Life is full of significant moments, and one such arrived for me today. I have just received my first ever Winter fuel payment. I understand this is sent to older people to keep them warm for a couple of weeks during the Winter. I am very grateful to the government for this money, which appears to be tax free.
I am ok for cash at the moment so I am going to put it towards some golf equipment I have my eye on. It will get me out of the house a bit more which will mean the central heating can be turned down so in that respect it will be contributing to lowering my heating outlay!!
I was pointing out to my grandkids recently ( well those who can understand) that you become a Senior citizen when you bend down to tie up your shoe lace, and look around for what ever else you can do while you are down there.......they will soon be trained to do that for me, as well as cutting my toe nails, although I suspect bribery may be involved for that activity to be successful.
So let's hope we have a mild Winter with a good dumping of snow for Christmas and then everybody should be able to use their allowance for something else......ho! ho! ho!
Showing posts with label central heating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label central heating. Show all posts
Wednesday, 23 November 2016
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Its life Jim but not as we know it....
The director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor starts a Radio 4 series next week discussing the 100 items which in his opinion have helped shape civilisation. Now some of the list are known already. The Sutton Hoo helmet, the chronometer from HMS Beagle and the drawing by Durer of the first rhino to land in modern Europe where published in the Sunday Times preview article. The 100th and final item however, is yet to be decided and Neil wants your help. Will it be an i-phone, a recycling bin or something else which is a more recent influence? You can offer your nomination by e-mail to communications@britishmuseum.org.
I wonder what would have been to the fore front as far as my parents were concerned? Firstly the atomic bomb and the part it played in bringing the second world war to a close should be on the list. I remember we had a car and I was pushed round in a Silver Cross pram but they were probably luxury items of the time. The internal combustion engine though ought to be in the list. We also had a TV when they were introduced , and as with many items in the list it is questionable whether civilisation has improved for having been presented with it.
Of more practical use was the refrigerator which replaced the larder as the means of keeping food cool, and the bucket of water in which the milk used to stand, and at work my father used a biro instead of his fountain pen, and a slide rule pre-dated the pocket calculator.
An early item I remember was the introduction of central heating and the difference a radiator in the house made. It replaced coal fires and made the London smogs a thing of the past. It is ironic that its use these days is seen as contributing to global warming, and that the re-introduction of coal fired power stations may need to be accelerated.
So what about my 50 years of evolution? well, from a sporting point of view the gum shield and screw-in studs in football boots saved my teeth and feet from being wrecked.
The personal computer and afore mentioned mobile phone were must haves, and the introduction of credit cards and ATM banking facilities led to a step change in money management. The Freddie Laker Skytrain was an introduction to cheap air travel and helped make the world the smaller planet it is now. Skiing was introduced to the masses and ancient civilisations in South America became tourist destinations.
Space travel has unlocked many new and innovative scientific advances and what would we do without plastic, be it bottles, packaging or construction materials. Where does the first high rise tower block fit into the list, and was the Tardis real or imaginary?
Our first grandchild has indicated that young parents would put disposable nappies at the top of the list but where would DVD's fit in the hierarchy of music media pioneered by 78 and 45rpm vinyl recordings, the cassette tape, and Betamax video systems!!!
The camera never used to lie, but now with digital technology and PhotShop one can never be sure.
Many things I have mentioned, and other items on the list will, I suspect, question whether they have benefited our civilisation long term. Munitions, CCTV cameras, the cane and its abolition, the Human Rights Act and the aeroplane which flew into the World Trade Centre all come to mind. I wonder what the 100th item will turn out to be?
I wonder what would have been to the fore front as far as my parents were concerned? Firstly the atomic bomb and the part it played in bringing the second world war to a close should be on the list. I remember we had a car and I was pushed round in a Silver Cross pram but they were probably luxury items of the time. The internal combustion engine though ought to be in the list. We also had a TV when they were introduced , and as with many items in the list it is questionable whether civilisation has improved for having been presented with it.
Of more practical use was the refrigerator which replaced the larder as the means of keeping food cool, and the bucket of water in which the milk used to stand, and at work my father used a biro instead of his fountain pen, and a slide rule pre-dated the pocket calculator.
An early item I remember was the introduction of central heating and the difference a radiator in the house made. It replaced coal fires and made the London smogs a thing of the past. It is ironic that its use these days is seen as contributing to global warming, and that the re-introduction of coal fired power stations may need to be accelerated.
So what about my 50 years of evolution? well, from a sporting point of view the gum shield and screw-in studs in football boots saved my teeth and feet from being wrecked.
The personal computer and afore mentioned mobile phone were must haves, and the introduction of credit cards and ATM banking facilities led to a step change in money management. The Freddie Laker Skytrain was an introduction to cheap air travel and helped make the world the smaller planet it is now. Skiing was introduced to the masses and ancient civilisations in South America became tourist destinations.
Space travel has unlocked many new and innovative scientific advances and what would we do without plastic, be it bottles, packaging or construction materials. Where does the first high rise tower block fit into the list, and was the Tardis real or imaginary?
Our first grandchild has indicated that young parents would put disposable nappies at the top of the list but where would DVD's fit in the hierarchy of music media pioneered by 78 and 45rpm vinyl recordings, the cassette tape, and Betamax video systems!!!
The camera never used to lie, but now with digital technology and PhotShop one can never be sure.
Many things I have mentioned, and other items on the list will, I suspect, question whether they have benefited our civilisation long term. Munitions, CCTV cameras, the cane and its abolition, the Human Rights Act and the aeroplane which flew into the World Trade Centre all come to mind. I wonder what the 100th item will turn out to be?
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