Weather, dentists and 'river of blood'

4 October

The BEEB has got today’s weather right for a change, wall to wall rain. I’m not overly bothered about it anyway seeing as I wasn’t planning going anywhere this weekend. The gardens need a good soaking anyway. My tablet has a weather forecast thingy preinstalled on it. So I had a play with it last night and found I could put our holiday town on it. That might prove useful while we are over there.

Yesterday was a busy day for me in town. Really, I just wanted to get out for a few hours. I decided that looking for and buying a few bits n bobs we need for our holiday might be a god idea. So, while I was out I got our currency, some power adaptors, some Velcro stripes, and a few other bits too. The one thing I did forget was a few small pad locks for the luggage. However, I did find a new real ale, Waggle Dance, and a nice pint it was too. Later in the Anker I had two pints of Admans Ghost Ship, and very nice it was too.

Jan has had to make an emergency dentist appointment this morning and is due to be seen any time now (10.55ish). She had two teeth out earlier in the week and has been in pain ever since. Last night she remove a foam plug for from a tooth used to be. That small action showed a piece of bone either loose or showing through her gum. Not good that, no wonder she is still hurting from it. I hope they can sorted it for her this time. And here’s the thing … my teeth need seeing to but I’m terrified of dentists after a really bad experience with a school dentist. Jan’s recent experiences make me even more nervous!

And so the Muslim thugs of ISIS have murdered another British man. There is no rhyme or reason for it on the surface. They are now claiming it is in retaliation for the UK taking part in air strikes against them and that the government is to blame for his death over. Who do these morons think they are kidding? One of the talking heads on telly today was saying that what they are doing is instilling fear in to the people of Iraq and Syria.

Are these thugs so indoctrinated that can’t see the damage that they are doing to Islam as a whole? There are similar thugs here in the UK who see Islam as a danger to the UK and will start to take action against Muslims and mosques and so on if ISIS continues their programme of killing UK people. No religion is totally free of such idiots.

There’s an old saying that goes something like, ‘No prophet is honoured in his own town.’ Well, years ago Enoch Powel delivered his ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech. He was hounded because of it. But thinking about, wasn’t the 9/11, the tube bombings and the murder of the squaddie in Woolwich part of that river of blood? It certainly looks like to me folks.

Today’s photo then … 

A portrait shot of Bewick’s swan.

And today’s funny …

Tom’s wife was hosting a dinner party for some of her close friends, at their summer home. Moment’s before the guests were scheduled to arrive, she asked Tom if he would be ever so gracious to walk a block down to the beach to pick up some fresh snails for the party. On his way to the beach he passed the local bar, and figured he’d stop in for a quick drink before heading down to the beach to search for the snails. One drink lead to the next, and before he knew it, it was 5:00 in the morning and he hadn’t gotten his wife those snails. Quickly he hurried down to the beach, picked up a few snails, rushed home, and stumbled up the front steps, dropping the snails. At that moment, his wife angrily opened the door asking him where he had been and how he had ruined her party. Tom, looked towards the snails and said “C’mon you slow pokes! Just a few more steps and we’re there!”        

A garden tick, new writing and paedo hunters

2 October

Oh what a surprise we had this morning. Early on I thought I had seen a nuthatch on our feeders. It didn’t hang around long enough to get a better view of it. So around 11 0’clock I saw it again and pointed it out to Jan. OK, a nuthatch isn’t a mega bird as thinks go, but to see one on ours feeders for the first time was a real pleasure. Now we keep looking out for more so we can photos of it.

Yesterday evening we decided on a quiet, no telly evening. Jan was happy playing games on her ‘puter and I settled down to read the new issue of Writing Magazine. About an hour after starting I got a story line in my head that just wouldn’t let go. By 9.30 I had just over a 1000 words of new writing done, the first new writing I have done in months! I was rather pleased with myself over that.

Have a look at this place please … 

This is where I used to walk Cindy-pup twice a day. It’s not the best shot of the area I want to point out, which is on the right beside the tree trunk. You can make it out really but there is an area of grass land there that is not being used for anything at all. Once a year someone comes along and cuts the grass, round about this time of year for some daft reason. Other than that, no-one goes in there. So I got wonder what would happen if when the guy cutting the high grass managed to stumble over a body in there. Well, just over a 1000 words is the start of it.

AP runs a weekly readers poll (http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk/), and this week they ask if the cost of a medium format DSLR was to be reduce to an affordable price, would be tempted to buy one. During my years of using film I always aspired to owning a Pentax medium format camera. Now I don’t think I would go for one. The size and weight of these is very high, add in the lenses and it just wouldn’t work for me. Ah well … … …

Did any of you watch the Channel 4 programme about the Dorktowner called Stinson Hunter. He hunts down and outs paedos; he’s found quite a few it seems. I recorded it last night and will watch it later today. Last night I posted something on Facebook about it saying I’m in favour of what he does; this morning I’m not so sure about that. I’m wondering if at some time he makes a mistake and his victim gets harmed in some way. It’s a big responsibility to have on your shoulders. But of one thing I am sure of, I just wish there was no need for people like him doing what he is doing. That would mean that no kids are being harmed in any way. 

So then, today’s photo … 

Fireweed. I know it makes a mess when the heads turn to seed but as it sits there like that, I think it’s a rather nice flower.

And today’s funny …

Mark was passing by the bar on the way home from work when he sees his good friend Tom gulping down one shot after another. Fearing the worst, Mark charged into the bar and confronted Tom. “Tom what’s going on?” Mark asked. “It’s my wife Beckie,” Tom replied. “She ran off with my best friend!” “Hey wait a second! Said Mark “Aren’t I your best friend?” “Not any more,” Tom said with a happy smile. “He is!”

On telly last night, still births and costs of kids

1 October

Last evening we sat and watched Monday’s Panorama­. The issue being dealt with was the high number of still births here in the UK. It seems the UK is 34^th in a list of 35 nations when it comes to still birth numbers. That really is, or should be a matter of concern for us all. And yet there does seem to be way of reducing it and to do so at very little cost, at least to begin with that is. It involves no invasive procedures and no medication being taken. So what is the problem?

A few hospital have used the methods explained and have reduced the figures by up to fifty%. So what aren’t the other following this lead? The NHS PTB claim they want more evidence before the accept it and make it a nation issue or method. I can see both sides here.

Mothers across the country want to deliver a happy and heathy baby and will claim that this new method of detection should be rolled out across the UK. However, the NHS is being slow and cautious when it introduces new methods; but why? Perhaps if we think back to the massive problem caused by thalidomide we can perhaps see some reason for their caution. But this new method only uses a tape measure and a scan, there is no risk to the mother in that is there?

Perhaps another reason is the cost involved. Is it the costs involved? According to this BBC story, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21120593, 668,120 births took place in according to figures released in 2011. So this new procedure might not cost much per patient, multiplying it by that figure would be a rather high cost; and don’t forget that the NHS is over spending as it is. There is another cost though, this one a long term cost.

Now that is strange … I’ve tried looking for the still birth rates for the UK and for some reason it’s not available. There’s been an error in it somewhere, but has there, or they trying to hide something. The long term costs involved in raising a child is huge and the UK tax payer helps out with Child Benefit. That works out to the tune of £17,056 for the first child and £11,272 for each additional child. Each still birth is therefore will be a significant saving when you add in free prescriptions, eye and oral care for 16 years+. Then add in free education up to age 16. The bill is rising isn’t it? And it doesn’t cover care in old age.

Yes, I know, I’m a cynic; but with such an issue as still birth rates can we afford to be anything else. The possible savings per still birth could well be a factor in deciding whether to adopt the new method of prevention.

So it’s time for a photo … 

My collection of empty malt bottles. There should be a few more on there but Tom used to have them and they are now lost. Oh yes … there’s an Ardmore bottle to go up there in a few weeks.

And from the Sage … an oldie but goody …

When U Black, U Black
When I was born, I was BLACK,
When I grew up, I was BLACK,
When I went in the sun, I stayed BLACK,
When I got cold, I was BLACK,
When I was scared, I was BLACK,
When I was sick, I was BLACK,
And when I die, I'll still be BLACK.
NOW, You 'white' folks . . .
When you're born, you're PINK,
When you grow-up, you're WHITE,
When you go in the sun, you get RED,
When you're cold, you turn BLUE,
When you're scared, you're YELLOW,
When you get sick, you're GREEN
When you bruise, you turn PURPLE,
And when you die, you look GREY.
So why y'all be callin' us COLOURED Folks?