General Chat

yesterday an elderly gentleman came into the shop where i work and started to talk to me about the state of the world and how worried he was that he might not see his family so often with petrol prices, my heart went out to him as he has not long ago lost his wife and doesn`t want to move south as he feels he couldn`t afford to live there, plus all his memories are here. I would love to help him, but i don`t know how, any thoughts. R.B. xx

Hi RB, He may find it less expensive if he buys a rail card and uses trains at off-peak times. I don't drive and my solo travel is done by rail. If you book off peak in advance you can make quite a saving. Gwynne

Gwynne, How much are these rail cards, I was told that they are about £20 which can be a bit expensive for O.A.P.'s June xx

Only an idea June but could you suggest a rail card and if it sounds too expensive to him suggest one of the family buy him one for his Birthday day or Christmas. People are usually stuck at what to buy elderly people so this would be good. Germaine x

Good idea Germaine, maybe RB could suggest that to him. June xx

Hi June, Sorry, I don't know how much there are at the moment. Dad's train hopping days are over. Gwynne

Many thanks for all your help, he has been coming in near enough everyday. I think i will put some of your ideas into action today. I hope while i am away that the other girls will talk to him,it only takes a couple of minutes to make a persons day. R.B.

Yes, they are £20.00 and very good value if you travel any distance brenda

Yes June I should have aimed my reply to RB. Dozey me. Not quite awake yet. Good job everyone else is.Still it was a good idea for this time in the morning (for me ). Germaine xx

Germaine, No problem, we all answer each others queries on here anyway. I suppose I should get one, I keep hopping on a train to these meetups, I am off to Leeds tomorrow. June xx

How active is he? I wonder if his concern is more that they will not visit him because of fuel prices rather than the other way around? maybe he doesn't like travelling and they usually visit him. It would be a different problem then. and may be no problem at all, unless the family have remarked on it. Usually when prices go up, after a month or so of 'refusing to pay those prices', we accept them as normal. Ann Glos

Hi Anne, I am affraid to say he is not very active as he is in his late 80`s., but doesn`t look it, bless him. R.B. xx

Oh dear perhaps the train will be out of the question. If my experience on Monday is anything to go by. Went to Lancaster changed at Preston they changed the platform muffled anouncement on the tanoy ended up waiting nearly an hour for a 15 min journey. June good job it is a straight through train to Leeds. Hope you have a great time tomorow. RB what about the bus perhaps there is a coach that will go straight through. Would take longer but is easier on the legs. Germaine x