The Austrian-based company Migaloo is offering a 541-foot-long “private submersible superyacht” for a base price of $2 billion. The M5 has a range of 9,300 miles and can take its passengers to a depth of 820 feet. The luxury submarine includes a helipad, two swimming pools, a Jacuzzi, and two midget subs. There have been no orders for the M5 yet.
I’ve got my order in, have you ?
The number of people seeking help for gambling problems reached record levels in 2023 – with more people calling a national helpline than ever before.
For the life of me, I have never understood why gambling is broadcast on TV late at night, and also, why are betting sites allowed to advertise on TV?
Dr David McLaughlan, a priory consultant psychiatrist specialising in addictions, said gambling is a particularly challenging addiction to treat – “Because of the access to gambling platforms of peoples’ phones”.
He said: “With my patients who are addicted to alcohol, I can suggest that they avoid drinking venues or remove alcohol from their house. However, when the temptation is constantly present, on your phone, in your pocket, it’s much harder to resist.”
The government systematically banned all forms of tobacco advertising and sponsorship. So why not ban advertising of the various betting sites and apps.
The effects of gambling on individuals, their partners, and their families and friends can be every bit as devastating as smoking and the associated cancers.
The following was published in The Guardian …
It has long been known that gambling is addictive so common sense would have shown the risks.
It’s time our government woke up and took positive action.
I suspect the reality of their reluctance is that they can’t afford to cut off another lucrative tax revenue stream.
Brilliant.
The police now have the powers but they seem to be discretionary.
It is illegal to use these things on public roads. Surely, there should be no discretion. Confiscation and scrappage should be automatic.
However, this is a step in the right direction.
Today, we attended the funeral for Dave, the father of my grandsons Danny and Ollie.
On 27th December 2023, Dave succumbed to the cancer, which had made him so ill.
Dave was well liked, and this was reflected in the number of friends, family, and colleagues that attended. It was standing room only in the chapel.
RIP Dave, gone but never forgotten.
David Alan Cox 19/04/1967 – 27/12/2023
Today, we spent a glorious few hours with our granddaughter and great grandson at Sky Park Farm
While it is a working deer farm, it is also a great place to visit to keep the kids entertained.
Providing easy walks and opportunities to feed the various species of deer.
Also on site is a farm shop and restaurant along with a huge play area for kids.
We did the obligatory walk and fed the deer before heading inside for a spot of lunch.
Finally, once our tummys had been satisfied, we headed to the play area so that my great grandson could run off what energy he had left.
Such was the effects of all that walking, playing, and fresh air on arrival at home, Junior took himself off to his bed.
Sky Park Farm is a lovely place to visit, and we will return.
This was too good not to steal.
I had to talk to an insurance agent today. Nothing serious, but apparently you have to actually pay them for the policy to be in effect. Who knew? Anyway here’s everything else I know about insurance: The manager at the insurance office told all his employees, “You’ve worked really hard this year and as a reward I’m giving […]
Friday Wisdom – Insurance
https://app.portsmouth.co.uk/full_page_image/page-4-2012/content.html
What pleasure do these little shits get from terrorising an old lady ? Did she have the temerity to speak to them about their behaviour, making herself a target.
Do they feel brave ? Obviously not, since they are launching their missiles from the cover of a wall.
Where are their parents ? Do they know what their little darlings are up to?
And let’s stop claiming that the police aren’t doing anything. The few police that we have cannot be everywhere at once, and at the first sign of a police uniform, the perpetrators will scarper. Someone out there knows who they are, turn them over to the police.
Shame on those that have no respect for the elderly.
None of us can see into our futures. It wouldn’t be much fun if we could.
However, Jon, my son in law probably wishes he had been touched with a small spoonful of prescience.
Yesterday, he was swapping out the battery in his car. It is a task that he has carried out many times over the years. What made this time a little different was his treading on uneven ground.
Before he knew it, his left foot tucked under as he put his weight on it. He heard a sharp crack, followed by his eyesight being impaired by blue spots and, as he parked his bum on the kerbside, an overwhelming feeling of nausea.
The net result was a trip down to the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) at St Mary’s hospital in Portsmouth, with yours truly acting as a taxi driver.
Generally speaking, nobody wants to go to the UTC. Primarily because the wait times can be horrendous and the waiting room would not be high on anyone’s list of must see places. At the time of writing the current wait time is indicated to be 3 hours.
So, at around 11:45 I dropped Jon at the UTC and went to find a parking space.
At 11:50 Jon was booked in and awaiting triage. By 12:15 he had been seen and was waiting for an x-ray having been told there was, potentially, a two hour wait.
At just after 13:00 immersed in Swedish detective thriller I was startled back to reality by my phone ringing.
Jon had been dealt with and was ready to head home.
The diagnosis, he had broken the very end of his fibula.
So no cast, no boot just a pair of crutches to help him keep the weight off and advised to take paracetamol to deal with any pain.
We obviously caught the UTC just at the right time. Jon had been dealt with in around 75 minutes.
So thank you and well done the NHS.
What do you complain about the most?
Everything and anything.
Aren’t you supposed to get wiser as you grow older ? I don’t recall anyone saying that with increased wisdom comes a marked decline in tolerance levels. I am 72 now, but I think I noted my intolerance building when I hit 60.
I find people, in general, to be rude and impatient. Just the other day, I was waiting 2nd in line to order food in a pub. I opened my mouth to order when a woman stepped past me and started her own order. Once upon a time, I would have said that it was the young that were rude, but these days, I think the older generation doesn’t set very good examples. This person was at least my age, if not older.
When I was young, we were taught to be polite and courteous. I still try to meet those standards, but boy, do I get bent out of shape if I don’t receive the same treatment
Our roads seem to have become more dangerous due to other drivers having forgotten the highway code. Happily tailgating, pushing me because I won’t exceed the speed limit. Not bothering with their indicators, presumably relying on my ability to read their minds and cutting into the safe distance I have left, causing me to have to brake excessively hard.
The driving issue seems to have worsened since the covid lockdowns. Maybe this is just my perception as I was in Australia when it all kicked off, and I spent seven months driving down there in WA. A different style of driving. When I got back to the UK, there were a couple of lockdown periods, and then everyone was back out on the roads. From there on in it seems to me that the UK driving standards have deteriorated.
I think the biggest thing I complain about is the lack of access to doctors. If you want an appointment you have to ring up at 08:00 if it’s urgent, 10:00 for a routine appointment. Woe betide you if you miss that time by a second.
Invariably when you dial you get the engaged tone, you may be lucky and be told you are “number n” in the queue. Then, if you get to speak to a real person you will be told that all appointments for the day are gone.
The online consult system is a joke, and if you happen to have two conditions to discuss with the doctor, you have to go through the whole process twice.
As I said, I spent seven months in WA. I had to sign up for Medicare. Brilliant. I could go on line, see my doctors available appointments, choose one that suited me and then see the doctor.
Six days a week !!! Why can’t we do that here in the UK?
I could go on, but I am sure you all have better things to do than read my rants.
Actually, come to think of it, that’s why you are here.
…. and still they, Scottish Power, have done nothing !!!
Even worse, Scottish Power now seem to be pointing the finger of blame at the UK government. As if they are responsible for my non functional smart meter.
I’m pretty sure that Scottish Power advertised, supplied, and installed the device
Some of you may have read my previous post from 2023. If you need a refresher, I have provided the link below.
https://siskinbob.wordpress.com/2023/01/01/scottish-power-not-so-smartmeter/?preview=true
So, I had a functional smart meter until December 2021. Prior to that time, all was hunky dory, and it was wirelessly providing readings to Scottish Power until it wasn’t.
Despite what they say in their latest email, Scottish Power has not directly communicated with me over this issue. Except when I phoned them on another matter, which is when they said the problem would be resolved by the end of October 2022.
Occasionally, usually when they want me to provide them with meter readings, they almost casually, as an aside mention that they are aware of the problem.
This is not good customer service. Silence, in this case, is not golden.
If there were any decent alternatives, I would have swapped providers by now.
WrAnTz 