HeadNun

We had a take-away from Aroma Lab last night. I was impressed, utterly delicious stir fried tofu and sweet and sour chicken. Generous portions too… will definitely make a habit of eating their home-cooked food.

I didn't realise that either! I thought it just meant division within communities - religious, racial or otherwise. Yes, it is frightening. The days of the broad church political party are over.

Oh I didn't realised Starmer had used the word. I don't mean they are stirring up division between themselves (ie between Reform and Greens), I mean they are stoking division within communities, and stirring up racial prejudice and religious discrimination. That is sectarianism, in my view.

Spot on. Both peddling sectarianism.

And should the parents of the children who had to be rescued in the article Ilona posted also be fined? Shit happens.

Because none of us knows the circumstances, so we have no right to judge. And, no matter what happened and even if it was because of human error, someone has lost a beloved pet. I hope they don't see these posts.

Both Rockets and First Mate are cyclists. I have experienced cyclists too fast in parks and ringing their bells to signal walkers out of the way. A dog was hit by a bike the year before last and killed, which is why there are now signs at the opening of the Dulwich Park to remind cyclists that pedestrians and dogs should have priority.

A truly horrible thing to post.

David Peckham, your cheese stories and musings are the gift that keep on giving. Thank you.

So what

You’d be surprised… the waiting room is clogged up with people who present no acute symptoms and just want something to do / attention, a lot of it is mental health issues. And they will wait 8+ hours, because triage pushes them to the back of queue, but they all have to be seen. Because, if there’s a chance that one of them is presenting with something serious and they’re turned away… law suit.

True, First Mate. But I’ve worked in A&E and seen people turning up with heavy periods and headaches and even a sore arm. Then there’s the drunks and druggies who just want somewhere to kip. All my comments are beside the point, tho, the original one being that closing GP surgeries during a strike could make the situation in the ED even worse than it is at this time of year. And they can’t turn anyone away.

Exactly. But they are often out of hours GPs, who could be tending to more important issues. Those people are still clogging the system up

A&E isn't allowed to turn people away at the triage stage, even people with hiccups and ingrown toenails... the kinds of ailments a GP might be able to advise against seeking emergency care for. https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/12/aes-under-siege-from-hiccups-and-ingrowing-toenails/

What, has Chi Chi Ra Ra really closed? For real? I walked past the other day and it was open. Please tell me this isn't true