Tag: UK

Wrinklies Lunch – The Ferryboat Inn


We are the Wrinklies. A small group of friends and their partners, who, at one time or another, worked together and are all retirees.

Today was the first of, I hope, many social lunches in 2024. It was certainly our first gathering since before Christmas due to most, if not all, of us contracting some kind of flu, which basically knocked us out of commission, in some cases for weeks.

The selected venue for our inaugural gathering was The Ferryboat Inn, situated on the easterly tip of Hayling Island.

I have been visiting this pub for over fifty years. My first visit was while I was an apprentice in Portsmouth Dockyard. Many subsequent visits were made on my return from boat fishing trips, disembarking at the nearby jetty. And then there are these purely social gatherings.

So it was not our first time at this pub, but it has been a while, certainly pre-covid.

There were seven of us in our group and all enjoyed their meals with the exception of me.

My wife had the Hunters Chicken, while Eric had Steak and Venison Pie, Mary had Scampi while the remaining four had Fish n Chips.

As I said earlier, all the others enjoyed their meals, with at least one declaring “best fish n chips ever”.

Unfortunately, my meal was sub standard. The batter was ultra crisp, just shattering when I cut into my fillet, the batter would not stay with the fish. And the fish, instead of being flaky and moist was dry.

So, I drew the short straw.

I didn’t complain as I didn’t want a replacement meal, meaning I would be eating when everyone else was finished. And it wasn’t inedible.

Will I go back ?

Yes. I never write a place off on the basis of a single meal.

One other negative comment. I ordered bread and butter to go with my meal, having noted that they were going to charge £1 per slice. There was I thinking it would be a nice crusty bread, maybe granary, ciabatta or something special. Nope, two slices of slightly dry sandwich bread from a loaf that probably cost £1.50 That’s not a bad profit.

I’ll end this on a positive note. The apple and ginger crumble dessert served with a jug of custard was lovely.

Overall, a very pleasant couple of hours were spent with friends in a great location. Had the winds been a little quieter and the temperatures a bit higher, we might have been tempted to go for a walk along the shoreline.

Looking forward to the next Wrinklies gathering and discovering the next venue.

Hampshire Police Crush e-Scooters


https://app.portsmouth.co.uk/2024/02/05/hampshire-police-crush-e-scooters-as-force-issues-warning-to-users-of-illegal-electric-vehicles/content.html

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.

Little Shits


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.

Is This The First Of Many ?


Oh, I do hope so. I have posted before about the hoons blighting our society.

Whilst there are noise camera trials taking place at various sites in the UK, and the police can issue on the spot fines, the misery caused by these auto “enthusiasts” continues.

So, this first strike against a business blatantly breaking the law is very welcome.

I sincerely hope that 2024 is the year that the hoons get their comeuppance.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/driver-and-vehicle-standards-agency_in-the-first-case-of-its-kind-at-kirklees-activity-7133097163114319872-rP80#:~:text=remove%20the%20catalytic-,converter,-(CAT)%20and%20applied

Prison For Paedophile / Rapist


https://app.portsmouth.co.uk/full_page_image/page-3-1975/content.html

Getting no less than he deserves, I don’t believe the sentence is harsh enough.

The damage people such as Kopcil cause will stay with their victims for life.

Huge purchase of 800 new council houses by Portsmouth City Council takes step closer to reality


https://app.portsmouth.co.uk/2023/12/14/huge-purchase-of-800-new-council-houses-by-portsmouth-city-council-takes-step-closer-to-reality/content.html

How many of these properties are vacant ?

Certainly, the council is increasing their housing stock, but I wonder what the true impact will be to the council housing waiting lists.

Very little, I suspect.

Seems to me what the council is actually doing is purchasing the increased responsibility for housing maintenance.

Glow @ Marwell Zoological Park


Had a lovely evening out with family yesterday at Marwell Zoological Park.

Here are just a few snaps ….

The beginning ……

It’s Obvious Really


https://app.portsmouth.co.uk/full_page_image/page-8-1958/content.html

Read this article yesterday. I am always amazed that, so often, it requires a study to discover the obvious.

Only a few days ago, I posted that I felt my wife’s stenosis diagnosis was delayed by up to twelve months due to the lack of face to face time with a doctor.

Much of a doctors diagnosis has to do with “observation.”

You can not “observe” via a telephone consult.

We have been forced into using e-consultation tools. My experience is that they do not allow sufficient space to describe symptoms fully. On several occasions, when I have used the e-consult tool, I have found the questions leading you down a path to either diagnosis of a brain tumour or diabetes when you are suffering from a broken toe. Invariably, the tool tries to abort, telling you that you need to see a doctor, which is where we came in.

You can not “observe” via an e-consult.

Last year, we were told by a nurse practitioner that nothing had changed, that we were getting the same level of service from our GPs as we always had.

What total and utter nonsense.

Another issue with the current level of service is that there is no continuity. In the “good old days,” not only could you get a face to face appointment with a doctor, but it was the same doctor each and every time.

Continuity would allow the doctor to “observe” physical changes in the patient between appointments.

So, back to the article, anyone with more than a single brain cell could have seen that patients are not getting safe and accurate diagnosis under the current level of NHS care.

Halloween Display


https://app.portsmouth.co.uk/full_page_image/page-5-1932/content.html

Earlier in the year, I responded to a clarion call for polystyrene boxes, of which I had a few.

My boxes, along with many others culled from the local area, have been transformed into a Halloween Display with a charity collection. The proceeds of which are going to The Rowans, a local hospice.

Well done to Becky and her friends and family.

Take a look at the following pictures