Early Risers.

[Sidecar Racer]

4 hours ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

Many there seem to think there are only two Healthcare models available, the NHS (yay!") and the US one ("boo!"). 

 

Weirdly a large proportion in the US (the other country where healthcare is currently a big political issue)  apparently  think the same - theres  the US free market model , ("yay!")  or  communism!

 

 That reminds me of a comment I saw on one of those 'we are the best ' sites , an American boasting

that the USA is the best by saying ' who's got a flag on the moon ' .

 

The snarky answer was , ' let me know when your moon flag pays your medical bills ' .

 

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Overslept this morning, didn't get up until gone eight. A good nights sleep nevertheless.This morning I found an enormous* spider sitting in the bath, so I encouraged it onto a cleaning cloth and then released it onto the floor where it scuttled away.  

* the thorax was as big as an old half crown.

[45156]

Morning (just) All,

 

Early trip to the farm shop as we were running out of marmalade - 3 jars plus one of chutney purchased - not cheap at £16 for four jars, but utterly delicious, with a very high fruit content.  Bulk purchase meant a £2 discount on the regular price, and loyalty card also produced a couple of quid savings.

 

Got back, and as soon as we'd had some toast and Lady Windsor's Seville Orange marmalade, 30747 started to finish the decorating in the kitchen - fridge pulled out and wallpapered behind - at present, I am excused boots on many of these tasks domestic due to still getting over the stroke - but hopefully I will get the all clear when I see the neurologist next month.  Had to bite the bullet and go private, as I am still not at the top of the NHS lists.

 

Also had to cancel my NHS hearing test as my blocked eustachian tube is persisting, and is affecting my hearing.

 

I'm now wanted to help push the freezer back - however, it will need to be cleaned first, as it can only be done thoroughly when pulled out due to the small kitchen restricting the door, which stops the shelves from being removed.  And yes, as it doesn't involve going up and down steps, that part is down to me.

 

Regards to All

Stewart

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, monkeysarefun said:

 

My Funnel Web experience is based on the Sydney Funnel web - they don't call it Atrax Robusta for nothing!

 

 

That said though the biggest one I've seen was while jogging in the bush at work, I assume it  would have been  the  Blue Mountains version of the Funnel Web.... (there are 36 species of Funnel webs here, typically locality based)

I thought that there are so many Australian species that are harmful that at least the butterflies can be safely encountered. Just out out interest I did a Google search and there are TOXIC butterflies too. Fortunately humans are not in their food chain!

[polybear]

5 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Captain Cynical's (ahem) "Special Surveillance Unit" has just reported back from LDC Island*- PB's training camp for Team Bear and they sent on a photo - taken clandestinely - of PB actually being nice to his recruits...

 

* like Parris Island, but much, much tougher...

Ah, but what you’ve got there is a piccy of The Bear Team undergoing training in Survival Training & Interrogation Techniques.  As for CC’s “SSU”……well we knew you were there all along - and you only saw what we wanted you to see….

 

4 hours ago, iL Dottore said:

Many European countries use a variant of the Bismarck Model for the provision of health services and whilst by no means perfect, generally provide better access, better treatment and better outcomes than the NHS

 

The NHS has many superb clinicians and many outstanding patient-facing and scientific staff, but they are let down by its 1948 Nationalised Industry ethos. Many posters on ER have complained about the various "check-point Charlenes" who are neither helpful or flexible. This is definitely a hallmark of a nationalised industry: whether you are good or bad, patient friendly or indifferent - your job is secure - no matter how the patients may feel about your performance and helpfulness. Another problem is that for the NHS - every test, every scan is an expense, whereas in the Bismark Model every test, every scan is income. For the NHS, there is no financial incentive to run labs, scanners, radiology services outside of "office hours" (9 to 5, Monday to Friday). Of course you have a degree of out of hours emergency service, but it's often a case of "hurry up and wait" - even for "during business hours" assessments.

 

In the Bismark model, if you - as a medical practitioner or hospital - do not provide a patient centric service, then patients can and will go elsewhere and suddenly you have no income, whereas with the NHS model you get paid, no matter how good or how bad your performance.

 

There is also a social aspect to the differences between the NHS and the Bismark models. In the Bismark model as you are paying directly for your medical care (via a Mutuel or a Krankenkasse), there is a greater impetus to keep to a healthier lifestyle.

 

Certainly, the NHS would benefit from more investment, but it also needs qualified staff. I have a radical idea on staffing: how about removing the cap on the number of medical school places (sorry, BMA) and paying people (through bursaries) to study medicine, nursing (and other clinical roles).

 

Isn’t there a risk that Docs send patients for unnecessary tests in order to jack up their income?

 

3 hours ago, PupCam said:

Our transport for the day 

For a moment there I thought it might be something special …..like a Deltic…..

[Tony_S]

32 minutes ago, polybear said:

For a moment there I thought it might be something special …..like a Deltic…..

But it is a nice shade of blue. 
I finished off my artistic work in the garden before midday by sloshing the compost bin ( looks like a beehive) with Cuprinol Purple Pansy. That was after applying Barrettine Summer Tan to three garden buildings and a gate. Aditi got  up early to go and paint but I said I would do it. It is quicker for me as I don’t need stepladders.  
I must be in a painting mood as I painted some little people to dot around my layouts last night

Tony

Edited September 7 by Tony_S
Gibberish

[iL Dottore]

34 minutes ago, polybear said:

Ah, but what you’ve got there is a piccy of The Bear Team undergoing training in Survival Training & Interrogation Techniques.  As for CC’s “SSU”……well we knew you were there all along - and you only saw what we wanted you to see….

Of course you knew we were there, we wanted you to see the SSU - not only did you waste time and resources trying to fool the SSU, but this also allowed other units to work undetected.

Captain Cynical is always one step ahead of The Bear.

 

p.s. CC reckons that calling the recruits "maggots" is a pretty wimpy kind of Survival Training...

37 minutes ago, polybear said:

Isn’t there a risk that Docs send patients for unnecessary tests in order to jack up their income?

No. Firstly, apart from in-house lab work and basic diagnostic radiology and ECGs at your GP (something more GPs in the UK should have. Results of important lab work/basic diagnostic X-rays and 12-Lead ECGs available not just the same day, but within the same half-hour of ordering the test/x-ray/ECG), the referring physician will not earn anything whether he send patients for 1 CT Scan or 10 CT scans. Besides, there are equivalents of an Office of Professional Standards for each therapeutic specialty which defines what is and what isn't acceptable practice.

44 minutes ago, polybear said:

For a moment there I thought it might be something special …..like a Deltic…..

Jeez, what is it with you and Deltics? They were good locomotives for their time, but a small non-standard fleet with high running costs meant that they were for the scrapheap (a service life of 20 years according to Wiki, versus a service life of almost 50 years [including refurbished units] of the Intercity 125s)

[jjb1970]

Mrs JJB made a lemon drizzle chiffon cake today (no, I have no idea what a chiffon cake is either, but they're obsessed with the things in SE Asia). 

 

Had a most excellent lunch of curry mee with crispy pork belly, the Malay auntie who runs the stall wields a cleaver in a way which made me make a note in case I ever need a good person to dismember a few bodies for disposal (you never know, always be prepared for any eventuality).

[TheQ]

Afternoon Awl,

Went to the mobile home, sanded both wool winder and trestles.

Got paint out, as it half used, started shaking it....

I then became the incredible hulk, as in green and a knackered old ship.

The lid came half off and I got covered.  Luckily I was outside sitting in the sun.

Painted wool winder and trestles.

 

Clothing put in bucket of water, it's a water based paint.

 

Did some work using small screws on doors of unmentionables, more to do but I can't fit them till the narrowed trestles are installed..

Painted bits of trestles I couldn't do before.

Final decisions made on unit of unmentionables support beams. Interrupted by eyelid inspections.

Swmbo is now painting wool winder.. I painted it green, she is painting sheep and a Border collie on it.

When the previous washing load is complete, there's a greenish set of clothing to go in the washering machine.

 

More research on getting a new Border Collie is underway.

 

[PhilJ W]

Afternoon all from Estuary-Land. I didn't intend to go out today but I'm running short of bread and milk so I'll have to. Also a chance to rummage through the reduced to clear shelves. Last time I did so I snaffled some sausage rolls of the 'Jolly Hog' brand and I'd like to try some more.

[Gwiwer]

Gorsedh Kernow hedhyw

 

We have been watching our friend, fellow towns-person and artist Kurt Jackson joining the ranks of the bards.  His bardic name - chosen by the same friend (and bard) who has translated Sharon's songs into Cornish - is "Lymner Bardh an West"  Painter and Poet of the West.  

 

Onen Hag Oll

[DaveF]

Today has not turned out quite as I expected.  I decided to go out and buy a paper and a couple of food items from the Tesco Extra, as it was a miserable day I went in the car.  Then I went past the beach without stopping and ended up at the park.  Where I parked half on the pavement there was a nice house for sale, it has lovely coloured glass in many of its windows - they are originals, not double glazed and the whole building needs refurbishing.  It also far to big and expensive for me to think about - sadly.

 

I had a walk around noticing that the flower beds and trees are showing the first signs of the end of summer, a few brown leaves on the trees and fewer flowers.  Then I returned to the car and rather than turn round in the road decided to go home via the Quayside.  To get there (all of 400 yards) I passed the lifeboat station and discovered that they were having an open day along with car cleaning.  While I was there I saw the local tall ship again, Williams II setting out on a day trip.

 

My car was clean so I just went in for a coffee and scone, then I was persuaded to buy a salmon roll and a slice of tea loaf to take home for my lunch.  A few days ago I had an e mail about RNLI Christmas cards, the shop had them so they have been bought so that is one job less to do later later on.  They also had some nice "Lifeboat tea bags".  Naturally I bought a raffle tickets, a short while ago I had a phone call to tell me I have won a prize, I will collect it at their coffee morning next Saturday at the local methodist church.

 

Back home the sun came out so I deadheaded and tidied the greenhouse, it was warm enough to have lunch outside.

 

Since then I have played trains  run part of the timetable and watched the cricket.  The weather forecast says it is still foggy, there is actually nice sunshine though not now all that warm.

 

The photos were taken with my phone.

One of the inshore lifeboats

 

Williams II heading up the harbour to turn round, going on a day cruise.

 

David

Edited September 7 by DaveF

[pgcroc]

On cakes.

 

Some on here may be interested in this.

 

 

Pete

[Hroth]

2 minutes ago, pgcroc said:

On cakes.

 

Some on here may be interested in this.

 

 

Pete

 

To show that to PB is cruelly insensitive!

 

[TheQ]

Road tax paid on " little red driving machine" © Gwiwer, £0, I suspect it will.be somewhat more next time. At least we'll get 11 months free before they start grabbing more money.

Registered to vote.. 

Edited September 7 by TheQ

[polybear]

1 hour ago, pgcroc said:

On cakes.

 

Some on here may be interested in this.

 

 

Pete

Someone break out the Smelling Salts for iD - I think he’s having one of his “turns”……

[Ozexpatriate]

8 hours ago, Sidecar Racer said:

That reminds me of a comment I saw on one of those 'we are the best ' sites , an American boasting

that the USA is the best by saying ' who's got a flag on the moon ' .

 

The snarky answer was , ' let me know when your moon flag pays your medical bills ' .

The plaque on the LM "Eagle" says "WE CAME IN PEACE FOR ALL MANKIND".

 

You won't find many people saying "who's got a flag on the moon?" these days. There are at least five nations with appliances (in various states of intactness) on the lunar surface.

[Ozexpatriate]

4 hours ago, TheQ said:

I then became the incredible hulk

HULK SPLASH!

Hulk Sad.

[Ozexpatriate]

Today is supposed to be less hot. It is still very hazy but air quality is back in the moderate range. Hopefully this trend will continue.

 

Out on my walk the local constabulary were keeping the town clear of "riff-raff", having pulled over a woman who perhaps lived in her car. She was busy yelling a them (clearly in distress) about "harassing the homeless" as I walked past and they were doing their best to get her to calm down a bit. I've no idea what the outcome would be. I didn't stay.

 

College football is on. Televised tennis will take place in the early afternoon. More college football later. There is a comic book convention on downtown. Doubtless the local stormtrooper legion will be there along with cosplayers of every conceivable shape.

[Tony_S]

46 minutes ago, polybear said:

Someone break out the Smelling Salts for iD - I think he’s having one of his “turns”……

I thought he always advised us to buy the equipment the professionals use…

Edited September 7 by Tony_S

[Coombe Barton]

... Getting ready this morning was out of the ordinary - wearing a suit in a caravan - and remembering how to knot a tie. ...

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/09/07/postcards-from-the-other-periphery-2024-27/

[Mike Bellamy]

12 hours ago, TheQ said:

Full muggacoffee just  knocked on floor, not good. 

Now surrounded by cloths soaking up. Waterproof floor luckily.

 

Sorry, I laughed out loud when I read that as you may recall I did exactly the same thing when we visited Neatishead last month - except mine was two cups of coffee across the table, chairs, and floor. Mrs B thought the coffee was heading in her direction and managed to get out of the way in time. Your staff were very quick and efficient clearing up the mess and wouldn't take any cash for the replacements so a fiver was dropped in their donation box.

.

[monkeysarefun]

9 hours ago, polybear said:

Isn’t there a risk that Docs send patients for unnecessary tests in order to jack up their income?

 

 

 

I reckon they are damned if they do and dammed if they dont.

 

Populist Current Affairs shows here have two favourite doctor bashing themes that they love to do stories on.

 

1) "Doctor is accused of wasting money by sending a  patient to do a whole battery of tests on the off-chance that one of them will reveal what is wrong with him!" 

 

2) "Man diagnosed with extremely rare fatal disease claims doctor didn't  order the test that could have diagnosed it in time!"

 

Edited September 7 by monkeysarefun

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Rayleigh toy fair tomorrow so I collected some modelling tokens this afternoon, it depends now on if there's anything of interest to me for sale.

[DaveF]

Earlier today I mentioned seeing a rather nice house for sale.  I've just looked up the details.

 

From outside it looks a bit "drab", from the agent's photos it has clearly been updated, doubled glazed etc.   It has 4 beds and 3 reception.  In other words much better than I thought.  The price - only £650,000.

 

I can dream.

 

David