PeterBB

23 hours ago, Gwiwer said:

Kingston and St Mary’s Universities students who have joined our population this week. 
 

 

Until you metioned this I had no idea that the teacher training college was now part and parcel of Kingston University or of the change of name.  

Best wishes for your move next Monday.

On 16/09/2023 at 16:14, polybear said:

 

...and drinking......when the Lads discovered I didn't drink their immediate reaction was "You can't work here!!";  very shortly afterwards a more forward-thinking p1ss'ead said "Hang on Lads - he can drive!!"

Happy all round.

 

For the same reason I was invited to parties during my time at Kingston - Gwiver knows the area well - saw some sights and on one occasion had to clean up ... you can guess what.

On 14/08/2023 at 19:53, The White Rabbit said:

Evening all,

 

No sightings of any hedgehogs here for over a year. Some rescues, such as dogs and cats get fostered or rehomed, I wonder if there is anything similar for hedgehogs? The trouble here would be the road we're on, most people drive sensibly but there are a few maniacs who speed, not good news for either two or four legged creatures. 

 

It's been a wet day like many ERs have had, the afternoon was rather changeable, with several very dark and damp interludes after it seemed to be clearing up and blue sky appearing. But as I hadn't gone anywhere it didn't matter. The reading lamp was required though. 

 

Not a great deal done today, felt a bit third rate. Caught up with ERs after a longer than intended absence, I got a bit sidetracked yesterday afternoon. The Bakewell Tart turned out well for a first attempt. I'll try a few more and experiment a little before being confident but both warm and cold it tastes fine. No prizes for the presentation though! I read a few recipes online and amalgamated three into what I thought would be about right for us. I used the 'quiche' tray rather than a traditional round cake tin, it makes storage easier. The bears and hippos were merciful, so I was able to take a snap of two pieces earlier. 

 

As you are aware do not normally do not respond to food topics but make an exception here - this is one of my favourites!

Found you at last - interesting evening last Friday.

22 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

The concept of scale did not come about until the 1920's when mass produced models (Hornby?) came into being (before that models were scratch built or These scales can be mixed with careful placement to give a forced perspective.

I seem to remember such an exhibit at either Stafford or Warley some years back.  It was most impressive.

9 hours ago, Hroth said:

Eventually people will be diagnosed as suffering from "Alphabet Syndrome"....

 

I wonder how the Radio Doctor would address such modern illnesses?

 

My maternal grandmother always had two books on her bedside table, the Bible and "The way to better health" by the Radio Doctor...

 

Remember the radio doctor ... so must be getting on a bit!

4 hours ago, Dave Hunt said:

 

If you're going to that much trouble, why not just connect it to the mains?

 

Dave

Would certainly shoot him out of bed!

6 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

But there's a ceiling of ten years compensation so anyone who has served more than ten years only gets ten years compensation.

No wonder he was p!ssed most of the time.

So the greater length of time served after qn incorrect verdict the less they care ... probably because there are too many already behind bars while the guilty who may well have very good lawyers (think about that) get away scott free.

9 hours ago, polybear said:

Brace yourselves.....

 

Those in charge of The Big House have actually made a sensible decision at last:

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-66417103

 

What's more, there's also a suggestion that the Policy may be back-dated to refund those affected by it in the past.

 

Bluddy Hell.....Bear's in shock....

And so it should be - the one that comes to mind is many years ago, again for murder, and he served 15 years before it was quashed ... he would have been better of with food and lodging if he had stayed inside - quite obviously something has been wrong for many many years.

Great to know that your mojo has returned.  This end with what is going on all layouts packed away so now embarked on painting N-gauge figures for SRfanJV Josh's Wadebridge layout.

On 05/08/2023 at 07:30, polybear said:

 

Do Householders have to pay for their rubbish to be collected, or can they take it themselves to a local recycling centre/tip?  I suspect that in the UK if people weren't obliged to pay the fee then a fair few would "deal with it themselves", meaning fly tipping would go through the roof.

Which is why Derby insists on booking  and limits 'tipping' to 12 visits per annum and has had a £93 million loss on a site that it doesn't know what to do with ... and then they wonder why 'fly-tipping' increases.

On 05/08/2023 at 07:23, polybear said:

In other news.....

 

Bear found this quite interesting for anyone that remembers Geoff Capes:

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/geoff-capes-if-eight-or-nine-tried-to-fight-me-i-would-ask-for-more/ar-AA1eLNhC?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=b65f1b31bc0540bd947cbe20b5ab4f31&ei=34

 

BG

In the early 60s as a student arriving at my mapping area I arrived in Oban on the day of the Games, met my host and joined the march led by bagpipes.  'Twas an interesting day and especially so as Geoff Capes beat Anderson in most strength events but most spectacularly in tossing the caber.  You may remember tht the other 'highlight' was the class 26 that parked above and the driver and mate sat on the side for their lunch.  A great day with good weather.

Hope the dismantling goes smoothly and the whole move does not have 'hiccups'.

18 hours ago, NGT6 1315 said:

Evening all. Just saying thanks for all your support really doesn't seem enough, but I thoroughly mean it!

 

It seems like Mum is slowly coming to.

Missing out a lot by skimming blog comments but thoughts are with you and yours.

28 minutes ago, Coombe Barton said:

... Got it to write a haiku on the subject of Waves. It did. This is it.

Turbulent forces,
Crashing upon rocky shores,
Waves of wild desire.
...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2023/07/19/covid-data-up-again-more-sharply-interviews-panels-and-chat-gpt/

Found both the Covid graphs and the 'Chat' results interesting and obviously concerning because of,as you state, 'future' fake news. 

Thanks for your support - decided to clear the 'grass' that led to breaking little bits off ... yes you've guessed 'Let's get stuck in' and after about six hours and two trips with the east bits ( 2X max weight I could carry on each trip) a break ... then 'What about the wood' ... well lets get it done.  Next door neighbour did not need an for their burner so cut up in lengths equivalent to my 50 plus year old  'Workmate' (with ruciprocating saw not by hand).  Noting dark clouds appearing I decide to load the car for a tip trip tomorrow but needed a number of runs with the sack wagon.  UYou can see a slight difference in car level but heigh ho it was all cleared just befor ethe rain came hemce no 'post c;earance' picture.

Didn't realise that bear was a pet until seeing the hotel notice.

Jobs offerred but not taken up ... who knows but had just started a new post in the NHS wjhem approached by a company  rep. that was producing the equipment to run the testing at the time - loved their products and had previously linked indiividual items up in what jokingly was called the 'Fishtank'.  Btoadly speaking all the chemical reaction coils were visible throuigh clear Perspex and changing one from another merely required the relevnt connections from the pumps - nothing spectacular but just made the work easier.  As you can guess the company was building an automated more refined machine capabnle of doing more.  Only relatively recent postings on here made me actually realise just what might have not been if accepted but that is life and I enjoyed the concept of  NHS and stayed.

36 minutes ago, Barry O said:

Ey up! 

 

 

 

Shame that probably the only Defence Minister who has known about Defence is retiring.. don't see any decent replacement appearing soon.

 

 

Enjoy your day!

 

Baz

 

 

And is preprepared to hold his stand so agree totallyb with this comment.

Hope all continues to go well.

@AndyID  @iL Dottore @tigerburnie @Dave Hunt

First the road junction - this type of junction is always a problem and from what you say definitely needs better signage, yes - the revenuse consequences from the pure money orientated US and yes go to the governor.  

NHS dentistry goes back to the founding - the dentists were far too powerful and basically refused to become part and parcel of the NHS terms and conditions.  Going on from this there is a payment system - what ever party is in control - providing a fixed rate for a procedure whether e.g. that for one filling or half a dozen fillings and after the first filling the NHS dentist is currently losing money for the work done and of course the maintenance of premises and support staff salaries.  No wonder that they are refusing to acept NHS patients.  This alo cuts down on their work as in fact formerly regular dental appointments are no longer booked by many so general tooth care is going down.  

Like doctors there are no longer enough of them (there are many potential dentists, GPs etc. from abroad who cannot work until they are 'processed' but that is another story).

Access and costs of health care - Dave's  eperience is not at all good and SWMBO is on a 'waiting list for a waiting list for hip surgery' but otherwise our local GP practice has been extremely responsive although the hold-on for a telephone answer is of the order of 45-50 minutes.

The introduction of 'computers to cut down on paperwork' has in fact increased more than 100 fold the unnecessary bureaucracy that management/governments love to cloud issues.  This in turn greatly affects the amount of teaching and tremendous waste of genuine patient care or studen/class teaching time etc.  (As an aside look at the pointless emails after even buying an article costing less than 50p 'please rate your purchase etc' that inevitably appears).

Adding all these up is where the 'work life balance ' has really been lost as more of the working hours are spent on the bureaucracy than the important practise and the overall effect it has on members of the profession and subsequently cause the general public to complain.

How can this be sorted?  I have had a go at health management, in my 40 odd years of service some cases highly appropriate, but overall there is insufficient money in the NHS and the only way that can in reality be found is by tax increases at the appropriate level - in my terms the 'fat cats' and 'asset strippers' - making millions while the workforce that is resonsible for it are often paid 'peanuts' (I was about to go into a political comment here but resisted).  

Who actually wants to pay more tax? - Nobody!  Until the politicians get rid of the unnecessary bureaucracy and political shenanigans to concentrate on the necessary I do not see much hope.

Seems a it like a rant.

15 hours ago, DaveF said:

 

When I woke I gave the car a good clean, it was covered in a slightly sticky yellow powder, pollen off trees somewhere not too far away.  You have to wash it which loosens it and then use more water to actually get rid of it, or as it dries it sticks back on again.  

 

Lastly I've done a bit more in the garden so the garden wheelie bin is nicely full and ready to be collected tomorrow morning.  Next will be a sandwich, a read and Maigret in French on TPTV.  I hope I sleep better tonight.

 

David

Can go with this as we have a fairly old (well developed) sycamore that while lovely is also a pain.  This last year have knowingly counted over 5000 seedlings and still finding many 'mini trees' added to this at present is the 'bossom' which is fairly large, blows in the wins, covers everything is sticky and then driess hard but still feels sticky when trying to remove e.g.from window sills - the joys of having a lovely tree in your garden.

You never know, @grandadbob might just have taken advantage of the weather, at least we all hope so  because to be missing this long otherwise ...