Out and about Loyalty cards. Stopping aid getting through.

 I went out early in the rain this morning. I has to get to my dentist for a check-up at 9.45, which meant I had to catch an early bus into Oldham and then walk down Ashton Road. Because of the early hour I  had to pay for my bus-ride - only £2 now that we have one standard fare throughout Greater Manchester. Bus drivers still have to deal with day savers and other such fancy tickets but on the whole their life must be a lot less complicated than previously. 

On my way I called in at the library to return an overdue book. Iy’s just as well that they no longer fine borrowers for overdue books. Otherwise it would cost me a fortune. I did not have time to stop and look for more interesting stuff to take out and keep too long. Perhaps I could call in on my way back, I thought.

Afterwards I walked back into town, called in at Sainsbury’s to replenish our supplies of Boddingtons beer … and digestive biscuits and other odds and ends not available for some reason at the local co-op store. I decided not to go back to the library, instead heading into the Spindles Shopping Centre, where the escalator was not working (!) in order to go to Boots. I restricted my purchases there as I had forgotten my Boots loyalty card - I am aware I could add the points from my receipt using the computer but I know from experience that I always forget to do so. The quite expensive (and therefore a good source of loyalty points) skincare products I planned to buy will have to wait until I go into Manchester next week for lunch with friends. 

I had two other missions: vitamins and other health stuff from Holland and Barrett and fruit, especially “good” oranges, from the fruit stall in the indoor market. As I was approximately half way between both of these places I tossed an imaginary coin to decide where to go first. H & B won. I stocked up with vitamins and nuts and dried fruit. By then I was close to the bus station and my various shopping bags were growing heavy. So the fruit and veg stall missed out today. Tomorrow I shall seek “good” oranges from the Italian fruttivendolo in Uppermill - probably more expensive than the fruit and veg stall on Oldham market but I am due for a 10% discount from my loyalty card there. Loyalty cards seem to rule my life. I had a similar discount from Holland and Barrett! 

And that was my morning adventure! I could do with going for a snooze now!

In Gaza an aid convoy has been attacked today by Israeli settlers, the food and other supplies thrown onto the road and the vehicles set alight. Police do not appear to have intervened, though four people including a minor were later reported to have been arrested.

This is not the first time that settlers have tried to stop the flow of aid to Gaza, which is already only a fraction of that needed by the population of the embattled territory.

Last week, Israeli demonstrators blocked a road near the desert town of Mitzpe Ramon to protest against the delivery of aid trucks into the strip. The protesters – who say the aid is helping Hamas and want to block its passage until all Israeli hostages are freed – formed a sit-in protest as they scattered rocks across the road to prevent vehicles from passing, creating standstill traffic.

It will do little to help solve the problems. 

Here is Michael Rosen’s “comment”:

“‘I'm hearing reports that the people are starving,' said the King.

'Whose reports?' said the King's tutor.

'Reports from various people,' said the King.

'That's where you're making a mistake,' said the tutor. 'You're going on about people starving when you should be going on about the kind of people who say that the people are starving.'

'Really?' said the King.

'Of course,' said the tutor. 'Ask yourself, what kind of people would say such terrible things about you. What kind of people would say that people in your country are starving?'

'Yes, I see,' said the King, 'they would be terrible people.'

'Indeed,' said the tutor, 'and I hope you put out an announcement telling people that.'

'Like, 'I'm horrified to learn that people are saying that people are starving'?' said the King.

'Good, but not good enough,' said the tutor. 'It would be better if you made no mention of the 'starving' bit.'

'Right,' said the King, 'how about this: 'I'm horrified to learn that people are saying terrible things about us.'

'Excellent,' said the tutor, 'you've got it.'

'Good,' said the King.”

Facebook from time to time throws up “memories” for me to share with various friends, random odds and ends. Today’s offering included this post I must have copied from someone called Rachel Shabi back on May 14th 1922: 

“How could Israeli forces first kill an acclaimed Palestinian-American journalist and then brutally police her funeral today?

Because they can. Because there are no consequences for doing so. Because the international community does not demand accountability.”

That’s from two years ago. Perhaps if the international community had demanded accountability for that and other such deeds, we might not have the current situation. Just a thought!

Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!