If you were following this blog back in 2014/5 I may have seemed to disappear. Well, in a way I did. We had brought my dad back to the UK because he wasn't feeding himself and then we moved home, only five miles away, but the changes in our lives meant I put the thoughts of blogging away.
In the time since we last met, I have begun a course at my church, the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies, it's thought provoking and I am learning more about my religion than I ever knew! Also, my dad had a stroke!
The "Awesome Turtle" moniker should pass to my Granddaughter, eight years old and autistic, she reacted marvellously when she found him on the floor in his bedroom the morning after his 87th birthday. The only drawback, she's not a Turtle.
We've had a referendum to show that 51.8% of the country either didn't want to be part of the EU or believed the lies, half-truths and scaremongering that the Leave Campaign spouted. We've had the Prime Minister resign and, the new PM, who said when Tony Blair resigned that there should be an election, go back on that thought.
At the time of writing this, we have a challenge to the leadership of the Labour Party, and now the front runner in the challenge has stepped down, what next? Watch this space, or one near here!
Wednesday, 20 July 2016
Sunday, 11 January 2015
Je Suis Charlie!
The events in Paris and the North-Central part of France this week have made me think more about humanity.
Any god that calls for the death of any human being, unless that human has committed a crime that society says they should lose their life, cannot be called a good God. Shakespeare provides two quotations that show the unity of the human race, in my opinion.
"A rose, by any other name would smell as sweet" - God, by any other name is still God.
"Prick us, do we not bleed" - Aren't we the same as you?
It matters not, whether you are Asian, Caucasian, Negroid or Arab, if you need a doctor to save your life, or the life of one you hold dear, what race or creed the doctor is. It matters as little to the doctor, they will follow your wishes for treatment, even if it conflicts with their beliefs.
Put a Muslim child of under 5 in a room with a Christian or Jewish child of the same age, even if their parents do not speak the same language, they will play together. Alright, it may have a little bit of disagreement along the way, but they will play.
What is it that changes? Why do some people think that to take lives in the name of their God is acceptable? Why do these people not realise that some of the rules handed down to them by their ancestors may have been OK at the time of writing, but today they are not.
What I mean is, along the lines of "Do not let a witch live" in the Old Testament of the Bible. Did the people of the time when those words were written mean that every female that turns on a TV set by using a remote control should be killed? No, we should follow the laws laid down by our ancestors to a point, that point is when we realise that it has been outmoded by technology or society.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban have decreed that females cannot learn. Do they realise that the first person to teach any person is female? Unless she died in childbirth, the first person to teach children is their mother. If a mother is fit to teach, surely she is allowed to learn?
Isaac Asimov, the science-fiction writer, once formulated "The Three Laws of Robotics" as a tool to introduce a dilemma into a story. These three laws have been debated by philosophers and scientists alike and have generally been accepted for use in real robots if they ever get advanced enough. I believe these laws can be re-written to become the "Three Laws of Humanity"
My version is the one on the right, obviously. With these laws, stealing, killing and any of the other crimes that society has committed against it are dealt with. The second law will stop generals sending their troops into battle, while the third allows them to be used in defence.
I can only hope that those most in need of realising their ways are hurting them more than the rest of us read this blog. I hope they realise that the actions of a few have hardened the hearts of the rest of society against them, instead of making a statement for Islam, they have made a statement against those radical elements within Islam.
Please note, peaceful Muslims, such as officer Ahmed Merabet, slain by the attackers of the Charlie Hebdo offices are against the actions of the extremists. The majority of Muslims want no part of these acts of terrorism and so, I encourage any readers of this to remember that these people are NOT the terrorists and take no action against them.
The time has come to make peace, for after all, everyone who has typed #JeSuisCharlie or it's equivalent this week wants nothing but friendship and peace.
Please change. Give Peace a Chance!
In the wake of the shootings at the offices of Charlie Hebdo, including a Muslim police officer, the world was united, hashtags and signs of "Je Suis Charlie" in virtually every language. The way it spread, was similar to the cry in the film "Spartacus", when the slaves are captured near the end of the film, a Roman officer asks "Which of you is the slave called Spartacus?" Before Spartacus gets a chance to reply, first one, then another and another shouts "I am Spartacus."
So, along with so many others in the world, I shout out:
The sight on the news of people in silent accord at vigils across the world silently raising their hand holding a pen, a pencil or a paintbrush must have engraved itself on every person that saw the coverage.
I do not profess to know the Qu'ran in any way, shape or form. I do not profess to know the Bible as well as some others. I do know that I believe in my heart that one thing is true, and it is the one thing that Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Shintos and any other religion in this world should agree on. There is only ONE God, it matters not whether you call him/her Allah, God, or any other name.
Any god that calls for the death of any human being, unless that human has committed a crime that society says they should lose their life, cannot be called a good God. Shakespeare provides two quotations that show the unity of the human race, in my opinion.
"A rose, by any other name would smell as sweet" - God, by any other name is still God.
"Prick us, do we not bleed" - Aren't we the same as you?
It matters not, whether you are Asian, Caucasian, Negroid or Arab, if you need a doctor to save your life, or the life of one you hold dear, what race or creed the doctor is. It matters as little to the doctor, they will follow your wishes for treatment, even if it conflicts with their beliefs.
Put a Muslim child of under 5 in a room with a Christian or Jewish child of the same age, even if their parents do not speak the same language, they will play together. Alright, it may have a little bit of disagreement along the way, but they will play.
What is it that changes? Why do some people think that to take lives in the name of their God is acceptable? Why do these people not realise that some of the rules handed down to them by their ancestors may have been OK at the time of writing, but today they are not.
What I mean is, along the lines of "Do not let a witch live" in the Old Testament of the Bible. Did the people of the time when those words were written mean that every female that turns on a TV set by using a remote control should be killed? No, we should follow the laws laid down by our ancestors to a point, that point is when we realise that it has been outmoded by technology or society.
In Afghanistan, the Taliban have decreed that females cannot learn. Do they realise that the first person to teach any person is female? Unless she died in childbirth, the first person to teach children is their mother. If a mother is fit to teach, surely she is allowed to learn?
Isaac Asimov, the science-fiction writer, once formulated "The Three Laws of Robotics" as a tool to introduce a dilemma into a story. These three laws have been debated by philosophers and scientists alike and have generally been accepted for use in real robots if they ever get advanced enough. I believe these laws can be re-written to become the "Three Laws of Humanity"
|
1.
|
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction,
allow a human being to come to harm.
|
A human may not injure a human being or, through inaction,
allow a human being to come to harm.
|
|
2.
|
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except
where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
|
A human must obey the orders given it by other humans, except
where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
|
|
3.
|
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such
protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
|
A human must protect its own existence as long as such
protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.
|
My version is the one on the right, obviously. With these laws, stealing, killing and any of the other crimes that society has committed against it are dealt with. The second law will stop generals sending their troops into battle, while the third allows them to be used in defence.
I can only hope that those most in need of realising their ways are hurting them more than the rest of us read this blog. I hope they realise that the actions of a few have hardened the hearts of the rest of society against them, instead of making a statement for Islam, they have made a statement against those radical elements within Islam.
Please note, peaceful Muslims, such as officer Ahmed Merabet, slain by the attackers of the Charlie Hebdo offices are against the actions of the extremists. The majority of Muslims want no part of these acts of terrorism and so, I encourage any readers of this to remember that these people are NOT the terrorists and take no action against them.
The time has come to make peace, for after all, everyone who has typed #JeSuisCharlie or it's equivalent this week wants nothing but friendship and peace.
Please change. Give Peace a Chance!
Friday, 17 October 2014
Disability goes the wrong way!
Before you get confused by the title, I emphasise here, that it is semi-sarcastic and I ask you to consider the ways that it can be read!
Now, what am I going on about today? This Guardian article. Basically, a blind lady was challenged for bringing a guide dog into a Tesco store.
So, let us look at the elements:
A visually challenged lady,
A dog in a harness and
A mature student.
Oh, hang on, should that read:
A visually challenged lady,
A dog in a harness and
A mature student who is registered as blind!
We, in this country, are not necessarily taught the fact that a dog wearing a harness with a metal handle is helping the person attached to it. Although, somehow, we all learn it.
The image is enough, we don't need the new(ish) style lead with the words "GUIDE DOG" on a bright yellow flag! This is a Guide Dog, this dog will be attached to a person with extremely poor or no sight. This is NOT a pet, this is NOT a family dog, this is a WORKING dog, this is a dog that will not do something to endanger the health of other shoppers.
Tesco's insulting voucher is not enough. Tesco's management should grab the cashier by the scruff of the neck, frog-marched to Ms Makri's front door and made to get down on her knees and give an apology that includes her resignation.
I wonder where this (hopefully former) cashier is from. Obviously a country where the blind are hidden from view, where disabled are kept in institutions, a country where the disabled are not acknowledged.
Or, is this cashier actually visually impaired, and as such is she able to perform her duties? Is the disability held by the one behind the counter, not in front? Is discrimination of the disabled not a disability in itself? After all, the discriminator is not able to see that the person is human? They have the disability!
Now, what am I going on about today? This Guardian article. Basically, a blind lady was challenged for bringing a guide dog into a Tesco store.
So, let us look at the elements:
A visually challenged lady,
A dog in a harness and
A mature student.
Oh, hang on, should that read:
A visually challenged lady,
A dog in a harness and
A mature student who is registered as blind!
We, in this country, are not necessarily taught the fact that a dog wearing a harness with a metal handle is helping the person attached to it. Although, somehow, we all learn it.
The image is enough, we don't need the new(ish) style lead with the words "GUIDE DOG" on a bright yellow flag! This is a Guide Dog, this dog will be attached to a person with extremely poor or no sight. This is NOT a pet, this is NOT a family dog, this is a WORKING dog, this is a dog that will not do something to endanger the health of other shoppers.
Tesco's insulting voucher is not enough. Tesco's management should grab the cashier by the scruff of the neck, frog-marched to Ms Makri's front door and made to get down on her knees and give an apology that includes her resignation.
I wonder where this (hopefully former) cashier is from. Obviously a country where the blind are hidden from view, where disabled are kept in institutions, a country where the disabled are not acknowledged.
Or, is this cashier actually visually impaired, and as such is she able to perform her duties? Is the disability held by the one behind the counter, not in front? Is discrimination of the disabled not a disability in itself? After all, the discriminator is not able to see that the person is human? They have the disability!
Wednesday, 10 September 2014
30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know
Some prominent bloggers were asked to participate in this simple blog post meme to help spread awareness during Invisible Awareness Week (September 11-18th)
I'm not one of these prominent people, however, I think it is important to share these as there is still so much even my closest friends and family do not know.
1. The illness I live with is: Osteoarthritis. OK lots of people have OA, and it affects one or two joints, mine is spreading. For those that don't know, OA is a condition that affects your joints. The surfaces within your joints become damaged so the joint doesn't move as smoothly as it should. This causes pain, in some cases, like mine, the pain is constant.
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: I was diagnosed in 1994, I think, after a motorcycle accident had started my right knee aching.
3. But I had symptoms since: I can't really remember when symptoms started. I was often tired, or had aches and pains etc which at the time I did not know were symptoms.
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: learning to adjust to my limits and having to help others less as I have to take care of myself.
5. Most people assume: that I am a happy, upbeat person because that's how I always was. When my knee first dislocated in 1980, I emptied a half hour bottle of Entonox (NO2) in 12 minutes! In the half hour to get to the hospital, I emptied two more. But I was joking all the time.
I try to look at the funny side to avoid looking at the down side, but, remember the song "Tears of a Clown"?
6. The hardest part about mornings are: simply getting moving at first. I am achy and very tired, as I normally don't get to sleep until 2/3 a.m. It would be easy to just go back to bed, but normally the wife wants me to pick her up or take her somewhere.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: House of course! I just wish there were doctors like him and his team in the UK to sort people out!
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: It's a toss-up between my battery operated can opener or the laptop. The can opener means I can get at food, the laptop, allows me to order groceries for delivery, but also keep in touch with family and friends.
9. The hardest part about nights are: The excruciating agony in my knees keeping me awake, to such an extent that pain killers don't touch it. The fact that the late nights in pain, in tears, means that my body then needs longer in the morning to wake up and the fact that people think, oh, if you're going to sleep so much later, go to sleep earlier!
10. Each day I take 15 pills & but no vitamins as yet. (No comments, please)
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: I know homeopathy works, I've seen it with my children and teething stuff my ex-father-in-law (a homeopathist) gave us for them. I would love to find something that helps with the muscle spasms, the pain, the weakness.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: I would really like to be able to choose a third option - neither! The invisible illnesses and disabilities in the world need more understanding from those around us. Compassion is easy for people when they see someone with an amputated or deformed limb, but when the problems are hidden, understanding of the problem is difficult.
13. Regarding working and career: I wish! I had the awful "turn down" at a few job interviews in the past of "You are a fire risk! We can't have you work for you because if there was a fire, we couldn't risk you falling down the stairs and blocking them!"
14. People would be surprised to know: That I often wish I could curl up in a corner and let the rest of the world go to heck. I often feel like I want to give up, but I have three gorgeous grand-daughters that I can't let down.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: The lack of energy. The constant pain tires you out, so you need to pace yourself through the day. You have to use trains to travel to places that used to be a car drive away.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: That's the problem, Osteoarthritis is not a young person's illness, so older people have it, not me! I don't know anything that I'm not supposed to be able to do.
17. The commercials about my illness: There are no commercials for Osteoarthritis, it is still a very misunderstood illness (by most people). The journey of awareness has begun but there is a long way to go for a cure.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Hiking across our local Country Park, bird watching and enjoying nature.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: My independent nature, if I fall, if I can't stand up, the need for help to get up.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: There isn't anything really, I would like to try several ideas, but they all need fine motor skills with the fingers and I'm losing that.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Take my grand-daughters out across the "Firehills" between Hastings and Rye, showing them all the hidden things, both flora and fauna.
22. My illness has taught me: People prefer things they can see, even if they still don't understand them. Jonny Peacock is accepted as he has no feet, Tony Turtle is OK because he has all his bits!
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: "You don't know what real pain is!" Sorry? 24/7/365! I know what pain is!
24. But I love it when people: When people put their arm about me, even though it hurts and says, "I wish I could take the pain away" (even better when the name "Gumpy", my grand-daughter's name for me, is included)
25. My favourite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: It is tough, it may get worse, but the people that love you will be shown up by staying with you.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: The fact that people don't seem to care if they can't see something wrong.
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Having my daughter who has ME (CFS) get dressed, put the kids in the car and brought them to visit.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: The world needs to realise that it's not just the people with Invisible Illnesses that realise there is such a thing as Invisible Illness.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Hopeful that more people will understand about Invisible Illness.
For more in my blog about all sorts of stuff: http://aturtle05.blogspot.com/2014/09/30-things-about-my-invisible-illness.html
For more in my blog about all sorts of stuff: http://aturtle05.blogspot.com/2014/09/30-things-about-my-invisible-illness.html
Monday, 25 August 2014
Why I do NOT support the Ice Bucket Challenge!
Earlier today, the Ice Bucket Challenge got close to home, my wife got challenged. She can't understand my point of view, that I cannot see why people are not donating to charity.
For those that don't know, where have you been, but the challenge is, you have 24 hours to donate to charity or pay a forfeit of getting a bucketful of cold water poured over your head. I have since been told that some feel you get to pay one amount if you do the challenge but a greater amount if you refuse. So I felt compelled to post on facebook:
#IceBucketChallenge for any wishing to challenge me, I thought I had better list some of the charities my wife and I have already donated to this year from the small amount of money we have:
As I said in the title of this piece, I do NOT support the Ice Bucket Challenge, not because it's so successful, but because the charities have not suggested a set of guidelines as to how the challenges should be made. I would like to call on the ALSA to add a set of guidelines to their page. I would like people to point out in a better way (a sign in the video of them getting doused saying I paid £xx, €xx or $xx to challenge A__ B___) as not everyone has the volume on when watching videos on facebook.
I would like to call on a website designer to work out a way that for a charitable donation an email is sent to the challengee who then has 24 hours to challenge someone else. Hang on, that sounds like a chain letter in a way. Still, if that is what it takes...
So far I have seen 3 videos of people hurt doing these challenges (hopefully not seriously), I have heard that one person died after completing the challenge. How much is the death or paralysation of even one person worth?
I have the right to privacy, if I want to donate to charity, that is my right, as is the right to not force that choice on others. Don't call me a "miserable sod" because of my beliefs, don't think I do not wish to give more to charity, because I do and it upsets me that I haven't got enough income to do so.
For those that don't know, where have you been, but the challenge is, you have 24 hours to donate to charity or pay a forfeit of getting a bucketful of cold water poured over your head. I have since been told that some feel you get to pay one amount if you do the challenge but a greater amount if you refuse. So I felt compelled to post on facebook:
#IceBucketChallenge for any wishing to challenge me, I thought I had better list some of the charities my wife and I have already donated to this year from the small amount of money we have:
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Donate/
https://www.facebook.com/impact.charity.1
http://www.rspb.org.uk/search/index.aspx?q=
http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/donate
http://www.meresearch.org.uk/support-us/online-donation/
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/giving/donations/makeadonation/#.U_tIMPldWSo
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/how-to-give
https://www.facebook.com/impact.charity.1
http://www.rspb.org.uk/search/index.aspx?q=
http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/donate
http://www.meresearch.org.uk/support-us/online-donation/
https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/giving/donations/makeadonation/#.U_tIMPldWSo
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/how-to-give
This list is not exhaustive, but if it is still insufficient for any of you then I will not empty a bucket of water over my head. I donate, I do not need to be TOLD to donate, I care about both people and animals. I would have preferred to keep my charity to myself, but it seems this is necessary.
If you don't like it - go stick your head in a bucket of water!
Better still, stick your hand in your pocket and donate to those who need your help.
So, I got told off for being boring, so I started looking for the "rules" of this challenge and the only place that came up with them was Wikipedia! I then posted this in reply on facebook:
I just don't like the way it seems to be giving people a way out and they are all taking it! It seems to me it's pay up or get drenched, and everyone seems to be getting wet.
You cannot demand that people donate to charity, it has to be a conscious choice. Yes, it may have raised a bit of awareness, but there are other ways.
If I want to advertise my charitable donation, look at the front of my car (there's a plastic poppy), on the lapel of the jacket I will be wearing on 3 September (there's an enamel poppy badge), or my coat/jumper in October/November (I'll be wearing a paper poppy), and I won't be removing the large one until Tuesday the 11th of November.
Looking at the Wikipedia page about this challenge, as I couldn't find any authorised rules of the challenge, "A common stipulation is that nominated people have 24 hours to comply or forfeit by way of a charitable financial donation"
So, to my mind, there is no donating, just dunking!
If the ALS society in the USA had listed the rules and stated "Donate to nominate then donate when you're dunked, or donate and don't get dunked" I would have no problem. The challenge seems to be pay up or get dunked! So, how is this raising money?
I am not anti-charity, as my first facebook post shows, I am not anti-ALS (apart from I would like to see it gone), I am just anti this challenge thing.
People have not stopped caring, but people have become complacent about charity in a time when charity is more important than ever. I would encourage people to give as much as possible, I know money is tight, your choice is as important as to who you give the money to, or which foodbank you want to donate some of your shopping to. Give, give,give!!!!
You cannot demand that people donate to charity, it has to be a conscious choice. Yes, it may have raised a bit of awareness, but there are other ways.
If I want to advertise my charitable donation, look at the front of my car (there's a plastic poppy), on the lapel of the jacket I will be wearing on 3 September (there's an enamel poppy badge), or my coat/jumper in October/November (I'll be wearing a paper poppy), and I won't be removing the large one until Tuesday the 11th of November.
Looking at the Wikipedia page about this challenge, as I couldn't find any authorised rules of the challenge, "A common stipulation is that nominated people have 24 hours to comply or forfeit by way of a charitable financial donation"
So, to my mind, there is no donating, just dunking!
If the ALS society in the USA had listed the rules and stated "Donate to nominate then donate when you're dunked, or donate and don't get dunked" I would have no problem. The challenge seems to be pay up or get dunked! So, how is this raising money?
I am not anti-charity, as my first facebook post shows, I am not anti-ALS (apart from I would like to see it gone), I am just anti this challenge thing.
People have not stopped caring, but people have become complacent about charity in a time when charity is more important than ever. I would encourage people to give as much as possible, I know money is tight, your choice is as important as to who you give the money to, or which foodbank you want to donate some of your shopping to. Give, give,give!!!!
As I said in the title of this piece, I do NOT support the Ice Bucket Challenge, not because it's so successful, but because the charities have not suggested a set of guidelines as to how the challenges should be made. I would like to call on the ALSA to add a set of guidelines to their page. I would like people to point out in a better way (a sign in the video of them getting doused saying I paid £xx, €xx or $xx to challenge A__ B___) as not everyone has the volume on when watching videos on facebook.
I would like to call on a website designer to work out a way that for a charitable donation an email is sent to the challengee who then has 24 hours to challenge someone else. Hang on, that sounds like a chain letter in a way. Still, if that is what it takes...
So far I have seen 3 videos of people hurt doing these challenges (hopefully not seriously), I have heard that one person died after completing the challenge. How much is the death or paralysation of even one person worth?
I have the right to privacy, if I want to donate to charity, that is my right, as is the right to not force that choice on others. Don't call me a "miserable sod" because of my beliefs, don't think I do not wish to give more to charity, because I do and it upsets me that I haven't got enough income to do so.
So, please, if you have any spare money, search your heart, think of things that affect you and your family, find the relevant society and give your spare cash to them!
Thursday, 31 July 2014
Diary of a Benefit Scrounger: Confirmed - The FULL Impact of Cuts Disabled Peopl...
I have never re-posted a fellow blogger's posting, but this has to reach the BIGGEST audience possible.
Lord Freud (carefully typed to avoid a Freudian slip) and Iain Duncan Smith have been caught (may I add, again) in a lie. This time, the biggest lie of the Con-Dem Coalition, the one they have been fighting all along.
Read it, share it, let them fight the truth!
Diary of a Benefit Scrounger: Confirmed - The FULL Impact of Cuts Disabled Peopl...: Since the coalition came to power, sick and disabled people have claimed we are being fundamentally harmed by the coalition welfare refor...
Lord Freud (carefully typed to avoid a Freudian slip) and Iain Duncan Smith have been caught (may I add, again) in a lie. This time, the biggest lie of the Con-Dem Coalition, the one they have been fighting all along.
Read it, share it, let them fight the truth!
Diary of a Benefit Scrounger: Confirmed - The FULL Impact of Cuts Disabled Peopl...: Since the coalition came to power, sick and disabled people have claimed we are being fundamentally harmed by the coalition welfare refor...
Tuesday, 1 July 2014
Taking over quietly.
I can't remember if I've mentioned this before, but if I have, I apologise, still, here goes.
From my point of view, this reared it's ugly head about ten years ago when coming back into the country via Gatwick airport.
Picture the scene: it's about four o'clock in the morning and my wife and I have been up all day and night, it was a late night flight to save money and thanks to a delay. So, we have about two hours before a train arrives to take us home, so I think "Coffee time"!
I toddled over to the coffee bar (who I won't mention as this is the only problem I have had with them), and through my sleep filled brain, I asked the "barista" for two white coffees. Remember, this is in the days when you asked for a white coffee and got served with the establishments version of coffee with milk.
"Er, we don't do white coffee, only Americano, Latte or Cappucino", says the girl behind the bar.
"It's four a.m., I just want two cups of white coffee!"
"We don't do white coffee, only Americano, Latte or Cappucino", says the brain of Britain.
"Listen, in France, I'd ask for Café au Lait, in Spain, Café con Leche, in England I ask for a White Coffee or Coffee with milk! Two, please!"
"We don't do white coffee, only Americano, Latte or Cappucino", says her again.
I gave up, scanned the menu board and requested, "Oh, heck, two hot chocolates please!"
So the young mademoiselle turns to her colleague "Two hot chocolates"
While waiting, my eyes alighted on the cake display - "May I have two almond slices as well please?"
"Those have got nuts in them, you know"
"Yeah, I think the idea's in the title, dear", she pulled two almond slices out of the display and then her colleague passes the hot chocolates over.
"Do you want chocolate on those?" says the young lady, holding a shaker of chocolate.
"I'm sorry?"
"Do you want chocolate on those?"
"Listen, sweetheart," says I, sympathetically, "there's chocolate in the cup, if there isn't enough chocolate in the cup why would I want more?"
So she capped the cups, took my money and I went back to my wife.
So, the point - it's not that some people are less intelligent than required, it's the principle of going to a coffee shop in England and having to ask for my coffee in a foreign language! As I said to the young lady so long ago, if I'm abroad, I'll ask for coffee in the local language.
We're losing our identity.
But it's the thin edge of the wedge.
Look at the Ciabbata or Panini that you are going to eat with the coffee, even though I am the first to agree that it's the bread style that goes with those that names them. But the coffee, a white coffee, not Latte or Espresso or Americano or Cappucino is what I want.
From my point of view, this reared it's ugly head about ten years ago when coming back into the country via Gatwick airport.
Picture the scene: it's about four o'clock in the morning and my wife and I have been up all day and night, it was a late night flight to save money and thanks to a delay. So, we have about two hours before a train arrives to take us home, so I think "Coffee time"!
I toddled over to the coffee bar (who I won't mention as this is the only problem I have had with them), and through my sleep filled brain, I asked the "barista" for two white coffees. Remember, this is in the days when you asked for a white coffee and got served with the establishments version of coffee with milk.
"Er, we don't do white coffee, only Americano, Latte or Cappucino", says the girl behind the bar.
"It's four a.m., I just want two cups of white coffee!"
"We don't do white coffee, only Americano, Latte or Cappucino", says the brain of Britain.
"Listen, in France, I'd ask for Café au Lait, in Spain, Café con Leche, in England I ask for a White Coffee or Coffee with milk! Two, please!"
"We don't do white coffee, only Americano, Latte or Cappucino", says her again.
I gave up, scanned the menu board and requested, "Oh, heck, two hot chocolates please!"
So the young mademoiselle turns to her colleague "Two hot chocolates"
While waiting, my eyes alighted on the cake display - "May I have two almond slices as well please?"
"Those have got nuts in them, you know"
"Yeah, I think the idea's in the title, dear", she pulled two almond slices out of the display and then her colleague passes the hot chocolates over.
"Do you want chocolate on those?" says the young lady, holding a shaker of chocolate.
"I'm sorry?"
"Do you want chocolate on those?"
"Listen, sweetheart," says I, sympathetically, "there's chocolate in the cup, if there isn't enough chocolate in the cup why would I want more?"
So she capped the cups, took my money and I went back to my wife.
So, the point - it's not that some people are less intelligent than required, it's the principle of going to a coffee shop in England and having to ask for my coffee in a foreign language! As I said to the young lady so long ago, if I'm abroad, I'll ask for coffee in the local language.
We're losing our identity.
But it's the thin edge of the wedge.
Look at the Ciabbata or Panini that you are going to eat with the coffee, even though I am the first to agree that it's the bread style that goes with those that names them. But the coffee, a white coffee, not Latte or Espresso or Americano or Cappucino is what I want.
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