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!