Witnessed an homeless man shivering in the cold last friday the 25/01/13 by the entrance  to Oxford Circus Station and as i dropped a few coins into his cup in his unstable hand, i wondered if he was going to make it through the night.

Looking sick, malnourished and in great need of shelter and warmth not some few coins in a coffee cup, i wonder if i did the right thing just walking away and leaving him to his fate on that chilly evening.

This situation has brought the role of the family in an individuals life to the fore, the emphasis being no matter how reliable and socially responsible a nation is, the family still has a mammoth role to play in a person's life. If only he had a loving family to turn to, i pondered.

One would expect that the adequate benefits provided by the British government for the citizens would ensure that they are (adequately) housed, clothed, fed and kept in warmth but the pathetic scene that occurred on friday last week and at a very busy London station is a pointer to the fact that welfare provision is not only the duty of the government but a collective effort of all in the society, especially the family.