Rich pleaders

[susan]

Hi april  I am very curious to know what steve's suggestion was for these people who need our help

[Jane]

My brother suffers from grand mal seizures (or tonic-clonic type). He is not allowed a licence at all. I also had a dog that suffered from the same kind of seizures - heartbreaking to watch!

My father's were grand mal. Dealing with them is not something I would wish on anyone. I have a friend who had a benign brain tumour removed 50 yrs ago, which left her with epilepsy. 10 years ago she and her husband acquired a rotweiller, a lovely, dopey thing called Dolly. Sadly, at 5yrs, Dolly developed a brain tumour which resulted in epilepsy and both she and my friend were on the same medication.

[Jane]

Hi april  I am very curious to know what steve's suggestion was for these people who need our help

Susan, I'm perfectly certain it will come as no surprise to you to learn that I received no response from him

[susan]

Hi april  I am surprised he did not tell you to send them all say to Scotland as I think he is from the North so he would not suggest that.  Ha Ha Ha

[Jane]

Hi april  I am surprised he did not tell you to send them all say to Scotland as I think he is from the North so he would not suggest that.  Ha Ha Ha

Susan, eventually, all the diverse personalities that we imagine Steve would relegate to Scotland, will spill over into England and we'll be back where we started

[susan]

april  I remember Mason Doyle asking steve what have the people of Scotland ever done to you.  I think he had a bad bed & breakfast experience steve not Mason Doyle

[Caroline R]

A few weeks ago I (tried) to have a discussion with Steve about how we could help those with mental health problems, who because of the nature of their illnesses, go walk about and find themselves homeless. We have dispensed with asylums, partly because of the stigma attached to them, but such places provided a refuge for those who were lost and vulnerable. There has been much talk of "Care in the Community". I haven't seen much evidence of it working in my own area. I feel it may be better for the vulnerable who are without homes and families to have somewhere they can call home, but sadly, many of us would not wish to have, close to our own homes, those whose behaviour may be unpredictable or volatile and however needy are refugees, and they obviously are or they wouldn't be here, their presence would be just as unwelcome. Will we ever get it right.

What a brilliant post April, I 100% agree - you brought tears to my eyes! 

[Patti]

A few weeks ago I (tried) to have a discussion with Steve about how we could help those with mental health problems, who because of the nature of their illnesses, go walk about and find themselves homeless. We have dispensed with asylums, partly because of the stigma attached to them, but such places provided a refuge for those who were lost and vulnerable. There has been much talk of "Care in the Community". I haven't seen much evidence of it working in my own area. I feel it may be better for the vulnerable who are without homes and families to have somewhere they can call home, but sadly, many of us would not wish to have, close to our own homes, those whose behaviour may be unpredictable or volatile and however needy are refugees, and they obviously are or they wouldn't be here, their presence would be just as unwelcome. Will we ever get it right.

Hi April

I think we all have our own views on equality and diversity.  I stand by my views and, that is that we are all equal in terms of being human-beings and therefore deserve the same opportunities equal to each other in life.  We only live once and we must grab what we can, when we can.  We don't get a second chance. 

It would not matter to me who my neighbours were, or what colour they were, or what religion they supported, for they have and deserve equal rights in life. 

I agree there is not enough done about the homeless of this Country and, each person has their own reasons for being homeless, for some it is their way of life.  Each circumstance is unique; it could be alcohol, drugs, mental illness, instabilities to cope, loss of loved ones, the list could be endless.  But, I feel we do give a great deal of help to those less fortunate than ourselves, but not enough.  No onw should have to suffer the cold and sleep in shop doorways....not this day and age.

I know what you are saying about asylums and understand why they had to go.  But we have shelters for the homeless, soup kitchens and every area in towns and cities have places where people can go for food parcels and of course we have homes for the mentally ill.  I agree we don't have it right, but it is better than it was....

[Jane]

april  I remember Mason Doyle asking steve what have the people of Scotland ever done to you.  I think he had a bad bed & breakfast experience steve not Mason Doyle

It could only have happened to him, Susan.

[susan]

Hi Caroline  I agree that was a brilliant post made by april.  In this day and age nobody should be sleeping on the streets or living in sheds.  Good houses are being demolished to make way for Developers to get rich quick.  Disgraceful.

[lookout]

Sadly,,you can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear,,meaning that a person who's in the depths of mental health is beyond redemption really and is only then treatable by drugs. No quality of life whatsoever. Sheila wasn't yet in that category, but without knowing about such illnesses back then ( as now,really ) she too would have probably been housed in an institution of some sort for her own safety as well as that of others.
There's a home not far from me which houses an assortment of " patients ",who are visited and their behaviours kept under control . They are pleasant people in their own little world,and just now and again,the Tourettes man will kick off,but not a problem as folk are used to him. Another talks so much he doesn't stop for breath. These are the type of people that thrive in the community,but at the same time,they are regularly monitered. Not to my knowledge are there any schizophrenics living there. I do know that there used to be one a couple of years ago who'd murdered someone,but I don't know where he is now. It happened over a Christmas period. It was a random killing,and a bunch of flowers can be seen tied to a lamp-post each year.

[Jane]

Caroline/Susan/Patti. One of the most powerful experiences of my life was the first time Malcolm took me to the London institute of which he was a fellow. This vast mausoleum of a place took up a whole block. As we walked down the side of it there was a young man and a dog asleep covered by a sleeping bag and newspapers, in one of the numerous side entrances. In side we went int the bar. A waiter who had been there forever, but whose name seemed not to be known, bought our drinks. I noticed the unused double doors beside our table. I couldn't get beyond the feeling that I was sitting in this grand room, drinking G&T, and just beyond those doors, there was a young man with nothing. I felt guilty. Malcolm's view was that it was the young man's choice to be homeless and I gave him every conceivable reason why it may not have been about choice.

[Patti]

Caroline/Susan/Patti. One of the most powerful experiences of my life was the first time Malcolm took me to the London institute of which he was a fellow. This vast mausoleum of a place took up a whole block. As we walked down the side of it there was a young man and a dog asleep covered by a sleeping bag and newspapers, in one of the numerous side entrances. In side we went int the bar. A waiter who had been there forever, but whose name seemed not to be known, bought our drinks. I noticed the unused double doors beside our table. I couldn't get beyond the feeling that I was sitting in this grand room, drinking G&T, and just beyond those doors, there was a young man with nothing. I felt guilty. Malcolm's view was that it was the young man's choice to be homeless and I gave him every conceivable reason why it may not have been about choice.

Lovely April, I would have done the same as you.  It is so easy for us to judge others sadly it is the way some of us have become...I'm alright jack, sod the rest...I hope I don't offend anyone by saying that....

[susan]

Hi april  that is so sad and even if it was the young man's own fault we still have to have compassion and humility towards him.  Did you see the Busker on teli with his cat call Bob who was so clever.  Book out now and a film is going to be made so him and Bob are made and he loves that cat so much he carries it around on his shoulder

[susan]

april  I would have given him a £20 note on my way out.   When I go to Edinburgh and see buskers with dogs I give money to them all and my son who is cynical tells me they only have dogs to pull on the heart strings of people like me but I don't agree they love their dogs as they look so well cared for.