Is it just me or do many of us feel the desire to tell others about the things we really love, in the hope, perhaps, that we will find someone who shares our passions? For as long as I can remember, music has been one of the great joys of my life, as it is for so many people, I'd say, and I certainly find that having friends who feel likewise is marvellous.
My first memory of knowing the composer of a specific piece of music dates from around the time I was about seven. We had been invited to tea by one of Dad's friends (that, in itself, was a rare and special occurrence; tea with another family!). This friend had a terrific bass voice and was a big man in every way (he was in the police force, a thing of awe to us children). I loved hearing him singing the hymns from the back of church, where he always sat.
Anyway, that Sunday afternoon, he played records for us on his radiogram and told us the stories. The one I remember is The Thieving Magpie overture and, to this day, whenever I hear it, I can see the courtiers chasing up and down the castle stairs trying to find the King's jewels (I think that's the story but could be wrong. It was a long time ago!) I went around for ages saying that my favourite composers were Rossini and Verdi, which was quite funny coming from a seven year old who hardly knew any others!
Well, as I'm unlikely to make Desert Island Discs (possibly my all-time favourite radio programme), I would really like to share my list of fave-raves on occasional posts, on the grounds of, and in the hopes that, there may be some people who might either know and love them already or might want to listen and see what they think.
Sunday 26 July 2015
Monday 20 July 2015
Why no post for ages - fighting our County Council - and losing
(I started writing this a few weeks ago after not having posted anything for about 6 weeks, hence the title. I've just found the time to check and finish it.)
For nearly two years, we, a small group of carers, families and supporters have been trying to do all we could to raise awareness of and halt, if at all possible, our CC's plans to end Council Day Service provision for adults with a learning disability (LD). It has been time-consuming and draining and, sadly, we have failed.
Our son's centre, or "My place", as he called it, will close in July. We have been through a long and gruelling process of assessment and, with the help of a lovely and very capable social worker, he has ended up with private day provision which will suit him and with which he seems happy. It is run by ex-staff from the centre and is attended by others who were his friends there. This is the only situation with which our son would be happy. He is acutely shy and would be completely withdrawn with strangers.
When full, the Centre provided for 125 service users and our son loved it. He went for over 23 years. It catered for the full range of disabilities and everyone found their own place within it. It enabled families to keep their relatives at home, rather than in residential care, because, at the centre, they had their own world, 5 days a week from 9 till 4, which allowed otherwise very stressed carers to cope during the rest of the time.
We now know that plans were made, probably beginning in the early years of the last decade to deliberately run the centre numbers down. Referrals were no longer made or information given to families whose children were leaving special education. If information was requested, Day Services were shown in a bad light, even described as 'institutionalising'! How terrible was that and the very opposite of the truth, to boot!
We had a state-of-the-art home for 18 adults with a LD who had no families. They were gradually moved out into private residential places and were no longer able to access day service for financial reasons. (The home has been demolished and an expensive private care home has been erected in its place - surprise, surprise!) This, to me, was the saddest part of all of all these manipulations.
The CC held a so-called consultation. By a series of minor miracles, we found a solicitor and barrister who were prepared to act for us. The consultation result was massively in our favour. It was overthrown by the Council anyway, so no surprise there. Our case went to a high court judge last September who, on seeing the Council's promises, which included a second consultation (ha ha), decided not to proceed with it. The second travesty of a consultation was held over Christmas, most people were too disillusioned to respond to it, and,of those that did, nearly all voted against closure. It was overturned again, an absolute sham, as we had always suspected.
There were only about 20 people using the place by then as the atmosphere had deteriorated drastically, and understandably, as the staff, who have been marvellous throughout, were naturally demoralised beyond belief, seeing their livelihoods disappearing and the people they had cared for so brilliantly and lovingly, cast adrift. Also, it suited the authorities to run down the quality of provision to give families more reasons to find other opportunities as their loved ones, in some cases, became very depressed, seeing their friends leave and others become increasingly distressed as numbers and activities decreased.
We know that this situation has been replicated up and down the country and not just for the learning disabled. So many genuinely needy people have seen their life-lines taken away and, no matter what glib excuses are churned out, we know the cause is financial. There are many deep and complex reasons for this and it's not my intention to even try to come up with any answers. I just wanted to tell the story. I know it's way too long and don't expect many people will read it but it's out there now.
What I would like to do is follow this with the letters and statements which I have written over these last two years, to the councillors and to our local paper. They are much more succinct than this and hopefully tell the tale better or at lest show the feelings better, and, mercifully, more briefly.
For nearly two years, we, a small group of carers, families and supporters have been trying to do all we could to raise awareness of and halt, if at all possible, our CC's plans to end Council Day Service provision for adults with a learning disability (LD). It has been time-consuming and draining and, sadly, we have failed.
Our son's centre, or "My place", as he called it, will close in July. We have been through a long and gruelling process of assessment and, with the help of a lovely and very capable social worker, he has ended up with private day provision which will suit him and with which he seems happy. It is run by ex-staff from the centre and is attended by others who were his friends there. This is the only situation with which our son would be happy. He is acutely shy and would be completely withdrawn with strangers.
When full, the Centre provided for 125 service users and our son loved it. He went for over 23 years. It catered for the full range of disabilities and everyone found their own place within it. It enabled families to keep their relatives at home, rather than in residential care, because, at the centre, they had their own world, 5 days a week from 9 till 4, which allowed otherwise very stressed carers to cope during the rest of the time.
We now know that plans were made, probably beginning in the early years of the last decade to deliberately run the centre numbers down. Referrals were no longer made or information given to families whose children were leaving special education. If information was requested, Day Services were shown in a bad light, even described as 'institutionalising'! How terrible was that and the very opposite of the truth, to boot!
We had a state-of-the-art home for 18 adults with a LD who had no families. They were gradually moved out into private residential places and were no longer able to access day service for financial reasons. (The home has been demolished and an expensive private care home has been erected in its place - surprise, surprise!) This, to me, was the saddest part of all of all these manipulations.
The CC held a so-called consultation. By a series of minor miracles, we found a solicitor and barrister who were prepared to act for us. The consultation result was massively in our favour. It was overthrown by the Council anyway, so no surprise there. Our case went to a high court judge last September who, on seeing the Council's promises, which included a second consultation (ha ha), decided not to proceed with it. The second travesty of a consultation was held over Christmas, most people were too disillusioned to respond to it, and,of those that did, nearly all voted against closure. It was overturned again, an absolute sham, as we had always suspected.
There were only about 20 people using the place by then as the atmosphere had deteriorated drastically, and understandably, as the staff, who have been marvellous throughout, were naturally demoralised beyond belief, seeing their livelihoods disappearing and the people they had cared for so brilliantly and lovingly, cast adrift. Also, it suited the authorities to run down the quality of provision to give families more reasons to find other opportunities as their loved ones, in some cases, became very depressed, seeing their friends leave and others become increasingly distressed as numbers and activities decreased.
We know that this situation has been replicated up and down the country and not just for the learning disabled. So many genuinely needy people have seen their life-lines taken away and, no matter what glib excuses are churned out, we know the cause is financial. There are many deep and complex reasons for this and it's not my intention to even try to come up with any answers. I just wanted to tell the story. I know it's way too long and don't expect many people will read it but it's out there now.
What I would like to do is follow this with the letters and statements which I have written over these last two years, to the councillors and to our local paper. They are much more succinct than this and hopefully tell the tale better or at lest show the feelings better, and, mercifully, more briefly.
Friday 17 July 2015
About not judging a book by its cover or an apple by its colour - and on interviewees
I love sayings in general, such as "Don't judge a book by its cover", ie, don't judge by appearances; but even as I write this, I become aware that we often do and in certain circumstances, it can be an appropriate response. (This only goes to show that for every so-called 'rule', there's probably always a case for the opposite to be true!)
The trigger for this post was my morning apple. It looked a bit greenish and not very appetising to tell the truth but apple after porridge is the order of the day (or should I say breakfast) so it was consumed - and turned out to be delicious. Now, how often has the reverse been true! I've eaten many a beautifully red and luscious-looking specimen, only to be sorely disappointed. The proof of the apple, as of the pudding, is definitely in the eating. (Now there's a really good saying!)
As to interviewees, well I've known situations when the good interviewee is definitely not the man - or woman - for the job. Some people can 'talk a good job', as they say, but cannot come up with the goods; whereas others cannot seem to do themselves justice in the interview situation.
I once worked with someone who was an excellent deputy head but wasn't offered the headship when it became vacant, even though the school knew his abilities. Shortly afterwards, he was appointed as head of another local school where he was the second choice when the first choice withdrew. That school was not achieving brilliantly at the time. He totally turned it round and, in reputation and results, it eventually superseded his original school, which began to lose its former high status, I'd say.
Oh dear for them, and how very gratifying for him, I always thought. (How very naughty of me, I know.) They had a good apple in their hands but let him go. Here we are then back at books and covers - and apples - would you believe; sometimes dull beats flashy and greenish beats red, eh.
The trigger for this post was my morning apple. It looked a bit greenish and not very appetising to tell the truth but apple after porridge is the order of the day (or should I say breakfast) so it was consumed - and turned out to be delicious. Now, how often has the reverse been true! I've eaten many a beautifully red and luscious-looking specimen, only to be sorely disappointed. The proof of the apple, as of the pudding, is definitely in the eating. (Now there's a really good saying!)
As to interviewees, well I've known situations when the good interviewee is definitely not the man - or woman - for the job. Some people can 'talk a good job', as they say, but cannot come up with the goods; whereas others cannot seem to do themselves justice in the interview situation.
I once worked with someone who was an excellent deputy head but wasn't offered the headship when it became vacant, even though the school knew his abilities. Shortly afterwards, he was appointed as head of another local school where he was the second choice when the first choice withdrew. That school was not achieving brilliantly at the time. He totally turned it round and, in reputation and results, it eventually superseded his original school, which began to lose its former high status, I'd say.
Oh dear for them, and how very gratifying for him, I always thought. (How very naughty of me, I know.) They had a good apple in their hands but let him go. Here we are then back at books and covers - and apples - would you believe; sometimes dull beats flashy and greenish beats red, eh.
Tuesday 14 July 2015
About 'funny ways' and 'wabi-sabi'
Could it be true that most of us are awkward and/or difficult in one way or another?
When I first moved to the area in which I have lived most of my adult life, I was much taken with a local saying; "We've all got 'us funny ways". This was good for me because I've always been over-conscious of, and embarrassed by, my funny ways. (Yes, I do admit I have a few!! Husband, of course has NO funny ways, although he will accept that he's not perfect, for which admission, I suppose I must be grateful!)
If only we could learn to accept our own imperfections - funny ways, if you like - and those of everyone around us and train ourselves to see our own and others' gifts and strengths, surely life would be so much easier - and happier. I've written a few posts about this topic so I suppose it must be dear to my heart. Maybe I'll never achieve that goal but I can hope that it helps to keep it in mind every now and again.
PS
In recent times, I've heard and read a little about a Japanese concept called wabi-sabi so I decided to look it up on google.
In Wikipedia, it is described as a Japanese world view, centred on the acceptance of 'transience, impermanence and imperfection'. It is an aesthetic of 'beauty that is imperfect, impermanent and incomplete'.
Briefly, 'wabi' is to be satisfied with a little ....... (of anything) and 'sabi', 'the bloom of youth'. Wabi people are 'free in their hearts' and their ability to 'make-do with less' is revered.
These are just a few of the snippets I read. There is so much to chose from, some of it couched in lyrically poetic language. It really is a highly interesting and beautiful set of ideas to me and I'd recommend it to anyone else who might be interested.
When I first moved to the area in which I have lived most of my adult life, I was much taken with a local saying; "We've all got 'us funny ways". This was good for me because I've always been over-conscious of, and embarrassed by, my funny ways. (Yes, I do admit I have a few!! Husband, of course has NO funny ways, although he will accept that he's not perfect, for which admission, I suppose I must be grateful!)
If only we could learn to accept our own imperfections - funny ways, if you like - and those of everyone around us and train ourselves to see our own and others' gifts and strengths, surely life would be so much easier - and happier. I've written a few posts about this topic so I suppose it must be dear to my heart. Maybe I'll never achieve that goal but I can hope that it helps to keep it in mind every now and again.
PS
In recent times, I've heard and read a little about a Japanese concept called wabi-sabi so I decided to look it up on google.
In Wikipedia, it is described as a Japanese world view, centred on the acceptance of 'transience, impermanence and imperfection'. It is an aesthetic of 'beauty that is imperfect, impermanent and incomplete'.
Briefly, 'wabi' is to be satisfied with a little ....... (of anything) and 'sabi', 'the bloom of youth'. Wabi people are 'free in their hearts' and their ability to 'make-do with less' is revered.
These are just a few of the snippets I read. There is so much to chose from, some of it couched in lyrically poetic language. It really is a highly interesting and beautiful set of ideas to me and I'd recommend it to anyone else who might be interested.
Friday 10 July 2015
Some more thoughts
My thoughts are like birds,
Flittering and twittering
Around the branches of my mind.
Sometimes it seems to me that we are all
The 'walking wounded' in the field-hospital of life.
Flittering and twittering
Around the branches of my mind.
Sometimes it seems to me that we are all
The 'walking wounded' in the field-hospital of life.
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