Why do people make excuses?

I would not care if people apologised for not paying attention; I do it almost automatically. But people have lost things I have sent them, done things without taking on board what I’ve told them and in the end have made excuses, instead of taking it on the chin and saying “I’m really sorry but I forgot.”

Which on the small scale is unacceptable, but on a large scale?

Yesterday was spent in York at the St Nicholas Fair and other things. Managed to pick up somthing for the meal with parents on 13th Decmber.

Today I'm tidying up the SAGGA membership database for the new address list and news & ideas.

I’m Back

I've been spending a few days away. Contrary to the beliefs of some of you I haven't been anywhere near a PC with internet capabilities in that time.

Saturday I tied all my committee commitments in a bow and then Nic and I went to her parents in Birmingham. Spent a restful few days playing Monopoly, doing cross-stitch, and planning my next soft toy. Also got to visit the new Bullring shopping centre- but wasn't there long.

Tuesday was when me, Nic and Nicola's parents went with a Luton van load of furniture to their new house in Powys, more of a flying visit than originally planned.

Not used to having so much time to sleep- frequently waking at 5 or 6 in the morning, needing to go back to sleep again.

Tonight is Explorers with an Aids awareness evening presented by some friends from Leeds Uni. All parents and Explorers have been given the option of staying away should they object on moral grounds. Should be interesting, well at least it is a rest for me.

Nic and I are considering going way for a few days mid December, and are wondering what we're going to do new year- fairly certainly decided not to go on the Birmingham PMA trip again, lost too much contact with that lot and am not sure I would enjoy it this year given the organisers.

Off for a bit

Nicola's cancelled a couple of shifts, and we're going to visit her parents, and then spend a couple of days in Wales at their new house. Maybe moving furniture in, maybe taking a walk to the see, maybe just having a rest.

Today Nicola and I went to visit my mum, who was looking after Emily. Emily seemed pleased to see her Uncle and Auntie. She can now walk several steps unaided, but prefers a little bit of help when she can get it.

My mum took us all to Pizza Hut for lunch. Which was a new experience in a couple of ways because I have never before taken a baby out to a restaurant (Emily was very good by the way) and I haven’t been to Pizza Hut’s all you can eat buffet for over a decade.

No comment on current events, as this weeks events have cut me off from all that is going on in the world; apart from walking past an over-policed vigil outside the St John’s shopping centre on Wednesday evening.

Doctor Who - Scream of the Shalka

It's 40 years since the assassination of John F Kennedy, which must mean... yet another Doctor Who anniversary

So just in time he's back. Online at least until the new TV series in 2005. The BBCi/Cosgrove Hall version is voiced by none other than Richard E Grant.

Sadly for those with fond memories of Dukula and Dangermouse only the visuals have been provided by CH, while the soundtrack was specially recorded by BBC radio type people. A slow start to what promises to be an interesting experiment.

More CCC

Or Crafts, Computers and Cinema. Cocktails were not in sight, even for those of us not prevented from drinking for various reasons, the evening rounded off with Sainsbury's best Indian take-out (really rather nice) and a Stella or two for those partaking. Perhaps we're growing up, or maybve just older.

The minutes I'd planned to write didn't get very far as Jon started me up on Medal of Honour, a networked game we played on Jon's many PCs.

Earlier in the day it turned out that the new reader who showed up in my stats on Monday was who I thought it was, when she told Nicola that she'd found my blog. Well it was in reference to Nicola's part in this story.

This weekend

Nicola and I are at Crafts, cocktails and Computers, or Crafts cocktails Computers and Cinema as it has become. I intended to use today to type up minutes, but Jon P has Star Wars II, which neither me, Trev or Andy had seen before. Adam, Jon's son, was concerned we would be frightened by the danger our heros were in so helped out by letting us know how they would be saved at crucial points in the action.

Nicola is over at First Astwood bank, with Sally Het and Claire doing crafty things. Which is where I will be too, tomorrow. Meanwhile I must get on with some work.

What am I going to listen to now?

Last week was the last episode of The Now Show, well at least until April.
It can be heard at the above link until 12:30 tomorrow.

Particularly contravertial was Marcus Brigstocke's routine, at least according to Radio 4's Feedback. Marcus has a 1 year old son, and his routine was a commentary on the dilemmas he is facing over the MMR jab. Many of the feedback comments seemed to me to come from people who hadn't listened to the sketch.

One point seemed to me to be that he was making fun out of those who based arguments on emotion rather than science. If indeed he was I would applaud him, as I belive such emotive types deserve derision, however to my ears the piece was actually more balanced towards such people than I would have liked. But Marcus is right to take the line he has, he has children I don't so can easily argue in a more detached way.

Other comment on MMR scaremongering in the media can be read at Black Triangle.

Yawn!

Tonight was ten-pin bowling, a successful Explorer night with a high attendance. 50% of the unit are now signed up for D of E. And of course the obligatory Scout had to ring me before hand because he'd forgotten the arrangements. My lane won, I scored 111 and two other Explorers scored over 140, Gerald's lane were quicker, but less sparkling.

However the prospect of an easy evening had been disrupted when I got home from work, Nicola had locked her keys in the car, and needed a lift to and from Guides. Her parents arrived at 10pm, and they all left for Birmingham with the keys found and (I hope) put somewhere safe.

What a long day. Goodnight!

Thought for the day was interesting yesterday, being about those who volunteer to do somthing to improve society and those who just complain. I'm probably preaching to the choir here, as I'm sure most of my readers are keen volunteers of one form or another.

What I am listening to.

At a car boot sale I picked up the audio book of Patricia Cornwell's Southern Cross.

I didn't enjoy this book, although it passed the time when driving to work. I think given the opinions of some Cornwell fans it's probably a bad introduction to her work. Many others seem to dislike this book, preferring her Scarpatta books. Not sure if it was the abridgement, or anything to do with Lorelei King's performance, but nothing really seems to happen, and the computer virus sub-plot is pure drivel.

Avoid.

"It's a fine life if you don't weaken"

It's either a Yorkshire or Lancastrian comment on someone who blunders ahead without any thought for those around, and I'm sorry to say I can't remember which particular Grandfather said it most.

Consideration for others isn't just something for altruistic nutcases.

Take driving for example (again.) This morning I happened to be passing a School just before School started, at the same time people were cleaning the drains. A large queue of traffic were stuck behind a give way sign. I let one through. Except I couldn't just let one through as none of the rest would similarly wait their turn and let me through. 5 minutes later I could procede.

In slow moving traffic, many snarl-ups could be ameliorated if people took their turns, and didn't try and barge through where there was a gap.

Consideration for others isn't just about being nice, it reduces conflict, therefore stress and makes the world a safer place, and can if universal reduce hold-ups.

News for Drivers

Most of you will be aware of the laws on use of mobile phones behind the wheel. Such beahviour was already illegal as "driving without due care and attention", however the government has seen fit to make this more explicit, and I suppose easier to enforce.

The BBC NEWS Magazine says the new rules come into force on 1st December; I was surprised to hear that for all the pulicity at the time of drafting, these rules are not yet in force. The article goes on to (slightly patronisingly) examine just what is and isn't permitted for mobile use after 1st Decmber.

Birthday Part 2

My secont part of my birthday was spent with my parents, Nicola, Anna and Emily. Emily is getting very talkative now, her limited vocabulary stretches to multiple meanings. Nicola had baked me a cake during the week while I wasn't looking, in the shape of a tent. I was amazed to see it, not least because the first thing I knew about it was when it turned up on the table, complete with musical candle!

Remembrance Sunday.

This morning was parade Sunday so both me and Nicola were at our respected Churches. Attendence was down compared to usual Sundays with both Kirstall and Far Headingley just having enough representatives to carry the flags. This is an effect noticed in other parts of the country. I was wearing a poppy to begin with, but this was lost before I entered the Church. Twice.

In the evening the march past at the Cenotaph in London, recognising the faces of Gill, Sentley and Rachel amoungst the Scout colour party, two of whom were 20th World Jamboree Risk Management personnel, and the third who is at uni in Leeds with friends of mine. (The BBC have a page on Scouts being at the Cenotaph.)

I haven't ever looked at attendance before by Remembrance Sunday was usually the only parade where my old Venture Unit had a good attendance. Whether that had anything to do with normal Chruch parades ending in the British Legion for pie afterwards I don't know. Other Scout troops only seem to insist on parading on St George's day (because he's the patron Saint of Scouting- not for any nationalistic reasons) and Remembrance Sunday, with all other parades not even being encouraged.

Why was attendance down today? Was it because of a public distaste for war, an unease at those who send our troops into conflict which has mistekenly spilled over onto the troops themselves? Or was it just because it's November it's cold, and there would be 15 minutes standing around outside after the service?

Today is my birthday!

After a quiet morning Nicola took me on a drive up the Yorkshire coast, visiting Scarbourgh for afternoon tea, Robin Hood's bay to browse the shops and buy some mead, and then up to Whitby. On the way home we stopped off at a pub for a meal.

The last time I'd visited Whitby was at the end of a Coast-to-Coast cycle trip with CUSAGC, so it was interesting to see the same place from a different perspective.

Maintaining my interest

The BBC are publishing reactions to todays interest rate rise.

As usual in these times of cut cut cut, little attention is given to the responsible people who don't overstreatch themselves, pay interest on their credit cards.

People have been suffering due to interest rates being so low. Pensioners from the days before easy access to personal pensions are having their incomes squeezed. People not in a position to commit to homeowning need longer to build up that vital first deposit.

But of course as far as the media are concerned "everyone" is in debt. Anyone who puts money away to pay for things in the future, does without rather than run up debts is an oddball who is not worth talking about.

Surley with the so-called debt bomb under us attitudes have to change.

That's gr8!

A correspondant to the freebie paper you get on public transport observed that with predictive word texting it takes twice as long to write "C U l8r" than it does to type "See you later."

You know I count myself lucky

That I've only seen two of the worst films ever, as voted by film 2003 viewers.

The Blair Witch project did unnerve me, not through the spooky goings on, but the excessive swearing and antagonism, and the sheer idiocy of the characters. For example the female lead has experience of walking off the beaten track, yet goes out in jeans and without a spare OS Map equivalent.

Batman and Robin I bought on video and have watched once. It starts off silly, then just as you get used to the level, it takes a left turn at the traffic lights. However it was over 6 years ago, so while its legitimate for people to vote for it as a crap film, any grudge Batman fans had for Joel Schumacher should really have expired by now.

Worms the revenge

Nicola and I played Worms 2 tonight. At the end of one game where I was about to win, Nicola reached for the keyboard and declared the game a draw!

However cheats don't prosper long, I had to help her to her bed because her leg gad gone to sleep under her.

'Cause I still haven't found what I'm looking for.

Funnily enough both MSN and the BBCi search engines seem to think that I have pumpkin recipes on this page. I'm probably making it worse by even mentioning it.

If you are looking this article has some useful links.

Meanwhile tea will feature none of the aforementioned fruit, we've had enough of it for a while!

On top of all that

... I seem to be coming down with a cold.

My GP is ringing me on my mobile see if he can sort out the PPP mess. Thing is I'm unwilling to jump through the particular hoop they want me to jump through.

Private Health?

Recently it appears that some parties are looking to solve the problems of the NHS by encouraging more people to go private. With my experiences of private health insurance I can only see this leading to hefty bills to people who'd thought they'd already paid for treatment through their premiums and through their taxes.

I have private medical insurance through work, and a number of times tried to get them to honour their contracted responsibility for my health and wellbeing. With all their exclusions and get-out clauses I have failed ever to get back any of the money my company has put in. My personal assessment of Axa PPP Healthcare is that time and time again, PPP have used what are in my opinion disingenuous rules to wriggle out of anything like a decent level of cover.

Now I know that you often feel some loyalty to the hand that feeds you; having some knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes and the mitigating circumstances to any perceived lapse of service makes you feel a little defensive when faced with criticism. I used to work for British Gas at the time government directives that were supposed to facilitate competition were decimating the quality of service. "Thank goodness for competition," said an un-clued Watchdog presenter, unaware that it was the cause not the cure of the problem. So I know all about employee loyalty, and ill informed complaint. However whenever I question the quality of PPP's customer service, the arrogance and abuse I recive from their customer service department goes well beyond normal emotional ties to the employer into the realms of unprofessionalism.

I would heartily recommend that if you are considering private health cover, you think twice. The number of hoops you have to jump through to receive treatment. These hoops involve quite a bit of NHS time, so any benefit to "the taxpayer" is quickly wiped out. Maybe someone can try and persuade me not all private medical care is as dishonest as PPP is in my personal opinion.

Sure put some money aside, pay for yourself and allow those less well off to make better use of NHS resources, however in my opinion healthcare insurance in this country is a waste of money.

Quiz

Remeber all that 80s music?