A councillor has said more needs to be done by police to tackle speeding and anti-social driving behaviour across Fareham.
It’s not just Fareham that needs the additional focus. Here, in Waterlooville, we are also plagued by antisocial driving and speeding.
Councillor Pal Hayre is right to be asking for more measures to be put in place, but they need to be county-wide. Thats just me being parochial, this is a countrywide problem.
It’s all very well expecting the police to do more but they need the resources. They need more feet on the ground, more wheels in the street.
A couple of years ago I was diagnosed with NAFLD, or Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, to give its full name. Or, to put it another way, Cirrhosis of the liver.
Over the last couple of years, I have been prodded and poked as part of the monitoring process. As yet, I am not on any medication, but I do get regular lectures about my diet and my lack of exercise.
My Hepatology consultant has wanted to carry out biopsies to prove her diagnosis, but I have resisted. I really don’t fancy the idea of someone pushing a needle into my side.So far she has had to make do with me having regular Fibroscans, blood tests and the occasional gastroscopy.
And so it was, last Tuesday, after two years had elapsed, it was decided that it was time for me to undergo another gastroscopy.
I vaguely recalled that the previous procedure wasn’t actually as unpleasant as everyone had told me. So, when I presented myself at reception in the Queen Alexandra Hospital Endoscopy Department, I was fairly relaxed.
On arrival, I was asked to complete a two page questionnaire regarding my medical history. Given the number of times that I have provided this information, over the last few weeks, I question the need.
After all, my height and weight are still unchanged, I still wear glasses, and no, I still don’t have any metalwork inside my body. The drugs I take on a daily basis are also unchanged. You would think, in this technological age, that they could print out my record and get me to confirm that nothing had changed. It would save bit of time.
Anyhow, questionnaire duly completed, it was time for me to head round to where the procedure was due to be carried out. I followed the nurse, like a dutiful hound called to heel. But first, we made a detour into a small office space where the nurse talked me through the questionnaire and I pretty much had to answer all the questions….. Again!!! We could have done the form filling and verbal confirmation all at one go. The only difference was that the nurse decided that I needed to provide a blood sample for my blood sugar,
Oh and I had to sign a consent form and in return I was given a standard hospital bracelet.
And then we walked round to the theatre. Where, once again, I was interrogated. Name, rank, serial number.
Then it was down to business. Sit on the table. Lay back. Open your mouth and hold your breath while we spray this stuff, Xylocaine, to the back of your throat. I had been warned that the spray tasted of rotten bananas. Perhaps not quite that bad, but more like overripe bananas. The spray is required to reduce/stop the natural gag reflex when the endoscope is inserted.
As requested, I rolled over on to my left side. And then the doctor was there with endoscope in hand.
He suggested that I might want to close my eyes as he began his hunt for varices.
But I didn’t want to miss the tv show. Unlike two years ago, I had a screen to look at. Full HD, I reckon. So I watched as the camera began its journey down my throat. The doctor was giving a full running commentary as the camera travelled down. It’s a bit like a train journey where the name of the next destination is announced.
Soon we were in my stomach which, much to my surprise, was empty apart from some fluids. In my head I envisaged the doctor, wearing a miners head lamp and wellies, sploshing around in my gastric juices. Strangely, I could feel the endoscope moving moving under my hand, which was laying on my belly, as the doctor had a good look around. So the gastric train reached the terminus and then began the return journey. Like any good tourist, the doctor paused the extraction to take a couple of photos.
And then we were done. Endoscope extracted and the doctor was saying that all was clear. In medispeak “No endoscopic signs of portal hypertension”, no varices.
After a few minutes I was taken to a discharge waiting room while the doctor was writing up his report. A nurse appeared and presented me with an “After gastroscopy care leaflet” Nothing to eat or drink for an hour. This is to allow the effects of the throat anaesthetic to wear off. Too soon and I could choke. After an hour, just small sips of water and if OK gently increase intake back to normal.
I was also given a copy of the doctors report and informed that I would be called in for a repeat performance in three years. And so I was formally discharged and allowed to go home.
Obviously I am very pleased that nothing sinister was seen and perhaps slightly less pleased at the thought of doing this again. But I am glad that they are continuing to monitor for the adverse symptoms of NAFLD.
Follow the link below to see my previous thoughts on how little we think of the English patron saint compared to the patron saints of the other countries that make up the United Kingdom.
This year, my online calendar doesn’t even mention St. George’s day. And yet, staring me in the face are entries for St. Patrick and St. David both celebrated in the same month.
The people of this country do my head in. They get bent out of shape because Nike introduce a multi colour version for the England football strip, but seemingly ignore St. George, for whom the flag is a symbol.
And let’s not forget that the cross of St. George forms an integral part, if not the basis, of the Union Flag symbol of Great Britain, the United Kingdom.
I did a quick trawl of the interweb to find out what was happening in my area to celebrate St. George’s Day. Well, apparently, not much.
I found several instances referring to parades and services associated with Chichester Cathedral. Sadly, they were all for years gone by.
Also sad, if there is any truth in it, is this text
We do recognise St George’s day In England, although as a more multicultural society it is not observed by all. There is also an air or Political correctness that abounds in England today that the St George’s flag (white with Red Cross) is viewed by some as racist.
Racist !!! Where the hell did that come from ? The national flag of multicultural England is racist. More woke/BLM bullshit.
Similarly, another snippet
Observed on the 23rd of April each year, you’ll find parades and a range of celebratory activities popping up around England. Expect to see the symbol of St George (a flag with a red and white cross) everywhere, as well as people flooding the streets and local pubs, as well as church services.
At the grand old age of seventy-two, I can safely say that I have never seen a parade for St. George, nor people flooding the streets.
Most churches will hold services for St. George and some pubs will certainly put up some bunting and promote St. George, in the hope of drawing in a few more punters.
But, St. George is not embedded in our psyche. If we had a national holiday, then more people might sit up and take notice.
But that isn’t any more likely now than it was in 2011 when I lasted posted on this subject.
Over the years, I have, in several posts, made some disparaging remarks about the state of our town (village) centre.
How it is slowly decomposing, and becoming something of a ghost town.
Well it seems we have now come to the attention of The Telegraph, one Britain’s national broadsheets.
The English high street: Waterlooville, Hampshire – how a town centre dies
This has become an object lesson in how a thriving town can be ruined by poor building and haphazard planning
This is the opening salvo of a sad description of how Havant Borough Council planners have mismanaged the development of Waterlooville and then, having fouled it up they have sat back to let the rot set in.
“Wellington Way Shopping Centre, right at the heart of the town,” says its website. “Offers a great mix of high-street names and boutiques. Come on down and enjoy the atmosphere.”
This is followed by …
You would have to be deranged to enjoy the atmosphere.
I have long bemoaned the fact that the planners diverted the A3 London Road to dogleg its way around the town centre. Effectively isolating the town centre from the new shopping experience that is the Wellington Way Retail Park. The Telegraph had this to say …
Since 1983, the A3 has roared in a dog-leg bypass, leaving the London Road, the main shopping street, as a comfortless pedestrian open space.
I note that the Telegraph didn’t comment on that part of the retail park experience which is the parking.
Only a moron would create a retail park with two motor vehicle entrances but only one exit. Parking is free for a set period of time, monitored by NPR cameras. Many folks have found that they have been fined due to it taking over an hour to exit the car park, thereby exceeding the free period.
Don’t get me wrong. I know that HBC are working hard to turn things around. But, as I have also previously stated, I believe it to be too little, too late.
They have already subdivided the town centre by diverting and pedestrianising the A3. This is a change that they are highly unlikely to reverse.
Today, a Monday afternoon, I have just circumnavigated the town centre. There were a fair few people around, but it was a long way from the bustling town it was. And despite the clean-up work, it is drab, uninviting, and sad. The Telegraph are not far off the mark.
Have people be more considerate. To be more aware of the implications of their own actions and the impacts to other peoples lives.
Change the attitudes of our politicians. I’m sure they start their political journey with the best of intentions. But somewhere along the road, they go through a metamorphosis where, regardless of political party, they become self-serving liars. They also go through some kind of memory crisis whereby they forget that they were voted into position by us, the general public. That they are supposed to be our voice in parliament to reflect our wishes.
Teach today’s youth some manners and the true meaning of respect. Respect for their elders, their teachers, and the police. Teach them that everyone is entitled to respect until they show themselves unworthy. Teach them that they themselves have to show respect to earn it for themselves. This education should start at home with the parents, who seem to dispense with all responsibilities for how their offspring behave, once they step out of their parental home.
Put some proper investment in place for our NHS. With decent wages for our nurses. Surely the recent Covid-19 pandemic has shown us their worth.
More investment in our emergency services, get more bodies in place to relieve the workload on those already out there.
Put in place better support for our armed forces veterans. It seems like this country bends over backwards to provide support for so-called refugees while our veterans, having served their country, find themselves surplus to requirements.
These are just my initial thoughts with no priority implied by order listed.
It’s not Boris Johnsons fault that these folks are homeless. It’s not Priti Patels fault that they are trekking across europe.
But it is their fault that Britains stance is not strong enough to deter them from trying to cross the channel in an ever growing armada of boats that are not fit for purpose.
They know that we will look after them when they arrive on our beaches. This is wrong.
What they should know is that we will give them a bottle of water and a packet of sandwiches and that they will be put on a boat and transported back to France, or whichever country their ill conceived voyage started from.
These people should be put on a boat and returned to the coast of their departure. This could be done within 24 hours. Just return them to the beach from which they started their crossing.
When are european countries going shoulder some responsibility and take action to stem the tide ?
I like to consider myself quite laid back, liberal minded and definitely not racist, but I find myself becoming more and more angry when ever I watch the news.
The bleeding hearts on the media will tell you that these people are destitute, oppressed and fleeing from danger.
They are not.
They are crossing the channel from France, and other countries. These people may have come from war torn countries but they don’t stop travelling once they have arrived in a safe country. They carry on migrating through safe countries with one destination in mind, Great Britain.
They are not destitute, if the media is to be believed. They are paying way over the odds to criminals so they can cross the channel in small overloaded boats. I have seen £5000 as a figure, the fee they pay to criminal gangs. This is many times more expensive than crossing legally on a ferry or via the channel tunnel.
So why don’t they cross in the same way as you or I would do ?
They haven’t got a passports or a visa. You or I, trying to cross legally, would be turned back at the border ….. IN FRANCE. And don’t forget, most of them are not EU citizens either so they, even if they have retained their passports, do not have the same rights as EU citizens for cross border travel.
Lets also not forget the security issues associated with taking these people under our collective wings. These aren’t families making this crossing. Some are, and some are unaccompaied children who have been put in these boats and cast off with no thoughts to their continued safety. Who would send their children off into the unknown? Predominantly though, they are young men. Young men who have left their homes and families behind. I don’t doubt that some are truly fleeing from awful conditions. But not all. Many have their eye on the handouts that the UK is renowned for. I also believe that some of these young men have darker intent.
Isn’t anyone worried by the large numbers of fit young men that are crossing into our country ? How many of them are ISIS sleepers ? Men that could be slipping ino the UK with ill intent for our future.
It’s time our government gave some teeth to our security forces and let them turn the tide of this illicit trade and send a strong message across the world.
WrAnTz 