Hi Everyone
On the Facebook site, there are social media platforms. Now I bet that there are not many people approaching middle age who know or care what a social media platform is.
Anyway, this particular social media platform is called Meir Watch, you know the place where the Fruit, Vegetable, Flower, Game, and Lolly shop was located and where I and the Main Contractor were born. This week someone posed the question how the area could be improved and what new amenities would improve the lives of those living there. As always, the answers varied from demolition to a new big shiny Supermarket. Two or three sensible lines of opinion, however, were worthy of closer consideration. Many people thought that their should be fewer takeaways and barbers shops as Turkish barbers seem to be singhing faces everywhere. Then others pointed out that there must be a demand for these businesses or they would not be there. Now when the Fruit, Vegetable.............. shop was thriving there was also a fish shop, grocers, ironmongers, butchers, shoe shops, radio and TV shops, dress shops, and menswear shops. Of course, most of the people writing on the social platform would even remember that all those shops ever existed, so when they ask for a shiny new supermarket they have no idea that these supermarkets caused the problem in the first place. Then some contributors suggested children's play areas and the return of the Youth Club. Sadly, the much needed children's play areas would probably be neglected and vandalised by the young people who we want to get off the streets and into the youth clubs. When I was a member of the local youth club it was almost an extension of school as it took place at the school and, to be a member, you had to attend at least one night class, woodwork or metalwork for the boys with the teachers in attendance. Can you imagine that happening today, and if you add in all the rules and regulations that now apply around young people, there are very few people now willing to take on this vital work.
My weekend newspaper has a section called What We Learned this Week. Having read it I concluded - not much. One piece however had the usual argument about statistics. The Wildlife Trusts concluded that the building of HS2 between London and Birmingham will result in a drop in nature six times greater than forecast by HS2 Ltd. Similar alarming figures were forecast for phase 2 from Birmingham to the north. A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd said, "We don't recognise the figures in the report nor do we believe that to be reliable". What the spokesperson apparently failed to clarify was whether he was talking about the wildlife or his own trains. Now as HS2 Ltd forecast that the cost would be £56Billion and would be running in 2028 which has now been upgraded to about £150Billion with the trains running in 2038, I will leave you to make your own choice.
Amid all the gloom and difficulties that many people are experiencing at the moment, if we look carefully there are many others, very near to where we live, making great efforts to help and support those less fortunate people, both young and old. The wonderful thing is that those people are present in every locality across the country. Occasionally one gets an award to recognise the work that they have done, very often over many years. In nearly every case that I have encountered, they say that the award is not just for them but also for the community and the support that they have received. Unfortunately, bad news gets more exposure than good news. Only more good news will change that.
Just a thought :
The golden rule of social media. Tweet others as you would like to be tweeted.
My friend as a youth was very poor. Now after years of hard work and effort, he is no longer young.
The good news is that I have a publisher willing to print this Rubbish. The problem is the book has to be less than 10 pages long.
I bet that you cannot wait for next week.
Brian