Pilgrim Hospital - Not Good Enough To Train Studen Nurses

Just what is happening to Pilgrim Hospital? It is really, really worrying. There has been criticism from the Care Quality Commission with regard to the care there which is bad enough in itself. Now the Nursing and Midwifery Council have instructed that all student nurses must be withdrawn from the hospital as the teaching is not up to standard.

For pities sake. People in this area rely on Pilgrim Hospital for their care. If the standards in the hospital are not up to teaching student nurses, they cannot be up to the standard for providing care to the sick and injured of this area. This really is a terrible reflection on the hospital.

It is about time somebody got a proper grip on this place before it is closed down and this area is left without proper secondary care. It is bad enough that we have to travel 25 miles to receive proper emergency care without the thought of having to go twice as far to Lincoln instead.

Get a grip NHS Lincolnshire!!!!!

Angry Gods And An Apology

Weather forecast - light rain by 1.00 pm. Well I looked up at the sky at 11.30 and not a cloud in sight. "Hah" thought I, "They are wrong again" and put my washing out in a somewhat defiant mood.
While I was happily pegging away at the smalls, I realised just how lovely sunny and warm it was in my very sheltered back-garden. "Right", thought I, "Time to get the shorts on and the shirt off and top up the tan. Rain my backside".

So there I was an hour later, toasting gently, with my whites fluttering in the oh-so-gentle breeze ensconced in my Stephen King novel, when a strange distant rumbling came to my ears. I looked around the sky and noticed that to the north the colour was turning a strange yellowy grey. "Someone's going to get a drenching over there" I thought to myself and then carried on Stephen Kinging.
A few minutes later and the temperature suddenly dropped. The rumbling became much more insistent and very much nearer. "Blimey, better get some of this washing in" I thought.
As I desperately dived for the clothes basket and peg bag the rumblings were joined with flashes of lightning. Best get the old garden chair under cover. Did that and just managed to get the washing in when, with an almighty series of bangs and flashes, the heavens opened. The air was filled with huge, fat, cold raindrops and I leapt through the back door. All hell broke loose.
The weather Gods were showing me just how puny my challenge to them really was. How dare I doubt them and sit out in the sunshine? Now came the punishment. They were angry and they were letting me know it.

So here I sit with the rain thundering down on the conservatory roof fit to break in. It is my fault. I was daft enough to challenge the Gods and I got my come-uppance. All of you holiday-makers out there, I owe you a big apology. This storm is my fault. Sorry!!!

A Really Annoying Irritant

As regular readers of my blatherings will be aware, I often enjoy a morning constitutional. As is my wont, I set off this morning up the beach. As I was meandering and perambulating in a southerly direction towards Gibraltar Point, I suddenly became aware that I was itching all over but particularly on my face. I then discovered the cause of the itching, the means of the irritation: THUNDER FLIES.

Now I really hate these little irritating black, shiny irritants. They "do me bean in" to use the modern vernacular. Apologies to those of you who may belong to the Thunder Fly Appreciation Society and like to celebrate Thunder Fly Day on an annual basis, I am sure there must be some in this wacky world in which we live, but the only good thunder fly is a dead one. They really are the creatures that have nothing of any worth to recommend them.

So there I was, walking along, much more quickly, being violated by these horrendous little insects. I was wiping my face more than that, up until now, disappointing Wee Andy Murray would be doing if he played tennis in a sauna, but still suffering their attentions. The quicker I went, the warmer I got and the more the little blighters irritated me.

Then all of a sudden: blessed relief. They had disappeared as quckly as they had come. A light southerly breeze had sprung up and blown them all away. One more Murrayesque wipe of the face, thank God I had decided to carry my T-Shirt whilst I topped up my tan, and I was, once again, on my way with the ability to enjoy my walk restored. Alls well that ends well.

Please Sit Down Before You Read This

I got a letter in the post today. Nothing unusual about that you may say. Well it was the most unusual letter I have ever received. In fact unusual is not the word. Incredible describes it far more accurately. In fact it is so incredible that I had to ring the senders to find out if it was genuine or not. To my amazement it was.

Have I won the lottery? No. More incredible than that.

No the letter was from Eon my electricity and gas provider. It is telling me that my monthly payments are GOING DOWN. Yes folks you did read that correctly. My monthly payments are actually going down.

I told you it was incredible and I hope you took my advice to sit down before you read this. Fainting is a lot safer in a sitting position, isn't it??

Skegness Highways Spending - One Million Pounds

Received some very interesting information regarding the planned spending on the roads in the Skegness area for the present financial year. It totals in the region of £1,000,000 (one million) pounds. This figure has surprised me as it is way above what should have been spent in this area if the number of County Council wards was taken into account.

The details of the spend are:

Winter Damage

1) A52 Wainfleet Rd...............................£ 250 k

2) A52 Berry Way to Ship lights..............£ 30 k

3) Sea View Road..................................£ 200 k

Capital Schemes

1) Lincoln Rd (The Meadows) - Pelican Crossing.................£ 90 k

2) Roman Bank, Cycleway................................................£ 60 k

 

Planned General Maintenance Re-Surfacing Work

1) A52 at Winthorpe...................................................£ 90 k

2) Industrial Est, Victoria / Heath ................................£ 25 k

3) Drummond Road (from Lumley Rd southwards) ........£ 25 k

4) Old Burgh Rd.........................................................£ 10 k

5) Yarborough Crescent..............................................£ 10 k

6) Rutland Road.........................................................£ 10 k

7) Gibson Place.........................................................£ 10 k

8) Badar Way............................................................£ 10 k

Planned Footway Works

1) Burgh Road....................................£ 80 k

2) Kennedy Ave..................................£ 60 k

3) Forsyth Close.................................£ 40 k

 

I think that it is fair to say that in the Skegness area we are receiving a lions share of the overall County spend. Excellent news!!

 

Well done to both our County Councillors Mark Smith and Ken Milner for their efforts.

Just A Fantastic Walk

Went out this morning up onto the beach and headed towards Gibraltar Point. I have to say that the bit of coast south of the boating compound right up to Gib Point is really an absolute gem. Not talking about the beach which is obviouosly as good as any, no I am talking about walking the path through the overgrown dunes and past the salt-marsh.

There was hardly a soul about, I don't think it was because I had my shirt off to absorb the rays, and the bonus of the lack of human habitation was that the wildlife was out and about.

In an hour I saw, legions of Skylarks, I have never seen so many in that area before, 2 egrets, a lovely young Sparrowhawk sat on one of the posts denoting the edge of the nature reserve, the ubiquitous seagulls, including black-headed gulls, redshank, curlew and a multitude of rabbits. To top it all I then disturbed a weasel that was stalking a small rabbit. You would have to go a long way to see an animal move as quickly as that weasel did!!

The area sout of the boating compound down to Gibraltar Point really is a lovely area.

A couple of weeks ago I bought myself a brand new "bridge" camera, a Fujifilm Finepix. It takes really good photographs but, unfortunately, not when it is sat on my study table. That is what stopped a fantastic walk being a perfect walk.

I will try to improve.

Dog Dirt Problem In Skegness

Oh dear. What a subject, but it needs addressing. According to a press release from East Lindsey District Council there is going to be a blitz on dog owners who allow their dogs to mess in the streets, on the beach etc. and do not clean up after them. This is the owners fault and not the dogs!!! People will be fined £75 if caught acting in this irresponsible way and there will be dog patrols working.

It would appear from the press release that the Mablethorpe and Sutton-On-Sea area is going to be targetted initially. From enquiries I have made as a councillor it would appear that this is the case due to the fact that area is a known area of concern.

I have informed the council that Skegness, the seafront in particular, has a huge problem with this fouling and that Skegness should also be a targetted area. What I would urge you all to do is to contact East Lindsey District Council with your information as to where you know we have a bad dog fouling issue and give them the details. You can do this by ringing 01507 601111 or by emailing the dog warden dog.warden@e-lindsey.gov.uk.

There has been much discussion and a fair degree of complaining about this issue locally. This is your chance to get something done about it. Contact the council and let them know how bad the situation is in our town.

3 Pairs of Knickers and A Tea Bag.

So I wandered into the kitchen and found a saucepan sitting on the draining board next to the sink. Looked into it and couldn't quite make out what was in it. It was cold though. So I asked the wife and daughter what it was.

It was at this point that my lifelong belief that I will never understand women was, once again, reinforced.

The answer I received was 3 pairs of knickers and a tea-bag. This information was imparted to me as if it was the most logical thing in the world. Being no more than a daft male, I asked what it was for.

"It is for the show" I was told. (My daughter is appearing in the Lisa Jay Institute Stage Show "Cirque De Class" at the Embassy Centre on the 6th,7th and 8th of July.)

"Ah right" said I, completely none the wiser. My wife then took pity on my ignorance and completed the explanation.

"She needs 3 pairs of skin coloured pants to wear under her costume for the show" she said. "So I have bought her a new pack of white pants and we are now dying them skin coloured using a tea bag".

"Ah right" I said again. I then headed for the fridge to extract a cold beer. At times like these, it is the only outlet.

The female of the species lives in a whole different world!!!!!