h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"A flash vision of catastrophe". I understand about that.

I think it's the reason why I so hate cold callers. When the phone rings unexpectedly, I always think of the terrible things that could have happened. Road accidents, heart attacks, muggings...

So, when somebody says "Good afternoon. I'm from Swizzview sales and I wonder if I can interest you in our conservatories/ home security systems/ world cruises?" I'm liable to tell them to get lost.

That's what I do, too - tell them I 'don't accept telephone solicitations of any kind.' Then I hang up.

I ask them how they got my number, and they usually hang up on me.

Last time it happened, I told them I was on the Robinson List and they were breaking the law by calling me. They said they had dialle my number at random. I told them to instantly remove my number from their data bank and NEVER call me again.

The Robinson List? what's that then? Might borrow it. . Make a change from taxis. . I just go on about taxis. Taxi? taxi? do you want a taxi? No? goodbye then. Works every time. Well, most times. Unless the caller really does want a taxi.

Interesting conversation.

I'm not depressed mvp, on the contrary in fact. Rather inspired by it all, matter of fact. Have to express these things don't we. Not all rose blossoms is it. . Good to express the thorns as well as the rose, otherwise it wouldn't be the whole rose would it, sort of thing, like. Writers. I need them. I think this is a bit philosophical for this time of night. Good though. I think I need a taxi.

.

Very poignant and possibly a vision of things to come.

I work in the community side of NHS and can confirm in my locale we have a waiting list of elderly people desperately needing help with care at home. The waiting list is there because they can't have a call/carer until someone who already has a care package dies and frees up the money. Very sad times indeed.

Thank you, Fizzymouse .

There are so many pressures on the caring services, aren't there? Costs, the drive for efficiency, the rising number of elderly people.

And then there are people who, understandably, feel they would rather die than suffer some painful illness.

If you put those two trends together, you can almost see the kind of
thing I described happening...

Oh, dear, perhaps I should and do something more cheerful.