EVERYWHERE I LOOK...

Maybe you`ve caught me on a bad day but it seems that everywhere I look I see varying forms of incompetence.  We`re surrounded by it.  The main culprits at the moment appear to be HM Gov. whose handling of things like the school A level grades, the corona virus, the Brexit fallout and the issues surrounding the migrants arriving on our shores have raised incompetence to a new level.  It`s almost as though incompetence has been raised to an art form, a contest between government departments and ministers to see who can cause the most confusion not only for the people of this country but also for themselves.  

But arguably the most serious example of incompetence at the moment relates to the laws governing cricket.  The second test match between England and Pakistan at Southampton was largely a victim of the weather and also the interpretation by the umpires of the playing conditions to determine whether play can start, resume or come to a shuddering halt.

Over the past five days of this particular match Southampton has been plagued, on and off, by thunder, lightning, heavy rain and poor visibility, all of which meant that the game was restricted to less than one innings per side.   Thankfully there were no paying spectators because of Covid restrictions but there were countless others, like me, who were looking forward to watching the game on television.  (Well I would have watched it if my TV hadn`t blown up and gone to meet its maker.)

There was some play, of course, but heavy overnight rain meant that yesterday`s play could not start until mid-afternoon -  the pitch was a bit damp, the outfield a bit on the soggy side - but when play did start it wasn`t long before the umpires decided that it was a bit dark and so that old standby bad light stopped play.   This, despite the sun emerging after a few minutes and despite the fact that there are some seriously good and efficient floodlights all around the Ageas Bowl meant that the game never restarted.

So, whilst the government are in serious need of getting their act together across a wide range of issues, the powers that be in the rarefied atmosphere of international cricket should have an urgent and thorough review of the laws governing playing conditions and give people like me the hope that even if Covid keeps me away from the cricket ground at least I can watch some on TV - if I had a television set, of course.

TIME TO SPLASH OUT ?...

Had an official letter from HM Gov. the other day. It said,

"Now that you are approaching 80 you are entitled to a higher amount of state pension.  Age Addition of 25p per week will be payable from your 80th birthday.  If you think the decision is wrong, please get in touch with us by telephone or in writing within one month of the date of this letter........"

It goes on at some length about the appeal procedure and what to do if you want to take it further, which looks pretty complicated and may simply be designed to deter malcontent octogenarians form going down that road.

Anyway, a little research has revealed that this `bonus` has been frozen at  25p ever since it was introduced by the Heath Government in 1971 - all of 48 years ago.   It adds up to £13 a year and if it had even kept pace with inflation it would now be worth £191 a year.   Not many lives will be changed by that I fear.

Now I really don`t want to appear ungrateful - after all, every little helps to us elderly pensioners struggling to survive on a fixed income - but we are a bit limited as to what we can spend the 25p on - a packet of paracetamol, a small roll of sellotape, a small packet of tissues. a Cadburys Freddo - but if you set that against the cost to HM Gov. of sending out the letters, maintaining the computer programme, dealing with the appeals procedure (never mind the complaints and senior grumbles) it really does make me wonder whether it`s all worth it.

There`s a collection box up the shop on the lookout for donations to good causes.  Maybe I`ll splash out by popping £1 in each month. I`m all heart!!