What’s on your mind?

[Scepticalscribe]

Saw some friends (whom I hadn't seen in an age, and with whom I have worked abroad) for a long, lingering lunch, this week, one on Tuesday, and one yesterday.

Very interesting and enjoyable.

 

[chown33]

Everybody in Aus. does air guitar...

Alternate explanation: Everybody doing air guitar is really just grooming their fur.

 

[fanboy-ish]

A permanent job may be "boring" but many people will welcome the security and stability it supplies; try raising a family on a job that is not permanent.

Changing jobs every ten to fifteen years is fine (I've done it myself), but is a lot easier (and certainly, more comfortable) to do from within an already relatively (or very) secure and stable professional environment.

Moreover, it is - or, can be - a lot more challenging (and difficult) to make such (professional) changes if you have family dependants, (children, spouses, parents) who rely on you (emotionally, economically and financially).

I absolutely agree.

For someone like Mario Monti, of course changing jobs it's easy (and profitable), but for most people a permanent job is the number one goal, that's why he resulted offensive and was heavily criticized.

Many people are stuck in jobs they hate because either the economy doesn't allow it (they'd be worse off) or because the business culture doesn't like it (e.g. companies not recognizing the value of informal education).

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

I know that the odd contributor to this forum (including the current correspondent) has discussed all the nasty, bitey, venomous, stingy, eaty things Australia has.

Just to compensate, here is today's overload of uber-cuteness, the Western Pygmy Possum

(scaled to about life-size)(double-click to full size)

 

[scubachap]

Yeah, but it's Australia isn't it... it's about to have your finger off...

 

[chown33]

Yeah, but it's Australia isn't it... it's about to have your finger off...

View attachment 2316224

I saw the documentary on those:

Gremlins - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[scubachap]

I saw the documentary on those:

Gremlins - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Where's a blender when you need one?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

A trip to the ENT tomorrow (appallingly early, tomorrow morning) for what I imagine may take the form of a few tests.

 

[Apple fanboy]

A trip to the ENT tomorrow (appallingly early, tomorrow morning) for what I imagine may take the form of a few tests.

Good luck with it. Hope it’s nothing serious.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Good luck with it. Hope it’s nothing serious.

Thank you.

You may recall that I had a series of massive nosebleeds late last year, last autumn and early winter, - the last of which - in mid December, compelled me to seek out A&E (my first time in hospital on my own behalf since I was a child; every other trip in recent years, or decades, had been with one parent or the other following up conditions that ailed them).

Now, as it happens, I have had nothing remotely serious in the year since then - there was one slight nosebleed, a few months ago, but nothing dramatic.

In any case, I expect that this will be to check this out, examine, investigate, possibly (or probably) carry out some tests, look into the matter in some detail.

In truth, I had debated postponing it, (after all, it is winter, and who on earth wants to visit a hospital, even as an out-patient, in winter? Not I), but, given that that it took the best part of a year before I received an appointment, it seems prudent to avail of it, and see what they can discover about this condition.

 

[SteveManila1960]

I was shocked yesterday I have not eaten fast food for a while but had occasion to do so due to circumstances.

I had a burger, on it's own, no fries or a drink. £6.49! It was in the centre of London but nevertheless wow that was pricey.

It also looked really sad nothing like the photograph on the wall behind the counter 🙁

 

[Apple fanboy]

Thank you.

You may recall that I had a series of massive nosebleeds late last year, last autumn and early winter, - the last of which - in mid December, compelled me to seek out A&E (my first time in hospital on my own behalf since I was a child; every other trip in recent years, or decades, had been with one parent or the other following up conditions that ailed them).

Now, as it happens, I have had nothing remotely serious in the year since then - there was one slight nosebleed, a few months ago, but nothing dramatic.

In any case, I expect that this will be to check this out, examine, investigate, possibly (or probably) carry out some tests, look into the matter in some detail.

In truth, I had debated postponing it, (after all, it is winter, and who on earth wants to visit a hospital, even as an out-patient, in winter? Not I), but, given that that it took the best part of a year before I received an appointment, it seems prudent to avail of it, and see what they can discover about this condition.

Not something I have ever had but I know they can look quite horrendous.

Hope you don't end up waiting too long, and more importantly the results are nothing that is serious. As we age we don't improve like wine do we?

 

[SteveManila1960]

I suspect it might be the touch technology at the train stations but it could be mobile phones themselves. Has anyone noticed, in London in particular, that mobile phones are so much less efficient than Oyster cards and paper tickets at the tap in / out turnstiles? I travel from east London to west London every day five days a week and it is so painful watching people who a) have not prepared their phone in advance to tap in / out or take three or four passes to get recognition of the tap in / out. I find myself scanning the people around me and avoiding anyone who looks like they are going to use their phone for the transaction.

Same on the buses too.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Not something I have ever had but I know they can look quite horrendous.

Actually, last December's nosebleed resembled a tsunami (bizarrely, it started in the shower, which looked like a veritable homicide scene) and nothing could get it to stop for over an hour, and, even worse, this occurred on a Saturday.

That prompted a taxi to A&E, (with reluctant regret I realised that I couldn't visit the market, or collect my French bread).

Actually, I was in A&E for the best part of twelve hours waiting to be seen, and looked a lot worse than I was; in fairness, many of those waiting to be seen had some truly serious conditions, and some had what I can only describe as heart-breaking stuff.

Anyway, having tended to me, and prescribed some stuff, which, fortunately, I was able to obtain from a pharmacy that was open on Sunday - I wrote about all of this here at the time - I took another taxi home after midnight, - and they said that they would arrange to have this looked at further, which has since transpired to be tomorrow.

Hope you don't end up waiting too long, and more importantly the results are nothing that is serious.

Amen to that.

I realise that my mother had something similar - explosive nosebleeds; now, she had had hers all her life (until a really bad one - around twenty years ago - triggered a trip to her GP, who (unable to staunch the flow) despatched her to A&E, followed by an immediate visit to the relevant section in the hospital, (ENT), which, surprisingly, were able to see her there and then; anyway, they examined her, and cauterised a vein in her her nose, and she never suffered from a nosebleed for the rest of her life), whereas, I never suffered from one - not ever - until last year, when, inexplicably, I experienced a few in surprisingly short succession.

As we age we don't improve like wine do we?

Alas, no, we don't.

 

[SteveManila1960]

The veins in the nose are very sensitive and close to the surface. Can be caused by anything from picking your boogers to high blood pressure and various other things.

Still it doesn't always make sense. My late father died an alcoholic with liver failure. In his last days he bled profusely from the veins in his throat due to the increased blood pressure causing him to projectile vomit blood on occasions. Never had a nose bleed until he died despite the nasal veins being so sensitive.

Go figure.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, I have had sinus troubles since my teens, although they are not as bad now as they used to be.

 

[Apple fanboy]

After a bad nights sleep I’ve awoken to a heavy frost. Just heading out for our morning walk. At least it will be quiet.
Other than that I need to empty the water butt as we seem to have moved from autumn to winter.

 

[Mylodon]

they examined her, and cauterised a vein in her her nose, and she never suffered from a nosebleed for the rest of her life

When my sister was 16 years old, she almost had the same surgery, but luckily her nosebleed stopped after 4-5 hours, and she never had bleeding again.

It is wise to have regular check-ups to ensure good health.

 

[Mylodon]

I had a cold and a high fever for two days. The doctor said it was a viral cold. After the fever subsided, I now feel pain all over my body which means I have to rest at home for a few days. The good news is that this cold has definitely reminded me that I should exercise more.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Well, I am home, safe and sound.

To my surprise, I was seen very quickly, - well, I did have an appointment, after all - and it transpires that I seem to have what is described as "a deviated septum".

And yes, that can give rise to nosebleeds, although, for now, - and I do hydrate to the rate of around two litres a day of water, which was approved and applauded - this does not appear to be a serious issue.

So, relief.

I then headed into the farmers' market, and was unusually early; some herbs, honey, (from a chap with his own bee hives), cheese, organic free range chicken thighs, tomatoes, oranges, aubergines, were all bought, and my bread (which was kept for me) was collected from the French bakery.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

After a bad nights sleep I’ve awoken to a heavy frost.

My sympathies.

Given that I needed to be at the hospital's ENT department well before 9.00 a.m., - which meant early rising in a cold and dismal and dark winter's morning - I also slept badly.

Just heading out for our morning walk. At least it will be quiet.
Other than that I need to empty the water butt as we seem to have moved from autumn to winter.

Yes, we do seem to have moved from autumn to winter, alas.

I had a cold and a high fever for two days. The doctor said it was a viral cold. After the fever subsided, I now feel pain all over my body which means I have to rest at home for a few days. The good news is that this cold has definitely reminded me that I should exercise more.

High fever (and that aching and possibly exhaustion) sounds to me more like the kind of symptoms that accompany a bout of flu, rather than a cold.

Anyway, look after yourself and hope you are feeling better soon.

 

[SteveManila1960]

After a bad nights sleep I’ve awoken to a heavy frost. Just heading out for our morning walk. At least it will be quiet.
Other than that I need to empty the water butt as we seem to have moved from autumn to winter.

Same bad nights sleep, woke to the heavy frost and Mum reminded me I agreed to clean her three disgusting wheelie bins. Great! Can’t wait to get back to the warm of the Philippines I will be home for Christmas

 

[Apple fanboy]

Well, I am home, safe and sound.

To my surprise, I was seen very quickly, - well, I did have an appointment, after all - and it transpires that I seem to have what is described as "a deviated septum".

And yes, that can give rise to nosebleeds, although, for now, - and I do hydrate to the rate of around two litres a day of water, which was approved and applauded - this does not appear to be a serious issue.

So, relief.

I then headed into the farmers' market, and was unusually early; some herbs, honey, (from a chap with his own bee hives), cheese, organic free range chicken thighs, tomatoes, oranges, aubergines, were all bought, and my bread (which was kept for me) was collected from the French bakery.

Glad to hear all is well and the appointment was quick.

Here after our walk I spent the morning cutting up firewood and emptied the water butt. Well to be honest it’s still emptying itself. I just attached a hose.

Sun is out, but doesn’t have much power today. At least it’s lighter which is a welcome change this time of year.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Same bad nights sleep, woke to the heavy frost and Mum reminded me I agreed to clean her three disgusting wheelie bins. Great! Can’t wait to get back to the warm of the Philippines I will be home for Christmas

Wheelie bin cleaning is definitely a springtime job for me. Enjoy!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Glad to hear all is well and the appointment was quick.

Well, not so much "all is well", as an explanation for why this happened, and some (informed) advice on what to do if it recurs (and it may well do so), such as saline sprays.

But, nothing serious, (which is very good), and, to my (pleased) surprise, I was seen very quickly (I had expected to have to wait for hours and hours) and on my way not long after that.

Sun is out, but doesn’t have much power today. At least it’s lighter which is a welcome change this time of year.

Yes, I must say that I deeply dislike the poor quality of light of this time of year.