I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
And Blenheim.
Tbf there's a Hastings Station, and we lost that one.
Just to make the petrol heads here jealous I have been out and about today in a Ferrari 430 with a challenge series upgrade. I think that is 600 bhp and 200 mph top speed. A bit nippier than my Kia picanto.
I always enjoy a piece by Cyclefree, even more so when it comes from the high ground and we should always expect better of our politicians.
The reality is that few will cast their ballot in the expectation that their candidate is a paragon of virtue, more that we chose the least worst and hope for more.
Competence would be a start, let alone virtue. As mentioned on Spectator TV and elsewhere, whoever wins will be leading a country where prices are rocketing, there may be fuel shortages, no-one can see their doctor and muggers and murderers roam our streets untroubled by the constabulary. The government will need to establish it can get things done, now that firefighting Covid has disappeared as an excuse.
None of the candidates so far seems to be addressing this, aside from fairytale tax cuts.
On the "no-one can see a doctor" thing... A couple of weeks ago I felt a lump on one of my testicles. Rang my GP's surgery about 3pm. Could I come in for 4pm that afternoon? I did. Doctor saw me on time, pronounced it was probably a cyst rather than anything more serious, but wanted to get the ultrasound people to take a quick look just in case, also wanted to do some blood tests. Blood tests booked for the following Monday (this was a Thursday), Ultrasound booked for today (I.e. two weeks).
Upshot is that two weeks from the initial phone call I've had a consultation, tests and an all clear. (I'll probably have a phone call with the doctor when he gets the results back, but the ultrasound operator was pretty clear it is just a cyst). Oh, and all done in my local town (pop approx 25k).
Now, clearly my experiences aren't universal, but as someone who hadn't seen a doctor for years, and had got the impression from the media that the whole system was on the brink of collapse, I was quite pleasantly surprised by how uncollapsed at least my local bit of it seems to be.
Similar story last month when I got knocked off my bike. One of the bystanders called 999 and the paramedic arrived within three minutes and the ambulance five minutes after that. I felt like a bit of a fraud since I was pretty sure I was fine but they weren't having any of my "I'm pretty sure I can get myself to A&E" shtick. Amazingly, two traffic coppers turned up within 20 minutes of the crash to take my statement from the back of the ambulance, and I got a call back within a couple of days from one of them ("I would have called you yesterday if your injuries had been more serious" suggested they were considering further action against the driver which I really didn't want).
I know the system is strained as hell but I got really lucky.
That is great that you are ok, but it all seems a bit over the top to me. I had a similar thing about 12 years ago, I hit a pothole on my bike and someone called 999. The ambulance came, I was taken to hospital, and then the police turned up to interview me. It got really annoying because the police kept following me around hospital while I was being examined by the doctor. The doctor told them to get lost at one point. Eventually I asked the police if I was under suspicion of something, and the officer said driving without due caution, but they were not going to press charges. So the impression I got from this was that the police were wasting hours investigating no crime incidents where people fall off their bikes.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
And Blenheim.
Tbf there's a Hastings Station, and we lost that one.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
And Blenheim.
Tbf there's a Hastings Station, and we lost that one.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
And Blenheim.
As for Poitiers...
Always thought there were multiple Poitiers but it seems the others are called Tours and Vouille and stuff
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
Why not set a good example for others - something of an English specialty, at least in English eyes - by naming stations for British DEFEATS. Symbolic of recognizing reality then moving fearlessly forward.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
Why not set a good example for others - something of an English specialty, at least in English eyes - by naming stations for British DEFEATS. Symbolic of recognizing reality then moving fearlessly forward.
The Tory leadership election is going to get blown away, as a news item, by the hot air of the scorchio weather
We are now firmly into plausible prediction territory - Monday is 4 days away and some models are predicting 40C in.... MANCHESTER
The overnight minima are equally amazing - 26C in some places. If you don't have aircon that is going to be horrid/dangerous
There is still a reasonable chance the worst won't happen. But with each hour that passes and no substantial variation in the predictions, that becomes less likely. Brace
You should come up to the Lakes my darling. The weather is gloriously pleasant: sunny but comfortable.
I did not realise that the TiT slogan was a spoof. Apologies. I wrote this at 5 am as I did not sleep last night and only updated this evening. Have been out all day.
I am allergic to liars, I'm afraid. Penny did not impress me during the referendum campaign and nothing I have seen since has changed my mind.
But, tbh, none of them are really talking about the stuff that matters to voters.
Is that because you would prefer a Starmer administration?
No.
I am politically homeless.
I reached the same point, just a bit earlier. It was between the 2017 and 2019 as I watched Corbyn's loons take over Labour and the the Kippers take over the Tories. I voted LibDem in 2017 but their subsequent disappearance from public view took that option away.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
Why not set a good example for others - something of an English specialty, at least in English eyes - by naming stations for British DEFEATS. Symbolic of recognizing reality then moving fearlessly forward.
Just to make the petrol heads here jealous I have been out and about today in a Ferrari 430 with a challenge series upgrade. I think that is 600 bhp and 200 mph top speed. A bit nippier than my Kia picanto.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
I'd have thought the main station for trains to Scotland should be called Think Again.
From the Torygraph story about a masculine culture at No 10 comes the least surprising revelation of all time:
“Boris was completely disorganised. First thing in the morning, he would turn up two hours late. His hair would be wet. He’d have his zip undone or his shirt hanging out. He’d be just a complete mess all the time.”
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
I'd have thought the main station for trains to Scotland should be called Think Again.
Just to make the petrol heads here jealous I have been out and about today in a Ferrari 430 with a challenge series upgrade. I think that is 600 bhp and 200 mph top speed. A bit nippier than my Kia picanto.
Did you have to pay for the petrol? 👍
Nope and I believe it is about 6 miles to the gallon.
Seems to be Stop Penny time. If they want a clean break then stopping the candidate whose first instinct isn't to be truthful makes some sense, I guess. Don't really get the visceral anti-Truss sentiment tbh. Sure she's a poor speaker.
"whose first instinct isn't to be truthful "
This lack of truthfulness on Mordaunt's part is becoming written as lore. What is the evidence for it, compared to the average politician?
It seems to be frequently cited by her colleagues. Braverman objects to her changing the wording of woman in a bill. She says she didn't. She claimed to have set up an investigation into the number of girls transitioning. People involved say she had nowt to do with it. The fixation with trans runs deep. It may cost her.
From the Torygraph story about a masculine culture at No 10 comes the least surprising revelation of all time:
“Boris was completely disorganised. First thing in the morning, he would turn up two hours late. His hair would be wet. He’d have his zip undone or his shirt hanging out. He’d be just a complete mess all the time.”
A pedant points out. He couldn't be two hours late if it was first thing in the morning.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
And Blenheim.
Tbf there's a Hastings Station, and we lost that one.
Jessica Elgot @jessicaelgot · 2h Boris Johnson is planning a farewell party at Chequers this weekend - but he wants to stick on the backbenches for now.
Allies suggest he will ask tricky questions on Ukraine, levelling up and NI protocol bill, the three things he fears could slip
Oh please. The idea he will even bother turning up regularly is for the birds.
I don't see why not. He'd see it as his Churchill in the wilderness period and find some issue to give portentous speeches about from the backbenches.
I would have thought he'd be a bit too busy on the speeches and books front to regularly speak in the Commons.
Chiltern Hundreds for sure.
Boris will hang around for £80,000 a year plus expenses, and to see if he is called back. I doubt he will contest the next general election, but then I always thought Boris planned to retire before then anyway, which might explain his apparently calm reaction; disappointed but not depressed to be out a year or so earlier than planned.
Honestly, given what is coming down the track, he would be inhuman not to feel some relief at not having to be the PM that steers us through it all. And being a lazy bugger who was never really troubled by the welfare of our country in the first place, for him it’s really a lucky escape. Just a shame he spent so much on the redecorating.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
Why not set a good example for others - something of an English specialty, at least in English eyes - by naming stations for British DEFEATS. Symbolic of recognizing reality then moving fearlessly forward.
From the Torygraph story about a masculine culture at No 10 comes the least surprising revelation of all time:
“Boris was completely disorganised. First thing in the morning, he would turn up two hours late. His hair would be wet. He’d have his zip undone or his shirt hanging out. He’d be just a complete mess all the time.”
A pedant points out. He couldn't be two hours late if it was first thing in the morning.
It was first thing in the morning by Boris O’Clock: 1159hrs
Its likely all down to the flavour of Kemis backers.if they break for Truss heavily Mordaunt could get squeezed out here. Jesus, anyone but Truss from that 5
PM Truss will make Boris look like a bleeding heart liberal, it would be a Cabinet dominated by the ERG, she would be the puppet of Francois, IDS and Rees Mogg and Steve Baker as they would be the ones who got her the leadership
Absolutely right which is why I’m terrified that she might win. The Tories would deserve annihilation at the election.
She's the female IDS.
She’d get to fight an election though. She’d utterly flame out but she’d fight it.
Nah, she's get VONCed next autumn.
Anyone know what the rules are there?
In practice, any party VOMCing a newly-elected leader would look pretty desperate.
But is there any formal equivalent of the 12 month immunity (unless you really hack off the '22) a leader gets from winning a VONC?
They could always save time on an election by simply VONCing the candidates before they start.
That does raise a question of whether they are using the right voting system to select candidates to put before the members. The present system means that an MP with one-third support among MPs is guaranteed to reach the membership, even if strongly opposed by the other two-thirds of their Parliamentary colleagues. Perhaps it's more important that the candidates who make the final two are tolerated by a majority of their colleagues, then that they have a smaller core of more fervent support?
Perhaps if the voting was done in reality TV show style - vote for the candidate you want to evict from the contest - in each round, then you'd end up with the final two candidates having the best chance of having wide support amongst their colleagues.
Alternatively, the system could reverse. Candidates get winnowed down by the membership by AV to three remaining and then it goes to the MPs. They vote - if one gets over 50%, they’re it, otherwise it’s an elimination and down to two, and the MPs vote again.
All candidates get a prolonged shot at making their case and being scrutinised, the membership get to decide which three go forwards, and the MPs choose which one they can put up with.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
Why not set a good example for others - something of an English specialty, at least in English eyes - by naming stations for British DEFEATS. Symbolic of recognizing reality then moving fearlessly forward.
I reached the same point, just a bit earlier. It was between the 2017 and 2019 as I watched Corbyn's loons take over Labour and the the Kippers take over the Tories. I voted LibDem in 2017 but their subsequent disappearance from public view took that option away.
I no longer vote
That's a bit sad. I get that none of the parties excite you, but do they all seem equally bad, so no preference is possible? For example, it's not really the LibDems' fault that the media choose not to highlight what they're doing.
From the Torygraph story about a masculine culture at No 10 comes the least surprising revelation of all time:
“Boris was completely disorganised. First thing in the morning, he would turn up two hours late. His hair would be wet. He’d have his zip undone or his shirt hanging out. He’d be just a complete mess all the time.”
A pedant points out. He couldn't be two hours late if it was first thing in the morning.
Aspirant pedants on this site really could do with some refreshers on proper punctuation.
This might be wishful thinking, but is there a chance TT’s vote backs Badenoch to knock out Truss? I can imagine his backers not caring so much about who wins but caring a lot about who doesn’t win.
Its likely all down to the flavour of Kemis backers.if they break for Truss heavily Mordaunt could get squeezed out here. Jesus, anyone but Truss from that 5
PM Truss will make Boris look like a bleeding heart liberal, it would be a Cabinet dominated by the ERG, she would be the puppet of Francois, IDS and Rees Mogg and Steve Baker as they would be the ones who got her the leadership
Absolutely right which is why I’m terrified that she might win. The Tories would deserve annihilation at the election.
The idiot Sunak is going to maneuver Mordaunt out of the final, and then lose to Truss
Just to inject a bit of irrelevance, and to prove my bone-headed Anglo Saxonness I submit the following---:
Groucho Marx once chaired an American radio quiz show and would ask the loser for a booby prize "who is buried in Grant's tomb?"
Well, I once asked someone where the Bayeux Tapestry was.
Isn’t the bayeux tapestry (a) an embroidery and (b) currently on tour in the U.K.?
Yes it is an embroidery.
Wiki says about the tour "In 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the Bayeux Tapestry would be loaned to Britain for public display. It had been expected to be exhibited at the British Museum in London in 2022, but a date has not yet been finalised."
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
Why not set a good example for others - something of an English specialty, at least in English eyes - by naming stations for British DEFEATS. Symbolic of recognizing reality then moving fearlessly forward.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
Why not set a good example for others - something of an English specialty, at least in English eyes - by naming stations for British DEFEATS. Symbolic of recognizing reality then moving fearlessly forward.
Well, Hastings/Battle and Dunkirk were defeats ...
Defeats for whom? We're most of us heirs to the Norman invasion. And there's a niche view that said conquest was in part Breton revenge on the Saxon invasion hundreds of years earlier. Certainly William was interested in that theme in the buildup to the invasion when trying to drum up support from his westerly neighbours.
The language we use today is replete with French/Latin-originated words giving a higher class sense and Saxon/Nordic ones giving a lower class sense. Judge v deem Verdant v green Chef v cook Chamber v room Prohibit v ban
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
I'd have thought the main station for trains to Scotland should be called Think Again.
I always enjoy a piece by Cyclefree, even more so when it comes from the high ground and we should always expect better of our politicians.
The reality is that few will cast their ballot in the expectation that their candidate is a paragon of virtue, more that we chose the least worst and hope for more.
Competence would be a start, let alone virtue. As mentioned on Spectator TV and elsewhere, whoever wins will be leading a country where prices are rocketing, there may be fuel shortages, no-one can see their doctor and muggers and murderers roam our streets untroubled by the constabulary. The government will need to establish it can get things done, now that firefighting Covid has disappeared as an excuse.
None of the candidates so far seems to be addressing this, aside from fairytale tax cuts.
On the "no-one can see a doctor" thing... A couple of weeks ago I felt a lump on one of my testicles. Rang my GP's surgery about 3pm. Could I come in for 4pm that afternoon? I did. Doctor saw me on time, pronounced it was probably a cyst rather than anything more serious, but wanted to get the ultrasound people to take a quick look just in case, also wanted to do some blood tests. Blood tests booked for the following Monday (this was a Thursday), Ultrasound booked for today (I.e. two weeks).
Upshot is that two weeks from the initial phone call I've had a consultation, tests and an all clear. (I'll probably have a phone call with the doctor when he gets the results back, but the ultrasound operator was pretty clear it is just a cyst). Oh, and all done in my local town (pop approx 25k).
Now, clearly my experiences aren't universal, but as someone who hadn't seen a doctor for years, and had got the impression from the media that the whole system was on the brink of collapse, I was quite pleasantly surprised by how uncollapsed at least my local bit of it seems to be.
Similar story last month when I got knocked off my bike. One of the bystanders called 999 and the paramedic arrived within three minutes and the ambulance five minutes after that. I felt like a bit of a fraud since I was pretty sure I was fine but they weren't having any of my "I'm pretty sure I can get myself to A&E" shtick. Amazingly, two traffic coppers turned up within 20 minutes of the crash to take my statement from the back of the ambulance, and I got a call back within a couple of days from one of them ("I would have called you yesterday if your injuries had been more serious" suggested they were considering further action against the driver which I really didn't want).
I know the system is strained as hell but I got really lucky.
That is great that you are ok, but it all seems a bit over the top to me. I had a similar thing about 12 years ago, I hit a pothole on my bike and someone called 999. The ambulance came, I was taken to hospital, and then the police turned up to interview me. It got really annoying because the police kept following me around hospital while I was being examined by the doctor. The doctor told them to get lost at one point. Eventually I asked the police if I was under suspicion of something, and the officer said driving without due caution, but they were not going to press charges. So the impression I got from this was that the police were wasting hours investigating no crime incidents where people fall off their bikes.
Oh the security team from the shopping centre car park it happened in called them (I assume as arse covering). They weren't bothersome at all and buggered off after taking a short statement. I was glad they were called actually because the security team got the driver's details (I was a bit preoccupied) and gave them to the police. I couldn't get the details from anyone the next day because of GDPR so I at least had a CRN to give to the insurance company to try to get my excess back. I got struck on a crossing so I suspect the po-po were trying to decide whether to fine the driver although TBF we were victims of the supermarket's shitty hedge placement. Who puts a six foot high hedge next to a crossing on a multi-use path for heaven's sake?
Reluctantly, I've laid off some of my Kemi this evening.
She isn't going to make it. It's a massive mistake by the Tories, but she isn't.
Unfortunately you are probably right! 😡
Starting to look that way, but depends how many of her supporters Braverman carries with her. If it's a dozen or less and the rest fall behind Badenoch then her massively outperforming Truss in the debates could swing enough behind her to put her in third on Monday, and then she goes to the members. Tougher for her now but still possible.
I always enjoy a piece by Cyclefree, even more so when it comes from the high ground and we should always expect better of our politicians.
The reality is that few will cast their ballot in the expectation that their candidate is a paragon of virtue, more that we chose the least worst and hope for more.
Competence would be a start, let alone virtue. As mentioned on Spectator TV and elsewhere, whoever wins will be leading a country where prices are rocketing, there may be fuel shortages, no-one can see their doctor and muggers and murderers roam our streets untroubled by the constabulary. The government will need to establish it can get things done, now that firefighting Covid has disappeared as an excuse.
None of the candidates so far seems to be addressing this, aside from fairytale tax cuts.
On the "no-one can see a doctor" thing... A couple of weeks ago I felt a lump on one of my testicles. Rang my GP's surgery about 3pm. Could I come in for 4pm that afternoon? I did. Doctor saw me on time, pronounced it was probably a cyst rather than anything more serious, but wanted to get the ultrasound people to take a quick look just in case, also wanted to do some blood tests. Blood tests booked for the following Monday (this was a Thursday), Ultrasound booked for today (I.e. two weeks).
Upshot is that two weeks from the initial phone call I've had a consultation, tests and an all clear. (I'll probably have a phone call with the doctor when he gets the results back, but the ultrasound operator was pretty clear it is just a cyst). Oh, and all done in my local town (pop approx 25k).
Now, clearly my experiences aren't universal, but as someone who hadn't seen a doctor for years, and had got the impression from the media that the whole system was on the brink of collapse, I was quite pleasantly surprised by how uncollapsed at least my local bit of it seems to be.
Similar story last month when I got knocked off my bike. One of the bystanders called 999 and the paramedic arrived within three minutes and the ambulance five minutes after that. I felt like a bit of a fraud since I was pretty sure I was fine but they weren't having any of my "I'm pretty sure I can get myself to A&E" shtick. Amazingly, two traffic coppers turned up within 20 minutes of the crash to take my statement from the back of the ambulance, and I got a call back within a couple of days from one of them ("I would have called you yesterday if your injuries had been more serious" suggested they were considering further action against the driver which I really didn't want).
I know the system is strained as hell but I got really lucky.
Same from me. Had surgery in December and still getting great, regular physiotherapy on the NHS. Back swimming, and up to 5 press ups now! (from a pre-op 40ish).
Police spotted a close pass on my bike outside Holyrood Palace. Driver pulled over, cops phoned me up afterwards informing me the driver had been fined and given 6 points. Lovely stuff.
Otoh, my GP de-registered me after I got my clips out back home in the Highlands over Christmas. This was despite numerous calls trying to make sure this wouldn't happen.
Apparently I have to book a 3 hour slot to re-register in person. Don't really understand how someone on shift work deals with that. I can't be fucked, I'll just turn up if I need an appointment and point out the mistake they made.
I think actual front line services (GPs, ambulance, A & E) are where the real issues are. Pharmacies are much better for sorting out quick issues (especially skin stuff).
Like the pharmacist who misdiagnosed my wife's Shingles as insect bites.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
Why not set a good example for others - something of an English specialty, at least in English eyes - by naming stations for British DEFEATS. Symbolic of recognizing reality then moving fearlessly forward.
I reached the same point, just a bit earlier. It was between the 2017 and 2019 as I watched Corbyn's loons take over Labour and the the Kippers take over the Tories. I voted LibDem in 2017 but their subsequent disappearance from public view took that option away.
I no longer vote
That's a bit sad. I get that none of the parties excite you, but do they all seem equally bad, so no preference is possible? For example, it's not really the LibDems' fault that the media choose not to highlight what they're doing.
Neither of the two main parties have policies I am prepared to support and I have no idea what the LibDems stand for or what platform they are campaigning on behalf of.
Its likely all down to the flavour of Kemis backers.if they break for Truss heavily Mordaunt could get squeezed out here. Jesus, anyone but Truss from that 5
PM Truss will make Boris look like a bleeding heart liberal, it would be a Cabinet dominated by the ERG, she would be the puppet of Francois, IDS and Rees Mogg and Steve Baker as they would be the ones who got her the leadership
Absolutely right which is why I’m terrified that she might win. The Tories would deserve annihilation at the election.
The idiot Sunak is going to maneuver Mordaunt out of the final, and then lose to Truss
Twat
Do we really believe he is maneuvering anything? Given his ratings with Members he has no reason to underplay his hand with MPs.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
I'd have thought the main station for trains to Scotland should be called Think Again.
Reluctantly, I've laid off some of my Kemi this evening.
She isn't going to make it. It's a massive mistake by the Tories, but she isn't.
Unfortunately you are probably right! 😡
Starting to look that way, but depends how many of her supporters Braverman carries with her. If it's a dozen or less and the rest fall behind Badenoch then her massively outperforming Truss in the debates could swing enough behind her to put her in third on Monday, and then she goes to the members. Tougher for her now but still possible.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
Why not set a good example for others - something of an English specialty, at least in English eyes - by naming stations for British DEFEATS. Symbolic of recognizing reality then moving fearlessly forward.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
Tettenhall Station (in Wolverhampton) is named after the glorious victory of the combined armies of Mercia and Wessex over the Danelaw Vikings at the Battle of Tettenhall (910). Although the station closed in 1932. And although, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the battle may have been in nearby Wednesfield. Whose station closed in 1931.
I always enjoy a piece by Cyclefree, even more so when it comes from the high ground and we should always expect better of our politicians.
The reality is that few will cast their ballot in the expectation that their candidate is a paragon of virtue, more that we chose the least worst and hope for more.
Competence would be a start, let alone virtue. As mentioned on Spectator TV and elsewhere, whoever wins will be leading a country where prices are rocketing, there may be fuel shortages, no-one can see their doctor and muggers and murderers roam our streets untroubled by the constabulary. The government will need to establish it can get things done, now that firefighting Covid has disappeared as an excuse.
None of the candidates so far seems to be addressing this, aside from fairytale tax cuts.
On the "no-one can see a doctor" thing... A couple of weeks ago I felt a lump on one of my testicles. Rang my GP's surgery about 3pm. Could I come in for 4pm that afternoon? I did. Doctor saw me on time, pronounced it was probably a cyst rather than anything more serious, but wanted to get the ultrasound people to take a quick look just in case, also wanted to do some blood tests. Blood tests booked for the following Monday (this was a Thursday), Ultrasound booked for today (I.e. two weeks).
Upshot is that two weeks from the initial phone call I've had a consultation, tests and an all clear. (I'll probably have a phone call with the doctor when he gets the results back, but the ultrasound operator was pretty clear it is just a cyst). Oh, and all done in my local town (pop approx 25k).
Now, clearly my experiences aren't universal, but as someone who hadn't seen a doctor for years, and had got the impression from the media that the whole system was on the brink of collapse, I was quite pleasantly surprised by how uncollapsed at least my local bit of it seems to be.
Similar story last month when I got knocked off my bike. One of the bystanders called 999 and the paramedic arrived within three minutes and the ambulance five minutes after that. I felt like a bit of a fraud since I was pretty sure I was fine but they weren't having any of my "I'm pretty sure I can get myself to A&E" shtick. Amazingly, two traffic coppers turned up within 20 minutes of the crash to take my statement from the back of the ambulance, and I got a call back within a couple of days from one of them ("I would have called you yesterday if your injuries had been more serious" suggested they were considering further action against the driver which I really didn't want).
I know the system is strained as hell but I got really lucky.
Same from me. Had surgery in December and still getting great, regular physiotherapy on the NHS. Back swimming, and up to 5 press ups now! (from a pre-op 40ish).
Police spotted a close pass on my bike outside Holyrood Palace. Driver pulled over, cops phoned me up afterwards informing me the driver had been fined and given 6 points. Lovely stuff.
Otoh, my GP de-registered me after I got my clips out back home in the Highlands over Christmas. This was despite numerous calls trying to make sure this wouldn't happen.
Apparently I have to book a 3 hour slot to re-register in person. Don't really understand how someone on shift work deals with that. I can't be fucked, I'll just turn up if I need an appointment and point out the mistake they made.
I think actual front line services (GPs, ambulance, A & E) are where the real issues are. Pharmacies are much better for sorting out quick issues (especially skin stuff).
Like the pharmacist who misdiagnosed my wife's Shingles as insect bites.
Pharmacists are being pushed into being mini gp’s at the moment. Most of the time it will work ok, but it’s important to remember that they are not gp’s.
That said go’s don’t always get it right either. My friend took 7 visits over a longish time to get referred to hospital, where it transpired he had a heart condition.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
I always enjoy a piece by Cyclefree, even more so when it comes from the high ground and we should always expect better of our politicians.
The reality is that few will cast their ballot in the expectation that their candidate is a paragon of virtue, more that we chose the least worst and hope for more.
Competence would be a start, let alone virtue. As mentioned on Spectator TV and elsewhere, whoever wins will be leading a country where prices are rocketing, there may be fuel shortages, no-one can see their doctor and muggers and murderers roam our streets untroubled by the constabulary. The government will need to establish it can get things done, now that firefighting Covid has disappeared as an excuse.
None of the candidates so far seems to be addressing this, aside from fairytale tax cuts.
On the "no-one can see a doctor" thing... A couple of weeks ago I felt a lump on one of my testicles. Rang my GP's surgery about 3pm. Could I come in for 4pm that afternoon? I did. Doctor saw me on time, pronounced it was probably a cyst rather than anything more serious, but wanted to get the ultrasound people to take a quick look just in case, also wanted to do some blood tests. Blood tests booked for the following Monday (this was a Thursday), Ultrasound booked for today (I.e. two weeks).
Upshot is that two weeks from the initial phone call I've had a consultation, tests and an all clear. (I'll probably have a phone call with the doctor when he gets the results back, but the ultrasound operator was pretty clear it is just a cyst). Oh, and all done in my local town (pop approx 25k).
Now, clearly my experiences aren't universal, but as someone who hadn't seen a doctor for years, and had got the impression from the media that the whole system was on the brink of collapse, I was quite pleasantly surprised by how uncollapsed at least my local bit of it seems to be.
Similar story last month when I got knocked off my bike. One of the bystanders called 999 and the paramedic arrived within three minutes and the ambulance five minutes after that. I felt like a bit of a fraud since I was pretty sure I was fine but they weren't having any of my "I'm pretty sure I can get myself to A&E" shtick. Amazingly, two traffic coppers turned up within 20 minutes of the crash to take my statement from the back of the ambulance, and I got a call back within a couple of days from one of them ("I would have called you yesterday if your injuries had been more serious" suggested they were considering further action against the driver which I really didn't want).
I know the system is strained as hell but I got really lucky.
Same from me. Had surgery in December and still getting great, regular physiotherapy on the NHS. Back swimming, and up to 5 press ups now! (from a pre-op 40ish).
Police spotted a close pass on my bike outside Holyrood Palace. Driver pulled over, cops phoned me up afterwards informing me the driver had been fined and given 6 points. Lovely stuff.
Otoh, my GP de-registered me after I got my clips out back home in the Highlands over Christmas. This was despite numerous calls trying to make sure this wouldn't happen.
Apparently I have to book a 3 hour slot to re-register in person. Don't really understand how someone on shift work deals with that. I can't be fucked, I'll just turn up if I need an appointment and point out the mistake they made.
I think actual front line services (GPs, ambulance, A & E) are where the real issues are. Pharmacies are much better for sorting out quick issues (especially skin stuff).
Like the pharmacist who misdiagnosed my wife's Shingles as insect bites.
To be fair, they always suggest checking with a GP (for me at least).
"The high number of deaths can be explained by the conjunction of seemingly unrelated events. Most nights in France are cool, even in summer. As a consequence, houses (usually of stone, concrete, or brick construction) do not warm too much during the daytime and radiate minimal heat at night, and air conditioning is usually unnecessary. During the heat wave, temperatures remained at record highs even at night, breaking the usual cooling cycle. Elderly persons living by themselves had never faced such extreme heat before and did not know how to react or were too mentally or physically impaired by the heat to make the necessary adaptations themselves..."
Actually, in all seriousness, if the models are still pointing to 40C tomorrow, then the government needs to get its arse in gear, and start warning people, especially the old
She's is brilliant in this. But she is not ready to be PM. Got to be a top place in next Cabinet though. With a few more years of maturity the Tories have a star on their hands.
This might be wishful thinking, but is there a chance TT’s vote backs Badenoch to knock out Truss? I can imagine his backers not caring so much about who wins but caring a lot about who doesn’t win.
Good idea! Could a few Mordaunt supporters could also switch to Badenoch just for the Final Four ballot - just to get rid of Truss.
Then switch back to Mordaunt for the Final Three ballot.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
Why not set a good example for others - something of an English specialty, at least in English eyes - by naming stations for British DEFEATS. Symbolic of recognizing reality then moving fearlessly forward.
Somebody who broke the law, which is why Boris Johnson should have gone, and it should also rule out Sunak.
Badenoch broke the law?
Former hacktivists have reacted with bafflement after the Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch admitted that she hacked Harriet Harman’s website in 2008.
Badenoch confessed to the hack, which carried a jail sentence of up to five years at the time she acted, in response to a question about the “naughtiest” thing she had done.
For other politically motivated hackers, breaching the Computer Misuse Act has had serious consequences.
“Considering others have been prosecuted for similar, juvenile attacks on websites, I’ll be curious to see if the law will be applied equally in this case,” said Mustafa Al-Bassam, a former member of the hacking collective LulzSec. When he was 16, Bassam was given a 20-month suspended sentence for breaching the CMA as part of the group’s campaign.
I am so sorry for all those offended by adverts at Waterloo Station that Kemi won’t be winning
Yet they are quite happy to cause permanent offence to our second closest international neighbours by continuing to call it Waterloo. Bit selective on the offence front methinks.
We should rename all our terminals: Waterloo, Agincourt, Crecy, and Treaty of Troyes.
How could you forget Picquigny and Trafalgar?
Rename stations at random. Penge East could be 'Siege of Rouen Halt' 'Culloden' would be nice for Euston or King's Cross, and help make our Scots friends feel at home. South Greenford could be 'Brunanburh'.
Why not set a good example for others - something of an English specialty, at least in English eyes - by naming stations for British DEFEATS. Symbolic of recognizing reality then moving fearlessly forward.
Well, Hastings/Battle and Dunkirk were defeats ...
There's a Dunkirk station in the UK?
Dunkirk yes; not a Dunkirk station as such though the LC&DR passes very close. Definitely a Brexiter idea for the future, maybe on HS2 if it ever gets going.
I always enjoy a piece by Cyclefree, even more so when it comes from the high ground and we should always expect better of our politicians.
The reality is that few will cast their ballot in the expectation that their candidate is a paragon of virtue, more that we chose the least worst and hope for more.
Competence would be a start, let alone virtue. As mentioned on Spectator TV and elsewhere, whoever wins will be leading a country where prices are rocketing, there may be fuel shortages, no-one can see their doctor and muggers and murderers roam our streets untroubled by the constabulary. The government will need to establish it can get things done, now that firefighting Covid has disappeared as an excuse.
None of the candidates so far seems to be addressing this, aside from fairytale tax cuts.
On the "no-one can see a doctor" thing... A couple of weeks ago I felt a lump on one of my testicles. Rang my GP's surgery about 3pm. Could I come in for 4pm that afternoon? I did. Doctor saw me on time, pronounced it was probably a cyst rather than anything more serious, but wanted to get the ultrasound people to take a quick look just in case, also wanted to do some blood tests. Blood tests booked for the following Monday (this was a Thursday), Ultrasound booked for today (I.e. two weeks).
Upshot is that two weeks from the initial phone call I've had a consultation, tests and an all clear. (I'll probably have a phone call with the doctor when he gets the results back, but the ultrasound operator was pretty clear it is just a cyst). Oh, and all done in my local town (pop approx 25k).
Now, clearly my experiences aren't universal, but as someone who hadn't seen a doctor for years, and had got the impression from the media that the whole system was on the brink of collapse, I was quite pleasantly surprised by how uncollapsed at least my local bit of it seems to be.
Similar story last month when I got knocked off my bike. One of the bystanders called 999 and the paramedic arrived within three minutes and the ambulance five minutes after that. I felt like a bit of a fraud since I was pretty sure I was fine but they weren't having any of my "I'm pretty sure I can get myself to A&E" shtick. Amazingly, two traffic coppers turned up within 20 minutes of the crash to take my statement from the back of the ambulance, and I got a call back within a couple of days from one of them ("I would have called you yesterday if your injuries had been more serious" suggested they were considering further action against the driver which I really didn't want).
I know the system is strained as hell but I got really lucky.
Sadly not always the case. On Tuesday I noticed an old lady had collapsed on the street. She was being looked after by four or five people while they waited for the ambulance. Four hours later she was still there, now with an umbrella providing shade, and a blanket and pillows. I think it is shameful that we have reached this situation. I know it’s been tough the last couple of years, and I’m sure Covid is responsible for a lot of the issues but still. I think the issue ultimately is about efficiency. Works well until there is a surge, when it breaks down. Hospital beds is the classic. If you always run at say 95% occupancy or more, when the pressure comes there is nowhere to go.
And yet, all the leadership contenders will tell you that they can cut taxes by making public services more efficient - which essentially means running things as close to capacity as possible.
Comments
Yorktown Station? Idsandlwana Station? Gallipoli Station? Singapore Station?
Well, Hastings/Battle and Dunkirk were defeats ...
I no longer vote
“Boris was completely disorganised. First thing in the morning, he would turn up two hours late. His hair would be wet. He’d have his zip undone or his shirt hanging out. He’d be just a complete mess all the time.”
He couldn't be two hours late if it was first thing in the morning.
Makes me ponder how language works - one part of my brain was thinking of the numeral, but the bit that controls my fingers heard 'won'. I guess.
Groucho Marx once chaired an American radio quiz show and would ask the loser for a booby prize "who is buried in Grant's tomb?"
Well, I once asked someone where the Bayeux Tapestry was.
Why isn't she knocking this out the park?
All candidates get a prolonged shot at making their case and being scrutinised, the membership get to decide which three go forwards, and the MPs choose which one they can put up with.
Twat
Wiki says about the tour "In 2018, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that the Bayeux Tapestry would be loaned to Britain for public display. It had been expected to be exhibited at the British Museum in London in 2022, but a date has not yet been finalised."
The language we use today is replete with French/Latin-originated words giving a higher class sense and Saxon/Nordic ones giving a lower class sense.
Judge v deem
Verdant v green
Chef v cook
Chamber v room
Prohibit v ban
and so on
or should I say et cetera?
b) No. https://www.bayeuxmuseum.com/en/actus/the-bayeux-tapestry-is-still-in-bayeux/
At least RN commanders, officers, crews at the time thought it was a rotten thing to do. And were not overly- bashful in saying so.
Though sadly it was the right thing to do.
Mostly because it convinced Franklin Roosevelt that Winston Churchill was NOT talking through his funny hat.
And sure-fire way to get a laugh. Still heard occasionally even today.
https://twitter.com/BackingBadenoch/status/1547680194206437377?s=20&t=pzxfdkBCyo8O51w9OKLDzw
That said go’s don’t always get it right either. My friend took 7 visits over a longish time to get referred to hospital, where it transpired he had a heart condition.
Love u too boo xx
And from the Queen? 45? Will lead to quite a contrast across the country, lovely temperatures in Edinburgh at the mo.
It's next Monday/Tuesday that it gets unpleasantly warm down here.
In the great early-August heatwave of 2003 in France, 14,800 died and some bodies were left unclaimed in September
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_European_heat_wave
"The high number of deaths can be explained by the conjunction of seemingly unrelated events. Most nights in France are cool, even in summer. As a consequence, houses (usually of stone, concrete, or brick construction) do not warm too much during the daytime and radiate minimal heat at night, and air conditioning is usually unnecessary. During the heat wave, temperatures remained at record highs even at night, breaking the usual cooling cycle. Elderly persons living by themselves had never faced such extreme heat before and did not know how to react or were too mentally or physically impaired by the heat to make the necessary adaptations themselves..."
By December she'll be in Beijing opening up new pork markets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wxf-bXqS5s
===
She's is brilliant in this. But she is not ready to be PM. Got to be a top place in next Cabinet though. With a few more years of maturity the Tories have a star on their hands.
Then switch back to Mordaunt for the Final Three ballot.
Badenoch confessed to the hack, which carried a jail sentence of up to five years at the time she acted, in response to a question about the “naughtiest” thing she had done.
For other politically motivated hackers, breaching the Computer Misuse Act has had serious consequences.
“Considering others have been prosecuted for similar, juvenile attacks on websites, I’ll be curious to see if the law will be applied equally in this case,” said Mustafa Al-Bassam, a former member of the hacking collective LulzSec. When he was 16, Bassam was given a 20-month suspended sentence for breaching the CMA as part of the group’s campaign.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/apr/09/bafflement-over-tory-mps-admission-she-hacked-harriet-harmans-website