If Vladimir Putin was an election cheat, I wouldn't have voted for him 70 times

Arsenal have been hit by the devastating news of the sacking of André Villas-Boas

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It was a good match, well, the first half on the radio was.  I was at work listening to it while completing paperwork there.  A shame I did not get to watch it.  Even though we lost the tie, it was good to salvage some pride.  I say some for the display in Milan was truly terrible.  The question is what the team goes on to do now.  Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain are our two key players.  Rosicky is now back on the form that he was bought for, and of course, the performance of Van Persie is amazing.  But we are not a one player team and if Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain are not fit for our other games, it means that Chelski will overtake us.

 Anyway, onto the family.  As some of you know, my son has his birthday around now which means fun for him and a party.  In previous years, I remember that children make noise, but the reality!  Anyway, he now has a scooter from my side of the family which he got to use today.  And he loves it.  My wife's parents got him a cake for his birthday and my wife and I got him the Tower of Doom!

 And as you can guess, these pictures refer to the recent victory of Putin (a lovely man) in the elections in Russia.  Although most electoral observers think that fraud took place in the elections, most agree that Putin would have won anyway.  But then, what do you expect with the ex-head of the KGB when those who speak out against him meet with accidents.

But for the record, I think that Putin is a lovely man and would never fix any elections.  And no, I would not like any Polonium in my tea.

I came home drunk last night and my wife wasn't happy.
"How much have you had to drink?" she asked, staring at me.
"Nothing" I slurred.
"Look at me!" she shouted, "It's either me or the pub, which one is it?"
I paused for a second and said, "It's you, I can tell by the voice."  

You won't believe what my son has just bought with his pocket money!
Rangers FC! 

I had the impression my parents didn't like me much.
On my 17th Birthday I got given a set of keys.
I said, "Wow, is it a car?"
They said, "No, you're minding the house - we're going to EuroDisney"

My girlfriend dumped me because she said, "I can't handle your selective hearing, it's frustrating! It's so long since you've done anything romantic, it hurts!"
I don't know what she's talking about, I don't have selective hearing!
Anyway, when the lads down the pub asked why she finished with me I told them "It's so long it hurts" 

North East Essex Maternity consultation

First of all, the reason for this post.  I recently attended a meeting, at which it was mentioned that there is a consultation process on changing the maternity services in Colchester, Clacton and Harwich.  The people there said that there was not much of a response to this so far.  Which was not surprising.  Despite this being in the local news, it is quite hard to find the information on this.  You are directed to the PCT website, when really, you need a link to the part of the site where the consultation is taking place.

So, just in case you are wondering where to download the consultation form, click here.

Now I know that despite claiming to be left wing, that I am in favour of the health reforms, but I saw this on the internet and it did make me laugh!  The reforms have been in the news and there has been a lot said against the reforms.  But, in my previous job, I was involved with working with the PCT in my previous geographical area, and they did not help change take place.  I now am working in a different area where the PCT has been told what to do by local GP's and partly due to this, patients in this area get a much better service than they do where I used to work.

So, to answer the questions on this link
The reforms will cost the NHS two billion pounds - that may well be possible, but in the long term, the reforms will save the NHS money.  And yes, this will involve the use of private companies.  But, while people look at the USA as a reason not to use private companies, people forget that private companies are used in Canada which has a healthcare system similar to the NHS as well as in other Western European nations, these nations having better healthcare outcomes than the UK (and the USA).
The bill will create more bureaucracy - I do see the arguments about this, but those who make them fail to understand just how much come PCT's have resisted changes that GP's have suggested that can make the NHS so much better.
Waiting times will grow – unless you go private - that has happened already and that is nothing to do with the reforms.  That is thanks to the government getting rid of targets on waiting times.  But, in Wales where there are no targets, the waiting times are even longer.  There the NHS has much less private involvement.
Care will depend on a postcode lottery - true.  But, this is alread the case.  As I have noted before, Colchester has shorter waiting times for some services (if you see the private sector on the NHS which is allowed if you are not too fat or not too ill) which demonstrates that there is a postcode lottery.  This will get worse under the reforms, but this will be mostly because of improvement in the NHS, not it getting worse.  Some areas, North East Essex being one area have services available to GP's on the NHS that are not available in Ipswich, just a few miles to the north.  And of course, remember that if you are in Wales, you have to wait longer to be seen in hospital outpatients than you do in general if you live in England.
Private companies, not GPs, will be in control - No.  But, as noted in the example above, private companies will cherry pick and I doubt that the government will really act on this.  In Colchester, NHS patients can be seen at the local private hospital.  But, you can onl have operations on there if your case is not too complicated.  Which means that if you are too fat, you are not able to have operations there.  But, while this is unfair to those who are overweight, the fact that NHS patients can be seen at the private hospital for some conditions means that the wait at the NHS hospital for those problems is less.

I do understand the concerns that many people have with these reforms.  But I do see that so long as the Conservatives do not starve the NHS of money like the did in the past, that the NHS can improve vastly.

Can anyone help with my crossword? Clue is: North London's 2nd biggest football club... 2 up, 5 down?

Evening all. I am posting while my wife is watching Whitechapel. There are times that we actually see things that we have seen when we lived in the East End. Mind you, I say my wife is watching it, there are times that she has been under the duvet. I expect pain when she reads this, but it will be worth it.  Like when she realises I have posted a song by Maria McKee, a song she meant to buy many years ago, instead buying a song by Mariah Carey.

Unfortunately she has not been too well today, and I had to pick up the kids. My son was at nursery, my daughter was at school. Neither expected it, and both loved the surprise. And on the topic of my daughter, she, with another boy in her class is now reading the most advanced books in the class. She did not mention this to me when I picked her up though, instead waiting until I had gone back to work to mention this to her mother. But, I am still very proud of her.

Anyway, the telly calls.  Good night.

The Sun newspaper announces a new partnership with Costa Cruise Line for it's £9.50 summer holidays.
Costa cruises management released a statement in which they are hopeful that passenger numbers will increase, as numbers have seen a sharp decline as of late.

Now holidaymakers can enjoy an action packed holiday with exciting events such as sinking, drifting without power in pirate infested waters or a fire to liven up the onboard entertainment.

BBC Farming News:
To prevent the spread of the deadly sheep virus, Miss Wales 2012 has been cancelled. 

I'd like to say high 5-2 all the Spurs fans out there!

Well, I have to make my post.  And yes, we won.  To be fair, I had told work that I might be ill tomorrow, so much faith I had in my team.  And I am very grateful that the team that I should have had more faith in won the game.  Of course, we still have a big points gap to pull back if we are to finish above Spurs.  And it will be fun watching Match of the Day 2 later. 

I have been trying to get the kids to like football, my wife though has started to get them into rugby.  They were watching our defeat to Wales when I left to work yesterday.  I still hope they will fall for the beautiful game, but I suspect that they are going to be brainwashed into rugby instead. And more on them another day.

Too many times watched, Star Wars I think I have.

Quick post before I go to work, took my daughter to The Phantom Menace today.  My son instead went to the second party this week, not his own of course, though his birthday will be coming up soon.  Which reminds me, must get him a present...

R2D2 was the most vulgar character in Star Wars.

They bleeped out every word he said.

Star Wars 3D... I will not be watching it as I have not seen Star Wars 3A, 3B or 3C yet. 

In the space of 2 weeks, a certain singer from Tottenham, has won more awards then her football team has won in 130 years

Well, this joke did make me laugh! Anyway, the kids. As usual on a Wednesday (last week being an exception) I worked, but took my daughter to school. She loves using her scooter and is getting much better with it. My wife took my son to his pre-school by car as I was to drop her off in town so that she could have her hair done. Went back to work, picked up my son, letting him use his scooter to get home, collected my wife, had lunch, went home, worked while my son watched Ben 10 and then we all went to collect my daughter. And then we took the kids to watch a film. My daughter guessed that we were to watch a film, but they had no idea that it was to be the Muppets. And I have to say, it was a good film. The thing with a good childrens film is that I feel that it must have something for adults as well as children. Yes, this film did have its groaning jokes, but this is the Muppets. And not only did my wife and I like it, but the kids loved it as well. This is a film that is worthy of the Muppet name, and of course, it annoyed FAUX news who claimed that this was a socialist film. Bless.

I can now pay £7.50 to see the Muppets...
...Better than paying £30 to see them at the Grove. (The Emirates to non-Arsenal fans.)

What are Arsène Wenger's least favourite chocolates?
Celebrations.

A pound coin was thrown onto the pitch at Ibrox. Police are trying to determine whether it was a missile or a takeover bid.

And last of all, a quick rant about Arsenal. Arsène Wenger apparently is to be given £55 million to spend. When you recall that Nasri was sold for £24 million, that means two players. Great.

After a terrible start to 2012 for Arsenal, an injury crisis and confidence at an all time low, there seems to be hope on the horizon and some good news at last. Squillaci is injured.

Sigh.  We lost again.  And unlike our manager, I do not think that we were unlucky.  I went out with my wife last night, and had got back into a good mood by the time that we left.  Needless to say I was annoyed with the results.  I knew that Sunderland would be a hard match and I was surprised to get the three points last weekend there.  And I can not blame this one on a lack of pace as both our pacy players were on the pitch. And we still lost.

Anyway, to today.  The kids loved spending the morning with my mother, which was great as my wife and I needed the rest after an enjoyable night out.  (We got to play table football!)  Woke up to find my mother reading them story after story after story.  They had tried to be quiet, but lets face it, they are kids, and small ones at that.  So they failed.  But, once I woke up, I took the kids downstairs and my wife got some more sleep.  Later, my Mum wanted a walk with the kids (it was a beautiful day) so my son used his scooter and my daughter her bike, to get to the shops.  They loved that, they being the kids as well as my Mother.  Later we went to see one of my uncles, who I have not seen in ages, literally years (my fault really) and the kids, were really well behaved and then spent time with one of my cousins who was brilliant keeping them occupied.  The picture above is one that my daughter made then.

Anyway, time to go, hope you all take care.