Well, we are renowned for coming off second best, and in this instance our curlers did just that - a bit of a pity our men were unable to make the Olympic Final as exciting as the morning match for the Bronze medal, which was enthralling. However, we cannot take away from their achievement, and also that of the ladies who won their Bronze after a nail biting game yesterday.
Lord knows what was going on with the speed skating, or who had our Elise upset, but to be disqualified in all three events beggars belief, especially when there is no right of appeal to the referees. No point in making a song and dance about about, and having watched with awe the mad competitors in the snow cross that has to be one of the most exciting spectator events, no messing about there and no need for timing into the 1000th's of a second. If you crash , you crash, and if can walk away well done. Seems that there is a free for all downhill race in Europe where 1500 competitors race each other - must be madness and fun.
Most obscene revelation of the day has been the announcement that Manchester United have agreed to pay Wayne Rooney £300,000 per week for the next three weeks, just to kick a ball about !! I bet our curlers would appreciate just one weeks wages from him to support the development of their game. Time someone drew the line under the sponsorship being paid to the Premier League. I am sure the Alex Salmond would make sure that no one in his nanny state would ever earn as much as him.
Kiev in the Ukraine, what's going on there, riots and mounting death toll, even photographs of Paramilitary snipers shooting into the crowd and killing demonstrators - looks another "president" has got his democratic notions in a twist.
Sad story about the three month baby from Pakistan who has been seriously injured in a fire which killed both his parents being flown to Scotland for medical treatment which will funded by our NHS, because there is no compatible means of treatment in Pakistan. Relatives here have had child flown here and raised some funds through a public appeal. Whilst I cannot be critical of such an act which will no doubt result in the child being permitted to remain in this country and get all the ongoing surgery required - the WHAT IF - if I was suffering from something serious which could not be treated here, and had to fly to Pakistan , India, Poland, the USA, etc for specialist treatment - first thing I would be asked for would be a credit card or cash (plus backhanders in some of those countries)!! Once again - welcome to "mugland".
Friday, 21 February 2014
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Couch potato - not.
Well done our two curling teams in Russia, just a pity the ladies did not manage to get the same crack at the Gold and Silver as the men have - never mind both matches have been very exciting and tomorrow I will be back in the chair avidly biting my nails and cheering them on. Sort of double edged sword, I would have been bored without the Olympics, however, I end up sitting watching the TV when I should be getting exercise or rest.
While I was away our Xmas present, a "muckle bulb" in a pot having grown, eventually blossomed, thanks to Jock and Sheila for such a bonnie gift -
Lots of postulating going on by our beloved First Minister, Alex Salmond and members of his party regarding the Yes / No campaign, changing his mind from Plan A to Plan B and back again, etc, looks like he lives behind a permanent smoke screen which is also in this case, stopping folks from finding out what "slippery Eck" and his entourage did with the missing £50,000 from his extravagant trip to the USA. This thing with politicians, power and glory, even our City Lord Provost has managed to double his expenditure, wining, dining and even has two drivers now. Interesting to see that there are always a queue waiting to be nominated for posts as local authority councillors, M.P.'s, M.S.P.'s etc to join the gravy train.
While I was away our Xmas present, a "muckle bulb" in a pot having grown, eventually blossomed, thanks to Jock and Sheila for such a bonnie gift -
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Missing Link no longer
Evening - kind of ducked under the radar rather quickly having been fired into the hospital once again by the Doctor following a recurrence of chest pains. So that was another week under the care of a number dedicated of Doctors and Nurses in the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh. No computer so my contact with the outer world was kind of restricted, although I was supposed to be resting.
Did attempt to get some kind of Internet connection by paying for the ERI's totally exorbitant and useless TV rental system - but it is so archaic that it was impossible to get into any E mail system, , movie images were totally distorted, and even the reception on the hospital radio was crackly. The only consolation was that they were trying to promote the system so we had four hours free viewing daily from 8 a.m. to 12 md which let me in to see the winter Olympics - and out of desperation I signed up for three days over the weekend to stop being bored. That was how I discovered how crap the set up was !! Certainly would not recommend such an obsolete and expensive cash generator to anyone.
Did attempt to get some kind of Internet connection by paying for the ERI's totally exorbitant and useless TV rental system - but it is so archaic that it was impossible to get into any E mail system, , movie images were totally distorted, and even the reception on the hospital radio was crackly. The only consolation was that they were trying to promote the system so we had four hours free viewing daily from 8 a.m. to 12 md which let me in to see the winter Olympics - and out of desperation I signed up for three days over the weekend to stop being bored. That was how I discovered how crap the set up was !! Certainly would not recommend such an obsolete and expensive cash generator to anyone.
Monday, 10 February 2014
Enjoying the Olympics
Well done Jenny Jones, Bronze medal at the Olympics in the snowboarding competition, what a lovely young lady. I have obviously been quite engrossed in the games, being mainly confined to barracks, so it is the perfect opportunity for a bit of armchair exercise. However I will need to get out the chair if I intend to regain a figure anywhere near the likes of these athletes, all of them, and not end up like the ever growing numbers of jean clad individuals waddling along our High Streets, and sitting in McDonalds munching their calorie laden snacks !!
These athletes put us to shame with their dedication and fitness, I watched Eve Muirhead and the ladies curling team in the gym doing their training - fit as lops, as they say, big change from the old days, and curling is now one of the fastest growing of the winter sports.
Have to say again how good the various venues are, just bringing out the best in the athletes. We are very fortunate here in Midlothian to have such a marvellous resource in the Hillend Ski Centre.
How galling it is to see such dedication and skill without the rewards that our so called football stars earn - there is no comparison whatsoever. Nuff said.
It was interesting on saturday night watching the Voice, where the young lad from Glasgow was appearing looking for a chance to make it big time as a singer. turns out he is a full time judo athlete, an Under 17 UK star, and training for a place in the British team again. His coaches were hoping that he would not do well as they wanted him to concentrate on his sport and represent his country, we will watch with interest to see which direction he takes in life.
These athletes put us to shame with their dedication and fitness, I watched Eve Muirhead and the ladies curling team in the gym doing their training - fit as lops, as they say, big change from the old days, and curling is now one of the fastest growing of the winter sports.
Have to say again how good the various venues are, just bringing out the best in the athletes. We are very fortunate here in Midlothian to have such a marvellous resource in the Hillend Ski Centre.
How galling it is to see such dedication and skill without the rewards that our so called football stars earn - there is no comparison whatsoever. Nuff said.
It was interesting on saturday night watching the Voice, where the young lad from Glasgow was appearing looking for a chance to make it big time as a singer. turns out he is a full time judo athlete, an Under 17 UK star, and training for a place in the British team again. His coaches were hoping that he would not do well as they wanted him to concentrate on his sport and represent his country, we will watch with interest to see which direction he takes in life.
Saturday, 8 February 2014
Winter olympics under way.
The Winter Olympics are now under way in Russia and I must admit that the opening ceremony last night was very spectacular, impressive indeed, just a shame that several of our World leaders did not attend due to the potential security problems. Just a pity that terrorists and dissenters are forever attempting to use these major events as a platform for their radical views. Lets hope that they just stay away and leave the athletes to perform in peace.
The various venues are certainly outstanding, just seems a shame that the Russians have spent such an incredible amount of money on the construction of the various arenas - if we are to believe what we have been told the cost is nearly one hundred times greater than the last winter Olympics. However, if comments are correct then a lot of people have made a vast amount of personal money as a result of winning these contracts, either through the old pals network, bribery, corruption, etc.
Certainly makes a change to see these talented sportsmen / women performing under difficult conditions, however, for many , snow and ice are natural elements to them. I look forward to some interesting viewing over the next two weeks.
The various venues are certainly outstanding, just seems a shame that the Russians have spent such an incredible amount of money on the construction of the various arenas - if we are to believe what we have been told the cost is nearly one hundred times greater than the last winter Olympics. However, if comments are correct then a lot of people have made a vast amount of personal money as a result of winning these contracts, either through the old pals network, bribery, corruption, etc.
Certainly makes a change to see these talented sportsmen / women performing under difficult conditions, however, for many , snow and ice are natural elements to them. I look forward to some interesting viewing over the next two weeks.
Andrew Stevens Mckeen, our new Provincial Grand Superintendent.
Congratulations to Andy who is now installed as the Grand Superintendent of the Provincial Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Mid and East Lothian for the next three years, having succeeded Alexander F Moonie.
I had been looking forward to attending the Installation, however, a slight glitch in the recovery process meant that it really was not sensible for me to attend, however, I am sure I will catch up with our new Grand Superintendent in the near future.
Friday, 7 February 2014
Abusing the NHS (National health Service)
Had a shocking night, did not fully appreciate how badly I had been affected by the death of my fellow patient.
He was very ill and really desperate for surgery, this was not helped when a foreign individual took ill outside the hospital, was admitted and had a similar operation to my friend - which really upset him.
This problem with "health tourists" is highlighted at the moment down South where an Asian lady arrived in London with her son and immediately headed for hospital to seek very specialist treatment for the boy, which is apparently not available in her home country!! There is now a real furore as she is demanding a visa, and claiming that the UK are breaching their Human Rights !! and they come from a country where people are stoned to death; women are raped as a punishment; and bombings and killings are common place.
No one is denying anyone the right to emergency treatment, but I am afraid our health tourists are just totally abusing our system to the detriment of our own residents. If I visit the USA I do not expect free medical treatment, that is why we have to have insurances, etc, so whats good for the goose is good for the gander.
Time our Government got their heads out their backsides and listened to what our own people really want - and before the infrastructure of the NHS totally disintegrates.
On the same subject, there should be some form of penalty for those who waste the valuable time of doctors and nurses by failing to turn up for appointments at hospital and local surgeries, and also the numbsculls who arrive drunk or with trivial ailments.
He was very ill and really desperate for surgery, this was not helped when a foreign individual took ill outside the hospital, was admitted and had a similar operation to my friend - which really upset him.
This problem with "health tourists" is highlighted at the moment down South where an Asian lady arrived in London with her son and immediately headed for hospital to seek very specialist treatment for the boy, which is apparently not available in her home country!! There is now a real furore as she is demanding a visa, and claiming that the UK are breaching their Human Rights !! and they come from a country where people are stoned to death; women are raped as a punishment; and bombings and killings are common place.
No one is denying anyone the right to emergency treatment, but I am afraid our health tourists are just totally abusing our system to the detriment of our own residents. If I visit the USA I do not expect free medical treatment, that is why we have to have insurances, etc, so whats good for the goose is good for the gander.
Time our Government got their heads out their backsides and listened to what our own people really want - and before the infrastructure of the NHS totally disintegrates.
On the same subject, there should be some form of penalty for those who waste the valuable time of doctors and nurses by failing to turn up for appointments at hospital and local surgeries, and also the numbsculls who arrive drunk or with trivial ailments.
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