So British beef is once more acceptable to those living in Europe after a ten year ban. Well, how nice for them; how nice that they can afford to eat British beef.
Does that sound bitter? Well, I am bitter. I can't afford to eat British beef, or British lamb for that matter, not on my paltry State Retirement Pension.
I'm not whinging! I'm stating a fact. I've worked all my life and have paid taxes all my life. And now I'm expected to live on a pittance. Seniors in future will have to work well beyond the normal retirement age. Of course, no one cares if they are too worn out to do so.
The State does not do enough, not half enough for the elderly. I spent fifteen years caring for relatives at home, without recompense and to the detriment of my own health. It was only in the last two years of that time that I managed to gain help, and that had to be fought for every inch of the way. Carers like me have saved the government millions over the years. I did not want monetary help, no, I wanted muscle-power, helping hands who would do the lifting and heaving for me, to save my back. At 71 years old myself the physical effort of caring was almost beyond me. The help I got from the Local Council? 45 minutes in the morning and roughly ten minutes in the evening. Don't get me wrong. I was more than thankful for that help. But the rest of the time, 23 hours a day 7 days a week, it was me on my own; caring all day and then expected to care at night too.
It was only with the help of a local charity who specialise in helping carers themselves by finding unpaid volunteers who take the strain off carers in the home, that I managed to get a night-sitter for one or two nights a week, so that I could get some sleep myself. This volunteer sitter was worth his weight in gold, and I shall always be grateful for the respite provided for me. But in the end though it all became too much for my ageing body to stand. And so, sadly, Hubby and I had to live apart. Now he has the nursing care he needs, a team of people, 24 hours a day.
Alone now, I have to manage on my State Retirement Pension. Folks! It's not good enough!
I'm stepping down from my soap box now.
chigwellchick
I appeared on John Stapleton's The Time, The Place in 1994. At the time I was nursing my mother at home. I gave up a good job in order to do this, and saved the government thousands of pounds in costs, for a pittance of about £27 a week - invalid care allowance at the time. I was incensed to find that some people were caring for three or more relatives, and still only receiving the paltry sum of £27 odd. I went on the program because I wanted to highlight that the government were doing well out of carers - when will they start to offer real help? Also, because my mother was terminally ill, she was offered nothing concrete to make her last months easier - just returnable stuff. Nothing permanent that would cost them too much to provide for a worthless (in their eyes) cause.
As you can see, I do understand.