Emails, The Library and … … STUFFFFFFF … !!

Hmmm …

You know, I’m seriously tempted — tempted, mind — to start this post with “This is going to be quick”.

But I’ve a funny feeling it mite not be …

Schrödinger’s Post, is the term I think we can get away with using, here, possibly …

At any rate, you may have guessed it …

My letter’s been published in the Gazette!

Which is handy.

What’s also nice to know is that I’ve heard from a friend of mine: whose sister has been referred here, by the Gazette!

Why, I’m not exactly sure, but it’s nice to know … !!

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But maybe that’s point for later … !!

At any rate, I’ve got admit, I was up town, earlier, and thought I’d look into Brentwood Library, to see how there machines are working.

Pure curiosity, I should add.

So, just as part of that curiosity, I’ve got to admit, I GIMPed up the poster you can see at the bottom of the pile, took it up to the library, and emailed to myself.

And, in case you hadn’t guessed, it’s sort of a nod at vintage role-playing-game, Traveller.

Which is possibly a bit geeky, I know, but those old Little Black Book designs were a touch iconic, I always think.

But, either way, while I’m disappointed they chose not to go with a Linux distro, I’ve got to admit that the reinstall of Windoze — and I didn’t think I’d say this — seems to have helped.

Still …

Never mind.

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Right, then, lets move on, shall we … ?

Yes, lets … !

Now, I mentioned earlier that I’d had a letter published in this weeks Gazette, didn’t I … ?

Yes, I did, didn’t I … ?

But, at any rate, I do know something caught my eye in the Gazette, this week.

About a local print and design shop, run by mental health charity, Rethink.

Now, Rethink have been doing some fantastic work, over the past few years: I’ve known people use it as both a print shop, and as service users.

So the Gazette running a story that the shop had lost it’s NHS funding?

That caught my eye.

And prompted me to write this …

Dear Sir,

I’ve got to admit, I read your article about Rethink Reprographic’s loss of funding with a great deal of sadness.

I’ve met plenty of people, over the years, who’ve been help by it and organisations like it. Both to get back into society, and as customers who need its printing services.

Now I know that groups like Rethink, along with NACRO, who do similar work in rehabilitating former prisoners, as well as the club for the visually impaired that your paper mentioned, all do fantastic work with service users and with those — like Rethink Reprographic’s customers — who have to deal with them.

Hearing about this …

Especially given that those of us with mental health issues, criminal records or disabilities, find it hard enough to deal with the employment market, when even Brentwood Council is letting staff — temporary or otherwise — go.

Well …

Rethink — and charities like it — losing vital funding is understandable, under the general atmosphere of cuts.

But is also a tragedy.

And a criminal loss of funds.

And, yes, before you ask, I know that the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders aren’t maybe the best comparison to use.

But it’s still one I think is valid: after all, from what I’ve picked up, over the years, they done a few bits and bobs, themselves: just not as publicly.

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At any rate, that’s where I think I’ll leave things, for now.

But one last thing I will add is that today is the last day for those of us who wanted to object to the flats planned for the end of Saint James Road.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to let you know what happens, there, as soon as I hear.

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