Wishing Stones and Rock Gardens

On 24 September 2013 I went to the meeting for The Friends of Kirklees Valley. I don't go to all these meetings but this one was held at Space 2 in Tottington so it was more convenient. I don't think many people know about the brilliant on-going work that happens in the area. This group work very closely with the council and environmental groups to improve the Kirklees Valley. The changes over the past few years haven't 'just happened'. This group were involved in the opening of the Woodlfold Viaduct last year, and also in the Greenmount Sidings opening earlier this month. They have applied for various grants, including one from the Forestry Commission that would secure funding for five years.

People have requested more benches along the Kirklees Trail. There are plans to include the trail in more health walk programmes, and as part of this there are plans for five simple timber benches to be erected. Funding is currently being applied for, and Tottington Civic Society are involved in this bid. As a rule, benches should be placed along health walks every 200 yards or so. Sites are being considered but people don't want them directly outside their houses (me included!).

The 'Wishing Stone' was mentioned at the meeting. Recently the Wishing Stone was mentioned in The Bury Times. Someone enquired about its whereabouts. I had never heard of it, but apparently it was an old landmark in the Kirklees Valley. Tottington Civic Society were sent a letter about it. The letter writer said the Wishing Stone was approximately 8'x5'x3'. There were 2 9'' holes in it. It was used as a meeting place for teenagers. In May 1964 (way before I was born which is why it meant nothing to me) a group of bored teenagers wondered if anyone would miss the Wishing Stone. They dug it out, move it back, and buried it. At the time no-one seemed to care! The current landowner has been found and it is hoped that when all the summer greenery dies down it may still be visible.

Also in the week I went to the Bury and Districts Homewatch Association AGM. I was invited to join this group last year by the chair, and as a result I was invited to a conference over the summer. Groups in Greater Manchester are setting up a Greater Manchester Homewatch Association and each town can select two people to be trained and start to put together this group. I've been selected to represent the north of Bury, and my first training session is in October. A big part of the AGM was organising the annual Bury Homewatch Conference. This will be held at the Elizabethan Suite at Bury Town Hall on Thursday 24 October. It is all about encouraging people to work together with their neighbours and build a community. The conference will encourage people to form Homewatch groups, but just raising people's awareness is important. I need to give The Eagle and Child in Ramsbottom a big THANK YOU; they have donated a Sunday lunch for two as a raffle prize. Everyone is welcome at the conference so put it in your diary.

I was quite traumatised this week when I found out Animal World and the Butterfly House in Moss Bank Park were closing down. on 25 September 1999 I had my first date with my husband just there. I wasn't looking for a husband at the time, so I thought a date in the open in broad daylight would be perfect. It was actually a great idea, and he, being from Oldham, was really impressed with Moss Bank Park. I know there had been previous threats to close them due to government cuts, but they had a reprieve. However the cuts became so bad that Bolton Council were unable to find the money to continue to run them. Bolton Evening News article

It wasn't just the very small romantic part of me that was upset. I grew up going to Moss Bank Park regularly. I lived not too close but within walking distance of it. In those days a trip to the park was a good thing. We normally had one monetary treat while we were there. There was usually an ice-cream van, and the swing boats were also a favourite. Later there was a small    train you could ride on, run by a relative of Fred  Dibnar. It wouldn't have mattered if these things hadn't been there; the park was great. I was never allowed to play in the sand pit (the dogs/cats might have been in there) but I still enjoyed it (NB I was never allowed in the paddling pools in Queens Park either in case there was any broken glass. I couldn't have roller skates in case I fell and broke my leg, I couldn't have a space hopper in case I hit anyone over the head with it; my parents were before their time!).

There was lots of open ground and a play ground. There was what must have been a beautiful rose garden, and my favourite, the rock garden. The last time I visited there were no rock pools in the rock garden. All our family had fallen in one of the rock pools at some time during our childhood. We were always fascinated to hear the stories of our parents also falling in too! We knew, pool by pool, who had fallen into which and at what age. I don't think anyone ever hurt themselves, they just had to walk home wet.

When I was young there was an aviary and a small place for animals. It was nothing like it has been recently. There was lots to see the last time I was there - red squirrels included.

As much as it upsets me I understand why Bolton Council has had to close it. I think that last year people thought 'the cuts' had happened. They are much deeper than people imagined. However, it is now that families need their parks more than ever.

Yesterday we went along to see Animal World and the Butterfly House one last time. Everyone in the park seemed very gloomy. There was one bit of good news though; the rock garden had been    restored, completed with pools, and it was beautiful!


Yesterday I went to a Macmillan Coffee Morning with a difference. It was held from late afternoon, and there wasn't much coffee being consumed! It is an annual event, and one which I normally need my emergency bottle of Lucozade close by the day after. This year was no different, and over £700 was raised. It was a great party and for such a great cause.

I have quite a quiet week this week, although I need to get everything ready for H's first scout camp. I've been invited back on BBC Radio Manchester with Allan Beswick on the 9th October, so I'm really looking forward to that.

Pumpkin Fest preparation

The week wasn't as busy as I expected. I ended up working until about 9pm on Thursday which meant I missed the Township Forum. I also didn't make it to the Ramsbottom Festival yesterday. 'Im Indoors was working all day, and I decided I couldn't justify spending £28 to see the Beat for less than an hour. Next year I'll do as last year and get an early bird family full weekend ticket; I got drenched on each of the 3 days, but I went as I'd paid for it!

I was really disappointed during the week. I'd been in meetings all day with my phone on silent. When I finally finished work I noticed a voicemail. It was BBC Radio Manchester seeing if I would go on the breakfast show with Allan Beswick the day after. By the time I got the message their office had closed. I hope they ask me again because I love doing things like that!

As chair of Incredible Edible Tottington I held one of our regular meetings on Tuesday. The main reason was to plan our Pumpkin Fest that will take place on 20 October at Station Yard. Our group is only small, and we were gutted earlier this year when Anna Cocker, the Tottington Ranger, left. Anna had started the group, and she arranged for us to use council land for our vegetable plots. As the ranger service were involved it also meant we were insured during our activities. The ranger service was severely cut this year due to the devastating Government cuts to local councils, and I think Bury had more than its fair share of cuts. With the loss of Anna, we have had to 'go it alone'.

The planning of this years Pumpkin Fest has been complicated to say the least so far, and it is weeks off yet! We now have to book the land from the council, and pay a £25 fee. They explained this was for administration because the rangers weren't here to do it any more. I managed to get that waived but I think it was a one-off. Before the land is officially booked a risk assessment has to be carried out and sent in. None of us had experience in this, but I managed to persuade a 'volunteer' to have a go. It is difficult when there are children, food and a campfire involved! Next, we needed public liabilities insurance. We decided we really should have this as ongoing insurance instead of just for the event. The cheapest I found for a year was £140, which is a fortune for a voluntary community group with no funds. We have some money in the bank that was donated when we started the group but that's it. I'll be paying a visit to BLS in Tottington in the next few days to see what they advise.

We aren't there yet. For our previous Autumn events we have had the use of the gazebos held by the ranger service. When the service was disbanded they donated the gazebos to the Friends of Parks and Open Spaces for use by the borough. Unfortunately another group wanted them on the same day. I have managed to negotiate two of them, but we need to collect them and then deliver them to the people who want them the week after. Last year was really successful, as the weather was fine. If it stays dry and plenty of people turn up, it will all be worth it (feel the positive vibes).

I had more outdoor activities on Friday. I'm a leader of Tottington Wildlife Watch Group (TWIGs). This group, for 8-12 year olds, is part of the junior Wildlife Trust membership. On Friday we held our annual bat walk. It was extra special for us as Anna (Cocker) made a guest appearance to lead the walk. Anna is a member of a bat group so was able to borrow bat detectors. She even brought a bat to show the group. It was still (just) light when we set off, but it wasn't for long. It was drizzling so we didn't expect to see or hear many bats, but we did. The bat detectors were going off, and we saw quite a few bats over the water. We didn't stay out too long; some people were scared of the dark (I admit it, it isn't my idea of fun!) and others took great delight in jumping out scaring people. It was successful though, and the night time meetings are over for another year.

This week should be quieter, although I do have to work a night! It doesn't happen too often luckily. I need to prepare a presentation as I've been invited to be guest speaker at a Home Watch meeting.

Back to school

Like lots of others I had the traumatic experience this week of my youngest starting high school. He did everything possible to delay going on Wednesday so I breathed a huge sigh of relief when he turned up later with a big smile on his face! He is at Tottington High School, which is only around the corner, which I'm really pleased about.

Jean Clayton cutting the ribbon

Kirklees Street Bridge

In other news last week, I went to the official opening of Greenmount Sidings. A grant of just over £26k was awarded and the area was drained, the bridle way re-done, a pond made and a new bench custom made. On Saturday, after an introduction from Alistair Waddell, the ribbon was officially cut by Jean Clayton. Jean used to ride on the train through which went past the sidings for just 1 old penny. When Jean had performed her duties the seeds of a silver birch tree, acquired from Buckingham Palace, were planted, and finally a plaque was put up. There were exhibitions in Greenmount Old School, including the model railway track of the old line.  It was well worth a look, and it was attended by David Nuttall MP, and Councillors Isherwood, Gunther, and Hussain.


Procession on Chapel Street, Tottington, before the Xmas Eve bomb

On Sunday morning in Ramsbottom I went to the Official World Black Pudding Throwing Championship. I was there when the 'Golden Grid' was walked up the road after arriving by train from its secret location. The Mayor of Bury had the first go, then other contenders had their go. This is such a Northern event and I love it. It doesn't change much from year to year but I still have to go and see it. It is also a great excuse, as if I needed one, to shop at the Farmers' Market.

The Mayor having a throw

To end the weekend I went along to Tottington's Community Picnic. I helped organise one at the beginning of the summer, under the guise of The Big Lunch. It was a huge success and we have been meaning to have another get-together but never quite got around to it. My neighbours took the bull by the horns and decided to organise one for Sunday. We didn't have the great sunshine we had earlier in the year but it didn't rain! The bunting went up on Station Yard and people gathered with their tables and chairs for an afternoon of fun. I had to work so couldn't stay for it all but it must have been good - it carried on for an hour longer than expected. There was a table tennis table, swingball, and a game of rounders to warm people up. Everyone seemed to have a great time.

Station Yard Tottington, site of the 'picnic' field

I'm busy this week. I'm chairing the Incredible Edible Tottington meeting on Tuesday night where we will be planning our October Pumpkin Fest. On Thursday night it is the Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor Township Forum. On Friday night Tottington Wildlife Watch Group have their annual Bat Walk. I'm not keen on the dark but as I leader I can't get out of going. Finally, it is Ramsbottom Festival at the weekend. I'm hoping to get there on the Saturday to see Bury's Stuart Warburton of The Rythmaires fame and The Beat (I last saw then at Lancaster University many moons ago).

Have a good week everyone.

Past 12 months....

I know I haven't posted anything in the past year, and I've been asked why. Well, everything has been going onto Twitter, @TottingtonLife. The account started off as an experiment to see how many people would follow it. I didn't put my name to it for over a year (I started it at Easter 2012), and there are now over 900 followers.

My fetching pumpkin outfit!

Especially for the person who has requested a blog update, here is a little of what has been going on in the past year. I'll try to keep it updated from now on!

In September 2012 Incredible Edible Tottington held a 'Pumpkin Fest'. The weather was great and we had lots of people joining in. We will be holding a similar event, with Tottington Wildlife Watch Group, this year on 20 October.

Alan Fletcher and John Law, Boxing Day.

On Christmas Day we went to Asha restaurant on Tottington Road for a meal. The restaurant had gorgeous food, and we were able to order from the normal menu. It is a 'bring your own' restaurant and it worked out cheaper for me than cooking for the family!

On Boxing Day we went to the Boxing Day Cricket Match in Tottington. I for some reason assumed it would be a dressing up affair and was surprised when I was the only person in fancy dress. I met the Alan Fletcher who bowled the first bowl in the first Boxing Day match. This is a great way to spend a couple of hours on Boxing Day. This year I think it will be held in Summerseat.



Me with Fabrice Muamba



In February 2013 the previous few months hard work paid off. Three defibrillators were put into use in the area. We had one at Helen's Flowers in Tottington, one at The Lamb Inn on Tottington Road and one at The Victoria Hotel in Walshaw. We even had Fabrice Muamba to officially open one. It was all very stressful, as we couldn't be sure he was definitely coming until a couple of hours before, but it was brilliant. I even did two radio interviews, for Tower FM and BBC Radio Manchester, prior to the event.

The gang shifting soil.

Also in February 2013 we had to say goodbye to Anna Cocker, our Park Ranger. The ranger service was unfortunately severely reduced by Bury Council due to the cuts in their budget by central government. Before she went we managed to fill the Incredible Edible Tottington vegetable plots up with 12 tonnes of soil. It took 5 hours and we were on our knees by the end of it, but we got the job done.

In March 2013 we continued the gardening theme. We planted an amazing wildflower garden with Tottington Wildlife Watch Group. When the flowers came up the colours were amazing. It has been entered into the community garden category of Bury In Bloom gardening competition, so we are waiting for the results. Unfortunately the flowers had died when the judges came out.

The litter picking crew

In April 2013 I held a fundraising event. Our family's chosen charity is The MS Society, and we try to raise funds to help those with Multiple Sclerosis when we can. Each year The MS Society have a Cake Break, along the lines of a Macmillan Coffee Morning. I didn't think I would raise much baking cakes, so I changed it slightly to 'MS Wine Time'. I had a party, provided the refreshments, and asked people to make donations to the charity. It raised over £555, and I think I'll be repeating the event next year.

In May 2013 I organised a litter pick along the Kirklees Trail (#tidytotty). I worked with the council and remaining rangers, and managed to find enough volunteers to make a difference. I was amazed by the amount of dog poo, and dog poo bags that people couldn't be bothered finding a bin for. In just a few hours the trail looked much better. All the local councillors were involved too.

Also in May I went to the GMP Crime Commissioner 'Talk to Tony (Lloyd)' event at Bury Town Hall. This was an opportunity for people to ask Tony and Sir Peter Fahy questions about local policing and policing in the wider area.

I saw information about The Big Lunch that was happening in communities all over the country. I

The Big Lunch

sent off for the Big Lunch pack and set to work organising one for our neighbourhood. We have brilliant neighbours and a lot of them joined in the organising. My husband Paul cut the grass on Station Yard, and others posted letters through doors, put bunting up and organised a rounders match. It took place on a Sunday in June 2013 and was really successful. There is talk of another one soon.

Reopening of the dungeon

Also in June I appeared in the GMP Magazine, which I was really pleased about. See page 18.http://issuu.com/gmpolice/docs/briefspringsummer13?e=3819622/2493322

In July 2013 Incredible Edible Tottington joined Incredible Edible Ramsbottom on a stall at Music in the Park. We had willow weaving, clay model making and making elderflower cordial and champagne. It was great to spend the afternoon with such a lovely group.

The old dungeon in Tottington was 'opened' in July. Tottington Civic Society had been trying to locate the key. They couldn't but they did acquire 'a' key. I went along and got shut inside it. It wasn't pleasant!



Although I had been 'live' on BBC Radio Manchester in February I was delighted to be invited onto the breakfast show with Allan Beswick, reviewing the morning papers. I really enjoyed going to Media City and think I'll be booking onto one of the tours soon. I'm hoping I can go on again - they said I could.

July was busy. I was also invited to the Homewatch Conference in Manchester. This was an interesting day. I was able to learn more about restorative justice and the victim support scheme as well as hearing about what was happening with policing in general. Tony Lloyd (Crime Commissioner) and DCC Ian Hopkins were there too.

So, it has been a busy year, and I can't see that changing any time soon. I'll keep people informed of what is going on in the area (what I can find out about of course) but follow @TottingtonLife on Twitter for regular updates.





End of the summer

I greet another milestone tomorrow. My youngest starts high school! He is going to Tottington High School, which is very close to home, and I'm hoping he has a great five years there.

The six and a half weeks of school summer holiday seems to have gone on forever. It was the last year where a holiday club was available though, and we will miss Christ Church Walshaw primary school out of hours facilities. In between various holiday clubs we managed to have two holidays...

The Eiger

H and I went to see friends in Basel, Switzerland for a few days. We are really lucky being able to go there on a budget (Easyjet fly to Basel!) and they have a chalet in the Alps too. This summer we spent most of our time in Inden, walking in the Rhone valley, swimming in the outdoor spa pools in Leukerbad and the highlight of my trip, seeing the Eiger. We saw the Eiger on a glorious day and sat on the terrace at Hotel Belvedere in Grindelwald to admire the amazing view. It would be great to stay there, but it costs a fortune. http://www.belvedere-grindelwald.ch/en/

Our family holiday week was spent in the village of Mundesley, about 8 miles down the coast from Cromer. I found the house on the Internet a few years ago, and didn't mind where it was; I loved the house! After a nightmare journey we found we could easily do without the car all week. Mundesley is a lovely village on the coast, and our house was at the beach. At the bottom of the garden was a glorified shed called The Lookout. This was a fabulous place to sit with a drink at night, the chiminea keeping us warm while we watched the ships through the telescope. The village had everything needed for the week; a butchers, deli, greengrocers, bakers, general store, chip shop, ice cream shop and three pubs (two of which had wifi).

I got quite excited (sad I know) at the public access defibrillators in the area. There were two in Mundesley itself, and it is a small village, and one in Trimingham, a short drive away. The one in Trimingham was in an old telephone box, which I had heard of but never seen in 'real life' before. We made enquiries and those hadn't been used yet either. The people in the villages were very positive about having them.

The other bit of excitement was the outdoor gym in the village centre. This had eight pieces of equipment so adults (or young people) could have a bit of an exercise session while they were out and about. It was well used too. A sign at the entrance directed people to healthy living walks. These were three walks, of one, two or three miles, set out for people. I think these are a brilliant idea and would love something similar in Tottington. This particular gym cost £10,000 so I think I'll be waiting a long time. That said, Bury Council recently beat off competition from around the country to secure £1.8M of Lottery Funding from Sport England. This was specifically to help women and girls become more active. http://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1840&FID=356. I have seen that three areas in Bury will have some outdoor gym equipment, but unfortunately Tottington isn't one of them.

Outdoor gym

This weekend is the official opening of Greenmount Station sidings. The ribbon will be cut at 10.30am on Saturday 7 September. There will be display on in the old school. At 11.30am there will be a guided walk to the site of Tottington Station.

On Sunday 8 September there is the World Black Pudding Throwing Championship. It starts at noon when the golden grid is piped in. I have a previous blog post on the history, and there is usually a visiting celebrity. I don't know who it is this year, but Chris Evans was invited.

Finally, for anyone who hasn't seen The Lady in the Bath, who appeared next to Tottington bus Terminus over the summer, the 'making of' can be seen on You Tube here. I hope she stays in good condition when the children go back to school.

Tottington Community Defibrillator Appeal

My latest project is raising money to buy a Community Public Access Defibrillator (cPAD) for Tottington.

I went to a Police and Communities Together (PACT) meeting organised by our PCSOs in May. They had been on a Heart Start course, run by the ambulance service Community First Responders. This gave up to date life saving training. However, they said what would really make a difference was a community defibrillator. These are kept in an easily accessible public area and can be used 24/7/365. They are housed in robust cases that are usually locked with a key pad. When 999 is called following a person having a sudden cardiac arrest, the emergency service operator will tell the caller where their nearest cPAD is and give them the access code. The catch? Well they cost £1750 per unit, plus installation costs of £150 and upkeep costs. The idea was only mentioned in passing, but hey, this is Tottington, and we can do anything we put our minds to!

I went home and did a bit of research. When a person suffers sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) action is needed quickly. While waiting for an ambulance cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) must be given. Statistics suggest that survival changes after a SCA with just CPR is around 5%. By using a defibrillator quickly survival chances can increase to around 50%. The defibrillators that are used are extremely easy to use. As soon as the defib is opened it 'speaks' instructions, so it can be used with no training. There are schemes to increase awareness, and good first aid training can be arranged, so that local communities can be confident if the defib needed to be used.

Tottington village is quite busy. We have 3 pubs in the centre, 2 restaurants, a take away, a cafe bar, 3 churches and various shops and hairdressers etc. There are also lots of shops etc in the District of Tottington, which covers quite an area. SCA can happen in people of all ages at any time. I decided  a cPAD was just what was needed and let Twitter know.

Within a few minutes I'd had a response from a business owner in the village who was sure other businesses would support the idea. Within a few hours we had decided the idea was do able, and we could have a fund raising activity at Tottington's Music in the Park to launch the appeal. I had it in my mind that this was in September, and when I found out it was actually on 1 July I nearly needed a cPAD myself. Another business owner was 'recruited' to be involved and she hasn't stopped since either.

I hand delivered letters to all businesses in the area asking for support in the way of raffle prizes. Response was great, with people donating prizes and vouchers, all to be used locally. We also received some donations from businesses who couldn't really give a prize. We had one business have a Dress Down Friday and donated the proceeds. It was an incredibly busy time, and in between I was in regular contact with a charity set up to promote the provision of life saving defibrillation equipment, to find make sure we were 'doing things right'. A local graphic designer designed us some flyers to promote the appeal, and the local newspaper, The Bury Times, also gave us some great publicity.

To create an eyecatching launch the charity said I could borrow one of their steel cabinets, a defibrillator, some display stands and lots of leaflets. The only problem was that they were based in Nottingham. I arranged to meet their Secretary at Meadowhall Shopping Centre in Sheffield, and set off on the Friday before Sunday 1 July with a neighbour for moral support. The man we met was fabulous and knew everything we wanted to know. We came back with a car load of goodies ready to make Tottington sit up and think.

Sunday 1 July 2012 was one of the rainiest days of the year. Setting up stalls in the morning was horrendous and we were all soaked ages before the event started. We had a great display though, and it really helped having an actual defibrillator and storage box to show people exactly what we wanted to buy. We had some people that couldn't believe they could use the equipment, but we also had a training defib to demonstrate how easy it was to use. Tottington's Music in the Park usually attracts thousands of people but due to the weather it was a lot quieter than usual. The stall was kept busy with people coming to have a look though, and by the end of the day we had over £400 raised for our appeal. Only another £1350 to go....

Next, we put collection boxes in local shops. The local Knit and Natter group said they would make a weekly donation, and villagers were very supportive. Our MP, who lives in Tottington, has given his support. We got together a committee and arranged to meet to discuss future fundraising. However, the initial publicity had done us great favours.

The Freemasons approached us. They have a community fund for schemes where the whole community can benefit. I had to put together all the background information and cost information and application for a grant was submitted. It was a very formal nailbiting few weeks, but on 11 September 2012 we went along to the lodge to collect a cheque for £3120!

Unfortunately one of our collection boxes was stolen during a break in at our local Coop. Luckily, we had emptied it very soon before so there can't have been too much in. We were still chunnering from this when we received an email from a company in the UK that manufacture the type of defibrillators used in the community. They offered to give us one of their defibs! Arrangements were made for someone from HeartSine,the company, to fly in from Belfast and come to Tottington on Friday 14 September to make the presentation. This was a top of the piece of equipment that was quite pricey. When John McMurty from HeartSine found out about the appeal he also said he would donate a training defibrillator. This is a 'dummy' unit and it arrived this week. It shows people exactly what the equipment does and how to use it. It should hopefully assure people that they are easy to use.

We were approached by Peel Lions who said they would like to hold one of their Race Nights to raise money for our appeal. That event was on Saturday 22 September and was held at St Anne's Parish Hall. This isn't just any church hall. It has been recently refurbished, and there was a bar (well, we couldn't have a race night without one!). It was a great family fun event and it raised a whopping £1067.

We have had to change our goal somewhat. We should be able to install 3 defibrillators in Tottington in a fairly short time. There is a still a lot of red tape to get through and permissions to obtain, and when I thought the fundraising would be the hard part it seems I was mistaken. We need to make sure we have the money to run the equipment for a few years, but you never know, we may end up with four (wishful thinking) in the area, to cover Tottington, Walshaw and maybe Greenmount.

There has been some negativity about the scheme, and I have been surprised at some of the people who have been less that enthusiastic. However, this is a fairly new idea and I'm sure that before too long there will be lots of other defibrillators appearing in the area. They are all over in France in different areas, so there is no reason they shouldn't catch on here too. They do need maintaining, and I know I'll have to do weekly or fortnightly checks, but this can be done when I'm passing them.

I will be so pleased when the first one is officially up and running, and the people of Tottington have mainly had a great 'can do' attitude. Thank you for supporting the appeal!

How can you say you're lonely?

So how can you tell me you're lonely, and say for you that the sun don't shine? Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of any town or city in the UK, and I'll show you something to make you change your mind.

This morning I managed to stay in bed until 6.50am, the longest lie in I have had all week. My frozen shoulder has been really troublesome and is affecting the length of time I can sleep. Work have benefitted greatly, as I've been at my comfy desk chair by 6am most mornings, but I've been a bit down the last couple of days. This morning was the most painful it has been, so I was feeling very sorry for myself. Feeling down already I started to think about everyone who must have far worse pain than this on a daily basis, with no propsect of it getting any better.

The sun was out though, and it was time to put on a brave face. I found my iPod the other day so I could listen to feelgood music while getting on with some paperwork. I managed a first listen to Annie Lennox's 'A Christmas Cornucopia'. This was just what was needed. A loud cheery sing-a-long to Christmas carols with a twist while looking at the sunny May morning outside the window. After that I took pot luck and put the iPod on Shuffle. The first song on was Ralph McTell's 'Streets of London', and suddenly, although I was at risk of running out of tissues, I realised how good things really were for me.

Have you seen the old man
In the closed-down market
Kicking up the paper,
with his worn out shoes?
In his eyes you see no pride
Hand held loosely at his side
Yesterday's paper telling yesterday's news.

I have a wardrobe full of shoes that I hardly ever wear. I wear the same 2-3 pairs day in day out, and it takes years to wear them out because I spend as much time as possible being comfortable in my slippers at home. Just over two years ago I spent the most I'd ever spent on a pair of shoes. (They were about £80. Not a lot for a lot of people but for me it was a fortune). For about 8 months of each of the following two years I wore these shoes practically every day, whether I was climbing up hills or going to a wedding. This year I got them out again and apart from looking a bit battered the soles had started to wear through. I decided that based on a 'cost per wear' calculation they had probably been good value, but when I tentatively went to enquire about the cost of a new pair I found they had been discontinued. I was disappointed, but what a thing to be disappointed about! I'm lucky, I have plenty more pairs to choose from.

The "In his eyes you see no pride" was thought provoking. How long do people have to be down for to completely lose pride in themselves? You can visit any town and find someone passing time in this way, on their own and with nothing rewarding to do. I wonder if there has been a gradual change, or has there been a specific life event that has 'helped' them along to this stage in their lives? Do they have something they can look forward to? Is tomorrow going to be just the same as today? Vulnerable people that are on their own without support can expect less and less help due to the ongoing government cuts. Day centres and support groups are closing around us, and if these people didn't have mental health problems to start with I suspect they they would soon start to experience problems. Eighteen months ago I would have argued that keeping the support groups going would be the cheaper option for the government, to prevent people deteriorating and needing more assistance from the NHS or the benefits system. I must have been very naive. Recent cuts to the NHS and benefits system have shown that whatever help a lot of people need, they just aren't going to get it. I have often seen people sat with a polystyrene cup at their feet asking for money, and I have been reluctant to help, thinking it could be used for their next fix. More and more times now I see people and see their desperation for a hot meal.

Have you seen the old girl
Who walks the streets of London
Dirt in her hair and her clothes in rags?
She's no time for talking,
She just keeps right on walking
Carrying her home in two carrier bags.

I could fill two carrier bags with the possessions I have scattered on my bedroom floor at the moment. This 'old girl' must have at least as many aches and pains as I do, and I'd struggle walking up to the village shops with a couple of heavy bags just now. Where I lived as a child we had a village 'tramp'. I don't know how the system had failed him, or how much of it was a lifestyle choice (I know a strange one but in those days there were hostels open that people could get a bed at). Nowadays you hear stories of people who have had a job and a house, been married and had children, and their lives have changed beyond recognition, with them ending up sleeping on the streets. I haven't got the answers (although I'm confident a change in government wouldn't be a bad thing) but how can these people get themselves out of their situations, or how can we give them the support to be able to do this? In my 45 years I have only slept rough on one occasion. It was by choice - we either slept rough or missed the end of the Farewell GLC Jobs for a Change Concert in London in 1985 in order to catch the train home. We chose the night in Battersea Park, and although it was a glorious day in July it was incredibly cold, and everytime I found a decent bench to lie down on I couldn't sleep as I was convinced the rats would come and eat me. People have to cope with this every night, whatever the weather. Again, certainly in Bury, not too long ago there was no need for anyone to sleep rough. There were enough beds in short term hostel accommodation for anyone who needed one. I very much doubt that is the case now.

Ken Livingstone, 1985

In the all night cafe
At a quarter past eleven,
Same old man is sitting there on his own
Looking at the world
Over the rim of his tea-cup,
Each tea last an hour
Then he wanders home alone.

I've passed time sitting with a cup of tea in a coffee shop on many occasion. As I'm trying to cut back a bit, and it never fails to amaze me how much places can charge for a value teabag and some boiling water, I do think twice. However, these places have their uses when I'm killing time and want to sit down somewhere warm and dry. This man may have had no electricity to be able to make his own cuppa. I haven't had an electricity meter but my daughter tells me you can't just put a small amount of money on them. When living on benefits, especially the benefits that have recently been reduced so much, at the end of the week choices need to be made. Heating or food? And that is if there is money left for either of those. A cup of tea late at night in a cafe could provide a much needed hot drink somewhere warm, with some sort of company even if it is only the interaction when ordering a drink, before going back to a cold bleak bedsit.

And have you seen the old man
Outside the seaman's mission
Memory fading with
The medal ribbons that he wears.
In our winter city,
The rain cries a little pity
For one more forgotten hero
And a world that doesn't care.

It isn't just our heros that this government is trying to forget; it is whole groups of our society. These are groups that need and deserve help, and you can take away their rights, their benefits, their healthcare and their self-respect but they are still going to be there. What are those with the power to make the required changes going to do about them? I recently thought I was helping someone living in supported housing that was being encouraged to 'bid' for a council flat. They really didn't want to live in the areas where flats for single people were available as they didn't know anyone and would have to travel to be near and have the support of their friends and family.They would also have to travel if they were lucky enough to find work. They needed one bedroomed accommodation for Housing Benefit to even contemplate covering the cost. I managed to find a tiny one bedded house in the right area, and the cost worked out at less than Housing Benefit would have paid for the council flat. I was fortunate enough to be able to help with the deposit and the rent in advance, and the letting agency agreed they would rent the house to a tenant out of work.

The next stop was to get a definitive answer about Housing Benefit. I found that in 2008 a Local Housing Allowance was brought in for tenants who privately rented their accommodation. This was sold as being beneficial to people, giving them the flexibility to choose what was right for them. In 2011 rates were vastly reduced, and from January 2012 in Bury a single person could only receive an allowance to live in one roomed shared accommodation, currently £46.15 a week in my area. All our hopes were dashed as there was no way this property could now be rented. We looked elsewhere, and the cheapest single room we found in Bury, in a house with a shared bathroom and kitchen was £65 a week. I'm thinking of block booking a room next time there is a Travelodge sale. For not much more than this, this person would get a double room with a bathroom, all heating an electricity, a TV and have tea and coffee provided. How can this be right, and how are they going to be able to better themselves?

I am well aware that some people don't help themselves, but I cannot believe that the majority have chosen to be in the situation they have found themselves in, and the way things are I can't think how they can escape. I work hard and I work full time, but like everyone else my bills are rising, I have had no pay rise for two years, my pay is frozen, and I have just had a big increase to the contributions I make to my pension. However, I am lucky that there are cuts I can make. If necessary I can cancel my gym membership, I don't need an iPhone contract, and I can stop drinking altogether, instead of my cut back to Asda 3 for £10 wine. Others aren't so lucky.

My GP has advised me to see an NHS physiotherapist and assured me the wait won't be long. If it was though I could make some cuts and see a private practitioner. If I'm in pain I can go to the pharmacist and buy a strong painkiller.

When I get down I can pick up the phone and speak to friends and family who I know are there for me. So many people haven't anyone they can call even if they had the phone. I can go out for a walk and will always have someone I can stop and speak to. That wouldn't be so easy if I hadn't been able to shower for weeks and was wearing all the clothes I owned. When I've done that I can come home, snuggle on the sofa and watch a feelgood DVD. That is such a little thing that we take for granted, but so many people would love to do that, and can't.

I can't do much for people, and my voluntary work tends to be with youngsters who are actually really privileged, getting them to appreciate the outdoors instead of getting too attached to their games consoles. A few minutes listening to my iPod this morning though has certainly given me food for thought. The fact that you are reading this now indicates that you have privileges that many don't.

Next time you see someone like those described in the song, spare a thought for how they may have found themselves in that situation, and how lucky you are. Have a think if there is any small way you can help. Just a few words of kindness can help, it doesn't have to cost anything.

I can't say I'm lonely, and the sun has been shining on me all my life which I am hugely grateful for and do not take for granted. I am very lucky.

Finally, one way to help is to have a say in how the country and your local Council is run. You can't have this if you don't vote. In Bury just one third of people had their say and voted last week. People need to lose this apathy, and if we can find a way of getting normal people to show their dissatisfaction in the ways things are going for this country, in 2015 we may get the chance to start the long process of putting things right again.

So how can you tell me you're lonely,
And say for you that the sun don't shine?
Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London
I'll show you something to make you change your mind .

Link to Streets of London