Early Risers.

[tigerburnie]

12 hours ago, Grizz said:

Guess what time it is??? 

 

I'd send that back, it's got no head on it....................................................

[Grizz]

3 minutes ago, tigerburnie said:

I'd send that back, it's got no head on it....................................................

 

Haha Yeah I already drank that bit...it didn't even touch the sides. To be honest I am surprised that I managed to take a photo of my glass with beer in it! Had a few last night. 

Generally the first one is just to wash the dust out of my mouth.

[DaveF]

 

I've never posted in Early Risers before, but there has to be a first time for everything.

 

Those who look at my photo thread with know that my Mum died last Sunday, 15th May, at the age of 97, after a couple of weeks in hospital.  She had become very weak and had problems eating and drinking, in the end her consultant and I agreed that the best thing for her was to let her die quietly in the palliative care unit.  The treatments attempted had simply not worked.  She had ulcerative colitis, pulmonary fibrosis, severe osteoarthritis and a lot of  pain, along with very poor circulation.

 

I've read a lot about experiences of the NHS and social services in ER's, I thought you might be interested in how Mum and I got on with it.  My apologies for the lengthy post.

 

Twice in the last 12 months I had to get an emergency ambulance.  Both times it arived in less than 10 minutes.   The first time Mum was then taken to NTEC at Cramlington, our local specialist A&E only hospital which has consultants 24/7, it's the only one in the NHS.  It's 10 minutes from home  The first time she was examined on arrival about 2p.m., by 4p.m. she had been given blood, had a body scan and been diagnosed with a painless bleeding duodenal ulcer and was in a single room.  Early the next morning it was dealt with.  She was then moved to the local general hospital, Wansbeck, for a lengthy recovery in their rehab unit. This hospital is 15 minutes from home.

 

The second time, on 30th April she arrived at NTEC around 1.30, within 30 minutes she was in a single room and investigations were underway, including a head scan.  Once again after a few days she was moved to Wansbeck where she stayed until she died.

 

When she rang for a GP it was usually around 9a.m.  By selecting the right option she used to bypass the coronavirus warning, the phone was almost always answered on the second ring.  If it was urgent a GP always rang her back within 2 hours, for less urgent things always by 4p.m.  Visits from a GP were always at lunchtime  between morning and afternoon surgery on the day of the phone call.

 

For ordinary repeat prescriptions the pharmacy always rang or texted to give a delivery time.  For urgent medication the pharmacy always rang to say when the medication was ready to be collected.

 

Her care at home was arranged by her Care Manager using a local compnay, though Mum did pay for it.  She had 2 carers, 4 times a day.  They gave excellent service.  Her flat was close to their office, about once a week one of the managers visited her to check everything was OK.  Her carers often bought her small gifts - soap, nice chocolates etc.

 

After she died I rang her Care Manager on the Monday evening and left her a message.  The next morning at 8.45 a.m. she rang me to say she had checked that everything was OK at the hospital, she had cancelled the care package and made sure I knew how to obtain a refund of any care charges for care Mum had not had.  She had also arranged for the local Joint Equipment Loan Service to contact me to arrange removal of the bed, stand aid and many other items.

 

The next day the items were removed, along with the stair lift which was from a local company.  The following day the care company came to collect all their bits and pieces, along with some spare stuff of Mum's which they could use for other clients.  Valley Care, the local service for elderly people also came to remove the emergency call button Mum had round her neck and other equipment.

 

I don't think we could have had much better care.  It seems to be well organised in Northumberland.

 

David

[iL Dottore]

39 minutes ago, polybear said:

…As for iD's little problem, what is needed is a "Fence" - ideally of the model shop owning variety.....

Bear gone....

Oi! Bear!
I’ll have you know that Captain Cynical is the criminal mastermind and iD an upright and upstanding citizen of the community, dedicated to improving medicines.

 

Any further identity “mix-up” (ahem) could well result in The Bear being hog-tied and slowly lowered into a vat of coffee cream - filled with piranhas and sharks OR being subject to medical procedures (with anaesthesia) but without the possibility to look away! It all depends on who gets to you first….

 

Just a friendly reminder to get your facts straight before posting!

[iL Dottore]

20 minutes ago, tigerburnie said:

I'd send that back, it's got no head on it....................................................

… And I thought it was someone’s 24-hour urine sample!

Such samples have turned up in stranger containers….

[Grizz]

1 hour ago, iL Dottore said:

… And I thought it was someone’s 24-hour urine sample!

Such samples have turned up in stranger containers….

 

Oh Carp! I thought it tasted just a little off!

Edited May 21, 2022 by Grizz
Spoiling it

[Tony_S]

27 minutes ago, DaveF said:

 

I've read a lot about experiences of the NHS and social services in ER's, I thought you might be interested in how Mum and I got on with it.  My apologies for the lengthy post.

No apologies needed for length of post. Please accept my condolences for your Mum. 
I also think it is important to praise the NHS. I have been so well cared for over the past couple of years for heart problems and for many many years with ulcerative colitis. My life would have been very different if I had been in one of the areas where care seems more chaotic. My wife’s cousin (lives in west London) was transferred to a specialist unit in Newcastle. Not only has the NHS been great under very difficult circumstances but so have local people who arrange all kinds of support for families who visit from long distances. 
Tony

[Pacific231G]

17 hours ago, Ian Abel said:

Moaning...POETS...

 

Yesterday, started better than it ended!

Having received the second "booster" Wednesday afternoon, nothing noticeable yesterday until about noon. Then, most every joint started aching, and had a headache and felt very tired. Managed to struggle to the rental property to review the projects needing attention with the handyman.

 

Returned, and dropped on the bed ready for a nap! Most of the afternoon and evening a write-off, unfortunate, since we (the Mrs still went) to a "Last recital" by her great-niece and the orchestra she's in at high school. She had a solo, all was, as expected, very good. Sorry to have missed that  ☹️

 

Today much better, actually feel completely normal (QUIET there in the peanut gallery!!), and this evening we'll be entertaining our travelling companions - drinks and diinner 👍

 

I had slight flu like symptoms for a couple of days from my booster in November but now I've actually caught Covid-19  I'm jolly glad I had it though it was always a n- brainer for me*. Omicron is more transmissable than previous variants and better at breaking through vaccine antibody protection. However, the T cell production that vaccines stimulate still give very significant protection against severe symptoms, hospitalisation, and death, especially after a booster. (source Harvard Medical School) and that protection lasts a lot longer than antibody protection. 

 

*Unlike a lot of people who spout utter nonsense about vaccines I'm old enough to remember a nasty disease called smallpox and people living in iron lungs and collecting boxes showing kids with callipers both due to Polio.

 

Edited May 21, 2022 by Pacific231G

[chrisf]

1 hour ago, Winslow Boy said:

 

Oh I'd keep an eye out then if I were you. You may find there are now counterfeit copies in circulation and you'll be surrounded by rainbow boots when your on parade on July.

 

Perhaps you should consider patenting them so you can earn some royalties.

 

I would love to be surrounded by rainbow boots!  It will be interesting to see how many other pairs will be worn on the march.  Giving mine a test walk does sound like a good idea.  I found them a few years ago in a shop in Covent Garden after much fruitless searching.  The first pair I saw were in New Zealand.  If my luggage had not been right on the weight limit I might have been tempted.

 

Chris

[jamie92208]

1 hour ago, DaveF said:

 

I've never posted in Early Risers before, but there has to be a first time for everything.

 

Those who look at my photo thread with know that my Mum died last Sunday, 15th May, at the age of 97, after a couple of weeks in hospital.  She had become very weak and had problems eating and drinking, in the end her consultant and I agreed that the best thing for her was to let her die quietly in the palliative care unit.  The treatments attempted had simply not worked.  She had ulcerative colitis, pulmonary fibrosis, severe osteoarthritis and a lot of  pain, along with very poor circulation.

 

I've read a lot about experiences of the NHS and social services in ER's, I thought you might be interested in how Mum and I got on with it.  My apologies for the lengthy post.

 

 

David

As Tony said, Dave, no apologies necessary. I was wondering which comment to add, I could have used several. I'm sorry for the loss of your Mum but very glad that she had such loving and well managed care.  Also that the agencies seem to be helping you by helping with the admin which I know from experience can be quite upsetting, with constant reminders around.   I wish you well over the next few weeks and months.

 

Jamie 

[Tony_S]

5 minutes ago, Pacific231G said:

I had slight flu like symptoms for a couple of days from my booster in November but now I've actually caught Covid-19  I'm jolly glad I had it. (It was a no brainer for me). Omicron is more transmissable than previous variants and better at breaking through vaccine antibody protection. However, the T cell production that vaccines stimulate still give very significant protection against severe symptoms, hospitalisation, and death, especially after a booster. (source Harvard Medical School) and that protection lasts a lot longer than antibody protection. 

 

That does seem to be the case for many people. Early on in the pandemic it was stated that one of the better mutations would be more transmissible but less severe. I have had four vaccine doses now and haven’t had any reaction. However lack of reaction isn’t necessarily a good thing in my case. The vaccines may be less effective in those of us who are immunosuppressed and according to the data collected by the Zoe project people like me are still considerably more likely to be very ill or die from even the latest omicron flavour. I haven’t had a positive test yet as Aditi and I continue to be very cautious about any social activity. Though to be honest even before Covid going to crowded places while consuming immunosuppressive medication meant I seemed to get whatever seasonal virus was going about. However that was usually just a few days not some long Covid condition. 

[Pacific231G]

6 hours ago, Grizz said:

 

CC....what ever you do...never ever...OPEN THE BOXES!!!! They were never meant to be opened....EVER. 

 

Bachmann and Hornby only make these precious products just so 'The Chosen Ones' or 'Guardians Of The Product' can make sure that only they have them and that the 'My Precious' items remain safe in their original sealed boxes.

 

The boxes were only ever meant to be kept in darkened vaults, with temperature controlled environments. To be inspected periodically by 'The Chosen Ones' wearing full chemical warfare suits, in dimmed lighting conditions, through safety glasses that will not fade or degrade the colour of the boxes. 

 

All this so that the 'Guardians Of The Product' can sleep safe in the knowledge that 'The Lesser Persons' will never ever be able to possess them and spoil them by....OPENING THE BOXES!!!! (an offence punishable by burning on the village green or other suitable means of separating a person from their breath!).

 

🤣🤣🤣

 

P.S. I must confess before all ERs, that my name is Grizz and I am a serial 'Despoiler Of The Product'.

 

Very good. And not a million miles from the truth. I remember someone who'd bought a very expensive and exquisitely detailed locomotive from a certain Swiss manufacturer and had to send it back for repair because of some fault it developed. They carried out the repair entirely satisfactorily but when he asked their repair person if it was a common fault he was told that they didn't actually know. They got very few returns because so few purchasers ever operated their locos. Instead, they put them straight into display cases.

Edited May 21, 2022 by Pacific231G
too many actuallies in one sentence

[New Haven Neil]

@DaveF  Welcome aboard, Dave.  Sorry to hear of your loss, but I'm pleased to hear the care package for your mum went so well.  Having worked in the NHS in Newcastle for quite a few years I'd like to think we always did our very best for our patients - although it cost me quite a bit of my health at the time due to stress - hence not living or working there any more!

 

Many of the critics of the NHS don't realise just how hard the staff do work even if things do go wrong, so it is good to hear your praise.

 

Take care, and post lots of North-east photos!

[BSW01]

Good morning everyone 

 

Today feels very odd, I haven't had to go out to collect Ava and I'm currently sat in the cellar finishing off my muggertea. Today, I got up at the usual time and instead, put on my work clothes and headed down to middle earth, the name Sheila has given for the cellar. It needed a bit of tidying up, but that only took about 30 minutes. I also did about 40 minutes tidying up in the workshop too. 

 

DaveF. Welcome to ER's, we're a friendly bunch, honest! Very sorry to read about your mum passing, it's always hard. The NHS is a wonderful institution and like a few others on this thread, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for their prompt and thorough treatment. Some aspects can be very frustrating, but generally the front line staff, who work very hard, make up for that. 

 

Stay safe, back later. 

 

Brian 

Edited May 21, 2022 by BSW01

[grandadbob]

Well I've been and gone and done it!  Percy the Peugeot has been washed and hoovered thoroughly and looks like new.  What could possibly go wrong now!

Another fan of the NHS here having had to avail myself of their services on many occasions, both for emergency and routine stuff.  Also got a daughter and some friends in it who, as Neil says, work their butts off and care very much about what they do.  Yes, there are problems but I think we'd be a lot worse off without it.

Had a nice chat with my mate Russ next door over the fence while he was gardening.   As I no longer have to mow my lawn (now got artificial grass) he's vey kindly offered to let me borrow his mower to cut his grass.  It really never ceases to amaze me how thoughtful our younger neighbours are, always thinking of us older folk!  🤔😁

Muggatea now and time to take it easy until lunch and then rugby at 15.00hrs.

 

Edited May 21, 2022 by grandadbob

[Coombe Barton]

3 hours ago, DaveF said:

I don't think we could have had much better care.

Condolences, Dave. Regulars here will know of my experiences, and I concur that care, good care, good, empathetic care, is endemic in the NHS. Sometimes we can only sit and wait.

[andyram]

Afternoon all. It is a grey, but so far dry, day in Matlock Bath and I am a little bleary eyed this morning. With wife and daughter away last night I escaped to the pub with a long-standing friend for a few real ales. The last few weeks had already started to catch up with me and I was tired before I left home. The result was that the slumber extended well beyond the morning alarm and I faced a mad dash to be at the shop in time for opening. At least my favourite cafe was open so I could recover with one of their very large sausage cobs for breakfast. Hopefully the busy morning will be rewarded with plenty of customers and sales.

[laurenceb]

4 hours ago, DaveF said:

 

I've never posted in Early Risers before, but there has to be a first time for everything.

 

Those who look at my photo thread with know that my Mum died last Sunday, 15th May, at the age of 97, after a couple of weeks in hospital.  She had become very weak and had problems eating and drinking, in the end her consultant and I agreed that the best thing for her was to let her die quietly in the palliative care unit.  The treatments attempted had simply not worked.  She had ulcerative colitis, pulmonary fibrosis, severe osteoarthritis and a lot of  pain, along with very poor circulation.

 

I've read a lot about experiences of the NHS and social services in ER's, I thought you might be interested in how Mum and I got on with it.  My apologies for the lengthy post.

 

Twice in the last 12 months I had to get an emergency ambulance.  Both times it arived in less than 10 minutes.   The first time Mum was then taken to NTEC at Cramlington, our local specialist A&E only hospital which has consultants 24/7, it's the only one in the NHS.  It's 10 minutes from home  The first time she was examined on arrival about 2p.m., by 4p.m. she had been given blood, had a body scan and been diagnosed with a painless bleeding duodenal ulcer and was in a single room.  Early the next morning it was dealt with.  She was then moved to the local general hospital, Wansbeck, for a lengthy recovery in their rehab unit. This hospital is 15 minutes from home.

 

The second time, on 30th April she arrived at NTEC around 1.30, within 30 minutes she was in a single room and investigations were underway, including a head scan.  Once again after a few days she was moved to Wansbeck where she stayed until she died.

 

When she rang for a GP it was usually around 9a.m.  By selecting the right option she used to bypass the coronavirus warning, the phone was almost always answered on the second ring.  If it was urgent a GP always rang her back within 2 hours, for less urgent things always by 4p.m.  Visits from a GP were always at lunchtime  between morning and afternoon surgery on the day of the phone call.

 

For ordinary repeat prescriptions the pharmacy always rang or texted to give a delivery time.  For urgent medication the pharmacy always rang to say when the medication was ready to be collected.

 

Her care at home was arranged by her Care Manager using a local compnay, though Mum did pay for it.  She had 2 carers, 4 times a day.  They gave excellent service.  Her flat was close to their office, about once a week one of the managers visited her to check everything was OK.  Her carers often bought her small gifts - soap, nice chocolates etc.

 

After she died I rang her Care Manager on the Monday evening and left her a message.  The next morning at 8.45 a.m. she rang me to say she had checked that everything was OK at the hospital, she had cancelled the care package and made sure I knew how to obtain a refund of any care charges for care Mum had not had.  She had also arranged for the local Joint Equipment Loan Service to contact me to arrange removal of the bed, stand aid and many other items.

 

The next day the items were removed, along with the stair lift which was from a local company.  The following day the care company came to collect all their bits and pieces, along with some spare stuff of Mum's which they could use for other clients.  Valley Care, the local service for elderly people also came to remove the emergency call button Mum had round her neck and other equipment.

 

I don't think we could have had much better care.  It seems to be well organised in Northumberland.

 

David

Condolences David and welcome to ER's. Have to say that my ( limited) experience of the NHS over the last 2 years has been positive.

[TheQ]

I too had good treatment from Northumberland hospitals, carted into Alnwick, checked, then rapidly transferred to Ashington, where they opened me up...

the other patients in the ward weren't impressed though, all windows open in February with snow on the ground, they were freezing, and covered in blankets, I was frying covered in a sheet, with nurse in attendance damp cloths and a bucket of ice...due to a bad reaction to anaesthesia.

 

Cupboard doors now hung,

Area cleared along fences (wooden not human), for shed move. Various requests and thoughts on the shed layout. That's layout as in positioning her big loom and the small layout so I'm laying out where the layout goes.

 

The posting of this thread was delayed due to an eyelid inspection, cut short however by an Indian  voice stating I'm due a refund on a home care policy ... Since we've never had a home care policy the phone was then put down..

 

Neighbour across the road is mowing his grass for the third time this week, ride on mower, it could be mowed in a half hour.. he spends several hours going up and down.. I suspect all is not right with his home life....

 

Back to squeezing in more into shed, I had a pencil somewhere...

Edited May 21, 2022 by TheQ

[monkeysarefun]

18 hours ago, Grizz said:

 

In the UK foxes have no natural predator...unless you include the car / truck...

 

 

 

One lone fox here has hijacked a conservation programme intended to return several endangered and locally extinct native species back to a 5800 hectare national park

https://www.smh.com.au/national/baiting-shoot-nights-sniffer-dogs-4500-man-hours-the-fox-that-won-t-be-caught-20220427-p5agm1.html

[simontaylor484]

Afternoon all 

 

Firstly sympathies and welcome to Dave.

 

Blind fitted didnt take long with the new Makita drill and impact driver. New latch fitted too. Room emptied ready for carpet fitters coming on Tuesday. A load of stuff taken to the tip.

My only problems with the NHS surround the GP practice. 

So far they have had a form to sign for me for 3 weeks and I haven't got it back. And I am paying for it.

There are other issues with them too that are too lengthy to go through.

 

Having had to pay out for healthcare in Tenerife I really appreciate the free at point of care. Getting bills for an ambulance of 75€ and the same amount for a Dr to say yes your wife's leg is broken she needs hospital really ruins your day.

 

Thank God for the £48 travel insurance from the Post Office I got everything back very quickly including foreign currency fees on the credit card.

 

NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT INSURANCE 

 

Although as a mutual friend  of mine and Jamie's found out they do try to get out of paying up

[petethemole]

1 hour ago, TheQ said:

Back to squeezing in more into shed, I had a pencil somewhere...

 

I thought the pencil was for working things out, not squeezing them in.

[Grizz]

After cutting the lawn I laid on the grass to take a photo of the plants in the border.

When  I got photo bombed by Solar the chook! 
She looked straight into the camera. 
 

[Grizz]

12 hours ago, Ozexpatriate said:

The geography (and amount of wilderness) between Britain and western North America is very different, but the illegal killing of reintroduced wolves is a problem in Eastern Oregon.

 

I am in the camp, that as least as far as North America is concerned, wolves belong in the ecosystem. It is humans and livestock that are the interloper. Wild wolves (in their current numbers) represent almost no threat to humans. (One could construe notions that a lone hiker on a mountain trail the Pacific Crest Trail* might be vulnerable, though I would argue they are in greater danger of slipping and falling down a cliff and there's bears anyway.)

 

EDIT:

* I'm not sure there are wolves on the PCT yet. The wolves are in the eastern part of the state - the Blue and Wallowa mountains.

 

absolutely agree that the reintroduction of wolves into US states, quite a few of which are the size of the whole of the UK but with much fewer people, is totally possible with little if any killing of humans or livestock. The problem arises when someone / group of idealistic people say that it will be totally safe to reintroduce wolves to an island with just short of 60 odd million people and that this reintroduction will occur with no consequences to said person or group of persons when this goes wrong.

 

Great idea reintroduction, and I am not against it in principle, just as long as those who say it is safe and sign it off, then face the real, and I mean real consequences, of it not being safe. The first child to be killed….what happens to those who said it was safe then? They need to face the legal and real life consequences of their actions. Law suits and jail. After all they said it was safe.
The southeast of England is one of the most densely populated areas of Europe, with often less than a mile or so between villages. The UK has huge number of pet owners, especially in these areas. It will be interesting to see what happens when dogs, cats and other pets get chewed up. 
 

I believe that the idea was to reintroduce wolves to Scotland, but obviously they won’t just stay there. Same as when they were allowed into Southern Denmark. It wasn’t long before they ended up in Nordjylland. And there are only a few ways they can get across the Limfjord, but they did it. 
 

Still what could possibly go wrong. 🤣
 

[polybear]

Bear here......

Firstly, VSBT's to @DaveF - and welcome to ER'ers

 

Travel insurance?  Occasionally I see crowd funding are for some numpty who's cleared off for 2 weeks in Thailand, only to wrap a scooter round a tree whilst wearing no helmet - and with no insurance (spent it on Beer instead).  The delete key is never far away.....

 

Bear having I.T. Issues - Turdycurses; using a tablet at the moment, which is a real pain.  So if my posts are few and far between them it's a good sign I chucked it through the window.....

Bear gone.