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Politics, bah!

OK, so a general election has been called, and the MPs are currently frantic, trying to visit everywhere in order to get us to vote for them. But just stop for a moment, and take a look at two events this week that (for me) sum up MPs and the whole process of government.

Where's the App gone?

Earlier today I went into iTunes and headed for the App store. I had a reason for this, I wanted to check whether the school app had been updated. It's listed on the Appmakr website as "In review by Apple", so I gathered it was close to either going live (hopefully) or being rejected (hopefully not!).

Flash, Bang, wallop, what a fine

I read through gritted teeth this morning that the "temporary" speed cameras used on the M1 near me whilst there are roadworks taking place, have been so successful that they are to stay once the roadworks have ended.

Parcel Farce

Thursday 3rd December, and DHL attempt to make a delivery to the house. Unfortunately there is no one around at the time, and so they leave a "we attempted a delivery" message. That in itself isn't a problem, or what has really wound me up - it's the DHL redelivery system that sucks.

Legalised Robbery

It's my new name for Insurance Cover, after all that's what they are doing. They are taking my money, and refusing to give it back when I request it

It never rains, it pours

Wednesday was one of those days that anything that could wrong *did* go wrong. It all started with a sore throat earlier in the week and the gradual loss of my voice, resulting in being off work on Wednesday to see a doctor. 

Just up my speed, please!

I received a lovely email from VirginMedia last week informing me that I could get a free - no strings attached - speed upgrade from 2Mb to 10Mb just by visiting their GoFaster website. Brilliant I thought - less time waiting for iPlayer episodes to download, less freezing when everyone is trying to use the connection at once, everything would be quicker. How wrong I was...

How hard it is to do a job properly?

Don't you just hate it when someone can't do the most simple part of their job, and as a result it puts you out ? I do! It happened to me today with City Link delivery service, so I've decided to send them a message about it, rather than ignore it;

What have we learnt today?

Today I have learnt two very important lessons. Lessons that I will not be forgetting in a hurry.

As I have previously mentioned, I am incapacitated at the moment. I'm off work, i can't walk far, I can't drive anywhere, and I can't do a thing it feels like!

Stand Up. Be Proud. Celebrate.

Not long ago I was bombarded with emails / TV adverts and bus shelter adverts telling me to celebrate with a pint of Guiness because "March 17th is St Patrick's day". That's great, lovely, nice idea. Except I live in England. I am English, and my patron saint isn't St Patrick - it's St. George.

Today is April 23rd, St George's Day, and how many emails / TV ads and bus shelter ads have I seen telling me it's time to celebrate with a pint of Pedigree, or Spitfire? Exactly 0. Nil. Zilch. Zip. None. Not a single advert anywhere.

Why are we so crap at being proud of being English? We should have a national holiday today in England. We should be flying flags. We should be eating a roast dinner and drinking English ale. We should be celebrating all things English, but do we? Of course not.

If I was in school today I would be making sure that the children knew exactly who St George was. I'd have use the foam javelins for a jousting event in PE. I'd have had themed lessons related to St George and Dragons. (I've done it before in schools and the kids love it). 

Stand Up. Be Proud. Celebrate. It's St. George's Day. It's England Day.

Link for schools:

• Dragonsville

• Info on St George

• More on St George

Don't rush - take your time

So I rang my insurance company yesterday to ask about how my critical illness cover will be affected by recent events. Today a claims advisor rang me back to "have a chat" about what had happened. Apparently they don't send out claim forms anymore. Oh no - they have a much better system!!

I tell them what happened, and they write it all down in a letter that they then post to me. I read it, and see if I agree with what I said (??). I sign it, and give permission for them to then get medical details from the hospital and doctor. They then sit down and decide whether or not I am covered. This last bit will take them 7 weeks apparently. 

Are they hoping that I'll have another attack and not continue with a claim? Is this why it takes them so long? Why can't they just ring my doctor and ask one question - "Did he have a heart attack?" When the doctor says yes, hand over the money. Simple. Surely?

{Calm thoughts - deep breath - calm thoughts}

Why am I paying for my tablets?

I've been to the doctors today to get a check up following the last two weeks. There was good news, and there was bad news.

The good news is that I seem to be through the worst of it. The doctor is pleased with my blood pressure and my pulse - both are as they should be. I have passed through the "dangerzone" of a repeat attack that could have happened over the first 10 days too.

The bad news is the cost of the monthly medication I am prescribed. £30 each and every month from now until the year dot. Apparently, if I was an unemployed layabout who had never paid taxes, I could have been given it all for free, but as I paid my taxes, and worked myself ill I have to now pay for the medicines I need to take to keep me alive.

Fair? Absolutely not, but then this is the New Britain and those that work hard don't get anything as a reward, because it all gets given to the loafers.