The Poppy

he goes to the bedroom draw

to get a poppy of yester year
a poppy he has worn before
when the economy was less austere


but he has never bought one
the poppy had been discarded
glistening in winter sun
unwanted and unguarded

it will get its yearly outing
pined to a cashmere coat
this patriotic shouting
of a cause worthy to promote

when the parade is completed
and official cars withdraw
a symbol of a charity cheated
will be put back in the draw

Trump will stop war in Ukraine - possible conversation

"Yo Vlad, its me golden boy Donald."

"Who?"

"Donald Trump , Your pal remember?"

"Ah yes golden showers boy, what do you want?"

"I think it would be a good idea if you stopped the war in Ukraine"

"fine we stop fighting, will only fight if attacked."

"But your troops are in Ukraine, they are bound to be attacked occupying a foreign country."

"Not foreign country, we take, now ours." 

The Ukrainians don't see it that way, they say you started war."

"Not war special military operation."

They say special military operation invaded their country, took land, prisoners and abducted children. Ukraine wants them back."

"That bad idea no grounds for peace talks."

"I want to bring peace, what is it you want?"

"I want Ukraine, people, oil, food and no interference from NATO, and lift all sanctions."

"We can't do that, any other proposals?"

"Stop supplying Ukraine with weapons, stop political support."

"can't do that it would be politically difficult"

"Can't see a problem, you sold out the Libyan army, the free Syrian army and the Afghans. You threatened to cancel NATO. We are not asking for anything you have not done before. Simples!"

"I don't think I can do that."

"OK we still have the videos in the shower!"

"I may not get elected."

"We get you elected, you pull support for Ukraine, or we give you Wagner group."

"Its a deal , I'm good at making deals."

"So you are Mr. President, so you are."

Hospital visit

 

Dear ward 15 Wansbeck Hospital

I attended Wansbeck Hospital ward 15 on 6^th July 2023 for a key hole hernia operation.

After 12 years at sea I spent 32 years in an emergency service, 26 years as middle management.

I know the effects of reduced station capability, station closure, budget cuts, and staff cuts.

The Wansbeck hospital had been degraded from A&E with the new build at Cramlington.

The media including the BBC are castigating health service staff for unrealistic pay demands.

Junior doctors, consultants, and nurses have all balloted for industrial action. I had grave misgivings about my proposed treatment and was pleasantly surprised.

We left home far too early to avoid traffic delays and arrived at the hospital over an hour early. Better to sit in the waiting room than the car, we entered the waiting room before any staff. Before we sat down, staff arrived, and asked us to take a seat. Before I got my coat off I was called to the desk, where I was booked in. On completion told to take a seat. As I sat down I was called to the desk and told I would be escorted to my bed. A nurse arrived led me away leaving Kathy to discus procedures with the receptionist, She was very pleasant, courteous and informative .

At the bed I was shown the locker and my chair, informed a nurse would be along shortly. Before I managed to fold my coat up the nurse appeared ( forgot her name,) she checked the records, who I was, secured the wrist band and tested, blood pressure, pulse and took a blood sample. She gave me the highly fashionable surgical gown and socks , instructing me how to fit them. The next patient arrived , also early. Most organisations with early or outside time limits would have been in meltdown or abusive. All staff were extremely helpful and put our minds at rest. I had time to catch up on a book.

The next visit was from two very pleasant nurses to check the wrist band, was who I was , and it concurred with the paper work. They gave me paracetamol and ibuprofen for pain relief.

The next visit was the Anaesthetists to explain the procedures, check all was fit for anaesthetic. She was extremely helpful and courteous.

Final visit was the consultant Lorna Dunn with Rachael her assistant. After a short inspection and some marking on the skin, She explained the procedure and the possible complications, such as the hernia may require more evasive surgery if key hole was not possible . Rachael the assistant smiled broadly and nodded vigorously  when Doctor Dunn said she would do her best and was confident she could do it. Clearly these two worked well as a team and both competent, and confident with the others capability. Very rest assured.

After a short while I was wheeled into a room, checked who I was and what I was in for then wheeled into the operating theatre. The Anaesthetist explained again what was going to happen, as did Dr. Dunn. Then painlessly off to sleep.

Waking was slow I could hear a soft spoken voice calling my name and asking if I was awake. Slowly the mist cleared and Brian was smiling and asking if I wanted pain relief. I didn't but he was insistent until the effects wore off. He eventually realised that I still did not need pain relief and helped me drink some water. The first thing you see in the world is a smiling Brian willing to help, makes you think life is good and worth living.

After tea and biscuits the passing of water I was allowed to leave, Met Kathy in the passage way, an embrace of relief, and left the ward without a backward glance, or thank you.

Respect can not be expected, ordered, or demanded it can only be given. All staff treated me with respect and utmost courtesy. All staff and management of the ward deserve the respect I have for them.

Thank you

Derek Goggin (pensioner)

PS please do not feel obliged to reply, I would hate to think I was wasting any of your precious time. Please thank all the staff, and the ones I did not see like the Cleaners, porters, admin and logistics that made the system work so well.

Thank you again

sewage

Water companies that have profit

as their priority

dump raw sewage in the rivers

and raw sewage in the sea




out of sight out of mind

a problem gone away

with breaking waves and onshore wind

it returns as toxic spray




alfresco dining in your hotel

with a view of the sea

you'll have faeces on your jam scones

and faeces in your tea




faeces on your pint of beer

and on you savoy dips

faeces on your beef burger

and your fish and chips




the holiday wont be remembered

for peace and serenity

but for stomach cramps, Blackpool trots

and a hint of dysentery




water chief executives get bonuses

even when they fail

Its time to take them to book

and chuck the lot in jail

The coronation

Sister Agnes was upset and shouting, as I passed her room. Later I asked Peter what was wrong. It was the Coronation. According to her, in the bible, it said women must obey men. That meant that England would be ruled by a Greek, not by the new queen. It would go badly and end in tears.

I said I saw a penny with a woman on it, an old woman, so we must have had a queen before. That must be Elizabeth the first, this queen will be Elizabeth the second. Peter was older, so I believed what he said.




A bus had been ordered for 14 children and two nuns to go to the coronation. Buses made me sick. I was not going to go, and had to find a way to get enough punishment to stay behind. Peter said as I was Dutch I wouldn't go anyway, so there was no need to get detention.

I made the Union Jack badly, and was disrespectful. I would not be going to the Coronation. But alas I would also miss the evening meal, and go to bed early. The meal was a treat, It was SPAM fritters, from the American air force base. Meat was a luxury we seldom got.




That night a sickness swept through the dormitories, very few were able to make breakfast. Only 15 children were not struck down with the mystery illness. Peter was the cripple and thought it would be too difficult to take. I would go to the coronation, to make up the numbers. I was given two flags made by children that wanted to go. They also gave me two paper sick bags, one for the journey to London, and one for the journey back home to Bury St. Edmonds.




It was Cold, The five boys wore brown corduroy shorts and cotton shirts, the girls wore brown cotton dresses. We all had sandals and socks to wear. Normally we ran around in bare feet, but today was special and we must not bring Stowlangtoft Hall shame. The sandals didn't fit. A length of string with a eye at each end was tied to the wrist passed down the sleeve and tied to the other wrist. This was in case you got separated. Or tried to escape. It was not necessary as I thought it was only me that would run away.




The journey took for ages, Only the children were sick, and not from the smell of the strong disinfectant on the bus. London was grey, black, and bombed . Where houses had been bombed a line of flags swung in the breeze. The closer we got to the city centre the more heaps of rubble could be seen. They looked great places to play in.




We arrived at the car park , threw our sick bags in the road side bin. Sister Monica wiped our faces with a damp flannel and joined us together by placing a wooden toggle between the loops tied to our wrist. Five boys were joined together first as Sister Nora thought they would be the most troublesome. I was in the middle with Jack a violent thug on my right, and simple George on my left. Alan was at the end, and had a hand free. Norman was tied to Jack because they were friends, or so the Nuns thought. Norman's other hand was attached to the first of the girls. Sister Monica led the way pulling the line of children behind her, to the corner.




A policeman took a rope attached it to a bollard and tied it to another bollard at the other corner. We were allowed to stand behind the rope as the road was now closed. We stood in a line behind the rope, waiting. A police horse came and stood right in front of me. To the right was another police horse. To my left all I could see was a crowd of people standing on the corner.




One of the girls asked to go to the toilet. After a short pause Sister Monica decided it would be too difficult untying the children and making sure no one escaped. Sister Nora slipped rubber capes over our heads as protection in case it rained, then took off the girls panties. If the girls wanted to go to the toilet they could part their legs. The capes would shield the process. Jack said he wanted the toilet and was told to do it in his pants. Jack was a naughty boy so would never get released.




We waited and we waited. There was a roar from the crowd when something happened but it was only horses or troops taking up positions. You could hear the girls wetting the floor, and the groaning of the boys trying to hold on. Then the sigh as the piss soaked the front of the boys shorts and ran down the legs into the sandals.




Another roar from the crowd . I could see nothing except the back end of a police horse. Nothing happened no one knew what the cheering was about. Another police horse arrived and turned around facing the procession. It blocked my view of anything to the right. All I could see to the left was the crowd. More cheering some flag waving but nothing to be seen. The horse to my right fidgeted swished its tail and underneath a large tube grew and grew. The horse was having a piss and I was impressed. I could not stop watching it. If I had one like that I wouldn't have wet shorts, it could go out the shorts down the leg and piss on Sister Nora's shoes.




The crowd roar started to increase from my left. I could hear horses trotting. My arms were raised by the boys either side as they waved their flags ecstatically. I was being pulled apart as the boys on either side moved aside trying to get a view. In front of me the smell of a hay meadow as a large amount of horse droppings landed on my sandals. For the first time that day my feet were warm.




The sound of horses and clattering metal moved ever more to the right. The crowd roar to my left subsided to a hubbub of incoherent noise and people were on the move to the right trying to keep up with the procession . There was a lot of pushing a shoving and we were pressed against the rope. The police horses turned around and the police on horseback shouted orders to the crowd. The mass of inhumanity moved off. The girls were crying, the boys angry, and most of the flags broken.




A policeman came to talk to sister Monica. We all moved back from the rope and the crowd parted to form a road. An Ambulance was driven up and filled the space. The back door was opened, a stretcher taken out and two men raced off with the stretcher. Two policemen came to the back of the ambulance and took out another stretcher and ran off with it.




Sister Monica thought it unseemly and grotesque for any interest in the plight of injured people so we were led away from the area. She found a patch of grass and we all sat down. Time for lunch. The queen would not be returning for some time so there was nothing to be seen. I could see others didn't think the same, as the area was beginning to fill up again. Spontaneous singing broke out, mainly old cockney music hall songs. Lunch was to be a treat, spam sandwiches. We were given a sandwich in our right hand. Jack jerked his left hand and pulled my sandwich towards him. He snatched the sandwich leaving me a piece of the crust. I was beaten for starting a fight. For dessert we had Jam sandwiches, luckily jack didn't like the flavour.




To pass the time Sister Monica told bible stories. Why, I asked, didn't they have tea with the loaves and fishes. We were thirsty so the crowd must have be thirsty with all that bread. Sister Nora took the hint and led us to the nearest water fountain. Jack was smacked, He was trying to stop every one getting a drink by pulling their hands off the levers. I was smacked for laughing. I wasn't laughing at the children trying to get a drink, I was laughing at Jack getting a smack, but it didn't make any difference, and smacked again for arguing. Jack didn't get smacked when he laughed at me.




When it was time to see the return, the crowd was thicker and we were at the back. Sister Monica stood on a park seat, and from there had a view of where the coach would return. She would tell us what was happening. There was much loud cheering. I don't know if Sister Monica was telling us what was happening, no one could hear her.




The crowd was steadily moving to the left. We had seen enough said Sister Monica and we headed for the bus.




On the way back every one that ate the sandwiches was sick. Sister Monica and Nora had something more substantial. Jack lost his sick bag so used mine. I had to be sick on the floor.

When I looked up I could see the driver looking in his mirror at what was happening on the bus.




When we arrived back at Stowlangtoft Hall all our clothes were soiled with sick, shit and piss.

The girls went for a warm bath. The boys were hosed down first then dunked in a cold bath.




Back in the dormitory cold wet and hungry, Peter asked what I had seen, Just a horses backside and a horse having a piss. It was not much, considering it took all day to do it.




I had no idea if the reign of Queen Elizabeth II would end in tears, it started in them.







P.S

The bus that took us was owned by the London County Council. The driver was an employee.

As were the inspectors, nurses, and officials that followed.




The Sisters of mercy left shortly after. Just days before I too left, for good.

Nicola Bullen search.

what stands out is motivation. Police told to check the rivers, is not a motivational search instruction.  Actively talking of abduction and walking out on the family, turns a proper search into a tick in the box exercise, that no one believes will find anything.

A person in a river has two scenarios.

 One scenario is the casualty will be carried by a fast current down stream to the sea.

 The other is the casualty will be snagged on river junk. 

The search covered none of the scenarios adequately. 

Know area of junk in a river will take more staff to search not just a sonar. More humans less reliance on technology would have helped. It is a bit like doing a coastal search and excluding the back of Dunstanburgh Castle because all the sea junk ends up there.

Motivational search plan should be , we are searching for a casualty trapped in river junk. The sweep width is an arms length. You will get your feet wet, and take a roll of cordon tape to deploy when you locate clues. Not we will deploy divers with sonar so check the river bank.

search teams can learn a lot from this incident, run through all that could have gone wrong, and make plans they do not happen on any of your searches.

poor management will say we will wait for the results of an enquiry before making changes, thus history will repeat!

Church of England and LBGT community

Heard a Bishop explain the C of E view on LBGT. They are trying to be accommodating! One half of the church say it's a sin and all LBGT should not be endorsed by the church, whilst the other half will tolerate LBGT in the church and forgive their sins!




Under the law of the land the eleventh commandment is thou shalt not discriminate.




If the church can not abide by the law it should be taxed out of existent, Missionary work banned and no religious education taught in schools . No state funding to teach bigotry.




Just to remind those that say they must observe scripture. The bible was written by brown eyed people with dark skin and hair. Sexual proclivity was the only difference.




Once the church encountered blonde hair blue eyed and Asian characteristics a whole new ball game of bigotry was available.




Religion has bestowed on mankind, programs, the inquisition, witch burning, and years of senseless religious wars.




The church has no moral position to uphold

happy Burns night

 

The chieftain O the puddin clan

full of gristle and stour

original boil in the bag

gets tasteless by the hour

with the neeps and tatty

so miserable and dower

washed down with cheap whiskey

tasting so bitter and sour

words of the bard recited

without passion or power

have a happy burns night

on the entrails you devour

careless

 

I'm careless with my taxes

I'm careless with my rates

I'm careless with my expense

I can't remember dates

I'm careless with education

farming and NHS

careless with emergency services

struggling under stress

careless with Prime Ministers

that don't quite last a year

I'm careless with your human rights

so you will live in fear

Tory recovery hotel

 

Welcome to the Tory donor recovery hotel.

Ground floor NHS patients wheelchair user with visiting family, or people that care.

1st floor wheelchair users no family or visitors. No lift stairs access only

2nd NHS elderly bed blockers no medical needs, must work cleaning wards. Excused work if they can prove they may have visitors

floor 2a NHS patients elderly bed blockers that have visitors that care.

3rd floor palliative care as no hospice available. Over 80 year old may be administered pain killers.

Floor 3a sound proofed for palliative care no visitors or pain relief.

4th 5th and 6th floor refugees and asylum seekers

7th floor and penthouse suite Russian oligarchs between funds.