RossHemsworth

That should have read "wife" no ex wife! She is still very much here and married to me lol!

I would like to hear people's thought on life after death discussed here. I am a researcher, working scientifically on a new project to attempt to take 'evidence' of an afterlife, into 'proof' and whilst this is a bit of a hot subject, with moral issues, especially within religious circles, I believe it does need to be discussed and researched. As such I would like the Speaker's Corner audience to put forward their thinking, experiences with any 'paranormal' events together with their own beliefs, sceptical or otherwise. I have studied at length, the five year study carried out by those involved in the Scole Experiment and had long discussions with scientific researcher Montague Keen (SPR), who took part in this, before his own death a few years ago. The research can be seen in a docu-film at https://vimeo.com/573225843 The 'Houdini Experiment' where he gave only his wife a 'password' that he promised to communicate from the other side after his death, was seen as proof that such communication was not possible, but in other cases, such communications have appeared to have been successful. I would be really interested to hear people's thoughts. I am 67 myself, and a long-time researcher of anomalous phenomena and have myself, set up a 'password' with my ex wife. Has anyone else done the same? Ross Hemsworth BA (Hons) Open (Law & Social Sciences)

I'd like to open a debate on how people cope on the basic state pension if they have no savings or property. This is the subject on my podcast released today (19/06/2023) I also read out a response to a Freedom of Information request (FOI) by HM Treasury, asking where 'excess funds' are placed from this fund. The response is an eye-opener! Listen via the link below and then have your say here. https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ross-hemsworth/episodes/Ross-is-Just-Sayin-Ep-3-UK-State-Pensions-e25toer

I'm about to record episode 3 of my podcast Ross is #JustSayin' and this edition is about how many people have to live on the UK state pension alone and how they cope. I am looking for comments from people struggling, who don't have their own home or savings and and fighting rising prices in every direction. Also those with added care costs for disability issues. I myself hit 66 later this month and as things stand, will be in that position, in rented accommodation, currently without a job and facing blatent ageism within my industry (radio and television). There is no way I will be able to survive on the state pension alone and am busily job-hunting whilst fighting off varying creditors. I recently submitted a Freedom of Information Request (FOI) to the Treasury, asking where 'excess NI funds' have gone. I received a response and will be reading that out in the podcast. Believe me, it makes VERY interesting reading! I'd also like people's views on the news that many experts are now predicting that the UK won't have a state pension in a few years time, something else that I will be looking into in the podcast. I hope you don't mind me putting this on your thread, as I believe it's an issue that really does need to be addressed for both those already facing the stress and for those entering 'retirement'. Ross Hemsworth Former TV and Radio chat show host Ross is #JustSayin' is available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and all good podcast platforms.

We have recently seen how the French have protested throughout their country at an attempt by their government to raise the pensionable age, whilst in this country, most people just moan about it online or down the pub! It's an unfortunate but true fact of what the UK has become in recent years. Last night our beloved government decided to outlaw peaceful protests and still we do nothing. Yes, a 25p increase is insulting, but so is a government who want to see an even later pensionable age and are asking all older people to return to the workplace and work until they die. I remember at 16 I was sold a dream (which was actually a lie)..... "Work hard all your life and pay your taxes and NI and then when you are 65, you can retire and travel the world and do all the things you never had the chance to do when you were working". Now we are told that if we draw a state pension, we are a "drain on the taxpayer" and that we should continue working until we die. I have no answers, but do believe as pensioners who only have a basic state pension, we are regarded as little more than society's cast-offs! Ross Hemsworth

I would like to discuss how my disability effects my financial life, something that will be familiar to bipolar sufferers especially in older age. Many people do not fully understand the devestating effects of banks and credit card companies, lending so easily to people with declared bipolar disorder. I was diagnosed with bipolar back in 2009/10 and have always had an 'entrepreneurial flair. I have run my own businesses and have been both wealthy and poor throughout my life. However, now at 65 with my 66th later this month, I find myself staring insolvency in the face on an £800 a month pension, with no job. So why did this happen? Bipolar disorder is not just about serious depression, it forms two parts of a person. The first is someone who when on the 'up', can often do the work of ten people at once! They can achieve what many believe unachievable things and can be very successful sales, businessmen/women and creatives. They often enter creative industries as I did, such as music, songwriting, radio and even presenting TV shows. The second part however, is where the rot sets in. The downside of bipolar can include serious suicidal thoughts (and often actions to match) and of course, DEBT. A bipolar will often borrow well above their means, because they truly believe they will always find ways to clear those debts. I have always believed that one day I would win the National Lottery jackpot! Of course that has never happened, in fact I have probably spent thousands of pounds over the years buying tickets :( I guess however, it's not just bipolars that have that particular dream though. This week I lost my job and as most of you reading this will know, it really isn't easy finding another well-paid job at my age, especially within industries that are still rife with ageism. So I now find myself with nearly £20,000 of debt, the creditors closing in and now out of work. Yes, suicide did cross my mind last week, but I am very lucky in that my wife is a mental health counsellor and spotted the signals early and most certainly, saved my life. Before you ask, yes I am trying to work things out myself and have entered the StepChange debt programme which basically leaves me 'pleading' with the creditors not to make me bankrupt and to allow me more time to pay. But realistically, at almost 66 with no job, a short break from payments isn't going to be enough. However, I had to close my own business earlier this year because of the devestating effects of the government's IR35 tax policy. I had run the business successfully for six years, but whilst the only debts at the point of closure were the 'government guaranteed' bounce-back loan together with the business Barclaycard, Barclays Bank are still even now, trying to pursue me personally for the bounce-back loan even though it was a limited liability company and they knew my financial circumstances. Remember, this loan was guaranteed by the government, so doe I now also become a 'drain on the taxpayer' as a result? Many would accuse me of that I guess, because they all love a good government catchphrase don't they :( So what can be done to challenge the obstacle of 'offered' debt, suffered by so many other disabled people with mental health issues who are falling into the debt trap? Firstly, banks and credit card companies should be forced to do more to help and assist people in this position, and whilst many bipolars would not necessarily admit to their illness when applying for loans or cards, perhaps there should be a question in the application that forces them to decalre this, or would that be unfair if the outcome stopped them borrowing money they may well be able to afford? Let's debate that one! (Did you know that 'debt' creates new money for the banks? i featured a bit about that one in my last podcast!) One particular credit card company, offered me a £10,000 facility even though I live in rented accommodation approaching retirement age with no savings. Of course, I accepted it with open arms and for some years, kept up my repayments and even managed to get it to under £5000 and reduced my own credit limit accordingly, but yes you guessed it, I now can't pay that either :( I shall be doing a podcast on this issue soon, but for now, I would like to hear stories from others suffering with bipolar and other depressive illnesses, as to how the debt trap has caught you. (By all means anonymously if you wish) Remember, people die every year through suicide because of debt and the largest percentage of those deaths are people with depressive illnesses. Ross Hemsworth

Hi Caro Thanks for the response and yes, you are so right. Boom Radio is on DAB but you can also listen online via their website I think. I worked on radio on and off for many years and my inspirations came from the pirate DJ's so it's so good to hear some of those names on Boom these days and still going strong. Yes, I sell mobility scooters, wheelchairs, specialised beds, rise and recline chairs etc. Sometimes we get some bargains from part exchange available secondhand with guarantee too. Ross

Strangely enough talking of Logan's Run, did you hear about that Yale professor who was recently in the news suggesting that older people in Japan should all embrace the idea of mass suicide? Madness still reigns it would seem :(

Hi everyone I am a 'newbie' to Silversurfers, but I would like to speak out about ageism in broadcasting and related media. I am a former journalist, radio and television presenter who like so many, was abandoned when I passed a 'certain age'! I spent time as a BBC freelancer but also presented television chat shows, various music and talk radio programmes and wrote a few articles for local magazines and newspapers. I was also the lead investigator in the Ghost Detectives series with former Dr Who, Tom Baker. Having seen so many other excellent radio presenters leaving the likes of BBC Radio 2 of late, I just wondered what the opinions are of others on this subject? I myself, find I spend a lot of time listening to Boom Radio these days, where the real radio personalities of the past, still offer great programmes and entertaining listening. However, these days, I run a mobility showroom helping other people with their day to day issues and find it both satisfying and educational. Ross Hemsworth