The rainy day came& and went&

When Bob Sheridan started his retirement he believed he and his wife June would be comfortable for life.
The new retiree had always been fit through exercise, but when Bob turned 67, he required a heart operation.
He was told he'd have to wait four months even though he was top of the list, but the specialist advised Bob's family that he would die before then.
So the decision was to go private, and Bob paid $33,000 all up for the operation, travel and accommodation. "It was very hurtful and most of my savings went in that one operation."
Bob is speaking out for the many elderly who were scraping the bottom of the barrel on the $65 a fortnight left after a rest home cost of $630 a week was paid.
And that's when the rub starts to sting.
The elderly have a long list of expenses: prescriptions, physiotherapist, podiatrist, optometrist-examination and eyewear, haircuts, toiletries, stationery and postage, health vitamins and foods, toll calls and church donations, which Bob said, they had to pay out of the $65. Bob said old age brought different expenses for specialty products outside the daily requirements of toothpaste, soap, and shampoo.
And when the elderly had to go into care, it was because they required special care for their health problems. "These expenses come out of our pocket and are not covered by any subsidy."
Bob said he bought a new shaving brush that cost $35 and his new prescription glasses cost $325.
They weren't a top-of-the-line brand and even if he preferred to, he couldn't afford them.
During his working life as an accountant, Bob, 73, had saved toward his retirement by paying into his super fund.
"We paid one shilling and sixpence in the pound, which was called the social security tax." Those funds then rolled into the Consolidated Fund. In this Government scheme, those people who paid into the fund and never made it to retirement, lost their money. It did not pass to their spouse. Whether you earned $500 or $1000, both contributors received the same amount on retirement.
The elderly received an annual one-off $225 payment for clothing every April, and Bob just bought a jacket for $50 reduced from $99.
"We don't want to be begging, we'd just like to have an independent standard of living that allows us dignity."
Stratford Grey Power president Jack Breen said the organisation looked after their own while still contributing to the community.
National MP Taranaki King Country, Shane Ardern, said his party had put forward a strong policy in 2005 on Aged Care.
He said that in the next few weeks the party would talk about what National intended to do to assist with aged care, but could not yet discuss any detail.
"In particular I am concerned about our rural areas, which have suffered with rest homes closing and the cost of caring for the elderly, either in their homes or resthome costs increasing. It is very important that our elderly have a choice to remain in the community which they share with friends and family."