On Monday I had the pleasure of going out for a family get together, which these days doesn’t happen that often, given that one member of the family is in Malaysia, but he and his lovely wife were over for a few days, so we got together for a nice family meal. It meant that Z was getting to meet the family for the first time.
She was looking so pretty, classy, and made a great impression on my family. I hadn’t seen my brother and his wife in about a year, so we had a lot of catching up to do, and finding out how things are in Malaysia compared to here in London, finding out about a lot of different things, how the rules are very different, more strict in Malaysia in a lot of ways, but also a lot lot lot cheaper to live there. A better standard of living it seems especially for those who are educated, unlike in this country.
The family do went very well, it was a great night, apparently I managed to run the show, which is a bit like when I appeared on TV with the family, and I dominated proceedings then, not intentionally, but it just seems to happen. I am usually a wallflower in most social situations, so I don’t know why.
The best bit of it all, is that Z was very well received by the family, they love her, they think she is a really lovely lady, just perfect for me, which matches my feelings so I am more than happy
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
A response from Northwick Park Hospital - shocking
Finally got a response from Northwick Park Hospital. Have to say I am disappointed, but then what was I expecting, a miracle to occur!!!
I got two letters and here they are in their fullness with names covered to protect the innocent!!
Letter one
Dear XXX
Further to your e-mail to XXX on 16th August 2005 I am pleased to inform you that the investigation into your concerns has now been completed and I am, therefore, in a position to enclose our response from XXX, General Manager for our Cardiology directorate.
I hope that you will be satisfied that a full investigation has been conducted and that XXX has outlined the action she intends to take to improve the situation in Cardiology.. However, if you are not happy with our response or if you require further information please do not hesitate to contact XXX on XXX to discuss your complaint further or if you prefer do write to me again. We can also arrange a meeting to discuss our response to your complaint if you would find this a more suitable way forward.
If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the Local Resolution process you are entitled to go to the second stage of the NHS complaints procedure and request that your complaint is considered by the Healthcare Commission. This should be done within 2 months of the date of the final response from the Trust. You should write to the Complaints Investigation Team at the Healthcare Commission, FREEPOST NAT 18958, Manchester, M1 9XZ or contact them on tel: 0845 601 3012 or e-mail: complaints@healthcarecommission.org.uk.
If you would like to discuss any of these options you are welcome to contact the Patient Relations Office on 020 8869 2026, or alternatively if you would prefer independent advice regarding the NHS Complaints Procedure please note that that you may contact the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) on telephone number: 0845 120 3784.
I hope this is helpful.
Letter two
Many thanks for your email to XXX, dated 16 August 2005, in which you express your concern regarding your experiences with the Cardiology Department. As the General Manager for the Department, XXX passed your email to me to investigate. I hope you find the following comments helpful.
As you quite rightly state, a six month delay in the typing of an urgent referral letter is inexcusable and I can only apologise that this occurred and assure you that I will not allow such a situation to occur again. Administratively, the Cardiology Department has been short-staffed for some time, and various correspondence has been delayed, but the worst back-log situation occurred in relation to XXX’s clinic letters. I have recently started as the new General Manager and one of my key tasks was to sort this situation out.
Firstly, I have made two permanent appointments within the admin team so only one temporary member of staff is still working in the Department and all posts are now covered. I have also out-sourced the typing of the XXX back-log and all the letters will have been completed within the next 2 weeks. Today, I started a month's free trial, with the same typing company, to handle all of the clinic letter typing. The company guarantee a 48 hour turn around time, or no charge is made. I am hopeful that this will provide a cost effective, efficient system. In parallel with this, we are also looking at using short, proformas for straightforward patients, to reduce the volume of typing, and making sure that all clinic letters contain a clear management plan. Additionally, the Trust is looking closely at voicerecognition technology, so this aspect of the service will be changing significantly.
I am also very sorry that your 24 hour tape was lost. In actual fact it appears that the tape was not lost as such, but the results were not saved correctly on the analyser machine. When some new analysers were introduced into the Department there were some training issues with the staff and unfortunately some results were lost. This has now been addressed with all of the technicians and all are now fully au fiat with the new machines.
I hope that this adequately addresses your concerns and I am very sorry that you have had such a bad experience with the Department. If there is anything else I can help you with, please let me know.
Yours sincerely
XXX
General Manager, Cardiac Services
As you can see a nice response, but one that I can't be sure will fix the problem, and one that doesn't really help the situation what happened in the first place.
I got two letters and here they are in their fullness with names covered to protect the innocent!!
Letter one
Dear XXX
Further to your e-mail to XXX on 16th August 2005 I am pleased to inform you that the investigation into your concerns has now been completed and I am, therefore, in a position to enclose our response from XXX, General Manager for our Cardiology directorate.
I hope that you will be satisfied that a full investigation has been conducted and that XXX has outlined the action she intends to take to improve the situation in Cardiology.. However, if you are not happy with our response or if you require further information please do not hesitate to contact XXX on XXX to discuss your complaint further or if you prefer do write to me again. We can also arrange a meeting to discuss our response to your complaint if you would find this a more suitable way forward.
If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of the Local Resolution process you are entitled to go to the second stage of the NHS complaints procedure and request that your complaint is considered by the Healthcare Commission. This should be done within 2 months of the date of the final response from the Trust. You should write to the Complaints Investigation Team at the Healthcare Commission, FREEPOST NAT 18958, Manchester, M1 9XZ or contact them on tel: 0845 601 3012 or e-mail: complaints@healthcarecommission.org.uk.
If you would like to discuss any of these options you are welcome to contact the Patient Relations Office on 020 8869 2026, or alternatively if you would prefer independent advice regarding the NHS Complaints Procedure please note that that you may contact the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) on telephone number: 0845 120 3784.
I hope this is helpful.
Letter two
Many thanks for your email to XXX, dated 16 August 2005, in which you express your concern regarding your experiences with the Cardiology Department. As the General Manager for the Department, XXX passed your email to me to investigate. I hope you find the following comments helpful.
As you quite rightly state, a six month delay in the typing of an urgent referral letter is inexcusable and I can only apologise that this occurred and assure you that I will not allow such a situation to occur again. Administratively, the Cardiology Department has been short-staffed for some time, and various correspondence has been delayed, but the worst back-log situation occurred in relation to XXX’s clinic letters. I have recently started as the new General Manager and one of my key tasks was to sort this situation out.
Firstly, I have made two permanent appointments within the admin team so only one temporary member of staff is still working in the Department and all posts are now covered. I have also out-sourced the typing of the XXX back-log and all the letters will have been completed within the next 2 weeks. Today, I started a month's free trial, with the same typing company, to handle all of the clinic letter typing. The company guarantee a 48 hour turn around time, or no charge is made. I am hopeful that this will provide a cost effective, efficient system. In parallel with this, we are also looking at using short, proformas for straightforward patients, to reduce the volume of typing, and making sure that all clinic letters contain a clear management plan. Additionally, the Trust is looking closely at voicerecognition technology, so this aspect of the service will be changing significantly.
I am also very sorry that your 24 hour tape was lost. In actual fact it appears that the tape was not lost as such, but the results were not saved correctly on the analyser machine. When some new analysers were introduced into the Department there were some training issues with the staff and unfortunately some results were lost. This has now been addressed with all of the technicians and all are now fully au fiat with the new machines.
I hope that this adequately addresses your concerns and I am very sorry that you have had such a bad experience with the Department. If there is anything else I can help you with, please let me know.
Yours sincerely
XXX
General Manager, Cardiac Services
As you can see a nice response, but one that I can't be sure will fix the problem, and one that doesn't really help the situation what happened in the first place.
Saturday, September 03, 2005
Getting a National Insurance Number - Very difficult
You would think this would be relatively easy to do, simply because it means the person who has the number will then be paying tax and national insurance to the government, filling their coffers up, instead of working on the black market or not working at all.
Well let me tell you that to get a national insurance number in this country is nigh on impossible.
I know of a person who has spent all week trying to get one, and is looking to work in this country and wants to be working officially, paying tax, NI, etc, being above board in all ways.
Firstly they have to ring a number, when they finally got through, as the line was either engaged or no one could be bothered to answer, they then got told to ring another number. After trying for a day to get through, they managed some success and got through, only to be told to ring a third number. They then set about ringing that third number which was engaged for 3 days, 3 days I tell you, no matter how hard they tried or even I tried when assisting them, neither of us could get through, that is how crap it is.
So being the ever resourceful person, this person is, they decided to see if they could get around the problem on my suggestion by going to the local jobcentre as this would have to be where they would have the appointment/interview for the national insurance number. The local jobcentre proceed to tell them that they have to ring a number and get an appointment, which was already known, after explaining that they have spent days trying to get through, they are told, sorry we can’t help that, and only on insistence by this resourceful person did they get the address of the jobcentre where they will have to have the interview/appointment when they are fortunate enough to get through, if ever. It isn’t local, it is a good way away, why it isn’t being done local I don’t know, though there is a rumour they are closing the ones that are local to the person, mmmm, that seems clever, and all because they are moving everything possible to call centres, see other blog entries for more details.
None of which takes into account the problems one has in getting through, and it also assumes that each person can hear on the phone and can get through a long phone call. I am just one person who struggles on a phone, so how in hell would I be lucky enough to get anything now, typical really that this government is making sure that anyone who needs anything they are being shut out of their entitlement.
Anyway back to the main thrust of this blog entry. The person still doesn’t have an appointment, is still unable to get through on the phones, and is getting more and more distressed and frustrated at what is quite simply a bloody farce. We should be encouraging people to have NI numbers so that we get them to pay tax and NI, it should be of paramount importance. These people can’t claim for 2 years at least, so what are the government worried about, what running out of numbers to give people, come on, that can’t be it, and I have to wonder what it could be.
Any European who wants to work in the UK and their country is a member of the EU is allowed to work here, and should be encouraged to do so, especially if they are intending to be above board and be 100% legit, pay taxes, NI, etc. So why is our totally inept government wanting to ensure that these Europeans go through a process which isn’t easy, where they could be led around the houses and still end up where they started. There is no way for them to complain, trust me I looked on the DWP, JobCentrePlus and even HM Customs and Revenue sites to try and do so, not a damn thing, so basically they are untouchable, unaccountable, and worst of all letting money disappear by the sheer ineptness of this.
It isn’t difficult to do, to issue an NI number, it is I believe computer generated based on date of birth, name, place, etc, so it takes what, 5 minutes to do, not exactly a taxing job, and not exactly rocket science. My guess is that they have just one person manning the phone for the whole country, and that is it, either that or they simply take them off the hook when they get to work and pretend they are doing something.
Once I find whom to complain to, I will be passing the information on to the person and thus they can make a complaint, as this is simply unacceptable in this day and age to be unable to get through and to have spent 5 days ringing a line, and still have no joy. Bring me the head of David Blunkett as it is his job as the minister for the DWP to ensure these cock-ups don’t occur.
Well let me tell you that to get a national insurance number in this country is nigh on impossible.
I know of a person who has spent all week trying to get one, and is looking to work in this country and wants to be working officially, paying tax, NI, etc, being above board in all ways.
Firstly they have to ring a number, when they finally got through, as the line was either engaged or no one could be bothered to answer, they then got told to ring another number. After trying for a day to get through, they managed some success and got through, only to be told to ring a third number. They then set about ringing that third number which was engaged for 3 days, 3 days I tell you, no matter how hard they tried or even I tried when assisting them, neither of us could get through, that is how crap it is.
So being the ever resourceful person, this person is, they decided to see if they could get around the problem on my suggestion by going to the local jobcentre as this would have to be where they would have the appointment/interview for the national insurance number. The local jobcentre proceed to tell them that they have to ring a number and get an appointment, which was already known, after explaining that they have spent days trying to get through, they are told, sorry we can’t help that, and only on insistence by this resourceful person did they get the address of the jobcentre where they will have to have the interview/appointment when they are fortunate enough to get through, if ever. It isn’t local, it is a good way away, why it isn’t being done local I don’t know, though there is a rumour they are closing the ones that are local to the person, mmmm, that seems clever, and all because they are moving everything possible to call centres, see other blog entries for more details.
None of which takes into account the problems one has in getting through, and it also assumes that each person can hear on the phone and can get through a long phone call. I am just one person who struggles on a phone, so how in hell would I be lucky enough to get anything now, typical really that this government is making sure that anyone who needs anything they are being shut out of their entitlement.
Anyway back to the main thrust of this blog entry. The person still doesn’t have an appointment, is still unable to get through on the phones, and is getting more and more distressed and frustrated at what is quite simply a bloody farce. We should be encouraging people to have NI numbers so that we get them to pay tax and NI, it should be of paramount importance. These people can’t claim for 2 years at least, so what are the government worried about, what running out of numbers to give people, come on, that can’t be it, and I have to wonder what it could be.
Any European who wants to work in the UK and their country is a member of the EU is allowed to work here, and should be encouraged to do so, especially if they are intending to be above board and be 100% legit, pay taxes, NI, etc. So why is our totally inept government wanting to ensure that these Europeans go through a process which isn’t easy, where they could be led around the houses and still end up where they started. There is no way for them to complain, trust me I looked on the DWP, JobCentrePlus and even HM Customs and Revenue sites to try and do so, not a damn thing, so basically they are untouchable, unaccountable, and worst of all letting money disappear by the sheer ineptness of this.
It isn’t difficult to do, to issue an NI number, it is I believe computer generated based on date of birth, name, place, etc, so it takes what, 5 minutes to do, not exactly a taxing job, and not exactly rocket science. My guess is that they have just one person manning the phone for the whole country, and that is it, either that or they simply take them off the hook when they get to work and pretend they are doing something.
Once I find whom to complain to, I will be passing the information on to the person and thus they can make a complaint, as this is simply unacceptable in this day and age to be unable to get through and to have spent 5 days ringing a line, and still have no joy. Bring me the head of David Blunkett as it is his job as the minister for the DWP to ensure these cock-ups don’t occur.
London Underground getting something right…..
Yep, shock and horror, I know it is amazing, but in this weeks computing there is an example of how systems can be developed properly and lead to much improved processes and efficiencies gained as well
Metronet reaches a milestone in tube modernisation programme
I was amazed, one of the PPP companies, in this case – Metronet, have actually made savings and will supposedly make maintenance of the trains, rails, stations, etc much much better. I will hold on to see if this really happens, but I have to congratulate them for at least trying to condense the wide variety of systems that they inherited into a single system which makes it easier to find out the current health of the system. This is a good example of how things can be done correctly.
This shows some of the history prior to reaching this point.
IT takes the tube into 21st century
£150m upgrade to Underground
Metronet reaches a milestone in tube modernisation programme
I was amazed, one of the PPP companies, in this case – Metronet, have actually made savings and will supposedly make maintenance of the trains, rails, stations, etc much much better. I will hold on to see if this really happens, but I have to congratulate them for at least trying to condense the wide variety of systems that they inherited into a single system which makes it easier to find out the current health of the system. This is a good example of how things can be done correctly.
This shows some of the history prior to reaching this point.
IT takes the tube into 21st century
£150m upgrade to Underground
More bad news re the governments benefits system
In this weeks computing there was more bad news on the benefits system which I wrote about recently. This is just more fuel on the fire at just how stupid and inept the government are at handling IT systems, and implementing them.
What makes this situation worse is that, the government won’t let the National Audit Office make sure these signed contracts ensure the people of the country get good systems, and good value for money, and then we end up with more and more horror stories like this which could easily be avoided, by either, having in house teams develop the projects, which in the long term would save the government a lot of money, or they could which would be a wise thing, penalise these overpaid consultants and companies when they get it wrong.
If a company says they will deliver a system on a certain date, and to a certain spec, and then it all goes belly up, well in most private businesses you either don’t pay the company, or you penalise them in some way, yet all our government does is throw more money at it, and not hold to account the companies that don’t do what they sign up to do. In this case it is EDS, whom are not meeting the targets and aren't being penalised for it.
Benefits system slammed
What makes this situation worse is that, the government won’t let the National Audit Office make sure these signed contracts ensure the people of the country get good systems, and good value for money, and then we end up with more and more horror stories like this which could easily be avoided, by either, having in house teams develop the projects, which in the long term would save the government a lot of money, or they could which would be a wise thing, penalise these overpaid consultants and companies when they get it wrong.
If a company says they will deliver a system on a certain date, and to a certain spec, and then it all goes belly up, well in most private businesses you either don’t pay the company, or you penalise them in some way, yet all our government does is throw more money at it, and not hold to account the companies that don’t do what they sign up to do. In this case it is EDS, whom are not meeting the targets and aren't being penalised for it.
Benefits system slammed
London eye judicial review
At the moment, the high courts are going to be asked to sort out a mess which is easily a farce, and shows the ugliness of one man’s attitude to London. This man is Lord Hollick and what makes this story even more fun in terms of politics is that, this moron, and I use the word with ease, is a Labour man, a man who was instilled into his current position by the current Labour government. This same government who can and should be doing something about the farcical situation down at the London eye, are sitting on their hands, and have washed their hands of it, despite the fact that it is basically the most popular attraction in London, it has become iconic on our landscape, and the thing is in serious debt, and because of Lord Hollick, it continues to suffer this debt, because of his ludicrous demands of an annual rent of £2.5 million a year for a piece of land that is only big enough for one leg of the wheel to be positioned, that is it, nothing more.
London Eye rent row heads to the High Court
Hollick speaks out on London Eye rent
These stories show the attitude of the man, and I do so so hope that he doesn’t end up forcing an iconic structure on our landscape to be lost, simply because he is being a money grabbing moron. He fails to account in his sums just how much money the area is gaining from the eye being there, and that includes the SBC, which has seen its turnover increase ever since the eye has been running. Talk about short sightedness.
Sadly this is going to run and run, and all the while, the eye continues to be weighed down more and more by a debt, which never should have happened, and this stupid idiot Lord Hollick wants to make it worse, you have to ask what gives.
London Eye rent row heads to the High Court
Hollick speaks out on London Eye rent
These stories show the attitude of the man, and I do so so hope that he doesn’t end up forcing an iconic structure on our landscape to be lost, simply because he is being a money grabbing moron. He fails to account in his sums just how much money the area is gaining from the eye being there, and that includes the SBC, which has seen its turnover increase ever since the eye has been running. Talk about short sightedness.
Sadly this is going to run and run, and all the while, the eye continues to be weighed down more and more by a debt, which never should have happened, and this stupid idiot Lord Hollick wants to make it worse, you have to ask what gives.
New Housemate Update
Well it has been nearly a week now since Z has moved in, and a lot has happened in a week. I am quite tired, not just due to Z moving in, but that has a hand in it, and I will leave your own imaginations as to why.
I have less space of course, though Z has taken things out of the bathroom now, as she was concerned she was taking over, not at all, but there is a good balance there.
It has been a hectic week for Z, getting everything sorted out for the upcoming course she is on next week, a lot of pre-course work to be done as well as a lot of learning too, so poor Z will be spending the coming week continuing to do her learning whilst I try and crack on with my OU studies.
I am glad Z is here, it makes a good difference, and with my stressed out week, nice to come home to as well, a little bit of relaxation, well as much as I can relax given my general nature which tends to be on tender hooks a lot. I am sure that is aging ones body at a rate that it shouldn’t, but cram things in why not????
Still getting use to the idea of someone being in the house with me, not happened in so long, and it still seems odd that Z is here when I get home, pleasantly odd, but still odd. For the first couple of days, I was expecting her to disappear and go somewhere else, which was always the way in the past when she was in her last role, and thus we would get maybe two days or nights at most, or get called away, and so I was expecting it to happen again, thankfully it hasn’t.
I am looking forward to how things will go and I already know that there are some things that we will do together in the upcoming weeks and months, and it feel good to be sharing the time with her.
Plenty more will follow in the adventures of me and Z that I am confident of.
I have less space of course, though Z has taken things out of the bathroom now, as she was concerned she was taking over, not at all, but there is a good balance there.
It has been a hectic week for Z, getting everything sorted out for the upcoming course she is on next week, a lot of pre-course work to be done as well as a lot of learning too, so poor Z will be spending the coming week continuing to do her learning whilst I try and crack on with my OU studies.
I am glad Z is here, it makes a good difference, and with my stressed out week, nice to come home to as well, a little bit of relaxation, well as much as I can relax given my general nature which tends to be on tender hooks a lot. I am sure that is aging ones body at a rate that it shouldn’t, but cram things in why not????
Still getting use to the idea of someone being in the house with me, not happened in so long, and it still seems odd that Z is here when I get home, pleasantly odd, but still odd. For the first couple of days, I was expecting her to disappear and go somewhere else, which was always the way in the past when she was in her last role, and thus we would get maybe two days or nights at most, or get called away, and so I was expecting it to happen again, thankfully it hasn’t.
I am looking forward to how things will go and I already know that there are some things that we will do together in the upcoming weeks and months, and it feel good to be sharing the time with her.
Plenty more will follow in the adventures of me and Z that I am confident of.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Finally got them – Oticon spirit III P
Yesterday I was finally given the hearing aids that they had been telling me I would have for a long time. After all the fanfare they were giving them, I have to say, they don’t match my expectations of being able to hear properly.
Let me wind back a little though, and explain what happened yesterday, cause for some of you it might seem funny, others might be aghast at what happened, and some will probably blame me for what happened.
The aids as they are digital were setup according to my audiogram, the software dictating what is deemed right for my hearing loss. Well I should point out here, that not one manufacturers software has ever match my loss right, so either they haven’t a clue or my ears are just not what the audiograms ever show.
When they were switched on, my immediate reaction was, I can’t wear these, I can’t hear a damn thing with them, no swearing mind, just using the damn as an emphasis. I was not hearing a thing, it was all muffled, echoing, too much bass, and everything that was wrong could be. Well the audiologist didn’t like it at all, he was well pissed at me, he felt I was being a drama queen, going overboard, and he even said, well that is it, I can’t fit you with anything, you will have to make do, that is all we have on the NHS, so you will have to go private.
I can tell you, right then, I was like, so ready to blow up, swear and give what for. I bit my tongue and just said, well if that is all you can give me, then so be it, knowing full well, I would just find a way around him in time, and find another avenue. Been in the system too long to know I can find other ways if I am really pushed to do so, might take a while, but in the interim I would struggle on, heck I am used to it these days.
After about 5 minutes, he decided to change his mind, and sit with me, and try and remove the problems I was finding. Bear in mind I had already explained very clearly what I found to be problems in the sound. Bit by bit he started adjusting them, they are a pain to adjust so I get it, but he managed to get a better sound for me. Still not ideal, but better than the Oticon Spirit II P I had.
Am I satisfied, not a chance, I in my eyes deserve to hear properly, and if hearing aid manufacturers claim their products do such a thing, then I expect it, the least I expect. Why should I, just because I was born profoundly deaf not be able to interact with the world the way 99% of people do. These aids are better than some I have had, will I be able to use them enough, next week will be telling, when I get back to work, will it finally after 3 months allow me to hear people properly, will it allow me to go to lunch with others without flaking out after 30 minutes because I can’t keep up in a bar/pub. I am hoping so, nothing more frustrating than not being able to keep up, it makes me look stupid, and I feel stupid too.
Why do I have to keep changing aids, I have had hearing aids in the past where I could hear better than I can now. Why did I change, because the manufacturers decided in their wisdom that the aid I had was to be updated, and when they update, they screwed with it, making it impossible for me to use the new version. A case in point, some years back, I had a phonak, and it had a lot of grey area in the sound, smooth progression on noise. When they updated it, it was black and white, no middle area, and thus I couldn’t cope with them, and I struggled to hear. I know they want to push their new products, but they are worse than Microsoft, a new version every 6 months, which doesn’t always give benefits, in some cases takes it away.
Back to yesterday, after finally getting me set up correctly with the aids, the audiologist was okay with me. He has called me the biggest pain in his backside for a patient, but and his words “I know exactly what I want” and thus it means they can sort it out in theory. I am supposedly the cleverest, smartest, most annoying, pain in the backside patient, simply because I demand the best, expect the best and lastly I expect to hear properly, no excuses as far as I am concerned. There shouldn’t be a case in this day and age of me having to just make do, I did that when I was young, having to wear a box aid.
This leads me slightly to a post I put up the other day with the extremist animal rights activists. These extremists need to be sorted out, in this country there are a lot of people hanging on hoping that gene therapy will change their lives, I am one such person, if the science is to be believed, then gene therapy might be able to reverse my hearing loss, if so then I would want such experimentation to proceed on animals first so that they can be sure they don’t kill us humans. I am not the only one hoping for gene therapy to work, there are many others, suffering from major diseases – Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc.
People deserve to have a chance, and I am betting anything that the extremists are using medicines which at one point were tested on animals, well that makes them hypocrites, it really does. Why not advance science so much so animals aren’t needed, isn’t of holding back science by violence, desecration of graves, etc.
Let me wind back a little though, and explain what happened yesterday, cause for some of you it might seem funny, others might be aghast at what happened, and some will probably blame me for what happened.
The aids as they are digital were setup according to my audiogram, the software dictating what is deemed right for my hearing loss. Well I should point out here, that not one manufacturers software has ever match my loss right, so either they haven’t a clue or my ears are just not what the audiograms ever show.
When they were switched on, my immediate reaction was, I can’t wear these, I can’t hear a damn thing with them, no swearing mind, just using the damn as an emphasis. I was not hearing a thing, it was all muffled, echoing, too much bass, and everything that was wrong could be. Well the audiologist didn’t like it at all, he was well pissed at me, he felt I was being a drama queen, going overboard, and he even said, well that is it, I can’t fit you with anything, you will have to make do, that is all we have on the NHS, so you will have to go private.
I can tell you, right then, I was like, so ready to blow up, swear and give what for. I bit my tongue and just said, well if that is all you can give me, then so be it, knowing full well, I would just find a way around him in time, and find another avenue. Been in the system too long to know I can find other ways if I am really pushed to do so, might take a while, but in the interim I would struggle on, heck I am used to it these days.
After about 5 minutes, he decided to change his mind, and sit with me, and try and remove the problems I was finding. Bear in mind I had already explained very clearly what I found to be problems in the sound. Bit by bit he started adjusting them, they are a pain to adjust so I get it, but he managed to get a better sound for me. Still not ideal, but better than the Oticon Spirit II P I had.
Am I satisfied, not a chance, I in my eyes deserve to hear properly, and if hearing aid manufacturers claim their products do such a thing, then I expect it, the least I expect. Why should I, just because I was born profoundly deaf not be able to interact with the world the way 99% of people do. These aids are better than some I have had, will I be able to use them enough, next week will be telling, when I get back to work, will it finally after 3 months allow me to hear people properly, will it allow me to go to lunch with others without flaking out after 30 minutes because I can’t keep up in a bar/pub. I am hoping so, nothing more frustrating than not being able to keep up, it makes me look stupid, and I feel stupid too.
Why do I have to keep changing aids, I have had hearing aids in the past where I could hear better than I can now. Why did I change, because the manufacturers decided in their wisdom that the aid I had was to be updated, and when they update, they screwed with it, making it impossible for me to use the new version. A case in point, some years back, I had a phonak, and it had a lot of grey area in the sound, smooth progression on noise. When they updated it, it was black and white, no middle area, and thus I couldn’t cope with them, and I struggled to hear. I know they want to push their new products, but they are worse than Microsoft, a new version every 6 months, which doesn’t always give benefits, in some cases takes it away.
Back to yesterday, after finally getting me set up correctly with the aids, the audiologist was okay with me. He has called me the biggest pain in his backside for a patient, but and his words “I know exactly what I want” and thus it means they can sort it out in theory. I am supposedly the cleverest, smartest, most annoying, pain in the backside patient, simply because I demand the best, expect the best and lastly I expect to hear properly, no excuses as far as I am concerned. There shouldn’t be a case in this day and age of me having to just make do, I did that when I was young, having to wear a box aid.
This leads me slightly to a post I put up the other day with the extremist animal rights activists. These extremists need to be sorted out, in this country there are a lot of people hanging on hoping that gene therapy will change their lives, I am one such person, if the science is to be believed, then gene therapy might be able to reverse my hearing loss, if so then I would want such experimentation to proceed on animals first so that they can be sure they don’t kill us humans. I am not the only one hoping for gene therapy to work, there are many others, suffering from major diseases – Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, etc.
People deserve to have a chance, and I am betting anything that the extremists are using medicines which at one point were tested on animals, well that makes them hypocrites, it really does. Why not advance science so much so animals aren’t needed, isn’t of holding back science by violence, desecration of graves, etc.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
More governmental computer screw up, and they want us to trust them with ID cards
DWP Computers crash
This is just another example of how the government is so unable to get computer systems working at all, and in this example, the people who suffered were those whose need was the greatest. By not having their money, it left a lot of people
IT problems torment Jobcentre Plus staff
This is the DWPs CMS2 (Customer Management System) and it apparently is to make efficiencies in the system of those who need to claim. There is one rather large problem that in true typical governmental style they have forgotten, there is a sizeable percentage of the population who are deaf, and thus aren’t able to use the phones, need to rely on minicoms, or even face to face. This system has removed the face to face element until later into the system, which stuffs up those who can’t hear on the phone, and it is well known that the DWP doesn’t have much in the way of minicom systems, in fact, it is a known fact that most offices don’t even have one, and in a lot of the call centres, they have no-one who knows how to use it. That is good; another way the government can make sure that those who need help are excluded. Maybe the DRC should be investigating this, cause it will cause a headache in the future, for sure.
This government is well known for having serious problems with IT projects and it wants us to give it another chance with the ID cards to waste even more money for an IT which hasn’t been proven and is filled with problems.
It makes me think of the time in the US where the scientists managed to get Ronald Reagan to pay for all manner of projects that were never likely to see the light of day, because they were a technology that was so in its infancy and not even provable, but they managed to convince him that it would work. Well, one has to remember he wasn’t the brightest spark in the box, but even so – Stars wars, having satellites to destroy missiles, mmmm, that was going to work….
But back to the point, this government is bamboozled by a bunch of overpaid consultants whom never seem to deliver and see the government as a cash cow for their businesses, and each and every time the government gets screwed. Maybe it is time the government had it is own software development department, in-house, easier to control, and will probably be better than the overpaid consultants.
This is just another example of how the government is so unable to get computer systems working at all, and in this example, the people who suffered were those whose need was the greatest. By not having their money, it left a lot of people
IT problems torment Jobcentre Plus staff
This is the DWPs CMS2 (Customer Management System) and it apparently is to make efficiencies in the system of those who need to claim. There is one rather large problem that in true typical governmental style they have forgotten, there is a sizeable percentage of the population who are deaf, and thus aren’t able to use the phones, need to rely on minicoms, or even face to face. This system has removed the face to face element until later into the system, which stuffs up those who can’t hear on the phone, and it is well known that the DWP doesn’t have much in the way of minicom systems, in fact, it is a known fact that most offices don’t even have one, and in a lot of the call centres, they have no-one who knows how to use it. That is good; another way the government can make sure that those who need help are excluded. Maybe the DRC should be investigating this, cause it will cause a headache in the future, for sure.
This government is well known for having serious problems with IT projects and it wants us to give it another chance with the ID cards to waste even more money for an IT which hasn’t been proven and is filled with problems.
It makes me think of the time in the US where the scientists managed to get Ronald Reagan to pay for all manner of projects that were never likely to see the light of day, because they were a technology that was so in its infancy and not even provable, but they managed to convince him that it would work. Well, one has to remember he wasn’t the brightest spark in the box, but even so – Stars wars, having satellites to destroy missiles, mmmm, that was going to work….
But back to the point, this government is bamboozled by a bunch of overpaid consultants whom never seem to deliver and see the government as a cash cow for their businesses, and each and every time the government gets screwed. Maybe it is time the government had it is own software development department, in-house, easier to control, and will probably be better than the overpaid consultants.
Animal rights protestors win - closed Darley Oaks farm in Staffordshire
I saw this yesterday night on the news and I am amazed at the protestors, the actions they have taken to shut down the Darley Oaks farm in Staffordshire.
Guinea pig farm's family targeted
The siege of Darley Oaks Farm
I am not against protests, but the level of violence they have used to achieve this is mind boggling, seriously mind boggling.
The family who own the farm have had a lot of violent attacks on them
To top it off, the extremists protestors desecrated a dead woman’s grave, hello, anyone in there, come on, desecrating a grave, that is nasty stuff, what on earth gives. Removing a dead woman’s remains and apparently they are still not found 11 months on and it is believed they will never be recovered.
Me, I am not against animal testing I will be honest. Until we can produce a better method that allows drugs for medicine to be tested and give valid results when testing these new medicines then we have no choice. All that can be done is to try and minimize the level of pain and harm caused, but until technology creates something better, we are left with nothing else.
I am for protests, if people want to protest, but the extremists who are doing this, need to be stopped, to cause violence on others isn’t an acceptable way of protesting against this.
It kind of reminds me of the joke that Bill Hicks used to say about pro-lifers murdering doctors in the US. Yep, pro-lifers murdering people, mmmm, that gets your point across really well doesn’t it. You are pro-life, but you think that murdering doctors, etc to stop abortions is the right way.
You can easily transpose that onto this situation, you are against animal testing so you think that committing acts of violence on doctors, workers, and families makes you better and any different to them. You charge them with causing harm to animals, but you are doing no different. And to desecrate a grave, that isn’t call for, and the sooner the police work out who did it, and throw them in the clink the better.
People have a right not to have people commit acts of violence on them, and until the protestors come up with a better solution, I will personally see the extremists as nothing more than pond scum, because such behaviour can’t and should never be accepted as a viable form of protest.
Animal tests get renewed backing
I am sure I could end up with a lot of complaints against my view, so be it, but everyone is entitled to a view, and people shouldn't be having acts of violence carried out on them, because of their view and their work, we do live in a free society I thought.
Guinea pig farm's family targeted
The siege of Darley Oaks Farm
I am not against protests, but the level of violence they have used to achieve this is mind boggling, seriously mind boggling.
The family who own the farm have had a lot of violent attacks on them
To top it off, the extremists protestors desecrated a dead woman’s grave, hello, anyone in there, come on, desecrating a grave, that is nasty stuff, what on earth gives. Removing a dead woman’s remains and apparently they are still not found 11 months on and it is believed they will never be recovered.
Me, I am not against animal testing I will be honest. Until we can produce a better method that allows drugs for medicine to be tested and give valid results when testing these new medicines then we have no choice. All that can be done is to try and minimize the level of pain and harm caused, but until technology creates something better, we are left with nothing else.
I am for protests, if people want to protest, but the extremists who are doing this, need to be stopped, to cause violence on others isn’t an acceptable way of protesting against this.
It kind of reminds me of the joke that Bill Hicks used to say about pro-lifers murdering doctors in the US. Yep, pro-lifers murdering people, mmmm, that gets your point across really well doesn’t it. You are pro-life, but you think that murdering doctors, etc to stop abortions is the right way.
You can easily transpose that onto this situation, you are against animal testing so you think that committing acts of violence on doctors, workers, and families makes you better and any different to them. You charge them with causing harm to animals, but you are doing no different. And to desecrate a grave, that isn’t call for, and the sooner the police work out who did it, and throw them in the clink the better.
People have a right not to have people commit acts of violence on them, and until the protestors come up with a better solution, I will personally see the extremists as nothing more than pond scum, because such behaviour can’t and should never be accepted as a viable form of protest.
Animal tests get renewed backing
I am sure I could end up with a lot of complaints against my view, so be it, but everyone is entitled to a view, and people shouldn't be having acts of violence carried out on them, because of their view and their work, we do live in a free society I thought.
Monday, August 22, 2005
iPod Generation worse off
Ipod generation 'are worse off'
I saw this on the BBC site and after reading the article, my first response well no shit sherlock, you reckon.
They have defined it as iPod generation (supposedly under 35s) as because it means - Insecure, Pressured, Overtaxed and Debt-ridden
I am not sure I agree with insecure, but the other three I can take onboard. To me I have been renamed yet again. I was always Generation X, and will be until I can think of a more poignant tag.
It is true, we are worse off than our parents, especially when you are leaving university with 20K min debt in most cases which immediately puts you behind when trying to get on the property ladder for one, trying to enjoy life for another.
What the overloads of the government don't seem to realise that, if the "iPod" generation are so up to their ears in debt, then they can never afford to purchase the houses the overloads of this government own, and thus when they hope to sell, they are screwed because of no first time buyers to prop them and their little pyramid scheme up.
Plus on top of this, more are staying at home for longer, meaning they are being even more of a burden to their parents, because they can't afford to move out, thus the parents, don't have the chance to enjoy their life as they would expect to do so.
If anyone of our parents generation reads this, this simply means when you get old and need help, we can't afford to, because you cleaned us out. Remember what goes around comes around, you steal from us now, you will get it back in spades in the future, because we won't be able to support you as you would desire, because we are paying for things you never had to when you were in our shoes.
I don't like the situation at all, things like free education should be that, why did you deem it fine for you to get the free education, but now you are happy to pull the ladder up now you have made it. Talk about protectionist policies.
I saw this on the BBC site and after reading the article, my first response well no shit sherlock, you reckon.
They have defined it as iPod generation (supposedly under 35s) as because it means - Insecure, Pressured, Overtaxed and Debt-ridden
I am not sure I agree with insecure, but the other three I can take onboard. To me I have been renamed yet again. I was always Generation X, and will be until I can think of a more poignant tag.
It is true, we are worse off than our parents, especially when you are leaving university with 20K min debt in most cases which immediately puts you behind when trying to get on the property ladder for one, trying to enjoy life for another.
What the overloads of the government don't seem to realise that, if the "iPod" generation are so up to their ears in debt, then they can never afford to purchase the houses the overloads of this government own, and thus when they hope to sell, they are screwed because of no first time buyers to prop them and their little pyramid scheme up.
Plus on top of this, more are staying at home for longer, meaning they are being even more of a burden to their parents, because they can't afford to move out, thus the parents, don't have the chance to enjoy their life as they would expect to do so.
If anyone of our parents generation reads this, this simply means when you get old and need help, we can't afford to, because you cleaned us out. Remember what goes around comes around, you steal from us now, you will get it back in spades in the future, because we won't be able to support you as you would desire, because we are paying for things you never had to when you were in our shoes.
I don't like the situation at all, things like free education should be that, why did you deem it fine for you to get the free education, but now you are happy to pull the ladder up now you have made it. Talk about protectionist policies.
Smoking ban - please
Today the following research was published
Majority approve smoking ban
The majority of the public believe smoking should be banned in all workplaces, according to a new study.
Research by Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) and Cancer Research UK revealed 73 per cent of individuals in England and Wales support a blanket smoking ban.
Under government proposals, which are due to come into force in 2008, non-food serving pubs and clubs will be exempt from a smoking ban.
ASH director Deborah Arnott labelled plans not to outlaw smoking in all establishments as "damaging" and "pointless". "The public wants action to end second-hand smoke at work. It now kills more than 600 people at work every year three times the number of deaths from industrial accidents. And it causes many thousands of asthma attacks and episodes of illness," she said.
"Smoke-free legislation must be comprehensive if it is to be successful," Ms Arnott added.
The health improvement and protection bill is expected to be put before parliament in November
Well, I think the words duh, come to mind here. It is only the government whom seem to not have their ear to the ground and are so disconnected from their own electorate, which is sadly nothing new, but here is even more proof that their dithering is a waste of time. It is so funny that they can't see that a ban will work. It works in San Francisco, New York, Ireland, Norway, and more and more places are putting in bans which aren't affecting business, in a lot of cases, it is increasing business because those who don't want to smell like an ashtray at the end of a night are actually going out, they aren't being affected by the pain to their eyes with the smoke. I have had the fortune to visit two of the places listed, and it made my night a lot lot better not having that stench on my clothes, I ended up staying longer in the bar/pub, because I didn't have to get away from the smoke.
This idea of allowing people to ruin others health, is not on anymore, and people are sick of it. It would help if London Underground would enforce their ban on smoking, instead of just making an announcement on the tube saying it isn't allowed to smoke, how about throwing the people out of the station, especially as these people seem to forget what happen at Kings Cross in the 80s
So please mayor Ken, act without the government, and ban smoking in public places, like bars/pubs/clubs, restaurants.
Majority approve smoking ban
The majority of the public believe smoking should be banned in all workplaces, according to a new study.
Research by Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) and Cancer Research UK revealed 73 per cent of individuals in England and Wales support a blanket smoking ban.
Under government proposals, which are due to come into force in 2008, non-food serving pubs and clubs will be exempt from a smoking ban.
ASH director Deborah Arnott labelled plans not to outlaw smoking in all establishments as "damaging" and "pointless". "The public wants action to end second-hand smoke at work. It now kills more than 600 people at work every year three times the number of deaths from industrial accidents. And it causes many thousands of asthma attacks and episodes of illness," she said.
"Smoke-free legislation must be comprehensive if it is to be successful," Ms Arnott added.
The health improvement and protection bill is expected to be put before parliament in November
Well, I think the words duh, come to mind here. It is only the government whom seem to not have their ear to the ground and are so disconnected from their own electorate, which is sadly nothing new, but here is even more proof that their dithering is a waste of time. It is so funny that they can't see that a ban will work. It works in San Francisco, New York, Ireland, Norway, and more and more places are putting in bans which aren't affecting business, in a lot of cases, it is increasing business because those who don't want to smell like an ashtray at the end of a night are actually going out, they aren't being affected by the pain to their eyes with the smoke. I have had the fortune to visit two of the places listed, and it made my night a lot lot better not having that stench on my clothes, I ended up staying longer in the bar/pub, because I didn't have to get away from the smoke.
This idea of allowing people to ruin others health, is not on anymore, and people are sick of it. It would help if London Underground would enforce their ban on smoking, instead of just making an announcement on the tube saying it isn't allowed to smoke, how about throwing the people out of the station, especially as these people seem to forget what happen at Kings Cross in the 80s
So please mayor Ken, act without the government, and ban smoking in public places, like bars/pubs/clubs, restaurants.
To the CBI, Digby Jones and other supporters of long hour culture
This study was done very recently in America of all places, the land where working long hours is seen as a good thing.
Long working hours 'health risk'
Why, when we have repeated studies like this, that people like Digby Jones and others who have the wonderful idea that we should have a long hours culture, not read research which clearly shows the dangers of working long hours, and they even support the initiative for a max of 48 hour week. I am not surprised.
When will companies realise that working people to beyond normal capability isn't good for the staff's health, the good of their business, and the burden on the welfare state, because these people end up very ill, costing a lot of money to the state, through time off, through therapy, and a lack of productivity.
I am very fortunate it seems that I have a 35 hour week, and if I ever decide to move on, I will simply not work for a company that expects a 40-50 hour week, because it doesn't mean more work gets done. Productivity is highest when you have fewer hours, as workers are fresher, on the ball more, and less mistakes are then made as well. The Europeans have got this right, they know the benefits of having their staff not work too many hours.
So hopefully the likes of Digby Jones and others like him, will realise that if an American study says it is bad, and from the land that will do all it can to make people work too many hours, and be detrimental to someone's health, that there is some understanding there is a person in the work process, not a machine.
Long working hours 'health risk'
Why, when we have repeated studies like this, that people like Digby Jones and others who have the wonderful idea that we should have a long hours culture, not read research which clearly shows the dangers of working long hours, and they even support the initiative for a max of 48 hour week. I am not surprised.
When will companies realise that working people to beyond normal capability isn't good for the staff's health, the good of their business, and the burden on the welfare state, because these people end up very ill, costing a lot of money to the state, through time off, through therapy, and a lack of productivity.
I am very fortunate it seems that I have a 35 hour week, and if I ever decide to move on, I will simply not work for a company that expects a 40-50 hour week, because it doesn't mean more work gets done. Productivity is highest when you have fewer hours, as workers are fresher, on the ball more, and less mistakes are then made as well. The Europeans have got this right, they know the benefits of having their staff not work too many hours.
So hopefully the likes of Digby Jones and others like him, will realise that if an American study says it is bad, and from the land that will do all it can to make people work too many hours, and be detrimental to someone's health, that there is some understanding there is a person in the work process, not a machine.
Sad death of Synth pioneer - Dr.Moog
Today it was announced that Moog has died.
A lot of the music I listen to had it roots in those pioneers of synths, so many bands of the 80s wouldn't have existed and so many of them would have had to use different instruments. A lot of the bands of the 60s were big users of his machines to name a couple the beatles, the beach boys, the doors, etc.
Synthesiser pioneer Dr Moog dies
I am sure many many others can list all the bands of the 80s that used synths so heavily that, that was all they were to some extent. But long live the synth, and I am a big fan of the electro music that came from synths.
A Review of Goldfrapp - Supernature
I got this today, pre-ordered it and it arrived today which I am very happy about. I was wondering if it would meet the standard of the previous one, and overall I have to say I do so far prefer Black Cherry.
Supernature is a good album, don't misunderstand, especially if you like electro-pop music. Well that is what I would class it as, and I believe others do. The album rolls along very quickly and before you know it, it is finished, very unexpectedly.
The only thing I didn't like about the album, was the fact that I had to install software to play it on my machine, I find that really bad. Why should I have to install software to play it on my PC, it should just play straight out.
Otherwise, I would say if you liked Black Cherry, then get hold of supernature and give it a good listening to. I believe you will enjoy it
Supernature is a good album, don't misunderstand, especially if you like electro-pop music. Well that is what I would class it as, and I believe others do. The album rolls along very quickly and before you know it, it is finished, very unexpectedly.
The only thing I didn't like about the album, was the fact that I had to install software to play it on my machine, I find that really bad. Why should I have to install software to play it on my PC, it should just play straight out.
Otherwise, I would say if you liked Black Cherry, then get hold of supernature and give it a good listening to. I believe you will enjoy it
Friday, August 19, 2005
Change to Holiday plans
Sadly my holiday plans took a less than happy turn. I am not off to Malta, much to my sadness, as F, my friend I was supposed to be staying with has been taken quite ill and has had to go into hospital for an operation.
F isn't well at all, and this operation is urgent and of course, despite my sadness at not being able to catch up now, the main thing is that F is well. We looked at other dates, but the alternatives clash with my work commitments, never thought I would say that 6 months ago, lol.
It is a grand shame, as it has been a while since I had the chance to catch up with F, and doing so in the sunny climate of Malta was something I was looking forward to. I am sure now that I am back working there will be more opportunities to catch up with F. With F's birthday approaching as well, it was really going to be a good chance to have a laugh.
Well F, take care of yourself, keep your strength to recover, and we will just to have to organize another time, and I will be able to catch up then, and to my knowledge Malta won't run away, so I can see you in the near future, I am sure of it
I am still going to be taking the time off work, take a well needed break and take it easy, well I say that, but with my OU coming to a close in the next month or so, I need to focus on the exams and the last of the assignments, so I will probably be working, but not my usual case of work, plus I guess I have to try and get the house ready for when Z turns up on the 28th
F isn't well at all, and this operation is urgent and of course, despite my sadness at not being able to catch up now, the main thing is that F is well. We looked at other dates, but the alternatives clash with my work commitments, never thought I would say that 6 months ago, lol.
It is a grand shame, as it has been a while since I had the chance to catch up with F, and doing so in the sunny climate of Malta was something I was looking forward to. I am sure now that I am back working there will be more opportunities to catch up with F. With F's birthday approaching as well, it was really going to be a good chance to have a laugh.
Well F, take care of yourself, keep your strength to recover, and we will just to have to organize another time, and I will be able to catch up then, and to my knowledge Malta won't run away, so I can see you in the near future, I am sure of it
I am still going to be taking the time off work, take a well needed break and take it easy, well I say that, but with my OU coming to a close in the next month or so, I need to focus on the exams and the last of the assignments, so I will probably be working, but not my usual case of work, plus I guess I have to try and get the house ready for when Z turns up on the 28th
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Tube damages your health
MP3 users hearing damage warning
This report has been on the BBC website and in the evening standard. Well I have to say it makes me laugh, because for one it is like ‘No Shit Sherlock’ and then they come up with daft things like, that people have their headphones too loud and that is the reason for damaging the hearing. If you look at the list below, and tell me that those living in London don't suffer an assault on their ears each day, not of their doing.
They even list decibel levels as such
20dB – Quiet room at night
70dB – a city street
90dB – Tube Train
90-105dB - Nightclub
100dB - iPod at full volume
110dB - pneumatic drill
125dB - rock concert
130dB - aeroplane taking off
140dB - threshold of pain
Then they say that ‘80 decibels as the level at which hearing is threatened - 20 less than a pneumatic drill.’ Well if you look at the list, the tube train is higher than the level when hearing is threatened, and given most people spend anywhere between 1hr to 3/4 hours a day on the tube, for those who commute, what that does say, when they are saying that iPods are damaging the hearing with use of an hour a day. What it says is that the tube is damaging peoples hearing and unless something is done, nothing will ever change.
This research makes me laugh because they focus on things like iPods, etc which people use to enjoy music and then saying people turn them up to try and drown out the unpleasant noise from traffic and on the Tube. Well when you look at the list are you bloody surprised. Maybe for those who live in London, this will point out just how bad the Tube is for your health, and that doesn’t include all the dust that is going into your lungs and chest when you are down there.
Suggesting people listen responsibly, is all well and good, but when like me you spend 2 hours a day travelling a tube that is supposedly threatening what little hearing I have left, and I don’t listen to a walkman, that says the tube needs to be sorted out.
This report has been on the BBC website and in the evening standard. Well I have to say it makes me laugh, because for one it is like ‘No Shit Sherlock’ and then they come up with daft things like, that people have their headphones too loud and that is the reason for damaging the hearing. If you look at the list below, and tell me that those living in London don't suffer an assault on their ears each day, not of their doing.
They even list decibel levels as such
20dB – Quiet room at night
70dB – a city street
90dB – Tube Train
90-105dB - Nightclub
100dB - iPod at full volume
110dB - pneumatic drill
125dB - rock concert
130dB - aeroplane taking off
140dB - threshold of pain
Then they say that ‘80 decibels as the level at which hearing is threatened - 20 less than a pneumatic drill.’ Well if you look at the list, the tube train is higher than the level when hearing is threatened, and given most people spend anywhere between 1hr to 3/4 hours a day on the tube, for those who commute, what that does say, when they are saying that iPods are damaging the hearing with use of an hour a day. What it says is that the tube is damaging peoples hearing and unless something is done, nothing will ever change.
This research makes me laugh because they focus on things like iPods, etc which people use to enjoy music and then saying people turn them up to try and drown out the unpleasant noise from traffic and on the Tube. Well when you look at the list are you bloody surprised. Maybe for those who live in London, this will point out just how bad the Tube is for your health, and that doesn’t include all the dust that is going into your lungs and chest when you are down there.
Suggesting people listen responsibly, is all well and good, but when like me you spend 2 hours a day travelling a tube that is supposedly threatening what little hearing I have left, and I don’t listen to a walkman, that says the tube needs to be sorted out.
Follow up on the NHS complaint to Northwick Park Hospital
Shock and horror, I actually got a response to my email I sent them on Tuesday, which surprised me no end. Not a full response, but to say that they are looking into it. It is below.
Dear xxxxxx
Thank you very much for your e-mail. I was very sorry to learn that you haven encountered such problems with your referral and I have passed your concerns on to xxxxxx, General Manager for our Cardiology department in order that they can investigate these issues. Please note that we aim to respond to complaints within 20 working days of receipt and as soon and as soon as our investigation has been completed our Chief Executive, xxxxxxxx, will respond to you.
You can of course write to xxxxxxx at the following address:
Level 5
Admin Block
Northwick Park Hospital
Harrow
Middlesex
HA1 3UJ
In addition, you are most welcome to contact the Complaints department on telephone number xxx xxxx xxxx or if you would prefer independent advice you may contact the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) on xxxx xxx xxxx.
I hope this is of some help. I am very sorry that your experience of Northwick Park Hospital was not a good one but I would like to thank you for taking the time to contact us as patient feedback is most helpful to us in the improvement of our services.
Yours sincerely
Xxxxxxxx
Well I have to say it stunned me, I never expected to get this and I have to say I am happy that at least it is in the pipeline. I will of course be fair and give them the 20 working days from today, which means if I haven’t heard by the 19th September, then I am going to be back at their door giving them what for.
I have to admit, I can’t imagine what they can say that will appease my frustration and anger, but I have to I suppose give them the chance to respond.
This will continue to be ongoing, watch out for more reports.
Dear xxxxxx
Thank you very much for your e-mail. I was very sorry to learn that you haven encountered such problems with your referral and I have passed your concerns on to xxxxxx, General Manager for our Cardiology department in order that they can investigate these issues. Please note that we aim to respond to complaints within 20 working days of receipt and as soon and as soon as our investigation has been completed our Chief Executive, xxxxxxxx, will respond to you.
You can of course write to xxxxxxx at the following address:
Level 5
Admin Block
Northwick Park Hospital
Harrow
Middlesex
HA1 3UJ
In addition, you are most welcome to contact the Complaints department on telephone number xxx xxxx xxxx or if you would prefer independent advice you may contact the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) on xxxx xxx xxxx.
I hope this is of some help. I am very sorry that your experience of Northwick Park Hospital was not a good one but I would like to thank you for taking the time to contact us as patient feedback is most helpful to us in the improvement of our services.
Yours sincerely
Xxxxxxxx
Well I have to say it stunned me, I never expected to get this and I have to say I am happy that at least it is in the pipeline. I will of course be fair and give them the 20 working days from today, which means if I haven’t heard by the 19th September, then I am going to be back at their door giving them what for.
I have to admit, I can’t imagine what they can say that will appease my frustration and anger, but I have to I suppose give them the chance to respond.
This will continue to be ongoing, watch out for more reports.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Scary news for those who use North West London Hospitals NHS trust
This is information that was recently posted by the healthcare commission and was also published in the newspapers in the national media, so maybe already seen, but for those who live in North West London and use the hospitals in the area, of which Northwick Park Hospital is one of them, this will make very uncomfortable reading.
Healthcare commission report 2005 for North West London Hospitals NHS trust
Star Rating for the North West London Hospitals NHS trust 2005
There shows in these reports just how bad things are, and to make matters worse they are extremely dismissive of patient compliants. The defintion of compliants by the commission - Percentage of written complaints for which a local resolution was completed within 20 working days.This indicator shows how well the NHS is performing in meeting targets set for the local resolution stage of the NHS complaints procedure. And they score 1, which is Significantly below average, oh my. I can see my letter disappearing and never being found, just like the 24 hour tape data.
The management in charge of this trust, should be sacked en mass, and a new set of people found who will actually do what they are employed for, making sure patients are seen quickly, with little or no fuss, and make sure the patients get better where possible, instead of having them wait in excess of the time the government sets as the worse case scenario waiting time. Remember this is a trust that sends out letters to people asking if they still want the surgery which they have been waiting in excess of 9 months for, so they can try and reduce the waiting list.
If anyone from that trust by chance ever reads this, maybe they can say why the trust is sinking fast and up shit creek without a paddle.
Healthcare commission report 2005 for North West London Hospitals NHS trust
Star Rating for the North West London Hospitals NHS trust 2005
There shows in these reports just how bad things are, and to make matters worse they are extremely dismissive of patient compliants. The defintion of compliants by the commission - Percentage of written complaints for which a local resolution was completed within 20 working days.This indicator shows how well the NHS is performing in meeting targets set for the local resolution stage of the NHS complaints procedure. And they score 1, which is Significantly below average, oh my. I can see my letter disappearing and never being found, just like the 24 hour tape data.
The management in charge of this trust, should be sacked en mass, and a new set of people found who will actually do what they are employed for, making sure patients are seen quickly, with little or no fuss, and make sure the patients get better where possible, instead of having them wait in excess of the time the government sets as the worse case scenario waiting time. Remember this is a trust that sends out letters to people asking if they still want the surgery which they have been waiting in excess of 9 months for, so they can try and reduce the waiting list.
If anyone from that trust by chance ever reads this, maybe they can say why the trust is sinking fast and up shit creek without a paddle.
Letter of complaint to Northwick Park Hospital
Well I have written it, my letter of compliant to Northwick Park Hospital. I am sure that nada will get done, and if by some amazing miracle I actually get a response, I will be posting it here so that if anyone is interested they can see what feeble excuse they come up with.
This is what I have sent to them tonight, and lets see what gets said.
I am writing to complain about the extremely poor service given to me at Northwick Park Hospital (NPH). I am absolutely disgusted with the service.
I have been seeing a cardiologist and in January 2005 I was told by them that I would be immediately referred to the Chelsea and Westminster because my problem is urgent, and that they needed to find out why I was suffering blackouts with no explanation.
Well that was January 2005, I found out yesterday that despite it being urgent, the letter was dictated in January 2005 and marked as urgent, it was typed in July 2005. It was deemed okay not to even type the letter for 6 months let alone send it to the Chelsea and Westminster hospital. They of course booked me in ASAP, whereas NPH couldn't even be bothered to type a referral letter to ensure that my health is taken care of.
I am absolutely disgusted, and many other choices of words that would be impolite to type. How is something that is clearly stated as urgent, left for 6 months. I shudder to think what non-urgent means at NPH.
This goes along with the complete and utter farce that meant I had to wait 2+ years from breaking my wrist to actually having an operation to have it fixed and right now I am having to go through all the physiotherapy whereas it should have been done in the beginning if someone had decided to actually make sure that patient health was important.
I would really like to know why I had to wait so long for a referral, one would think you would be aiming to get me pushed elsewhere to save you money. And why is it that your staff also managed to lose a 24 hour tape test for cardiology, forcing me to have to do another one.
This smacks of sheer incompetency, short sightedness, and downright disregard for a patients health. Nothing about this is right and I am really hoping you are able to come with a logical response, because other than actually sacking incompetent management I don't see how else this can be resolved, other than maybe hire more admin staff to ensure that letters are typed up. That would be a novel idea.
I would also like the name and address of the chief of staff, to make a formal complaint, as I feel this matter is obviously not something that NPH seem to be interested in dealing with.
As you can see I held back from really taking a shot at them.
I will also post in another entry just how bad the healthcare commission rated NPH and the trust it is part of, scary reading for those who are in North West London like myself. Remember that the commission is a governmental body too.
This is what I have sent to them tonight, and lets see what gets said.
I am writing to complain about the extremely poor service given to me at Northwick Park Hospital (NPH). I am absolutely disgusted with the service.
I have been seeing a cardiologist and in January 2005 I was told by them that I would be immediately referred to the Chelsea and Westminster because my problem is urgent, and that they needed to find out why I was suffering blackouts with no explanation.
Well that was January 2005, I found out yesterday that despite it being urgent, the letter was dictated in January 2005 and marked as urgent, it was typed in July 2005. It was deemed okay not to even type the letter for 6 months let alone send it to the Chelsea and Westminster hospital. They of course booked me in ASAP, whereas NPH couldn't even be bothered to type a referral letter to ensure that my health is taken care of.
I am absolutely disgusted, and many other choices of words that would be impolite to type. How is something that is clearly stated as urgent, left for 6 months. I shudder to think what non-urgent means at NPH.
This goes along with the complete and utter farce that meant I had to wait 2+ years from breaking my wrist to actually having an operation to have it fixed and right now I am having to go through all the physiotherapy whereas it should have been done in the beginning if someone had decided to actually make sure that patient health was important.
I would really like to know why I had to wait so long for a referral, one would think you would be aiming to get me pushed elsewhere to save you money. And why is it that your staff also managed to lose a 24 hour tape test for cardiology, forcing me to have to do another one.
This smacks of sheer incompetency, short sightedness, and downright disregard for a patients health. Nothing about this is right and I am really hoping you are able to come with a logical response, because other than actually sacking incompetent management I don't see how else this can be resolved, other than maybe hire more admin staff to ensure that letters are typed up. That would be a novel idea.
I would also like the name and address of the chief of staff, to make a formal complaint, as I feel this matter is obviously not something that NPH seem to be interested in dealing with.
As you can see I held back from really taking a shot at them.
I will also post in another entry just how bad the healthcare commission rated NPH and the trust it is part of, scary reading for those who are in North West London like myself. Remember that the commission is a governmental body too.
Blog Depression
No, I am not depressed, but I saw an entry on another blog and it caught my attention, well a title like blog depression is bound to isn't it?
Blog Depression
I have to say there have been days, where I wonder if I get time to blog and if I really feel up to blogging. This blog is meant to be fun, as well my take on the world, and if it gets peoples attention all the better, and if others feel like taking what I say and using it themselves or feel a connection to it, that is even better, as it means I am not the only one who sees the world in the way I do.
When I started this blog, it was with the intention to show one Londoners view of London and the everyday life of said Londoner, as well as showing the trials, tribulations, joys, pleasures a deaf person in London gets, the highs and the lows. I feel that I get that out sometimes, other times not, I guess my mind is so full of stuff, it would be easier to download it, if my fingers were fast enough, but obviously ones aren't, plus I have no desire to attached to my computer 24/7, maybe a few years back, but I can and intend to enjoy more of my life than that.
There is more in my life than I can ever manage to blog about, and I hope the snippets I give of my mind make others laugh, or cry even if the subject matters needs it.
I will let the blog ebb and flow as it grows, it has been about 6 months now, and I feel this blog is like a good book you like that you go back to again and again to connect with. Just like friends you don't see for a while and when you do, it is like you only saw them yesterday.
Blog Depression
I have to say there have been days, where I wonder if I get time to blog and if I really feel up to blogging. This blog is meant to be fun, as well my take on the world, and if it gets peoples attention all the better, and if others feel like taking what I say and using it themselves or feel a connection to it, that is even better, as it means I am not the only one who sees the world in the way I do.
When I started this blog, it was with the intention to show one Londoners view of London and the everyday life of said Londoner, as well as showing the trials, tribulations, joys, pleasures a deaf person in London gets, the highs and the lows. I feel that I get that out sometimes, other times not, I guess my mind is so full of stuff, it would be easier to download it, if my fingers were fast enough, but obviously ones aren't, plus I have no desire to attached to my computer 24/7, maybe a few years back, but I can and intend to enjoy more of my life than that.
There is more in my life than I can ever manage to blog about, and I hope the snippets I give of my mind make others laugh, or cry even if the subject matters needs it.
I will let the blog ebb and flow as it grows, it has been about 6 months now, and I feel this blog is like a good book you like that you go back to again and again to connect with. Just like friends you don't see for a while and when you do, it is like you only saw them yesterday.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Another NHS complaint
For those who don’t want to read a rant on the bullshit of the NHS, skip this blog entry and please go and read something else. This entry will highlight the lunacy that exists in the system and the complete lack of improvement in over 8 years of a supposedly left leaning government who supposedly believe in the NHS.
Today has proved itself to be a day where I have seen the worse of the NHS and the best, and I thought I had seen the worse having to wait for two years for an operation for a busted wrist. This day will prove just how bad things are getting and we are due for a lot lot worse and I rue the day this incumbent bunch of morons in the government were allowed to run the country.
I had three hospital appointments today, one for my ears to keep a check on them to ensure I don’t ever suffer a chloesteatoma again like I did 6 years ago, something I never want to go through again. Another was for a cardiology appointment to find out why I suffering blackouts and dizzy spells for no none reason, and the last one was for new hearing aids.
Well the first one went okayish, I usually see them every 3 months and managed to push that out to 6 months because sorting out time through work isn’t easy to do especially when the specialist is only available on a Monday morning in the week. Though they left me running to a very close deadline, I was given the all clear, and given a backup in case of emergencies, incase of an ear infection, so I was very happy with their can do attitude.
Onto the second appointment, having to get half way across London, which anyone who knows, that isn’t easy to do at anytime of the day, but especially at lunchtime, when people seem to just congregate in places, that you don’t expect. Thankfully I made it to the Chelsea and Westminster (C+W). Well I have to say I was very impressed by them, they showed me a side of the NHS I generally never see and they were very helpful. I did have to wait over an hour from the time of my appointment, but given that this appointment had been a very quickly arranged appointment because of my problems with blackouts, etc. I wasn’t too unhappy about it.
My anger and frustration boiled over when I saw the specialist though, it transpires that my local hospital – Northwick Park Hospital (NPH), saw it fit after the cardiologist saw me there in January to refer me to C+W as an urgent case, so far so good, but it took NPH 6 months to write the referral letter to C+W. 6 months, the specialist themselves was astounded that a case that is so urgent could be left. He blames the admin of NPH, which doesn’t surprise me, the trust that NPH is part of is millions and millions in debt, what the hell, just how, what are they doing to accrue that much debt and they also dropped in the governmental ratings. Well duh, if the services aren’t being provided, then of course it will happen.
Waiting 2 years for surgery, waiting 9 months to see a specialist for cardiology, the list goes on, I know many people who are suffering at the hands of incompetancy. Whoever is in charge, seriously needs to be fired and thrown out now, and get this situation fixed, they are even close to reaching targets and are running the place into the ground.
The specialist did his best to apologise for NPH, despite the fact it wasn’t his problem, and I have spent the last 6 months being left in limbo by a hospital that shows it doesn’t even know how to do the basics, like send referrals. You would think they would do this fast, as it means someone else is paying for it, and not them, oh no. This is the same hospital that made me do a 24 hour tape test twice, because they lost the original results. Like I say needs to be shot. And yes I will be making a complaint as advised by this specialist, and if I do ever get a letter of response I will be posting it and I am less than impressed by NPH, so it is going to take a lot to fix this.
Thankfully I am now more likely to get the situation resolved now being part of C+W for the tests I need, something I have relief over, and instead of waiting up to 9 months like before for tests, it should take no more than 2 months, and to me that is f**king fast, so hats off to C+W to doing a good job, only wish I had such a decent hospital near to me.
After leaving that hospital I then had to go and get my new hearing aids, well, thank you Royal Free, I have to say I am not impressed by your actions. I go along expecting new aids, and it seems the mistakes made two weeks ago, where you deemed the aids I was going to have weren’t the right ones, so you suggested these others, well these others were even less powerful than I have, so what on earth were you thinking. Come on, get with the plot. It was only rescued by the fact the principal audiologist whom I know after repeated visits was shocked to see me, and corrected the complete and utter bulls up. The hearing aids I am supposed to have aren’t even in yet, so a completely utter wasted journey, yet again, two in two weeks, getting good aren’t we eh?
Oh, I ain’t finished yet, a bombshell was dropped, well I say bombshell other might not say so, but as the Royal Free is suffering money problems as well as NPH is, they are making cutbacks, and lo and behold where are some of the cutbacks coming – audiology. Great, just what I need, to be told that if I get these aids and there are problems I might not be able to get ones that I can hear with. Well just f**king great. It is bad enough that for the past 3+ months I have suffering aids where I can’t hear with, which is useless, and not exactly helping with work. It doesn’t make me look clever and it certainly doesn’t endear my new company to me at all. What I also didn’t like is the fact that if the aids breakdown I am screwed basically. They won’t give me spares, and so if they breakdown and with my bad luck with aids, as they always breakdown, I am forever going to be going back and to, and what makes it worse I won’t have a cover aid whilst it is sent off for repair. For a deaf person, the hearing aids allow me to have some chance of communication with the ‘normal’ world, and without hearing I am more susceptible to being injured, suffer problems, as you would expect with someone who can’t hear. Their response to my request, no chance pal, you have to lump it. Well thank you, you caring people!!!!!
I only hope that when I have to go back next week, that they actually have the aids in, and I won’t be forced into a third wasted journey.
I am looking forward to blasting the NPH, and I look forward to seeing what bullshit they manage to pull out of their fat f**king behind as an excuse.
And I apologise to those reading this whom didn’t like the strong language, but when you have repeatedly suffered this, you begin to get less able to withhold it, through the sheer frustration, and yes I found out my blood pressure is excessively high for the first time in my life, and you wonder why.
Today has proved itself to be a day where I have seen the worse of the NHS and the best, and I thought I had seen the worse having to wait for two years for an operation for a busted wrist. This day will prove just how bad things are getting and we are due for a lot lot worse and I rue the day this incumbent bunch of morons in the government were allowed to run the country.
I had three hospital appointments today, one for my ears to keep a check on them to ensure I don’t ever suffer a chloesteatoma again like I did 6 years ago, something I never want to go through again. Another was for a cardiology appointment to find out why I suffering blackouts and dizzy spells for no none reason, and the last one was for new hearing aids.
Well the first one went okayish, I usually see them every 3 months and managed to push that out to 6 months because sorting out time through work isn’t easy to do especially when the specialist is only available on a Monday morning in the week. Though they left me running to a very close deadline, I was given the all clear, and given a backup in case of emergencies, incase of an ear infection, so I was very happy with their can do attitude.
Onto the second appointment, having to get half way across London, which anyone who knows, that isn’t easy to do at anytime of the day, but especially at lunchtime, when people seem to just congregate in places, that you don’t expect. Thankfully I made it to the Chelsea and Westminster (C+W). Well I have to say I was very impressed by them, they showed me a side of the NHS I generally never see and they were very helpful. I did have to wait over an hour from the time of my appointment, but given that this appointment had been a very quickly arranged appointment because of my problems with blackouts, etc. I wasn’t too unhappy about it.
My anger and frustration boiled over when I saw the specialist though, it transpires that my local hospital – Northwick Park Hospital (NPH), saw it fit after the cardiologist saw me there in January to refer me to C+W as an urgent case, so far so good, but it took NPH 6 months to write the referral letter to C+W. 6 months, the specialist themselves was astounded that a case that is so urgent could be left. He blames the admin of NPH, which doesn’t surprise me, the trust that NPH is part of is millions and millions in debt, what the hell, just how, what are they doing to accrue that much debt and they also dropped in the governmental ratings. Well duh, if the services aren’t being provided, then of course it will happen.
Waiting 2 years for surgery, waiting 9 months to see a specialist for cardiology, the list goes on, I know many people who are suffering at the hands of incompetancy. Whoever is in charge, seriously needs to be fired and thrown out now, and get this situation fixed, they are even close to reaching targets and are running the place into the ground.
The specialist did his best to apologise for NPH, despite the fact it wasn’t his problem, and I have spent the last 6 months being left in limbo by a hospital that shows it doesn’t even know how to do the basics, like send referrals. You would think they would do this fast, as it means someone else is paying for it, and not them, oh no. This is the same hospital that made me do a 24 hour tape test twice, because they lost the original results. Like I say needs to be shot. And yes I will be making a complaint as advised by this specialist, and if I do ever get a letter of response I will be posting it and I am less than impressed by NPH, so it is going to take a lot to fix this.
Thankfully I am now more likely to get the situation resolved now being part of C+W for the tests I need, something I have relief over, and instead of waiting up to 9 months like before for tests, it should take no more than 2 months, and to me that is f**king fast, so hats off to C+W to doing a good job, only wish I had such a decent hospital near to me.
After leaving that hospital I then had to go and get my new hearing aids, well, thank you Royal Free, I have to say I am not impressed by your actions. I go along expecting new aids, and it seems the mistakes made two weeks ago, where you deemed the aids I was going to have weren’t the right ones, so you suggested these others, well these others were even less powerful than I have, so what on earth were you thinking. Come on, get with the plot. It was only rescued by the fact the principal audiologist whom I know after repeated visits was shocked to see me, and corrected the complete and utter bulls up. The hearing aids I am supposed to have aren’t even in yet, so a completely utter wasted journey, yet again, two in two weeks, getting good aren’t we eh?
Oh, I ain’t finished yet, a bombshell was dropped, well I say bombshell other might not say so, but as the Royal Free is suffering money problems as well as NPH is, they are making cutbacks, and lo and behold where are some of the cutbacks coming – audiology. Great, just what I need, to be told that if I get these aids and there are problems I might not be able to get ones that I can hear with. Well just f**king great. It is bad enough that for the past 3+ months I have suffering aids where I can’t hear with, which is useless, and not exactly helping with work. It doesn’t make me look clever and it certainly doesn’t endear my new company to me at all. What I also didn’t like is the fact that if the aids breakdown I am screwed basically. They won’t give me spares, and so if they breakdown and with my bad luck with aids, as they always breakdown, I am forever going to be going back and to, and what makes it worse I won’t have a cover aid whilst it is sent off for repair. For a deaf person, the hearing aids allow me to have some chance of communication with the ‘normal’ world, and without hearing I am more susceptible to being injured, suffer problems, as you would expect with someone who can’t hear. Their response to my request, no chance pal, you have to lump it. Well thank you, you caring people!!!!!
I only hope that when I have to go back next week, that they actually have the aids in, and I won’t be forced into a third wasted journey.
I am looking forward to blasting the NPH, and I look forward to seeing what bullshit they manage to pull out of their fat f**king behind as an excuse.
And I apologise to those reading this whom didn’t like the strong language, but when you have repeatedly suffered this, you begin to get less able to withhold it, through the sheer frustration, and yes I found out my blood pressure is excessively high for the first time in my life, and you wonder why.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Adverts
You can tell I watch and pay too much attention to the adverts. I have noticed two adverts have had fairly major changes to the voiceovers.
The first is Churchill, and I know they did it because Vic Reeves got in trouble driving, so they dropped him for it, which I suppose is fair enough given that when you are advertising car insurance, you do kind of want the person doing the voiceover to not be been arrested for driving. But the person they replaced him with, boy they sound crap, I haven’t been able to figure out who it is, but they really don’t sound right at all. Like I said, I think I pay too much attention to adverts.
The second advert is pepperami, now obviously this was going to change, with the sad death of John Peel who did one part of the voiceover. The other one was Adrian Edmondson being the pepperami. Though I never actually bought the product, I do recall this advert a lot, in the various guises it came in, always with Ade basically re-enacting his Vyvyan role with the screaming and shouting. I am not sure who they replaced them both with, but it is no longer a pepperami advert to me, it is seems totally ruined. You expect to hear Ade and John, okay John can’t do it now, as such, but isn’t there such a thing as using the voice and paying his estate for the use of it. It is attached to them both, so you would think they would keep it as such.
I am sure there are many other adverts that have changed their voiceovers in the years, these are just the two I noticed, maybe I should get away from the TV when the adverts on more often…….
The first is Churchill, and I know they did it because Vic Reeves got in trouble driving, so they dropped him for it, which I suppose is fair enough given that when you are advertising car insurance, you do kind of want the person doing the voiceover to not be been arrested for driving. But the person they replaced him with, boy they sound crap, I haven’t been able to figure out who it is, but they really don’t sound right at all. Like I said, I think I pay too much attention to adverts.
The second advert is pepperami, now obviously this was going to change, with the sad death of John Peel who did one part of the voiceover. The other one was Adrian Edmondson being the pepperami. Though I never actually bought the product, I do recall this advert a lot, in the various guises it came in, always with Ade basically re-enacting his Vyvyan role with the screaming and shouting. I am not sure who they replaced them both with, but it is no longer a pepperami advert to me, it is seems totally ruined. You expect to hear Ade and John, okay John can’t do it now, as such, but isn’t there such a thing as using the voice and paying his estate for the use of it. It is attached to them both, so you would think they would keep it as such.
I am sure there are many other adverts that have changed their voiceovers in the years, these are just the two I noticed, maybe I should get away from the TV when the adverts on more often…….
Channel 4 showing Lost
Still haven’t yet been able to blog as regularly as I would like. I thought that with summer coming I would maybe have more time, not a chance in hell. I seem to have less time, and it is like get up in the morning, go to work, come home, cook, and then do some more work for my OU degree, and then literally bed. One damn boring lifestyle at the moment, but with my hand, I can only do so much, bloody frustrating, and I am off at the end of next week and sunny Malta here I come.
A couple of things that I wanted to mention from the last week, I am sure there are more, but memory is crap right now. I am sure I will forget my name and where I work if this continues.
Firstly, for those who haven’t seen it, you are missing a great programme. It started last night, it is called Lost, and channel 4 are showing it. - Lost
If you missed it, you best start catching up soon, this programme is one of the US’s great exports, very well done, good storyline, and good characters. I know I am going to miss one when I am away as I am sure that Malta isn’t showing this, and if it does, I am betting it will be in Italian as 50% of their TV is in Italian, and I don’t get a word of it.
I am glad Channel 4 have picked this up, I think they have made a good choice and apparently 6 million of us in the UK seem to agree, so that says well done Channel 4.
A couple of things that I wanted to mention from the last week, I am sure there are more, but memory is crap right now. I am sure I will forget my name and where I work if this continues.
Firstly, for those who haven’t seen it, you are missing a great programme. It started last night, it is called Lost, and channel 4 are showing it. - Lost
If you missed it, you best start catching up soon, this programme is one of the US’s great exports, very well done, good storyline, and good characters. I know I am going to miss one when I am away as I am sure that Malta isn’t showing this, and if it does, I am betting it will be in Italian as 50% of their TV is in Italian, and I don’t get a word of it.
I am glad Channel 4 have picked this up, I think they have made a good choice and apparently 6 million of us in the UK seem to agree, so that says well done Channel 4.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Off on holiday soon
I am off on holiday soon, to go and visit an old friend of mine in Malta. I am overdue a break, the last one I had was NY last September and that wasn’t a trip that went well. I know when I am out in Malta, I will probably suffer from the heat quite badly, being a real Englishman, who is quite pale, one isn’t very well built for the Med. Everytime I went before I ended up quite lobster red, and looking very bright red, you could literally feel the heat coming off me. Summer wardrobe needs a serious update, but there isn’t time and maybe looking like a tourist, people might take pity on me ;o))
I do like Malta, I really do, the people tend to be very friendly, and when I had been there previously I always enjoyed it. It helps they speak English as well, given I am terribly with foreign languages. But it is a much needed break and it will be nice to catch up with an old friend.
I do like Malta, I really do, the people tend to be very friendly, and when I had been there previously I always enjoyed it. It helps they speak English as well, given I am terribly with foreign languages. But it is a much needed break and it will be nice to catch up with an old friend.
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