Sri Lankan man arrested 'for smuggling gold in rectum' Is he The Man with the Golden Bum?

It has been a while since I made a proper post about the family.  Yes, I made a post at Christmas, but it was not that long.

To be fair, it was a very tiring day, so much so, that I have only just recovered from it properly.  We now have David round, a great friend from the past who we have not seen in the flesh for a while.  Now we just have to meet up with Tony, Who we spoke to on FaceTime.  What has been great as well, apart from the company is the beer!

Today we have been to GreyFriars in Colchester and had a great time having afternoon tea there.  As before, this was a great meal and one that met our expectations.  And as you can see from the pictures, the kids got to make cupcakes, which they loved!  We had been thinking about having this for a while an were not disappointed.  It may be a while before we go back, but it will be worth any wait.

But one of the great things that I have enjoyed in the last few days has been riding my bike with the kids.  I need to get fit, or my odds of having a heart attack at a young age like my father will be not good (I think he had a heart issue when he was young, but I can not be sure).  Don't get me wrong, I am aware that this is only to reduce my odds, but getting fit is important and the best bit is spending time with the kids.  Each time they learn a bit more when riding a bike, I feel even prouder of them, just like with everything they do.  But this is different as I do not get to teach them much, and worse, they do not let me teach them at other times.  I guess I have to remember to cherish every moment I have with them as they will, with time, need me less.  My worry is that one day, when they are older, that I will not get to spend as much time with them as I have as they will want to do other things and will be used to not spending time with me.

We just need now to get a bicycle for my wife.  She is keen on the idea, but we do not know much about bikes and have a steep learning curve to deal with.  I also need to learn how to ride better so that I can think about being able to ride to work.

When it comes to chess, these are the competitions that I have not won sadly...
Episode I
New generation tournament
Gorlank 2nd Tourney - Fast Knockout
-15
Dragon Warriors 6
Top of the Pops 8
28th Chess.com Quick Knockouts (1201-1400)
Quick Knockout #10

Merry Christmas 2015

Good evening all.  I am knackered, which is nothing compared to what my wife must be feeling.  The kids had a great day, and presents from Father Christmas included a huge television.  My wife was happy as it has Netflixs, I am happy, as are the children as it is much bigger compared to before.  My mother has been staying over the last few days providing much needed baby sitting cover and has now left after my two brothers came to visit.  All in all, the end of a great day.  And over this long weekend, I will probably not need to go into work, which is a big difference to the previous years!

The less evidence there is that homeopathy works, the more effective it is.

It has been an interesting November for the health service in England.  This post is to deal with the Junior Doctors strike that has just been averted, the deficit and also nursing issues all of which are important.  If you get bored and do not want to read this, just scroll down to the pictures.

Jeremy Hunt has managed to convince Junior Doctors that they need to go on strike over the NHS contract in England that they are convinced is not safe for patients and not fair for doctors.  This is both with the issue of the removal of protection to stop doctors working too hard and payments for antisocial hours being cut (in addition to a redefinition of what antisocial hours are).  In addition to this, he had refused the offer of arbitration on these issues (though he did finally agree to this, as well as suspending his threat of imposition of the contract).

In addition to this, hospitals in England are running up huge deficits.  Part of this is due to the reduction in payments that they get for seeing patients, and part is due to the huge pressures that austerity is causing.  When councils have to cut social services, patients suffer, and if those patients are in hospital, they can not be discharged to an environment that is felt to be too unsafe (before anyone takes offence at this, the only place where someone is not at risk is in the afterlife).  Some have argued that this just shows how inefficient the NHS is, but they forget one big thing.  Circle, a private company had the contract to run Hinchingrooke hospital, and gave it back.  Although may may site the CQC reviews, other point out that it just was not profitable due to the huge pressures in A&E.

Now the government have stated that they want this to change, and in order to do this, more care is to be provided in the community, but a big problem in providing this is that GP surgeries are understaffed.  Loads have vacancies for partners to join them, much more than was the case in 2010.  Although the government has stated that they are going to change this, no sign of this has been noted.  More doctors are leaving salaried jobs in general practice as many are leaving partnership, basically as they are able to earn more money for less work elsewhere.

This issue with a shortage of doctors is not just seen in General Practice, but also in hospital specialities such as psychiatry and also in Emergency Medicine, the speciality that is thought to be the most affected by changes in the NHS contract in England.

And the NHS is not just facing a shortage of doctors.  Many hospitals do not have the nurses available that they need to provide a good standard of care.  So the government, in their wisdom, are to remove the bursaries that nursing students get.  The argument is that the courses are in huge demand and lots of people are turned down.  However this does not look at the issue that people are leaving nursing.  And why should they stay?  They have had pay rises frozen before and loads have left to become agency nurses rather than work harder for less pay in the NHS.   Worse, restrictions on pay both those that have been in place in the past for nurses within the NHS, but also the planned ones for agency staff run the risk of reducing the numbers from abroad that we need to fill the vacancies that are present.

Jeremy Hunt himself, in addition to telling everyone that Everything is Awesome, has endeared himself to NHS staff by taking his children to A&E as his GP was closed rather than contacting the out of hours service and lately, stating that mortality (i.e. death) rates are greater on weekends.  It is not.  (While you are more likely to die if admitted on a weekend, the day you are most likely to die on is a Wednesday.)

So, NHS staff have been leaving before 2010, but more have left since then, and while the Conservatives have said that they are going to give the NHS more money, they have stated that they have done so before, and yet the cuts, sorry, efficiency savings, continue...

I've just taken up speed reading. Last night I did war and peace in 20 seconds. I know it's only 3 words but it's a start!

Not much to say today, other than my children make me very proud.  It is not that just that they are amazing, but it is that they will try (unless tired) even when deep down, they are terrified.  But like all, or rather most parents (not my father for example) my kids make me glow with pride all the time as I am biased towards them.

In other news, I am getting excited over Star Wars and on Sky, there are two shows that the children and I are watching.  Star Wars Rebels and Lego Star Wars, Droid Tales.  I have been told by them that I am not allowed to watch it at midnight, but I am going to do my best to get them to let me.  I will try guilt as when a child, I was taken to watch the original film, then Return of the Jedi, missing out Empire Strikes Back, something as a child was devastating.  If I keep mentioning that...

And last of all, I have promised to start cycling.  I am hoping to do it before New Years as it was one of my aims.  But I have now bought a new bicycle pump which means that I have one less excuse!

Christianity: One woman's lie about having an affair that got seriously out of hand

 I have been very mean to the family in the last few days.  On Friday, due to various reasons, I got into a temper.  It meant that at work, I was not really in the mood to talk to anyone over the argument that happened at home.  The thing was that it was over a silly thing, but once I got into my mood, I just got worse and worse.  And while I may have possibly been justified in getting annoyed in the first place, there was not reason for me to stay annoyed and take it out on everyone, let alone leave the house in a foul mood that stayed until I returned.  Fortunately, my family are far nicer than I am and let me off.

And today, I swore a bit after hearing the Arsenal score.  I do my best not to know the score before watching Match of the Day, but I found out.  And to make matters worse, again, I was a moron and snapped at my amazing wife.  I owe her lots as she has been wonderful to me (as always) today.  Watching the game, it was great to see Arsenal score first, but injuries were not kind to us today (again) and the two goals to follow were painful to watch.  Still, I have stated that I did not think that we can maintain the challenge with the injuries that we have had.

The picture was taken today when I was in London on a course.  It was a bit cloudy on the way there, well it was raining and appeared that it was to be a miserable day but the course was great, one of those teaching was truly excellent and I learned a lot which I hope to put to good use.  Once out, so was the sun, not for as long as I would have liked, but as you can see, I felt is was a truly beautiful day.  The only downside was that I did not get to go to Borough Market for lunch, though the meal provided at Glaziers Hall, where the course was held was great.


And once again, good night.

Guy walks into my parts store. Says that he needs a gas cap for a Lancia, I said, okay, sounds like a fair trade

When it comes to what has happened on Friday the 13th the most important thing has been teaching the children that all Muslims are not terrorists.  It is easier for me, for I lived in London when the IRA was attacking it, as well as when Far Right terror attacks occurred.  And for those who have not noted this elsewhere, I live in Colchester, again a target for the IRA in the past.  I do not consider all Catholics or all the Irish to be terrorists and why should I when almost all are not.  Just like with Muslims.

At times, while people blame Islam for the actions of Unislamic State, they forget that most of the people that Unislamic State murder are Muslims, and that most of those who fight against them are other Muslims.  While some may blame the attacks on the actions of France against Unislamic State, they forget that France has been the victim of terrorism before this back in 1995 and since.  And of course, there have been the attacks just before and since.

But to the family and the picture.  Last weekend we got to take part in a car race.  Well, my daughter did not, but she had loads of fun racing the cars anyway.  I got to race against my wife, and although I beat her, I was very unsportsman like in my victory celebrations.  All in all, a great night and one that we enjoyed loads.  Anyway, it is late and I have to go to bed.  Good night!

An abstract painting sold for £16million at Sotheby's yesterday. When asked what the picture represented, the artist replied, "How a fool and his money are soon parted."

Today was a nice day.  As normal, I was doing the school run and decided to see how good the kids were with reading by getting them to read from the Newsround website.  I have to say, they hate it, but one good thing is that they get to follow up what is happening in the world as well as letting me know how much they know, and do not know about things.  So today, they read about Minecraft, Taylor Swift and also a bit about space.  In addition to this, the morning was spent on an impromptu science lesson and then some YouTube videos, some of which they liked, others they also hated.  But, overall, they did remember some of the things that they were taught, and as some of the stuff was on space, a topic my daughter is learning about, this hopefully will be useful in school.

After work, picking up the children, they wanted to be able to walk home.  This was a conversation that we had from when they saw one of the kids walking home (she was met by her mother).  When I

was that young, I was walking my brother to and from school so, when near home, I pulled over and let them walk the rest of the way home.  It was scary but they both loved it.  I have to admit that I am not sure I would do the same again next week though I am certain they will want me to let them.  One thing I did get them to do was to read bits of this blog, the parts about them.  These memories are important to me for I do like reading them, and you never know, they might like them as well in the future!

An increasingly warped sense of humour could be an early warning sign of impending dementia, say UK experts. I am doomed, but at least I will not remember that!

Today I had a moment of fame!  Not really, but I got to speak at the Colchester Labour Party meeting.  It did not go as well as I would have liked, but that was because I got stage fright and forgot to speak loudly and clearly.

What I did mention were the issues with the numbers of GP's being present in the NHS working in partnership, the issues with nursing numbers, the recruitment issues facing the NHS and of course the exodus of doctors to other countries, not counting the effect that the Junior Contract is to have on those who are leaving the UK or other countries.  Pay has been mentioned in the media as an issue, this being by the Daily Malicious and I did point out that doctors can earn more for less work abroad, and that more are doing so.  I mentioned the issues with NHS pay and how staff have left the NHS as a result to work as agency staff and of course the issues that I had with PMQ's as mentioned before in this blog.  In addition to this, I did talk about what happened in the past to working hours when the safeguards on junior doctor working hours (that the government want to remove) were not present, i.e. that they were ignored.  While the contract is not going to bring back the 24 (and more) shifts of the past, it will probably result in doctors working longer than they are now as the protections that were put in place in the past to prevent this are to be removed.

I did forget to mention how GP workload has been increasing and how since 2010 that this has become unbearable for many.  And someone else mentioned the huge deficits that many NHS hospitals are facing.  Also, I did not mention privatisation and the NHS.  Technically, the district nursing service in North East Essex is provided by a private company, this being Anglian Community Enterprise though unlike the way Serco managed services in Suffolk.  And while many have concerns that the NHS is being run down to be privatised, those who have concerns like that forget that the NHS is so underfunded and has so much issues with staffing that private companies have handed back contracts as even they can not run a service in the current NHS financial climate, this being in general practice as well as with Hinchingbrooke, the hospital run by Circle.  Loads of NHS services have been run by NHS organisations, this including NHS 111.

The bottom line is that while the NHS in some ways is not as bad as it was in 1997 with hospitals needing building work and long waiting lists, in other ways it is so much worse, this being the numbers of staff not working directly for the NHS (but as they are registered with the GMC, NMC and other professional bodies, the government counts them) as well as the financial state of the NHS.

It was a shame that I was not as coherent as I would like, but I am going to claim that it was late and that I was tired!  Hopefully these videos will both entertain and educate.

Call Of Duty, certificate 18. Join the army at 16, get a couple years practice.

It was great being with the children today.  But today is the last of my few days off.  My wife and I used it to spend the day shopping and we went to Bluewater.  We had a great meal in Carluccio's, good food, and great service, and bought things to eat at Christmas.  It was great to spend the day together, as while we love our children more that we could ever imagine, at times it is nice to have time together.

I got to pick the up from school and to then take them swimming.  And compared to the last time I took them, they are doing so well!  I am lucky as not all fathers get to spend time doing this.  A trip to Beavers for my son later and then a drive home with the children.  Not much else to say today as I am going to have to get ready for bed.

I hope you like these songs from the X-factor.  I did.

I got in from the shops today and wanted to watch something funny, so I watched the Chelski game!

Today has been a stressful one for me.  Mainly because of the football, but Arsenal did not lose in the end.  Obviously, it would have been nicer if we had won, but one point is better than none.  It was interesting to see the change in the way we played as midweek we did not defend as a team across the whole pitch.  This match was more even, but involved more defending across the pitch by the entire team, but this was an issue for both teams.  The difference however is not league placement, but rather injuries.  Arsenal are now second in the league, missing out on the chance to go top due to the draw, but stay within touching distance due to the number of points, being only in second place due to the number of goals scored/difference.

On the bright side, after a busy few days, today was more relaxed.  After watching the Remembrance Day ceremony (which the kids were able to appreciate more this year), we went to Freeport to do a little bit of shopping as I needed a new pair of shoes.  However we ended up with two, and really, the question on this is why?  The kids were glad as not only did they get nice clothes (which were a bargain), they also got to have a drink at Thorntons.

Getting back it was time for football, and at half time, it was fireworks.  We did not get to set them off on Thursday due to having to attend school and yesterday we were all too tired to do them justice.  But the kids loved them today.  Anyway, here is a selection of videos for the song Firework.

Having watched the new John Lewis Christmas advert. Makes me think the Americans may have left Buzz Aldrin behind.

The John Lewis Christmas Ad Parody 2015 (The Dark Side Version) from The Poke on Vimeo.

First things first, I am laughing over the defeat of Chelski today at Stoke.  It makes up for the defeat of Arsenal earlier this week.  And when I say defeat, it does not really do justice to the pitiful display shown in a game that most expected to lose.  And of course, I am nervous about the game tomorrow.  The kids were annoyed that I went out to watch the defeat, it looks like my daughter will watch Arsenal on television and while my son is interested in what happens with Arsenal, he has yet to show an interest in watching a match.

Needless to say, at this time, both are in bed.  Yesterday they had sleepovers, my daughter here for a party for her birthday, my son being allowed to stay at a friends house.

And last of all, an update on chess.  We had a little in house tournament last weekend.  My son gave up after losing two games which allowed my daughter to win, along with my wife and I.  However, with on-line chess, I have not been so fortunate and the updated list of tournaments I have not won now includes
Caro-Kann or Caro Can't #2: Advance Variation!
Dragon Warriors 3
Queens gambit 02
6th Man on Fire
Stardust VII
5th Green Wing - A really annoying defeat in the last game cost me here!
TOV KRONSTEEN'S MEMORIAL 3

I think that David Cameron has unintentionally misled parliament

It is quite simple, I think that David Cameron has unintentionally misled parliament.
In Prime Ministers Questions on the 4th of November, David Cameron on being asked about the NHS winter crisis mentioned that the Royal College of Emergency Medicine was in favour of the Junior Doctors contract.  (Click the link above or wait until 8 minutes and 40 seconds have passed.)

Unfortunately, based on information in the public domain, this is not the case.

Letter from royal college presidents to Jeremy Hunt

As can be seen with this letter, from the 18th of September, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine does not appear to be in favour of the contract.

It will be interesting to see if Jeremy Corbyn takes him up on this next week!    

David Cameron has promised to make the NHS the world's first seven day health service. That is quite an ambitious target for A&E waiting times.

Jeremy Hunt has said that he is to bring in an 11% pay rise for Junior Doctors who are to have a ballot on strike action today.

Unfortunately this is not the case.  The basic pay rate is to rise by this much, but there are still to be pay cuts.  While some have pointed out that the recommended pay rate to doctors should be even higher, they have forgotten that overall, this is not going to be an 11% pay rise.

And listening to the radio this morning, it was interesting to hear some views.  One was that if doctors do not like it, then they may be in the wrong job.  Now this makes me seethe as doctors are already leaving the NHS, some to work as a locum, others to work abroad.  A friend of mine now works in Australia and earns more for less work than he did in the UK.  Where I work, two doctors have left the NHS to work as locums, again for more work and less pay.

But back to Jeremy Hunt, last week he stated that no Junior Doctor would lose out with the contract, then changed his mind, and then today has said the same thing, after improving the terms of the junior contract that he said did not need to be changed.

I would be confused if I did feel that I could trust him.  The truth is that with the spin he has spouted since becoming health secretary few trust him.  We have constantly been told how the NHS is improving, while those of use who work in the NHS have seen it just get worse and worse year on year.  And as we care about the service the NHS gives patients, this is heart breaking and demoralising.

Some argue that the NHS is being prepared for privatisation.  If that was the case, then Circle would not have failed in running an NHS hospital.  What is happening is that it is being starved of cash.  And unlike 1997, when Labour fixed the mess the Conservatives left the NHS in, come 2020 there will not be enough doctors (and other healthcare staff) about to fix it.  My answer, fund the NHS properly and pay the staff enough wages that they do not leave to work as a locum or leave for other countries.

Simon Cowell was headbutted by one of the contestants on the X Factor last night and as a ploy to win votes, it beats a sob story about a dying granny any day.

Just a quick post on the football from the weekend.  Yes, Chelski were unlucky playing against eleven men, it could be argued that Liverpool should have had Lucas sent off, but then if there was a real conspiracy against them, then Costa would have been sent off for his kick later in the game.

And Arsenal were very lucky against Swansea, a game where the scoreline does not reflect the game.  Still it shows what can happen when Arsenal play with a proper team and not one composed of reserves!  Of course, I am terrified over our game this Wednesday and I am hoping we have no more injuries.

Our intermittent central heating fault

Over the last few days our heating has been playing up.  It would be on at times but not on at others.  We checked the boiler and got ready to get help in. Then my wife used Google and that is when we released that the intermittent fault was us forgetting to set the thermostat. And the sad thing is that this happened to us in the past!

Chelsea shirts are on offer. Buy one get 1-3

Chessington is an amazing place, and thanks to my wife, we had two great days there.  We arrived yesterday after spending some time in Lakeside, this being yet another surprise for the children.  We had been there last year so the children knew what to expect when we arrived.  And apart from a bad experience in the first room we were given, things were okay.  It is never nice to get a flea bite in a room, but the staff were understanding and arranged for us to be moved to a different room promptly.  Dinner there was not amazing, but this is not a place known for culinary excellence.  The food was what I would expect for a theme park and while overpriced compared to places not in a theme park, was about the right price for where it was.  And as we ate at a buffet, the kids had more say over what they ate, which for almost all children (I imagine) is a good thing.  But we were able to visit the theme park before and after the meal and my wife did not have to join us, as she hates theme parks.  We got to go on one ride before our meal and then got to go on several of the rides afterwards, the down side being that the offer with the passes was not as good as it was last year, it limiting us to several rides (on a once only basis) and two of these rides were closed!

Come the morning, we left breakfast till it was a bit too late.  Understandably there was queue for breakfast, but the thing that was frustrating was that there were so many empty tablets!  On the plus side, the children got to meet some characters from Madagascar.  But after breakfast, it was a trip into the park and we enjoyed loads of rides.  There was an issue with one of them, but we were given a Fast Track ticket which we used on the Kobra ride to compensate for this.  Over this time, my wife had kept herself occupied away from the park, and while we were disappointed when she came back for us to go back home, she had arrived at the right time as the children were getting tired.

Our journey back involved playing Name That Tune and later, after a stop at Bluewater for supplies, Halloween stories (some of which had been told earlier in the day when waiting for the rides).  Once at home, we all unwound while watching Strictly Come Dancing and then bed.  While I type this, I am waiting for Match of the Day, but as you can see from the title of this post, I know one score!        

Our last weekend

Last weekend was amazing and we did loads.  The kids had a non-pupil day on Monday but did not realise that my wife had taken time off for me on the day.  We travelled down to London, on Sunday picked up my mother and then travelled to Maltby Street.  We have been there many times before and we all love it, though it was the first time for my mother to be there.  And when there we enjoyed the food and drink that is there.  I often eat at Borough Market, which has a much larger choice of food, but as it is more well known, is a lot more crowded and also does not seem as friendly as those in Maltby Street.  The kids had waffles, my wife a toasted sandwich and we drank cocktails, though as I was driving, with no alcohol for me!

After a drive across London to drop off my mother, we went to watch Hotel Transylvania 2, and other than the end, I have to say I loved it.  And when it comes to the end, it is a film for kids, not for adults, so while I would love to be harsh, it is not about that.  Needless to say, the kids loved the film and worked out which film they were to watch when I said it was a horror film.  After that it was a drive back to South London where we drove into a hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London - Docklands Riverside.  The kids were surprised and at a loss as to what I was to do with work on Monday, let alone what to wear, until we revealed the suitcase.  My daughter had noted it before, but had not worked out that we were to go on a weekend away!

Come the morning we had a good breakfast and then we took the ferry from the hotel across the river to Canary Wharf.  The kids had fun walking though it especially as after the rush hour it was not too busy.  They loved the fountain in the fountain in Cabot Square and also got to see a Harrier Hawk that is used to keep the Pigeons away.  But in addition to that, they got to sit at the front of a DLR train, one that went underground as we went to Bank.  They wanted to know what the end of the tunnel looked like, but when we went to travel on the Waterloo and City line, they got to see what the end of one tunnel looked like.  From there it was a walk by the side of the South Bank Centre were we bought the Big Issue.  The vendor told the kids that if they were good, they might get taken out somewhere nice for lunch and little did he, or they, know just right he was!  Walking across Waterloo Bridge was a different experience for them and then we decided to have a break when in Aldwych as we went into The One Aldwych Hotel.  My daughter guessed something was up but had little idea we were to experience the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tea Party.  And what an experience it was.  The sandwiches were great, the service perfect but I ate too much and this was an issue when it came to the sweets.  The kids loved the Candy floss most, but they had been filled on sandwiches and had to let me help them finish.  

Following this, it was a trip to Covent Garden to see a magician perform a trick where he escaped from chains.  Again, this was an experience for the children, my son soaking it all in, my daughter being grossed out by parts of it.  And then home.  All in all, an enjoyable weekend for all, one that I suspect will not be repeated for some time.