what was going on?
 

What would you guess was going on in this situation?

A group of about 20 people were gathered outside a hospital one sunny afternoon/evening. In the group were men, women, children, and teenagers. They weren't too well dressed and some seemed ehem rather rednecky. They didn't seem to have any organisation and were just milling about, apparently aimlessly. Some were smoking! A couple of the children held a banner with some wording on it.

What would you have thought was going on? Would you have walked through the group? avoided them? gone over to ask what was happening?

I'm curious you see, to know what your reactions would be and if they would be any different if you lived in the UK or in Canada, or town or country.

I'll tell you why they were there later, once we have a few guesses.

Re: what was going on?
 

There's such a crowd outside the hospital where my daughter works every welfare day. The patients unplug their ivs, buy street drugs and pump them straight in. This seems to involve a large and unlikely crowd of dealers and hangers-on.

Re: what was going on?
 

Well if it was in Alberta (you did say rednecky) they would likely be protesting health care cutbacks.

I might have gone over and joined them. ;)

Re: what was going on?
 

Ontario, so we are talking rural dwellers. No banjo's were spotted but ZZ Top beards are very popular in this area. Soap doesn't always feature. Alcohol and other intoxicants do.

Re: what was going on?
 

I think I would have observed from a distance to see what was written on the placards to see whether or not it would be safe to approach!

from the way its described in England you would think it was a demonstration about something - in Canada it was more than likely a welcome out of hospital for a new mum and baby :thumbup:

Re: what was going on?
 

Do you really think so in light of the recent announcements regarding Alberta Health.:ohmy:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/st...ch-office.html

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/sto...nt-letter.html

Re: what was going on?
 

I think we are guilty of presuming its some kind of protest though - it may well not be!

Re: what was going on?
 

Small town Ontario? Obviously the relatives of some minor league hockey player waiting to see if he'd emerge from the latest concussion unimpaired.

Re: what was going on?
 

I am waiting for more guesses before I reveal the truth..


Are you excited?

Re: what was going on?
 

I feel as excited as a real Marvin.

Re: what was going on?
 

Were they homeless and the placards said "will work for food?"

Re: what was going on?
 

I can't tell you that. I didnt see the banner immediately, so neither can you

Re: what was going on?
 

Don't spill any WD40 :rofl:

This is an interesting sociological/anthropological thingy. Isn't it.:sneaky:

Re: what was going on?
 

I'd second a welcoming committee of some type. Maybe someone had used their hunting rifle to protect their house from marauding banjo thieves, were accidentally shot by police in ensuing fracas, and now they are getting out of hospital?:unsure:

Re: what was going on?
 

Here in the Bible Belt of Canada I would have expected it to be either an anti abortion rally/ right to life or like Steve P says something to do with health cutbacks?????

I would have gone round them rather than through them to get in.

Mrs M x

Re: what was going on?
 

It wasn't Winston Blackmore was it?

Re: what was going on?
 

Err, I'll reserve judgement, but I it seems unlikely at this point.

Re: what was going on?
 

Come on you can tell us now:wub:

Re: what was going on?
 

Depends if the group were all together or not.

Assuming they were, I wouldn't have any qualms walking near/through/around them here in Canada. They would more than likely politely step aside to let you through.

I would've felt uneasy with a group of people like this in the UK and would've given them a very wide berth, whilst avoiding eye-contact with any of them.

My guess is, they were there either to welcome a new baby, or to greet a family member on their release from hospital.

Or maybe, is there a Bus stop right outside the hospital?

Re: what was going on?
 

Were they waiting to welcome home Billy-Ray/Billi-Jo after recovering from his/her successful gender reassignment procedure?

Re: what was going on?
 

Hey ho.

It was a family group, waiting to show the banner to a relative who was an inpatient. The banner read "We love you Grandma"

My first reaction was that it looked like trouble so I avoided them. I'm not sure if this is the result of city living, or UK living. ie the Daily Mail effect

Re: what was going on?
 

aww - thats not what we expected at all - or you obv!

Re: what was going on?
 

Me too, shame on my British cynicism..:rolleyes:

Re: what was going on?
 

It's just the way us Brits are put together I guess. A gas bomb would have dispersed the crowd though:thumbsup:

Re: what was going on?
 

bless.

altho this would never happen in the uk, reason: its impossible to park anywhere near a hospital in the uk, and if you do find a spot ( and that is a HUGE if) you have to remortgage to pay for it. £2.40 an hour.

and they say the NHS is free :sneaky:

Re: what was going on?
 

I just read somewhere yesterday that The Supreme Leader Gordon has decreed , through his mouth piece one Andy Burnham, that all hospital parking fees are to scrapped in the next three years !!! Seems Mr. Darling can spare the cash. Good news eh !

Re: what was going on?
 

I don't know the hospital parking rates in ON now but ten years ago it was eight bucks for fifteen minutes. Not a great bargain.

Re: what was going on?
 

Couldn't agree more with these two statements :)

Re: what was going on?
 

I pay $20 for two hours at Sunnybrook in Toronto.

Peterborough is around $6 an hour

Re: what was going on?
 

If you can arrange to see a specialist at York Central Hospital in the future, you're welcome park in my drive which is a 5 minute walk from the hospital.

Re: what was going on?
 

Seems you folks are being ripped off big time. :eek:

Parking at the hospitals in Calgary is $1.50 per half hour to a maximum of $10.00 per day.

http://www.calgaryhealthregion.ca/pa...nt_options.htm

Re: what was going on?
 

I'll make a note of that.....