For the start of another week, we took a quick look at some of the problems that everyone has to face at various times – trains not running or being late and forms that have to be completed even when you’re trying your best to be a good citizen.

If you’re a regular traveller by rail you’re probably well used to hearing excuses for a late running services including such “goodies” as high winds, water or snow or even wet leaves on the track but just last week rush hour passengers suffered disruptions to services due to a trespasser on the track. 

But this was no ordinary trespasser – no “siree” – this was a bird!

To be precise it was a herring gull, which although a common sight in seaside resorts – and the incident occurred in Brighton – the species has been on the Birds of Conservation Concern’s (BCC) red list since 2009, which is all due to an ongoing population decline.

The red status means that the species is subject to”an increasing level of conservation concern” which in this case resulted in Thameslink having to close 3 platforms, and services to London including the Gatwick Express (awkward if you had a plane to catch), whilst the power was switched off for the herring gull to be removed from danger. 

Not everyone was gladdened by the news of the bird’s rescue.

One traveller complaining that “numerous trains” had been cancelled and operators had left them “stranded in the rain”.

For our second foray this afternoon into the world of unusual happenings, we headed North of the border into Scotland.

Now just recently Scotland’s been in the news with the imposition of their new HATE CRIME law.

Officially this is aimed at preventing “threatening or abusive behaviour intended to stir up hatred” on the grounds of age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity and variations in sex characteristics.

So I wonder how this new law might impact on a 66-year old man, Leslie Sinclair, who was turned away from a blood donor centre in Stirling, after he refused to say whether he was, or had been pregnant in during the previous 6 months. 

He pointed out that the question could not possibly be applicable to a man in his mid 60’s and that in any case given his sex, it was impossible for him to be pregnant. 

Nevertheless in spite of him being a regular blood donor since the age of 18, he was told to leave and so, with a full head of steam, informed them in no uncertain terms, that he wouldn’t be back!

All rather ironic given that the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service has just announced plans to recruit 16,000 new donors in the next year, although anyone who considers giving blood will be asked if they’re pregnant to “promote inclusiveness.” 

The Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service director, Marc Turner said, “Whilst pregnancy is only a relevant question to those whose biological sex or assigned sex at birth is female, sex assigned at birth is not always visually clear to staff, and noting “changes in society,” the agency now asks all potential donors the same questions during appointments, including whether they’re pregnant.” 

Mr. Sinclair said subsequently that whilst there’s always a form to fill in, which is fine – they tend to ask about medical conditions or diseases – and clearly that’s because the blood needs to be safe, but this is just daft!”

The world seems to be going mad – or is it just me?

I very much hope to have your company again tomorrow,
Scott