First the politics….

Last week I sat enjoying the company of my three friends at a local café and the election debate started. Now I don’t know about you, but I’m finding the current hype of the UK election quite tiring! Same old, same old speeches…

One being a Conservative supporter, the other Labour and one still undecided, whilst the fourth having no interest at all – that being me! Now one of my dearest friends is a Councillor for his party so catching me roll my eyes with a huge sigh and gaze into distance to enjoy the glorious April weather, invited me to join him on his tour and meet the people of his constituency. Seeing the lack of political enthusiasm from me he thought if I hear issues and concerns that people want the parties to deal with, I may then realise just how important politics is and take a bit more interest.

Only credit I have for politics is that unlike some governments in other countries, they are more civil to each other, no punching in the face or chair throwing at opponents!

With a big grin on my face, I said yes. The thought of having a walk around the city in this wonderful April weather (which can be a rarity this time of year in England) was something to look forward to. Plus I could do with losing some weight!

So next day I stepped out in my spring outfit and in my white walking pumps. The sun was out and the sky was blue. Great start to the day!

So in the glorious sun I shadowed my friend and his colleagues in the city, from house to house, from one passer by to the next in the street. We met a wide range of people, from all sorts of backgrounds, cultures, occupations and of all ages. It was a wonderful experience. Quite an eye opener really.

Whilst listening to the people’s concerns, of which the various topics are more or less voiced everywhere around the UK, I found it quite disturbing to find how people of this nation where the government provides free schools, free health care, decent legal system and housing; yet in some parts of the city people’s standard of living is far worse than an average person in a third world country.

I found it quite shocking to hear that there are children in poverty, a high number of homeless people, high unemployment, young children out on the streets, teenagers being abused and groomed, bedroom tax. Bedroom tax…? You taxed sleeping in a bed?! Too many immigrants, high crime, poorer pass grades for school leavers…the list is endless…and my dear friend’s assistant noted all the concerns and my friend promising what he would do if he was elected.

I listened to a group of residents in one area we came across, saying the government had done this and the government had done that and that they have no money to feed the children and that they will starve to death. A terrible shiver ran down me hearing this. Another couple said that they had no money to feed the children, a benefit changed and were still waiting for the money, so far one and a half weeks with no money and every day at food banks.

I agree times are hard for most, high energy costs, mortgages and rent. But it is all down to common sense. Why live beyond your means? And for the unemployed the government does provide support, ok it does not always get it right first time, but if one checks and questions then everyone should be receiving exactly what they are entitled to.

The wise words of wisdom from my elders were ringing in my ears, words wanting to burst out from my lips as I stood listening. Why do people not save for such rainy days?

Three hours later, I was exhausted and my feet were killing me!

So, has my opinion changed in politics…?

Am I more into politics and do I believe in politicians to make a change? The answer is a big fat NO! Well to be fair, some Members of Parliament and Councillors do work hard in their roles the best they can, some work much harder than others. But they are not responsible for our lifestyles. It is down to us as individuals, as citizens to make that change and here comes the important part to make that change…

Back to basics…

Remember those phrases ‘save for a rainy day’ and ‘respect your elders’ and ‘cleanliness is being close to God’?

So why is that such a rarity in modern day Britain? It really breaks my heart, so disheartening to see so many people with no meaning in their lives. I alone cannot make that change, and neither can anyone – but what I can say is that one of the most important pieces of advice that I have constantly heard from my elders is that goodness starts from the heart, goodness brings blessings, blessings from the home that spread to your garden, to your neighbours and community. Goodness and blessings bring content and inner peace.

Upon God’s command the Angels taught the first man to work hard. Taught him how to sow seed for food, plough the fields, harvest the crop and to be thankful for a good harvest. He was taught right from wrong, he was taught how important cleanliness is, and the meaning of prayer.

Ok, I don’t expect us all to start farming in fields, that won’t happen, not if you live in the cities. But my point is, how many of us are thankful for the food that we have? How many of us actually make the effort to cook from fresh?

Making that effort, using one’s own skill, being thankful and grateful will bring many blessings, one will feel so much content from deep within and it is so much cheaper than buying greasy takeaways. I personally, always cook from fresh, hardly ever purchase a takeaway, unless travelling and away from home.

So next day, I did my own research to see what benefits are available at the lowest rate and popped out to the cheapest stores I know of locally, that being Aldi and Lidl, and surprisingly I was amazed at what I could purchase for just £10! I loved the super buy aisles, a selection of fruit and vegetables at only 49p!

My advice is, especially to the youngsters, don’t fall into this trap of poverty. Leave school with something to fall back on. Either get into college, apprenticeships or employment. Get the education. Save your earnings. Stay with your parents/guardians until you have saved enough money for a deposit. There is no sense moving out, being on a Council waiting list, being passed around from one shelter to the next as there is the danger of being left out on the streets.

Those of you that are on Housing Benefits, don’t let the Landlords bully you either – they are making millions from Tenants with Housing Benefit claims – make sure your rented accommodation is fit for purpose, otherwise report them to your local Council. Don’t live in appalling conditions. There are people out there that can help.

As I say, goodness starts from the home, a good clean home provides security, children grow up with respect, safe and not vulnerable out on the streets into the paths of criminals that we so often hear of.

I was lucky enough at the age of sixteen, stepping out into the big wide world, to find employment with a wonderful mentor whose advice now that I am into my thirties is still invaluable today as it was then.

I would so often hear from my grandparent’s generation that there are three things one should never rely on in the UK and to always be prepared, firstly never rely on the British weather, secondly never rely that employment is guaranteed and thirdly…well, that’s a story that I will come back to another time!

I constantly advise the youngsters and even the elders how important it is to have an education. How important it is not to fall into traps by companies that provide services where it could end up costing you a fortune. It is important to keep records, because believe me this modern world has become a culture of greed, dishonesty, innocent people falling into traps where there is a lack of knowledge and no one prepared to take the time to advise and be honest.

So…

Put money away for rainy days

Take the time to prepare a decent meal

Respect those around you – understand others belief and cultures to live peacefully

Only pay by credit card if you know you can pay it off at the end of the month

Don’t live beyond your means (and ditch those cigarettes and alcohol – the money you will save)!

Never rely on a benefit as a guaranteed income, or even employment

Don’t pay for legal matters until you have done your research (what would we do without Google eh!) A lawyer will not tell you this but quite a lot of legal matters can be dealt with without the need of a lawyer!

If there is ever a time in your life where you are unemployed, take advantage of this time to learn more, do a course that will give you more skills for a better job – after all it is free if you are unemployed!

Always, always read any letters or documents, or get someone to read them for you, many a times I have seen people fall into the trap of not reading and then getting themselves into huge debts.

Treat those around you fairly and with respect. Be role models. People will see and change too seeing your example.

Have a clean mind, clean body and clean words. Whilst walking through the different areas of the city I found it shocking to hear children of primary school age using foul language.

Set a good example so that others can follow.

Look after yourself mentally and healthy, after all the NHS is struggling and the government won’t advise you what healthy diet to eat – think of all the state pensions they would have to pay out if we lived longer! Briefly they hinted to a Mediterranean diet to gain popularity and votes that they are genuinely concerned – yet that suggestion seems to have disappeared into thin air and the Councils continuously grant permission to open more greasy takeaways – where is the logic in that!

And more importantly wipe out the hatred that the media creates over immigration…Ok I agree it does need to be more in control, again another British phrase what goes round comes round twice as hard comes to mind! I don’t recall anywhere in the history books that India sent an invitation to the late Queen Victoria for her British Empire to rule the Indian sub continent, or even Africa for that matter. Did the Aborigines have any say when the British decided to settle in Australia and push them away, or how about the Red Indians in America? The world belongs to us all, no one has a right to say where one does or does not belong. There have already been too many awful incidents throughout history, the constant invasions and havoc caused by nations that still haunt many in today’s world. It is the British politicians that made the decision of where to place the Jews, to this day there has been no peace in the Middle East. It was the British politicians that made the decision to sign over Kashmir with approximately 80% Muslim population to India – where is the sense to that and to this day there still is unrest. The British decided to take control of Falkland Islands, Northern Ireland…Britain seems to put its foot in quite a lot of places…so when a few Polish arrive, Romanians arrive, Somalians arrive – we get quite defensive – at least they come peacefully and not armed with weapons, and they work hard to make a living, whilst some yes do take advantage of the benefit system. But British government allows it to happen for its own political agenda.

Don’t let the politicians play you as individuals with each other, because that is exactly what they are doing, same goes for some religious leaders too. Let us not forget that there are a lot of wonderful people of all backgrounds that have contributed so much to Britain, and hard working British people that have offered so much support to the needy abroad during bad times.

A true believer has no room for hatred in their heart.

Knowledge is Wisdom – so make your own stand for peace.

Learn from history, make your own decisions, use your own judgement and common sense to know what is the truth because the politicians or some of these religious leaders will not bring you content or clear your debts, and as for the media – well they only cause mischief!

Have faith, have belief, work honestly, live peacefully with your neighbours, spend wisely and you will see the rewards come in. Life is not always easy, it was not meant to be – but to be tested on how we deal with it.

I don’t have a magic wand, but if any of you would like to share your thoughts about the issues or anything (within reason of course!), feel free to contact me -after all its free advice!

B.R