Early Risers.

[Hroth]

When did the Dark Ages become Medieval?

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67750403

 

They're barely post-Roman!

 

[Grizz]

11 minutes ago, Hroth said:

When did the Dark Ages become Medieval?

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67750403

 

They're barely post-Roman!

 

Maybe A.I wrote it? 

[TheQ]

I thought when I heard the headline on TV why did they get so excited about french glass?, In Medieval it would almost be common among the well off. Not till the end of the piece when they said 600 -800 AD did I think,  what? That's not medieval, They also said it was strange to have crouched burials, err nope common on non Christian burials of that period.

[New Haven Neil]

Fuming.

 

Important wee test (Bence-Jones, iD) c*cked up as labelled incorrectly at the practice.  Refused by lab as not marked as early morning sample - which it was.  And was explained as such. Just livid. Two weeks wait to see Dr too.....🤬💥⚡🤬

[The White Rabbit]

8 hours ago, Barry O said:

... Yes @iL Dottore, doctors have little clue on how to communicate with patients. Indeed, some see a patient as having less intelligence than a piece of wood. ...    (my italics)

 

And with the same sort of emotions as one too. I'm thinking of the time when I was told abruptly with no warning or compassion the doctor thought I would not recover from an operation and I should plan accordingly. Then disappeared... OK, delivering bad news is rarely easy but the way he did it might remind some people of rather heavy-handed and unsubtle training films on how to/not to do it. 

 

6 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

I've updated your statement as not all doctors are poor communicators and, yes, there ARE some patients who meet the latter description....

 

Very true. We could debate whether it's 'some', many' or 'most' ad infinitum - but IMHE (from me and three relatives being treated in the same NHS Trust area as Baz) it's too many.  

 

1 hour ago, tigerburnie said:

There are sadly some Doctors who are liars and will tell you anything to either get themselves out of the room or in the case of one of our GP's to get us out of the room, we see a different GP now, one who actually told us the the other one was "economic with the truth".

 

Similar story. The doctor above was later described by a more senior colleague (and someone with no little skill/professional expertise) as 'an idiot'... 

 

[The White Rabbit]

Afternoon awl,

 

Another very wet day and more wind than half a dozen colliery brass bands... When the telecoms/Interweb connections permit, I shall have to visit an AI site and revise my avatar to one with webbed feet. And a woolly hat. The TV is another thing we're currently without but fortunately the radio still works. 

 

And I still have a range of books, even if many of them relate to sssh, you know whats. At least I'm not dependent on rush lights (or candles) for illumination, the Dark Ages must have smelt a lot as well as being gloomy. Best wishes for Brian, il D, Neil and others concerned re health and happiness of their loved ones. 

[Grizz]

With all this talk of Docs…..I would like to sing the praises of mine. 

 

A few years ago Mrs Grizz was extremely unimpressed with the treatment I was getting at my old GP practice.
Following years and years of me getting up to 7 chest infections a year, with the treatment being antibiotics every time and with no joined up thinking as to the causes. I usually struggled to work with the chest infections, out in the cold, damp and wet during winter, trying to carry on as normal but then come my day off, usually a Saturday, my immune system collapsed, with bronchitis and  persistent coughing trapping the muck in my lungs. By the time I could get to see a GP the following week if I was lucky, it had more often than not progressed to the stage of high temps and infection in both lungs, SATS through the floor and often requiring Paramedics attending home with oxygen or hospitalisation. Finally ended up in hospital for 8 days with double pneumonia and off work for three months recovering.  All this was from my late twenties to my mid fourties’. 

 

….then one fateful day Mrs Grizz quietly took charge…..marched me into her GP practice, signed me up and within 15 minutes ‘We’ had an initial 30 minute appointment with one of the head GPs at the practice. What a day that was. 
 

In the next couple of weeks I was tested for Asthma / COPD and as I couldn’t even breathe out for long enough to pass the tests, I was assigned an Asthma nurse. This was to monitor me as I had probably developed it back in my late twenties, although I’ve never smoked.
They dug into the history of my chest infection frequency, meds etc, and put me on a watch list. Together with emergency meds given to me to keep at home, with a process for contacting them and escalating treatment. There were two female GPs at the practice who I can honestly say changed my quality of life and they listened to me. They saw me at my worst and they didn’t let it go.  I got referred and referred to more and more specialists who each time communicated with each other and built up a picture of what was wrong and at the same time help me to manage my conditions. Finally I got treated at the specialist occupational respiratory hospital in London. My specialist is incredible. 
 

I owe all these wonderful people my life. They are truly amazing. They actually listened to me. 
 

As I write this, at the moment, I am not too well. I’ve had a viral cold infection since the second week of December and the weather is persistently cold and damp (the worst for me). Each time I think that it is going away, I get a day feeling a bit better, then back it comes. But I’m doing ok. WE are on it!!!!

I now understand my condition and how I can be manage it. I have taken ownership of it and kept a diary, as it will never get better and it has a massive effect on our family. We have support and we, collectively, have a management plan that I can turn into an action plan if things get worse. 
 

I know that I am very lucky….not everyone has this or has had this kind of experience in their lives.
 

Mrs Grizz kicked all this off….and believe me she is formidable. Incredibly intelligent, articulate, with a certain something that puts people at their ease. However on occasion i have witnessed her reduce certain over bearing, boorish and extremely arrogant individuals to pulp. DON’T MESS WITH MRS GRIZZ. 
 

Laters All.

 

ATB Grizz

[iL Dottore]

7 minutes ago, The White Rabbit said:

 

And with the same sort of emotions as one too. I'm thinking of the time when I was told abruptly with no warning or compassion the doctor thought I would not recover from an operation and I should plan accordingly. Then disappeared... OK, delivering bad news is rarely easy but the way he did it might remind some people of rather heavy-handed and unsubtle training films on how to/not to do it. 

 

 

Very true. We could debate whether it's 'some', many' or 'most' ad infinitum - but IMHE (from me and three relatives being treated in the same NHS Trust area as Baz) it's too many.  

 

 

Similar story. The doctor above was later described by a more senior colleague (and someone with no little skill/professional expertise) as 'an idiot'... 

 

Physicians - as a group - tend to have the same outliers as any group of professionals (idiots and fools at one end of the spectrum, highly competent and highly regarded "super experts" at the the other).

 

Unfortunately, the NHS often doesn't create a good working environment that helps physicians do their jobs properly. If you've been on your feet for 18 hours in a row, haven't had anything to eat beyond what a vending machine (might) offer, you'd get a bit shirty. No matter what sort of job you do, the absence of competent and meaningful support will impair the performance (in all aspects) you can provide.

 

Here is not the place for a forensic analysis of what ails the NHS - suffice to say, NHS Senior Management is, in the eyes of many clinicians, not considered a great help in helping them treat patients.

[New Haven Neil]

2 minutes ago, iL Dottore said:

NHS Senior Management is, in the eyes of many clinicians, not considered a great help in helping them treat patients.

 

I have no argument with that (as a one-time junior NHS manager!) but when the Trust I first worked in was passed to Clinicians to administrate in the great new world of NHS Trusts, they bankrupted it in 6 months, having spent the entire years budget on all their pet treatment schemes. Then followed two years of hard fought recovery. 

 

So let administrators administrate, and clinicians, er clinic.....err ....treat their patients.   As in any profession, as you correctly stated, there are good and bad.

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, Tony_S said:

Finland is not Scandinavian

And Finns get quite upset if you call them Scandinavian. Long memories of Swedish 'rule'.

[TheQ]

Not too fond of the Ruskis either.

[DaveF]

I'm hoping the next appointment with my GP on Friday goes better than some I've read about.  There are two issues, one is almost certain to need surgery and the other may need action, I am hoping it is not at the more serious end of the possibilities.

 

Today I decided to do a bit of shopping so drove to the nearby shopping centre at Cramlington.  It wasn't busy at 09.45 so I parked outside the shop I wanted to visit (Dunelm Mill), went in and emerged shortly afterwards with a large bag containing new towels, so more old ones have now been thrown out.  I also had a walk around Currys which is always interesting.

 

As it was very dull I decided not to try to take photos so went for a walk at the beach and was back home in time for coffee.

 

Since then as mentioned more things have been put out for the tip, I am almost enjoying the process.  I found a number of old lace type table mats and some which looked as though they were from the early 60s in a drawer so they too have gone.  I've read a bit and looked at the garden again.  The forecast is for colder weather so I think the plants will stop growing.

 

Next on the agenda is tea, Robson Green's programme and then either reading or watching aDVD/something streamed or reading.  Yesterday I had a good look at my DVD collection and found a number to watch/rewatch - I tend to buy them in charity shops usually when the are 3 for £1.

 

David

Edited January 3 by DaveF

[Grizz]

 

Yeah my earlier point was that Danes, Swedes and Norwegians refer to themselves Scandinavians. They generally seem quite happy with that term. Our family refers to itself as Danish or Danes and collectively with Sweden and Norway as Scandinavian. So why has this Nordic term recently showed up, especially on BBC stuff? 

[Ozexpatriate]

1 hour ago, Hroth said:

When did the Dark Ages become Medieval?

There appears to be an effort to remove the "Dark Ages" label. Despite illuminated manuscripts the relative paucity of written records doesn't make them 'dark'.

 

Wikipedia says this on "Medieval"

Quote

In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period (also spelled mediæval or mediaeval) lasted approximately from 500 AD to 1500, although alternative starting and end points exist.

Or if you prefer - "post classical".

[Ozexpatriate]

2 minutes ago, Grizz said:

Yeah my earlier point was that Danes, Swedes and Norwegians refer to themselves Scandinavians. They generally seem quite happy with that term.

Yes, maybe Icelanders too. Maybe even Greenlanders. But not Finns.

 

I've seen "Nordic" meaning Northern Europe encompassing Finland in use for a long time. Depending on usage (like inside a company) it might even include the Baltic States.

[grandadbob]

A'noon/Evenin' each,

Another wet and breezy day but the house is still in the same place as it was.   Banking was done as planned and then I made an unscheduled visit to a newish highly recommended butcher in the area.  What a waste of time that was.  Opening hours posted online said 8.00 till 5.00,  a sign on the door said 8.00 till 1.00 but when I got there at about 10.00 they were closed.  Still looking for a good butcher as our old favourite closed last year due to lack of business and huge increase in rent etc.  There is a good one not too far a drive away but parking is an issue.

Got back and mounted The North face of Mount Loft and retrieved the decoration boxes.  I've removed batteries from various things, last year I missed one and found a corroded leaking mess.  Some boxes are now filled but that leaves me with about 10 strings of lights of differing types and sizes to sort out and pack away along with our old faithful tree which we've had for about 15 years.  Maybe tomorrow. 

Shopping list for Sainsbury's has been completed for tomorrow and a tentative order placed next week with Ocado/M&S as a couple of Sainsbury items have become somewhat disappointing recently...another reason we want to find a decent butcher.

I started putting the bins out for tomorrow only to hear Russ next door banging on his upstairs office window and reminding me that this week's collection will be on Saturday again, Friday next week and back to normal the week after.

Not much to do until dinner which tonight looks like being fish and chips, well sort of.  Actually it'll be Sainsbury's melt in the middle fishcakes with french fries and peas which won't be mushy ones 'cos I don't like them.  Purists can scoff all they like but I don't care, I rather like that particular combination every now and then.  There may be a glass or two of wine involved as well....which will be red, I very rarely drink white.

Tonight I will be binge watching several episodes of season 18 of "The Deadliest Catch."  I've been watching this for years and still haven't decided if these guys and girls are incredibly brave/stark raving bonkers or a combination of both.

 

 

 

Edited January 3 by grandadbob

[Grizz]

2 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

Yes, maybe Icelanders too. Maybe even Greenlanders. But not Finns.

 

I've seen "Nordic" meaning Northern Europe encompassing Finland in use for a long time. Depending on usage (like inside a company) it might even include the Baltic States.

Mmmmmm maybe that’s why Denmark, Sweden and Norway use Scandinavia….it is more specific to that group of countries. 
 

Also a thought on why the Dark Ages might be called the Dark Ages from a 6 year old Dane, who may just have got a bit mixed with her recently history lessons at school…..”Could it be called the Dark Ages in England because that’s when the Vikings went to England and it is more darker for longer in Denmark during the winter and maybe it made them feel a bit less home sick?” …..superb! Think I’ll go with that…😂

[Hroth]

4 minutes ago, Ozexpatriate said:

There appears to be an effort to remove the "Dark Ages" label. Despite illuminated manuscripts the relative paucity of written records doesn't make them 'dark'.

 

I suppose its a point of view.  As far as the period between the departure of the Romans and the reigns of the later Anglo Saxon Kings, there's nothing that could be described as "Medieval" in England.  Early Medieval as far as the British Isles is concerned is very much 900AD to 1100AD.  This backdating of Medieval to the end of Roman Britain is almost as bad as model railway "eras"...  Perhaps there should be another label to replace the "Dark Ages", which was fine when we didn't have all thes recent archaeological evidence, but "Medieval" isn't it!

 

As for "Nordic"

 

Wikipedia says:

 

Quote

The Nordics inhabit the countries around the North and Baltic Seas and include not only the great Scandinavian and Teutonic groups, but also other early peoples who first appear in southern Europe and in Asia as representatives of Aryan language and culture."

 

 

Which sounds terribly "Adolf"....

 

Sometimes Wikipedia is a bit odd.

 

[Ian Abel]

HUMP day... sort of, given we had a pass on Monday!

 

Little to report from yesterday, slow start and the Mrs seems to have contracted a very mild form of what lurgy attacked me, hardly surprising!

Net result, see was resting most of yesterday, but still had a decent appetite and overall fairing pretty well, today seems better still.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: My last week bout of virus provided a very good perhaps Christmas Present/Weight loss answer;

Get a miserable virus that loses your appetite, and you don't eat for 6 days, and only hydrate with various liquids - non-alcoholic, and VIOLA, dropped 7lbs!!!

 

So next annual checkup I'll starve myself for 6 days prior and maybe THEN the Doc will say, "well done, you've lost weight!"

 

Uneventful today, save some moderate work activity.

 

Was -4c first thing, overcast, -1c the expected high, the light snow we had at the weekend mostly disappearing now, some possible this weekend.

 

Carry on.

 

[Grizz]

25 minutes ago, Hroth said:

As for "Nordic"

 

Wikipedia says: 

The Nordics inhabit the countries around the North and Baltic Seas and include not only the great Scandinavian and Teutonic groups, but also other early peoples who first appear in southern Europe and in Asia as representatives of Aryan language and culture."

 

25 minutes ago, Hroth said:

Which sounds terribly "Adolf"....

 

Sometimes Wikipedia is a bit odd.

 

Maybe A.I.wrote it?  ……Adolf Itler? 

Edited January 3 by Grizz

[Hroth]

Just now, Grizz said:

Maybe A.I.wrote it?  ……Adolf Itler? 

 

You may think so, I couldn't possibly comment...

 

😜

[tigerburnie]

I most certainly owe my life to a locum doctor at my old GP's practice who sent me for an ultra sound that found my tumour, the surgeon who removed it was a gentleman who explained the situation very clearly and saw me again afterwards when covid was still a rampant killer in the country. I have seen first hand doctors struggling with high workloads and little support. But sadly hiding amongst the heroes(and I happen to think anyone who goes that extra yard in their job as a hero, even our postie at times) there are lazy skivers trying to dodge doing anything if they can get away with it, they clearly took the wrong career path, but instead of getting advice or actually leave the profession, they drag others around them down. On night shifts as I lay in my hospital beds I witnessed nurses trying their damndest to correct the sloppy mistakes of their so called superiors, it certainly seemed to me that it's the nurses who are trying to save the NHS rather than others..

[Grizz]

On a different subject….WOOOOO HOOOOO….Mrs Grizz has made spaghetti with venison in tomatoes, mushrooms and lots of garlic. Happy Grizz. 

[Ohmisterporter]

Re the above post by Grizz I didn't know which icon to click, truth be told it could have been all of them. Our recent experiences with the NHS have been mixed. When we moved up to Carlisle three years ago we chatted to neighbours about the area and most said things along the line, "Don't go into hospital in Carlisle, if you have the choice go to Hexham". Blimey. However, our own dealings with Carlisle hospital, Cumberland Infirmary, have been positive. All the staff we were in contact with were friendly, informative, and cheerful. The stroke unit doctor was great; didn't talk down to us and answered any questions we had in a straightforward manner.

The main NHS problems we have up here is with the GP practice. We have nominally been allocated to a particular GP but have never seen him. If we phone and ask for an appointment with him there are none available for four weeks. Ask to see another doc and we get a nurse practitioner. Some of them seem very competent, others not so much. There is sometimes no continuity with the same person following up on treatment and they each have different ideas about treatment, so it changes before the efficacy can be judged. 

IMHO there should be standard procedures throughout the NHS, this is how we do things here and you know the treatment will be the same wherever you go. It may be said that this stifles improvement but that is because as soon as changes are mooted we get, "We have always done it this way". I think I am opening a can of worms here I could rant on but It just goes round in circles. Better stop now.

Stay safe all.

[Winslow Boy]

1 hour ago, New Haven Neil said:

 

I have no argument with that (as a one-time junior NHS manager!) but when the Trust I first worked in was passed to Clinicians to administrate in the great new world of NHS Trusts, they bankrupted it in 6 months, having spent the entire years budget on all their pet treatment schemes. Then followed two years of hard fought recovery. 

 

So let administrators administrate, and clinicians, er clinic.....err ....treat their patients.   As in any profession, as you correctly stated, there are good and bad.

Oh I believe that is what I said umpteen posts ago.

 

Still it's nice to know that we all agree and that you all agree that I said it first. Not that I have a chip on my shoulder about always being right or anything.