Trish Thomas
My name is Trish and I took early retirement about three years ago and am about to get my state pension. How did that happen I keep busy doing voluntary work. I enjoy walking with groups and reading
Location Fife
Activity
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Another really interesting course from the University of Strathclyde team via Future Learn. Thank you
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Jessie isn’t painted in a very favourable light!
Like others have said I must read North and South. That is a well written passage
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Trish Thomas replied to Neil R Pennington
@NeilRPennington brilliant!
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Trish Thomas replied to Wendy H
I recently watched the Railway Man film which portrayed a rather different view of railway building. A very troubling account .
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I love the Edmond Vaughn painting, very bold. It has a feel of a propaganda poster rather than something aimed more at a pleasurable experience. The Lefeaux painting is amazing too.
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I have a very poignant letter written in 1926 by my great grandfather to my grandmother who he had just said goodbye to at Larbert station. He was waiting for a train to take him to Perth and then onwards to his home further north. She was on her way south to board the ship that was to take her eventually to New Zealand where she was to be married. While...
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@RoyBrown My husband worked for the Coal Board and made the same point, that to manage effectively it was beneficial to have worked your way through the ranks
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@M.DianeRogers an interesting if disturbing account of the difficulties faced by these men. Thank you for posting the link
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Trish Thomas replied to Bob Schofield
What a thankless task!
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Being a stationmaster sounds as though it was a very responsible position with little room for error given that lives could depend on the job being carried out well.
It was sad to read in in the report on Grantham stationmasters that when they died, even if still employed at the time, that no financial provision was made for their wife and family
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Trish Thomas made a comment
The information being provided by other learners is fascinating. Thank you.
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Trish Thomas made a comment
An incredible choice of dishes, I hope they had a large kitchen staff to provide everything. While there are some more cheaply priced dishes they were clearly catering for the middle and upper classes. It would have been necessary I think to have plenty of time available to eat at one of their restaurants, not just a matter of popping in between journeys.
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Trish Thomas replied to Linda Matthews
Thank you for that link
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I had expected that conditions in railway stations in India would be better for the ruling elite but would not have expected that facilities for the ‘natives’ would be quite so bad. Surely those in power must have expected a backlash from the Indian railway users. Why would they expect the local population to be impressed by the grandeur of the design of the...
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Trish Thomas replied to Evelyn ROSS
@EvelynROSS very interesting, thank you
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Trish Thomas made a comment
The account of the planning of York station and the Network Rail account of the history of Glasgow Central station both emphasise the vastness of the buildings. The upgrading of Glasgow Central showed the increasing need to keep expanding.
I was interested to note that the first class refreshment room in York was much larger than either the second class...
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Trish Thomas replied to Dennis dlC
Me too, I have had to download the videos to see and hear them
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Like others I have completed the other working lives courses run through FL by Strathclyde University and enjoyed all of them so am looking forward to this new course.
I had a bit of an issue with the introductory video as I could hear but not see the presenters.
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Trish Thomas made a comment
My son gave me a copy of Infinite Jest which I admit I have never managed to finish. Finding out more about the author will hopefully encourage me to read on
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I would love to be able to set up and take good photographs
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As before I want to know how to use the proper camera given to me several years ago by my son when he got a new one
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You sound like me!
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I like taking photos with my phone but have never learnt how to use a ‘real camera’ as have never figured out the technical stuff!
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Trish Thomas made a comment
This sounds an ideal course for me, looking forward to getting started
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Trish Thomas made a comment
My son gave me his old camera some time ago and I have never learned how to use it properly
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Trish Thomas made a comment
An excellent and thought provoking course, thank you
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Trish Thomas made a comment
As with earlier sections of this course I am only now properly appreciating many of the facts and outcomes of the war for the ordinary citizens. To have your country carved up in this way might have seemed just to those in power on the ‘winning side’ but must have been a further insult to the civilians of Germany, especially those who found themselves part of...
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Trish Thomas made a comment
The reaction of the German troops returning home from the hellish conditions of the war must have been bewilderment and dismay, the families of those who died or who received life changing injuries must have been a sense of betrayal. I have heard of American soldiers returning from Vietnam being treated in much the same way. What that does to your self...
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I wonder if Britains and others were aware of the incomprehensible casualty figures suffered by Germany. I was not aware of that and was not aware that German civilians were blamed by the German military leaders for starting the war. That German civilians signed the armistice is something else that I have now become aware of.
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I remember being told at school about the assassination of Archduke Frank Ferdinand but don’t remember if the reasons for that were explained. As it happened in Sarajevo I have to assume that there was a connection to the Balkans. Imperialism was much in evidence at the time but other than that I have drawn a blank.
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Trish Thomas made a comment
It seems dreadful that people who, in some cases, voluntarily went off to fight for their country and who were then injured mentally were disbelieved and not compensated. There is still often a distrust of people who are claiming to be disabled and who are looking for government help to allow them to live. I am aware there will always those who abuse the...
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Trish Thomas made a comment
It must be extremely difficult for a person suffering from PTSD to feel understood by others who have not witnessed the horrors they have experienced whether in military or civilian contexts.
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I think there is still a stigma attached generally to mental illness though hopefully this is changing with celebrities and others ‘coming out’ and making public their difficulties. I do however feel there is still reluctance on the part of some people to ‘admit’ to a diagnosis of mental illness in case they are perceived as being weak.
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I have not read the Pat Barker book but do remember us reading All Quiet on the Western Front at school along with studying the war poets as previously mentioned. I remember it as being a powerful book which dealt with the terrible conditions and with shell shock as it affected the German soldiers.
There were several Blackadder series each set in different...
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Trish Thomas made a comment
CH W below makes an excellent point regarding the war poems not becoming available for teaching until long after the memories of those who had been affected first hand by WW1 had faded.
Not having any current contact with pupils or staff in Scottish secondary schools I am not aware if it is still the case that Owen and Sassoon are taught. I will try to...
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@LeeScott thanks for that
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Trish Thomas made a comment
The Sassoon poem is more matter of fact, less flowery language than Owens. Both are powerful though and create an image in your mind of the soldiers being described. I think they were being aimed at people who would have agreed with the poets about the dreadful destruction of the bodies and minds of the affected young soldiers, that is the feeling I get...
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Trish Thomas replied to Alan Taylor
@ AlanTaylor. That is very powerful, what a burden for such a young man to have to deal with
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Thank you so much for all the amazing information found and provided by people who have done this course before me.
I volunteer on a bereavement helpline and have spoken to some very upset people who had to endure much cut back funerals over the lockdown periods and who are struggling to cope with not being able to properly mourn. While I have much...
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Trish Thomas made a comment
An interesting video. The poster showing the line of men who had joined up but where a space had been left for ‘a fit man’ was interesting as I imagine that there might have been quite a few men who were not physically fit due to poverty
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Trish Thomas replied to Michael Parkinson
@HelenBlackwell you make some good points
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Very interesting interviews, thank you for bringing this to my attention
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@MaryAnnAtwood like you my ignorance of the effect on civilians during WW1 has been sadly lacking up until now
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@PeterTyson thank you for this link, it is very informative and useful in illustrating the loss of life in Hartlepool
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I am ashamed to admit that I had never given any thought to the possibility of atrocities towards civilians during WW1, having only heard of/been taught about the horrors of the conditions on the battlefields. Given that I am aware of civilian casualties in other wars this ignorance should not be excused.
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Excellent first week
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I think nurses working near the front line could have been affected as a result of dealing with many men brought in who had been badly injured such as Private Thomas seen at the beginning of this course in Michael Palin’s interview of the medical historian. There would also have been those affected by gas attacks.
To have had to treat many such men,...
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Trish Thomas replied to Daniel Muir
@LyndaPainter thank you for that link, an excellent documentary which explained the silent clips attached to the page above.
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Trish Thomas made a comment
6000 soldier deaths a day, that is a truly sobering figure. When looking for information for the previous exercise I came across information on the Forces War Records site stating that at the start of WW1 several UK newspapers printed daily lists of deaths but stopped later due to worries about civilian morale.
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Very difficult to find consistent records of casualties/death. I looked on 4 sources: Wikipedia, the History Learning Site, Robert Schumann and Statista. Each gave differing amounts, some included victims of the Spanish Flu epidemic while others didn’t. Nevertheless the figures are very high on each site for each country.
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Trish Thomas replied to Ian Bushnell
@SheilaByrne I am sure they were treated as cowards and were often court martialed and shot
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Trish Thomas replied to Caren K
@Caren K. This was a set book when I was at school in the 1970’s as were the works of the war poets such as Wilfred Owen and Sassoon. I remember being horrified then learning about the dreadful way in which the soldiers were treated. That I have remembered is a tribute to them .
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Trish Thomas replied to R T
There is a song sung by Billy Connelly, and also by the Dubliners, called ‘Sergeant Where’s Mine’ which makes this very point
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I had issues with the film the first time I played it, I could hear the comments but had only a still picture of the outside of the building. I therefore had a bit of warning about the terrible injuries Private Thomas suffered, the reality of the photos however was shocking. I was already aware of how the injuries from WW1 were a ‘testing ground’ for plastic...
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Trish Thomas made a comment
An excellent and thought provoking course, very worthwhile
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Maintaining brain health is so important and a topic I intend to talk to my children and grandchildren about. I am already telling friends about this course!
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Trish Thomas made a comment
A really interesting conversation between the various participants. Let’s hope it brings future benefits for everyone
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You make some good point Janet
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I would definitely attend a brain health centre if one was available. The barriers I think would be persuading professionals in medicine, social services and elsewhere that it is the way forward. Persuading government to provide the necessary funding could also be a barrier.
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Absolutely agree with you
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I agree that a dementia check should probably be included in health tests earlier in life
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Mary’s story is very similar to the route taken when my mother was diagnosed with AD. I would be interested to know why thyroid disease was given as one of the possible causes of cognitive impairment
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Trish Thomas made a comment
A very interesting week. I have made initial contacts regarding taking part in research and hope others have too. To be able to find a way to diagnose dementia much earlier than currently would be a great step forward.
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Information on the type of food she eats and the amount of physical and mental exercise she gets, information on her sleep patterns and on her interactions with other people. There might also be a way to track any deterioration over time on her ability to carry out tasks
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Trish Thomas made a comment
It is encouraging to know that there is going to be a facility for scientists, researchers and drug companies to pool the data the have found in an effort to hopefully bring help to those who have or will have dementia. I hope good use is made of the facility.
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Trish Thomas replied to Ann Smith
@AnnSmith that is really interesting. It would be interesting to know if this is something picked up by scientists
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I think some may be out off by the time you would have to devote to the study and may not be keen to have invasive tests carried out. Others may be concerned about the possibility of discovering that they already had dementia or some other illness. I do however think people should be encouraged to participate if it is for the greater good
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I am considering taking part in research after hearing of Malcolm’s involvement and experience. I liked the David Livingstone quote that sympathy is no substitute for action
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Very interesting to find out about possible early signs of dementia from speech patterns or examination of the retina . I had an eye test done yesterday, I wonder what the optician might have seen!
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Trish Thomas made a comment
An interesting week
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Trish Thomas made a comment
To encourage people to make lifestyle changes that will improve their chances of having healthy mental health as well as healthy physical health in later life the changes have to be achievable over the long term and have to be enjoyable and satisfying. Ideally following activities in a setting where you are with other people might encourage participation,...
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Have really enjoyed week 1 and looking forward to learning more. Would especially like to learn of ways to slow down the effects of dementia
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There seems to be a lot of interest currently in the UK about the benefits of music to those with dementia which has to be a good thing I think
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I think many people view the possibility of AD in their own lives as being frightening. Being effectively a ‘baby boomer’ I have many friends and family who have witnessed their own parents living with dementia. It is worrying to think of a large population of people my own age developing it.
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I have heard it said that a loved one having dementia is like them dying twice, you have lost the person they were but they are still alive at that point.
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Very interesting, hope I can remember it
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Hi, my name is Trish and I live in Fife, Scotland. I donate monthly to Alzheimer Scotland and saw info about this course in their Winter 2021 newsletter/magazine. I have done several Future Learn courses over lockdown so know how useful and interesting they are. My mother had Alzheimer Disease so I have an interest in the subject. Craig Ritchie’s lecture...
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I was surprised by how I under or overestimated a few of the questions, pretty much in line with how wrong or right people in the survey answered. I had thought I had a better understanding of these issues
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I am retired from work now but am involved in volunteering activities now. I have had a long term interest in health issues and especially in inequalities in health.
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Hi, I am Trish and live in Scotland. I am looking forward to what sounds like an interesting course
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Trish Thomas replied to Moira Vangrove
Thanks for that link @PaulKamill
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I think I might be misunderstanding this whole inner spirituality idea. I had been assuming it was a believer communing alone with God in a quiet space. The ‘spiritual day out’ seems to have been the total opposite of that?
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Until there were larger numbers of followers for Fox’s ideas I think it must have been difficult for anyone to decide to take part in looking inwardly for spirituality. If the norm was to take part in organised religion it would have seemed odd to practice your religion in silent thought.
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Trish Thomas replied to william ragg
I don’t think it is necessary to have a belief in God or in spirituality to be able to appreciate the wonders of nature. There is much to be said for standing on a hillside and just taking in the view. Much has been written about what would appear to be a new found appreciation of nature since lockdown began.
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Trish Thomas replied to Alison Hunt
I agree with you @AlisonHunt . I have thought for a long time that there was a conceit in believing that the views and beliefs of one group was any better than those of another.
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Isn’t it amazing how far travelled they were considering how long it must have taken to get to most of their destinations. I had not really thought of people in the 17th century going so far afield.
They must have had to balance the spreading of their movement against having a continuous presence. -
Trish Thomas made a comment
Very interesting and informative first week
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Fantastic website
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Trish Thomas made a comment
A very interesting discussion. I am not religious but have had connections with the church for a good part of my life. My parents were members of the Church of Scotland and my husband and his family were Roman Catholic. Our children attended Catholic schools.
From those experiences I can see that ministers and priests and the churches themselves are looked... -
Thanks, but surely not everyone at that time had learnt how to read?
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I can understand that Fox was disenchanted by the upper class and wealthy members of the clergy pontificating on the do’s and dont’s of religion and that they would expect those of lower status and social class to just accept those rulings, but how would he have learned of religious ideas or of the contents of the bible unless he had heard them before, either...
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Trish Thomas made a comment
I’m afraid I knew nothing about the ECW other than I had heard of Cromwell. I had no idea that there was so much involvement of Scottish armies.
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Hi, I live in Fife in Scotland and have done many Future Learn courses especially over the first lockdown. I have enjoyed most of them except the one on Humanism which I just could not get into. Hoping I have more luck with this one!
I have recently done a FL course on slavery so am interested to hear more from Sarah Barber on Quaker links with that. It was... -
Trish Thomas made a comment
This has been a great course, so interesting
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Fascinating story and much praise to Malik for his success in life considering his traumatic childhood.
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Sounds like an amazing resource
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Unfortunately I think you are correct Ronald.
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I had heard about reparations being made to slave owners and not slaves and was appalled at the time. What I hadn’t realised until I started this course was that the last amount paid out was as recent as 2015, that descendants of slave owners received reparation or that U.K. taxpayers were being taxed on the repayment of the loans taken out to pay the...
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Well said Anna
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Trish Thomas made a comment
Talk about kicking someone when they are down. That is appalling that people were put off the land and out of the houses they had lived in for so long and then to charge rents that were higher than for others