bus pass routes and forum

[veggiechicken]

You need an English "government" that deals solely with English matters. In Wales, we have a few devolved powers so we have free prescriptions, bus passes at 60 and perhaps some other things that you don't have in England.
We probably miss out on some of the benefits that you have. I don't know enough about it to say.

[rary]

Interesting that the bus pass age is linked to the female retirement age. Hope that doesn't mean you qualified for your pass a few years ago, Jimmy - or are you female?

That's one of the good things that came from the equality movement men were entitled to have the bus pass at the same age as women
So I will get mine at sixty

[veggiechicken]

Dream on, rary. Bet you've forgotten your 60th, it was so long ago.

I admit to being Over 60 - I'm not shy!! I went to the Council office to apply and the lad said "Sorry, you're in the wrong place. You can't be 60"
So I blushed and argued a bit that I really was 60.
OK says he, We need a photo for the pass. Sit down and I'll take it now.
I asked him if my hair looked alright - after all I'd just come in off the street and I don't look my best then.
Your hair looks perfect, he said, Sit down!
So I sat, he clicked a few buttons and my photo must have appeared on his screen.
Perfect, says he, we'll have this on the cover of Hello magazine next week!

I actually look like a baglady on it! Its terrible.

Made me laugh though - and I complimented him on his chat for making people feel at ease.
So what was it like for you, rary?

[DannyK]

For anyone thinking of retiring to outskirts of London make sure you end up in a London Borough otherwise for the sake of a mile or two you'll lose out on free off-peak rail in 6 zones. Not sure about Tube, DLR and trams.

Over 60 in London you pay one off £20 for a 60+ Oyster card which has all benefits of Freedom Pass.

Don't forget free meds and eye tests at 60. Men 65+ should get called for abdominal aorta aneurysm scan. Everyone over 70 due free shingles jab, NB you may need to chase GP for this.

[rary]

So what was it like for you, rary?

It's a while since I was asked thatz

[bramble]

Well, here in Ireland we get our bus pass when we turn 66.
We can travel anywhere by bus or train for free.
We can also apply for a pass for northern Ireland so we can travel the whole of the island by any method of transport.

[Jimmy]

Today's the day, bus pass valid.

Friday is normally pub evening.
The local pub is dire so we normally go into town.
The wife, being older than me uses her pass.
I, being a scrooge, always walk in.
This did have it's advantages because I could always pop into a pub en-route for a sneaky pint.
But of late all the pubs have shut so it's a long drag.

But now I can travel by bus for free.

On the topic of pubs closing. We seem to be getting lots of nice micro-bars.
Is the age of the pub over ?

Jimmy

[4Shoes]

Today's the day, bus pass valid.

Friday is normally pub evening.

This did have it's advantages because I could always pop into a pub en-route for a sneaky pint.
But of late all the pubs have shut so it's a long drag.

But now I can travel by bus for free.

On the topic of pubs closing. We seem to be getting lots of nice micro-bars.
Is the age of the pub over ?

Jimmy

Keep walking to the pub. Gets to be a bad habit taking the bus and I've seen it shorten lives. Couple of guys retired and died within couple years. Perhaps they were that sort....

What is a micro bar? A police box?

[Jimmy]

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restau...e_England.html

It was always stated that once you retire you will die within 5 years !

Jimmy

[JanieB]

Well I've been retired for 8 years now. Mineju I still do a bit of bookkeeping for friends and family.

[bramble]

My OH has been retired for the past 21 years and has no intention of dying.
He walks and takes the bus and loves the whole idea of retirement.
Like a lot of people back in the day, he started working when he was quite young so he earned his retirement.

[mothhawk]

In the village next to mine, one of the two little corner shops closed at the beginning of May. It's had a makeover and just re-opened as a cafe-cum-microbar, selling beers, wines, coffee, sandwiches, and cakes. It's rather unimaginatively called itself Cask And Coffee. Hoping to catch passing lunchtime trade I guess as it's on a B-road between two small towns.

[4Shoes]

In the village next to mine, one of the two little corner shops closed at the beginning of May. It's had a makeover and just re-opened as a cafe-cum-microbar, selling beers, wines, coffee, sandwiches, and cakes. It's rather unimaginatively called itself Cask And Coffee. Hoping to catch passing lunchtime trade I guess as it's on a B-road between two small towns.

ok - got it now. (Micro-bar)