Sue

I don't understand why someone hasn't replaced the automatic reminders going out with one saying do not keep your appointment if your test has not been marked as urgent, you will be contacted when the situation is resolved, and please contact your GP if you think your test should be done urgently. Or words to that effect. There must be loads of people wasting their and others' time by keeping an appointment which doesn't actually exist 🙄

I'm pretty sure it was a "proper" GP.

Hope you are ok now, Pugwash.

Sparrows are eating the young leaves on the bamboo in my garden. I have never seen this in previous years, or perhaps I just haven't noticed. Is this normal sparrow behaviour?!

Has anyone actually asked Alleyn's the reasons for their actions? Or asked Krys what reasons he has been given?

Yesterday evening I watched one of "my" frogs attack a very large slug and apparently attempt to eat it. The slug won, the frog gave up and the slug slithered off, apparently unharmed 😂 I tried to post a video of the battle, but the file was too big, so here are two photos!

To avoid confusion, please could you start another thread! This thread is about The Palmerston, not a general thread about ED businesses changing hands!

Whilst I agree, I think I must have applied for mine during Covid (to avoid close proximity with other people at the polling station), as I have never had a postal vote before. Also it ensures that you can vote if you will be away from home on polling day, which you might well not know in advance of an election date being publicised (unless you have inside information, of course 😂)

I had mine some time ago, and have already voted. There is a number to phone if you haven't had yours yet (it's a bit pointless giving the number on the form, isn't it, as if you have the form already, you obviously don't need the number!) Sorry, I don't have the number as I returned the form and binned anything that came with it, but hopefully someone may be able to post it here.

Wherever it was I went, it was definitely on the first floor of TJ, I saw a GP, and I was referred by my own GP surgery there because I was desperate, and it was a bank holiday (I think it was Good Friday).

Does anyone know more? I just googled but am none the wiser! I only found out because a charge came up on my bank app under another name, then at the weekend I was told they have a new wine list because of the change.

I like Jay Rayner's reviews! Also Grace Dent's!

I got my postal vote in good time and posted it back on Friday. There is a number you can phone if it hasn't arrived. I don't think I still have it, but I'm sure someone on here will and can post it on here!

Isn't that a completely separate issue? Surely blood tests are to aid in diagnosis or to monitor an already known illness, whereas blood is needed for transfusions?

I used it once, but unfortunately I wasn't impressed with the GP I saw. Maybe I was unlucky.

What's moving into the premises of the solicitors in North Cross Road, which has now closed?

The Gardens will always give you an appointment if it is clearly urgent. They keep a quota each day for same day appointments, but usually you would have a brief phone call first with a GP who will ask you to come to the surgery if necessary. That's been my experience, anyway. If it isn't urgent I don't think a two week wait is too bad, particularly given the state of the NHS generally at the moment.

Depending on the amount, size and weight of the items you have got to donate, you could use a shopping trolley and walk or get a bus? Though I learned from bitter experience how hard it was to take a shopping trolley full of books on the 37 to the Oxfam bookshop in Herne Hill 😂 Books are extremely heavy! Also, you can now donate to Oxfam by getting a free bag online (sent to you in the post) and downloading a label and donation form/gift aid declaration. You don't have to take it to the Post Office, you can use a Yodel drop off point eg the little supermarket in Barry Road. However the bag doesn't hold all that much, and I think they are limiting it to one bag per person at the moment, due to the number of requests. I recently used it to send them some smart work clothes, shoes etc which I am never going to wear again, having long ago retired, and even longer ago left the last job I had which required me to be smart 😂 However last time I looked at the tracking info the bag was still in transit, so goodness knows whether it will ever actually arrive.

The Gardens surgery has a social prescriber who can help to point patients with mental health issues to appropriate sources of help. I don't know if any of the GPs specialise in this area specifically, but I've always found them sympathetic. If you go onto their website and click on "meet the team" you can click on each GP and see what their particular interests are. https://www.thegardenssurgery.co.uk/services Their website says they are currently accepting new patients, but I presume you would have to be in their catchment area. If you are, you could maybe discuss your question with an appropriate person there before you register?

I just googled it. I didn't even know it existed!

Surely too small to be a Waitrose? They seem to be having a rethink about their way forward: https://www.retail-week.com/fashion/white-stuff-opens-more-stores-in-marks-and-spencer/7046348.article https://www.retail-week.com/fashion/white-stuff-ramps-up-international-expansion-with-us-wholesale-launch/7046391.article

It was a very stupid and confusing name for a shop not actually selling "white stuff", and the clothes appealed to a very small subsection of people who buy clothes. Plus they weren't cheap. In my probably wrong opinion. I think they had been in trouble for a time. They had massive reductions on some of their clothes, which still didn't seem to sell, if memory serves (which it probably doesn't). Are all their shops closing, or just this one?

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I suspect many people who were not put off by Corbyn and/or are put off by Starmer will vote Green this time. I could write a great deal about Starmer, but if I do this thread will get lounged 🤣