Good News stories

[Serial_Apologist]

Is the Congestion Charge still in operation for motorists?

It was suspended on March 23, ironically.

[Serial_Apologist]

Absolutely - but I'm not sure what he thought when the BBC News reporter described him as 'the star of the show' - it's not a 'show' and I'm not at all sure that Captain Tom regards himself as a 'star'.

His place in the Firmament has obviously been postponed...

[Serial_Apologist]

It is outrageous that such action is necessary but it's not really anything new - it's the scale of it (reflecting the public's feelings about the crisis) that is noteworthy. A couple of things bother me though - the money and its administration, and the message sent to a government which over the years has been leaning increasingly on the charity sector to plug the gap for activities and responsibilities it doesn't want to put money into.
There are no national plans in the sense I understand them for anything to do with the Covid 19 crisis so the thought of a large sum of money going into a central melting pot with a vague generic NHS Charities title makes me fear for its future. How much will disappear in 'admin', how will decisions be made about deserving causes, how long will desperate people and activities have to wait before they see any money? Past and current performance doesn't inspire confidence in me that this gentleman's efforts will be treated with the respect they deserve or achieve what the public would expect.

Then there is the intended guilt trip: no alternative; never mind the cuts, we are where we are, etc etc. The tendency outside supermarkets is nowadays to replace the perfectly acceptable practice of making contributions to street collectors with the requirement to sign up to regular donations. This form of arm-twisting just ups the pressure. I always say, well, if you're not prepared to take my couple of quids worth right now then I'm afraid you've forfeited any support from me.

[Serial_Apologist]

South London Scrubbers!

http://www.southlondonscrubbers.com

*(there are some truly wonderful people around)

[oddoneout]

Something to lift the spirits?

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/apr/24/home-not-away-the-tulip-project-in-pictures

[gradus]

Something to lift the spirits?
https://www.theguardian.com/artandde...ct-in-pictures

Most definitely. Lovely pix.

[johncorrigan]

Loved this postie story from Sheffield.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-52395609?at_campaign=64&at_custom3=BBC+News&at_custom1=%5Bpost+type%5D&at_custom2=facebook_page&at_custom4=41D4413A-857A-11EA-943D-8DF1C28169F1&at_medium=custom7&fbclid=IwAR2DBTJGY9bRS7W7PAN1BzBzYeH0Igi6GGbHbT5-LxyDKOUUTcfzu9mEvW0

[Pulcinella]

Meanwhile:

A fire crew was called out yesterday (Thursday) to rescue a donkey, called Daniel, who had got his hoof stuck in a kettle.

The crew, from Whitby, used pliers to release Daniel's hoof and left him with his owner.

(York Press)

[Boilk]

Meanwhile:
A fire crew was called out yesterday (Thursday) to rescue a donkey, called Daniel, who had got his hoof stuck in a kettle.
The crew, from Whitby, used pliers to release Daniel's hoof and left him with his owner.
(York Press)

A donkey with its hoof stuck in a kettle? For locked down neigh-bours () the rescue operation must have caused quite a brew-ha-ha.

[oddoneout]

A donkey with its hoof stuck in a kettle? For locked down neigh-bours () the rescue operation must have caused quite a brew-ha-ha.

Using assistance animals is not without its problems it would seem?

[ardcarp]

We've been spared from The Eurovision Song Cpntest!

Did anyone hear the closing minutes of today's World at One? Quita a gas.

[Pianorak]

Live Music Returns to Wigmore Hall in New Broadcast Series

Musicians including Mark Padmore, Mitsuko Uchida, Angela Hewitt and Stephen Hough feature in ‘empty hall’ concert series to be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in June (Guardian)

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/12/glimmer-of-hope-leading-performers-return-to-londons-wigmore-hall

[Serial_Apologist]

We've been spared from The Eurovision Song Contest!

Did anyone hear the closing minutes of today's World at One? Quite a gas.

That's a relief, for one year!

[LMcD]

That's a relief, for one year!

There's a night of Eurovision-themed programmes on BBC TV on Saturday evening, hosted by Graham Norton.

[ardcarp]

There's a night of Eurovision-themed programmes on BBC TV on Saturday evening, hosted by Graham Norton.