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Posted: 11-04-2013 11:33 Post subject:

If only she had risen on the Sunday.

Posted: 18-05-2013 17:27 Post subject:

Posted: 17-06-2013 09:50 Post subject:

Excerpt from an obituary:

In August 1943, at a high level conference, Major General Orde Wingate won support for his plans to drop long-range penetration groups into Burma behind the Japanese lines. The objective of Special Force, better known as Wingate’s Chindits, was to cut the lines of communication serving the Japanese Army operating against the American-led Chinese forces advancing from the north.

....

It was in the nature of the Chindits’ operations that they had to strike and move on through the jungle and when they moved it was not possible to carry sick or wounded men. Lucas went down with sand fly fever, a very serious illness, and had to be left in a foxhole with just a gun and a couple of bullets and some water.

He was in a coma but when he regained consciousness a day or two later, he decided to set out alone and try to rejoin his company. After walking for several days, he eventually managed to catch up with the main body of troops. He had been given up for dead and when he suddenly appeared out of the jungle, looking like death, several of his comrades fainted. A few days later, he was back in action at Natyigon.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/10123412/Major-John-Lucas.html?placement=mid2

Posted: 05-07-2013 09:14 Post subject:

'Dead body' in River Trent is actually alive

An apparently-dead woman floating in the River Trent was actually still alive, despite having been in the water for an hour.
The woman, in her 70s, opened her eyes when a police officer who waded into the river reached her lifeless form.
PC Mat Mitchell said the woman had looked dead and called it "one of the most bizarre experiences of my career".

He pulled her to the bank at Colwick Marina and she was taken to hospital where she was said to be doing well.
Pc Mitchell, of Nottinghamshire Police, had thrown a life ring to the woman on Tuesday but feared the worst when she did not respond and waded into the water.

The crew of a passing pleasure boat pulled him onboard so he could get nearer before he called out to the woman, who was floating on her back and looked "very peaceful".
"Her head was slightly submerged and she really did look dead. Then, in one of the most bizarre experiences of my career, she opened her eyes," he said. Shocked

"She had the most piercing blue eyes - it was so bizarre. I stripped off and jumped in the water, she was about 20 metres away, and swam her back to the bank.
"We were more than surprised, I don't think I can repeat what we said." Wink

PC Mitchell, who was helped by PC Katie Eustace, added: "It's certainly not every day you go wading into the water.
"I'd like to say it was like a scene from Baywatch but it was actually very cold and I'm not quite as chiselled as David Hasselhoff.
"We were preparing for the worst so it was so nice that this had a happy ending."

The woman is expected to be discharged from hospital soon.
"I have spoken to her husband since the incident and she's doing well," PC Mitchell said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-23189453

Posted: 05-07-2013 19:10 Post subject:

So that's where Supergran ended up! Shocked

Posted: 05-07-2013 19:43 Post subject:

I went in the sea at Bournemouth this afternoon -my first time this year.
As is often the case, I was the only OAP in the water.
What a load of wimps! Smile

Posted: 19-07-2013 08:12 Post subject:

Gillian Tuckman's pension stopped after death 'error'

A woman's pension was stopped when her "death" was mistakenly registered by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Gillian Tuckman, 66, from St Austell, in Cornwall, was unaware of the mistake until Cornwall Council sent a letter to her "executors" offering its condolences.
She said what has distressed her most was her "death" was registered as the date her son died in March. Sad

The DWP said "human error" was responsible for the mix up.
"We apologise to Miss Tuckman for the mistakes made at this very distressing time. I can confirm that all benefit payments have now been paid," a DWP statement said.

Cornwall Council said it also offered its "unreserved apologies" to Miss Tuckman.
It said it had received two electronic notifications from the DWP advising of a death on 19 March 2013 and quoting Miss Tuckman's National Insurance Number.
"On 2 July an assessor acted on these notifications and wrote a letter addressed to Miss Tuckman's executors as is usual in such circumstances," the council said.

It said when Miss Tuckman contacted the council, it reinstated her council benefit "immediately".
"Once again, the council apologies for the distress caused to Miss Tuckman at what is already such a difficult time."

But Miss Tuckman said while both the DWP and council have apologised "to the media" they have not said sorry to her.
"But more than an apology, what I really want is an explanation as to why it happened and some reassurances it won't happen again," she told BBC News.
"I'm very much alive and kicking and I've been able to deal with it, but to find out I "died" on the same day as my son was really distressing."

Miss Tuckman said when her son, Michael Halton, died in March, she contacted the DWP to see if, as a pensioner, any funeral assistance was available.
"He's got a different surname because I reverted to my maiden name, but that's the only possible thing I can think of.
"Mistakes happen, but I've had no explanation or apology - just a rather blase 'It's just a glitch in the system'."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-23353307

Posted: 09-10-2013 13:41 Post subject:

Posted: 09-10-2013 17:37 Post subject:

That really is preposterous on so many levels.

Including the fact that she'd be required to pay back $26k even if she had originally acted in good faith and so had the court that originally made the decision.

Confused