Noise pollution
I SYMPATHISE with the Leeming resident and her experience of noise pollution.
A few weeks ago I was first in the queue one morning at the Telstra Shop, Booragoon Shopping Centre.
The ‘music’ was thumping and discordant for me and I complained to the lady at the front of shop saying that I wouldn’t be surprised if the staff committed road rage on there way home to which she replied a customer had asked her to turn up the volume!
Say no more.
Florence Mary Slater
Solomon Street, Palmyra

Staying at home
I AM so glad someone had the temerity to write such an insightful piece on the absurd treatment of customers who are the livelihood of business (‘Ear Ear’, Herald Thinking Allowed, May 13, 2017).
Currently my partner and I, and many of my pals, choose to dine at home.
The whole point of dining ‘out’ is that it is about social interaction, sharing, caring, laughing and story telling.
None of these components is enabled currently by the restaurants’ predilection of ensuring that not one of our social pursuits is accommodated.
Ms Robbshaw has outlined the absurdity of the present approach by MOST eating places.
When me and my friends find a place which respects our pursuits, we will return.
When the experiences are such that there is no point in socialising in these venues, we just stay home and have our social interaction, sharing, caring, laughing and story telling in the environment which lends itself to civilised dining—NOT IN A RESTAURANT!
Mattie Turnbull
(as in Malcolm)
Daly Street, South Fremantle

Copped it
FREMANTLE police—great work.
My partner had her phone on silent at choir last night and accidentally made a couple of “pocket calls” to police.
When she did not answer when they returned the call several times, the police went to our address to check things out.
Finally they made a call whilst we were driving home which was answered by my partner.
After humble apologies, the police still waited until we arrived home five minutes later to ensure things really were okay.
We are fairly embarrassed, our neighbours probably hate us because of the barking dog when police tried the front door, but we were very much impressed by the fabulous job done which could have been a lifesaver if something really was up.
Thank you all Australian police for helping out in times of perceived need.
Wendy Williams
Feeney Street, Hilton

Busting a gut
MAY I commend the bus drivers whom have been on the frontline engaging with people, and their families, suffering from long term chronic health conditions.
Over time a rapport is built up and they become an important part of rehabilitation and integration into society, or the coming to terms with an acquired condition.
May I commend Colin Barnett for going slow on committing to the unfunded or underfunded good idea of Bill Shorten when he was minister for disabilities, to find out the downside of the global NDIS.
It is cruel to make wild promises to the vulnerable.
May I also criticise the new WA disability minister Stephen James for sheeting home this outcome to Activ to the departing government.
Please would you follow up with other groups such as the blind, the post polios, the cerebral palsied and spinal injuries to see what they will lose from NDIS when it is run by the coordinators and under-skilled supervisors and telephone contacts.
Jill Brown
Marine Terrace, Fremantle 

Ctrl-alt-del
I FEEL many people are becoming frustrated and a little paranoid about this age of technology, particularly people of a certain vintage.
I thought I would write a light hearted look at these frustrations and wondered if maybe it would make your readers smile.
Dearest cyber friends, I need some time to vent.
Can I steal a gigabyte of time to pass my lament?
The internet frustrates me (yes I’m a dinosaur), but when it’s down the world stands still until it’s up once again.
Okay, FaceTime is amazing!
You can see me day or night…but come see me in the flesh.
I don’t admit blue light!
Spam was very tasty with pickles and some bread now its just a nuisance—I delete it all instead!
Phishing was a past time (salmon in the net), now it’s someone probing you to see what they can get.
Once only birds would twitter or would tweet, and I did not spend so much time going delete delete delete!
A megabyte was what I took when I saw something delicious, windows just needed cleaning, and an apple was nutritious.
A mouse was what the cat stalked and a virus was a bug…cured by taking aspirin and a day wrapped in a rug.
The cloud was a big fluffy white thing and chat rooms had walls.
Surfing required water and gigs played in dance halls.
Don’t get me started on passwords or I think ill lose my hair!
My brain cant cope with all the numbers I’ve got crammed in there.
Please someone…just take it away!
I don’t want this anymore.
My trash can is full and my delete fingers so sore.
Penny Stonestreet
Leeuwin Vista, Munster

The sound of silence
AS one cantankerous old bat to another, I (quietly) applaud Sheila Robbshaw (Thinking Allowed, ‘Ear Ear’, Herald, May 13, 2017), for raising the issue of loud so-called ‘music’ in restaurants.
I have been known to leave a restaurant when they refused to turn down the volume; and I have often enquired whether they have asked their clients if they really like it, would notice if it was turned off, or if it were replaced by the gentle sounds of a string quartet.
Fremantle restaurants should wake up to the fact that there is a big market out there that would respond to an invitation to ‘dine in peace’.
Gerard MacGill
Harvest Road,
North Fremantle

Puppy dogs and rainbows
I’M writing to ask for more good news stories about Freo please.
There’s no doubt Freo has faced incredible change over the years, shaped by decisions made by various government agencies.
I believe The Chook has the power to bring positive change to our great port city.
As we, the public, read about fear, decay and abandonment, it follows that we will focus on fear, decay and abandonment—and stay out of Freo.
As a trained journalist, I understand that it’s vital to spotlight the issues facing our community but the media also have a great power to create change.
We would love to sip our turmeric lattes or eat our cro-nuts while reading some more stories of those beautiful, vibrant faces of Freo, celebrate new businesses and the stories behind them, hear about events and learn what the people of Freo really love about Freo, starting with the front page.
Positive news has the potential to foster more opportunities, increase interest in advertising (from a commercial perspective), boost the local business scene and, best of all, encourage people to experience what Freo has to offer.
I call on The Chook to harness the good vibes of Freo and put them to work to create change. Perception is everything.
Karen Campbell
Dunford St, Willagee 

Privacy
AS a disability pensioner, it was heartening to see a move towards restricting the cashless welfare card to people who fail drug tests in Tuesday’s budget.
As someone who values my privacy, I don’t see why we should all be subjected to having that surveillance card tracking our spending due to the drug crimes of a few?
I would be quite happy to undergo drug testing if it meant that more privacy-invasive measures such as that card would be targeted only at drug users and the rest of us left alone.
I’ve never used drugs in my life, why should I be punished?
Patrick Anderson
Reynolds Road, Mt Pleasant

Shhh…
YES, I am with Sheila Robbshaw on finding music too loud at restaurants—many establishments have only hard furnishings so the shouting voices over the top of the music makes the situation even worse, because there is nothing to absorb the noise.
Have you noticed also that nearly all buskers these days are amplified and loud?
Personally I give money only to the acoustic set and enjoy the real talent that comes through with natural voice and instrumentation.
Angus Morrison-Saunders
Stevens St, Fremantle