Autumn Saturday

We 'catch up' with being 4 hours behind the UK again tonight, but for today the footie kick offs are running an hour later later than usual. So it's after 3.00 on a Saturday afternoon and I'm watching football. Just like old times.

It's a typical autumn day; windy and leaves everywhere. Lovely.

* * *

Interesting story in the paper today. The World's largest cruise ship sets sail; The 16 deck Oasis of the Seas. It has telescopic smokestacks and when lowered the ship still rises nearly 212 feet out of the water. To leave the Baltic Sea it needs to pass under a bridge with 213 feet clearance.

Apparently it's going to speed up so it sinks deeper into the water. I'm sure they know what they are doing but it seems a tad risky to me. I wouldn't want to be on the boat or the bridge when it happens.

Government incompetence part 27

The health department announced the first of the H1N1 vaccination clinics for people with chronic health conditions (priority need) would take place Thursday.

With so many confirmed, and yet to be notified, appointments lined up we thought it would be good to get it out of the way.

We got to the clinic late afternoon (it was scheduled to be open until 8.00 pm) to find that they had cancelled it and a notice advised of an alternative. Unfortunately this meant more expense in getting there (the other side of the city) but I decided it was better than spending and not getting it done.

When the taxi driver eventually found where we had to be the expense was already more than it would have been had they not cancelled and we'd yet to get home.

But it was packed. We saw about 200 yards of a queue outside the entrance and we still couldn't see the back of it. There was no way we could have stood in line, out in the cold (zero degrees) - especially with my wife in a wheelchair. The paper today says it was a three hour wait, most of it outside.

They've handled it really badly so far. There's been a bit of information about these clinics but no arrangement to stagger those arriving. I wouldn't expect appointments, but there are other ways. Nothing's been said about showing a priority need, nothing about good times to go....absolutely zilch. And they wonder why the phone enquiry line is busy.

I called later and the recorded message said they couldn't answer enquiries and to call back another time. Pathetic.

back for a lie in.

Had a disturbed night last night. I was settled in bed and all snuggled up ready for sleep and the bloody phone rang.

SD had a minor falling out with a friend and her stay over was cut short. Got up to await her return.

By the time I was back in bed I'd become cold and it took a while to get warm again. Only had a few hours before it was time to get SS up for school, so I went back to bed after he left. That was nice.

Dear Anon of London

Wondering if you saw additional comments below?

Warm Mouse

Since last winter I have suffered with a cold hand while using my mouse. It's only autumn now and my hand has gone cold already. It's icy to the touch, especially in between my fingers. Quite uncomfortable.

I've been making jokes about how someone should invent a heated mouse, while making do with cupping my hand around a cup of coffee.

Now I discover there are heated mice. There are also heated mouse mats and 'electric' blankets for the mouse. It's not that much more than a normal one but I wonder if it's enough to have just the mouse. The advertising guff says something along the lines of "can keep hand warm when used in conjunction with other (their) products."

It sort of suggests one needs the mouse and something else. The 'blanket' seems to be a pouch and the idea appears to be to have the mouse mat and mouse inside the pouch and then your hand goes there too. It seems somewhat extreme and it doubles the cost.

I think I'll try the mouse on its own and if it's not enough, some sort of home made pouch might do the trick.

Has anyone out there tried one?

* * *

Just heard the sad news that former Gloucestershire cricketer and umpire David Shepherd has died. I shall never forget when he had to make another run or two due to an overthrow and he was doubled up trying to get his breath back. Never the fittest player.

Idiots

I often wonder about people who go to known danger spots in the world and then end up in danger. Sometimes I wonder if I've been unreasonable for thinking them idiotic.

Now there's a couple who appear to have had their boat seized and been kidnapped while sailing in Somali waters. It's well known about Somali Pirates and they still went. They are retired and they just sail around the world so it's not like some who do volunteer work in dangerous places.

I wondered if I was being unreasonable; perhaps there was no other route for what they wanted. But there is. A major shipping company has made detours and other sailing types have said they shouldn't have been there. Idiots.

Bouncers

There have been a few incidents here over the last few weeks at clubs and pubs involving Bouncers and accusations they have been going too far when ejecting folk.

I remember a phase of something similar back in Bristol a couple of decades or more ago. It led to some law changes as I recall. Not sure if it's just Moncton or NB but apparently bar owners are responsible for Bouncers' behaviour. Other parts of Canada have wised up and have appropriate legislation.

As with other things, NB will probably catch up. On the plus side, it does tend to show that this kind of misbehaviour hasn't been the issue it's been elsewhere.

Dear Anonymous of London

I never lived in London, just Bristol. I went lots of times of course.
Moncton is a small town but for its size there's a lot here; plenty of cinemas, couple of theatres, wine fair, concert venues, varied restaurants etc. It has everything needed and more.

The big advantage of the place is that housing is very cheap. It means you can have a decent standard of living on a modest income. That's a clue as to my main reasons for choosing NB and then Moncton and my reasons don't even come close to why other people made their decisions.

It's worth looking at the expats forum if you haven't already been there. We seem to be in a minority of one so our outlook and expectations may be quite different to yours.

Winter is long - but that's virtually everywhere in Canada - and there's loads of snow. But it's brilliantly dealt with. Everything keeps moving. Roads are plowed promptly and excess snow is even removed and dumped out of town.

You really should check out the expats site and the other forum I mentioned.

mixed weather

I woke at 6.00 am to the sound of a huge downpour but by 10.00 am it was gloriously sunny.

It reminded me of the football commentary yesterday where it chucked it down in the first half but the sun was out for the second and the commentator said "only in England."

I'm sure it happens everywhere. I know I've been on holiday in the South of France, Greece and Spain where there have been big downpours followed by time spent on the beach or at the pool. And such variation in a short time happens here too, with snow added to the mix.

Circus comes to town

A report in the paper today says that LSD might have some medical benefits. Apparently some people are taking psychedelic drugs for anxiety. Or perhaps they're just anxious to take LSD.

* * *

Clocks in the UK go back tonight but ours go back next week. So for a week we'll be three hours behind instead of four. Must remember this for kick off times. Needless to say the football on TV sites have got it wrong again.

* * *

Research into how distracted people are when using cell phones reveals that when walking down the street, only 25 % of people using a cell phone noticed a clown on a unicycle while the rate doubled for those not using cell phones.

I'd like to know why it wasn't nearer 100% for those less distracted. Could it be they were all on LSD and just thought it was 'normal' along with that pink elephant juggling?

Early to bed?

I used to enjoy watching BBC's question time and yesterday's, was as controversial as expected. I could actually have tuned in via computer but forgot.

The viewing figures interested me but not just because they were up by quite a bit. Using the actual figures quoted as watching and the share of total viewers at the time according to whether the show was on at 9.00pm or 10.00pm, I calculated that there were normally around 12 million people watching TV when it was on just after 10.00pm but around 22m watching at 9.00pm.

So that's getting on for half the TV audience @ 9.00pm switching off and presumably going to bed shortly after 10.00pm. Unless they're doing something else...like watching a DVD;)

I had thought the people of Moncton or NB in general went to bed early judging by the lack of residential lights one sees after 10.00pm compared to earlier. Maybe it's Brits too.

Or maybe 10m viewers just switch the telly off early on Thursday nights?

Benefit systems

I've just been reading another meaningless poverty definition in the Guardian. To be fuel poor apparently means 10% of household income is spent on fuel costs.

No account seems to be taken of housing costs and that's bizarre. Home owners with no mortgage could be paying 15% or 20% and be far better off than a household with rent or mortgage to pay but fuel costs of 9%. And it's the better off family described as fuel poor. Idiotic.

There's a fascinating blog going on there too about Universal Benefits v Means Testing. It's all very well to be "right on" and criticise means testing as being costly and intrusive but the alternative does seem to involve spending where it's not actually needed while not meeting the needs of others. Striking a balance is the right thing to do and the UK pretty much had that balance 40 years ago.

The stigma aspect of claiming is easy to address with use of the right terms and advertising. We have Pension Credit now; a nice fluffy name for what used to be called Supplementary Benefit. Now it sounds like a tax adjustment and nobody needs to feel like they go cap in hand anymore.

* * *

Looking forward to Fulham v Roma later.

Day of rest

Heating/AirCon system is playing up. It's not that it's not working, it just doesn't seem to want to turn off. When I turn off at the switch at night, sometimes the fan still blows air around the house for a bit. Last night that 'bit' was actually all night. It's unheated air so it's not like we're having heat we don't need, but it's still irritating.

Two games of footie to watch today. Man Utd are in Russia and it kicks off early. Not sure if it's a floodlight thing or winter conditions. Chelsea later. I'm having a rest day.

If you slept with my mom the wedding's off

My wife's been channel hopping and stopped on trash TV again. What a subject. This guy's being accused of cutting a hole in his underpants for quick and easy access to his fiancée's mother!!

I remember the first time I caught a bit of Jerry Springer. It was hard to turn off as I sat there open mouthed.

Just how low can TV sink? I remember a show called Lie Detector (which they seem to use in this one too) but is there anything more tacky than Ejaculation Golf?

Somebody needs to do a comedy sketch with a posh BBC, 1950s voice announcing an evening's viewing with one dodgy show after another.

Busy day today

Really wanted to go back to bed for a couple of hours this morning. In fact I was just about to get back in when the 8.15 am phone call brought the sad news that one expects when the phone rings at that time. My wife's sister died.

Already had a busy day ahead. Doctor first, then hospital and, later, another apartment viewing with Madonna.

* * *

Madonna cancelled. Probably the paparazzi.

chilly again

Possible snow was forecast last night. I wasn't up to look until about 5.30 am but there's no sign that it did. Twice now. It's a bit less cold today; it only dipped to a couple below freezing overnight. Still not back into double digits though.

Have a viewing arranged for later with potential tenants.

Freak goal

Back to normal weekend footie but, unfortunately, I missed most of it due to a hospital appointment for my wife.

Liverpool lost when a shot was deflected off a beach ball that someone had punched onto the pitch. Sort of funny, but the rules of the game dictate it should not have stood. The kid responsible was a Liverpool fan. Bet he's having a miserable time of it.

Inconsistent

On the ex-pats forum there are threads from people who, for whatever reason, are moving back to the UK and occasionally they ask about or encounter problems regarding social security payments or medical treatment.

Providing the return is genuine - as opposed to a brief visit to take advantage of the National Health Service, as some do - whenever someone has a problem accessing health services there is 100% indignation from every other poster. Not one person ever doubts the returnee should be free to use the NHS when they get back.

But for some strange reason when it comes to accessing social security payments it's different. People start questioning why the returnees should expect it having been out of the country. Suddenly all these barbs are thrown at the returnees about deserting the UK, not paying taxes and expecting to scrounge taxpayers' money etc.

What's even more odd is that the costs involved in accessing the NHS will very likely exceed the benefits costs.

circumnavigating a problem

I knew a guy at work who spoke with big words rather than simple ones. The title was one of his favourites whereas the rest of us would get around something.

One of the columnists in The Guardian today wrote about the MP's expenses scandal. In the first couple of paragraphs there was a word I'd heard but never really knew its meaning, a word that I knew but the context was unfamiliar and a word I had never even seen before.

The familiar word with the unknown meaning turns out to have several widely used and immediately obvious alternatives, while the unknown word had a comical pronunciation. Its meaning, rather involved, was explained by use of example and I just could not see how it fit the way she used it.

At this point I gave up reading and that was a shame as it's a subject that interests me. But curiosity got the better of me and I just scanned through the rest. I think I'd get a headache if I read it properly.

I suppose you could argue this is one of the ways in which we learn, but I felt the way the column was written just excluded me.

mysterious semblance at the strand of nightmares

No sign of that snow so far. In fact it's a lovely sunny day, if a tad on the cool side.

More tacky tv. Something where they keep saying someone's name followed by "you are the father." They must be having paternity tests and disclosing the results in front of the TV audience. Good grief.

* * *

Mildly gutted. Argentina made it. Portugal made the play off too. Just a week ago it all looked so promising that they'd both fail. Maybe Portugal will get a tough draw.

First snow?

Down to zero overnight again with an expected "high" today of 6c.

Another Doc's appointment today for my wife and then we''ll make a stop at The Mall. I need jeans...these are cutting me in half. My fault entirely. I made the mistake of assuming that because the label said they were the same size and the same make as a pair I was wearing, in comfort, that they would be the same size. They weren't.

I bought them ages ago, not needing them at the time but sucked in by the ridiculous $12.

Snow is forecast for tonight. Just flurries mixed with rain (which sounds a bit like sleet) but snow nonetheless.

The Gravy Train

Today I'm feeling outraged.

Over the last few months many British MPs have been found to be, at worst, outright liars or, at best, shamelss leeches taking advantage of seemingly endless funds intended for a specific purpose.

In the UK Social Security system there are many safeguards that, for example, prevent someone claiming for someone else who is already involved in a claim. Yet there's nothing in the MPs expenses system that raises a red flag when an address already recorded as an MP's home suddenly becomes their "second" or additional home.

And where an MP names residence A as his main home with B as the second home and his wife - also an MP - names residence B as the main home and A as the second home, why is there nothing to say "just a minute, this address is already recorded for another member" so that questions may be asked?

It's as if they don't mind MPs fiddling.

As if that's not bad enough they can now escape sanction or even repayment because they might have been able to have claimed something else instead; all of which makes it sound like a perk to be taken advantage of as opposed to refunding expenses actually incurred in the course of their duties.

Someone prosecuted for receiving benefits while working on the side has never had the defence accepted that they might have been due a different benefit, so why does an MP get away with that?

It's sickening.

Thanksgiving Eve

Canadian Thanksgiving Day tomorrow. Perhaps I should give thanks for the Card that gives a huge reduction in the meds costs that were robbing us of money while we are also being robbed of good health. I collected my syringes and strips yesterday. I'm guessing it's supposed to be a month's supply even though one lasts more than that and one less. I think I'll just use them to fit rather than make it even more complicated. At least they are now free.

Not being a holiday in the UK it's not something I've been used to, so I have previously used Thanksgiving Day here as a dry run; experimenting with different foods and preparation methods to help with the perfect Xmas dinner.

* * *

Fed up with the news/chat/current affairs radio station for Moncton failing to give me news/chat/current affairs when I want to have the radio on - it broadcasts American Sports and infomercials at those times instead - I looked at the CBC Radio schedules.

It appears that Radio One will give me what I want - something like BBC's Radio 4. So I retuned. Only to discover reception is incredibly poor. The moment I stop touching the radio or put it back on the bedside table, the sound disappears.

The National Radio station with a big centre in Moncton and I can't get reception on the radio?

Footie.

More shocking defensive errors by England defenders. Just hoping they are getting them out of the way when it doesn't matter, before the main event.

Shame Russia couldn't manage to beat Germany earlier.

Results seem to have gone Portugal's way too. Maybe Peru can pull of the shock against Argentina.

* * *

Almost...but not quite. Peru equalised right the end only to concede again just after. Trevor Francis was funny.

"It's not a criticism of Maradona, but the substitution....."
Presenter: "Why isn't it a criticism of Maradona?"
"Okay, it is a criticism of Maradona."

The maze

Because of the excessive cost of our prescription drugs we qualify for for a Program that is supposed to cover most of the cost. The Program in this province is the hardest one to qualify for but, once qualified, it appears good.

On day one when I went to get three refills, I discovered one of those wasn't covered. It was something via a patch so I just thought it was the method that was the issue and not the drug itself.

The second time I went, I needed a refill for my SS. That too wasn't covered. And it's not especially expensive. It's only about $10 more than something similar that would be covered. We can get the doctor to change to the other one but it was found less effective when he had it before.

So now I decide to look at the Province's website to see what else is excluded. There's another that my wife has that's excluded. So that's three not covered.

Interestingly all three are covered by neighbouring Provinces. So not only is it harder to qualify in New Brunswick, they still exclude treatment that the other, more enlightened, Provinces don't.

It is possible for exceptions to be made to the exclusions if the doctor can convince them, but knowing how tight the province is I wouldn't have much hope.

During a phone call they also told me my insulin wasn't covered. Not too bothered about that originally as it's only $25. But that makes four of our treatments not covered. Interestingly, their website says it is covered. Arses and elbows?

We still have a considerable saving overall but we still have a considerable bill. Moving to another province might still be the best option a bit further down the line.

I still don't know about syringes and test strips. They are supposed to be covered. But what does 'cover' mean, some arbitrary quantity they decide regardless of medical instruction?

I asked them to tell me exactly how that part works; do I get them at no cost or apply for a refund or do they authorise it as and when? All they told me was they'd send the authority to the Pharmacy. But what will that be based on?

Previously I had to supply a costing for syringes & swabs and test strips & lancets, so they have info as to how much they cost per 100 of each; the only way they are sold. My doctor's letter says I'm supposed to test four times daily but when they sent the document confirming we'd qualified for the scheme, they somehow missed that I was diabetic despite the doc's letter and his confirmation of 3 diabetic drugs. Astounding isn't it?

Anyway, 100 syringes & swabs lasts me a month and two-thirds, while 100 test strips and lancets last me 25 days. So a monthly issue is too often for injecting but not enough for testing.

I should find out what happens this afternoon but I'm not holding my breath.

Senior moments

It really is Thursday today.

All day on Tuesday I kept thinking it was actually Wednesday before remembering that it was, in fact, only Tuesday.

On Tuesday night I changed the bags in the small bins and emptied the bigger ones. I even got outside with the garbage bags to leave them on the path for collection. Collection is Wednesday night.

I brought them back in.

My wife has some pills that are taken once a week. On Thursdays. An hour after bringing the garbage bags back in, I asked her if she'd got her Thursday pills ready for the next day.

I usually do know what day it is. I blame the footie...or lack of it this week.

Hooray for the UK Civil Service

Canadian government offices could really learn something about how to run things.

An office in Montreal made a pig's ear of sending me the Quebec issued birth certificate that the marriage officials told me was necessary.

The immigration department made a series of errors for which they finally apologised but did not correct and I ended up paying two sets of fees and double medical costs as well as it taking three years instead of the usual six months.

There was a fiasco with the tax department that as soon as it was sorted out another arm of the same department (even in the same building) created a problem with the same matter that the same office had just resolved.

Now I'm caught up in another maze* with something that looked to have been resolved a few days ago.


* see entry Friday 9th Oct

The league takes a break

A dull week footie wise. It's International weekend coming up so the league takes a break. Having already qualified, England has a game with nothing at stake although the opposition still needs to win. The game is only on the net but PPV here in Canada - so much the same as usual for me.

Thanks to better quality streams and access to some UK TV channels on the net I have been able to watch England games live and then TV reruns if I needed to see it again.

The games are somewhat low key given we've already qualified, although Russia-Germany should be a cracker. Bizarrely that's on CBC. I doubt Portugal will slip up Saturday, but maybe next week.

I must remember to watch the under 21s on Friday. That one is on 'proper' TV here. Good ol' Setanta Sports Canada.

another wet one

Another rainy day. They said on the radio that including today we'll have had as much rain as the last 'tropical storm' deposited. Didn't seem that bad to be honest.

Good timing

My SS finished cutting the grass for me yesterday - he did the back - and half an hour later it rained.

Today I decided to go to the shop before lunch rather than after. Had some nice egg and bacon for lunch. By the time I finished it was chucking it down...and it still is.

Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket while the luck is still with me.

* * *

From The Guardian
PARIS, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Toulouse lost 1-0 at home to FC Lorient in Ligue 1 on Sunday in game marked by an emotional tribute to their fan who died this week.

They only had one fan? What are they going to do now?

Rare lie-in

Nice to have a bit of a lie-in this morning. Nobody to get up for school or work and not even an early game of footie to be up for.

I still woke and put the radio on and listened to some rerun phone-ins but it was really restful.

I cut the grass at the front this afternoon. Absolutely exhausting. Grass was thick and a bit wet (surprisingly) and the ground is always lumpy and bumpy. It's tiring at the best of times to move the mower over it.

My SS can do the back. Hopefully it'll be the last this year.

Red leaves

Into October. The stores have their costumes and multi/mini choc bar boxes for Halloween. The houses will soon have their decorations outside...skulls, gravestones, pumpkins.

The leaves on the trees are turning nice shades of red and yellow. I love the reds.

The snow shovels are still inside the front door. I hadn't put them away from winter. I shall need them soon. Been thinking about geting a contractor for snow clearance as, until now, there was never any urgency to clear the stuff.

Nobody needed to get out to work. If the schools were closed I could stay in bed without geting the kids up and then we could clear the snow at our leisure during the day. But now that my SD is working, she'll have to get to work on days when the schools are closed.

On the other hand, her work pattern is such that she doesn't have to leave until 10.00 am and then only a couple of times a week. Now that I think about it that's not going to mean early snow clearing after all. At least hardly more than before, if at all.

Might just see how it goes.

Good news

Had some good news today. Finally it looks as if we might get some support for our meds and we may not go broke after all.

With all the jumping through hoops, jerking around, misinformation, contradiction etc I still won't believe it until I'm at the pharmacy paying a few bucks every week instead of a few hundred every week.

* * *

The Roman Polanski affair rolls on. The biggest blog ever on the Guardian I think. Twice as many pages as anything I've seen before. I saw reproduced testimony from the girl (as was) and it certainly paints a different picture to what we all imagine and, perhaps, explains why she wants it all ended.