Author Archives: john graham

Cleanliness is next to Godliness – Follow up to “No Gumption”

Posted on July 2, 2010 by john graham

6.45 am – looking out of my sixth floor window of the Carlyle Hotel on Madison Avenue in New York – still not yet adjusted to American time.  The city is just waking up.  A few taxis racing by but … Continue reading →

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Walking the Dog

Posted on July 1, 2010 by john graham

At 7am in New York, the street walkers come out – not the late night variety. First are the power walkers – trainers, shorts and one, two or three unwashed, unpressed, faded, baggy tee-shirts.  Bottle of water in hand, rushing to … Continue reading →

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Icebergs don’t have ears!

Posted on June 30, 2010 by john graham

Travelling across the Atlantic to New York on the Queen Mary 2– a voyage to a new life of retirement.  Following in the long lost wake of the Titanic, and shortly to pass over her last resting place. It’s been … Continue reading →

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Cast Adrift

Posted on June 29, 2010 by john graham

On board with 2000 others in the luxury of Queen Mary 2.  Endless free, excellent food served by the politest of waiters.  Indeed the service for everything is first class. The average age of the passengers must be at least 70, probably … Continue reading →

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American Tea Party

Posted on June 28, 2010 by john graham

After throwing a shipfull of tea into the harbour at Boston, it’s perhaps not surprising that the Americans can’t make tea.  Maybe in a country renowned for good service, it’s more a statement of their independence from a very British tradition. Otherwise … Continue reading →

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No Gumption

Posted on June 11, 2010 by john graham

Westminster City Council, presumably in a quiet moment when there was nothing more important to do, worked out that it costs £100,000 to remove chewing gum from their streets each year; 10p a time apparently.  A deep clean would cost … Continue reading →

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Take the money or open the box

Posted on June 3, 2010 by john graham

James Dyson must have been a fan of the old TV quiz game “Take your Pick”.  We bought one of his acclaimed cyclone vacuum cleaners today but did not realise that unwrapping the box the vacuum cleaner came in would be such a … Continue reading →

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“Tensions between generations?”

Posted on June 2, 2010 by john graham

An insightful and inciting article in The Times by economics correspondent Anatoly Kaletsky poses a challenging question for us all in the years ahead.  He rightly points out that the current difficult economic crisis is nothing compared to the full cost … Continue reading →

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76th Birthday? Move to the Country

Posted on May 28, 2010 by john graham

As I write this blog sitting in my quiet country cottage garden, I may be about to be joined by thousands of older people.  An official report by the Government Office of National Statistics confirms that you are likely to … Continue reading →

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Ageism Czar

Posted on May 27, 2010 by john graham

After 18 months in the job at the age of 77, Dame Joan Bakewell has decided to step down from the role of Czar for Older People. What is the role about? What are the outcomes to be achieved? What … Continue reading →

Posted in ELDERLY UK POLICY | 2 Comments