Monday, 3 November 2025

An old lady rants.

It's very tiring this blogging and yoootooobing lark. 👵👸👩
Still a bit weak, but getting there. Catch ya tomorrow. Toodle pip.   ilona
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30 comments:

  1. Tammy_Ray3 November 2025 at 23:05

    I think your video is some proof you’re perking up. Rest and relax while you get back to normal. We could hear you mother, your camera ear muffs work a treat. Sending you all kinds of well wishes. By the way, your video is spot on.

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    1. ilona4 November 2025 at 08:47

      Thank you Tammy. Good to hear from you. Morning coffee has perked me up. And the comment below has certainly lit a fire in my belly.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous4 November 2025 at 07:28

    If you call
    Into the bank they will show you how to download the app. Scanning a qr code is very easy , you just do it with you camera . Don’t worry , it’s all easy, I’m
    Sure the bank will help. Jane

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    1. ilona4 November 2025 at 08:44

      Jane, I know you are being very kind, or are you just winding me up, but your comment has prompted me to go off on another rant. I think you have missed my point. To address your solutions, and I am trying not to shout, I don't want to scan any QR codes. That bit of plastic in my hand, whether it be a phone or debit card, will not control my life. I will not be a slave to it. From here on it is a slippery slope. It's the first step to controlling every aspect of our lives. You may want to go along with it, but I don't. The bank, and I am their customer, can wave goodbye to my account, if they do not change my card to a non contactless plain debit card. And by the way my phone is not able to connect to the internet. Chosen deliberately for that reason.

      Delete
    2. Will4 November 2025 at 10:19

      Yes, you can do all of those, but why would I when each represents another loss of privacy and more opportunities for scams? I will stick to cash for as long as I am able.

      Delete
    3. ilona4 November 2025 at 10:48

      Stick with it Will. Common sense reasons to stick with cash.

      Delete
    4. the boatgal4 November 2025 at 15:25

      People like Jane who think they're being kind really annoy me. I imagine Jane refers to older people as sweetheart or other such ageist terms and when challenged insists they were doing it to be nice. I use technology and apps at work. I'm familiar with QR codes and could download a banking app on my smartphone if I chose to. I simply don't want to do this. I haven't downloaded the NHS app because I don't want the GP's surgery to have access to my mobile number or email. I've disabled the government alerts on my phone because I don't want to receive them. Ilona writes a blog, uploads and edits photographs , navigates complex journeys with just a map and has a Youtube channel. I really can't understand why Jane thinks Ilona needs help and I think Jane needs to stop assuming that all older people can't manage technology.

      Delete
    5. ilona4 November 2025 at 17:18

      Jane's comment did rile me a bit.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous4 November 2025 at 19:44

      Blimey #bekind !!!! I was simply suggesting the bank could help . I work with the elderly and whilst many are tech savvy , many are not and ask for help. No need for nastiness. I don’t agree with you , but I did not intend to rile you and have no idea why an offer of help would make someone angry. Jane

      Delete
    7. Anonymous5 November 2025 at 08:24

      Jane, it would seem you are a new reader,
      aAnnie

      Delete
    8. Anonymous5 November 2025 at 08:30

      And Boatgal , You imagine very wrong , I am of pension age myself . What an unpleasant reply .

      Delete
    9. ilona5 November 2025 at 10:20

      Jane, your choice of language does not sit well with me. If someone tells me not to worry, I find that patronising. I never worry because there is nothing to worry about. I explained my reasoning. As Annie says, if you are a new reader, with little knowledge of my past, you will not know that I have fought many battles to claim my place in a male dominated profession. Theboatgal knows me, and understands that.

      You came back with, Blimey #bekind !!!! Just those two words grate with me. They are bandied about like confetti as if it is the answer to everything. They are the mantra of the woke fraternity so prevalent on the left, and I hesitate to use that word. They are used to shut people up, even though they may have a legitimate point. 'Be kind' says, I am superior to you and I assert my authority.

      I remember my training as a Samaritan at the Derby Branch many years ago. Someone comes along for help with a particular problem, some aspect of their lives which isn't going particularly well, either on the phone or in person. They want answers, what should I do next? As a Sam, you never tell them. They need to work it out for themselves. The words you use are so important. You answer their question, with a question. 'Well have you thought about bla bla bla . . . . . . or, What would happen if bla bla bla . . . . . . .

      Half of a normal conversation is to listen what the other person is saying. This is why I won't engage with those who come here and put a spin on my words to mean something else. They are not listening.

      I am trying not to be patronising here. If you take umbrage at that then you are missing the point. I applaud your good deeds helping the elderly. Keep on doing that.

      I talk about what I do in my daily life. What I think, my opinions. Nobody has to follow it. Another aspect is that I have a real life to get on with, away from this screen.

      Delete
    10. Will5 November 2025 at 11:01

      Re listening - we have two ears and one mouth, we should be listening much more than speaking.

      Delete
  3. Bovey Belle4 November 2025 at 09:07

    Well, if you DO have to use your card (though I imagine that doesn't happen often), you can just put your pin in. You don't have to use contactless at all. But then I know you use cash all the time so guess you can tell the bank where to stick their card. I don't do QR codes either, if I can help it.

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    1. Anonymous4 November 2025 at 09:33

      I think you will find Ilona uses her card quite often. She does not use a credit card and pays for everything in cash.

      Delete
    2. ilona4 November 2025 at 10:44

      Just to confirm, My debit card stays in the house most of the time. Except, when I walk to our pop up Post Office in the church and withdraw cash. It only comes once a week so if I use it hopefully the husband and wife team that runs it will continue their valuable service. A lot of the older folks need it because they have no transport. I take out cash in either £100, £200, or £300, amounts. I assess what my weeks spending will be. How much I have to pay out, and make sure I have enough to cover it. Have people forgotten simple calculations. I recently paid my garage £300 + for an MOT and service, in cash. I pay my utilities in the Post Office, with cash, when a bill arrives. I pay my Council tax in cash, at the Post Office. Every time I go through the till at Aldi they ask, cash or card. My reply is, always cash.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous4 November 2025 at 11:12

      Thank you for the clarification Ilona..that is what I meant you use it weekly to withdraw cash. Sorry forgot to put my name.
      Polly

      Delete
  4. Anonymous4 November 2025 at 11:10

    Debi from Leicester.It is as though they are trying to crack us all up!.I have managed to get through 70 years so far....all I have ever wanted is a simple life.We are being brainwashed,being told this is the norm now.Well they can stick their new norm where the sun dont shine.Hope you feel better soon Ilona.xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Georgie4 November 2025 at 11:26

    So glad to hear you are beginning to feel a bit better, lovely lady.

    Just take the card to your local bank and ask that they turn off the contactless thingy. You won’t need to get a new card and they should be able to do it in a jiffy.

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    1. ilona5 November 2025 at 09:21

      I don't know if that can be done, but I will ask.

      Delete
    2. Georgie5 November 2025 at 11:53

      My quick research revealed the following:
      - Barclays does not issue non contactless debit cards but you can turn off the contactless feature
      - you do this on the Barclays app
      - if you don’t have the app go into a branch and they will be happy to help you.

      Let us know how you get on, lovely lady.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous4 November 2025 at 13:54

    Why not avoid the whole debit card contactless thing by cashing a check each week at the Post Office pop-up bank?

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    1. ilona4 November 2025 at 14:36

      I still have some cheques, not used them in a long time. If I followed your suggestion the bank would have to send me a new cheque book in the post when these ran out. They wouldn't like that. Also the people at the Post Office would have to cash the cheques. I know you can photograph them to deposit the money into their account, but that's a faff, when I can just stick my card in their machine.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous4 November 2025 at 15:10

      I've read that many banks still have the magnetic stripe on the back of the new card, as well as the contactless chip option. It may be possible that you can still use the card in the way that you're most comfortable with, if your new card has the stripe on the back. I have a debit card but, like you, I only use it to access the ATM at my bank when I need cash. I never use it for purchases. Hope you feel better soon.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous4 November 2025 at 20:52

    I have the same card Ilona, and I don’t have the app. Just use it as you did before.

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    1. ilona5 November 2025 at 09:20

      That's the easy option to be sure. I have never had a contactless card, and don't want to start now. If you want to retain at least some of the freedoms we still have, you have to make a stand. I will return it to Barclays and ask them to change it.

      Delete
  8. Jo dorset5 November 2025 at 23:01

    I think I must be old fashioned in my ways because I have no clue what a QR code is and I don't want to know either.I prefer to pay a human in cash if possible and as I head towards 60 I hate all the modern things were expected to know about.Glad your on the mend ilonaxx

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    1. ilona6 November 2025 at 09:52

      Continue with your old fashioned ways, Jo. If your system works for you ignore all the nonsense. Eventually every human life will be reduced to a QR code. Nobody will need to register a birth and name a baby. It will all be done digitally and electronically.

      Delete
  9. Terra7 November 2025 at 03:37

    I read your most recent post and enjoyed your video chat on your porch and am glad you are healing. I use cash a lot to keep cash viable. Digital ID in my understanding is the dictator's dream tool. They can cut off your bank etc. in a moment if they don't like what you are doing. Hello from California.

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    1. ilona7 November 2025 at 09:22

      Thank you Terra. This is my fear also. I stood behind someone in the supermarket as they were going through the till. The machine declined their card payment. They had to stand to one side and get on their phone to move money between their accounts electronically. How embarrassing.

      Delete

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