September 3, 2026 · 3:00 am

A family pet.

Daily writing prompt
What’s something you do completely differently from how you were raised?
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Well our family weren’t allowed pets,

There was good reason as my family had quite a few debts,

The budget was balanced to keep our heads above water,

There was no room for a pet it would put us in deepwater,

So as a family we did without and it was necessary,

We had each other and we were merry,

But as soon as I got a place of my own,

I visited a rescue centre and chose one who looked all alone,

A dog who wanted me to be his friend,

And all came good and it was a happy end,

My mum was not so happy she never understood why,

But the reality was she loved him just as much as I.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏

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September 3, 2026 · 2:00 am

HeadlineTherapy ‘We’re nervous of parking apps’ say older drivers

Thanks to George King and BBC Online News for the Headline

A record number of 16.9million parking charges were issued by Private Companies in 2025/2026. So most drivers have come across a situation where they are trying to park and want to get a ticket, but there is no signal and there is a sign saying no card or cash payments .

It really doesn’t matter how old you are, some oldies “love” technology, most don’t.No one should be forced to sign up for applications or indeed scan bar codes ( which are notoriously scammy).

Recently on holiday in Cornwall we got a ticket, my partner thought it had gone through, but it hadn’t so we got a fine on our return home. It was stressful in the car park , we must have spent about half an hour trying to pay and then stressful when we got home. I do actually believe we tried ringing the number for customer service help but we couldn’t get through. My partner paid the fine as the letter was quite threatening.

The latest twist to the sorry scenario is that Cornwall Council has put a sign up in their Council run Car Parks to say that they have had to increase parking charges as they have lost money for Council supplied social services that they used to pay for with EC grants, but that they could no longer apply for as the UK was no longer part of the EC and that the increased parking charges are now used to pay for local services. I suppose moving to cashless and card less payments was another way for them to save money.

Rightly or wrongly I reduce my stress levels by going to places where the parking isn’t complicated. Hence we go to National Trust sites( parking included in membership, ticket machines run on solar power, but you can always leave your card in the window of the car.)Also we do tend to park where there is free parking, some places just seem to think it helps local businesses which it does.

We frequent coffee shops and local shops because we can park for free. There is no doubt in my mind that hospital car parks should be free to those who have appointments or are visiting sick relatives. That to me is a no brainer.

There is something called the British Car Park Association (is your car park a member )and what do the B.C.A think of fining vunerable people, not sure anyone has asked them? However, parking is a money maker for many organisations both Public and Private. Do they really want to make things easier for us or anyone for that matter? The answer is no.

Four people examine an EasyPark kiosk marked "PARK & PAY. APP ONLY." and a sign reading "PAYMENT BY APP ONLY. ZONE 412."
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September 2, 2026 · 4:06 am

Although a lot I do reveal

Daily writing prompt
What are your favorite 5 apps on your phone?
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Although a lot I do reveal,

The benefit of convenience seals the deal,

First and Foremost is my Cooking App,

It’s run by a very trustworthy chap,

The second app is rather fun,

It teaches you to sing while going for a run,

My third app is for my quiet time,

Transcendental meditation is truly sublime,

Number four is tricky as it’s a long haul,

But I’m mastering a rather neat Norwegian drawl,

Finally five is an essential for modern life,

The secret of handling interminable strife.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏

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September 1, 2026 · 7:42 am

#HeadlineTherapy ‘Poo Man’dog patrol launched to tackle dog fouling

Thanks to Josh Cann and BBC Online News for the Headline

Being a dog owner, this is a subject close to my heart. I have to tred carefully myself to ensure that where my dog goes to do his business is clear of any mess. If we all picked it up and disposed of it in a poo bin I wouldn’t have a problem.

Why in a beautiful coastal area with a lovely beach anyone would want to foul it with their dog is unbelievable.Pleased to say that the Isle of Man’s approach focuses on education first and the law second.

The gentleman who will patrol the three areas chosen already runs a part-time dog waste clearing business, so this role in which he and others will approach owners who are failing in their duty is a very natural progression to what he is already doing. The local authorities are giving it a three month trial to see if the situation improves.

I wish them the best.

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September 1, 2026 · 2:46 am

I find hope in streets, the busy bustle.

Daily writing prompt
What’s the best thing you’ve ever found randomly on the street?
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I find hope in streets ,the busy bustle,

People passing looking for their next hustle,

Some look up , some look down,

Some can’t help but wear a frown,

The deal was not what they thought,

Their phone just died of a nasty bot,

The traffic lights stop their flow,

It looks like it might snow,

Then in the distance there is a cry,

Two long lost friends hug and say” Hi!”,

Their happiness is obvious,

The rest of the street quite oblivious,

But I have noticed the happy event,

To me it’s hope and their time is well spent.

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August 31, 2026 · 3:29 am

#HeadlineTherapy Will pigeon mural get its wings back?

Thanks to Phil Mercer and BBC Online News for the Headline.

Headington has it’s shark, Banbury is looking to update it’s pigeon mural.

In 2024 the owner of the now Power Cup café in Banbury updated the colourful mural on the side of the building of his coffee shop which for almost thirty years featured a giant pigeon, with a wing span the width of the building.

Unfortunately the new design did not feature the pigeon, which had begun to look the worse for wear and artistic licence won the day and although the new work was colourful , the local’s missed their “Pigeon”.

Now the café owner Tomas Kolbus is looking to update the mural and has contacted local artists. Although the plans are currently under wraps, the final design will probably feature a pigeon but would be “funnier and more interesting”

Pigeon mural, rooftop shark, and Big Ben above a London street
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August 31, 2026 · 3:02 am

Her name was Mary

Daily writing prompt
What’s the kindest thing someone has ever done for you?
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Her name was Mary,

In truth she was quite scary,

I’d just arrived in my new role,

I found out she had real soul,

I was used to working with bespoke systems,

I hadn’t really learned microsoftisms,

The apps , the logos, even how to start,

The crash course she gave me proved she had real heart.

Home office desk with coffee mug reading "MICROSOFTISMS," monitor showing "10:16" and "Monday, Jun 11," notes reading "Circle back" and "Bandwidth?," and notepad titled "Office Speak" with workplace phrases.

Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏

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August 30, 2026 · 8:43 am

#HeadlineTherapy Fly-tippers dump 200 tonnes of asbestos on roadside

Thanks to Matthew Lockwood and BBC Online for the Headline

You see it everywhere, lots of piles of rubbish which should be disposed of in a sensible fashion. Just dumped in lay-bys , behind residential areas, entrances to farmers fields, farmers land itself. The disruption and unpleasantness it causes , and in this particular instance the harm to health is significant.

When these people are caught on CCTV, they really don’t look like the brightest tool in the box, is this really what the problem is? Are these people the school children who thought it was OK to throw all their waste packaging on to the ground despite there being bins available , Do they grow up to be fly tippers?

The 200 tonnes of asbestos that was left by the roadside in four trailers cost the Council £200,000 to clear up and make safe.

I’ve no doubt that the people who dumped it feel they are somehow working outside the box, they weren’t going to pay anyone for “processing” the waste. Why should they? They’d done the job of removing it from wherever it was and now someone has a nice shiny new building. They rebelled against a system and sneakily dumped it where the Council will have to foot the bill.

Perhaps , we need to look at this a different way. Perhaps Councils’ and Governments should advertise that rather than fly-tip, if the expense of “processing” is for whatever reason felt to be too high, contact them and see what can be done.

I’m sure in the long run that would be cheaper than having to clear up the mess randomly , investigate criminality and also encourage people to look after there environment. Prevention is better than cure. I think this would be a lot less expensive than having to clear up rubbish after it has been dumped and also the significant cost of prosecuting a case even if it can be proven. Not to mention the damage to the environment and wildlife.

As I say fly-tippers don’t look the brightest tools in the box , perhaps they need help. It might save money in the long run.

Comic panel text: “NGRRRH! JUST... DUMP IT!”, “HURRY UP... BEFORE ANYONE SEES!”, “HNNG!”, “COUNTRY LAY-BY – NO FLY-TIPPING”, “CRASH!”, and “THUD!”
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Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏

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August 30, 2026 · 2:00 am

I can’t imagine doing anything else now

Daily writing prompt
If the salary was the same, what job would you be doing right now and why?
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I can’t imagine doing anything else now,

You see I have no one to tell me how,

I’m like a free bird following my reason,

There is no one for whom I’ll bow,

That time is over and I never will return,

A salary now is just money to burn,

Now it’s a case of do I buy a fancy urn,

Not that I’m about to die,

But I have no need for that extra slice of pie,

The taxman doesn’t bother me,

I’ll pay as it’s a kind of necessity,

I don’t need to live in the Isle of Man,

Or travel like a Nomad in a Camper Van,

There’s no need for me to hide or run,

Yes, many thanks to Royal London,

They have my back and that’s about it,

They saved me from the work slave pit.

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Namaste and Thank You for Reading🙏

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August 29, 2026 · 10:36 am

# HeadlineTherapy Bomb scare on Calmac ferry as passenger rescued from water.

Thanks to Alison Campsie and The Scotsman for the Headline

I have a real fondness for the Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry Company, ( known as Calmac). Long may it continue as a form of transportation around a very rugged and beautiful part of Scotland it can never be matched.

So this Headline really made me realise what a wonderful Company it is. On the run from Brodick to Adrossan on a warm August day, a passenger jumped in the water and had to be rescued by the crew. The ferry had to do a very quick manoeuvre starboard and launch it’s fast rescue craft to successfully rescue the man. Fortunately the man was recovered alive, but there was more to come.

The man told the crew there was a bomb on the boat, as a result, the ferry which had 300 passengers on it had to dock in Adrossan. The passengers were disembarked speedily via the gangway and taken to safety. Police also cleared the port area.

Police searched the ferry for more than two hours before declaring that the situation had been resolved and that passengers could collect their vehicles. A 23 year old man was later arrested.

It may not be the most glamorous maritime job in the World , but really Calmac really is second to none when it comes to ferry companies. Well done Calmac!

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Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏

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