There are clear chains of command and if staff have concerns (your daughters) they should raise their concerns through that chain of command.

That gave me a wry smile, as from previous experience unless things have improved dramatically since I was last on the front line, there is no chance of action being taken quickly enough, especially in the current situation, to reduce risk, despite your best efforts and no amount of meetings will alter that.

No one in our Trust is certainly being put under increased risk in response to the current situation. There is an element of perceived risk and people thinking they need more PPE than they actually need (in some areas)

That’s a very bold statement. Who are these ‘people’? The ‘perceived risk’ might be rather different for someone at the sharp end in the real world who has to go home to their families at the end of a shift, hopefully uninfected, compared to someone behind a desk who has never actually had to act in an emergency.

I’ve had my ‘Temporary register’ email from HCPC (I haven’t practised for over 2 years) and am definitely not looking forward having to ‘do my bit’!

So I can’t invite my Wife as a ‘friend’ and compete against her on the same game on one PS (with separate controllers), or am I completely misunderstanding this?

Thanks. Not so bothered about split screen, all we want to do is race against each other ie. have control of separate cars/bikes. Is this possible?

There’s a forumite at the Inchbae Lodge.

Not any more as we left a couple of months ago for several reasons, some of which will be more than apparent when you look at the immediate surroundings of what was a beautiful country inn.
On the plus side, I’ve actually turned a pedal for the first time in 2 1/2 years last week :)

Agree with the above on the Garve/Contin section being bad and onwards to Ullapool, especially early doors at weekends where it appears to be the unofficial race track for locals on 2 and 4 wheels.

There are a lot worse places to stay than Aberdeen and it is more cosmopolitan than many Cities, especially Americans! I’ve just moved back temporarily (spent first 26 years here) having lived in many different areas from London to middle of nowhere in The Highlands and for some reason it seems to have improved recently.

As pointed out above, house prices have dropped. Not surprising when you look at the number of new estates that are still springing up, some of which are fairly awful and I’m astonished they got planning permission! I’d agree with trailrat and recommend West out of the city ie. Mannofield (I know of a nice 3 bed semi for sale £10k under valuation ;) up Deeside to Culter which now seems to be a much easier commute and minutes from good trails etc. That salary should get you something decent to rent before you decide if and where you want to buy.

this year may turn out to be the worst in 17 years of letting. Portal fees are partly to blame but I actually think it’s a barometer of where the real economy is.

Yup. Our European bookings are 20% + down on last year despite a rate reduction (Highland inn with 7 bedrooms). Agree that insecurity is a big factor but there is also the perception amongst some, as mentioned by a couple of Dutch/Belgian guests, that Brits don’t like them! No question in my mind that Brexit is to blame.

Sounds like you are due another trip Al. Wasn’t The Altguish Inn by any chance was it?

did or didn’t do but more about what your customers say on social Meeja about what you did or didn’t do

Well aware of that, which is why I’ll do as I said on previous post……not worth the hassle and as I said I wasn’t aware of ‘issue’ until customers had left. Seemed a bit of a ‘flounce off’ so not really that bothered as everyone else today has been more than happy.

Where you based kcal?

Neil and Emma Beetham, used to be at Weardale. You’re always welcome Drac.

Riding round here is excellent. We are right on the HT550 and An Turas Mor routes and 10 miles from the Strathpuffer course with routes all around.

<https://satellites.pro/#G57.677982,-4.652830,11″&gt; Link if it works!

Cheers Drac, Inchbae Lodge Inn right in the middle between Inverness and Ullapool.

How are you? Couple of other ex NEAS up here too but not from your neck of the woods.

It would make sense to just put a weatherproof socket outside with a sign for “E Bike charging point.” Obviously for customers use only.
I wouldn’t charge, ask for £1 donation to a local charity.

Nice idea and I will put it in place.

First time this has happened in 19 months but I expect now summer is here there will be a few more.
I’m all for helping old codgers get up the hills ;)

Having said that it’s still a bit cheeky to assume you can just rock up and charge anything for free.

That was my thoughts and I actually had no idea of the cost. My barman was quite rightly playing safe as he thought charging outside in the rain was too risky. Nice thought re plug-ins/shelter etc. but as has been pointed out, not ever going to be cost effective as we already have a drying room and safe storage. We have probably had 15-20 cyclists in here today so far and all except the 2 ‘electric bikers’ seem happy, so next time I’ll take a different view and let my staff know. I think it was more their attitude that was the problem and I can guarantee if they go elsewhere, nearest other hotel is 4 miles in one direction and 10 in the other, they will be lucky to get a charge for less than a fiver, if at all.

Mobile phones etc. are no problem as anyone who has been here will know.

Hmmm I think I’m too cheap. £3.90 draught Belhaven Best and premium cider, £4.20 Trade Winds from Cairngorm Brewery and we are in the middle of nowhere in The Highlands!

Martin? I think he has enough body mass to stay warm

He wasn’t a wee lad 😉

Had a chap in this morning doing the HT550 who had had a bad night bivvying and woke covered in frost/ice….. he was from Aviemore so easy to get caught out!

Thanks for mentioning Inchbae Lodge above.
*shameless plug*
Bikes always welcome and we are right on the HT550 and An Turas Mor routes. Open from 1130 usually, with food, beer garden and secure bike storage if needed.

If you need any more info call 01997 455070 and ask for Graeme (Woody).

http://www.inchbaelodgeinn.co.uk (apologies for rubbish website and pics)

Excellent. I’ll try that when I get home. Cheers

It was Win10 program and I went through the steps to restore to yesterday’s date.

Excellent. Look forward to seeing you then.

Hi bigjim. We have just taken over in the past month and one of the things we are trying to do do is get people to come in instead driving past :wink: Signage has seen better days (on the urgent to do list) but inside is now very cosy with a snug bar and log burner in the lounge. Draught beer will be here in a few weeks but we have a very good selection of local beers, a Guinness surger unit, 50+ whiskeys and 15 gins. It’s ace!

Another few inches last night since this pic was taken. Very fluffy light powder and I’d be more inclined to get the ski’s or board out :D

I’ve posted on the ‘puffer’ facebook page but just to let anyone looking for a warm refuge before or during the event, I’ll be putting on a chilli and a chinese curry with any local bottle of beer for £8.50 on Friday night. Log burner always on. Beer garden might be a bit chilly at the moment. Inchbae Lodge Inn

Anything around Here[/url]
pretty central and natural and rugged as you like within a few miles. Friendly welcome and bike storage too :lol:

Yup. Got a few bits and pieces to tweak but all up and running. Log burner blazing in the corner with a foot of snow outside.

That looks bloody cold. I’ve just moved up to 3 miles north of Garve on Ullapool road (nice country Inn, there’s only one open at the moment :wink: ) so if you’re about the area pop in for a ‘winter warmer’ as I’m unlikely to have the time to get out on the bike.

Should be well placed for Strathpeffer 24.

Mods – I’ll be having a word tomorrow re proper ad

Watched it cone through Seahouses yesterday. Couldn’t believe the number of support motorbikes, police bikes, support cars etc.

Probably not the most exciting spot to watch it but the pints of Directors after made up for the few seconds of racing!

I didn’t realise that the salaries were quite so high

I wouldn’t call that salary ‘high’, quite the opposite when you consider what the job entails ie. the initial and continuous education/training requirements, the increasing number of drugs and potentially life saving equipment available, with all those skills utilised as an autonomous health care professional!

In fact the more I think about it the salary is absolutely crap but as said above, you really don’t do it just for the money. It can be hugely rewarding which fortunately goes some way to make up for the large amount of time spent on things which really aren’t accidents or emergencies.

With hand on heart, I wouldn’t recommend the job to anyone, as the physical and mental stress is increasing daily. Most people I know are very keen to get off the ‘front line’ and many have left or retired (often early due to injury) at the first opportunity.

I’ve been looking at those and most reports reckon the engine is cracking!

BTW essel – was the car your Stepson looked at in NE England?

But that only seemed to increase the stuff I was getting sent

My elderly parents have just cancelled their monthly donation to the Red Cross (one of several they have chosen) because of harassment. My Mum was getting 2-3 calls per week, presumably from a marketing call centre and eventually called RC directly and told them if she had any more calls she would cancel. The calls continued until the final straw was someone calling and telling her it was not for the usual RC donation and saying “you have to help with Nepal” as a regular donor.

The ‘hard sell emotional blackmail’ and aggressive attitude of the caller annoyed her so much that RC have now lost over £100 a year.

50 in a 60, for a distance could fail them.

That’s interesting simmy. 50mph in a 60 is not that slow and I wouldn’t have thought constituted anything which could be classed as bad or poor driving. I was teaching someone to drive who had been with BSM and they were doing 60mph on an NSL road at a point where I felt it wasn’t appropriate, especially given their lack of experience and was told that was what they had to do! Can’t understand the logic behind it as it is, after all, the maximum speed allowed for good conditions etc.

Seems people are taught how to pass the test rather than how to drive properly?

I do it (the overtaking thing not the tailgating bit) for the simple reason that i like to travel at the speed limit if possible.

Just to clarify…..it was the tailgating bit I can’t fathom out, not overtaking, especially on a motorbike, where one of the joys is not being held up by cars :wink:

That’s true Cougar, if something is going very slowly and it really does depend on the road/length of journey.

The futility of trying to ‘make progress’ on certain roads really hit home after I first towed a caravan to The Lakes. It only took me 10 minutes longer to do the 70 odd miles chugging along with the van than it did when overtaking where possible with the car alone and most of that time difference was made on the motorway section.

Maybe you could clarify whether you were referring to speeding in 30 limits, or whether your mates do always obey those?

Read what I wrote rather than looking for an argument and it’s going OT anyway :roll:

FWIW I tend to ignore tailgaters unless they are really close, in which case Cougars method works quite well. There really isn’t much point in overtaking (and never any excuse for tail-gaiting) on most non-motorway roads these days, in a car anyway, and I can’t fathom out the mentality of people who do it!

Edit : I agree with that brooess. Compulsory re-test every 5 years at least and if you fail you must drive with a suitable ‘plate’ warning others road users you can drive but aren’t very good, until you test again and pass. Double failure would mean starting again at basic level. Too many complications re jobs etc if you stopped people driving immediately. I’m tested every 5 years and would lose my job if I didn’t come up to scratch.

Maybe it says more about your mates than it does about is though if they never obey the speed limits in town.

Yes it probably does…….they are fairly normal people! If you are going to be assume things about my mates, please read what I said and more importantly didn’t say. I made no mention of ‘town’ or ‘never’.

@ weatheredwannabe – chapeau sir, that gave me genuine lol.

STW is truly a unique niche in society because I have NEVER EVER been sat in the passenger seat of a car, or out with mates on bikes where the speed limit has been adhered to at all times.

As a matter of interest, do any of the STW’ers ever get a taxi and berate the driver for tailgating or exceeding the speed limit? It is quite rare to get one who doesn’t IME.

You can pick up second hand sports cars locally for a song atm as folks seem to be trying to liquidise their assets

……………. Or have realised that the gravy train may be ending and I get the distinct impression that despite the (comparatively) high salaries there are an awful lot of people up to their neck in it and it will only get worse.
I find when I go back there, left a long time ago and only go back to visit my folks, that it is a strange atmosphere founded mainly on material stuff ie. Flash car, big house most expensive watch etc etc.

I’m probably wrong about that but it’s the impression I get as I tend to only visit West End/Culta area!
Plus side is fabulous countryside and hills on your doorstep and as someone has mentioned, loads of golf courses. I would also recommend, if you can afford it, to look at area inland eg. Banchory/Aboyne. Cycling, skiing on your doorstep and will not require a multi-layering system in July like it does most of the time on the coast.

Edit : as TR has mentioned traffic is diabolical !

discapade

You didn’t mention you had been a few times! How many and over what period?

As Moda has alluded too, there are good GP’s and some who, how can I put this, leave a little lot to be desired. You have every right to question them as no-one is infallible and I’m constantly amazed by patients who haven’t the faintest idea what medication they are on, or why!

Get a second opinion at your practice, or failing that, I suggest you find a new surgery.

Regardless get it fully checked out. If this happened to me I wouldnt carry on strenous exercise until an ECG had been run etc not internet assurances (guys you too, sorry). Call me a **** but better to drill down on this

What exactly are your medical qualifications Hora? At least one qualified Doc has replied on this thread + the OP’s own GP but you apparently know better. I think I’ll take your own recommendation and call you a …. :roll:

My car knowledge is limited at best so I intend to have another look at it tomorrow

Just remember it’s a 24 year old car. Take someone who knows about these things or if you don’t have one of those, an AA report could potentially save you a small fortune and will give you peace of mind.

Fantastic. How good would it be on something like THIS