You are much more likely to be treated by an immigrant than be in the queue behind one

Today I have been listening to Any Questions on Radio Four using the Radioplayer function and have heard an interesting error by the UKIP MEP David Coburn where he said that for years that neither the Conservative nor Labour governments have trained enough doctors or nurses in the health service citing that we are stealing those from abroad.

He is wrong, training numbers have been cut, against the advice of the BMA, but that is not the reason that the numbers of healthcare professionals in the health service have fallen.  It is because, doctors and nurses have left the NHS.  Doctors, once trained have become disillusioned with the NHS and political interference and leave.  The UK trains enough doctors, but once these doctors have qualified, after they become consultants or GP's (i.e. after the five year post graduation stay in most cases) many leave to work in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the Middle East.  As for nurses, even when we import them, many do not stay in the NHS.

The bottom line is while there are some ideas to improve the NHS, unless staff are looked after properly, there will be few people to work in it.

Star trek legend Leonard Nimoy has died. Beam me up Goddy.

First of all, it is a loss to all who loved Science Fiction that Spock has died.

Many do not mourn other deaths, and that is not logical.  First there is the murder of a blogger in Bangladesh, Avijit Roy appears to have been killed just for his views on religion which angered Islamist hardliners.

The other murder is that of Boris Nemtsov a critic of Putin, and one who has like so many in the past, died.

I mourn the death of Nimoy, my memories of Spock are to be treasured for the rest of my wife.  I also despair over the other two deaths which have been reported and the way these two men were willing to risk all to speak out for what they felt was right.

It's rumoured that the 0 2 stadium in North London (formerly WHL) is to be renamed again to the Tutu stadium in honour of the bunch of ballerinas that were unable to hold on to a 0-2 lead with just ten minutes to go.

Restaurant meals were great for us this weekend.  It was a trip to Suffolk, first a meal in Ipswich at Isaac's which I thought was okay, a welcoming atmosphere and food that the kids loved.  I am always sold on sweet potato chips so that was great for me.  We were lucky and managed to bag a parking space outside which also helped and it has been a while since we have been to that location (it was a Vodka Bar when we were last there).  It has a great location overlooking the Marina and it is a place that I would return to again.

Later in the day it was a trip to Bildeston to stay at the Bildeston Crown.  It was a great stay, they welcomed the kids, had two kids beds in our room which we all loved staying in and when it came to eating there, amazing food.  The sound system in the room was great, and the shower was amazing.  It was a shame to leave it, loads of power and lots of heat, and I am very fussy when it comes to things like that!  The restaurant had great service and catered really well for our children.  While there were no things for the kids to do (no colouring sets or kids menu) eating at a restaurant that good is not about things like that.  Like the rest of the hotel, they were great with the kids talking to them, and where appropriate, servings suitable for them and adapting to them.  Now this is a place we certainly would love to return to, be that the restaurant or the hotel itself.

And later on Sunday, it was a trip to Hollow Trees Farm, a petting farm that the kids loved.  Fortunately, we had brought the Wellington Boots of the kids, which considering that it had been raining at times was a wise choice.  While my wife waiting in the warmth of the Farm Shop and Coffee Shop we explored the petting farm feeding animals, and enjoying the child friendly activities.  Again, if we are in the area, the kids would love to return as we spent an hour there and it was not enough.  And from there a journey to The Swan Inn in Monks Eleigh were again we were spoilt with a great meal.  I have to admit, while my wife assured me that it would be great, when we drove up, I doubted her, especially after dinner the night before.  And on entering it, while clean and very welcoming, again, I expected normal pub food.  But the food was great and while not as fabulous as that Bildeston, this is somewhere I would strongly recommend for those in the area.  I was amazed, considering how good the food is, that more people were not eating there.  If we lived closer, we would be eating there more often.

Anyway, good night once more.    

News: Putin named Russia's "Man of the Year" for 15th consecutive year. As usual, second place went to "Or else."

What is happening in Ukraine is interesting for the security of Europe, notably the Baltic states where there are many Russian speakers.

For those not in the know, once the USSR broke up, Ukraine had loads of nuclear weapons.  It got rid of was at the time, the third largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world.  Russia promised to respects its territory and the west promised to back it up.

Well, that has not happened.  The Crimea has been annexed by Russia and Russia, like with what happened in Georgia, has apparently been helping Russian speaking Ukrainian freedom fighters in the war for freedom (how you can call it freedom when you want a dictator is beyond me...) with many 'volunteers' entering the nation to help the battle for independence.  

The US understandably does not want to be dragged into a war there, just like it does not want to be drawn into a war in Syria (despite Syria crossing red lines set by Obama) or elsewhere.  Which means that nations like the UK have to realise that they can not rely on the US to defend them.  Which, to me, means that we have to renew Trident.

I do not like the idea of spending money on a nuclear weapons system that god willing, will never be used.  But I like the idea of speaking Russian less.  And you can not trust Putin.  I do not say that you can trust Obama, but lets face it, at least he was elected in free and fair elections.

So in short, that is why, I with a heavy heart, support spending money that can be used to help the poor or the NHS on a weapons system that I pray is never used.

I've been listening to my radio all night. It's definitely off

Good evening.  It had been a while since I posted about the family.  They are doing well, but I have to say that I am getting annoyed that they are growing.  They are of the view that I will be the shortest in the family.  Not counting the women and their grandfather that is.  They state that out of my siblings, I am the little one.  But I am the oldest and therefore my siblings are by definition, little.

My birthday has passed and we spent it at the Old Siege House.  I have always loved the setting, though this time, the food, while good, was not as good as I was hoping it would be.  I am spoilt in that I have a wife who is an amazing cook, but that means that I am more fussy when we do eat out.  And for many, I would say that the food is good.  It may have been an issue that we went midweek, but the great thing was that the staff were friendly, let us in early when it was freezing cold outside and while the waitress was not able to answer questions about the food when asked, she was more than happy to ask about it.  The downside was that the kids food was charged at full price (though that may have been due to use using a Tastecard there) and as I said, the food was not as nice as I would have liked.  We may go back there again, but I suspect if we do, it will not be for a long time.

More recently, we ate in a place in East London called the Taste of India.  Now there the food was great, the service not as good as it was at the Old Siege House, it never is, but the service is okay.  The food, vegetarian, has never disappointed us.  Now that is somewhere that we will keep going back to when we are in the area.

I am going to have to go, and that means that I will not be able to discuss the Arsenal game.  Needless to say those I meet at work who support the other team are happy...