Looking dodgy: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/aug/10/france-on-the-cliff-edge-of-removal-from-uk-safe-travel-list

Not legal, no – but good luck getting anything done about it.

This is an increasing problem and the drugs sold often aren’t genuine (generics or otherwise)- not that the real thing would be a good idea, there’s a reason these things are prescription-only. They might look like the real thing, but when tested they tend to have active ingredients – normally but not always in the same category/class – but other ingredients too and sometimes far more potent/problematic derivatives.

My experience (as a GP who once did a diploma in occupational medicine) is that smaller employers without their own HR / occupational health (or with their own HR but not occupational health) will sometimes request an occupational health assessment from a GP, often on the advice of a 3rd party they’ve called in where there are HR issues. They often seem pretty confused about what they’re asking for.

Re Babylon health and consent- an interesting way around it- seems like it would generate far more problems than it solves however…

And yeah, appointments systems are often frustrating because demand exceeds supply. Ironically, this sort of demand from employers is exactly the sort of thing which contributes to the problem you’ve encountered.

“He needs the Doc for the Doctor’s certificate showing the diagnosis…”

He doesn’t- he needs to self certify for any ailment likely to require less than a week off. If he requires more than a week off he’ll need a med3 (sick note). If his employers are insisting they need medical proof this is a private service they’ll need to pay for (i.e. a private sick note).

Could be a scam but it’s more likely to be genuine if my experience is anything to go by. Have sold lots of stuff as local collection only on eBay and it’s amazing how often people buy and then want to arrange courier collection or expect you to do it… it’s very annoying but I think most of these buyers are either a bit dim or are bidding on an item that sells at a lower price because the potential number of bidders is far smaller. I doubt the bank transfer offer is a scam either.

Don’t know about the cheaper versions but the big green egg is great… I’ve got large and minimax versions (thinking about selling the latter if you’d be interested in second hand).

Suspect the main problem with the cheaper ones will be the temperature control. It drifts a bit on the BGE with the low and slow stuff but I think it’d drive you mad with the cheaper versions which don’t have the thick ceramic. Think the higher temperature stuff would be less of a problem.

Under promise and over deliver is the general approach I use as a seller. Describe every blemish / defect and post quickly and normally at level above described (unless the final value is disappointing). Not much you can do about the cons other than what you’ve said, though I think the risk is overblown – I’ve had 1 try it on in over 200 sales – I try to take an overall view and expect some losses along the way. Always a bit nervy when you’re selling a single high value item, but lots of stuff of mid/low value is easier to see as what happens overall.

<span style=”color: #444444; font-size: 12px; background-color: #eeeeee;”>50/50 split doesn’t stop you paying, as one parent (usually the mother) will still be primary carer.</span>

This isn’t correct. If care is equal 50/50 then CMS deem there to be no primary carer and will not make a calculation. What complicates matters is that they assume the primary carer is the person in receipt of child benefit (normally the mother) and in the case of a claim, it’s up to the one not in receipt of child benefit to show that care is equal.

It’s worth noting that 50/50 is about care provision – not number of nights.

I’ve got a melitta caffeo barista ts- it’s great at making coffee but we’re now on first name terms with the warranty repair centre… it’s just out of its two year warranty now, we’ve had it back 4 times. Next time it breaks that’ll be it. It replaced a delonghi which was ok until the milk steamer packed up.

Viberg (service boots especially) are great but make what you’ve linked to look cheap 8O

I got a very similar reply after I did the same when some stuff I ordered arrived damaged. He said ebay just took the money off him and he had to fight them to get it back.

Thanks folks. This is all very useful for future. Know I’ve been conned and irritated that didn’t check the wheel trims- needed a torch in the dungeon hot_fiat describes and was tired too…

The whole thing felt like a set up- lied to about the amount, everything contracted in Italian (despite being booked in the uk), told I just needed to state I didn’t cause the damage and wouldn’t be charged (was in fact signing to say I accept the damage). No replies to emails. Will dispute it via the credit card company but not holding out much hope.

Thanks. Wonder how much it depends on the place you hire from? Saw another person being similarly fleeced by Europcar (this was Verona). Emails to Avis are going unanswered however, so suggests problem may be wider than depot…

Found in space

Jamie- yes, found that nice easy link after it renewed onto (an expired) credit card and after I thought I’d cancelled via their mobile site…. oh well!

It is a nice app, works well, flow is good, just no response to emails and difficulties cancelling leave a bit of a sour taste. Overall price for 3 years use not bad.

As mrchrispy, I got a year free on Deezer with Sonos, then subscribed on an offer for a year at £50 and just been stung for £120 – I’d attempted to cancel too and my emails are going unanswered. Service is good- allows downloads etc and works seamlessly with Sonos, but watch out for renewals if you go with them. No experience of the others apart from a month’s free trial of tidal.

Blazing Bikes have frames for 1900 currently. I got mine from there in the summer and love it- best bike I’ve ever ridden, only the yeti asr5c comes close. Not snapped it yet :-)

I’ve got a pair of shimano m200s and a pair of mw7s. The latter seem to be a a bit bigger. I’ve got both in a 46 and there’s room for thicker socks in the mw7s than in the m200s. I’m normally a size 45 or sometimes a 46, definitely need a 46 in shimanos

They may well replace the screen under warranty.

Train station is £7 all day on a weekend and £7.50 during the week, presume the same is true of an evening. There’s also the Park Inn hotel car park, which is a bit small but one of the cheaper ones for a short stay, at £5 for up to 4 hours, think £8 or £9 if you’re there 4-8 hrs which would be close to where you want to be. Not sure about street parking in York.

I’ve had a midweight for about a year. Wear it all the time – very versatile and comfortable. Copes well with a wide range of temperatures and conditions. They’re very well made and mine still looks pretty new. Weight wise, I’d say the midweight is more of a spring / autumn jacket and I turn to something warmer on colder days.

Providing 90% of the nation’s medical care for 10% of the budget.

My partner was recently out walking our dog. He was off the lead on a quiet country lane, minding his own business and ignoring the passing runner as he does. Runner didn’t ignore him though- “get that f’ing dog on a lead” was his opening gambit to my partner. She replied “he’s fine” at which point runner became more (verbally) aggressive which did pique dog’s interest. People are the problem- sometimes they’re dog owners, sometimes not. I guess prior experience cuts both ways and I’m now retraining my dog runners aren’t dangerous……

Firstly, hospitals are subject to a variety of incentives and penalties- so if you’re going to miss out on £2m for the sake of lacking consultant hours (and consultants to provide them) then paying your consultants handsomely for overtime makes perfect sense.

Secondly, NHS hospitals must compete with private hospitals for consultant hours and pay accordingly. These numbers seem on the low side to me, given that spinal consultants locally (in the north east) can make 7 figure salaries and generate multiples more for the private hospitals they work for.

There are also costs that come from working more – mainly professional indemnity insurance, which can be eye wateringly expensive for some specialties, so there’s a point where you’re not earning, just churning.

CRP probably?

I have some sixc cranks (and very nice they are too). I bought them unused off the classifieds here- went to fit the pedals and a RH thread was in both cranks… Thankfully the seller and importers sorted it but their QC hasn’t filled me with confidence since :-/.

Al, my wife had the mother of all achiles problems after a bit of very high cadence riding on the tandem (ahem). Classic crackly crisp packet sound/feel. Her fix was 6 weeks off, RICE and Brufen. It hasn’t recurred.

Sounds more like tenosynovitis which is a bit different.

EDIT: though Al might have either :)

It took 4 years for mine to resolve completely…

This is useful: http://www.ouh.nhs.uk/oxsport/information/documents/leaflet_achilles_a5.pdf

It is a bit isn’t it? I ordered the mag- great photos, nice ideas, try hard/pretentious words.

Thanks gonetothehills. No longer in the NW unfortunately, but thanks very much for your kind offer. The 54cm looks more my size than the 57cm and I’m certainly erring towards it (especially as I’ll be doing a fair bit of offroad) but the size chart is putting me off a bit!

That might aid in the decision making process :)

19 pages on and my resistance to buying one of these has gone… :)

Sorry to ask about sizing again- have read through the thread and more confused!

I’m a smidge over 5’11” (32″ inside leg), which has me squarely on a 57 according to the sizing chart but wondering if I wouldn’t be better off on a 54cm. Currently riding a medium Yeti ASR 5c which fits nicely. Road bike wise, most recently had a 56cm Cannondale which felt a little stretched if anything and certainly think I’d have found it cumbersome off road.

I see there’s people of my height on this thread who’ve gone for 54cm and others gone for 57cm – what nudged you one way or the other?

I don’t know, but what a nice problem to have. :)

That’s one ugly kitten… :)

EDIT: Much better!

The purpose of the NCEPOD review I’m involved in is to try and quantify this problem and find out why people die of sepsis and where to focus our attention. Anecdotally, there are problems throughout the chain of care but more has been done further along it (sepsis 6 for example).

One of the problems of GP is that the haystack keeps growing, though there aren’t many more needles to find. With sepsis specifically, it’s almost indistinguishable from minor illnesses during its early stages in most cases. There are no definitive tests or scoring systems to detect it (though there are some promising innovations). In retrospect, it was always sepsis…

(Additionally, anecdotally, many patients with sepsis say their GP told them they had a virus. There’s interesting early research suggesting that is the case, that the virus somehow enables a bacterial infection and then the overwhelming reaction to it- that is sepsis.)

Seems to be a culture of ‘we are overworked/too long hours’ as a catch all for mistakes.

Blaming that alone is almost as wrong as blaming the people alone. Looking at these things in isolation is human nature I think, but probably represents the most significant impediment to improving safety.

I’m a GP who is involved in the NCEPOD review into sepsis deaths and who has spent a considerable amount of time over the past few years working with the UK Sepsis Trust on improving sepsis diagnosis and treatment in primary care. In fact, the only reason you’re even reading this story is because of the work of the UK Sepsis Trust and it saddens me that people so often react as the OP has done. It’s tragic, but there’s nothing straightforward or easy about any of this and blaming individuals is almost always not the way to go if you want to make things safer for people. We should be extremely cautious about making judgements with the benefit of hindsight.

How’s she pronouncing candida?

Candeeda = crazy. :)

You’re not alone! Not something I’d complain about – I guess make sure people know what to expect. Good luck with it!