Scantlings

This story moved me. Some of us really do make a difference.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-38730291

Courage!

Yeah, I get BBC updates and saw that.
Good for her! Bravo!

A different vein, but here's another one, sadly just departed:

http://www.pressherald.com/2017/01/23/passamaquoddy-canoe-maker-david-moses-bridges-dies-at-54/

Greek Coast Guard

Long, very intense, and painful to watch.

https://nyti.ms/2cWw9Uk

Closer to home, some of you may be aware that my youngest son lives with a severe mental illness.

He is currently in a treatment facility at our local teaching hospital, in the city.

I dropped in to see him today, and he happily told me he had just bought a new car.

Now this is a problem, he has money so it's not credit. The car is still at the dealers but he had signed a contract and transferred the money.

He already has a car that we look after, and isn't allowed to drive because of his medication. He is also in the city so there is nowhere to park.

So I read this as a problem related to his mental state, and suggested he informed the nurses and doctor, which he did under sufferance.

All hell broke loose as staff tried to sort things out. They would have to have his licence cancelled, wondered about their legal position wrt the contract, considering if they had to put him on a restraining order, pass his financial affairs to a trustee, and confidentiality issues if they approached the dealer.

I went home as my son was very angry with me, he rang a few hours later and apologised. We discussed the situation and he sort of consented to my contacting the dealer, so I did.

Amazing response, they were concerned about him, had been discussing the sale themselves and decided not to proceed, were relieved someone had confirmed their approach, and offered to let me pick up all the paperwork.

So I will go in tomorrow with a few bottles of good Tassie wine, and thank them.

Thank god we live in a town where people still care.

OH, I really feel for you. Big virtual hug headed your way. B

Watching a report on Mosul, a big virtual hug from here too.

Olaf Hart wrote:Closer to home, some of you may be aware that my youngest son lives with a severe mental illness.

He is currently in a treatment facility at our local teaching hospital, in the city.

I dropped in to see him today, and he happily told me he had just bought a new car.

Now this is a problem, he has money so it's not credit. The car is still at the dealers but he had signed a contract and transferred the money.

He already has a car that we look after, and isn't allowed to drive because of his medication. He is also in the city so there is nowhere to park.

So I read this as a problem related to his mental state, and suggested he informed the nurses and doctor, which he did under sufferance.

All hell broke loose as staff tried to sort things out. They would have to have his licence cancelled, wondered about their legal position wrt the contract, considering if they had to put him on a restraining order, pass his financial affairs to a trustee, and confidentiality issues if they approached the dealer.

I went home as my son was very angry with me, he rang a few hours later and apologised. We discussed the situation and he sort of consented to my contacting the dealer, so I did.

Amazing response, they were concerned about him, had been discussing the sale themselves and decided not to proceed, were relieved someone had confirmed their approach, and offered to let me pick up all the paperwork.

So I will go in tomorrow with a few bottles of good Tassie wine, and thank them.

Thank god we live in a town where people still care.

Our experiences tells us Australians in Tasmania are very fine people.

Please give Pete a hug for me when you next see him, he might have some problems, but I very much like him and enjoyed our contact with him when we were down there.

Olaf,

Another hug for you. One for Sweet Heart too. Your story provides further evidence you live in a special place.

And please tell Pete I said hello. Hope to get back there and have a meal with him--- that's always been fun.

Just back from tidying up.

Picked up the bank cheque from the dealer, they hadn't deposited it. Dropped in some good champagne to say thanks, took him down to the bank with the cheque, put it and most of his savings into a term deposit.

Then we went out to lunch, all is good for the moment.