Mould in my home put me in hospital

I WAS more than interested in your article on the problem of mould/mildew in homes. My experience has produced more questions than answers.

I moved here from Sheffield six years ago to be near my son and family (I was 75). It was a quick purchase but living here brought problems with shoddy work in the conversion.

After one or two years I was aware of dust. Not the usual, but white. Other residents had none. It became worse; one day I remember looking at the floor of the small kitchen conversation and comparing it with a fall of snow or heavy frost, my footprints clearly seen.

Then pots and pans in the cupboards were coated with a white film. I started cleaning and placing a card, dated so that I could tell how long it took to be covered again. I was very puzzled as to what it could be.

It was when the knives and forks and all cutlery were covered that I too became ill. Very ill.

Luckily, my son and family took over and called NHS Direct. I went to Airedale A&E then Bradford Royal Infirmary where I was for two weeks, on a drip with much investigation.

It was an illness I had never experienced – I hadn’t had a day in bed for 45 years (and that was maternity). It was a “flu-like” weakness; my face was swollen on the left side and my eyes were purple and half shut, and I was shivering.

When I was discharged, having worked on my rehabilitation (luckily that was my profession in the NHS), life was just horrendous.

My son had taken a friend with building experience to view the problem. He identified it immediately and builders arrived and uncovered, unseen, behind the units and sink the largest mound of mildew/mould they had ever seen.

So everything had to be taken away, cleaned and stored, and repairs were started. So where did I live? A cardboard box? Again son and family helped. I had to “camp” there. Then they found a B&B in Burley I was there a week until an empty rental place was found.

I bought, begged, borrowed and I lived like a hermit. This lasted two to three months. Okay, I could claim on insurance, but that isn’t the point, it should never have happened. And it did because of some plumber’s appallingly careless work and a builder who did not inspect thoroughly.

When I tried to investigate these circumstances I met a stone wall. The doctor would would shrug and mutter “can’t say”. Letters to builders asking about work were never answered.

My illness was diagnosed as haemolytic streptococcus (Group A Beta) and orbital cellulitis. Luckily I must be the most healthy 81-year-old, and I have a great son and family.

Economics of the dark ages

From: George McManus, Labour Parliamentary Spokesman for Beverley and Holderness.

I ENJOY reading Bill Carmichael’s columns but recently (Yorkshire Post, December 28) he was 
well wide of the mark in his analysis of the country’s economic woes.

In what was clearly a 
swipe at the Labour Party, he 
said all government spending should come from projected income. His justification is that “millions of families” operate under the same rules with regard to their finances.

If that were the case, we wouldn’t have 25-year 
mortgages or five-year car 
loans.

Only the wealthy would 
send their children to school or be able to purchase healthcare.

This is the thinking of the dark ages. All governments should adopt Labour’s golden rule that borrowing should only be used for investment .

Of course this would leave 
our banking friends up the Swannee without a credit 
card.

Punished for prudence

From: Godfrey Bloom, Ukip MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.

IT seems now the Government will eventually means-test the fuel allowance and probably the bus passes.

I was an investment manager for pension funds for over 30 years so let me give the many young people reading a tip. Governments of all political 
hues degrade money and artificially depress interest 
rates.

People who work hard all their lives, are prudent and save for their old age, are actively punished by the state.

My advice is save nothing, 
spend everything and when you reach retirement just knock on the door of the almighty state and they will give you everything you require. It is probably more advantageous to never work at all and breed as many children as possible.