed, homeless, chronically ill, has a very healthy private pension, and no dependents whatsoever to be in with a chance of never needing any support.
Actually, I do quite hope that these selfish bods find themselves abandoned. Karma is quite a hard mistress, after all.
I hope it doesn’t come to that 😂 but if we can’t see beyond ourselves maybe that’ll be the outcome anyway
You are a joy, Bear, whatever direction your lyrical waxing takes you, and don't forget it.
I do kind of like that domestic stuff. It sounds settled. It sounds secure. It sounds like it's the reluctant acceptance of the state that must be by the love that makes us one thing in two bodies.
I fear it's something I can see, and appreciate, but through the choices I've made in my life, and continue to make, will never find for myself. Again, it is a reluctant acceptance of a state that is and must be. Only without the scent of a 5am cup of coffee, without the post it notes on the Pyrex in the fridge, without the currency of cuddles across an eloquent silence. I have maybe another 10 years or so to go before I can hang up my lab coat and maybe then move away to a place I can find that kind of companionship and belonging. Of course that plan very much depends on the political decisions of this nation and that of others. I read articles full of mistruths that stir up loathing and jealousy around public sector pensions and academic institutions. I see what was once an amusing display of ignorance and stupidity becoming a credible threat to the values our nation holds dear by cynically claiming to be defending the very same.
TL;DR? I for one appreciate the words you choose to share.
Great ramble and insight to a life that horrifies me with its pressure.
My mind has the same assumption as yours: constructive criticism is aiming for improvement and accountability and to say otherwise is blackmail. I do not vote for anyone blindly, I will always be looking for what is actually being said and done. Yes, sadly without any noise beyond Hansard, good things are happening, but I’m not swayed that it’s enough. Too many important promises are being buried.
I hope you reach your dream before burning out. My autumn is the opposite of yours, it’s a fight against the urge to hibernate 😆.
I have the luxury of being retired, so I adore spring, with it's seed-sowing and garden planning, it's returning-bird watching and warming days.
For me, autumn is a mad scramble to gather and preserve food - picking, drying, fermenting, jam/chutney-making, roasting, apple pressing and, MOST important, finding enough sloes to make sloe gin. (But love it really)
Chazers don't have children. My parents paid for private school for me as well as paying hefty taxes for other people's children to be educated at the state's expense. I married one of them.
We're child-free by preference, often with a low tolerance for small stuff shenanigans. I recognise that this means Mr Chazer and I will be taken care of by strangers in our old age, should we be so lucky as to survive that long. So it makes sense to put back into the kitty to ensure they know what they're doing should that time come. Anyone who says otherwise is selfish.
Sadly, that appears to be modus operandi for far too many these days. They will pay happily for what they need, but refuse to pay to help anyone else. This goes for subscriptions, taxes, charity donations. And children. "Shouldn't have had them if yu can't afford them!". Gah, so there you are, an entire future race of wealthy people procreating while leaving the ordinary folk in their wake. Nice...!
What a lovely piece of writing dear Bear 🐻. I left the Labour Party a while ago and have now joined your party in the hopes of getting a truly left wing opposition to the horrendous right wing we are seeing. Maybe you agree, maybe not, but it's where I feel like I'm at last going to be listened to.
I love your daemon cat - ours is the same, but fortunately she wakes up my long suffering husband, rather than me ( yaaaaayyyyy!).
I also love how you treat your nieces and nephews, as a great grandparent I thoroughly approve of spoiling them and then handing them back!!
How on earth do you manage to fit so much into your day? Getting up in itself is exhausting ( thanks fibromyalgia! Not!)
Please take care of yourself, your lovely husband and your fur daemon, and I really hope that in the future you manage to make your dream of full time writing a reality. Sending you loads of love as always ❤️ xxxxxxxxxx
It’s good to learn a little bit about you & where you are ‘from’ - it adds relevance to what you say, it provides context to your thoughts and helps me better understand what you write. I’m also childless but I’ve always placed their health, education & well-being very highly in my professional life & political choices. Power to your elbow sir!
There’s been similar conversations with friends (and my partner) but I always remember Keir saying it would be a long job, be patient and he would quietly get on with the job. I’m in the minority but I liked his message and am willing to wait to make a judgement but people have short memories. To be frank the rise of the right in UK, EU, US and across the world frightens me. I’ll stick with Labour while I can. Thank you for your well balanced writing.
1. Do people prefer to pay for police and jails to protect them from the disaffected kids who grew up poor with noses pressed against the double glazing of the haves?
2. I sort of disagreed with your abandonment of Labour but hopefully was with a polite thought of my own not an attack. What is wrong with us these days always fighting and mud slinging never debating? Can’t for the life of me think what it is in your reasoned, eloquent posts that invites that.
No kids here either by choice but never really gave it a thought about ‘paying for other peoples children’ it’s what society’s do to keep the system going. I might need the help of those children one day (probably sooner than I like to admit😳).
I always imagine you as an actual bear, so thinking of you on the commute bashing away on a laptop with big paws has really tickled me ☺️
Same re kids - no plans to have them myself but happy to contribute to the future generation. We all need each other x
Very poignant, Bear. Autumn is my favourite season, I love the colours and the nights slowly drawing in. I was a mental health nurse and am still absolutely passionate about the NHS. Thank you for your work behind the scenes to keep it going, despite the odds being against you and all your colleagues. I agree with your perspective regarding investing in our children, if anyone thinks otherwise, then I hope they never need any benefits, social care or any kind of safety net they might ever need.
I am also very disappointed with the current iteration of Labour. I did vote Labour last year, but, unless something changes, my vote will go to a more progressive party.
Re Health Service being worst it's ever been, was it not worse during the height of COVID? Is there not improvement under Labour? Round my way, there seems to be big inroads being made into Waiting Lists, with more weekend and evening appointments happening.
COVID was operationally very, very hard - but we had the resources we needed to get things done.
There has definitely been improvement in the secondary care/elective sector under the Labour Government, but in the Acute/Unplanned and Community Services sectors… it’s really not a pretty picture at all.