Margaret Thatcher, forever blue

Well, it has been an interesting week.  Just in case you are not aware, Maggie is dead.  And this has divided the nation again.  There are those who think that she was great, and those that hate her.  As you can imagine if you follow my posts, I am not in the camp that thinks that she was great.  I have however, on hearing my daughter state that she hates her, told her that she should not hate someone she does not know about.  Margaret Thatcher was after all, a Prime Minister who did a lot of good for the nation, which should be remembered, along with the great suffering she inflicted as well.

There is no doubt that she was right to liberate the Falklands.  It is argued by some that the invasion happened because she was complacent, but history will always have those who will disagree with this view.  What was right was that the freedoms of the people of the Falklands should have been defended.  Argentina accuses the UK of having a colony there.  Argentina, an ex-colony of Spain.  When the invasion happened, an evil military dictatorship imposed its views on the island, something I would never defend, and something Argentina today should remember.  Even though Argentina is now a democracy, they should respect the democratic rights of those who live on the island to decide if they should join Argentina or not. She was right with some of the reforms that she made to prevent the unions destroying economic growth, she was right to stand up to Europe and she did improve parts of the economy of the nation.

But she destroyed so much as well.  She caused the NHS to decline, she brought about record unemployment, and not only did she destroy the mining industry, she destroyed entire communities.  She destroyed social housing as well which in turn caused community problems.  The selling of council homes to tennants, was not a bad thing, but what was insane was refusing to allow councils to reinvest the money in more flats and houses.  And, if given the chance, she would have done even more!

She worked against sanctions to bring down the oppressive government in South Africa, calling those who had turned to violence in South Africa when peaceful demonstrations were forbidden terrorists (please note that I do not support the use of violence to bring about change unless peaceful attempts have been exhausted, which is what happened in South Africa and is happening now in Syria).  And let us not forget the support she gave Saddam before the invasion of Kuwait.

She was loved by many and hated as well.  It is right that those who think that she was great have a chance to mourn her as she did do many good things for our nation, but it is also right that those who hate her get to raise a glass to the death of a woman who caused so much suffering for so many.

My colleagues really take April Fool's day seriously. Five hours I've been in the office now and they're still all hiding.

First of all, Arsenal won.  And yes, I know that it is April Fools, but they did, honest!  I am still concerned that a goal was let in, but Gervinho scored. Mind you, so did Cazorla, a magnificent goal where he passed the ball into the net and the goal from Giroud was well taken, as was the penalty from Arteta.

Second, the kids are well.  As noted, they had a great day yesterday, both a trip to the Museum of Childhood and then the day with their grandparents.  A trip today back home was in time for my son to go to a party and my daughter to watch Dr Who with me.  Good episode as well.  It was her first episode in a while as she had stopped watching it after the first episode with Clara.  And they are still enjoying the chocolate that they have been given.  Loads of it!  So today, got my son to watch the highlights of the Arsenal game (my daughter was not interested).  And afterwards, watched The Voice, which both kids loved, and so did my wife and I.

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.