I appear to be becoming a curmudgeon.
It is not a position I’ve ever aimed at or asked for, simply one that I am growing into now that I am not working full time. You might think that it takes hard graft to develop the skills a curmudgeon requires, but most have just appeared naturally as I grow steadily older and pass through the various qualification phases.
When I first realised that I had achieved my current status, as grouch, I’d hoped I would not follow the natural progression; after all who ‘wants’ to be a curmudgeon! I’d already been ‘Mr. Grumpy’ for quite a while, so I thought that perhaps being a grouch might last a lot longer.
Not so. Not as far as I can see.
The reason I’m afraid that curmudgeonliness is around the corner is that I’m happy to regale anyone who asks, with what’s wrong with the world; whether they are interested or not.
BREXIT.
Who knew an entire nation could be so stupid as to commit national hari-kari in this way!
Previous posts:
Of course, as one of the <48% that voted to stay with Europe, I am now branded as a ‘remoaner’. So, for now, I’m a curmudgeon-remoaner and so to finish my Brexit curmoan (Ooo, a new word), I need to say that (in my opinion) leaving the EU with less than a 4% majority will always be folly (after all, if a General Election showed such a small majority it would be sure to be re-held before five years maximum).
NHS
I have many views on the state of the NHS and not just because I am at the threshold of an age where I will need to use it more and more. When it began back in 1948:
‘The central principles [were] clear: the health service [would] be available to all and financed entirely from taxation, which means that people pay into it according to their means.’1
I have paid taxes and National Insurance throughout my working life and continue to do so. Yet, the services that were once available to me, whilst still there, are dangerously hard pressed, hard to access and often costly.
My own town’s A & E department, like many others, is due to move over to the next town’s A & E in due course, leaving thousands of potential patients with longer journey and wait times to be seen by doctors/nursing staff. This is not because the local A & E has a bad record or is underused – but simply because the Government (in my curmudgeonly opinion) will not fund two hospitals less than eight miles apart, when one is part of a PFI scheme (not ours!).
Nevermind the population affected!
And while I’m at it …
VAPING
Why?
POLICING
Does anyone remember when the police were interested and responded to phone calls reporting anti-social behaviour?
ROADS
When was the last time you managed to drive to work (or anywhere) without having to avoid massive potholes in the road?
FOOD and DRINK
Why is the quality of pub restaurant food and general service so bad in this country? ….. And, don’t mention the coffee!
So, to anyone who cares, I’m sorry – to everyone else Bah Humbug!
1 – https://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/thenhs/nhshistory/Pages/NHShistory1948.aspx
Credit where credit is due for the Euro pic – it’s not mine but I don’t know whose it is. So thank you anyway.
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Here in Spain, it is a similar situation, as hotels do not provide cups or mugs, or indeed any means of making water hot at all. At least in France you can boil water. It’s of no use either, trying a nearby restaurant or café as there is nowhere else in the world that knows how make a ‘decent cup of tea’.
Saturday Walks 