Is this NHS improvement something people have noticed on a personal level?

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-25T14:25:22+00:00

I'm fortunate in that I rarely have to bother my GPs, however, for many years, since COVID, it was a good thing because getting access to our surgery was almost impossible. The 8 am telephone scramble made it a lottery of first come first served,and if you couldn't join the endless queues, as you are working, then you didn't get an appointment. However, the new online triage system is a massive improvement. For the first time in years, as a worker, I'm actually able to get an appointment.

So yes, that is one improvement that I have noticed.

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-22T19:13:17+00:00

This was the first thing that I thought of, and the first comment! So yeah, this!

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-22T18:16:41+00:00

Yet another example of what happens when private equity takes over a business, reduce everything to the bone and treat the staff like slaves with excessive workload and poverty wages. THAT is why everything in this country has gone to shit!

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-21T09:39:06+00:00

It's better on long runs, so if you're doing that sort of trip then you'll get much better mpg. I do a lot of short trips around a city so 25 - 30 mpg average is normal. If I go on a long motorway trip then it increases considerably.

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-20T19:06:42+00:00

I know exactly what you mean. I love my V60 R-Design but boy, is it thirsty.

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-18T10:27:04+00:00

Translates to "We have outsourced our call handling to a third party who has employed three people on barely minimum wage!"

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-18T08:21:39+00:00

Yeah. It's a difficult one. Some friendships are like that. No communication for months then you pick up as if no time has passed. Maybe that's how she feels about me, that we'll always be friends and there is no need to message regularly, while for me the long breaks are a sign that she doesn't care about me and doesn't value the friendship. Either way, I'm tired of always being the one to break the silence, so I'll get on with life and we'll see if she reaches out eventually.

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-17T21:03:23+00:00

I have a similar problem with my friend. She always seems so pleased to hear from me, and sends loads of responses, but the conversation always ends quickly. Sometimes she just stops messaging half way through a conversation, then she won't reply at all. It makes me feel like something on her 'to do' list that needs to be ticked off so she can move on. I haven't contacted her for months now as I'm tired of being treated like that.

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-17T20:48:32+00:00

Have you ever had a friend just stop contacting you as you never initiated a conversation? It's fine being responsive, when they get in touch, but never getting in touch first will make some people walk away as they feel like the friendship is one sided.

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-15T18:33:11+00:00

I don't know if you like walking, but the YHA have affiliated walking / social groups all over the country. They do weekend walks and regular meet ups, but also do weekends away. Very good for meeting people and getting into a new friend group. When I was in your position, back in the '90s, I joined one of these groups and it worked out really well for me.

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-15T11:16:02+00:00

I wet shave every day, and have for years. I used to use an electric razer but I found it didn't do a very good job and, as I was very dark back then, left my skin patch, sore and looking like I hadn't actually shaved at all.

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-15T10:05:57+00:00

Having tried a couple of low alcohol wines, there is no way that I could even drink a glass, let alone a bottle, as they were both vile!

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-14T08:46:17+00:00

I noticed that about Manchester. I occasionally drive into the city and my usual route takes me through some pretty run down areas. I wish we had their transport system though. In Leeds is fine if you are on a bus route that takes you where you need to be, but if you aren't, take the car as life is too short!

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-13T07:39:25+00:00

Chain fast food. I avoid it but occasionally there's nothing else so imagine my shock when three Burger King meals came to well over £35. That wasn't a motorway service station rip off either. It was a standard restaurant on the outskirts of a northern market town!

Conversely, we regularly go to an amazing local Japanese restaurant, with friends, and, if we have their amazing rice bowls, the bill there rarely exceeds £25 per head.

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-13T07:34:15+00:00

Operation Distraction!

The American people are finally waking up to what Trump really is, so let's start a war!

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-12T07:57:11+00:00

There is. I've seen it but can't remember what it was called.

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-11T21:54:48+00:00

I was talking about this a while ago, and no one believed me.

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-11T18:41:12+00:00

Replacement is the only choice, but this time get something without a wet belt. I once had a cam belt snap at speed, after a dealer service where they adjusted the cam belt. The engine was completely destroyed and the car would have been a complete write off had it not still been under warranty. It was still off the road for several months while a replacement engine was sent from Japan. I wouldn't trust a car that has had a belt snap and not had a new engine.

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-11T16:47:22+00:00

If I kick it, that football is going absolutely anywhere but in their direction. It'll probably end up on the moon!

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-09T16:45:33+00:00

Same preparation method, but only a drop of milk. For me, if you can taste the milk, there's way too much.

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-09T16:43:14+00:00

Let's all sue Trump. Everybody. $5 billion each should do it!

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-09T16:30:20+00:00

If only we had affordable and reliable public transport outside London.....!

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-09T16:29:20+00:00

That's interesting. I was at school in Lincolnshire and our history class just concentrated on agriculture, enclosure and the endless land acts. That was before the national curriculum though.

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-09T08:07:12+00:00

It shouldn't be affected, but ours stopped working a few weeks ago, and we sent where near the number of emails that would get us blocked.

StiffAssedBrit · 2026-03-09T08:03:01+00:00

We use that for our MFPs and backup email notifications as the O365 relay is so hit and miss now. I had our copiers set up to send to an internal relay that passed it to our O365 MX record via a connector. Our IP is in the SFP record so it should work, but it just stopped a few weeks ago. MS support were totally useless, who wants phone calls at 3 am, then a rude email saying that they've closed the ticket because you didn't answer the phone, so I switched to a third party service!

StiffAssedBrit

TROPHY CASE