Points to Ponder

[mull]

Well Vince Cable I am sure you feel proud of what you have achieved with Royal Mail .

Carried out the Tories dirty work .

[Hugo]

It seems that the Royal Mail may be doing away with the second class letter delivery but could be reintroducing it under their second option
The second option was to extend the delivery times for letters, so it would take three or more days for most letters but with a pricier next-day delivery service available.
I wonder if that next day delivery would apply to the Scottish Islands?      You know how reliable  the ferries are like Mull and Storms like Storm Kathleen are getting more and more frequent

[mull]

Private owners of Royal Mail took on the job including Service obligation which is important Service has been rubbish ever since , we are lucky if we see a postman 3 times a week at most and RM management think all is OK when it is not.
We still have Special Delivery service which is expensive and is daily by 1700 hours due later arrival of ferries and distances which could be up to 2 hours travel once on the island.

Hope yo have all safely survived Storm Kathleen, been a rough weekend up here and storm went on for nearly 2 days.

Isle of Tiree, 18 miles west of us on the Ross of Mull managed to get a ferry on Saturday. Very impressive ship handling and rope handling by the pier staff.

https://lifeontiree.blog/2024/04/06/when-experience-counts/

[Hugo]

On Saturday I drove up Ty Gwyn Road Llandudno and intended to turn right and go up Wyddfyd Road and park my car by the Ski Lodge.
However when I stopped at the traffic lights I noticed a road sign that clearrly indicated no right turn so instead I drove up and parked my car in St Beuno's Road
Later on I walked down Wyddfyd Road and noticed that the Ski Lodge car park was locked so there is no access to it from Wyddfyd Road but how do the residents get their cars in to the road if the road sign says no right turn?

[SteveH]

Unemployment jumps as UK jobs market stalls

The UK jobs market is showing signs of stalling as the number of people out of work rose, according to new figures.

The unemployment rate increased to 4.2% between December and February, which is the highest level for six months.

Meanwhile, the rate of people with a job dipped and the economically inactive - those not in work or looking for employment - ticked higher.

Economists suggested the data could spur the Bank of England to cut interests rates in the summer.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68820103

[SteveH]

Good idea, but possible to late.....................

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has set out plans to end what he called Britain's "sick note culture" if he wins the next general election.

He said "work is good for people" and he was worried benefits had become a "lifestyle choice".

The plans include fit for work notes away from GPs to "specialist work and health professionals" in England.

cont  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-68853166

[SteveH]

There is, it seems, an epidemic of illness among the working-age population.

This week the Office for National Statistics once again warned about the number of people being driven out of the jobs market because of ill-health.

And on Friday the government in England said it wanted to change the way they are supported alongside a crackdown on what it calls the "sick note" culture.

But it is not just those who are out of work who are affected. Research by the Health Foundation shows there are as many people aged 16 to 64 in work whose health limits what they can do as there are out of work because of ill-

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68849843

[Hugo]

It made me think of the time many years ago when I worked in a Government Building that had the Dole Office on the ground floor.
We would see the same old faces going there week in week out to sign on for their Dole money.     We came to the conclusion that half of those signing on didn't want to work, a quarter were unable to work because of health reasons and the other quarter were already working on the sly

[SteveH]

Disabled people could face major changes to how the personal independence payments (PIP) benefit works, as the government tries to tackle the rising number of claimants with a mental health condition.

Reforms to PIP could include stopping regular cash payments, and instead offering claimants one-off grants for things like home adaptations.

The number of people claiming PIP in relation to anxiety and depression has soared in recent years, leading Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to say on Monday: "We need to do something about that."

The disability charity Scope described the plans as a "reckless assault on disabled people".

The plans are subject to a 12-week consultation, ending on 23 July.

It is highly unlikely there will be enough time to implement the changes before the general election, which is expected to take place by the end of the year.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0ry09d50wo

[Hugo]

Abersoch beach hut gets a price cut after failing to sell
Agent says there is no overall downward trend and that prices will vary depending on the location and condition of huts
A bargain at just 150K  but not for local people




https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/abersoch-beach-hut-gets-price-29180437

[SteveH]

Something for Llandudno to take into account, we already have vans disregarding overnight parking rules, without action being enforced.

Upgraded parking facilities at a notorious beauty spot on the edge of Eryri (Snowdonia) are backfiring, critics have claimed. Locals say parking issues have worsened since “improvements” were implemented at Y Glyn, an area known as “the lagoons” by Llyn Padarn in Llanberis.

Three adjacent car park areas were resurfaced to provide 114 parking spaces and a separate aires-type “Arosfan” facility was created for campervans. Cyngor Gwynedd carried out the work to bring “order and control” to an area that at times becomes overwhelmed with visitors.

cont  https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/anger-beauty-spot-llanberis-lagoons-29236883

[Hugo]

How rain can make you happier and healthier

We should all be hilariously happy and super fit, especially after this Bank Holiday       




https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c51157ep524o

[SteveH]

The board of the company that owns Royal Mail has agreed to a formal takeover offer for the 500-year-old organisation.

Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky has firmed up an offer of £5bn, including assumed debts, for the company which employs more than 150,000 people.

The entrepreneur said he had the "utmost respect" for its history and tradition.

The offer includes commitments to retain the name, brand, UK headquarters and UK tax residency, as well as protections for employee benefits and pensions.

Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch, who has yet to meet Mr Kretinsky, has the power under the National Security and Investment Act to scrutinise and potentially block the deal.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4nn0n93zj4o

[mull]

Royal Mail Service has gone downhill since it was privatised and who do we have to thank for that----------
.
Remember the Lib Dem's when they had a little power.  Vince Cable did the Tories dirty work for them.

[Hugo]

You can add railways, energy companies, water companies that have all gone down the pan since they became private companies.