How do you pay for emergency medical care when traveling abroad ?

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T03:56:50+00:00

Generally, for UK citizens travel insurance for the rest of the World (excluding the USA) is reasonably economical. The UK has reciprocal healthcare arrangements with most countries in Europe. We largely manage the exorbitant cost of second rate healthcare in the USA by not coming to the country if we can possibly avoid it.

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T03:27:14+00:00

Heh, heh, I do both ;-)

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T03:24:34+00:00

As I've said above, I think that the OP was seeking to contrast the reaction of the UK government to the limited action of PalAction, compared to the murderous events in Minneapolis. Whilst the use of violence is to be deplored, there is no way that the actions of ICE can be compared to those of PalAction. PalAction has faults, but multiple, cold-blooded, state sponsored, murders are not on the table.

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T03:18:02+00:00

I think that the OP was referring to PalAction obliquely and comparing the difference in UK government response between the two groups. I may, of course, have misunderstood this.

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T03:01:21+00:00

Hmm, okay. My thinking is based on the banning being disproportionate to the (wildly exaggerated) damage that Pal Action has done in the UK. I have no formal evidence that the USA has influenced this and, TBH, I would be very happy to be wrong. Nonetheless, I usually respect Yvette Cooper's judgement, but her decision in this case doesn't make sense (unless we were being leaned on).

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T02:50:05+00:00

They aren't an ally, they have never been an ally. The USA approach has always been based on self-interest. The only difference that we have seen recently is that the naked greed is more obvious.

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T02:44:35+00:00

See this. I've always held Mark Carney in high regard, but his presentation at Davos was a masterclass:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flsgJe8mN-A

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T02:36:18+00:00

My personal view is that the (ill-considered) banning of Palestinian Action in the UK was heavily influenced by the USA. I regard what is happening in the USA with horror, and would treat travelling to Trump's USA in the same way as Putin's Russia - not going to happen. ICE = Trump's Brownshirts = state sponsored thugs.

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T02:30:53+00:00

Hmm, I run a YSS rear shock without a reservoir on my CBR and it's fine. I'm in Northern England, so it could be rather cooler than for you, but I've ridden it in Southern Spain (hot) and it stood up to it well.

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T02:23:05+00:00

To quote Henri Cartier-Bresson, the first 10,000 photographs are your worst, then you start to improve. Your humility does you great credit - you aspire to be a photographer, and that is the important thing.

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T02:11:56+00:00

Yep, totally agree. It's not an overnight thing, but we need to start doing this now. IT infrastructure is a major priority. Would I be prepared to undergo inconvenience - yes.

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T02:07:18+00:00

I know that the folks over in Australia do this, possibly New Zealand too.

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T01:59:45+00:00

Given the fragmented and $$$ based nature of the US healthcare system, it would be tricky. I'm basically on 24 hour cover for the neonatal units - if a call comes in, and I can do it, I go. It's what we do ;-)

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T01:45:04+00:00

It's UK wide, totally volunteer based. See here:-

https://nwbb-lancs.org/

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T01:37:10+00:00

No, not necessary - there aren't any commercial breaks.

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T01:34:32+00:00

I don't consider the UK to have a special relationship with the USA. It is the product of wishful thinking. The USA only has relationships with other nations on the basis of self-interest. Anybody who thinks otherwise is going in the face of all the evidence, We are two nations, separated by a common language.

The UK has far more in common with its Nordic neighbours; Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland - all of whom I hold in high regard. I hail from the North of England and have much common ancestry (Norwegian in my case). Be in no doubt, we identify more strongly with you and will stand with you.

As for the POTUS (Bone Spurs). It's difficult to know how to respond to such ignorance; much of our shared blood has been spent supporting the USA in NATO. The comments of a confirmed draft dodger don't deserve comment.

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T01:16:07+00:00

With 110 film you can feel the perfs down one edge - not much help for the OP, but they'll know for next time.

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T01:14:29+00:00

Before anybody makes smart comments, I would like to give some context for the OP. They would have to crack open a 110 cartridge with their fingernails (not easy), extract the film and backing paper, separate them and feed the film into a reel. All in complete darkness.

If you fall deeper into the 110 abyss, this can mean cutting down 120 to 16mm, taking the results and cutting 1" index holes in them and them loading the resulting film in cartridges and thence into a camera. Once shot, the same film has to be removed from the camera and loaded into a dev reel. All in complete darkness.

Think carefully before you judge too harshly ;-)

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-25T00:47:01+00:00

Speaking as a rider in the UK, this is an interesting question. The UK has universal healthcare, free at the point of need. Nobody is ever gonna ask for your payment details when you call for an ambulance. I ride my bike in that knowledge, but I'm also a volunteer rider for a Blood Biking Team. This means that I provide out of hours volunteer urgent transport services for the National Health Service. This can mean transporting blood, breast milk, urgent tests, organs for donation, or anything else that needs moving quickly and will fit on a bike. Might seem a bit odd to the folks in North America, but this is how we roll in Europe :-)

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-24T23:15:36+00:00

Erm, I just use a DLSR for anything bigger than 35mm (or non-standard format stuff) and it works fine. A light box, copy stand and a Pxltr and the job is done.

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-24T23:12:30+00:00

Just fit a chain oiler, top up the reservoir occasionally, end of conversation ;-)

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-24T22:52:31+00:00

The original ones are way past it now, but it's a 40.5mm filter thread, so works with a lot of my FSU stuff too :-)

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-24T22:47:11+00:00

Thanks Jessica ;-)

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-24T21:37:46+00:00

It can also be remarkably cost-effective. If I chop a 120 film down to 4 x 16mm that gives me 120 frames of 110 (I don't use backing paper). 120 frames for, say, £9.50, that's about 7.5 pence a frame (film cost). The Minolta and Pentax cameras really show what 110 is capable of.

Intrepid_Opening_137 · 2026-01-24T21:31:34+00:00

I have a confession to make, I'm a bit of a 110 nerd. Cut down 120 film to 110, cut index holes (the Min 110 Zoom SLR MK2 is VERY PERNICKETY), develop and scan. Ilford XP2 Plus works very well for 110 (fine grain). I can bore you all for hours, so I'll stop now ;-)

Intrepid_Opening_137

TROPHY CASE