South America’s first Olympics were opened in style in Rio. We wish Team GB the best possible success. In particular I wish our two local Olympians, Gemma Tattersall (Eventing) and Fiona Bigwood (Dressage) the best of luck in what is the culmination of many years work.
Very few of us aspire to get anywhere close to sporting success on anything like that scale. However there is much that we all take for granted from being able to shop, work, run for a bus. I met recently in Horsham Hospital the Fibromyalgia Support Group. Sadly for those with severe cases of Fibro intense fatigue, rheumatic pain and extreme flu-like symptoms can become the norm. From recent studies its estimated that on varying degrees of severity there are some 3-5 per cent of the population with the condition, which is often triggered by trauma such as a virus, fall or a car accident. As can often be the case with debilitating conditions which aren’t apparent to others, the condition does not get the attention those who live with it deserve. However a support group does meet locally and it is through the national body of these groups that research can be promoted and information shared. The local team meet regularly and are keen for others with Fibro and their relatives to get in touch. You can reach them via their email on fmhorsham@gmail.com.
Lastly I am all too aware of the official strike action on the trains this week. I had hoped that just as the RMT called off their strike on the same issue on ScotRail in favour of talks, the same would be true locally. Sadly after three days talks broke down. The Government has intervened to say that jobs can be protected beyond the end of the current franchise. There now seems agreement about maintaining an extra trained professional on board the trains, which I welcome. However this dispute continues. I am no fan of GTR and have been clear in my criticisms of their performance but it is the ongoing strike action that is placing wholly unreasonable demands on literally 100s of thousands of people across the region.