The governments benefits agency ATOS, have today declared Jesus fit for work

Well, today, at my wife's parents, there has been much joy and consumption of chocolate.  We travelled down this morning as I was working in Clacton last night as well as at my usual job in the morning.  The drive back last night was in freezing temperatures but then it is not as if it is spring or anything!

Well, after the kids were tanked up with chocolate, we took the kids to the Museum of Childhood.  I wanted to take the kids to Legoland as I did not think that taking them to Bethnal Green would be an enjoyable experience for them, but my wife insisted and she was right.  The kids loved it, and it was a very child friendly museum.  They had an easter treasure hunt, ate my snacks, drank healthy drinks, listened to stories and played with the various exhibits.  It was both a pleasure to take them there and a joy to spend so much time with them.

I'm beginning to suspect I'm not as popular as I thought I was. I've been in hospital for two weeks, and the only "Hope you get out soon!" card I've got is from the nurses.

Clare Gerada was on Any Questions and the issue of the NHS culture. Like so many people, she is aware that there are a few bad eggs in the NHS and that those of us who work in the NHS need to work to ensure that good care continues to benefit so many in the NHS and took a stand against those who bash the NHS for the actions of a minority.

The inquiry into care standards at Stafford Hospital has found staff were to blame for over 1,200 needless patient deaths, but has recommended that no prosecutions be brought. It makes you think the only thing Harold Shipman really did wrong was opening his own practice.

Well, this week there has been more about how the NHS needs to change.  Nurses have been bashed being told that they do not care enough and need to learn how to care.  Seem that those involved in such issues forget just how much nurses do care.  Also in where the NHS gets loads of nurses, i.e. from abroad.  Now, all in the NHS know that it can fail patients.  And that is has all too many times.  But most who work in the NHS are interested in making patients better.  I do think that there is a lot that can be made better, and as those who have read my previous posts will know, I am in favour of the reforms, so long as the NHS is funded properly.  But when Jeremy Hunt talks about improving patient care, he had better remember that the private companies are not interested in that.  He correctly raises concerns about managers who chase targets and forget about patient care.  But a private company in the NHS is interested in money and when it is funded to provide healthcare, it will only be interested in funding the care it is funded for.  Working in the NHS I have seen how private companies work.  The service they provide is great, when they are funded for it.  But while the local hospital will look after the whole patient, private companies will not, as they will only do what they are paid to do and in many cases, will tend to pick the easy patients to see.

Personally, I am not too fussed that private companies pick the easy patients, it makes waiting lists shorter for those who are more complicated (but they may have to wait longer for treatment than those easier cases).  It is a shame though that those who are deemed more complicated tend to be the elderly, those who are overweight and those who have other illnesses.  I do think though that when outcomes between private companies and the NHS are made, that people remember that.

The NHS is great.  It can be made so much better.  Let us hope that this government does that.

Putin has been nominated for a Nobel prize in Medicine for his work on clinical depression. Apparently he can predict who will commit suicide the next week in London by just picking up his phone.

Well today was a good day.  We had a great family round for dinner, one of whom is going to be inbetween jobs which reminds me how I was once when I changed jobs.  Just for the record, I love the fact that I changed jobs.  My old place was great for a while, but did not adapt to the changes required in the NHS, well that is the way I felt things were.  And we spent time with the kids in the snow, which, being kids, they loved.  The only down side was that we had such a good time that we did not realise just how late it was getting!

Anyway, just a quick post as I am knackered and want to go to bed now.  Preferably without glowing in the dark...

I wonder if Eskimos update their Facebook status telling everyone it’s snowing?

Morning all, what is left of it. I have to say that it is a beautiful day. Am with the kids while they are making a magazine for their mother. I was meant to be going to a course in London and we woke up early to drive down.  While I was going to be on the course, my wife was to take the kids out in London.  Before they have been to places such as the London Aquarium, the British Museum and other interesting places while I have been learning about things myself.  But the snow stopped us.  I love snow, and I actually like to drive in it.  But not when I have the kids on a journey that is not essential, so by the time we got to Chelmsford, the snow got worse and the road conditions were becoming tricky, so we turned around and went home instead.  We popped into a shop to get some food and while there my son wanted to have some food and my daughter agreed.  My wife had a cup of tea and the kids had a bunny cupcake while I had a Mocha and was meant to have a lovely jam doughnut.  But the kids ate it for me (sob).  Actually, that is not fair, I got to eat some of it, not much though, and as the kids said, to was delicious.

And, it has been a good week.  Arsenal won a game, and against Swansea, that was a tricky one to win considering other big teams have dropped points there.  Am now trying to get my daughter into Arsenal by showing her how Arsenal Ladies are doing.

And of course, the kids, they have had their learning conference this week.  I got to go to it and was able to see just how much the kids have learned since the last one that they had.  And they have both done so well, my daughter showed us a story that she had written, one that I feel is better than the stories I tell them at night, and my son showed me some of the writing that he does, which again impressed me so much.  The only down side is that I think that they have better handwriting than I have!  We took them out for a meal afterwards which they loved.  Anyway, right now they are making a magazine for their mother who is having a much deserved rest upstairs.

Ask Italian Colchester

Had a good meal at Ask today.  Took the kids there once we had finished at their learning conference.  Have to say that I was very impressed with how both are doing and they made us both proud.  So my wife and I took them out for a meal to Ask in Colchester.

First of all, the food.  Quite good and the service was good.  It has been quite a few years since we were last there but I doubt that we will wait as long before going back.

A problem with it is that there are quite a few places in Colchester which serve a similar standard of Italian food, and while we will go to a few of them in the future, Ask is once place that we will go to again.

The Angel, Stoke by Nayland

Well, after brunch, we had to eat again, and I had been stupid and not booked a table for lunch, so instead we went to the Angel at Stoke by Nayland for dinner which I did manage to get round to booking.  And we loved it.  When we arrived, on our table there were two kids menu's in the seats that we would have sat the children, and there were pencils and little colouring and word search books for them.  The service was excellent and the food brilliant.  A truly enjoyable meal and one which my wife really deserved.

Mimosa Colchester

Quick post on this.  Took the family to Mimosa this morning, or rather, the kids took the wife for Mothers Day for Brunch.  While there we had the pleasure of being served at first by the 'main man' who is from Mauritius which we found out when the kids spoke a bit of French to him (they used to go to after school classes to learn this, but sadly no more).  Now he was great when it came to service.  Unfortunately we were not served by him all the time but instead we were served by the person who dealt with us the last time we were there.  To be fair, this waiter was better than he was before, but he does not reflect how good the restaurant should be portrayed.  Which really is a shame for Mimosa.  We will return though...

All this outsourcing of medical care on the NHS is starting to get ridiculous. When my grandma needed an operation to amputate her gangrenous hand they bought her a one way ticket to Saudi Arabia and told her to go shoplifting.

Yes, I am a bit annoyed about what has been said about the NHS. Not just me though. Just in case you have no idea what I am ranting about, it is the allegation that targets are resulting the NHS not caring.Working the in the NHS, I see lots of people who care and I work with lots of people who care. And let me add, with the hassle I get working in the NHS, if I did not care, I would not work in it. I suspect that the same applies to others as well.In summary, targets were introduced under Labour and they were there to show that the NHS was improving. One for example was the four hour wait in A&E, a target that many found absurd as in order to meet it, many hospitals did not direct additional staff to see patients to meet it in a clincally responsible manner, but rather made staff meet the target no matter what.  While I do not like the target, it was introduced after the Conservatives used the waits some people had in A&E to claim that the NHS was not working.  Targets can improve things, but they can be fixed as happened under the watch of Labour.  But when the government cuts funding (in real terms) to the NHS and then expects the staff of the NHS to be able to care more, that does not make sense.

Hunt, if you want the NHS to provide better care across the board, fund it properly.

Arsenal ' national lottery ' either way you spend your money on a ticket and win nothing

Oh well, I did not think that we would win.  We played quite well, until it came to defending that is.  Our midfield did not press the opposition and we let players run through us.  Which was the cause for the first goal.  Anyway, I did think that the three goals were good goals.  It was a shame that the goals went against us.  We may finish in the top four, but I doubt it.  We need to rely on Chelski dropping points, and I do not think that is going to happen.

Anyway, I am now back at home.  Busy day today, almost a nightmare.  Could have been worse, but it could have been so much better.  But the best bit was when the family came to visit.  I know they like to see me at work, I do not think that they realise just how much I love seeing them.

Anyway, time to go now.

BBC NEWS: Arsenal announce profits of £17.8m An open top bus parade for their accountants has been organised for the end of the season.

This weekend is going to be interesting.  It is the derby against the scum and things at the club are not looking good.  The club has loads of money but nothing else.  Bale is playing on form and our defence is not much good against teams who find it hard to attack as it is.  The scum are above us in the table, and even if we win, they still will be there.

On the brightside, I have asked my wife if she would like sometime alone without the kids.  She has said no though.  The idea of spending so much time with me, alone, with no other human contact did not appeal to her.  She might change her mind, so I have not told her about the dangers.  The kids are not in favour of having the first parents to travel to Mars either.  Sigh...

Even better, my son is very proud as he got an award at school from the headteacher.  I will have to post about this on YouTube sometime.