bignumber5

My latest little bit of anger at the world: People who take that last drag of their smoke as the bus pulls up, then get on and then blow out their lungful of smoke... Grim.

Huguenot Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Why is working in the private healthcare sector > not as hard? > > What are the hours that make people shuddder? My > understanding is that the working time directive > is followed by all NHS employees apart from junior > doctors. That's 48 hours, which is kind of > standard. My last full time job I averaged around > 60. > > Incidentally, you didn't really address the > question about what the NHS could learn from these > results? The work is easier, the hours are what they are (you don't have to stick around for hours after your shift has officially finish sorting stuff out), and the money is significantly better. I haven't offered an answer to the question because it's a bollocks question being asked in a snide, presumptious way with apparently no understanding of the industry. That PGC has had to gently raise the issue of hospital acquired infection shows how far from the mark the OP has started. Jeremy, you are correct that there are regulations in place regarding return to work after illness for the purposes of infection control, and they are more stringent in the public sector. As Macroban points out, the article doesn't suggest skiving, it suggests declining health. The OP has reinterpreted rather differently to fit the point he seems to be trying to make. I'm off to work now (I also don't smoke and I'm a good weight for my height, if you can believe such a thing). I'm aware that I've come into this all guns blazing but it's exactly the kind of tripe that makes my blood boil. Approach it in an intelligent way and I'll engage intelligently. Call my colleagues and I skivers who are lazy because they can't be easily fired, and "don't buy" any of the reasons that we try to use to explain ourselves, and expect to meet hostility. NOT a good thread. Potentially a good thread, but started with a ridiculous, confrontational style and I'm seeing to it that it meets a response of the same. Rephrase the original post as a question for discussion rather than an accusation of the world as you see it and I'll come back calmer.

And well done for uttering the phrase that instantly makes all NHS staff think you're a dick - we pay tax as well, you know. We also work hours that would make you (as a self-confessed desk pilot) shudder, with responsibilities that are overwhelming on a daily basis, and (as your post is pudding-eating proof) are still largely unappreciated by people who direct any intellect they have at picking up on the perceived shortcomings. The work in healthcare in the private sector is (at a very base and simplistic level) not as hard. The sickness rates are better. Yes, that is the arguement, yes it's valid, and no, being a manager obviously does not qualify you to comment intelligently since you have apparently spent that time with your eyes closed. Similarly increased rates of obesity and smoking do not point towards a workforce that eats and smokes instead of going to work, it points to a workforce that is in declining health itself. The tone of the article you have cited is attempting to highlight that. Maybe you could consider the implications of these factors rather than waving your misinterpreted copy of the Times under the metophorical noses of public sector healthcare workers, citing your status as a tax payer as an excuse to make an entire industry feel like shit.

At the risk of fanning the fire, I think BBW is probably well aware that DM is a satirical construct, but I've recently realised that the forum BBW is unlikely to be how the man behind it lives his life, rather that it is something of a caricature. So actually, his point about the aspects of DM that are at the expense of others is pretty valid. I suspect that the difference is that DM does her thing on her blog and here, but doesn't take it outside of the classroom, so to speak. BBW, if you are indeed something of a parody yourself (Gawd help us all if you're completely for real ;-)) then perhaps that's the lesson that DM can teach you. DM, rather than reprimanding the young whippersnapper, why not take him in hand and show him how it's done: Sort of... well... http://www.aceshowbiz.com/images/news/00020573.jpg

And not just towards elders but across the board: I think a smidge of mutual respect is sadly lacking. Respect in general is something that feels like it has slowly been phased out of UK life, and I find it incredibly refreshing when I come into contact with it from external origins. Not to needlessly join the wolf hunt, but Facebook stalking and similar, when taken to the point of badgering people, is exactly such a lack of respect. People have boundaries that they like to maintain, such as between online-forum type personas and their actual life, and it is nice and courteous to respect that...

Maybe even the Mitchell brother that makes gritty gang documentaries...

Oh come on, Mark, there are ways: Probably something like this. Irony is apparently lost on US customs officials...

bigbadwolf Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Nor can I picture 077 wearing white socks with > black shoes. whoever 077 is... Frankly, based on Quantum of Solace, requirements for the modern Bond appear to be the ability to punch people to death because they looked at him a bit funny, while any plot, however flimsy and token, is explored and progressed by Judi Dench. Why don't we take that to it's logical conclusion and see if Vinnie Jones wants the role?

sorry to hear, James

???? Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > er......GnR? PM&W shuuurely? Originally, yes - but the GnR cover is fantastic. I'm very much a Bond person, although I though the last one was bloody awful. Title - the English translation of the Bond family motto (Orbis Non Suficit): The World is Not Enough... Bitch - Fiona Volpe Villain - too hard to choose... the cartoon supervillany of the early ones, or Renard the doomed henchman? Drink - As much as the vintage champers must be a fun tipple, surely it's not a Bond without a vodka martini? ...and I'll add to the categories for consideration Favourite Vehicle? Favourite Gadget? Favourite cheesy line?

It appears that was a friend who they had round, and they were lovely about it - a triumph of being a bit reasonable and mrs.number5's charm.

true story...

Keef Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Is it electric? If so, knock on the door in a > friendly way, and ask them to turn down a bit. If > it's acoustic, then you're stuck. Just go and have > a friendly conversation with them if possible. A > few years ago, we were upsetting our neighbours by > playing loud guitars in our flat. If they'd come > and asked nicely, I would've happily turned down. > However, they put a rather aggressive note through > our door, and so I turned up. Childish I know, but > it was a good few years back, and I was not so > considerate. Accoustic, unfortunately. We figured that a friendly chat would be the grown up way to go about it, just wanted to see if people thought there was any chance that it'd be worth it. Thanks for the replies, everyone. Unfortunately we've not yet been up there and they've independently stepped up their game - at about 5pm yesterday, the repetitive accoustic guitar was replaced by loud dance music and what sounded like a lot of dancing (at least we were both out/going out), and someone was hanging out of the window over our backdoor smoking. This morning our back yard (just ours as we're the ground floor) is covered in fag butts. I felt a bit bad about the idea of whinging about someone trying to be a bit musical, but I think this is enough to demonstrate that what we have been landed with is a sodding inconsiderate individual...

Canvassing opinion: New neighbours moved in to the flat above about a week ago. Since moving day, guitar strumming starts at about 10ish every morning and lasts for about 4-5 hours per day, with intermittant accompanying singing. It appears to be the same 2 or 3 tunes over and over, although I'm no muso so it may be similar stuff of the same genre. Anyway, 4-5 hours a day. Every day. Today being a saturday, it didn't start until 11. Now Mrs.number5 and I both work shifts, so need to sleep and work at funny times, and when we're at home we both have a lot of study to do. The guitar from above is quite loud (I think one of the corners cut in our building conversion may have been the sound-proofing between floors) to the point where it is too distracting to get any purposeful study done, or ignore. Night-shifts are coming in a couple of weeks, and the thought of potential sleep-loss is worrying. Is it reasonable to ask them to maybe do it a bit less? Our odd-houred lives mean that we haven't really got much perspective on what is or isn't antisocial or too much... What do you think?

Not so - can't remember which film it is, but he does catch one, and then sets it free, such is the true zen nature of the man. PS: likewise ;-)

Perhaps we could do the American thing - the NHS could sue the campaign managers for slander...

Haven't read it, but agreed on the film. A horny but socially inept explorer roots an adulterous aristo, crashes a plane and then tries to remember it all with the help of an emotionally labile frog and a smack-addicted spy with no thumbs: not the stuff of real feel-good moments. The Karate Kid was on on Sunday night...

Old ground, people - the c**taquarium stays switched on regardless. I doubt it's company policy to deliberately annoy wooly liberals who like to recycle, switch off unnecessary lights and who generally hate them for just being foxtons, but I also doubt they'll be heart broken by any of this.

Honestly, I do a few night shifts and when I come back to the world of the awake I find out we've decided to chuck the ashes away...

My mate's band at college were called Fire Exit - they said it gave them a lot of free advertising

i'm not sure i'd put "the shining" down as feel-good, jah ;-) (edit - great minds, quids?!)

Get well soon Lady G x

i'd say an enormous amount hinges on early wickets off of Ponting and Clark, or we're buggered

72-6. This is a tad embarassing...

this is shaping up to be the girliest boys night ever - me, keef, a crate of beater, a drew barrymore marathon and then dirty dancing!