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Never Ending Song Titles (Part 7)
Talisman replied to Chrissy's topic in Quiz Room / Thread Games Jokes etc
Take Me to the River - Al Green -
The Kindest Thing by Cath Staincliffe
Talisman replied to Star's topic in Crime / Mystery / Thriller
Certainly you would as you say need to be a very brave person, and I am not sure in all honesty, that I could and would be that brave, and yet to do nothing is also in its own way an act of bravery. I take on board everything you say about possible abuse in the system, but I don't feel that this is a reason not to show compassion and change the law - one has to look at what is in the interests of the majority, the majority in this case being those who may be in need of such help. This is not to say that it is acceptable that even one person dies at the hands of one who seeks to end that life for their own ends, but one has to get things in perspective, there is I feel more to gain for those who are suffering than there is to lose for the relatively small risk that something untorward may happen. The best we can do is put safeguards in place (for example, requesting the person concerned to sign something to the effect that this is their wish) to minimise the risks and ensure that a qualified medical practitioner is present. This is though, as the population ages, something that we will see discussed more and more. As for the book - I thought it tackled a very sensitive subject in a sensitive and thought provoking way that will hopefully prompt much further discussion and debate. -
The Kindest Thing by Cath Staincliffe
Talisman replied to Star's topic in Crime / Mystery / Thriller
I read this last year, and it also threw up a lot of questions for me, not all of which I am unfamiliar with, since I work in a nursing home and sadly see this sort of thing quite often - the deterioration at least. To the best of my knowledge, none of our residents have ever expressed a wish for euthenasia, and while I cannot in all honesty say that I know what I would do, I do know that euthenasia is something that I am very much in favour of. I say this having had first hand experience of watching someone that I love (my Dad) die of cancer during my teens. I have never forgotten what he said to my mother, that if he was a dog or a cat they would have put him out of his misery, and that animals were treated better than humans in this regard. I know it is controversial, and not everyone will agree with me, but I think he was and is right. For me it is not so much a legal issue (although it is the illegality of it that would I suspect make most people hesitate) but a moral and ethical one - is it right to perpetuate someone's suffering, when it is clear that there is no hope of improvement, and they have made it clear also that they wish to leave their body (die). I suppose it also depends on your spiritual beliefs, especially regarding our purpose for being here and what life is actually about. I know that this is not something again that many people (really) think about, but those of us who are in the health profession, due to the very nature of this work, tend to think of these things a lot more than others, so for me at least, this is also relevant. If you believe as I do that they body is just a shell that our spirit inhabits, as a means of self expression, then you understand that death is just a transition to the next stage, and it can therefore be seen as just another part of our journey. The body may die but the spirit that inhabits that body does not. It is is many ways then a blessed release. BUT having said all of this, I know that people have differing views, and many will think and feel very differently. -
Never Ending Song Titles (Part 7)
Talisman replied to Chrissy's topic in Quiz Room / Thread Games Jokes etc
Everybody's Got to Learn Sometime - The Korgis -
Ownership (whether private or not) when choosing a home doesn't in all honesty play that big a role, since they are all subject to the same regulations and control regardless. The only difference is that the privately owned homes like mine are less likely to take social services, which means that you have to be self funding. Most of our residents have either sold their homes or have very rich families. Personally if I was looking for a home for someone I loved, I would look first and foremost at the quality of care, but also the standard of cleanliness, the food and the activities. The home I work in is fortunately a very good one - one of the few 3 star homes in fact in the area. Most of the staff have been here a long time (long before this chap bought the home about 4 years ago - the previous owners retired) and we have a long waiitng list for rooms because of our reputation. Many of the local GP's recommend us - at least one put his own mother here. Sadly, the only real problem seems to be the Director, a fact which hasn't gone unnoticed by our Manager ! She does her best to fight our corner, but sadly she is not the one who signs the cheques and makes the final decisions, she can only make suggestions and recommendations.
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Never Ending Song Titles (Part 7)
Talisman replied to Chrissy's topic in Quiz Room / Thread Games Jokes etc
London Town - Light of the World -
I have collected my new glasses today - this is my first pair of varifocals, which makes me feel quite old ! They seem okay, although it's a bit strange looking down, especially on stairs. I have to keep remembering to look through the right bit ! I am sure though I will get used to them within a few days. I bloody hope so anyway, as between them the 2 pairs cost almost £400 - I am going to need that pay rise then !
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He is the board - that is what being a Director of a nursing home is - it basically means that he owns it. As such then he can make any decision that he likes, on how the money is spent. As for reporting abuse against the residents - that is what the CQC is for (although as Director he is ultimately responsible for that too, as he is the one who would be held accountable, together with the Manager).
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I have just spent almost £400 on new glasses which was pretty painful too. I like though the idea of a petition for that pay rise. As for not rewarding those that count - only too true, and yes, I do know that there are many others in same boat .... However, when the Director comes in his big, flash car and continually spends money on pictures, mirrors and chairs etc, none of which are cheap or really needed, then I somehow doubt that he really does not have the money to pay us more. But, given his background, I suppose it is par for the course. The times though are a changin' and people from his background have to start accepting that their gravy train is well and truly over - imho. I don't hate him, even though it sometimes sounds like that, for he is at the end of the day, a man in great pain who does not understand why his way of doing business is no longer working - he knows that he needs to change but does not yet know how or if he really wants to. He needs compassion rather than anger, and that, hard as it sometimes is, is what I try to remember and send his way. It is also true of course that those who don't ask don't get !
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I am most definately a Kindle convert - I was never really against them (especially from the authors point of view), but was more sitting on the fence. However, since I got my Kindle a little over a year ago I have not looked back, and neither have I bought a paper book since. The only paper books I would consider now are reference books, such as travel guides and cook books. There are just so many advantages to e-books - the portability, the fact that you can get so many on such a small device (great for travelling), the fact that they are less wasteful (thousands of books are pulped each year because publishers print too many of them), plus the fact that they are so much better for the author in every way. No middle men to pay, no storage and shipping costs, no print costs, higher royalties, not to mention the fact that for the most part they are not lendable, which means that if you want it you have to pay for it - I would so much richer if the same applied to paper books and so-called friends had not borrowed mine rather than paying for it ! For me e-books are better in every conceivable way and I cannot see myself ever going back. Digital is where the future lies, make no mistake about it.
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Amazon do of course though have an unfair advantage through their tax "avoidance" schemes.
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I haven't posted on here for a while, but it has been an interesting week. About 6 weeks ago my boss, the Head Housekeeper had her appraisal and she naturally enough brought up the subject of a pay rise (we haven't had one in all of the 3 1/2 years I have worked here and now earn just 19 pence an hour above minimum wage - bear in mind also that I have recently completed an NVQ 2). She was asked to put it in writing, and knowing that I too want one, thought that if I did the same thing, it would add weight to her argument. So that is what we both did. 2 weeks ago I had my own appraisal, during which the Care Home Manager said that if she had anything to do with it, we would get that rise, but sadly she does not sign the cheques. The cheques are signed instead by our Director, a former Director of Barclays Capital (say no more), who thinks nothing of spending money on vases, mirrors and furniture that we do not need - anything it seems except the staff. His idea of treating us properly is the annual Christmas party, which is a waste of time anyway. Six weeks later, despite repeatedly asking the Care Home Manager, we are yet to receive an answer, in fact I am not even sure if the Director has even seen our letters, since they appear to have been just plonked in his in tray. So yesterday I spoke to Steve, who is the Company Advisor and asked him if he knew anything, and he has promised to investigate. The Director was there yesterday and requested a private meeting with the Manager, and before I left our Administrator informed me that "things were being dealt with", so if there is still no joy by this time next week, I shall have no alternative than to just ask him direct. I did not want to do this, as this man has an answer for everything, and will it seems do anything other than the right thing, but I am heartily fed up with all this waiting around, and in a fighting mood, and so will be more than ready for him. Wish me then copious amounts of luck. It seems that lady luck is already smiling anyway, since I received my first royalty statement from Amazon a few days ago since kindleising my book, and have sold 3 copies - not a lot but everything helps, and the T shirt I wanted has also just been reduced by a third, so I am off to Guildford tomorrow to pick one up along with the trousers that I ordered. Today will be a somewhat less exciting day - haircut and food shopping.
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Jacket spuds with cheese
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Never Ending Song Titles (Part 7)
Talisman replied to Chrissy's topic in Quiz Room / Thread Games Jokes etc
Runaway Love - Linda Clifford -
spectate
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So would you be if you had my boss !
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Sell the other one on ebay !
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Yes, interesting indeed.
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Not sure yet - either jacket spuds with cheese or asparagus and leek risotto - the asparagus needs using and I will want a quick and easy dinner tomorrow after a 10 hour shift, so it will probably be the risotto.
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I don't have a favourite book, but I do have a favourite type of book, and light and fluffy it is not (although I am not averse to a bit of humour). There needs however to be a point or an underlying message to that humour as opposed to humour just for the sake of it - highlighting hypocrisy for example or the stupidity of those in power. In general then I like a book that teaches me something in some way about what I would term the human condition - that can come in many guises from crime fiction to biography to tales of love, to travelogues. As long as it teaches me something and makes me think, then if I like the writers style, then I will buy it. If the book also happens to be set in a country or a culture that I am interested in, then so much the better.
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Never Ending Song Titles (Part 7)
Talisman replied to Chrissy's topic in Quiz Room / Thread Games Jokes etc
Simple Things - Minnie Ripperton -
Pea and mint burgers with roast potatoes, brussel sprouts and carrots. And of course onion gravy.
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tears
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We went out for lunch today - sausage and mash again, with about 10 different veggies - yum !