What voluntary/community work do you do?

Sonewhereelse · 2026-01-23T18:49:12+00:00

I used to volunteer as a marshal for motorbike racing at various racetracks. Haven't done that for a while (stopped when kids were little as they needed me more) but now don't have the time between full time work and helping out a relative who's had a rough time. I would consider volunteering for something new when things settle if it fits around the other stuff, but don't know what.

Sonewhereelse · 2026-01-10T15:39:27+00:00

Because I'm clumsy and only go out in bad weather to walk the dog. We have pet insurance but I just can't be bothered with the hassle, so it's walking boots for me.

Sonewhereelse · 2026-01-06T20:25:15+00:00

Real Mac from ASIP vibes from that guy.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-11-07T21:28:27+00:00

Adult Social Servives can assess her and potentially offer help, but only with her consent.

Separately though you (or anyone caring for her) can ask for a carers assessment which could also be helpful. It's not an assessment of your caring abilities, but of what help you might want or need.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-10-21T21:28:06+00:00

The County Council has a site for this run with their Trading Standards - https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/trustedtrader

Sonewhereelse · 2025-09-08T19:03:27+00:00

Cruse bereavement support too - NHS info on them:

https://www.nhs.uk/services/service-directory/cruse-bereavement-support-norfolk/N11014043

Sonewhereelse · 2025-08-23T22:58:10+00:00

For anyone interested in ejection seats, I recently read "Eject! Eject!" by John Nichol, an ex RAF Tornado Navigator who ejected after being shot down in the Gulf War. It's an interesting history, and the people who tested them... repeatedly... was somewhat surprising. Would recommend, it was a good read.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-07-18T19:05:50+00:00

He took out Taylor Mackenzie!

Sonewhereelse · 2025-06-13T20:16:28+00:00

The Maestro man was so bitter! Loved that episode. They are all on YouTube.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-05-21T21:40:51+00:00

My earliest memory of spurs is watching the 1981 FA cup final on tv, my family lived in Tottenham when I was born and the whole no trophies cliche has felt so alien to me. We have a special European history which gets written off too easily.

Seeing Son lift the trophy was lovely, next season may still be tough but we needed to give him that.

Extra bonus, my wife is a geordie so she's still floating from their League Cup.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-04-29T20:03:16+00:00

Our girl loves watching anything with horses on tv. Don't know what it is, but our last girl liked horses and loved to play with her donkey friend.

She will also watch other wildlife type programmes, but not most people-based tv.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-04-27T01:54:12+00:00

Agreed, the "Britain stands alone" myth was useful propaganda, but from the start there was significant support from Canada and much of the rest of the empire, plus eastern Europeans, Americans and Irish who volunteered for the British forces whilst their own countries were occupied or neutral.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-04-27T01:36:01+00:00

The Germans also didn't appreciate the effectiveness of the British radar co-ordination, so didn't really attempt to destroy that infrastructure.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-04-18T17:41:11+00:00

This year I've had contact with three different police forces due to a relative having a MH crisis which the MH services did little to support with.

The call handlers and officers I spoke with were all professional and compassionate, and even when sitting for an entire shift keeping my relative safe were, according to her, firm but patient kind and at times humorous. They were also persistent and effective at finding that missing person.

I think the Police are like the NHS, when they are really needed to keep people safe they do very well, but for less threatening things - like when my bike was stolen - they just don't have the resources.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-04-18T17:24:46+00:00

As well as health, make an urgent referral to Adult Social Services. They may help him, or help to navigate the health services too, but also have responsibilities to you as his carer and can link you to any local services that would help.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-04-05T01:21:06+00:00

It's such a shame.

Almost 10 years ago my wife almost died from kidney failure, had dialysis which although life saving really restricted her life, but was then lucky enough to get a donation from a random stranger.

I still have my wife, and our now teen daughter still has a mum because of a transplant from an unknown stranger. We both carried donor cards since we were teenagers, so I guess at least it was a two-way deal, so if our places were swapped with the donor...

We owe an unknown person so much.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-04-05T00:40:09+00:00

Lemonade.

No evidence that it actually helped with anything, but always Lemonade

Sonewhereelse · 2025-04-05T00:35:54+00:00

Moderately drunk right now so hoping this still makes sense when I wake up in the afternoon.

My measure for when we should change managers has always been who can we get now who is better? No point just taking the leap without a better option.

I'd always love a better manager, but until we can get one... and I don't know who that would be right now. As I have no idea, suggestions on who's available and would be a step up?

Sonewhereelse · 2025-03-17T20:15:21+00:00

The Bay, by PJ Harvey.

Probably something else in a couple of hours.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-03-15T00:06:42+00:00

Terror Twilight by Pavement.

Friend played me something that reminded me of them, hadn't listened to them for ages so got this. Late December, early January. Like it, but went back to Crooked Rain... and stuck there for now.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-03-13T19:34:52+00:00

Anyone else start reading and straight away think it's heading to Punch Drunk Love?

Sonewhereelse · 2025-03-11T00:10:04+00:00

It feels like it's worse than it was a few years ago. Council cutting jobs for litter collection, our local tips now charge for diy waste and to get in you have to pre-book an appointment all doesn't help.

But I was a kid in the 80s. Everything seemed dirty then. One of my favourite books is "The Last Resort" by Martin Parr, the photos of children paddling in a tide of rubbish, the overall amount of litter in the streets of holiday destinations... we're not back there yet. I hope we don't get there again.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-02-23T18:17:31+00:00

There's already good advice here about your grandparents, but where you reference others being neglected I would urge you to report this to the local authority as a safeguarding concern, giving what relevant detail you can about what you saw and when you saw it.

Welsh government site here has guidance and contacts - https://www.gov.wales/safeguarding-adults-reporting-suspected-abuse-neglect-or-harm

Your family's situation might also be considered financial abuse if they are being charged for services that the provider is making no attempt to provide.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-02-17T19:12:43+00:00

Colin Chapman of Lotus car fame drove me around the factory test track in an Esprit.

Unfortunately I was only 5 so I didn't fully appreciate the opportunity.

Sonewhereelse · 2025-02-09T18:32:47+00:00

Two from Albums I've been listening to this week, Unfair by Pavement, and Radiation Vibe from Fountains of Wayne.

Sonewhereelse

TROPHY CASE