Secret USA space mission?

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29669205 .

It looks like the USA has been testing a secret unmanned re-useable space vehicle. It sound like it being used by the US military to test new systems. Spying sounds the most probable use?

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a fascinating "east meets west" place, with Harry Ramsden's fish and chips, double decker buses and bamboo scaffolding and very eastern markets down side streets. For work (years ago) and for pleasure I have been there several times. I have landed at the old airport (hairy) and passed through the modern new airport on my way back from Taiwan. I still was amazed to see a W.H. Smith shop in the new airport, years after the hand back to China.

I hope Hong Kong manages to retain its unique feel in the years ahead. You get the feeling though that the Chinese government is not at ease with its liberal ways with a western leading. Things could change.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-29672083 .

Tuck postcard archive online

Someone found this today. A very useful and free online resource for postcard enthusiasts and collectors. See http://tuckdb.org/ and search for your favourite place. I expect the content will vary day to day. I searched "Salcombe", "Kingsbridge" and "Burwell" and found plenty of old photo PCs.

My brain

Whenever I post on my blogs or Facebook it seems to take a second visit before I spot a posting error. Usually it is an omitted letter or similar. I wonder if this is an effect of my brain bleed? Usually I can correct the error(s) before anyone is aware, but sometimes it can be the next day before I notice. All my limbs work and (mostly) my cognitive powers are fine, if a bit slower than before. I do so hate being not right still. Although local driving seems fine I still feel giddy on my feet and still tire very easily with any physical activity. Even washing the breakfast dishes tires me still.

New Apple Products

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-29643671 .

Although we possess iPod Touch products and an iPad, I still get frustrated by the fact you have to take the products apart to simply change the battery, there is no SD or micro-SD slot and no flash support.

On Android products this is NOT the case. On my Samsung Galaxy S4 mini (Android phone) it is easy and cheap to replace the battery and an extra 32GB of micro-SD storage was easy to fit, so space for apps and photos is not an issue.

NHS - how to WASTE money

It makes my blood boil!

Over a week ago I agreed by phone to change the date of an operation to remove my stomach PEG because the date given clashed with our grandchildren being here over half term. The lady on the phone was very helpful and changed the appointment to the following week. Not only that, we also agreed that a bed overnight would NOT be needed as my wife would be with me at home on discharge. Imagine my disgust to get a typed letter yesterday from the hospital saying the bed was reserved for 2 nights and the appointment was the original date! Of course I rang up immediately and was told there was a mix-up. They would ring me back. Guess who is still waiting!

Clinical care is good but the NHS seems unable to communicate with anyone effectively. Each year the NHS must waste billions because of rubbish communications. Sorry,but the sooner the NHS sorts out its inefficiencies the better.  Let no-one claim that they can't be better. They can improve and give their "customers" a better experience too.

In private industry I would have SACKED people by now.   There really can be no excuse.

The NHS culture needs to change.

Driving further

Today I drove the car to and from Bury-St-Edmunds, parking at Waitrose. This is a 36 mile round trip involving a long stretch of the busy A14.   Driving was fine, with no problems, although people seem to be driving fast.

Local buses

We are supposed to have a service every hour from Burwell into and out of Cambridge. It used to be every half an hour which was good: if you missed one it was not too long to wait for another. On the last 2 occasions the bus has been over 30 minutes late. One is not quite sure whether to keep waiting or get the car out. This is very annoying.

I am told there is an Android app by Cambridgeshire County Council called MyBusTrip that gives real-time data on where buses are.  Perhaps I should get this and only leave the house when the bus is definitely on its way? I allow plenty of time for my weekly U3AC course in Cambridge, but I find the erraticness of our bus service makes people less likely to use them. Surely we should be encouraging local bus use?

UPDATE 1750z:  I have just downloaded the app and must say, so far, I am not that impressed with it.

The first spacewalk - a near disaster

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/2014/newsspec_9035/index.html .

So the truth can now be revealed that the first ever space walk by the Russians in 1965 so very nearly ended in tragedy. At the time we all knew nothing about it because of the propaganda war between the USSR and the USA over space exploration. Now the 80 year old, who was the first human to walk in space, reveals all.

Are we in for a VERY cold winter?

Some are predicting that we are in for a very cold winter here in the UK. Apparently it is, as always, due to the position of the jet stream.

See http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/436170/Worst-winter-for-decades-Record-breaking-snow-predicted-for-November .  I am no fan of the Daily Express, but I wonder if they will be proved right?

Stroke update

People who see me say how much better I look. I am now allowed to drive again and my stomach PEG is due to be removed Nov 4th. I still tire easily, feel wobbly when walking and still feel unwell generally.   I really hope my symptoms start to ease soon.

Facebook

You either love it or hate it.

Even though I am 65 and people think modern technology is past me, I love Facebook. It is a great way to keep in contact with friends and relatives that otherwise might get a Christmas card exchange just once a year. Thanks to Facebook, these distant friends are a daily part of my life. I enjoy finding out what they are doing and I frequently enjoy their comments and support when times have been tough.

I have resisted the temptation to join Twitter. Keeping up with Facebook is enough.

Plymouth Argyle and Cambridge United football clubs

Although not an avid football fan - I very very rarely go to matches -  I do look to see how these 2 teams are doing in the Football League Division 2. So far, both have got off to a "not too bad" season. It would be great if both were promoted to the next league up next season, but there is a long way to go first.

See Plymouth Argyle FC.
See Cambridge United FC.

Why not the good news?

I guess with modern communications we hear about everything in the world quite fast. It is a pity that there are not a few more "good news" reports in the news. A lot of good things happen, but we rarely hear about these. There are definitely far more good things happening than bad, yet we seem to revel in Ebola, IS and other bad news.

Quiet day today

We had visitors this morning and are out this evening, so this afternoon I am taking things quietly to maintain my stamina for tonight. Although better than I was, I still get tired easily and giddy if I am on my feet too much, because of my stroke last year. My wife is out at her choir this afternoon.

Driving again

Another milestone today here. I drove (first time in 13 months) to and from the local garden centres at Fordham. This is a round trip of nearly 10 miles. Both the neurosurgeon and my doctor said "yes" and DVLA agreed I could. Informed the insurer too.

This is a major step. Would probably not want to drive too far for a while, but at least I can drive again locally.

Out for lunch

Today we decided we should go out for lunch so we went to La Hogue Farm Cafe for a change. I was able to eat a ham and cheese panini with coleslaw and a very small cup of coffee. Small steps, but good to eat normally.

Bedding plants

Summer is gone and now we are entering autumn. The trees are losing their leaves and it is time to remove the summer bedding plants and replace them with bedding plants that will look good through winter. Last year my wife planted primroses and they looked really good when I left hospital in January. We'll probably plant these again this winter.

See http://www.lovethegarden.com/gardening-growing/winter-spring-bedding-plants .

PEG removal

If things work out as planned, my PEG, (line into stomach) should be removed on Nov 4th. Currently, the line is only used for water as my feed has been all by mouth since June.  This will be another step on the long road back to normality.

Cambridge University of the 3rd Age (U3AC)

As you might expect, the U3AC choices in Cambridge are huge and varied.

For the first time in several years I decided to join some courses this year. This term I am doing 2 and next term one course. The first, "Human Evolution, is it a Darwinian process?" started today. For me, it means a bus ride and a fairly (for me) long walk, but it is a chance to be "normal" again and get out of "illness mode". The lecturer is a chap called Ken Edwards who took me when I was on a different course a few years ago. It was good.

Anglesey Abbey in autumn

Today we went to Anglesey Abbey (National Trust) for what will be a series of visits this autumn as the leaves change colour and fall. We hope to visit most weeks, weather permitting. Some trees are turning, but most (Oct 5th 2014) are still green-leafed. A few cold snaps and autumn gales could change things.

Pilgrim's Lawn - Anglesey Abbey (NT), Oct 5th 2014 3.30pm

Even when Anglesey Abbey is busy, at the weekends, Pilgrim's Lawn tends to be quite quiet. It is not on the main "winter walk"  and "mill" route that most visitors tend to take. The dahlias have been good again, but have now finished.

Autumn is here.

After a good and long summer, the rain band came through yesterday and the temperature has dropped some 6-8 degrees. It now feels like autumn has arrived. The temperature mid-afternoon was 15 deg C. Before the rain band it was in the low 20's Centigrade.

Roses - Oct 5th 2014

Our roses by the front door are now in their 3rd flush with plenty of buds. The cosmos (LHS) still look good although the sweet peas in the back garden are now coming to an end: we have been cutting these since the end of June for the kitchen table.

Where AIDS all started - in a 1920s Congo town

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29442642 . According to scientists working on the history of AIDS, it all started in Kinshasa, Congo in 1920 and then spread as a result of railways, sex and population growth.

Last gym session (for now)

Outside the Newmarket gym

Today was my last day at the gym in Newmarket as part of their "Active For Life" programme.  I have been going twice a week, most weeks, since May. Although my stamina is better, I don't think my balance has improved much. From next week I am attending a weekly U3AC course in Cambridge so will do a fair bit of walking to and from the bus stops. I am hoping to drive to the "Park and Ride" site when again allowed to drive the car.

Rovio (Angry Birds creators) to cut jobs

Rovio (Finland) who make the famous Angry Birds game are to cut 130 jobs (16%) of its workforce. Angry Birds is very addictive game!

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-29458445 .

Lynsey de Paul dies

The singer/songwriter Lynsey de Paul has died in her mid-60s from a suspected brain tumour. She was most famous in the 1970s.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-29457228 .

Sepura PLC

My old company, Sepura, continues to "hold its own" with shares holding their ground.  Although they have fallen back from their peak of over 150p a share earlier this year, they are hovering around the 140-142p a share currently, which is just above the price at which they were floated about 12 years ago.

With both TETRA and DMR products they have a good future with a world-wide market.

UPDATE 1605z:  Shares in Sepura ended the day at 140.5p.

UPDATE 3.9.14  2245z:   Shares ended at 141.0p.

David Cameron's speech today

Well, I think it very unlikely I shall vote Labour in the General Election next year.  I have voted labour several times in the past. I don't like Ed Milliband (at all) and he left out vital parts in his recent Labour Party conference speech on the deficit and immigration.   At the moment, I am inclined to vote Conservative as they seem to have the better policies. I wish the Conservatives were less "toffs" though. In truth,whoever gets elected will have a tough time. I am not voting UKIP.

The difference between the 2 main parties is really not that great. As a "first past the post" election, tactical voting will be called for. I'd like to vote Green but think this will be a wasted vote in a General Election.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29433919 .

Car tax discs - not needed from today

As of Oct 1st 2014, it is no longer necessary to display a car  tax disc in the window of your car in the UK. Using computer records, enforcement officers can use registration details to check if a car is taxed and insured.

But apparently the on-line tax system is falling over. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-29430979 .

Burwell Museum

See http://www.burwellmuseum.org.uk/ .

Well worth a visit and a local museum that "punches above its weight".

Always lots to see and do and ideal for children with lots of "hands on" things to enjoy.

Preserving British Values

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29414574 . On this, I agree with the Home Secretary.

Great Britain does have values and these are worth preserving. The latest moves, planned for the next parliament, will be controversial as some will see them as an infringement of civil liberties. On balance, I favour the move to keep extremism at bay.

Lunch visit

Today one of my old school friends and his partner called in for lunch. It was the first time I'd seen him since my illness and it was good to spend a few hours catching up on things.

Independent Catalonia?

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29410493 .

I am all for states gaining their independence, but they need to do it in association with the country they form part of currently. For example, Scotland had a vote to break away from the UK recently, but the majority wanted to stay in the UK. In Catalonia's case it would be fine to break from Spain if that is the majority view, but this is best done with the blessing of Spain.

Europe wins Ryder Cup

In the end, Europe beat the USA 16.5 to 11.5 in the Ryder Cup Golf 2014.   It was a convincing win, with none of the last day surprises as has happened in the past in recent years.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/golf/29402472 .