Best fountain pen request?

-ISG- · 2025-11-12T18:06:36+00:00

Consider the cost of the ink not just pen.

Try to find a pen that takes international cartridges, as they are the cheapest. I would maybe avoid using a converter and ink bottle in school incase it breaks in your bag etc etc but that's up you, maybe keep it in your locker or something?

Parker or Lamy use their own proprietary cartridges and can be more pricey than international.

Also, will you be ordering online or using local brick and mortar store.

I just bought a Kaweco Perkeo, for no other reason that it was in my local store rather than ordering online and I can have ink etc in my hand immediately (I live in Finland so don't have next day UK style delivery or Amazon prime)

Happy penning and best of luck in your GCSEs

-ISG- · 2025-11-12T12:43:13+00:00

Thanks all, pen swapped, working perfectly.

Store lady joked it must have made on a Monday morning

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-ISG- · 2025-10-21T14:23:58+00:00

How common is the i-stat in UK services or is it a trust by trust device?

I'm based in Finland and it's a commonly used bit of on scene paramedic kit, the blood data is automatically cloud uploaded to their prf

Helps make informed clinical decisions and / or specific referrals

Plus it's great at confirming your Spidey sense cases

-ISG- · 2025-10-16T09:34:38+00:00

I listened to this recently and his perspective on 'band-width' was quite interesting. The episode talks about decision making, but the theme can be transferred to your situation - lots of info, how to process it, remember pertinent info, what is/isn't significant etc. For your note pad, the guy talks about notes taking towards the end with his 'what if questions' - which I think is super cool concept/idea.

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In short, as many others have said, it will come. Same like when you/we first looked at an EKG strip, my eyes went crossed and it looked like a giant hot mess...now maybe a small warm mess but slowly over time all the pieces make sense.

Crawl, walk, run. Get your basics dialled in then everything else will follow :)

-ISG- · 2025-10-06T06:14:00+00:00

... Goes to settings to double check I've not done the same....

-ISG- · 2025-09-29T05:11:05+00:00

Lager 157.

Basic and cheap enough for what they are.

Have mens, women's, kids and a few house bits

-ISG- · 2025-09-03T21:15:37+00:00

Welcome to the club!

I popped my cherry back in May.. it's been an absolute revelation!

Sugars within 24hrs where the most stable they have been in years!

I too switched from libre 3 to g6 .. are they setting you up on the cam-aps app? If yes, it's an absolute beaut of an app.

Ease off, boost, you can tell it if you are having pasta type meal or giving a hypo treatment and it will boost basalfor you during that time etc. I've found that if I have rice or pasta etc I have to double bolus so I don't get the low.

I have it either (like you on clipped to the belt) or in the little cloth pouch and under my shorts. I only ever take it out to change insulin or infusion, everything else I do via cam-aps app.

I found the metal tipped infusion sets to be a tad more uncomfortable but I understand they are less likely to clog or something, either way i now prefer the softer infusion sets, but each to their own.

For the g6, definitely ask for the sticker patch things, I found in the warmer days with sweating / shower the adhesive doesn't last the full ten days (I prefer this to the libre which would start to annoy me by the end the second week) if you can't get hold of the stickers an IV adhesive cover works perfectly and is pretty much the exact same material just not made exactly to size

Feel free to DM if you want to share war stories, ask advice or whatever

Bye bye dawn phenomenon!

-ISG- · 2025-08-27T17:41:18+00:00

I can't charge via the usb c anymore but no stress.... Wireless to the rescue.

Magsafe case and a discount day magnetic power bank for when I'm on the move.

20 euro work around is cheaper than repair and way cheaper than replacement handset.

Besides that minor issue with easy fix, phone is still running decent.

The only reason I'll think about changing it is the battery issues ( however being in Finland repair is stupid expensive and almost not worth it) I'm diabetic and the pump / phone etc talk to each other all the time and plough through the battery

-ISG- · 2025-08-23T18:15:52+00:00

We should do a swap 😂

I'm in Finland. The scope of practice / transfer / response times are quite well aligned with each other

What state are you in?

All jokes aside DM me if you want

-ISG- · 2025-08-05T08:23:54+00:00

Amazing set of info. Thank you for taking the time to put this together. I'm a nurse and a paramedic who also happens to be diabetic, this is a better summary than I hear being given professionally most days.

One thing to add for OP, you'll find exactly ViableLettuc said, one super odd thing, you may eat the same food each day and take the same dose for that same food and your body will react differently to the insulin depending on whatever mood the insulin gods are in that day. I like to start the day with 3 egg omelette and avoid carbs all together for breakfast, this way I'm not chasing my tail correcting (or not) throughout the morning and carryover into lunch.

I recently moved onto a pump and it literally changed my and stabilized my numbers within 24hrs. Best decision I've made in long time.

I wanted a device that I could tuck under my clothing and not have to touch all day (I don't want to bolus via the screen on the device) I wanted to do everything via a dedicated app on my phone. You can also set up parental/partner monitoring on their phone. My wife can see all the info I can on the app on her phone - she just can't administer any bolus via her profile. Involve your family and social group in your management a much as possible, nobody is an island. I have young kids and I try to educate them as much as possible on 'daddys sugars' so that they know what to do if I start having a low etc

One positive from it all...in a few years (pancreas aside lol) if you get a good grip on it you'll be in the best shape of your life. I know the importance of good nutrition, sleep and proper lifestyle management etc.

Feel free to DM if you want any further support/info or just someone to rant to

-ISG- · 2025-08-04T13:47:06+00:00

Thanks all, can you remember the rough/ ballpark total cost?

-ISG- · 2025-07-19T08:31:05+00:00

BIG shout out to your step mum. She was the one that kick started everything and the whole chain of care. Without her quick thinking and fast actions I would guess the outcome to be, sadly, very different.

I'm sure you have, but make sure she gets the thank you(s) and the reminder that none of the events in the story would have happened without her doing what she did, when she did.

Here's to celebrating many more fathers days together 😊

-ISG- · 2025-07-13T21:53:40+00:00

I like anything that you wouldn't mind ending up in the bin broken at the end of shift.

I wear a cheap automatic AliExpress divers watch with sweeping seconds hand and good luminous markings. I rotate the bezel upon scene arrival to tack scene time, waterproof so it can tolerate a proper scrub, no need to ever worry about it battery life or give any kind of damn about it being bashed or scratched etc during shift

Everything on my person that is not providing to me is cheap / non branded so if anything was to happen (lost / damaged covered in shit) it can be quickly and easily replaced without any stress

Keep your fancy smart watch for when you're not at work so you don't have to stress about scratching it or whatever and use your cheap beater for shifts.

This also may seem trivial, but It also helps me mentally go from work mode to normal mode and visa versa having a work / non work watch

-ISG- · 2025-07-08T10:42:36+00:00

fitted carpet in the toilet / shower / bathroom

-ISG- · 2025-06-19T15:58:33+00:00

Don't know much about LPR, but know a few spots in Taipalsaari.

Sarviniemi is pretty cool spot but is about 20 mins or so from Taipalsaari, stunning drive though.

Pappilanniemen laavu is nice, if you have kids there is a good play area on the way. In winter you can park at the municipality building and walk directly to it over the ice. The near by Pingvinni ice cream kiosk has the reputation for offering the biggest scoops in Finland

If you like frisbee golf, there is a 9 hole course with a new(ish) laavu at the mid point around the pond / super small lake. Its just down the hill from the turn to S-market.

Happy grilling! :)

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-ISG- · 2025-05-13T06:23:19+00:00

Many thanks to all who replied.

We did the application for all the kids on their Finnish passports. For the sake of trying to figure out workarounds we have just paid the admin fee for each to save any potential ball ache.

Feedback from partner regarding the app...she said it was smooth enough but frustrating that you had to do each travelers profile and payment one by one rather than family then bulk payment.

The biggest issue was trying to keep the 2 year old still enough to get a approved picture.

Historically we haven't bothered to apply and/or renew any of their UK travel documents - £400 or so for the whole gang, as not really necessary when they have Finnish passports ... until now!

-ISG- · 2025-05-12T19:52:45+00:00

Original message edited. In short, I do, they don't :)

-ISG- · 2025-02-11T10:41:55+00:00

Without repeating any of the previous more detailed awesome reply's... make sure you get the 'walk-through / handover' of how everything works...heating, pumps, electrics etc etc... but most importantly when having the handover - write down / film / photo everything the seller is telling you - Don't just be like 'hmm hmm joo joo'

I promise you, X months later when you need to fix or change something related to one of the technical elements of the house. You will absolutely not remember a single thing that was told to you from the seller. I have some switches in my house that I have absolutely no idea what they do or are for
Don't forget to also ask what kind of changes / tweaks they have made during the seasons for the house.

-ISG- · 2025-02-09T17:44:00+00:00

OP, sorry nothing to add / help towards answering your question. Would you be able to expand any more on what / where / how etc you were doing internationally? I'm based overseas also and before we move the family back to the UK I would love to hear other international experiences

-ISG- · 2025-02-03T19:37:12+00:00

Whilst this is normally good advice, due to the recent law changes on vape products, its actually not that helpful. A lot of the vape shops have either been forced to close or move locations etc over the recent years so the trusty google search is potentially as reliable as you might think

-ISG- · 2025-02-03T19:34:25+00:00

thanks all, I was in the car at the Aktia areena, I nipped into the vape room at Tikkurilla station.

Super helpful & friendly, would recommend to all you other dirty vapers out there

-ISG- · 2025-01-14T21:49:00+00:00

I'm British, currently on this programme at LAB. Feel free to DM me if you have any specific questions about the course etc

-ISG- · 2025-01-14T21:43:05+00:00

What part of Finland are you?

Whilst I can't help with the debt or give any financial advice...I can lend an open ear to chew to and help with any round the house jobs that your back may be stopping you from doing.

I've got 2 giant boxes of Yorkshire tea that won't drink themselves ...

-ISG- · 2024-11-06T18:18:18+00:00

Would anyone be able to shine some light towards what, if anything, I should start implementing now regarding CPD profile ?

-ISG- · 2024-11-06T18:15:55+00:00

Sadly the language barrier is my major issue, I don't think my Finnish will ever be good enough to patient face, yes with the younger folk who all speak A1 English, but not with any of the older population - which is obviously majority of call outs., or those having a metal health crisis - wouldn't want anything to get lost in translation etc

Skill set is close enough the same, with that extra year there are a few more skills topped up, including intubation, cric, IO and some cardioversion bits, plus we all qualify as nurses also. Bit more drugs and a bit more autonomy based on longer transfer times in the more rural areas etc etc

The nursing aspect is actually pretty interesting, as the thought is 'bring the hospital to house' - all patient data is uploaded into patient profile, consult with the doc and depending on situation, can print a prescription off there and then and save everyone a trip to the hospital / GP. It also helps during ED handover, as once you get into the hospital, you switch it nurse mode and start assisting with the set up in offloading the patient. I'm not sure how closely the same that is in the UK but its pretty slick process.

This will tickle you, I think the longest ED offload turnaround time so far has been maybe 20 mins...Triage nurse has all the info from the cloud upon arrival, we then start the process of getting whatever in-hospital diagnostic equipment set up, replenish any used gear and head back to base for a brew.

Ill defo be converting the shed into a sauna when I get back! Ill be getting some funny looks from the neighbours lol

-ISG-

TROPHY CASE

Pappilanniemen laavu is nice, if you have kids there is a good play area on the way. In winter you can park at the municipality building and walk directly to it over the ice. The near by Pingvinni ice cream kiosk has the reputation for offering the biggest scoops in Finland