Big companies must now show compassion to flood victims

When our backs are against the wall, that's when the British usually show their best.

Well, now - with floods affecting so many people across whole swathes of the country - is one of those occasions.

And we hear heart-warming stories:

• Yorkshire farmers - who have donated animal feed and bedding to farmers in the south
• The army - inevitably doing a fantastic job
• Prince William and Prince Harry - lending a hand to pile up sandbags in Datchett
• Many neighbours and communities coming together to help others through the situation.

Let us hope that institutions that hold many of the keys will be similarly helpful. These would include:

• Water companies
• Electricity and gas suppliers
• Insurance companies

For once, show some compassion to people who need help, and don't just think of how you can turn other people's misfortune into profit.

Who knows, perhaps a kind deed or two might stand you in good stead.

It will be bye-bye to the Co-op

Of course, it all started to go downhill in 2008 with the financial crash and all that.

I had an account with Britannia Building Society. All fine.

Interest rates dropped of course, but we all took that in our stride.

But then Britannia got taken over by the Co-op Bank. Colours changed (red to blue) - not a problem at all. Then I noticed on my visits - probably once or twice a month - that the old staff weren't there any more. Who were these new cashiers?

Soon got used to the new staff, I guess.

Late last year they suddenly changed the Saturday opening time from 9 to 9.30. Not very helpful to us early Saturday starters.

Then last Friday came a letter saying they were closing my local branch in April. Final straw.

I went in on Saturday morning (after 9.30) with intent to complain (with some sympathy) to the now familiar new(ish) staff. But even the new staff were gone. Was it a coincidence? Were these new new people temporary, or plants from head office? I didn't bother to say anything.

Action will speak louder than words. I'll be closing all my family's accounts with the Co-op.

Charity should begin at home for flood victims

It's tragic to read and hear about people who have been affected by the latest floods, mainly coastal this time. The same goes for previous flood victims - many not far from where I live in Surrey.

I hope that insurance companies can help them out - after all, this is just the kind of thing that we all pay into the insurance pot for.

Whether councils can or should do more to help victims or even take preventive measures, I don't know, but, again, I hope they are doing all they can to help people out.

What events like this in our country do bring to mind is the amount of money we often send abroad to victims of natural disasters. That is all very well and I wouldn't like to see that stopped, but do we ever send money to victims in our own country?

If not, we should do. Charity should begin at home.

What can I do with a busted amp?

Oh dear, my amp repairer is closed to new business. He's moving away from the area too, so he's a closed door to me. Shame. Nice bloke, good amp repairer. Cheers Steve.

But it's a nuisance, because I'm left with a couple of amps taking space in my garage. They've been sitting there too long. I have a new one that works, and I should have shipped these old ones out long ago. I just checked out Steve to see if he would be happy just to take the old ones (no charge), but he doesn't want to take any such calls. Don't blame him - he's busy ... and moving.

What to do with old, busted amps (they could undoubtedly be repaired)?

The dump? Seems a shame - I'm sure they could be repaired.

Local Freecycle? Hmmm, could try that, but is anyone going to want a broken amp - and they are darned heavy. Not much fun to "chance your arm"!

Find another amp repairer. Yeah, should try that. Will do that in a minute.

Blog about it. Sounds good (so unlike a busted amp), and it made me feel better.

Cheers.

Want a handbag? Try Buy-Bags-Online

A bit of publicity for a mate of mine who's just taken over a handbags website. It's called Buy-Bags-Online.

So, please check the website: buy-bags-online.

You can also find them on Facebook. Please like the page at: facebook.com/buybagsonline.

All prices seem pretty good to me (but what do I know about handbags?)

Here's an example:

Thanks for your support.

Let's get the Olympic Stadium used again

I read on the BBC website that a House of Lords Committee on Games Legacy said the £429m Olympic Stadium was a "national asset that should be used to the full".

But it isn’t.

This is beyond disappointing. After the fantastic success of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games of 2012, it is unacceptable that the Olympic Stadium has been under used since.

The Lords’ cross-party committee says there has been a loss of political impetus and a "lack of ownership" from the government on building on the Games legacy, which was spoken about so loudly before, during and shortly after the Games.

Despite the fact that I’m a football fan, I hate the fact that the stadium will be turned over to football for use as West Ham United’s home ground from the 2016-17 season. Rather that, though, than nothing.

I feel a sense of betrayal that the stadium is under-utilised. Look how people flocked back there to see the Anniversary Games Diamond League meeting in summer 2013.

Athletics, Rugby, Football, Pop concerts – let’s get the stadium used again.

How we used to use forests of paper!

I'm ploughing through some old paperwork of my football club, Weysiders FC.

It certainly gives you cause to think.

A typical season from mid-90s, say 1996-7 consists of a two inch-folder of paper. In those pre-Internet days, everything was done by paper and phone.

Three seasons:

So all the weekly fixtures, doubling later as weekly results, league tables, committee meeting minutes (from club, league and Surrey County FA) were all on paper. Player lists, signing-on forms, team sheets, club newsletters: all were done on paper.

Players were phoned up to ensure their availability. In fact, I remember one season in the 1980s when the Reserve Team manager (who did a great job) sent a weekly team update and selection notice by post. More paper.

These days, of course, it's nearly all done by e-mail, via th website or social media (https://www.facebook.com/Weysidersfc and https://twitter.com/weysidersfc).

We must have saved a few trees in this move. Also, I'm dispatching about an inch and a half of that two inches per season to the recycling bin.

Save the world!