I've told this story before, but I was on a NYC subway train once when a blind man got on. No one offered him a seat. I finally said, "Will no one give a seat to a blind man?" and got up to offer him mine. "I didn't ask for it and I don't want it!" the blind man replied, and not in a very nice tone of voice. I was so embarrassed I got off at the next stop and waited for the next train.
Miss Amanda, I would always take a seat offered to me for just that reason. Turn it down and the offerer will not offer again - and the next person might really need it. In one case, my manager at 8 months pregnant (so no, she did not just look fat!) who travelled from London to Farnham sitting on the train floor because no-one would offer her a seat.
I've told this story before, but I was on a NYC subway train once when a blind man got on. No one offered him a seat. I finally said, "Will no one give a seat to a blind man?" and got up to offer him mine. "I didn't ask for it and I don't want it!" the blind man replied, and not in a very nice tone of voice. I was so embarrassed I got off at the next stop and waited for the next train.
Miss Amanda, full marks for being caring, but perhaps you should have asked the blind man himself first ? Thusly:
Miss A (perhaps lightly touching Man on arm, to attract attention): 'Excuse me, but would you like to sit down?'
Man:
'No, it's OK, but thanks for asking!'
My husband once got on the subway in Boston carrying our six-month-old and leading our three-year-old by the hand. There were no seats, and he didn't have a hand free to hold on to anything. A woman offered him her seat, which he gratefully accepted.
IME women, at least in Boston, are much more likely to offer their seats than men.
This is an Australian site.. Over the years I have made many purchases for the grandchildren, all popular and well received. Their service is good.
Sorry to hear about ThinkGeek. I boughtDr Who paraphernalia from them for two grandchildren. They loved it and the items arrived down here quickly. Not cheap for Aussies, but the reaction was worth it.
Sad re ThinkGeek. I think I only ever browsed there, but it was fun.
Try MakeZine. Magazine, stuff to make, stuff to buy, Maker Faires, Maker movement, etc. I used to subscribe, and went to 2-3 Maker Faires. Lots of fun.
If your recipients like comics, they might like associated geeky gifts. Especially if they like the brilliant xkcd online comic strip. There's a "Store" link at the top of the page.
Large agricultural vehicles on narrow rural roads. Also vintage horse drawn gypsy vans on main rural roads with oncoming traffic.
We were going to the hospital and a bank - another sad tale - and found ourselves at 7 mph a long long way behind the van (a bit like a shepherd's hut, but not exactly). So I changed the route (as did others ahead and behind) and rounded a corner to find myself facing this gigantic sprayer, more fitted to Omaha than North West Kent. (It would have been worse with the arms extended!) Brakes on, pulled in, when I saw the following car in the mirror. also braking, followed by an almighty clunk. We moved a couple of feet up the road. My hatch is bent, the frame of the boot is bent, the bumper is smashed, a light cluster is loose and the reverse warning is on all the time.
Awaiting courtesy car and car collection.
According to the lads in the car behind - air bags engaged - and a garage courtesy car, too - there are strict mileage limits on what such vehicles can do on the public roads. And he could get hit for the insurance if they were exceeded. Not sure about that. My company wasn't interested in his number.
That sounds awful Penny, I hope your car, unlike ours (see elsewhere), can be repaired, but large, slow agricultural vehicles are a feature on rural roads. OTOH idiots travelling too close and too fast behind you are worthy of the hot, deep place.
TICTH the man who came at me on a bicycle he was riding on the pavement, forcing me to step off into the cycle lane of a very busy roundabout to avoid being hit!
That sounds awful Penny, I hope your car, unlike ours (see elsewhere), can be repaired, but large, slow agricultural vehicles are a feature on rural roads. OTOH idiots travelling too close and too fast behind you are worthy of the hot, deep place.
Yes, you were only doing just over 30 mph I see. I believe I'm right (having had a rear-end shunt a couple of years ago) that the blame is always put on the driver behind for not keeping a safe distance.
Companies that insist you phone to sort out problems, even though you explain to four different people on their 'chat' facility that you are deaf and using said facility is much easier for you.
The lads, in the car mechanic business, and respraying, wanted to get at me for being stationary on a blind bend!
For some reason car mechanics often make terrible drivers.
Fortunately neither they nor your insurance company are likely to have any truck with their argument. It's open and shut. They assumed the road would be clear - that is not an assumption one is entitled to make. Sheep, pedestrians, a previous accident - anything could be round a bend.
TICTH the persons unknown who decided to steal the identity on Facebook of a friend who had just been diagnosed with cancer. How to make a tough week even harder.
The photo on the driver's licence would not have looked out of place among the school photos I used to hand out in Year 4 (8-9)! I don't think off the card he would be out of his teens, but not as young as 17. He didn't know his insurance company as his parents dealt with it. I've just had my renewal (due next month) pushed up over £100 because of loss of "protected" NCB, but I suspect he will have a much nastier shock. Or his parents will.
He wasn't actually too close, though he had been close in the 7mph queue, initially out of sight as I was stopping. (And I need to take that going round bend caution a bit more intently, as well.)
Google tells me that "protected NCB" means "protected no claims bonus" . . . ? I hate abbreviations and acronyms.
That said, some insurance companies over here offer similar inducements for safe driving.
Of course there's no such thing as a free lunch, as they say. I'm sure that the cost to your insurance company for offering protected NCB is included in the initial premium cost.
TICTH the persons unknown who decided to steal the identity on Facebook of a friend who had just been diagnosed with cancer. How to make a tough week even harder.
I've just been reading up about 'grade 2 oligodendroglioma', which is how my mate E has ended up with a hole in the top of his head. Apparently if you're going to have a brain tumour, this is not such a bad one to have. Hmm.
Grade 2 are the slow-growing, not-so-dangerous, blighters, but still unwelcome. My blighter was a meningioma, also slow-growing, but, again, best got rid of.
Which they did, but at least they stapled my head back together again (and you can see the join quite clearly!).
Whatever happened to the repair arrangements. Referral left the insurers on Thursday. The repair company know nothing about it. The insurers are currently investigating. "Hasn't it been picked up yet?" And the bodyshop lot have a waiting list until mid August.
Now waiting for them to call back "shortly".
Training for a charity, where what I am volunteering to do is extremely simple and straightforward. The training guff I have been sent is about the size of an old London telephone directory, plus there has also been a one and a half hour party phone call training session as well... Then today they sent me a "feedback on your training" form to fill in. I'm afraid I was was a bit rude and abrupt. I think I may have lost myself my volunteer position even before starting it! (And that would be an own goal, as I would like to do it.)
My thoughts exactly - but I'm afraid that, in today's climate, 'safeguarding', Elf and Safe Tea, etc. etc. are hoops that everyone has to jump through, including churches and charities.
The result is Oodles of Bumpf to read and assimilate (and woe betide anyone who bleats, 'But what about the rain-forests?').
In this case, though, ISTM that they could have Done It Better!
As the wise BF wrote, these things must be documented, but there must be a way to do it to not make people run screaming away. I hope some calm comes to you, caroline.
I did a mental health / resilience course through work, and was then bombarded with emails and surveys weekly thereafter -- I felt my sanity slowly slipping away.
Comments
Disgraceful.
Miss Amanda, full marks for being caring, but perhaps you should have asked the blind man himself first ? Thusly:
Miss A (perhaps lightly touching Man on arm, to attract attention): 'Excuse me, but would you like to sit down?'
Man:
'No, it's OK, but thanks for asking!'
IME women, at least in Boston, are much more likely to offer their seats than men.
But then they grow up, and get lippy...
Have you tried Bits and Pieces?
The catalog does not show all their good stuff. They have a lot of interesting science toys. I bought my grandson a Newton's Cradle there.
Sorry to hear about ThinkGeek. I boughtDr Who paraphernalia from them for two grandchildren. They loved it and the items arrived down here quickly. Not cheap for Aussies, but the reaction was worth it.
Sad re ThinkGeek. I think I only ever browsed there, but it was fun.
Try MakeZine. Magazine, stuff to make, stuff to buy, Maker Faires, Maker movement, etc. I used to subscribe, and went to 2-3 Maker Faires. Lots of fun.
If your recipients like comics, they might like associated geeky gifts. Especially if they like the brilliant xkcd online comic strip. There's a "Store" link at the top of the page.
Good luck!
Addendum:
If you peruse an xkcd comic there, read it, then mouse over it. You should get an additional bit of commentary in a floating text box.
Everybody has one of these. Consider all the things these guys don't have.
Doesn't make things any better though.
We were going to the hospital and a bank - another sad tale - and found ourselves at 7 mph a long long way behind the van (a bit like a shepherd's hut, but not exactly). So I changed the route (as did others ahead and behind) and rounded a corner to find myself facing this gigantic sprayer, more fitted to Omaha than North West Kent. (It would have been worse with the arms extended!) Brakes on, pulled in, when I saw the following car in the mirror. also braking, followed by an almighty clunk. We moved a couple of feet up the road. My hatch is bent, the frame of the boot is bent, the bumper is smashed, a light cluster is loose and the reverse warning is on all the time.
Awaiting courtesy car and car collection.
https://myvideo.nextbase.co.uk/QGEW6
Penny - the fault lies squarely with the eejits who bashed into you, don't listen to any sob-story.
For some reason car mechanics often make terrible drivers.
Fortunately neither they nor your insurance company are likely to have any truck with their argument. It's open and shut. They assumed the road would be clear - that is not an assumption one is entitled to make. Sheep, pedestrians, a previous accident - anything could be round a bend.
He wasn't actually too close, though he had been close in the 7mph queue, initially out of sight as I was stopping. (And I need to take that going round bend caution a bit more intently, as well.)
That said, some insurance companies over here offer similar inducements for safe driving.
Of course there's no such thing as a free lunch, as they say. I'm sure that the cost to your insurance company for offering protected NCB is included in the initial premium cost.
Seconded. Prayers for your friend.
Which they did, but at least they stapled my head back together again (and you can see the join quite clearly!).
Drumming up business?
I went out for about a minute to photograph a particularly lovely sunset, and a Wee Bitey Thing got me.
Now waiting for them to call back "shortly".
The result is Oodles of Bumpf to read and assimilate (and woe betide anyone who bleats, 'But what about the rain-forests?').
In this case, though, ISTM that they could have Done It Better!
Thank you so much for the support! I'm feeling a bit disgruntled with myself at the moment so I found it greatly cheering.
I did a mental health / resilience course through work, and was then bombarded with emails and surveys weekly thereafter -- I felt my sanity slowly slipping away.