I met a stranger on the bus today, and we got talking. She was only a youngster in her twenties, but was having such a tough time. She’d been living with her boyfriend’s family, and he drove her to work each morning and picked her up at night. A week ago, when she got in the car in the morning, she discovered that he had loaded all her possessions (two plastic bags’ worth) into the car. He didn’t say a word until he dropped her off at work then said, “Don’t bother coming back again.” Then he drove off.
She said she had no idea why this had happened, and he refused to respond to texts, emails, phone calls. So she was homeless. She went to stay with her Gran, but because she’d been in trouble as a teenager, her aunts hated her so she had to leave Gran’s at the weekend as they were in the habit of popping over.
Her mother died when she was a baby, so she was brought up by Gran and Grandad, but Grandad died when she was eleven. Her father raped one of her aunts when the aunt was fifteen, so Social Services removed my new young friend from the family home. She has an elder sister but she’s on drugs, and an elder brother, but he’s now living with father, so has no contact whatsoever with his young sister.
The council say this young woman isn’t vulnerable, so cannot go on the council house list. They have offered her a place in a house in a tiny country village miles from anywhere – she was going to see it today which is why we met on the bus – but if she goes there, she’d have to give up her job because she has no transport. There are three other people living in the house – all strangers to her – and she doesn’t even know whether they are male or female.
Apart from Gran, she is utterly alone in the world, with no income and (in the tiny village) no possibility of employment.
I so wanted to help her, but all I could do was listen to her story and encourage her. Do spare her a thought and prayer or two, if you can.
Well, a great new start for us in the UK – or rather, yet another new start. Do I sound cynical? Perish the thought. I really hope and pray that this new coalition government works. It ought to – we in the sticks manage to work together for the good of the majority, so the top politicians ought to be capable of a little co-operation.
This is the first coalition government since the second world war, so most of the electorate have no experience whatsoever of coalitions. It all looks very promising and exciting at the moment. So why my skepticism?
Every time there’s a new government we’re promised a new start, with lots of blandishments to encourage us. It’s usually quite good for around six months, then things start to slide. Will this new start be any different? I doubt it, especially with the huge financial problems we have.
But I do know one thing for sure. Whatever happens, we – the people – will have to pay. ‘Twas ever thus. I just hope that the poorest won’t be paying the highest price.
Here in the UK we had our general election last Thursday. As this was the first ever election where the leaders have been televised in public debate, it was quite exciting for us, even though we learned nothing new after the first debate. All the leaders promised us swingeing cuts because our national deficit is so high following the banks’ fiasco, but none of them told us where the cuts would fall or what they would be. Accordingly, the nation voted for a hung parliament – a coalition of more than one party.
The trouble is, they can’t agree on which parties or how it can happen. Our politicians are so steeped in party politics that they seem unable to work together for the good of the country. So we’re still waiting to see who will govern us. What fun it all is, if you don’t weaken.
Our weather has turned bitterly cold, wet and miserable, with snow forecast for Scotland. Thankfully Ed and I are well south of Scotland, so should escape.
I’ve picked up an infection and can’t stop coughing, in common with many folks around here. Hope it clears up and Ed doesn’t catch it, as we’re off next week for a week at Rutland Water, a beautiful spot around a hundred miles or so from here.
Today we had a visit by a friend from the old parish, so caught up on the gossip, always enjoyable! The new priest is in place at last, after a nine month interregnum, so hopefully the parishes will now go from strength to strength. Meanwhile, I’m doing a bit round here. I preached yesterday at the two churches in this benefice and we’re beginning to make new friends.
Tomorrow is a trip to the accountant, an annual chore I hate. Priests are considered to be self-employed, even though salary is paid by the Church Commissioners, so we have to send in our own tax returns each year, and it’s inevitably complicated. Hopefully, now I’ve retired it will be the last such visit we have to make. That will be enough to out a big smile on my face!