If you could relive one year of your life, which one would it be?
I can’t
#HeadlineTherapy Hundreds of North Sea workers too heavy for new helicopter rules
Thanks to Rebecca Curran and Ken Banks and BBC Online news for the Headline
Well I’m sure the food must be very tempting when you are on an oil rig and perhaps the idea of going to the gym is not very appealing after a hard physical shift.
Still you have to be trim to fit in the harnesses and there is a weight limit for aircraft and winches ( when needed). Seems it all came to a head a few years ago when the powers that be realised that 2200 workers were above the limit of about 19 stone.
Give them credit that number has been reduced to 800 workers who have yet to lower their weight before the deadline in two months. Actually I’d like to congratulate this mass weight loss, it is truly inspirational.Though I’m sure there was some natural wastage (excuse the pun) from people leaving the industry.
So best wishes to the 800 workers who still need to trim down, you can do it if you want to .
Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏
Filed under Short Stories
One person’s bravery
Daily writing prompt
What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done when no one was watching?
One person’s bravery is another one’s so what?
Some climb mountains without a single thought,
Others just to get out of bed takes all their mustre,
Life for them can lack any lustre,
I know that feeling well,
When a simple task seems like hell,
Some will say it’s just one of those things,
Look at the positive and what life brings,
There is bravery every day,
Why it’s not obvious who can say?
Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏
Filed under Short Stories
A family pet.
Daily writing prompt
What’s something you do completely differently from how you were raised?
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.🙏
Filed under Short Stories
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.
Filed under Short Stories
Although a lot I do reveal
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.🙏
Filed under Short Stories
#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.
Filed under Short Stories
I find hope in streets, the busy bustle.
Daily writing prompt
What’s the best thing you’ve ever found randomly on the street?
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.
Filed under Short Stories
#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”
Filed under Short Stories
Her name was Mary
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.
Namaste and Thank You for Reading.🙏
Filed under Short Stories
thenotsomightyom 