George Orwell

It seems the Waltham Forest retro-fit is seen as successful. The cost: ?115,245

" Forest Hill Group practice were offering next day appointments to patients on their text list. Good service. " All well and good, but the text message says you can book online. Neither the practice website nor Patient Access has any flu jab ordering system - you have to phone or visit Fort Knox in person.

It'll all be over by this time next week when they've all filled their tanks and won't have used it much. I reckon most locals only need a fill up every couple of weeks at most. Or, order a new electric car and it'll probably get delivered around the time the UK has electricity power cuts in the winter.

On the theme of shopfronts - here's a ghost from the past - 120 Forest Hill Road

As the TFL website says: An annual ?10 registration charge will apply to each vehicle you add to Auto Pay.

"GPs are paid based on the number of patients on their books" Correct if you are referring to the partners - the bosses if you like. You say - "Hence, they don?t bother working full time because it does not effect their income. Whether a GP works two hours or twelve hours, there is no one checking on them." Wrong - salaried GPs which are in the majority are paid an individually negotiated rate for each session they work - a morning is a session as is an afternoon. A typical rate is ?9,000 pa or so per session, sometimes ?10,000+, so a 4 day week brings in maybe ?72k pa - ?80k pa. The partners work whatever hours they think are needed, filling in if say a locum can't be found as well as their regular hours and are paid out of the "profits" after salaried GPs, Staff, Rent, Utilities etc. etc. are paid for. Partners may be getting ?100k - ?120k +. PS I am not defending this particular GP practice - just adding information to the debate.

Around every couple of years or so I need wax removed from one ear only. Up until now they have always arranged an appointment for me to be 'seen to' by a nurse in the surgery. This time I was clearly told that they don't do it anymore. I was told to go to a large chemist or a high street hearing clinic and pay ?50 per ear. I said I'd complain - go ahead they said - it'll make no difference. Nice lot aren't they. I got in touch with NHS England who told me they should do it or at least refer me to a NHS ear clinic. I have given up, there's little point moaning and life's too short. I went to a high street hearing shop and got it done for ?50.

You could try this: https://www.delivermynewspaper.co.uk/

No help in this case of course but . . . . In advance of filming on location I've seen people putting out cones and keeping one man on the site, usually in some sort of fake official yellow jacket, staying in his car for maybe 24 hours - even overnight. He jumps out and moves cars along as needed.

The observation about not feeling welcome struck a chord with me. In the old (pre-Covid) days when you could walk into the surgery you could not help but notice all the negative notices. There are / were maybe half a dozen or more notices on the lines of . . . We don?t do this, we don?t do that, you must give 48 hours notice for this, stand here, don?t do that, we won?t tolerate this and so on. I?d often queue at the desk when the desk wasn?t manned (womanned?) but could see staff hanging around and chatting in the background. I can tell you it was not at all calming, welcoming or good for your blood pressure. They dealt with the chatting idle backroom staff issue by hiding them behind a half height door and I dealt with the blood pressure issue by buying my own machine.

Well ...... I am a less than satisfied 'customer' and have pretty much literally voted with my feet to reluctantly stay. Why ? Convenience: I can walk to the practice, drive and park easily or catch one bus with bus stops near enough to the door at each end. Attending any other practice would need a longer walk in combination with at least two buses each way or driving. That type of journey may well be beyond me in years to come. So I grit my teeth and more or less tolerate the admin incompetence as the constantly changing GPs are generally OK ish. I'm staying put and just moan about them occasionally.

It seems that those who suffer from Atrial Fibrillation (irregular heartbeats) are likely to have an attack of the heart wobbles around 24 hours after a jab (both Pfizer and Astra/Zeneca). The relevant patient forums are abuzz with accounts. If you are someone, or you know someone who suffers from AF, it is better to be forewarned.

Here's a place to start: https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/long-term-flood-risk/postcode

You could 'glue' it together using resin for concrete / masonry. You'll need a skeleton gun (?2 ish)and I'd get a couple of extra nozzles as it really goes off quickly when warm. In this cold weather it will take ages to set, so take your planter indoors for a day to let it warm up. It's a genuine 10 minute job when you get yourself set up and prepared for it. https://www.toolstation.com/fischer-fis-p-plus-injection-polyester-resin/p20881

A 68 year old I know locally had a text invite to attend Guy's or St Thomas'. He went to Guy's where he got the Pfizer jab but declined the free tea or coffee afterwards. Another local person I know, 67, got a text from KCH inviting attendance at KCH or PRU. 36 hours later had an appointment at KCH where they got the Pfizer jab and a 'I've had a jab' sticker but no tea or coffee. Both trips were efficient and all done, including waiting, within the hour.

How about: WC waste is blocked and poo is backing up into kitchen sink. Tenant removes connection in outside pipe work and the problem is ?solved? !

Sorry peckhampam but I must disagree with you. The appalling service from KCH has been an issue for at least 15 years in my experience. I have resorted to pretty much all methods to improve contact with them - often, but not always ending in failure. This has nothing to do with Covid-19 or winter flu. It is incompetence and lack of attention by management.

I have had more appointments than anybody would really want at KCH over the years and I completely agree about the appalling phone service. It's been like this for years and just doesn't improve.

Non-Essential - Unintended Consequences and all that !! On Friday I very urgently needed some mobility aids for someone leaving hospital. The Physios and Occupational Therapists advised me to try The British Heart Foundation as the 'always have plenty of what you need in stock'. Well, they're all shut. Without these 'non-essential' items the patient would have remained blocking a bed in hospital. I've sorted it all out now thanks and we have what we need. It did though cause a lot of extra stress and hours of hassle when it was imperative to get them out of a potentially covid infected area ASAP.

Fleet Street Clinic, who do jabs for just about anything, are booked up about a week ahead for flu jabs. Unfortunately they cost ?35 a go ! https://flujabs.org/

" Why are we bothering? " Indeed. I visited my GP's premises last week for an appointment to get my flu jab. The receptionist at the door had her face mask on below her nose. Before I let her get anywhere close to me to take my temperature I insisted she pull up her mask and over her nose. She complied while moaning "I can't breath with it". I reckon we are all doomed - so many people are either ignorant or really don't care.

A really good SE London qualified electrician I know had to stop his business a while back due to a crisis and is now in a position to restart. He?s looking to increase his clients and I let him know I?d give him a PLUG here. His name is Mem ? 07956 450347.

A really good SE London qualified electrician I know had to stop his business a while back due to a crisis and is now in a position to restart. He?s looking to increase his clients and I let him know I?d give him a PLUG here. His name is Mem ? 07956 450347.

A really good SE London qualified electrician I know had to stop his business a while back due to a crisis and is now in a position to restart. He?s looking to increase his clients and I let him know I?d give him a PLUG here. His name is Mem ? 07956 450347.

Seriously - there are numerous worldwide reports of low pitched hums. Sometimes it?s far away machinery, sometimes traffic and sometimes - nobody knows. Unfortunately I can?t help here but only sympathise.