TAKE CARE of yourself . . .

. . . unless, that is, you are under police escort in The Gambia !

Last January my youngest son Tim rode his motorbike from Essex to Africa. He did this quite alone - without a 'whoosie' back-up team - and wore his crash helmet all the way. On his return to UK - rode a friends bike across their field in Essex, without wearing a helmet - he took a tumble 'head first'.

For six days after we were most fearful. Six months later he is still recovering - under care of BUPA not NHS.


So, whilst this 'site' was originally created exclusively for a 'careless council', it can include 'care' in all its various guises.

For today, to bikers everyday, for my son Tim, please do 'take care' !

Perhaps, from my forced exile 'in bed' I shall 'blog' about Care as I have experienced 'it' - a certain PCT 'in action' springs to mind. Watch this space for the flip side to "Doctors" and "Where The Heart Is".

Meanwhile, back to the consequenses of 'helmetless' biking. At Basildon hospital, Tim was 'shipped out' of Intensive Care whilst still concussed - sent home unaware what or where 'home', or even his name, actually was !

As these 'bashed bonce' pictures clearly show, Tim was not himself. One must wonder what quality of care might he have received in Mauritainia, Senegal or Gambia ?

For more on Tim's 'African Adventure' visit his own site :

http://www.essex-dakar.org/

The bike Tim rode was a 125cc Suzuki - which shows how times, and distances, have changed over one generation. My own 125cc Bantam took me from Barnet to Bournemouth - I would never have trusted an old BSA, nor a younger self, anything further !

Here a 70cc BSA Dandy is 'bump started', in a hope to circuit 'the block' outside my childhood home. Obviously a 'crash hat', 'boots' and 'leathers' were not yet road safety regulations - in 1962 !

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TAKE 13 - "It's a wrap" !

As a result of LCC's 'fairer charges' home care price hike (up from £41 to £120 per week) economics dictate I must 'remain in bed' ! Within several days BBC 'Look North' got 'the news'.

After asking to interview me, in bed, on Wednesday 8th November at 9.40am as Wendy was about to catch our 'once weekly bus' for town, we selected another day. Heck, I'm not 'in bed' for 'TV fame', I'm there because I cannot afford the daily £18 to help 'get me out' !

Vicky Johnson - BBC Social Affairs Corespondent - and Dave (the cameraman) called in at home on Monday 13th November. By 11am, with floodlighting arranged, 'takes' 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 'in the can' - a taxi called to whisk them off for 1pm broadcast from Hull - 60 miles to the north. Now we had time to concentrate on the 'evening feature'. Thankfully Wendy had 'spruced me up' earlier - hair combed and shaved - for my TV debue. Half way into our 7th 'take' Wendy's brother telephones. "Just seen Rick on telly", he exclaimed. We continued with 'take 8'. Vicky and I had met a month earlier, on the steps of County Hall, and so I was becoming to feel "a natural" at this 'interview lark' !

Dave wanted a couple of 'atmospheric shots' and so 'takes' 10 and 11 are 'pan and zoom' - of myself looking 'thoughtfully' towaeds a picture of Princess Diana hung upon my wall. This picture - circa 1988 - shows HRH, my eldest son Dan and myself, when she visited our business premises in Grimsby - happier days, long past !

"All done" - Wendy asks if 'cups of tea' are wanted ? As Wendy 'brews', Dave 'films' and Vicky 'interviews' - the 'production' now all within the kitchen - whilst I am deserted, left alone in my bedroom.

Takes 12 and 13 clearly become the best, the most articulate, of the whole 'evening feature'. Wendy expressed all the 'failings' of the 'home care system' - far better than I ever could - and the Editors at Look North knew exactly what deserved a place on the 'cutting room floor'.

When I eventually get that DVD from BBC, a 'still' will be taken for 'posting' here. Meanwhile - a rare picture of Wendy, as I can no londer use my camera and she takes all 'my' snaps - pictures of herself are few.

Yes, Wendy, you are a Star, in so many ways - a Princess indeed !

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SUICIDE IS PAINLESS . . .

. . . it brings on many changes.

Wednesday, the morning after Halloween, the LCC ghoul fell upon my doormat. Rather than carving pumpkin lanterns, Christine Talbot and lackey Judy Lammie were busy posting out their wicked letters.

As predicted, but hardly believed so fast, my 'home care' charges are to rise 200% - from £41 up to £120 per week ! Even more astonishing - this ‘price hike’ starts on Saturday. Three days hence !

Well thanks LCC, you've given me - and 2000 other 'service users' just 72 hours notice. Not unlike ‘instant dismissal’, although I’m uncertain upon what particular grounds - "Gross Infirmity" presumably ?

A week ago, a record number of LCC opposition Councillors "called-in" to reconsider these 'price hikes' ! That was on Thursday 26th October - when Tory Councillors voted their final approval of their so called "fairer charges policy". Quite astonishingly how quickly they got their 'payment demand' letters out to all the ill and infirm ! Obviously 'they' - The Gang of Nine - had printed all their letters in advance. Clearly, there was never any intent to change their minds. "Charge the Cripples" was always Martin 'Hangman' Hill's 'Battle Cry' – I wish a severe dose of M.S. upon him and his cohorts all.

However, the new charges are equal to myself, as might be these Councillor's new washing machines – all lasting just three weeks. No 'warranty' replacements available, just buy another brand new washer each and every three weeks ! For life, until Death ! I'm certain Cripples and Councillors alike can afford it.

Heck, are Hill, Carter, Talbot, Poll, Robinson, Singleton, Strange, Bradwell and Webb actually living in the 'real World' ? Have the fumes of newly painted Council Hall fogged their brain cells ? Poor lambs - what a dreadful shame, I trust they start to dribble soon !

Of course, if you are to be believed Chrissie Talbot, the above 'rant' is my opinion alone - and naturally I deserve the worst the LCC can offer such an 'ungrateful cripple' such as myself.

We stopped 'home care' as from Friday night. The consequences of this will mean I'll stay in bed until there are funds enough to buy private help and get me out. This was never what I paid my Business Rates, Council Tax, Income Taxes and NI for - but then those were once 'the rules', and now they have been changed.

Watch out Baby Boomers - a gaunt 'care in the community' stalks these bleak cold Lincolnshire fields, with total disregard of your past hard efforts ! Your Taxes, NI contributions, Business Rates were all for nothing !

Perhaps 'Patient Zero' will explain what they wanted of me ? Perhaps 'Liz' will read my inevitable rant ? Thanks Phil – did it come over loud and clear ?

“Ride on, go faster 'Blaise' - we're 'out of here', don't throw a shoe now upon the Shoebury Road.”

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