WHAT ATTRACTED YOUR ATTENTION TODAY?

[Stanley]

I can confirm that Ian's suspicion is correct!

[Big Kev]

It does have it's benefits. I joined a 'friendly society' when I was 16, I received a 65th birthday cash bonus from them today and a note to cancel my annual subscription as discresionary benefits (dental and optical) are now free to me, I feel proper old now

[Stanley]

" discretionary benefits (dental and optical) are now free to me"

News to me Kev.... I don't think it's quite as simple as that....

Meanwhile, in another part of the forest...... THIS got my attention....
Updated 21 minutes ago
Lord Mandelson has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. The Metropolitan Police said a 72-year-old man was arrested at an address in Camden, north London, on Monday and taken to a police station for interview. The arrest follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden, a police statement added. The force launched an investigation earlier this month over allegations that, while he was serving as a government minister, Lord Mandelson had passed on market-sensitive government information to the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Lord Mandelson has not publicly commented in recent weeks on the Epstein files, but the BBC understands his position is he has not acted in any way criminally and that he was not motivated by financial gain. Lord Mandelson became the British ambassador to the US in February 2025 but was sacked in September after Downing Street said new information about the depth of his relationship with Epstein had emerged. The government has said it expects to release the first documents relating to Lord Mandelson's appointment in "early March". On Monday afternoon, he was seen being led away from his London home by plain clothes officers who put him in the back of an unmarked car. The BBC understands his arrest was carried out by officers from the Met's central specialist crime division.
Looking in from the outside it seems to me that this man has been sailing close to the wind for many years and this collar is long overdue. But what the hell would I know about it....

[Big Kev]

" discretionary benefits (dental and optical) are now free to me"

News to me Kev.... I don't think it's quite as simple as that....

The friendly society pays up to £400 a year for glasses and £400 for dental treatment, I just submit the receipt and no longer pay the annual subscription.

[Stanley]

Ah..... I see. Thanks for explaining that Kev.....

[Big Kev]

FB_IMG_1771963234206.jpg

Very true

[Stanley]

See THIS BBC report.....
21 minutes ago
A 33-year-old disabled woman says she feels "betrayed, worthless and frightened" after being moved to a nursing home against her will. Lucinda Ritchie previously lived in her own adapted bungalow in Billingshurst, West Sussex. She was admitted to hospital with pneumonia last April, but 10 months later was not allowed to return home. Instead, this February, she was taken to a nursing home in Uckfield - an hour from her home and family. Within two days of being there, her condition deteriorated and she was returned to hospital. NHS Sussex said it was "committed to working with Lucinda and her family to make sure she receives high quality and safe care to meet her needs". Neil Allen, an independent barrister, told the BBC it was "very unusual" for an adult with full mental capacity to be moved to a residential home against their will as it was "totally unlawful". The NHS has denied that funding considerations played any part in the decision-making around Ritchie's care, saying it was based on her clinical safety. But Allen said disputes over the funding of people's healthcare packages were happening up and down the country all the time. "That is a national issue at the moment," he explained.