National Service for Pensioners

Same as a Champagne Socialist, I suppose.

Well, as a baby-boomer, when I was 18 'coming of age' was 21, and vice versa, so I missed out on a decent present twice . Now I've reached 60 and I've got to wait until I'm nearly 62 to get the state pension, but I will be getting it too early to qualify for the new flat rate pension due to start in 2015-ish. And now, due to another cheating DH, I need to find another job as I won't qualify for much in the way of benefits when I leave him.

Bored? I wish I could find the time!

Tony Benn is more of a teacup socialist. I think he is a teetotaller, but is rumoured to drink about 14 cups of tea a day.

Hmm...how does that translate into mugs? I must drink about ten of those a day - what does that make me?

ana, Tone's cup : probably his own blend from Fortnum's.

Just mildly curious about how a thread about the pronouncements of an unelected thirty-five year old "adviser" morphs into a thread about the tea-drinking habits of someone who served for decades as an MP?

Skill, mamie, pure skill!

Anagram I think it makes you an addict! I am a tea - totaller, never touch the stuff, can't stand the smell. Coffee till lunch time, lots, fruit tea or lemon in hot water in the afternoon and then in the evening wine, or whatever DH brings me! Not sure how this fits the thread but don't they all morph off into something else.

Much of politics is determined by unelected spin doctors /advisors etc! many MPs and ministers have no idea about the areas they asked to take responsibility for and have to rely on others!
To make a young advisor a Lord is just away for politicians to get someone else onside in the HoL!

nanaej yes I thought that was really obvious when call me Dave was first elected he seemed so green I guess the good old civil service was proping him up

i think Yes minister was closer to the truth than we could ever know! Thatcher loved the programme!

I think the personal advisers and SPADs are there to do the propping up; just a shame that some of this lot don't seem terribly good at it. I certainly don't think their relationship with civil servants is always a good one!

I have only ever drunk tea when pregnant!

I ate bowls and bowls of stewed rhubarb

That must have had an interesting effect, whitewave.

"Baby boomers are the youngest older generation we have ever seen. … They are not into morality,they're not into duty. If we don't facilitate this, there is going to be war. There are going to be arguments up and down the country because one generation thinks the other generation should be doing something."

So we are not into morality or duty? I worked full time and ran a Guide Unit until I had my last stroke. Like other Leaders and helpers I would have been prepared to continue in a leader role but the Guide Association 'retires' you after 60. You can join the Trefoil Guild but they don't become involved with leadership although they work behind the scenes.

After becoming disabled my husband and I joined a group that worked for disabled people by working with the council, transport groups, leisure groups amongst others to discuss access etc. I went into the local school to help in various ways like listening to reading, help with maths etc. I spoke to the children at school and in the Guides about disability helped the Guides raise money for the Stroke Association and joined a village campaign group for better facilities for the youth. Not telling them what they needed but discussed what they wanted.

In short worked With the young people not Telling them what they should have. I think that many people who give up their time doing their 'duty' should be given a great big THANK YOU not told they don't do enough.

I think he meant to say mortality.

I am always amused by these whippersnappers who go on about older people.
They behave as if we came into the world aged sixty plus and don't realise they are on the path to our age too.
As they behave towards us, they are showing their children how to behave towards them.
By the way, we pay taxes too.

And too much tax in my opinion!

Lord Wei of Much Silliness in the Marsh - somewhere in Berkshire isn't it? Who runs the parish council and the WI I wonder? Not to mention looking after the ancient church, doing the flowers, organising the fete and visiting "the elderly".
Who are the carers of the very old, by the way, you whippersnapper, most often they are people in their 60s, 70s and even 80s.

I don't think he meant to say 'mortality', granb.

The actual quote from the Telegraph is:

"They are not into morality, they’re not into duty. They are into purpose and meaning and enjoying life."

JessM Not to mention the fact that a far higher proportion of British grandparents provide 10 or more hours of childcare each week than any other European grandparents.

How can we get him to read this? He should know our views

Don't be silly, AlisonM, he's not remotely interested in the views of a bunch of foolish old women (with no morality or sense of duty). He's a Lord and an important person.

Oh sorry absent now I must remember to start being humble and know my place [apologitic emoticon]

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