Mike

I live in Central England.
I'm a retired NHS Scientist & Manager but with a BA(hons) French & Art History.

I cycle, sketch, try to grow stuff on our allotment & play petanque (badly). I'm a perpetual beginner at TaiChi & Quigung.
I twiddle with amateur radio as GE4SDZ

My disabled wife & I enjoy European rail travel

Mental health is a personal & family challenge

#allotment #cycling #petanque #TaiChi #AmateurRadio #hamradio #Leicestershire #interrail #sketching #leicester

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npub1v9pnm92t8yl4rdvmxemcw4s5pnfg0m398gce3zsj3ld8enx448mshrda05

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MikeFromLFE@cupoftea-social.mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqsxzseaj49nj063kkdnvau82c2qe558acjn5vvc3gfglknuen26nacpzemhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wd68ytnzv9hxgg30gzt

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relay.nostr.band

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npub1v9pnm92t8yl4rdvmxemcw4s5pnfg0m398gce3zsj3ld8enx448mshrda05

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Last Notes

2025-04-19 09:57:35

Inspired by the toot from @nprofile…dtwh - here's a dreadful photo of me in about 1978.
If I remember correctly, I was doing T4 (Thyroxine) assays using radioactive Iodine on serum samples. This would have been using the Amersham International testing kits. The machine / display may well have been some sort of geiger counter.
The photo was definately taken at the old Papworth Hospital in Papworth Everard in #Cambridgeshire
#filmphotography #history #pathology #biochemistry
https://cdn.cupoftea.social/media_attachments/files/114/364/006/130/316/657/original/645a7ff4318d5bf4.jpg

2025-04-19 08:07:56

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@nprofile…wttl
shame.not.really
It was a deeply flawed attempt to monetise something that is available for free from a number of other well established systems. The only effective part has been the marketing department. It's a disgrace that so many people and organisations fell for the hype.

2025-04-15 12:06:02

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@nprofile…r5de @nprofile…wfp8
I wonder how much of it is an ingrained 'habit' - both from my generation who experienced genuine shortages in the 70s - and from younger people who both learnt this from their parents and saw the early days of the pandemic.
I'm not convinced that the Great Toilet Roll Shortage of 1973 had much to do with car ownership, but I agree that it's easier to buy in bulk (in massive quantities) now than ever before.

2025-04-04 10:10:13

I've just had #tusky delete a longish post I was composing - it happened just after I entered a hashtag.
I thought recent updates had dealt with this.
Grrrr
#tuskyApp. @nprofile…7cuz

2025-03-30 16:41:53

Excellent allotment visit earlier today.
It was pleasant in the sun but a bit breezy.
We had a picnic lunch as usual but we took roast chicken slices, salad and croissants.
I dug out a weed pit after seeing the idea on here. Filled it with a lot of grass clouds I'd dug out, and some prunings from various fruit bushes - covered with cardboard and weighted down with bricks.
Planted some more onion sets, parsnip seeds and a few broad bean seeds.
Sacha did a good job weeding the strawberry plants and tying in some of the loganberries.
All in all a very good few hours.
#allotment #leicestershire

2025-03-28 21:53:54

We've been home to the new cat - Kit - for exactly a week now.
The instructions were to keep her indoors for 4-6 weeks.
She's pining to go out, but we know it's a very bad idea at the moment.
She's 9 years young so very used to going into gardens.
I think we all might manage another week of this!
I'm trying to train her with a rattly tin of treats to get her to associate the sound with home & nice things.
Any other advice?
#cats #catsofmastodon #CatAdvice

2025-03-26 08:42:35

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@nprofile…c5n8 almost as shady as Paris GdN outside the station!

2025-03-25 07:41:40

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@nprofile…60lz Mis-use of a Motability vehicle does not equal benefit fraud.
A claimant can rightfully get #PIP and apply for a Motability car but abuse occurs if the carer or family member does not use the car for the benefit of the claimant. For example, a family member is using the Motability car for commuting every day leaving the claimant without transport.

2025-03-16 19:30:37

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@nprofile…c5n8 Thanks for that - I was reading about the history of Massey-TGV and it does seem like a station no one really wanted, and now no one knows what to do with!
Good luck tomorrow!

2025-03-11 15:54:30

There seems to be an #interrail sale on at most of the usual sites.
And here's my regular reminder that if you are in the UK and have a Disabled Person's Railcard then you can get an equivalent Interrail pass for your companion for free from the official UK seller. myinterrail.co.uk
Buy your own pass, then contact them by email for instructions. They are very helpful.
#disabled #railcard #railway

2025-03-10 09:24:58

As much as volunteer litter picking is a good thing here in the UK, surely it's a very visible signal that our public services aren't working.
I regularly see posts (in other places) appluading 'litter wombles' but all they are doing is plastering over the deficiencies that local councils have been forced into. It should be the job of the public bodies to do this - not pensioners putting themselves at risk doing this.
At risk? You ask - yes they are regularly seen on the verges alongside major roads, and as I know from my time on the canal towpaths, 'litter' encompases everything from needles, broken glass, to dead animals and shit. So yes, it's a risky game for unpaid volunteers.
So, just like food banks, volunteer litter picking is a sign of a failing british society.
#ukpolitics #volunteers

2025-02-28 19:47:47

We got all of the jobs at our daughter's place done much to my surprise.
We also had an excellent meal at the Italian restaurant behind Morrisons in Wellingborough. It's not cheap grub but it is really good food, nicely presented, plenty of it, and nice people.
Crappy drive back up the A14 (my least favourite road in the Midlands).
Back to Wellingborough again on Sunday bright and early.

2025-02-16 20:55:59

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@nprofile…r5de We've got a sign on our road warning of the road being closed for a week in March (2024)

2025-02-15 10:07:10

I have just found this fascinating report of a bicycle tour in the old East Germany just as the changes were starting to bite - it was written in June 1990 (note that the translation isn't great in places but it's perfectly readable).
Worth a read for anyone with an interest in German or 20th Century history.
http://www.wittram-reisen.de/DDR90/Berlin90/berlin_engl.html
#cycling #cycletouring #DDR #GDR #Germany #biketooter #wende

2025-02-13 16:03:43

My wife is just back from lunch with her gym buddies (ladies of a certain age!).
One of them had booked a city break in New York for this summer - through a travel agent as older people sometimes do.
She had a phone call earlier in the week asking if she'd like to reconsider her booking due to the instability of America and in case there was 'trouble'.
Although it might have been an opportunity for the agent to upsell a different holiday, it's an interesting development if the travel industry is getting concerned.

2025-02-12 14:38:45

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@nprofile…60lz
It sounds very similar to Leicester.
Many streets that were student housing (victorian terraces in poor repair) are now becoming HMOs and 'care homes' as huge commercial student blocks are opened - some of which seem to be targeted at wealthy overseas students.
I had hoped that the victorian terraces might revert to family homes - fat chance!!

2025-02-12 14:38:45

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2025-02-11 13:12:43

Tried to get a coffee and cake at the small cafe near where my wife is getting her nails done.
No room inside except for a couple of seats on a table for four where a couple of women were sitting.
I asked if I could sit there and was told quite rudely that I couldn't.
Asked at the counter for a takeaway coffee and peice of flapjack - apparently (the clingfilm wrapped) cakes can't be taken away, and if I want coffee I'll have to wait because they're very busy with customers!
It's clearly a business that really knows how to make people welcome and build repeat custom. Not.
Maybe it's a village thing?
(I know I can't blame the cafe for the rude customers but they set the tone)
#leicestershire

2025-02-10 21:43:11

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@nprofile…clh5 Tax dodging by using red diesel for non-agricultural purposes.

2025-02-10 13:13:04

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@nprofile…r5de @nprofile…d7lz I have nothing rational to say about American prepping culture (I have several irrational things though!) but in most of England with its denser population - as in lots of people living in close proximity, not necessarily intelligence - I really cannot see how radio communication comes into the British prepping equation.
I know that Raynet have a glorious history, and they mean well, and may have a possible role, but I just don't get how *individuals* see the use of radio in the 21st century for 'prepping' in Britain.

2025-01-19 14:44:25

There seems to be a lot of posts today with images that have no alt text associated.
Alt Text is captioning images to make them inclusive for people with visual disabilities or those on very restricted bandwidth.
There's a number of guides how to alt text your images (& memes) but you don't need to overthink it - just a few words to describe what the image is.
There are a few bots that can help you with this.
Someone will hopefully reply to this grumpy toot with links to guides and the alt text bot addresses.
There are a number of mastadonians - and I'm one - who won't routinely boost image posts without alt text.
#alttext #images #alttextbot

2025-01-15 09:25:42

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@nprofile…xm42 She & we have tried that - no response on several occasions.
The landlord is effectively the same people as the next-to-useless care company. There's a complicated web of companies I've unearthed which run the care, act as landlords, and are the maintenance company - all the same directors (almost certainly legal, but there's a smell of fish).
The individual carers are great, but the company? Don't ask!

2025-01-15 09:12:38

Yesterday I was beaten into a submission by the two women in my life.
I've agreed to get a new cat next month.
There are conditions I negotiated - they're around my daughter's landlord not objecting to her getting a cat. This is because we're going to be relying on her having our new cat when we go on holiday.
The way we're going to play it is that when Kasa gets her car (hopefully this month) she'll get a rescue cat. We'll leave it a fortnight to see wha the landlord's actions are - if any because he probably won't know. Then, if there's no issues we'll get a cat as well, but if the landlord gets his claws out then we'll take on her #cat.
Confused? You should be!

2025-01-13 18:33:18

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@nprofile…c5n8
Virgin & The Tunnel (again - but this sounds serious)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/01/12/richard-branson-500m-train-order-break-eurostar-monopoly/

2025-01-09 18:34:24

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@nprofile…xm42
All the train operators apps are better than Trainline for UK journeys and you can use any operator.
I gather that Scotrail use the same backend as Trainline so will offer the same split tickets (if that's your thing) with no commission.
I flip between the LNER & Cross Country apps - LNER often do upto 10% cashback with Amex & Monzo. The Cross Country app is nice and clean.

2025-01-04 15:25:32

One of my pet peeves is the use of euphemisms for death and dying.
Passing / passed etc - just say it as it is. It is dying, death, or dead.
I don't know why this use of weasel-words has become so prevalent but it seems to say something about a society that can't face its own humanity and that our individual time on earth is limited.
#death #words

2025-01-02 15:39:59

Well my #CityFibre installation didn't happen.
As I pointed out in my grumpy email to #LitFibre - it's a good job I'm retired and didn't have to take a day off work.
Lit Fibre have been as helpful as they can be (and with some compensation thrown in) but it's not their fault - they are being messed around by City Fibre who do the installation. Equally City Fibre just don't seem to communicate.
As someone here pointed out - these organisations are run on a wing & a prayer - so it's not surprising that us poor consumers get poor service.
It's booked in for the 15th January - my fingers are crossed!
#broadband

2024-12-30 21:39:11

Does anyone here know of any accounts - comprehensible to a general reader - of the lives of ordinary people in the Soviet satellite states during the collapse of the Soviet Union?
I'm less interested in the separate countries eg GDR, CSSR, Poland, Romania etc, and more in the Soviet states eg Georgia, Moldova, Belarus etc.
My curiosity is to understand how ordinary lives felt, and changed, during the collapse of a seemingly endless political and financial system, and perhaps to read how people adapted (if at all).
Boosts welcome.
#politicalhistory #sovietunion #sovietunioncollapse

2024-12-30 17:11:19

FFS
My Fibre Broadband installation was booked with Lit Fibre (a CIty Fibre company) on 3rd December and was confirmed for 2nd January.
I've had an email this afternoon saying it's booked for the 15th January.
I contacted Lit who's call handler kept saying "that's interesting" while looking at my file.....which didnt fill me with confidence. He's tried to get hold of CityFibre - who are doing the installation - and they don't appear to know why the date has changed. CityFibre are looking into this and will get back to the Lit Fibre guy and he'll ring me tomorrow with an update.
As far as I know my EE service is finishing on 2nd January - so WTF am I supposed to do if they insist on it being the 15th? Do I push Lit to supply me with a 5g modem? I hope it won't come to that!
This is the sort of crap that you expect from Openreach and their resellers - the brave new world of Alt-Fibre providers was supposed to be wonderful!
#broadband #CityFibre

2024-12-30 11:33:36

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@nprofile…60lz I was heavily into Risk in various forms in the final part of my NHS career - I was responsible for writing many risk assessments and investigation of incidents where 'bad things' happened.
I worked closely with a respected colleague who was H&S trained.
It was our considered opinion that kneejerk reactions (often in the name of "Health & Safety") often had the opposite of the desired effect and only by slow, careful consideration of the real facts could mitigation be put in place.
This mitigation was often - in my world - a review of training needs, or making sure people had the training that was already supposed to be in place.
It's a crying shame that "Health and Safely" is still used as an excuse to not do something rather than to find out how to do something safely.

2024-12-27 15:42:36

We took the cat to the vet this morning mainly for his ear to be checked over.
His ear has recovered but his blood test results are slightly worse, although his weight is stable.
We're increasing his steroids, but the vet is pessimistic - we had a serious talk about euthanasia.
His next appointment is in 3 weeks. Unless he makes a big improvement then the decision is pretty much made.
#catsofMastodon
https://cdn.cupoftea.social/media_attachments/files/113/725/546/592/405/307/original/8dbec005678e1c24.jpg

2024-12-22 20:48:13

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@nprofile…r5de @nprofile…y5kn I suspect it's an over-reliance on automatic headlights. While daylight running lights help, as you say, they don't turn on rear lights.

2024-12-17 19:21:02

The Smurfs look extremely sinister in the 21st century.
#TOTP
(my son born in 1981 was besotted with this retched tune & Smurfs in general)

2024-12-16 19:13:39

#ArtAdventCalendar
#BelieveInFilm
#shityycamerachallenge
#ZenitE
https://cdn.cupoftea.social/media_attachments/files/113/579/330/630/383/511/original/1a389511bbd54912.jpg

2024-12-16 16:22:13

Disabled assistance cards provided by East Midlands Railway.
Arrived in the post today.
Free at https://www.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk/form/talk-passenger-assistance-cards
Edit: it seems they now also offer wristbands including an #autistic awareness one
How much use they'll be remains to be seen!
#disabled #disability #railway #TrainTravel #railways
https://cdn.cupoftea.social/media_attachments/files/113/663/402/311/567/947/original/37ba2f59ca265225.jpg

2024-12-15 14:29:27

I've been attacking the allotment shed.
Ive removed the door and one wall so I've now got a shelter rather than a secure shed.
I will be using storage crates to keep essentials in eventually.
In the meantime here's a few photos of my progress. (The alt text is minimal because I find it hard to describe these, and I'm exhausted!)
#allotment
https://cdn.cupoftea.social/media_attachments/files/113/657/298/857/980/262/original/e1e061f403601aa3.jpg
https://cdn.cupoftea.social/media_attachments/files/113/657/299/139/372/553/original/1093c091b712bf42.jpg
https://cdn.cupoftea.social/media_attachments/files/113/657/299/141/183/079/original/c0a120dbb9e13d5f.jpg

2024-12-14 16:38:18

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@nprofile…aqks Im a member of three forums.
Two are not particularly freindly - one a railways forum is actively hostile to new members, the radio related forum is OK but just not freindly'. The best one - for cyclists, but not necessarily a cycling forum - is a proper community of like minded individuals (and can trace it's genealogy back to Usenet).
Forums are around, but increasingly niche

2024-12-13 09:56:02

For quite some time I've used Vivaldi as my preferred browser on Android - and I've put up with its quirks, but sadly I'm jumping ship to Firefox for Android.
The desktop version of Vivaldi is excellent and I'd recomend it every time, but the Android version just breaks too many times.
I've put up with the black screen whenever YouTube is embedded in a website, or a link takes me to a YouTube video. Occasional random websites not working I could cope with, but the final straw this morning was kagi.com not loading (the search engine) - this is hardly outside the mainstream is it?
I mainly use Vivaldi for Android on my Chromebook (Lenovo IDeaPad Duet 3) in 'Android Tablet' mode - I don't know if that's a factor, but....it just doesn't work for me!
#Vivaldi #vivaldibrowser #firefox #android #chromebook

2024-12-11 14:46:35

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@nprofile…gtyw
Yes, we get them occasionally because my wife is registered with them as she's disabled.
I don't think there's a logical timetable as to when they send them out, but it seems to be once a year or so.

2024-12-08 21:55:53

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@nprofile…gtyw
Thanks for link to the podcast which I found useful and well presented.
The ultimate questions are whether the leader of HTS (AlJohani?) can be trusted in the long term, whether he has a sufficiently loyal & stable leadership team around him, and how he will be viewed by the international community - particularly the USA with the existing bounty.
He sounds credible to me - but what do I know?

2024-12-08 14:59:30

2/2
Allotment shed brain dump
I need to do something about the main shed - the second one on plot B - next to where we have our tea
But do I need a *shed*?
A couple of cupboards would do just as well for most of the stuff we store.
So my plan is to demolish the two basket case sheds (although what I do with the debris I don't know - I can't get the car or a skip there) and build cupboards for the smaller stuff from a collection of warehouse storage boxes we acquired some time ago.
I can support these with an angle iron framework* and use some corrogated sheet from a demolished shed as a 'backing' and some more as a 'roof' to harvest more water.
The larger tools can go into the 'good' #shed on Plot A until I work out a better solution.
*I'm half considering a wooden frame on 2x2 treated timber - it'll see me out and be much cheaper.
All I need to do is to decide on timber or angle iron - find the cash, and work out what to do about the demolition. Easy.
#allotmentshed #allotment

2024-12-08 14:37:20

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@nprofile…gtyw
Thanks for this commentary & analysis.
It's really helping me to get a slight understanding of what is - and has been - happening in Syria.

2024-12-05 21:51:53

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@nprofile…c5n8
I know the distance is stretching it s bit, but there's no Italian destination on there. Milan or Turin might be worth minor consideration.
While you're doing this project, almost as a sideline, please put to bed the notions of night trains through the tunnel, as well as 'North of London ' services (as much as I'd love to see them they just aren't going to happen, no matter what the people with crayons on maps think).
Your comment on the map about Antwerp is interesting - it would certainly make an interesting destination with good links to many other places (including Oostende).
Utrecht isn't on the map - big station, lots of connections.

2024-12-05 20:38:05

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@nprofile…zp6v @nprofile…9c0g
This 'creepy Christmas' theme links nicely to #theArchers

2024-12-05 20:00:48

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@nprofile…r5de When I was a child in the 60s I can't remember seeing any local police in London.
The 'policing' was through community & peer pressure - it's the community aspect that's missing today.
Having visible police known to local people will help make communities feel better, but I'm doubtful that it's a route to less crime.
'Bobbies on the beat' (dreadful phrase) might deal with low level ASB and minor offences, but I question whether it'll release officers to deal with the very serious - often intelligence led - crime that breaks families & communities.
There's no indication in the news that roads policing will be improved - it's a well established way of identifying criminal activity and improving public safety.
I'm aware that community police officers are seen as 'expendable', being dragged off when officers are needed for response duties or to assist with 'operations' - Starmer says that'll change but I'll believe it when it happens.
It's a mess

2024-12-01 10:21:27

I asked my daughter if she had taken any photos of the Christmas lights switch on in Wellingborough - here's her reply
They know how to enjoy themselves!
#wellingborough #Northamptonshire
https://cdn.cupoftea.social/media_attachments/files/113/577/058/778/829/640/original/43e906bcfc8ed46d.png

2024-11-22 16:23:44

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@nprofile…7a7p I can't get over how much litter there is!

2024-11-15 14:32:37

I bought a couple of cheap Walkie Talkies for my two youngest grandchildren.
They transmit illegally on a USA FRS frequency - I'd assumed (!) they'd be low power UK PMR or 49MHz.
They've got harmonics in the 70cm Amateur Band (& probably elsewhere too) despite having FCC certification.
There's no way crap like this should be dumped on the UK market.
#HamRadio #amateurradio #CheapCrap

2024-11-15 14:32:37

2024-11-08 12:33:06

As part of my Open University Humanities Degree we touched on the history of Milton Keynes. It's the first time I have spent any amount of time just wandering round this area.
I think Great Linford was one of the first areas of the new city to be developed so it's got a lot of character and doesn't seem to have suffered some of the problems of other parts of Greater MK.
I think I could live here!
#miltonKeynes

2024-11-08 12:18:22

I wasn't going to get involved in the whole sheep thing being a suburban sort of bloke, but I found myself wandering round Milton Keynes and saw these sheep in a field. They are made of wood and seem to be quite happy watching the world go by.
#Sheep #Defaidodon #SheepOfMastodon
https://cdn.cupoftea.social/media_attachments/files/113/447/286/720/768/406/original/3832c3f7d25c3b53.jpg
https://cdn.cupoftea.social/media_attachments/files/113/447/287/502/274/245/original/8c277a37d2481f77.jpg

2024-11-07 15:42:38

I've just finished another book by my favourite author - Max Hertzberg - who was a twitter pal back in the day.
He writes really atmospheric books set in the old East Germany (GDR / DDR). They are well researched and mostly revolve around the activities of the police and security services.If you like espionage fiction then he's your man!
#reading #Germany #ddr #gdr #fiction

2024-10-26 10:51:47

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@npub1g0t…tvm4
2/2
I'll also repeat my mantra that if you don't have managers* in the NHS then you get clinical staff managing car parks, ordering desks, procuring IT systems, and organising building repairs.
Would the Mail rather have clinicians do clinical work, or clerical work?
*It was recently pointed out to me - quite correctly - that much of NHS management is truly administration. It's become unfashionable to be an administrator, everyone must be a manager!
2/2

2024-10-26 10:47:58

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@npub1g0t…tvm4
1/2
Up until some point in time the NHS had a General Management Training Scheme which selected and trained promising senior managers from across all disciplines. (I attended two selection weeks and was rejected both times!)
This ensured that senior managers understood the complexities of the NHS in its entirety not just the silo they were managing at the time, and promoted within.
This scheme moved good people beyond bein Administrators into being Managers.
What we have now seems to be are silo administrators who are fire fighters (due to lack of resources) rather than people who can see and manage the big picture.
The NHS is stuffed full of excellent individuals who aren't able to fulfil any sort of promise. They need to have the head space to go above & beyond the day job.
Instead expensive managers (& management consultants) are parachuted in from outside to do yet more firefighting without the inside knowledge.
1/2

2024-10-23 21:25:36

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@npub1g0t…tvm4
I agree that road pricing is inevitable but
There's a danger to vulnerable road users (cyclists and horse riders in particular) from motorists who feel they are paying to use the roads and will bully to get non-paying users off 'their' roads.
With this proposal - how would the charges work until the first MOT at year 3?

2024-10-23 21:25:36

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2024-10-19 10:55:09

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@npub1g0t…tvm4 I don't mourn the passing of the high street. The concept of having to go into 'town' once a week to try to find that particular thing you were looking for in a limited number of gloomy shops with surly staff - trying to find parking or suffering a miserable bus journey. No thanks.
Why shouldn't I sit at my laptop and choose from a variety of retailers all offering decent prices and delivery to my door?
OK it's not perfect - I'd rather see aggregated deliveries so there aren't multiple couriers along the same road every day, and rarely do I need next-day (or even this week) delivery.
Sure, town centres can survive as vastly scaled back destinations for specialist shopping, entertainment and 'experience' areas, but the town & city centres of previous decades are gone. Get over it!

2024-10-16 17:11:05

About time!
"National Highways to stop calling collisions 'accidents', as campaigners welcome "significant step" in recognising crashes are "not random events""
https://road.cc/content/news/national-highways-stop-calling-collisions-accidents-310813
#biketooter

2024-09-08 17:07:53

We were at the allotment for a long time this afternoon - much longer than usual.
The weather forecast was wrong again - instead of chilly & rain it was hot and sunny.
We got a lot jobs done and came home with potatoes, carrots, beetroot, a cabbage, apples, raspberries, blackberries and aching bones all over.
Certainly a worthwhile trip.
#allotment

2024-08-17 10:42:03

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@npub1d4h…2ta7
Not yet tried Bocce - I'm not sure it's played in England

2024-08-17 08:13:21

We're doing the allotment trip today - the petanque club is hosting a national competition so no room for us mere chucker-abouters 😁
Kasa wants us to take her off the ward to a carvery tomorrow, so that's our weekend sorted.
#today #petanque #allotment #weekend

2024-08-05 13:03:28

While I was sitting having a breather during my bike ride I had one of my rare visual migraine things start up in my left eye.
Thankfully it didn't come to anything.
I think these are sometimes related to exertion and overheating.
#AuralMigraine #VisualMigraine #migraine #cycling #exersise

2024-07-22 16:03:26

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@npub1700…8tth Well done!!

2024-06-12 14:24:22

For any hard-left lefties out there - here's the Ernst Thalmann memorial nicely preserved on the #Stralsund seafront park.
#communism #GDR #DDR #OffToOstsee
https://cdn.cupoftea.social/media_attachments/files/112/604/095/563/511/872/original/88323c7a13efa779.jpg

2024-06-03 12:56:14

The camera for the #holiday #interrail trip will be an Agfa Silette LK Sensor (snappy name?) with Kodak Kodacolor ISO200 film
https://52retro.blogspot.com/2013/02/agfa-silette-lk-sensor.html
#BelieveInFilm

2024-05-28 07:49:58

Just thinking that some enterprising photographer ought to be documenting the different flavours of petrol stations in Britain before they change out of all recognition (or go entirely).
#photography #cars

2024-05-09 11:26:34

It's astonishing how many locals give you duff information on local #bus services!
And, you can't rely on Google for buses in the UK either.
We're on Plan C for today's journey - we're getting tge bus onward from #Dover to Rye - there's a change of bus on the way but it looks foolproof (oops! Now I've said it)

2024-05-04 10:22:26

If you want to see traffic laws enforced in the UK it would be worth responding to this government consultation:
https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/restricting-the-generation-of-surplus-funds-from-traffic-contraventions/restricting-the-generation-of-surplus-funds-from-traffic-contraventions

2024-04-29 11:24:27

We've been married for around 46 years (I'm losing count) - and we've had a dishwasher for around half that time.
I don't understand why Mrs Mike still can't load it correctly.
#marriage #dishwasher

2024-04-11 19:46:43

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@npub13ru…67kn
Yikes!
I admit to using weedkiller, but selectively, not scorched earth style like that.

2024-04-10 19:22:04

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@npub13ru…67kn
It takes over!
I left our fartichokes in the garden of our last house - the new owner has probably cast a curse on me.
I won't plant it now, not that I like the stuff anyway.

2024-03-22 14:34:16

Our daughter is selling some of her artwork in the hospital Easter craft market.
It's all work she's done while she's been in hospital.
Good isn't it!?!
#mentalHealth
https://cdn.cupoftea.social/media_attachments/files/112/139/822/661/769/726/original/c220cabd8b1352dc.jpg

2024-03-17 22:13:16

At this all-inclusive resort hotel there are plenty of bins and places to leave used plates and glasses, but, no people feel the need to leave their sh¡t on benches and walls for the staff to clear up.
I was walking alongside a young lad (maybe 17 or so) on the staff clearing up the place and I just thanked him, and said what a great job he was doing.
He was close to tears that someone would recognise him for his crumby job. He said that I'd "given him so much motivation".
People, one message - thank the people clearing up behind you (and don't leave crap anyways).

2024-03-04 08:54:06

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@npub13ru…67kn
Quite clearly this was built as the underground extension of the Earith monorail line - in a precursor of the HS2 debacle it was never completed and remained there to bemuse future generations.
In case you think I've lost the plot : http://www.ousewashes.info/experiments/hovertrain.htm

2024-02-29 19:21:57

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@npub1xj8…egqe
The Met are rightly getting it in the neck over this, but the issue of dodgy recruitment and piss-poor vetting applies to every police force in the UK.

2024-02-18 20:41:52

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@npub1vu7…nmuv
I like your thinking, but like others, I suspect you're wrong on the economics.
Taking the GDR (East Germany) as a historic example and Cuba as both a current & historic example, it's clear that there are things that a country cannot afford once it is no longer supported by a third party (in these cases the USSR).
If you look at North Korea as a current case in point, it is a country that claims to balance its books, but at the expense of widespread famine & deprivation - while spending crazy amounts on armaments.
No state is an island within itself.

2024-02-11 18:21:40

I've been out with my #sketchbook today. This is the garden at Canons Ashby, a National Trust place in #northamptonshire.
It was chilly sitting outside #sketching soil perhaps didn't make the most of my time there.
Mrs Mike and our daughter went round the house.
The snowdrops in the grounds were well worth seeing.
#travelDrawing #travelSketch #CarnetDeVoyages
https://cdn.cupoftea.social/media_attachments/files/111/914/226/851/387/432/original/864bbb627111d61e.jpg

2024-02-09 21:43:15

@npub1cre…vk7n
I take back what I said about eating out.
We've been to a local-ish pub that has changed hands a number of times over recent years.
The food was top notch, the price was not cheap, but still excellent value, and tge ambience was right. Service was excellent too.
They are obviously doing something right because the restaurant area was full and the bar was fuller than I've ever seen it in 30+ years.
It can be done!
(The Bulls Head, Leicester Forest West, #Leicestershire)

2024-02-05 18:07:07

Not wishing #cancer on my worst enemy, but it's a shame that all sufferers won't get the same speefy treatment as the #king
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68208157

2024-02-04 14:45:56

A very good #allotment visit today.
Got a lot more of the fruit bushes pruned.
I've risked putting in a few broad bean seeds and garlic cloves - just in case the growing gods are good to us.
Put my hand on a nettle and it still stings.
Bonfire for the prunings.
Rain stopped play here in #Leicestershire
https://cdn.cupoftea.social/media_attachments/files/111/873/744/267/926/268/original/9198e1d1370fa492.jpg

2024-01-30 14:51:36

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@npub13ru…67kn
If it was (which is unlikely) then you have the opportunity to learn from your mistake(s) and therefore make the next decade the best ever.

2024-01-28 16:44:39

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@npub13ru…67kn
Very odd!
I'd be tempted to ring 101 if it's still there in a while. (Chivvy them along by suggesting it's an obstruction, rather than a parking issue)

2024-01-28 16:44:39

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@npub13ru…67kn
Very odd!
I'd be tempted to ring 101 if it's still there in a while. (Chivvy them along by suggesting it's an obstruction, rather than a parking issue)

2024-01-25 17:22:57

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@npub19fc…ay3c
Having worked professionally with urine for around 40 years in pathology labs I can assure you that the variety of cold urine smells is diverse and generally gross.
24 hour collections of urine from pregnant Bengali women were my least favourite (still remembered vividly from the late 1970s when I worked in East London).
Just say no!

2024-01-14 18:34:03

Like @npub13ru…67kn we've done an #allotment trip today. Came back with parsnips and Brussels.
Did a few jobs that were outstanding.
The confused rhubarb is confused here as well!
Worth going, but cold.

2023-12-24 16:58:21

I'm no longer religious in the traditional, church-going, Christian sense for many reasons.
However, the Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols from King's College Cambridge is still an important mark-point in my life.
It's a broadcast I've tried to listen to for many years.
It brings a sense of peace, of hope, and a sense of something Bigger than me in a troubled life and a deeply troubled world.
#spirituality #christmas #christianity

2023-12-24 11:08:05

Let me get this off my chest. Christmas Eve is a bit of a trigger for me.
Last year we lost contact with our daughter during Christmas eve. I drove down to her in the evening and found her in her flat unconscious and barely responsive - she'd taken a huge overdose of anti-psychotics.
The year went on with attempted drownings, ligatures, overdoses and major self harm through fasting and cutting.
All the while the professionals were saying "people with personality disorders do this all the time - don't worry, she won't /actually/ kill herself."
In September she jumped from a motorway bridge breaking her spine, pelvis and sternum.
She's since opened up about major abuse during her marriage.
She's also starting to make great progress in both her physical and mental health.
Long may it continue, but bear with me if I'm not a jolly holly berry today.
The new year will be more joyful.
#EUPD #PTSD #BPD #mentalHealth

2023-12-11 10:17:02

I'm not a privacy geek, but Google can stick this suggestion where the sun don't shine.
Google knows enough about me despite this crazy idea
Why would I?
https://cdn.cupoftea.social/media_attachments/files/111/561/260/577/974/076/original/73d6e851252c2ac3.png

2023-11-20 17:58:07

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@npub13ru…67kn
They've made the whole Chromebook UI like that as well - a complete dog's dinner.

2023-09-24 11:43:07

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@npub1g0t…tvm4
Distribution of bedrooms is an interesting one.
We, like many in our age group, live in a house that's too big for a couple.
To move to a smaller house / bungalow / whatever is just too expensive.
Smaller property is in the same price bracket (or slightly higher), the costs associated with the selling, buying and moving process are high.
So we sit in our house worrying about how we'll maintain it in years to come.

2023-09-11 18:23:38

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@npub1xzm…eykm
Translation please for speakers of The King's English - what's a 'plushie'?
Please!