Saturday, 20 March 2010

Trespass in not a criminal offence ... in Peterborough, Cambs, UK

Pity the poor people of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, UK. 

In one of our Saturday papers it is reported that illegal immigrants have descended on a part of the county and moved in ... to resident's garden sheds and gardens! They have all pitched up in one area with their filthy mattresses, toilet material (polite version), drug paraphernalia, syringes etc - all within areas of quiet, peaceful, respectful domesticity. The response from the local council and police is pathetically unsurprising. The council say they can't do anything to help the residents but they will be down en masse to make sure the illegal immigrants have everything they need! Excuse me?? What about the rights of the householder? Why should they carry on paying their council tax when you blatantly will not help them? The police there are apparently no better; as trespass (which is what the illegal immigrants are doing) is no longer a criminal offence they can’t shift them. Again, what are the residents of Peterborough paying their taxes for? One poor chap has an illegal immigrant living in his coal shed! You could not make it up could you, only in this festering sore of a country would this happen and no-one in authority seems to have the will, the courage, or the backbone to do their duty. Regrettably, if the householder moves the II's on by using 'reasonable force' you can guarantee who would be prosecuted, yep the householder. So, do I understand this correctly - anyone from anywhere in the world can come and invade your garden, your shed (and probably very soon your house, turfing you out in the process - watch and see) because if these illegal immigrants and anyone else who fancies the look of your house can now move into or onto your land and not be prosecuted? Really, well how about getting a caravan and moving onto someone's drive? It will happen - because the people who are responsible for doling out law and order and civil justice in this country let it happen. Bet though, that if these illegal immigrants pitched up at Westminster or in say Mr Brown’s constituency and lived in their sheds and gardens the police would soon shift them then. So the question remains: When is trespass a criminal offence? Answer: when it happens to the present incumbent government and/or any of their representatives. Question: When is trespass not a criminal offence? Answer: When it happens to the ordinary law abiding, tax paying, indigenous population, who just ‘have to lump it.’  Apparently the only way the residents can get rid of these gangs is to take legal action themselves, great to see democracy in action isn’t it?

A very sad but not surprising indictment of life in Britain under 'New' Labour. You see, while this problem blights the hardworking people of this country, it is totally ignored by the government. The region's MP has even been trying to get something done and is just as appalled as I am at the state of things in the part of Peterborough that is affected.

Of course, all these problems are a direct result of that failed immigration policy of new labour. In other countries in the EU they don’t have this problem, because their governments stand firm to uphold their country’s nationally and will not allow it to be eroded by hordes from every given country on the planet, but Britain, well see, that’s a whole other story, our government does not want Britain to exist as it was. They blame the EU for all these rules and regulations which we can’t, for some reason, ignore. Most other countries in the EU don’t behave like a whipped pup when the EU demands something, but Britain does. So, it’s about time Mr Brown that we left the EU. Switzerland does very nicely out being a non-member, betcha they don’t have illegal immigrants taking over their back gardens and sheds, no, because their police wouldn’t stand for that. And while we’re on the subject, the reason illegal immigrants flock here is for the benefits (which they have no right to because they, unlike the indigenous British people, have never paid a penny in contributions so they should not get a penny) but say this in public (ahem) and wait for the inevitable cries of racist to come screaming out of the wood work. Those who scream racist are morons (whose lack of decency and common sense has deserted them) so now that we have the name calling out of the way, can we deal with the reality of the situation? We must take all of the indigenous British people who are unemployed, sick and/or disabled so we can give that money to any illegal immigrant who wants it. Shouldn’t the term illegal immigrant give these morons a clue? Illegal means they should NOT be here, so send them back where they came from and if there are no papers on them, simply pick a country and send them back there. You can bet they’ll soon remember where they came from if you say you’re sending them back to a place that is worse than here, but believe me that list is getting smaller all the time. Australia and Canada are not over-run with illegal immigrants because they are tough on them, not spineless like the British Authorities, and it doesn’t matter how many times you write to your MP, the Prime Minister or how many petitions you sign and send, the government will not listen, so although over 90% of the population of this country want illegal immigration stopped and the country put back to how it was before this New Labour lot wrecked everything, it’s only that 10% who matter, those who actively support this crowd. Those of us who remember back to the times before our country was wrecked by New Labour pine for the loss of our once beautiful country, we pine because it will take generations to go back to before the blight of New Labour set in and it will take a tough, harsh government to do it. Unfortunately we do not have the statesmen that we once had, the old guard who would take the decisions necessary. No, all we have now are politicians who don’t look like they’re old enough to be out on their own. Those who have never worked in industry or held any sort of life outside of Westminster; they are a waste of time, and sadly that is what our future governments will be made up of, so don’t go holding out for a change in this country for a long, long time, if ever. If you have the money emigrate, I would if I had the chance.

There is allegedly a general election coming up (but Brown is delaying the naming of the date, probably to wrong foot the opposition, great to see democracy in action eh?) and whereas in the past the British people would get rid of this, the worst government we have ever, ever had bar none, this time round they have become so spineless now that they'll happily vote Brown in again for 5 more years of the same. They won't vote Tory because they don't like them, I have to agree that Mr Cameron is style over substance and had the party faithful elected David Davis instead of Cameron they would be elected by a landslide; what a shame.

© silversapphire 2010
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Friday, 19 March 2010

Boo to the BBC & their Licence Fee and Hurrah for British Eurosport

Following on from my last blog, it appears that British Eurosport are now covering a tiny bit of the Paralympic Winter Games, 20:45 till 22:00ish most nights.  That is a live feed with catch ups here and there throughout the programme.  It's NOT ideal by a long way but at least it's a little glimpse of an otherwise ignored sport by the BBC, they should be ashamed as I said in my last blog, but where there's no shame there's generally no feeling either! 

They should remember, but they don't seem to have long memories (or memories at all for that matter) that while we still have to stump up for this ridiculous TV licence (telly tax) they impose upon us (and which should be scrapped and the BBC made to fight their way onto the airwaves like every other station has to, but that's my opinion) disabled people are among those who pay what amounts to a fine to watch the telly, cos if you don't pay you can end up with a criminal record - how stupid is that?  Liccences are provided for practical things like being a motorist or a fisherman/woman amongst other things,  it should NOT be for watching sodding TV.  The BBC has become way too big now with it's bloated and self indulgent programming tv channels and radio.  We also have to subscribe to satellite TV to watch the independent channels AS WELL AS all of the BBC channels; so we pay twice! Great to see democracy in action, wouldn't you agree?  Whoever gave this telly tax the green light years ago was sadly misguided as they created a very greedy and unsustainable monster.  There is NO respite from this tax to watch telly; none at all.  Their very dark and rather sinister 'adverts' warn the populace that 'we know where you live.'  then they cut to a TV Detector van which roams the streets of britain checking that people have bought their licences and if they haven't well, then it's knock knock on the front door time (if this was a movie you'd laugh yourself silly at that but it's deadly serious).  I despair of this country of ours sometimes, really I do.

© silversapphire 2010
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Monday, 15 March 2010

Paralympic Winter Games 2010 started yesterday - WHY NO TV COVERAGE?

Is it because disabled athletes don't count as far as TV Companies are concerned?  Isn't this pure discrimination?  Even the politically correct-to within-an-inch-of-it's-life BBC are not bothering to cover it.  I am absolutely disgusted at the lack of coverage.  Disabled athletes win more medals for their country on average than their able bodied counterparts.  The TV Companies should be ashamed, but then, they probably don't even know the meaning of the word.

© silversapphire 2010
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Scouse Passports and farewell to Peter Graves - Star of Mission: Impossible

Watched a telly programme here last night called: 'Come Dine With Me' - now for all UK residents we know what this is but for the benefit of anyone reading this from overseas (I know, I should be so lucky ... there's a song in there somewhere but that would take this entry into a whiole new direction).  The programme consists of 4 (or 5 people depending on which version they're doing) who have never met each other before cooking each other dinner on 4 (or 5) consecutive nights, and marking each other accordingly out of 10 for their efforts.  The winner of the £1000 cash prize is the person who gets the highest score.  The programme goes all around the UK and for each set of 4 (or 5) people will concentrate on one area of the country.  The latest programme kicked off last night with the usual 'Celebrity' version which saw fellow scousers Comedian Tom O' Connor, Actress Clare Sweeney, and non-scousers Kim Woodburn and Actor Darren Day.  Their £1000 cash prize is donated to the winner's charity.  This is, I think, the fourth or fifth version of the 'Celebrity' compettion and it was by far the funniest, absolutely hilarious.  Tom O' Connor won, and at the end of his night he produced 'Scouse Passports' which he gave as gifts to the rest of the diners.  In it are phrases which aim to get you speaking like a scouser.  One of the phrases is: 'De Do Dat Do Don't De?' and if you say it fast enough you'll sound a bit like a scouser (a quick translation of the line is: 'They Do That Though, Don't They?')

I'm online right now looking for some of these as being a scouser myself and wanting to have this little gem (I had no idea they were available) as being an ex-pat scouser I am so far away from Liverpool down here that I can't even get the wonderful radio stations of Radio City and/or BBC Radio Merseyside.  I can listen to the BBC station online of course, but not the independent Radio City, which is great and has been going since I was a kid.

Farewell to the wonderful Peter Graves.
Woke up to some very sad news this morning, turning on the news to be told that Peter Graves (Jim Phelps) of Mission: Impossible has died at the age of 83.  According to reports he collapsed and died of a heart attack as he was approaching his front door with his family.  I am saddened at his passing but also feeling for his family who were with him after they had all been out for a family brunch.  Family attempts at CPR (can you imagine how distressing that was for them, it is unimagniable and I am very very sorry for the loss) were unsuccessful; they must all be so distraught.  I will keep them in my thoughts and prayers; a very very sad loss.

© silversapphire 2010
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Tuesday, 2 March 2010

Andre Rieu anyone?

Should have writtent this a while ago but being 'clinically hypothyroid' just haven't had the energy. 

First came across Andre Rieu at the Royal Variety Show last year when he and his orchestra (the Johann Stuass orchestra) played for the Queen and it was wonderful.  Not only was he greeted with gasps of amazement as the curtain drew back but with appreciative applause the minute he began playing, it was wonderful.  In amongst all the wailing wannabees of the pop world and the acrobatic endeavours of the gymnastic acts and the hilarious routines of the comics came this little piece of TV nirvana.  A full orchestra with ladies in period dresses and men in suits from the same era, all guided by this amazing man, this violinist with shoulder length hair and a gleam in his eye.  In England, we, like the seemingly backward lot that we are sometimes, have never heard of Andre Rieu, or to give him his full title: Andre Rieu and his Johann Strauss Orchestra, the Waltz King of Europe.  This man is in his 60's and tours constantly!  (he has a fleet of tour buses and 2 planes; well you try ferrying a full orchestra, their instruments, costumes and make up etc without all that) and his concerts sell out faster than anyone else's.  After listening to him I too am a fan, and I'm not really surprised that his tickets sell out within minutes of going on sale.  He brings a lightness and humour to the music, it is not stiff and staid and all stiff upper lip nonsense.  No, it's fun, it's really uplifting and it's happy.  Andre says he likes to make people smile and be as happy as he is.  Not only do this wonderful ensemble play classical music, waltzes etc, they play modern tunes, show tunes and tunes from the movies, it is a joy to listen to.  I have a few of his CD's and DVD's and I'm hoping to get more as money allows but if you need to be uplifted, or just want to listen to some real music played with love and attention to detail then you really should listen to Andre Rieu, go and watch a DVD or try and get a ticket to a show.  People are encouraged to dance at the concerts and it's such a wonderful sight to see as there is no age barrier everyone is welcome and all are encouraged to dance.  Not this moronic stuff the kids do these days, this is proper dancing where people dance 'in hold' unless Andre is playing Zorba the Greek and then it's every man and woman for themselves!

I'm so glad I was watching the Royal Variety last year or I would have missed this amazing act, where people were walting in the aisles and I can honestly say I have never seen that at the Royal Variety Show! in all the years it been going, so had I missed that I would have been like the rest of us, and remained ignorant of this amazing man and his orchestra.  Incidentally a BBC text programmer for the Ceefax pages proudly exlaimed that 'An unkown Dutch composer was No 1 in the album charts with his new CD Forever Vienna.'  A few hours later I was happy to see it had been changed to Andre Rieu is No 1 in the album charts etc; even at the BBC he had not been heard of by this particular programmer but thankfully someone else had heard of him and corrected the mistake.

If you'd like to know more about Andre Rieu (his name is pronounced Ondrey Reeyou, visit his site at http://www.andrerieu.com/ and enjoy (I know you will).

© silversapphire 2010
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RIP Kristian Digby

Such a complete shock today to hear of the very sudden death of Presenter/Director Kristian Digby.  He was only 32 and a very likeable young man.  I never knew him and never met him but he always came across as a warm, funny and genuine guy.  He will always for me anyway, be associated with 'To Buy Or Not To Buy' with the equally talented and funny Dominic Littlewood. 

I had only recently been watching Kristian on 'Living In The Sun' and thinking what a nice change it was to have him on the programme instead of the female presenter they used to have; her voice sounded like nails down a blackboard, so it was great to have a fun take on the show.  My condolences go out to his family, friends and colleagues.  What an utter shock, what a sad, sad loss.

© silversapphire 2010
All rights reserved. No part of the publications, or of this website may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means without the express prior written permission of the Author

The Continuing Saga of The Underactive Thyroid

And we have yet another chapter in the life of my underactive thyroid:  Mrs Hypothyoidism aka Mrs Myxoedema. 

Now I'm told my results are TSH 3.8 (still high) and the T4 up at 23 (should be no higher than 19, 11 or 26 depending on whose scale you use! the scale they use here is 19).  Confusing? yes isn't it?  What a palaver. 

Went to the hospital today expecting to have an ultrasound of the neck as this is what the doctor had told me I was getting, but she looked blankly back  at me when I said I was having that done.  I go trolling off to the ultrasound department to check and they also have the blank look lurgy thing going on.  So come home and ring in to be told that if the doctor had thought it necessary she would have done it in the consult as she has one of these little ultrasound things in the consulting room.  If I hadn't been told about it, I wouldn't have expected to have had it, what a complete nonsense eh?  Now I'm discharged!  How can I be discharged when they haven't even checked to see if the nodules are gone, what about follow ups???  I have no choice but to wait for the 'after consult letter' to come out and see what it says, in the meantime they would like me to stay on 100mcg but my heart is racing away so they will agree to drop it to 75mcg.  Problem here is as my thyroxine maker doesn't supply a tablet in this dosage, they do 25, 50 or 100 only.  So I'll have to end up having one 50mcg tablet and one 25mcg tablet for the next 8 weeks when I'm to have another blood test (which I will have done at the hospital next time as the practice nurse at my GP's surgery has bruised my veins badly this time and the arm is very sore almost a week later) this will show where I am with the hormones.  If it wasn't for the racing heartbeat 100mcg is where they would like me to be but other people I speak to in the health service agree 100mcg is quite a high dose.  My consultant tells me that some women like to stay on a high dose as it gives them more energy.  Good for them I say because they probably don't know about the damage that too much T4 does to the body, things like bone density reducing (not good for me if it happens because of my spine issues) heart damage and a raft of other things I won't bore you with.  If the 75mcg does work I'd be happy but I have my doubts as my last results of TSH at 51 and T4 at 15 when I was taking 50mcg compared with TSH at 3.8 and T4 at 23 on 100mcg is worrying.  3.8 is still high and has been linked with cholesterol problems which I really don't need because there is a history of heart problems and stroke in my family so it's something that should be alerting the medics here but isn't.

I really thought I had found a decent service in the hospital with this thyroid doctor but it seems they are just like every other department.  I asked about having the T3 levels checked at the next bloodtest because not everyone can convert the T4 into T3 which is the important hormone.  I was told I can have it done but it's not usually done as, wait for it, yes that's right - IT COSTS TOO MUCH.  Sad that we have to put a price on health eh?  perhaps if our NHS became just that, the NATIONAL Health Service and stopped trying to treat the whole world for free we would get better results, that and if the government stopped messing about with it!  We are not the IHS (that's International Health Service) but doctors won't be immigration officials and who can blame them.

© silversapphire 2010
All rights reserved. No part of the publications, or of this website may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means without the express prior written permission of the Author