First RHS, now National Rail

So it might be worth having interchangeable options then re colour?

My friends daughter is registered blind and they change the colourways on her digital equipment anyway, I'm not sure how it works as I'm not very technical but she benefits from certain colour changes

Quite a lot of people with visual impairments have said they can read the NR website much better in black/grey and white. There was a thread on MN about it.

I can understand Royal Warrant Holders feeling they ought to do something to mark his death, and for all those who complain about what Waitrose did, there are probably just as many who can see why and don’t mind being told about it.

NR just beggars belief.

That’s exactly what the government website says NotSphagetti. It’s for the individual business to make their decision. I was just interested to see what a national period of mourning looks like. In reality nothing much has or will change.

I don't think we should be disparaging about anybody who feels a sense of personal loss but I do think that we shouldn't be subjected to the over the top coverage and hysteria about Prince Philips death.
Yes, I recognise his achievements and his service to the country but the country has lost a huge amount of people to Covid so it seems a little "off" somehow. To add insult to injury, it wouldn't have been what PP would have wanted either. He hated fuss apparently so why are we fussing? He lived his life in a goldfish bowl so let him rest in peace now.

Oldbutstilluseful - just because business can close doesn't mean they have to.
It makes no sense to me.

Technically, you could say any "ordinary" business can close if they want to. Some do just that - factory shut-downs, away-days etc.

Apologies Chestnut - confusing Ocado with Waitrose!!

Chestnut

Because they are a Royal Warrant Holder, Waitrose sent the following message. It extended sympathy to the Queen, not the recipient of the e-mail.
^As a Royal Warrant holder, Waitrose is deeply saddened by the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh and profoundly grateful for his extraordinary service to the nation over so many years. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Her Majesty The Queen and The Royal Family.^

Yes, but why send it to ME - and apparently you?

If it’s like this for Prince Phillip then god help us when the Queen dies.

You may well be right Suziewoozie. I have never been able to understand the mass outcry of grief when some famous celebrity dies. Grief is very personal and if I don’t know someone how can I pretend to miss them?

Having heard on the news that 22% of people in the UK have met the Duke (can’t verify but it probably was the BBC), especially through the DofE Award Scheme, someone, somewhere probably does feel a personal loss. Not knowing anyone personally I cannot comment on whether they are sycophants. Again though, I do agree that it could and should have been handled better.

I’m now finding myself interested in how countries grieved in the past. I know the ‘wireless’ used to play very somber music on the death of a member of the Royal Family. I’m grateful times have changed!

Anyone remember the wartime slogan "Keep Calm and Carry on"? Perhaps that's what we need. More a spirit of endurance and less grief exhibition.

Oldbutstilluseful

I agree Suziewoozie, it could and should have been handled better. I can’t answer for the whys and wherefores of such a decision, but just feel somewhere behind it was a person or people who felt they had to do something. Advanced warning of a day of mourning would have been more appropriate.

In otherwise an absolute fool of sycophant with no sense at all of the public they are supposed to be serving and no care for their safety during the evacuation. Just like NR had no thought for some of its customers. It’s a collective madness as I said - look at me look at me I’m proving I’m grieving so much more than you are

I think a lot of this ridiculous over-reaction to the death of a man aged 99 is about people looking over their shoulder, and worrying that they will be criticised if they are not seen to react. In an era of insane Royal-mania, starting pretty much with Lady Di as she then was, it sells news-media, particularly at the gutter end. I hope the RHS membership - mine lapsed some years ago - rise up and poke someone with a very sharp stick.

As for NR, I am thoroughly out of touch with who owns the website, although I knew people who wrote some of the algorithms for it more than 20 years ago. Given the enormous expenditure the railway industry has incurred to meet the Disabled Discrimination Act, one might have hoped for a more enlightened understanding of the implications of this ridiculous gesture.

I agree Suziewoozie, it could and should have been handled better. I can’t answer for the whys and wherefores of such a decision, but just feel somewhere behind it was a person or people who felt they had to do something. Advanced warning of a day of mourning would have been more appropriate.

Rood ? Where did that come from ?

Oldbutstilluseful

On reading we are in national mourning and not knowing what exactly this means, apart from flags flying half mast, I checked the government website. It says that all and any business, etc is able to close during this period if they wish to do so.

Thinking about the RHS, they have particularly close ties to the Royal Family and many of their staff must have met the Duke and felt they needed a day to mark their respect.

I know this doesn’t help those who were looking forward to a long awaited visit, for whatever reason, and I hope those with bookings will be given priority as soon as possible.

It wasn’t just those looking forward, it was those actually there , arrived after in many case a long journey and weeks of looking forward to it, meeting up with friends . There was a mass rood evacuation with no social distancing and chaos in the car park snd A3 slip roads. It was a crass stupid OTT decision with no mitigating factors at all. As if everyone who’d met the Duke could have stopped work as soon as they heard?

On reading we are in national mourning and not knowing what exactly this means, apart from flags flying half mast, I checked the government website. It says that all and any business, etc is able to close during this period if they wish to do so.

Thinking about the RHS, they have particularly close ties to the Royal Family and many of their staff must have met the Duke and felt they needed a day to mark their respect.

I know this doesn’t help those who were looking forward to a long awaited visit, for whatever reason, and I hope those with bookings will be given priority as soon as possible.

I too am a longstanding member of the RHS and had an email on Friday to say that they were closing the gardens. I thought it was a ridiculous thing to do, and it must have impacted on people who had a booking. I imagine Prince Philip would have been amazed at such a over reaction!

No reply to my complaint, and I am an RHS member.

Yes, it does affect me as I was booked in at Wisley for Saturday at 9 am to meet an old friend who’s husband has recently died. it took ages waiting on their website to get a slot and I don’t know when we’ll get another one. Just had a curt email to say they were closing. I have complained. Was looking forward to a gentle walk around a peaceful garden.

Buffy can you explain what you found so funny about a post that was completely ill informed about what was being discussed or are you another poster who thinks you can just join in rubbishing me?

RHS closed their gardens on Friday, chucking out all the visitors and are closing all day on Saturday, even though the funeral isn’t until 3 pm. PP said he didn’t want a fuss!

The NR change wouldn’t have been spontaneous - there will have been weeks if not months of meetings about it, if my experience is anything to go by. Which just makes it worse!

Chewbacca

I'm a long time member of the RHS and so have just checked their log in page...... full colour front page of Spring daffodils and absolutely no mention whatsoever of Prince Philip, any member of the RF or any recent demise therein.
National Rail website in full colour of the royal blue livery colours and, again, no mention of Prince Philip, the RF or any deaths.

Maybe it isn't the country that's spiralling into madness.......

Hahaha!!

“Not only does it cause problems for those who need sufficient colour contrast, but it also interferes with tools and plugins many disabled people use to help make websites accessible."

From the link I’d posted if you’d read it. It’s nothing at all to do with colour blindness