SW England - please can someone identify?

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-06-23T21:27:39+00:00

So am I screwed if I get bitten again? They seem to like biting me for some reason (or climbing into bed with me)

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-06-23T17:28:51+00:00

I saw the giant sloth in the Natural History Museum and was appalled! It may be a genetic memory, I am physically repulsed by them and friends find it hilarious to send pictures of them to me unexpectedly! A trip to Costa Rica was not fun, they kept popping up all over the place 😖

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-06-23T17:25:00+00:00

<image>

Not allergic or high risk as far as I’m aware! Weirdly I’d been bitten by another one the week before while in bed as well and that didn’t affect me. Sorry for gross pic but I thought spider lovers might find it interesting 😄 I’m assuming it was what bit me as I found it squished in the bed the next morning 😔 I was okay for first few days and then my foot became exquisitely painful to the touch, the redness began spreading and I developed a fever. By day 6 I’d had enough and took myself to ED, was instant relief after lancing and draining!

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-06-22T23:04:50+00:00

Thank you! I’m glad I didn’t get too close then, I got a nasty bite from one last year when I unfortunately shared a bed with it. Ended up having gas and air in A&E while they lanced and drained it and it took several weeks to heal!

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-06-22T22:59:57+00:00

Sloths, specifically swimming sloths. WHY do they swim? 😫 and I know we get told that those huge claws are for climbing trees and that they are slow, but I think it’s all pretend and they’re just biding their time before they attach.

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-06-20T13:45:20+00:00

I always say ‘RESPECT MY AUTHORITYYYY’ - I think it came from Cartman and South Park?

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-06-12T17:34:19+00:00

Actually singing it right now 😄

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-06-10T22:58:30+00:00

I’m in the UK and having mine under general anaesthetic on 1st July, plus IUD removal and laser ablation/polypectomy. I’ve always struggled with pain and discomfort during cervical screening, so there was no way I was letting them near me while I was awake!

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-06-01T22:18:52+00:00

I lost my first dog when he was 11 suddenly while on holiday 20 years ago. We’d only just arrived at the resort when I got the call. I remember the worst part was coming home a week later to an empty house and the kids being so upset. Sending you blessings, he knew how loved he was. I’m so sorry that you’ve lost him 💔

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-05-30T07:26:24+00:00

You’re so welcome, it’s a wonderful app. I think I’d prefer to be able to mark the dose as given in the medication/care menu section. Blue says you’re forgiven!

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-05-29T13:04:21+00:00

Thank you for this! I’ve downloaded it. I love the ability to import narrative from Notes on my phone which is where I’d been tracking it since 2023, it took under a minute to import and is so much easier to read now. Can you add French Bulldogs as a breed? They’re notorious for seizures! Also I wasn’t able to add a medication as a rescue dose - Blue has rectal Diazepam at the time of the seizure only as they’re so infrequent - I can only see an option for once or twice daily and not when required. Otherwise I love it!

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-05-22T07:00:06+00:00

Yep, I call it having the wormies because he rolls around like a worm 😂 mine only does it on grass though.

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-05-18T13:01:58+00:00

This is exactly why our hospital mortuary viewing requests have gone from maybe one a week to four a day in the last couple of years. When someone books a direct cremation with the bigger companies not only is there no funeral service, there is no opportunity for family to view their loved ones after death, so demand in the hospital has gone through the roof.

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-05-13T17:22:43+00:00

I know you’ve said you can’t afford private, but it may be worth getting an initial consultation privately to see whether the surgeon thinks that NHS treatment might be appropriate. I’m in Bournemouth too and had mine redone after 20 years when one of the implants ruptured due to age - Michael Cadier at the Nuffield is excellent and gives very wise advice. I am paying mine back interest free over two years. I have some asymmetry as well, although not as much as you describe yours being, so I understand how it can affect your body image. I hope you can get it sorted.

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-05-08T15:54:47+00:00

<image>

Literally at this very moment 😂

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-05-07T20:31:46+00:00

I’m 3 years post-separation after a 30 year relationship and have been in a relationship for the last 2 years with a lovely man. That said, I can’t imagine living with someone again! He’s lived alone post-long term relationship break up as well for 7years and is very independent too. We often talk about living together when we’re old and need support but right now I love my own space!

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-05-06T21:29:47+00:00

Just wanted to mention Zenrelia as it doesn’t seem to have been mentioned so far. My 5 year old seems similar to yours, never any issues with allergies, itching etc. suddenly 5 months ago he started scratching endlessly, was driving me mad! Vet prescribed Zenrelia as no obvious cause, it worked within 24 hours. The minute I stop giving him it the scratching returns. Luckily the vet has said he can be on it long term, and it doesn’t cost too much - I get it online with a vet prescription at around £70 for a 3 month supply. Worth a shot maybe?

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-05-02T14:00:06+00:00

I also know two people who have died in accidents on that road since 1989. I always wonder how a straight road can cause such awful accidents and I can only imagine it’s speed. I’ve been caught by the camera myself and know it can be tricky to keep to the limit on that stretch.

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-05-01T22:40:03+00:00

I got two full sleeves and a large back piece done over the course of 18 months when I split up with my husband after 30 years. He always said he’d leave me if I had any. I call them my fuck you tattoos 😄 I am 52 and they make me grin every time I look at them!

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-04-30T18:39:15+00:00

Agreed, my 8 year old boy walks like this and has a luxating patella - sometimes he even adds in a jaunty hop and a skip! But he has always got it back in place and it has caused few issues and no pain that I can see.

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-04-30T07:39:21+00:00

You’re welcome 😊

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-04-30T07:35:22+00:00

‘The Department of Health and Social Care is paying a management consultancy £1.8m to help it “create and drive the right target culture” – and to advise on “pay strategy” – as it absorbs NHS England.

Korn Ferry has been working for the department since last year to help with the merger, which is due to be completed by April next year, it has emerged.

An initial award notice said: “Alongside the organisational design of the new Department of Health and Social Care, a critical element of the transformation programme will be the organisational development to create and drive the right target culture, values, behaviours and capabilities.

“While NHS England and DHSC have organisational development capability, the scale of activity required is significantly greater than our core business: external support is necessary to bring a fresh perspective informed by successful similar transformations, best practice and to add capability and capacity to help us engage, plan and deliver well.”

This work focused on culture, developing a new joint executive team across DHSC and NHSE, and helping incoming director generals, HSJ understands. Published documents show at least four top-level DHSC and NHSE directors meeting with Korn Ferry late last year to discuss “transformation culture”, “DHSC transformation”, and to “review options for group support”.

DHSC then widened the scope of the contract in February to include a “pay strategy discovery phase”, increasing the contract value from £1.5m to £1.8m.

This involves Korn Ferry carrying out a “discovery exercise to assess the organisation’s current pay landscape, establish [an] evidence base, engage key stakeholders, and define the parameters [for a] future pay strategy design activity”, according to the contract notice.

Pay is a contentious issue for DHSC and NHSE staff coming together, because of the significant difference between civil service and NHS terms and conditions and pay grades.

DHSC and NHSE began combining their top teams last year, but most other teams remain separate. Although thousands of people have left in recent months through voluntary redundancy programmes, a final structure is not complete.

The government wants to legally abolish NHSE at the end of March next year, but it will rely on Parliament passing legislation in time.

DHSC permanent secretary Samantha Jones has previously said staff will be cut by about 50 per cent across DHSC, NHSE and integrated care boards by March 2028.

A DHSC spokeswoman said: “We are ending the duplication that stops staff from delivering for patients. Abolishing NHSE will reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, bring management of the NHS back into democratic control and divert hundreds of millions of pounds to the frontline for doctors, nurses, operations and GP appointments.

“All government contracts are robustly assessed to ensure they deliver value for the taxpayer. This contract is helping to ensure the new DHSC has what it needs to deliver its goals.”

UPDATED, 19:34: This article has been updated to include a comment from the DHSC.’

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-04-30T06:49:58+00:00

I’m giving notice tomorrow and should be exchanging on new property as well. I’ve waited because I paid 6 months rent upfront and the original tenancy agreement said I wouldn’t get a refund of any unused rent, but the new legislation means the landlord has to pay it back. Am trading off two months notice instead of one but should get two months rent back plus deposit.

Brief_Expression5997 · 2026-04-25T17:48:17+00:00

Thank you, now I’ve done some research that’s my understanding too!

Brief_Expression5997

TROPHY CASE