Those tossers who don't make the best use of marked on street parking, parked up with 6ft between them and the next car or the end of the bay, mostly witnessed when I'm on foot in that there London so has zero impact on me but it still stirs my chips for some inexplicable reason.
Just people really (not all people obviously), especially bank holiday day trippers. Yesterday we came across 2 NT workers at Tatton Park, Cheshire. We stopped the tandem and got chatting to some cyclists. 2 NT woman were in one of those farm buggies, shouting at us all to 'MOVE, we've got jobs to do', so rude, I went up to them and told them how rude they were, they replied in a threatening way with -'what did you say', then sped off.
People coming out of the public loos and not washing their hands (there were big signs all over the walls saying- 'now wash your hands' )and finally the idiot Bank holiday drivers who close passed us at speed on tiny, winding, narrow lanes. Also just to end with bad manners, leaving litter and just being selfish and not thinking of others, because it's a day off and 'we're going to do what we like'.
And breath ;O)
National Trust as an organisation annoys me, and seems to attract those sort of people.
The one that really makes me cross is that they have a higher entry price for Gift-Aid qualifying admission! The whole idea of Gift-Aid is that I pay the same but the venue claims the tax back so they get more money, not that I have to also pay more because I'm working 🤬. By their system I pay 10% more AND they claim the 25%:
jfab - I did not know this.
I normally go to Quarry Bank Mill, a Cheshire NT site with my elderly mother and the staff there seem to be lovely, helpful and very friendly, I was so shocked by these 2 NT workers. Even if they were volunteers they should go onto some sort of course in how to deal with the public, who after all pay for these places to survive. They obviously disliked people on bikes.
Being woken at 4.50 this morning by a call from Jnr who is on holiday in Mallorca to say his neighbour had rung him to say there was an alarm going off. So as the only people with a spare key, I had a 3 hour round trip to find his smoke alarm was faulty and going off.
Grrr
I'd argue that's a category error: not disproportionately cross more an instant upgrade to "Bloody Annoyed" possibly with some entirely appropriate muttering about the carelessness of offspring and the sub optimal impact of answering phones in the dead of night 🙂
On the NT thing @bunnyhop, we wanted to spread my mums ashes at Chatsworth and they couldn't have been nicer. Guess there's wrong 'uns in any organisation.
Also I'm DC that sustainable improvements to my diet, regular gym classes, daily stretching, etc has not led to feeling at least 20 years younger. I mean I feel a bit better but everything is still popping, grinding(!) and aching. Ah well as my mate is always saying "at your age, every day is a gift" 🙂
Also I'm DC that sustainable improvements to my diet, regular gym classes, daily stretching, etc has not led to feeling at least 20 years younger. I mean I feel a bit better but everything is still popping, grinding(!) and aching. Ah well as my mate is always saying "at your age, every day is a gift" 🙂
When I met my partner we just clicked - my back and her knees....
The one that really makes me cross is that they have a higher entry price for Gift-Aid qualifying admission!
Surely that's self-defeating? Wouldn't you choose the "non gift aid" option out of principle?
People putting kickstands on long travel MTBs.
Absolute whoppers.
My wife saying "it broke" when I enquire about yet another missing cup, glass or plate.
What she actually means is "I dropped it/smashed it". 😠
So yesterday I posted about the awful jobbies in my garden and today for the first time in memory there wasn't a fresh one. So the question is, which one of you manky bastards was it?
The one that really makes me cross is that they have a higher entry price for Gift-Aid qualifying admission! The whole idea of Gift-Aid is that I pay the same but the venue claims the tax back so they get more money, not that I have to also pay more because I'm working
This has never made any fkn sense to me either. "Would you like to pay extra so that we can reclaim the tax?" Uh... no? How about you knock a quid off the regular ticket price and then we both benefit?
This has never made any fkn sense to me either. "Would you like to pay extra so that we can reclaim the tax?" Uh... no? How about you knock a quid off the regular ticket price and then we both benefit?
It's because there has to be a donation element in order to qualify for Gift Aid. Entrance cost is £10, you can't claim Gift Aid on that as the punter is getting something in return (i.e. entry). So they have to stick a quid on top, which is the donation, and then can claim gift aid on the lot. They can't say said "Gift Aid entry is £9 with an additional £1 donation" as that's gaming the Gift Aid rules and HMRC would take a dim view.
It's because there has to be a donation element in order to qualify for Gift Aid. Entrance cost is £10, you can't claim Gift Aid on that as the punter is getting something in return (i.e. entry). So they have to stick a quid on top, which is the donation, and then can claim gift aid on the lot.
This may be true but,
a) they're the only organisation I've ever seen do this and plenty offer gift aid,
b) could they not do the same thing by charging 1p, is there a minimum?
c) is there not some loophole such as calling the entry fee a donation, or adding a gratuity you can asked to be removed like in restaurants?
... but mostly a), is everyone else fiddling the system then?
a) they're the only organisation I've ever seen do this and plenty offer gift aid,
Nah, I've seen others too.
b) could they not do the same thing by charging 1p, is there a minimum?
I'd imagine that would be seen as gaming the system.
c) is there not some loophole such as calling the entry fee a donation,
Only if you were willing to let people in for free who didn't want to make a donation (because it's only a donation if it's optional)
or adding a gratuity you can asked to be removed like in restaurants?
This is basically what they're doing - it's £10 entry with an optional £1 gratuity.
Seemingly some twisted **** in our local park putting down chicken with rat poison in it for the local dogs to eat.
Couple of reports so far of very poorly dogs at the vets.
I honestly am constantly surprised by just how many humans are utterly worthless Tuesdays. 😐
It's because there has to be a donation element in order to qualify for Gift Aid.
Aah OK. Would be good if they clearly explained that at the door (maybe they do?).
Northern Rail - website just said my train was delayed. Screen in the station car park just said the train was delayed. Screen in the platform said that my train was stuck at Sheffield, an hour away, behind another train that had broken down.
Good job it was only 10 minutes to get home and log on there for work.
Northern Rail - website just said my train was delayed. Screen in the station car park just said the train was delayed. Screen in the platform said that my train was stuck at Sheffield, an hour away, behind another train that had broken down.
Good job it was only 10 minutes to get home and log on there for work.
The KFC “Believe in chicken” campaign.
Prior to this were chickens imaginary?
The KFC “Believe in chicken” campaign.
I'll add to this the adverts for Midnite. In fact, most adverts these days are dross. Oh, how I miss the halcyon days of workmen in a transit van singing about chips or mushy peas, or aliens laughing at us preparing mashed potato...
Yep. Chimps moving pianos rather than fancy ingredient names in shampoo.
Nutra ceramide? **** off.
It's because there has to be a donation element in order to qualify for Gift Aid. Entrance cost is £10, you can't claim Gift Aid on that as the punter is getting something in return (i.e. entry). So they have to stick a quid on top, which is the donation, and then can claim gift aid on the lot. They can't say said "Gift Aid entry is £9 with an additional £1 donation" as that's gaming the Gift Aid rules and HMRC would take a dim view.
Well now, this changes everything it slightly. If I'd known this I wouldn't have been petty and gone for the non Giftaid entry. I did spend the difference in the cafe still, but I felt better about the whole situation as a result (and I had cake).
But then surely entrance is £10 you donation is £1 so you can only claim gift aid in the donation element.
Ring ring... ring ring...
Him "Hello, I'm James, and I'm the Home Energy Advisor in your local area. I understand I'm speaking to the Home Owner, is that correct?"
Me "Well, yes it is as it goes. Incidentally, i didnt recognise the STD code that came up, whereabouts are you calling from?"
Him "I assume you've already taken advantage of the Govt schemes like loft and wall insulation etc? Oh, I'm in SW London if youre interested"
Me "Yes, all thats long since done thanks. If you're in SW London, you're not 'local' to me. This conversation won't go very far, thanks for calling, goodbye"
Turns out 01488 is Hungerford, 120 miles away. Chancer.
Renewing a prescription online.
Realise I've a weeks worth of meds left. Log on to request a fresh lot. Computer says no, need my annual call to discuss.
Ring surgery to arrange. They'll call me back after speaking to clinician.
1 day later - call back to arrange a telephone consultation next week. Explain I'll have run out of meds by then. No earlier appt available.
So by the time I've had the consultation and they've sorted the prescription, I'm at least 7 days without my meds. *
I get that they are busy, but could the system not say last month "Your prescription needs reviewing by X date. Please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment"
*I'm sure alternating days of the meds won't kill me. Or anyone else.
I get that they are busy, but could the system not say last month "Your prescription needs reviewing by X date. Please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment"
A GP practice manager writes:
Our system (everyone is different ) means that if a GP puts you on a new med and wants to review before another 'script is issued, we'd message you at the time; ie here's you meds, there a 'script for a month, book yourself in with us for a review before these run out so we can check on you before we issue any more/adjust the dose/change the meds.
If this is a LTC and you have an annual check, we normally recall on birthday month and alert pts the month before. We're currently recalling June birthday pats for Diabetes, Asthma, etcetc. It might be that you coincidentally run out just before you've been recalled, but it's unusual, and normally our reception would send a message to the on-call GP who would in all likelihood write you a 'script, if you've been on them ages and you tolerate them well and you're compliant
We have a list of urgent meds. that we will re-issue regardless of what the system says if you find that you're running out - mental health, epilepsy etcetc
Edit: Rule of thumb, most GP work on about a fortnight for routine access. ie if you want an appt on a specific date for a routine appt (anything that's not a new problem), call your GP at least 14 days beforehand.
Also: may I gently and respectfully suggest:
As a patient; take some responsibility for your own medication and health. Ask questions of the GP and reception team about repeat 'scripts, how long will I be able to renew, what happens if you run out? will I be recalled? When will that happen? will it be annual? put a note in your diary about when your current 'script runs out, do a bit of planning...
It does sound like your GP isn't that organised, but there's no reason you can't be.
It does sound like your GP isn't that organised, but there's no reason you can't be.
If they were really organised they would have all that in a general medication information document or as FAQs prepared and easily available for their patients.
It does sound like your GP isn't that organised, but there's no reason you can't be.
I have been organised for the 5 years I've been on the meds, all the other reviews I've needed have been done "in time" when I've gone for a repeat and been told I need it.
Will be requesting repeats earlier now to help the system.
It's because there has to be a donation element in order to qualify for Gift Aid. Entrance cost is £10, you can't claim Gift Aid on that as the punter is getting something in return (i.e. entry). So they have to stick a quid on top,
Kudos to Simon for explaining this. Like so many other people on the thread I was completely unaware of this. Used to get very agitated by Chester Zoo doing this.
As above, why don't charities properly explain this on the sign.... They'd get shit loads more gift aids if they did
If they were really organised they would have all that in a general medication information document or as FAQs prepared and easily available for their patients
In every box of meds there's a bit a paper that has all that stuff on it. Again, this is your health, take some responsibility for it.
I'm DC that driving to a work 'away day' (that's proportionally made me cross) my car keeps warning me of 'Danger! Roads may be icy!'. It's bloody May for God's sake. Grrrr (there is a disproportionately happy side to this also...just for balance 🤣)
Trying to get an appointment with a doctor, why, if it’s not urgent can’t you make an appointment for a couple of weeks ahead? How can it be that when you win the 8am lottery and are number five in the queue, you get an answer at 8.06 and all the appointments have gone?
This makes me very cross, I’ve written and received a nonsensical reply. My wife has a serious longstanding illness and we can’t get help through the doctor or hospital.
Will be requesting repeats earlier now to help the system.
I have a reminder on my phone set for every 56 days to request meds.
Road markings - they seem to be optional now!
They are barely visible on many roads in my area.
Trying to get an appointment with a doctor, why, if it’s not urgent can’t you make an appointment for a couple of weeks ahead?
Every GP is different and every GP is facing its own challenges, so I don't know what's going on with yours. Most GPs these days have moved away from the 08.00am rush on the phones (although it doesn't seem to have made the phones any quieter if I'm honest) so can you not send them a routine appt. request online?
Trying to get an appointment with a doctor, why, if it’s not urgent can’t you make an appointment for a couple of weeks ahead? How can it be that when you win the 8am lottery and are number five in the queue, you get an answer at 8.06 and all the appointments have gone?
The way around that at my surgery is to fill out an e-consult form.
This has to be seen by the doctors and acted on and I've found the doctors will either arrange an appointment or a phone call.
I had it the other week - phoned on the Friday for a non urgent issue, receptionist couldn't find a space till back end of May. She suggested I fill out the online form. Got a phone call back that afternoon saying doctors had reviewed my symptoms and booked me in at the local heath centre the following Tuesday.
Every GP is different and every GP is facing its own challenges, so I don't know what's going on with yours. Most GPs these days have moved away from the 08.00am rush on the phones (although it doesn't seem to have made the phones any quieter if I'm honest) so can you not send them a routine appt. request online?
AIUI they've been forced to. Most appointmenting is now online / on app. It's still a bit of a scrum, but at least you're not shit out if you leave it as late as 8:01am to call.
The online form has a load of text fields which are - perhaps surprisingly - well designed to extract symptoms, photos etc from a patient. The last time I needed them, I wrote everything down in Notepad the evening before so that come the morning I could just copy and paste it all with a little bit of formatting.
I got a reply, "I know what that is, here's a prescription for some cream."(*) Which worked. There will be naysayers of course (just look at the 'cashless' thread) but it's seemingly a lot more efficient than the old system; reading a problem description is seconds of a job whereas a GP visit would've been several minutes no doubt including the patient papping on about the weather, how my day was going, my dog is poorly what do you think, etc etc.
(* - get your minds out of the gutter, I had a rash on my foot.)
but it's seemingly a lot more efficient than the old system
I think most folks are beginning to realise that the online system is pretty straightforward and gets you what you need. While I think it's great for patient access, the workload on the GP hasn't changed much. I'd say most GPs are 'coping' rather than 'managing' it
(* - get your minds out of the gutter, I had a rash on my foot.)
Pfft, that’s never a foot. Five inches at best 😀
If they were really organised they would have all that in a general medication information document or as FAQs prepared and easily available for their patients
In every box of meds there's a bit a paper that has all that stuff on it. Again, this is your health, take some responsibility for it.
Make your mind up. You just said they need to have a conversation about it?!
CMI doesn’t normally cover that kind of information. And many people are struggling with multiple medications as well as the impacts of poor health.
Never ever manage to peel off in a one'er
Dog owners. Or at least many owners of other dogs. I have a 12 month old Lab pup who I am currently training. She's very biddable, walks to heel beautifully, stops on a whistle and has excellent recall. Her retrieving is progressing really well. Now, part of training any dog, not just a gundog, is about manners. She'll often be in an environment where there will be lots of other dogs, and it's therefore crucial that she is properly socialised. By that I mean she doesn't run up to greet or play with other dogs unless she's allowed to by me and the other dog's owner. So, when we're out and about and we see another dog approaching, I sit her down and stand between her and the approaching dog, holding her attention with a hand signal and the occasional command/reminder to sit and stay. If the owner of the other dog has theirs under control and their dog is displaying the right body language, I might engage them in conversation, and occasionally let the dogs have a sniff, but the main object of the exercise is for mine to learn that she can't just run in and please herself.
This week alone I've had a guy with a Cocker who was all over my dog, saying "Oh I can't get him to sit like that" (I'm not sure my reply of "Well no shit!" was quite the response he was looking for) and another guy getting arsey because I had reached down and fended off his two dogs while repeating the sit command to Islay. Most of the others have simply shouted from afar that "It's Ok, he/she's friendly". I might even start replying that I'm not......
