Friday, December 31, 2004

Google Press Center: Zeitgeist

Google Press Center: Zeitgeist I love it always have and yup I remember the first one.

LookSmart's Furl - The WLSinfo Archive

LookSmart's Furl - The WLSinfo Archiveand sorting this thing.
Hels and Lila have been woring real hard on this stuff.

Obesitynews

ObesitynewsBeen sorting this place.

This week I have been mostly

Messsing with Newsfeeds - deciding Firefox with Livelines extension is the way forward.
Sorting one or two sites.
And busy on WLSinfo.

Post Christmas

so its friday New years Eve I am assured a "normal working day" I remain on an annual leave.
Been to Tesco with Ally this AM
yesterday didnt do much frried ally and smart around
wednesday was likewise though we walked for a bit a got a cake and coffeee in neighbourhood. Went to Borders and see mum in the evening.
Tuesday Jean and I walked to Tesco her knees hurt afterwards.
Monday Slobbed about. Too much bad food about the house.

Wednesday, December 29, 2004

XML.com: What is RSS?

XML.com: What is RSS? Get my head round XML/RSS it hurts but I feel good when I get there.

Tuesday, December 28, 2004

Monday, December 27, 2004

Blogdigger : RSS / Atom Search Engine - Search Blogs

Blogdigger : RSS / Atom Search Engine - Search Blogslike this from kieran

Boxing Day

Sluggish start to a busy day go get me mum and then its all hans on deck for the boxing day family doo. Mum on good form and Bea and Eleanor from next door have a good time. Sue the dog provides intelligent conversation. Difficult to cater for all tastes from 14 years old to 90odd. So we resort to the common denominator of Bingo. Being computerised I use KazBingo. Top stuff. Ruth provides bingo cards and presents and the jobs a good un. Top stuff.

Christmas Day

Oh how things have changed - we have to wake Ally up, Jean is more excited than she is. Have to confess that she is excited by unwrapping her presents. I have to busy myself installing her speakers and dance mat. Turns out a bigger job than I thought but get sorted. Lunchtime sees us off to Ruth and Pauls for the first engagement of the day, exchange presents and then its off to get mum and go to Mary and Johns. Very pleasant Christmas lunch and a tad over indulgent post lunch drink. We play cards (at Nannas request) then its home.

Christmas eve

I forgot to mention was alcohol free. and strangely felt like poo the next day when I woke up.

Friday, December 24, 2004

Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Christmas: a teetotaller's survival guide

Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Christmas: a teetotaller's survival guide Made me chuckle.

Radio Times | 350 channels, 14 days

Radio Times | 350 channels, 14 days Spent some time reading the paper copy and was pleasantly suprised to find this.
Christmas and New Year Radio Times something of a tradition.

Friday or is it Christmas eve?

Its a week with too many sundays and I am confused. After awaiting instructions from Jean and Ally I drop the car off outside Ruth and Toms and walk down to Allerton Road.
First stop a surprisingly empty Tesco. I think the raiders have been in early on. Though only in pursuit of cranberry juice and ice cream I feel obliged to survey the wreckage. Veggies have been hammered, with collateral damage n the bakery. Christmas gift items are already significantly discounted and I note in the newsagents smartie cream egg type things.
The store seems devoid of pastry products but anyway stuck for a turkey or cheese seems lucky. Even the tills are empty and I dont have to queue. I score some Caramel chew chew and Phish food
Then its along allerton road to the chandlers that word always reminds me of the smell of parrafin. To do with memories from childhood.
I love local news so when I stumble across a guernsey website the headlines tickle me
I especially enjoy the last two.
Industrial action at Guernsey Gas
There's an industrial dispute at Guernsey Gas. Employees are refusing to work overtime. The decision from the GMB union comes after frustration over talks concerning pay. Domestic customers may feel the brunt of the dispute over the Christmas period.
Bailiff issues Christmas message
Care about your children this Christmas time. The Bailiff Sir De Vic Carey says he sees a lot of unhapiness locally, with children not receiving the support and care they need from their parents, with is their birth right. He says one of the greatest achievments of the States this year, was accepting the new children's laws Sir De Vic hopes this Christmas will be a time of focusing on Bailiwick youngsters.
Big changes for Guernsey in 2005
2005's set to be a big year of change for Guernsey. Both the Bailiff and Lieutenant Governor are stepping down. Sir De Vic Carey retires in June, Sir John Foley will be moving back to Herefordshire with his family in September. And Sir John admits it'll be sad moving on.
Busy 2005 for Alderney States
Alderney's 10 states members have a busy year ahead of them. The Island's President, Sir Norman Browse says last year involved a lot of discussions about Alderney's developments and problems, but 2005 is the time to act on some of these pressing issues. Sir Norman says there's lots for the new look states to be getting on with.
Christmas message from Seigneur
Sark's Seigneur Michael Beaumont's wishing Sark's residents an enjoyable Christmas, and a prosperous new year.He believes 2004 hasn't been a bad year for the Island but was far from brilliant, with visitor figures staying stable. Mr Beaumont believes 2005's set to be hectic, with the new government laws coming into power.
Salvation Army holding lunch
The Salvation Army's once again opening its doors, to those who'd otherwise be alone on Christmas Day. Christmas Lunch with all the trimmings is laid on for the mainly elderly guests, Captain Victoria Lang says it's always a very special day.
OUR sets out guidelines for C and W
Guidelines on how Cable and Wireless Guernsey should prepare its regulatory accounts, have been released by the Office of Utility Regulation. It follows consultation in September this year. You can take a closer look at the report on the OUR's website regultil dot gg.
Hospital parking expands
There's an early Christmas present for hospital staff and visitors. The new car park at La Corbinerie with 200 spaces opens today, it cost in the region of £800,000. The States agreed to the plans earlier this year.
Local cat survives accident
A local cat has used up one of its nine lives to get it through to Christmas after swallowing a needle and thread. The frightened feline had the potentially lethal object removed by Vets4pets. They're warning all cat owners to be careful what they leave lying around, especially at this time of year.
Christmas costume stolen
A 'currant' favourite of Fancy That customers, has gone on the run. The giant Christmas pudding outfit was hired out two weeks ago under a bogus name and number, but hasn't been seen since. So as the shop's festive spirit's gone up in flames, Jo Francis says they'll have to introduce tighter security.

Thursday annual leave

Mess about in the AM. Jean has inteview for Community Elderly Rehab Team job, she comes home after to change into her work clothes, I get dropped at Nannas take lunch with mum mary and john. Then I get dropped off at tesco and walk up green lane to home. Very pleasant bright day. Jean is successful in getting the job - hurrah! Then in the evening I'm off out with the boys from the extended family. Two of Jeans brothers and co. Very pleasant evening in the Rose of Mossley Reviewed here. Then a bracing trot up rose lane and green lane takes me home . Good night.

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

Wednesday feeling better

Title says it all. Definitely lighter in the Gastro-intestinal tract.
Head in to the works to catch up with Ray a smashing bloke who is genuinely excited by the capabilites of vision how sad are we.
Then a quick lunch with Ray Maurice and Sharon and Peter. Then a meet with Kathryn from MIAA who surprisingly given their high tech profile dont appear to have an internet presence (at least according to Google). Even Cobain has only a couple of hits in google shame boy!
Then a dash over to M&S New Mersey for Christmas provisions. Home via mums and Smart and Ally are in attendance. So its duck and veg in the dining room for us.

Tuesday - Intestinal turmoil

Even the message from the good Dr Reid fails to sort my belly. Slightly disturbed today so I wander not from from a toilet and get quite a bit done working from my virtual network connection via my newly upgraged 4meg Blueyonder broad band link. How cool is that. Feel ropey all day and have early night.

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE
I am writing to offer my very sincere thanks for your hard work during 2004.
I know you are being challenged to work differently and are responding positively to that challenge. By working together throughout the year in new and more effective ways you have not only raised the standard of healthcare and extended people’s choice of NHS services, you have also continued to speed up access to treatment.
I hope you can see the difference it is making to the most important people - your patients. Real improvements are coming through and patients tell me they appreciate them.
In emergency care, at the beginning of last year around a quarter of patients spent more than four hours in A&E. Now 19 out of 20 patients are seen, diagnosed and treated within four hours and the NHS is on track to make that 49 out of 50 within a few months.
NHS staff know better than anyone that this is the result of hard work in hospitals and in the community. Extra pressure in A&E is transmitted throughout the health and social care system; so reductions in emergency waits can only be achieved when everyone works together.
In primary care there have been some excellent examples of initiatives to prevent hospitalisation of older people and offer care to patients in the community.
Right throughout the NHS and social care system, you have achieved many of the targets set by the NHS Plan ahead of schedule. However, many challenges remain for the immediate future.
During 2004, the Government launched the NHS Improvement Plan, outlining plans to offer greater choice and personalisation of services. This improvement is what people want and it is important that we all work to provide it so that the NHS remains everybody’s first choice for healthcare.
The public health White Paper, Choosing Health, was launched in November. It outlines our proposals for tackling the health inequalities that blight our society and signals a shift of emphasis from treatment of illness to prevention and support for people to live a healthy lifestyle.
So now, as we approach the end of the year and the holiday season, I would like to pay tribute to the year-round dedication to duty and support for colleagues that makes achievements like these possible.
People are rightly proud of the NHS. I would like once more to want to thank you in advance for your commitment to patients and to the values of the NHS. I wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year and I look forward to working with you on the challenges ahead.
John Reid

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Monday

Off to hammy for a meet with Carolin Phil Paul and Andrew. Thought provoking stuff. Wander round town and grab a bite of lunch with Paul. Then its back to the works were an inertia seems to have happened. Thinks can inertia happen? sort out things. Then home and the MSN online meeting of the staff team at wlsinfo. Good stuff. A good few laffs and off to bed.

Sunday, December 19, 2004

KennethClare1

KennethClare1 Scary stuff I happened across.

Sunday - top man jk

JK arrives in what feels like the middle of the night. He fits a cd/radio and sorts the heating out top fella. Jean takes her mum and ruth to the crem. We chill round the house then I'm off for walk. Tree is decorated and looks good. Watch the carol show from Eley.

Saturday replay

I just blogged this and it dissapeared so in brief.
christmas tree - asda tesco home christmas tree up walking to allerton road. buy christmas tree chocs go to thorntons place get cards. home telly, and events I feel unable to blog about without geting family members to agree to disclosure. Ally has agreed she rang from town to say she was bringing smart her boyfriend home. Jean panicked big time but not as much as me. It was a good event and we get home after dropping him off at home.

Saturday, Christmas is coming

Its traditional we get the tree from williams nursery in Gateacre. Get a norman spruce for 30 sovs which seems cheaper than of latter years. Then its off to Asda and then Tesco Woolton. Take a walk to Allerton Road in search of christmas tree chocolates. Mission accomplished and score christmas cards for jean and ally, and some thorntons gear.
Home and feeling considerably more christmassy.

Friday

Met with Ray and Peter to get Ray to explore capabilities of software for mobile phone monitoring. (Bills not calls). V. useful then I'm off to Rathbone to pick up some vouchers for my 25 years service - made up. Back to the works for the steam cuisinr I brought in catch up with two new starters for the informatics team, introduce them to Lesley, Eileen and Linda. useful for me in understanding their roles and perceptions of informatics. Turns into a useful session for me. \then a few calls, sort emails and off home. Jean is off out at 5.15 so I need to motor, pick her up Ally feeling below par, me knakkered and so I jib the christmas night out. I was going to drive home so I would have been quiet. Feel miserable as well and a bit miserable about not going so I email sam and veronica. Drop Jean off at Jalons, and back home. Ronnie Corbett excellent on Have I got news for you. Then Vegan on Jonny Ross. Boring but me.

Thursday, December 16, 2004

Busy boy Thursday.

Start the day at Hammy. First up its a Information Governance Toolkit gig, led by Pauline and John. Me Big Bri and George in attendance. Good session and we finish early. A gap in between meets lets me catch up with amanda, (nice brew) Paul Hackett has a new job at the StHA. Then its in to catch Karen - well worth it top character straight to the point and cuts to the bottom line. Bet shes a hard task master though.
Then on to Data Quality and Clinical coding steering group. Janet who is a star, Nick a real top bloke, dont know what his day job is but he back from the gulf. Bit frustrated at the machinations of the nhs. Joined by alison from the royal and sue from cheshire and the star ann from merseycare. couple of hours in here then its into Garston for Prof.Moriss. A long wait - part of the problem of being a hidden patient (ie not appearing on the system) but well. He is great and we make a plan and discuss my advance statement.

Wednesday

Earlier start than usual go to pick caroline up from home. Then its off to the works. She's in for a blue sky meeting. I have a very peasant meet with anne molton. Top girl, was a ahappy chiropodist till I plucked her and got her into management. Poor girl. We were very happy when we worked at maghull. She is now head honcho podiatry. Based at dovecot it seems to be a happening place. We reminisce most enjoyable. We also discuss at length service to podiarists. Every time I talk to clinicians I get a.set of complex problems which seem tough to sort. Discuss with caroline that we need a mechanism. Drop her off at home then its off to greenbank for lunch with jk. Top man, makes me smile. Then back to the works work at desk. Catch up with veronica and discuss NPfIT. Then to mums pick her up then off to tesco in old swan. Do a bit for christmas and mum buys me a jacket, pants and a shirt. Goes well but this numbskull has forgot his clubcard doh! Home for a late tea knakkered.

Tuesday phones and stuff.

Meet with dave who I have known for hundreds of years. He was at nmct hundreds of years ago. Did fone installs at several places for me. Good man. Todays subject is mobile telephony. I am doing a review. Big cost pressure with little evidence of control to me oops better sort that then. Kim and dave from finance laid aside with mumps I hear.
After dave its off to ong lane district nurse centre. This proved difficult to visualise from the instructions I am given. It is because I cannot comprehend that the directions given to me relate to long lane. Its when look at multimap that I see my problem. I didn't realise that long lane ended where it did. Ah well live and learn.
I arrive early as ever meet rhiannon v.nice care manager. Helen h/v arrives and then veronica. I have arrived to gegg in on them doing a presentation on NPfIT. To be onest I want to hear the message to make sure I am "on message." That wil be a first. I find it very useful, I learn a lot and their style is good. Then its back to the works. Home skip cell to take ally to borders and spend some quality time. Home bed.

Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Monday getting back to my roots.

After a morning of senior manager and a trot on shanks pony over to the retail I'm off to what I do best, in a place thats familar. Pressing the flesh with clinicians "ooer Matron", in Netherton Health Centre. Next door to the feelgood factory which wasnt there last time I went. I used to be a locality manager in Maghull and I used to cross the bounary to go to Netherton to see the therapists I managed. Jenny from Rehab at Home and she gives lots of good feedback on the service informatics provides. She is also praising The loopy lad. Impressive stuff. Then its across the room to Clare OT leader of SSTART (not much in google on that one). Back to the works and catch up. Home. Talk a producer from the Beeb about Obesity and surgery. Getting a feeling that this is a good team, some of the media types are real charlatans and despite how much they reassure you, theres always a feeling they really want to up the ratings by making you look daft. Emma seems a good un. I take it as a good opportunity to educate and evangelise. Seems odd on the same day that a dude from LSE trys to engage me in doing some work with her around surgery. Not often PhD people send me their CV. Shes a good un too. Her project proposal strangely mirrors the program proposal. Chill Spooks - last episode. Bed - late night for reasons to complex to blog.

Sunday, December 12, 2004

Sunday

Idle aroud in the am try on the shirt I wore last christmas day feels tight on the belly. Need to work harder walk to ruth and pauls and forego pud. and walk home too.
Get a few things sorted on site and I feel lots better.

Saturday

Ally is off to town, jean and I lunch at neighbourhood at the end of the road I have a very toothsome open turkey sandwich, which is like a mini roast dinner. After that and the pleasant revelation they serve speckled hen its off for an idiot tax stake. We hear a roar from the Halfway someone has scored in the derby. Deep joy its a blue, jean is chuffed so we go in and enfoy the last 20 mins of nail biting stuff. Evertonians in the minority so I cheer for them (I guess I historically lean more that way). They exit quickly in delight at 1-0 win. After tea I go to Mary and Johns in culcheth, glad to drop their PC after a pile of poop. Head home and watch billy connolly in new zealand.

Saturday, December 11, 2004

A week in a minute.

Monday - work home tired.
Tuesday 9am teambrief training by nigel from some firm OK at Bridge chapel cell meet
Wednesday - working hard
Thursday - likewise
Friday Linda
Starting toi get head my head round things
Lunched in a couple of places. Eating too much (I worry - Jean tells me I aint gaining).
Ended up at Beas on friday as usual
Heard from new dad clarkey

Google

Google I like this sort of stuff deeply sad I know.

loopy - quality indie-pop

loopy - quality indie-popHappened on this when looking for the loopy boy.

Sunday, December 05, 2004

Three views of the same faith

Start the morning (after feeling faint) pick up mother and off to Ellis Prestons christening at It says Knotty Ash but it looks and feels like Huyton to me. Three others being done this morning by the rather effete priest father martin - my hearing is dreadful. By an amazing coincidence Mary is at the same church for a different christening. they have booked the parish club next door so we have to away to ST Alsin Roby a well dodgy gaff - which makes the cricket club where I have the birthday partys seem upmarket.

Saturday, December 04, 2004

Blog Counter - free blog hit counter, traffic analyzer & visitor IP tracking stats

Blog Counter - free blog hit counter, traffic analyzer & visitor IP tracking stats May add this.

Saturday

Jean hits town Ally and I go the Spirit of the blitz to see nanny banks - its the last day tomorrow. Ally seems to approve. then its lunch in the caff - she has a baguette i have a toothsome salmon and prawn pasta - which uncharacteristically for a 4.95 meal is exactly as deliciously described on the menu. I have heard from an old acquaintance who I did some work with a while back - no details to be shared yet but another interesting project on the blocks. He reads the blog - that'll be 4 of you then.
the afternoon spent disinfecting my sisters PC which isnt funny.
It is badly virus trojaned and browser hijacked.
Not funny.
Hard work but a process during which I learn a lot. Relax in the evening.

TW3

Not a cryptic reference to 60's satire but a reference to the fact I been too busy to blog.
Last item took us to Tuesday evening I got home and then its off to cell. A moving experience for sure and the power moving in that group is palpable. Jack gives me a small clay pot with a text in it - refers to significance. look away loopyboy. Home and feeling better sleep again.
Wednesday.
Off to Abercromby Health Centrewhich although it belongs to CLPCT it also contains services provided by SLPCT staff. So I am meeting Shirley head honcho dietitian - always an odd feeling meeting dietitians for me. Shirley and i go back a long wat so no discomfort there. I also talk to her colleague Brian who is keen to explore some aspects of my surgery. I however am there for the day job so I dont evangelise too much. They have one PC between them and one in a box thats been there for 12 months(so lets get sorted).
Then into a big dietitians room with 7 or 8 chairs two PC's up to 16 staff hotdesking including an A&C who is on the pC most of the time and a clapped out printer. Easy stuff to sort.
Licence for SPSS less easy - a few quick wins and I am off.
Concious that about 10 am Jean is being interviewed for the professional lead in OT at the works. I am therefore shocked when I arrive back and see her sat at Davids desk in our office - scary I leave quickly and have a meeting with Terri about Choose and Book Erefferals and EPOC and all sorts - legacy systems integration engines and messaging solutions.
Lunch then its off to Hammy to meet the the Queen of IG with Pauline an enthusiast and dyed in the wool socialist so we can dig that. She hass a new assistant John and together they are sorting South out. Get a message from Jean to say she didnt get it - gutted aint the word - but it aint meant to be I conclude. Still she is hurting so I buy some flowers on the way home and attempt to appear supportive. Bad timing means I am off to the quiz night at Winwick and as its the Christmas night out we hit the dragon and phoenix in Newton-le-willows which is a typical non chinatown chinese. I remember it opening 20 odd years ago - how sad is that. The food wouldnt be out of place in the sort of gaff you find in Pwhelli or somewhere. Not many chinese people eating in there. chilli beef and potato a low spot. Good quiz then home
To be continued....

Thursday
Into Hammy for a 9.30 big meet with the Heads of Informatics (or IM&T)(or ICT) across the patch. It isnt anticipated as being easy but goes smoother than I thought.
We are reorganising basically and we were discussing the options. I am all for it and see it as a big opportunity both on a personal and organisational level. (nope its true that aint spin).
At lunchtime Paul-T and scoot into town. I am still amazed at how close it has moved since since I had my op. We take lunch at this branch of Heathcotes I am impressed and go for a lorenzo (nannas malapropism for a lasagne). Paul takes some sort of sandwich, we then stroll around shops and he shows me clothing and footwear which cost the GDP of a small african country. He is a smart feller for sure. No M&S for that boy.
Then its back to the works and useful meeting with Caroline who is on phased return.
home and out gain... to the christmas curry club (but I only stay for the pub bit) the boys are on fine form but seem to be drinking more than usual.
Friday
Up with the lark and into the works - prep at my desk and then get cakes for team meet. Fill in an incident form (serious management stuff). Off to Hammy meet with Adam, home and then chill in the evening.

Wednesday, December 01, 2004

Tuesday - two week follow up to Frank

Call in for 9.30 appt going in right direction but with bipolar the constant balance is not to go too far down one pole, had had a shakey time over the weekend when I wondered but careful review with Frank reveals that is clearly not the case. Did wake up however with a swollen left foot - how unamusing, particularly as I know the cause. Gout my old friend who hasnt visited for some time. Never before was a disease invented which combines extreme pain with extreme humiliation. Obviously people suspect I have supped 62 flagons of claret over the weekend, when alarmingly I have been alcohol free since saturday night. Frank prescribes a course of cox-2 inhibitors and a leaflet. Back to the works and a catching up. Never before I have been so on top of the day to day stuff in a job. Then home (to sort Ally, who is back to school tomorrow). Back, Caroline rearranges so I end up in the Incident/accident training. Felt a bit odd as it was an eclectic mix, thought I was a bit out of place till Val my boss and a Director joined us. Poor Kevin the Risk Management man who did a sterling job of breathing life into a potential mind numbing experience. Health and Safety always ends up a bit like The stumphole cavern guide. A reference you'll either get straight off or will baffle you.