D34 #100WorkingDays A hole in the wall

 This is not about Pink Floyd though another hole in the wall might be arriving near you soon. A reflection of the changing times for me must include the way technology has changed in working life time, so far. I’ve often marvelled at the changes that those born at the end of the 19th and early 20th century had seen. I’m conscious though that the generations following mine, will need to know at least a little of the way life has changed in the last 6 decades or so. 

Our high streets are a place that has seen much change in the kind of shops that occupy them, where there’s still a high street to visit. Even smaller local groups of shops had separate green grocers, a butcher and a general store. These were supported by a newsagent and a post office. All a relatively short walk from home. The superstores we know now were far off.

Many transactions were conducted with cash, and prior to decimalisation (Google it - no space to say more here), there were multiple heads of kings and queens on the coinage. For larger spends cheques we’re used. Hand written they were one way of transmitting money. To get cash however you’d need to go to the bank and make a withdrawal. Banks were often only open on weekdays and at times that suited them rather than many customers. The bank was usually well staffed and eventually some did open on Saturday mornings. A revolution occurred when the early cash machines (late 1960s) we’re replaced in the late 1970s by the first iteration of what we know as ATMs. It was the bank’s response to a society more used to 24 hour living. 

At around the mid 1970s McDonald’s came to the UK, bringing with it a challenge to Wimpy and eventually the hole in their wall as we learned to drive through. The long opening hours led the fast food revolution, and launched the idea we could get a take away or ‘fast food’ any time we wanted it. There’s been many more changes too, in travel and access to electronic devices. Without the internet, little silicone chips, and adventurous designers I wouldn’t be able to use internet banking, or be blogging just now. 

D26 #100WorkingDays Banking on Father

The time at catering college was a useful stepping stone to the future though I was not exactly clear what that would be. There was understandable parental anxiety as I looked to be unemployed with no future plan. This was in a time where relationships with one’s bank manager were still quite personal. Dad must have chatted to the manager at his bank about me. They had a catering role in the City of London in an important branch. My name must have been passed on. I wonder who’s fate was sealed in those kind of conversations? 

After applying I started a Monday to Friday lunchtime service role in this branch. It had been a tradition in this particular branch that the branch manager, and the managers of businesses accounts within the City each had a dining room. Here they would entertain customers who wanted to borrow lots of money. Out little team would start early each morning to prepare each room as required, cook the food and serve it. Drinks, and corsages for the ladies, were all part of the deal. Usually finished by 3 p.m., I’d make my way home. After a while though it became a little boring and I was wondering what to do. There was still quite a lot of choice though I was no longer sure the world of catering, and regular commuting, were the future. 

NHS frontline cuts - coming to a hospital near you... a BS Bank

So, unsurprisingly, the impact of budget squeezes imposed by the current government are having an impact on front line NHS services. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/feb/17/nhs-hospitals-axeing-frontline-staff
These may seem to a disinterested detached politician modest changes to services; where will those women who won't be able to give birth at St George's go?
An electorate who are already being squeezed by rising food and fuel prices will see further erosion of the familiar as libraries, local clinics, schools and other institutions close or at best move away. Despite the attractiveness of local targeted services (this is a presumptive interpretation on my part of the Big Society idea) the drive to save money is simply removing established local services, making them impossible to restart by volunteers and charities as the costs will be too big. So, with no one capable of bearing the initial financial burden of running these local services the Big Society Bank will have no one to lend to. That will save more money, though not before the costs of setting up the BS Bank have been spent.
Did I say BS Bank? That takes me to another thought... the BS could stand for something else?
A headquarters in Westminster perhaps?