[Archived] Rant (4?)

[AlanK]

Lose lose. If a PM failed to visit they would be criticised no matter what party they are from. If they attend they are accused of pointless PR.

The north/south divide issue over the flooding is bloody ludicrous. The media looking for a story that too many people are buying in to. Have folk not heard of Somerset? Boscastle? Or Tewkesbury where I live which again is flooding. When 18 inches of rain falls in 38 hours no policies or legislation can prevent flooding no matter who resides at no10. Its weather and its happening more often now so we had better get used to it, be responsible for some of our own actions and deal with it. Its not always someone`s fault. Its not always the fault of a political party.What next? Blame governments ( no matter which party!! ) for lightning strikes!?!

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

I haven't been feeling great over Xmas, not the usual over indulgence feeling. Just a bit woozy, lethargic, nauseous , upset and painful stomach, white furry tongue etc that started before Xmas actually. It's lasted more than a week. I was going past my surgery today so I thought I'd call in. I knew I would be too late for an appointment today but I thought I would make one for tomorrow.

" Could I make an appointment for tomorrow please ? " I ask.

" You'll have to phone tomorrow at 8.30 in the morning ". Said the receptionist.

What that means is you phone constantly from 8.29. You get through about 9.10 to find out that all the appointments for that day have gone and could you kindly phone again at the same time the next day.

You may get an appointment at my surgery but it's in spite of the system not because of it.

[DE.]

I haven't been feeling great over Xmas, not the usual over indulgence feeling. Just a bit woozy, lethargic, nauseous , upset and painful stomach, white furry tongue etc that started before Xmas actually. It's lasted more than a week. I was going past my surgery today so I thought I'd call in. I knew I would be too late for an appointment today but I thought I would make one for tomorrow.

" Could I make an appointment for tomorrow please ? " I ask.

" You'll have to phone tomorrow at 8.30 in the morning ". Said the receptionist.

What that means is you phone constantly from 8.29. You get through about 9.10 to find out that all the appointments for that day have gone and could you kindly phone again at the same time the next day.

You may get an appointment at my surgery but it's in spite of the system not because of it.

Aye, it's exactly the same down here. An absolutely bonkers system.

[Mike E]

I've had this with the NHS in audiology. If a hearing aid breaks due to moisture, chances are the other goes within 24hrs. That leaves me completely deaf (we aren't allowed to keep spare hearing aids or even our old ones for emergency back-up).

I get someone to ring on my behalf (or if I have one working, I try my best myself) and am told I'll have to wait two weeks for a procedure that takes around 5 minutes.

This most recently happened a month ago, and I was told to 'wait two weeks like everyone else, you're not special'. I was apoplectic at such a comment, but I went in and made a silent fuss until I was seen.

Even experts in the field have no idea what it's like for a deaf person in the hearing world. It's a constant battle. Those comments angered me to the extent I am looking at private care.

The NHS is a wonderful thing and it has saved my life figuratively hundreds of times and literally three times. But its audiology is not suited to the the needs of young deaf people in the modern world. After some research, my hearing aids are 6 years behind technology at best, but it's all the NHS can offer me.

[Paul]

Aye, it's exactly the same down here. An absolutely bonkers system.

Yes same with us. On the other hand when I rang a few months back and presented as male, 61, lump in groin I was seen within 5 hours!!! Turned out to be an infected gland.

Equally had an emergency admission to Chorley 9 weeks ago. Care was world class. Unbeatable.

[den]

At my surgery, If there are no appointments available on the day, either a doctor or nurse will ring you back. They might prescribe over the phone, or they might ask you to come in later that day during a number of appointment times held open for these instances. Got to say my surgery is great.

[K-Hod]

I've got the same booking system detailed above, but sometimes the receptionists ask a few questions regarding symptoms when you say definitively that you want to see a doctor. They can sometimes get a bit shirty, but I guess they do have people booking doctor's appointments for colds etc so it's understandable I guess.

[Stuart]

Yes same with us. On the other hand when I rang a few months back and presented as male, 61, lump in groin I was seen within 5 hours!!! Turned out to be an infected gland.

Equally had an emergency admission to Chorley 9 weeks ago. Care was world class. Unbeatable.

Hope all is well, Paul.

[adopted scouser]

Lose lose. If a PM failed to visit they would be criticised no matter what party they are from. If they attend they are accused of pointless PR.

The north/south divide issue over the flooding is bloody ludicrous. The media looking for a story that too many people are buying in to. Have folk not heard of Somerset? Boscastle? Or Tewkesbury where I live which again is flooding. When 18 inches of rain falls in 38 hours no policies or legislation can prevent flooding no matter who resides at no10. Its weather and its happening more often now so we had better get used to it, be responsible for some of our own actions and deal with it. Its not always someone`s fault. Its not always the fault of a political party.What next? Blame governments ( no matter which party!! ) for lightning strikes!?!

And we spend 12 BILLION on foreign aid while our towns are underwater.

[Claytons Left Boot]

What's with the current trend of naming bouts of incoming bad weather Storm Eva, Storm Frank etc etc? Granted the weather systems (or at least the amounts of rain) are severe but why give them names? Do we have to follow the Yanks at everything? It's bad enough calling firemen firefighters, ambulance men paramedics, chips fries, railway stations train stations and so on but do we really have to do this naming thing with weather systems?

[adopted scouser]

What's with the current trend of naming bouts of incoming bad weather Storm Eva, Storm Frank etc etc? Granted the weather systems (or at least the amounts of rain) are severe but why give them names? Do we have to follow the Yanks at everything? It's bad enough calling firemen firefighters, ambulance men paramedics, chips fries, railway stations train stations and so on but do we really have to do this naming thing with weather systems?

And now Police Officers are 'Crimefighters'

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

And now Police Officers are 'Crimefighters'

I wish.

[BlueMonday]

And we spend 12 BILLION on foreign aid while our towns are underwater.

That needs a rethink.

Subsidise the Indian Space Programme or Invest In British Flood Defences

[K-Hod]

It's a bit disproportionate for sure, but then didn't the government make cuts to flood defences recently?

[DE.]

I've got the same booking system detailed above, but sometimes the receptionists ask a few questions regarding symptoms when you say definitively that you want to see a doctor. They can sometimes get a bit shirty, but I guess they do have people booking doctor's appointments for colds etc so it's understandable I guess.

If you've got something serious then you really have to demand to see somebody, certainly here anyway. A few years ago I developed Iritis, a really nasty condition and can cause damage to the eye if left untreated. When I called the doctor's surgery and described the symptoms the receptionist told me to get something from the pharmacy. It was only when I demanded to see somebody (the pain was unbearable) that I was finally begrudgingly given an appointment. Once at the doctor's I was sent straight to the hospital as it was that serious.

Unfortunately only weeks prior I'd asked for a blood test to ascertain whether I was genetically predisposed to ailments like Iritis. My mother has said gene so it seemed logical in terms of prevention to see if I had it as well. Was told "blood tests cost money, you know" and that was that. Lovely people.

[Baz]

That needs a rethink.

Subsidise the Indian Space Programme or Invest In British Flood Defences

Or make hedge fund Tory donors and companies like Amazon or Starbucks pay their taxes like the rest of us?

[AlanK]

And we spend 12 BILLION on foreign aid while our towns are underwater.

Which I think is ludicrous as much as the next sane man but all governments no matter which party are guilty of this so I wish everyone north of the line ( just where the hell this is nobody knows! ) would stop suggesting us southerners have it easy. Its not a north/south thing. Its not an east/west thing. Its a nationwide thing. However, how do any government budget for 12 inches of rain in 24 hours? 24 inches? 36 inches? Just how on earth can you budget and prepare for events that keep breaking records? Its not possible. I`m trying to be reasonable here speaking as someone who lives in a town that floods often. Its no individuals fault. Its no governments fault. Its no PM`s fault. Its life. If your garden fence blows over....thats life. If your roof gets struck by lightning...thats life....if places flood...thats life. Humans take great comfort in having someone to blame even if they are innocent. Go and watch the film Arlington Road. Build a wall 6 feet high at huge expense to the country around every flood prone area. As soon as the water level is 6 feet 1 inch and floods the area everyone screams blue murder and blames.....someone. The country floods, the British Isles flood, many areas of the world flood not just the north of the England. I`m yet to hear of another town that had no running water as Tewkesbury did in 2007. Nobody here blamed anyone. The talk was of the severe weather. Different mentality I guess. But I guess we can blame that on ...?

[Paul]

Hope all is well, Paul.

Yep. Fighting fit, thanks Stuart.

[Paul]

Well said AlanK. This happens and no one can do anything to stop it yet there are those who will always find someone to blame. From the coverage I've seen the vast majority are grateful for the response they've received from both the professionals and simple acts of neighbourliness.

I do though think there is one aspect we have to change in all of this namely building on flood plains or flood prone locations. I'd hope one government response would be to withdraw any existing planning permission for at risk development and simply ban future development in such areas. It's not as though we are short of land.

I think there is also a strong argument for expecting anyone who purchases a new build to look very closely at the flood risk. If potential buyers start refusing to buy at risk new build the developers will very quickly get the message.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=image+of+house+building+in+flood+areas&safe=strict&rlz=1CDGOYI_enGB622GB622&hl=en-GB&prmd=nimv&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjfia-U4YLKAhVDPBoKHR9CCtAQ_AUICSgC#imgrc=OMnf0AYwrIRMrM%3A

[ABBEY]

And now Police Officers are 'Crimefighters' not interested unless someone has actually been murdered

[adopted scouser]

I meant they are referred to as crimefighters in much the same way fireman are referred to as firefighters. Not surprising your comment as austerity cuts have reduced police numbers drastically

[AlanK]

I couldn`t agree more Paul. When we moved to Gloucestershire we had a good look around several towns. We liked Tewkesbury but decided against it due to the flooding. However, after a lot of research using aerial shots, environment agency info, council info, speaking to locals etc we opted for a house in Tewkesbury and have had no problem. You have to be responsible for your own actions.

It looks like as a country we are going to have to get used to this strange weather. Warmest decade in history, wettest this in history, driest that in history etc. The records keep tumbling and all this millennium and if it does continue there is nothing any government will be able to do about it.

[Tyrone Shoelaces]

And now Police Officers are 'Crimefighters' not interested unless someone has actually been murdered

Last June my step son was beaten up by four young guys ( he's 35, they were all late teens ), one Saturday afternoon in our local park. In broad daylight they beat him pretty badly, cut head etc. The also stole his wallet with about £30 in and his watch. Some girls were nearby and actually broke up the assault and phoned for an ambulance.

My wife worked as a teacher at our local secondary school and the girls who broke up the assault came to see her after her lesson and told her who the perpetrators of the assault were. This was on Monday morning. The Police were informed on the Tuesday. Since then much prevarication from our local plod but no arrests or anything.

Maybe the same gang will have to kill somebody first.

[BlueMonday]

Or AND make hedge fund Tory donors and companies like Amazon or Starbucks pay their taxes like the rest of us?

Agree

[oldjamfan1]

And we spend 12 BILLION on foreign aid while our towns are underwater.

It amazes me reading the media and even some normally sensible friends advocating ending our giving of foreign aid. Its not quite as black-and-white as that (no pun intended!). The UK isn't just sending money to all parts of the world, without strings attached. It is increasingly obvious that the British government has little regard for its own citizens, so do you really imagine that the powers that be give two stuffs about people in other countries. In most cases overseas aid is a tool used for economic and political advantage.

For example if a government in a third world country is broadly supportive of Western values it makes sense to support that government against factions who regard the west as an enemy. Whilst we cannot be seen to be directly supporting those governments, overseas aid is one way of supplying funds to those nations. It’s far cheaper to pay out a few million dollars in this way than a few billion engaging in warfare.

Another even less subtle use, is where a country has resources we want. Say Nigeria has huge copper resources we’d like to mine. Our trade agreements with other countries would not allow us to directly pay out bribes to get preferential terms, using overseas aid as cover allows us to pay those bribes. The preferential terms mean British companies can exploit the resources, meaning we gain from the trade and also gain from cheaper supplies back home. Again give a little gain a hell of a lot.

That some good causes do get funds is almost a bi-product of our government’s playing of the game.