Claire's New Hip!

Hurrah.

After waiting for year since she had the referral she was finally admitted to hospital early on Saturday morning and later that day they operated and she has a spanking new metal and ceramic hip joint. 

It is a wonder of the National Health Service that gives us the chance to have "free" medical treatment.   

I put free in quotes as of course it is not free.  Those of us that work pay directly from our wages/salaries into "National Insurance". This funds our pensions when we retire from work and also pays for the NHS.  

It's not a perfect system, but it works pretty well.  It sometimes creaks under the pressure of numbers at certain times of the year but manages to keep going.

There are so many that like to criticise and try to bring it down, but at the end of the day the NHS is a fantastic service. A credit to this country and everyone that works in it.

I'm sure there are countries across the world that would love to have something like it? Somewhere where they don't ask if you have insurance before acting.

The service relies on dedicated staff from the medical professionals to those that support them.

St Nicks 2018

Thinking of going.

But do I want to risk Eurotunnel and their 100% record of never getting on the booked train for £32 or take the longer, but possibly and ultimately quicker crossing with P&O on the ferry and have a sit down and maybe a breakfast for £22.50 return.

I do have a £33 credit note with Eurotunnel so in effect it would be free to use the train.....  

Plenty of time to think about it...

Movember....

MOVEMBER!!!!

Getting nearer by the day.

If all my Facebook "friends" and visitors to my blog pledged a quid, a dollar, a euro or whatever your currency is that equates to £1 sterling, then I'd make a good sum for the charity.

DONATE PLEASE

FD-MOTO Throttle Grip Lock

To give it a full title on Amazon's page:  FD-MOTO Yellow Security Scooter Motorbike Motorcycle Handlebar Throttle Grip Lock Anti-theft Brake Level Lock

Luckily, I was gifted it.  It didn't seem to work for the doner and so he gave it to me.  Complete with half destroyed bubble packaging.

It seems like a good idea to protect the bike for a short term.  It fits over the throttle grip and applies the front brake. Allegedly this will stop the bike being pushed away and it can't be ridden.

Obviously the professional thief will come equipped and chop the brake lines and push it away or simply, with the aid of scum mates, lift and  put in in a van.

But it might deter the half-witted thief that happens past where you are parked.

Except.

It doesn't fit the Rocket either.  If I pull the brake lever in as far as I can go it still won't fit. 

Looks like it will be gifted again.....

IWM - Weeping Window Poppies

The final two exhibitions of the poppies are currently available it the Imperial War Museum in London and at the newer version of the IWM  in Salford Quays, Manchester,  not far from the Lowry Theatre and the BBC.

As we live in the south-east of England, Claire and I will be making the trip up to London’s big city to take a look at them before they are removed the week after Armistice Day.  This weekend seems as good as any and there is no football to interrupt the weekend. It’s what they term the “interlull” when club football at the upper levels takes a back seat and it’s all international matches.

The link (https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/poppies-weeping-window) will tell you all that you need to know.  It’s a few years since we last went up there.

As we are on the train, I applied for a Senior Railcard. It’s get over-60’s money off the rail fares and works out at about a third. Of course, you can’t travel on peak services!! Shame as that would save me an arm and a leg getting to work!

I’ll take the Samsung camera as it fits in a pocket and takes decent enough pictures.  A DSLR is rather more cumbersome and makes you look like a tourist, Even in the city where you were born. In fact, the IWM is about a mile from where I was born!

So let’s see how it pans out.

Update 9th October 2018.

Claire has a date for her hip operation and it's........ Saturday! So we won't be going this weekend or for any foreseeable date and it will have closed.  I might see if I can get up there on the bike one day before it finishes.

MAG Press Release - West Midlands Crime

West Midlands MAG develop vital lines of communication with West Midlands Police.

With the ever present issue of motorcycle theft and related crime in the region, West Midlands MAG is pleased to announce that it is developing a formal communications channel between West Midlands Police and the local motorcycling community.

Superintendent Rich Youds has stepped forward to act as the single point of contact between the biking community and the police.  Colin Brown, Director of Campaigns & Political Engagement, said "This is an important step in the right direction for combatting motorcycle theft in the West Midlands.  There is much that we, MAG, and the wider biking community in the area are doing to try to work in partnership with the force, but these small projects need some structure and co-ordination to yield the best results.  It is vital that we have a single route for communications.  This will not be a day-to-day replacement for 101 or reporting crime, but will enable wider issues and difficulties to be discussed openly and honestly with a view to improving outcomes.  We will be able to put forward ideas and suggestions and also act as expert advisers to guide the actions of the local force initiatives."

West Midlands Regional Rep, Graham Wells, said "Initially we have asked Superintendent Youds to come back to us with more detailed information and statistics that will allow us to better understand the true nature and scale of the problem based on fact rather than just anecdotal evidence.  There are limits to what can be established through Freedom of Information channels, so the ability to interrogate the data in a more scientific manner will help both sides.  We also hope that the relationship will help with gaining closer co-operation on things like security awareness events that we are planning in the coming months. 

This is the beginning of a partnership that we hope will evolve to have direct impacts on the levels of detection and conviction of motorcycle thieves in the area."

Superintendent Youds said 'Motorcyclists are an important part of our community, and I'm pleased to be able to work with MAG to understand the needs of the community and seek out ways that we can work together to reduce the incidents of motorcycle-related crime for the benefit of all.'

For more information or to bring your questions and ideas to us, please come along to one of the West Midlands Regional Meetings, held at 8pm on the first Thursday of every month at The Hare & Hounds, Rednal.  This is an initiative to help all bikers, so please feel free to get involved. 

The meetings are open to MAG members and non-members alike.

Contact MAG at 01926 844 064 or central-office@mag-uk.org

Royal British Legion

I joined the Legion again for another year. A small price to pay to put money towards an organisation that supports our veterans and has done for getting on for a hundred years.

https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/ww1-centenary/thank-you/

Flat Tyre Reprise!

Saturday AM had the new Goodyear Eagle fitted. 

The guy showed me the damaged tyre. The screw about 3 inches long and lots of damage inside to the structure of the tyre. 

So that's another £150 spent!!!  Bugger.

Specsavers - new reading glasses

They seemed better looking in the shop.  For me they are a bit too "Elton John" and they have turned out to be useless for the computer.

Once I got used to them, reading my kindle or other printed matter they are okay, but not for the computer screen!

It's coming....

Movember

Yes, it's about six weeks away in fact and we head towards it like a rocket.... click on the link.

They take loads of currencies so just a $ or a £ or even a pre-Brexit € will do.   Multiples of them even better.

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