Lets have another waffle off topic......

[Dave]

Considering the thread " Lets have a waffle of topic " was so popular and things have been quiet on her as of late thought i'd start a new thread called " Lets have another waffle off topic " - So whats everyone been up to recently, anything exciting ??? anything at all ???

[Lucy]

I've been doing Tramp club coach and club judge courses and have failed to get another job since being made redundant in August, but did get back on to an OU course after a couple of years out! So if anyone knows of any electronic publishing jobs in Anglia let me know :p .

[Anita]

Been doing my usual - slaving away at work during the week and gym stuff in the evenings and weekends. The closing dates of the two Regional Championships (acro in November and tumbling in December) have just passed so I've got to get all the paperwork sorted ....... Have also been judging at a few competitions and am going to Hastings on Sunday to judge in a friendly comp - our club are competing for the first time this season, and some haven't finished their routines properly yet :eek: ........... should be interesting;)

[Jackie]

Total mid-life crisis for me - have just applied for, and been successful, to become cabin crew! Will now have to work full time and travel all over Europe for the next few years - only able to do so because both daughters don't do gymnastics anymore so am not the chauffeur of the family!!!!!

[Laura]

I like these topics! Hehe! Been up to quite a bit- just started college (well few months ago) taking Sport Studies, Human Biology, Chemistry :( , Psychology and Sports Leader Award. Not really enjoying it but hey, we'll see if we stick with it!

Jus had our annual Club Championships, I came away with Gold on floor (premiere of my round-off tuck back :D) Silver on vault (half on/half off) Gold on Trampette (Straight barani) Gold overall over 14, Gold overall over 12 and Gold overall over 10!

After Club Championships i was also invited to join Sports Aerobics which I have had one session of so far which was great, was suprised how much I managed! Meh, i say it was great- we had to do conditioning!!! :eek: Still aching now and the session was on Saturday!

Also getting a bit back into my athletics- going to be announcing at the primary sports hall league in a few weeks :)

Ooh, bit of a long post! but hey, jus wanted to chatter away!

x

[Laura]

Total mid-life crisis for me - have just applied for, and been successful, to become cabin crew! Will now have to work full time and travel all over Europe for the next few years - only able to do so because both daughters don't do gymnastics anymore so am not the chauffeur of the family!!!!!
WOW! Have a great time! :D

[Gingerheid]

I've been settling in to ... Aylesbury (England is wonderful - I've not needed any heating yet apart from one night!), my new job (lots better than I'd feared!), and a couple of weeks ago, a new club (Oxford University term has started and I can make one of their sessions:)).

Other than that - I've forgotten how to coach in less than three months away.:( Still know what's wrong, can't think how best to describe what to do about it.:confused:

Sorry to hear you're still looking for work Lucy - always my worst fear. Hope something turns up soon.

[Rosie]

Forgotten how to coach- thats weird I hope you work it out soon Giingerheid.

At the moment i'm quite busy at uni ( i do medicine) and am training very hard as have a competition on the 4th dec (manchester uni trampolining open) plus one of my coaches is talking about 10 somersault routines.

Plus spent last weekend, and next weekend acting as a body on my friends club coach course (this is the 2nd course i've been a body for, its quite interesting to see all the different coaching styles)

[Dave]

Jackie - Do you wanna swap jobs i could do a couple of trips round Europe, be it if they are only a day abroad ! ( Anyways good luck with the Job, let us all know how it goes )

Anita - Poor old you, you never seem to get a rest if its not work its paper work from gym or judging etc etc, me thinks you do too much....

Gingerhead - Strange one that forgetting how to coach ! then again i know the feeling i havent coached for years although i would like too....

As for me over the past couple if months i've been working, studying, passing exams, doing some weight training as i havent been in the gym for at least 12 weeks now ( and guess what total rest hasnt helped my injury much, time to go back to doctors and MOAN and get refered to a Speciliast or someone who knows what they are doing )

Suppose i better get back to work - keep the thread going people ...

[Anita]

Might explain my high blood pressure! Although I don't think that's caused by my "hobby" but the stress and pressures at work!


Did you know ..... medical secretaries are currently not brilliantly paid which is why hospitals all over the country have trouble filling the jobs (some have had to resort to sending tapes to India to be typed!). I accepted a job with a ceiling salary of £17,000 (rises by instalments over five/six years) but there's a new government initiative called "agenda for change" - and as far as med sec's are concerned is a change for the worse ..... under the new scheme I have almost reached the ceiling (as I'm due to get my annual rise this month I will be £100 under the ceiling of the new scale - a scale lower than the job I accepted). Quite honestly I'm having serious second thoughts about whether I want to stay under this kind of stress for a pittance! I'd actually earn more money stacking shelves in a supermarket.

Sorry about the moan but, as you can probably tell, I'm rather ticked off at the moment!

[Dave]

Anita,
Im sorry to hear that... If i was you i'd inform your employers your not happy with your currently salary and you feel you deserve better or you will condsider looking for another job ( i know what your thinking, that asking this is pointless but hey if you dont ask you wont get a reply )

Keep your Chin up Anita im sure things will come good, if not let me know i have a contact at Reed technology who could maybe look for a new job for you ???

[Anita]

Unfortunately the NHS has set payscales - we were told today that under the agenda for change "only 8% of NHS staff will be worse off" - yes, they named two sections plus ..... medical secretaries.


The NHS are having a lot of bother now recruiting medical secretaries, so much so that a number of hospitals are sending their typing to India - yet their downgrading the pay which will make it even harder to recruit staff. On top of that they expect us to be able to do a five day turnaround on clinic letters (mind you how they expect us to do that when they give us no cover for holidays I don't know! :mad: ).

The only good thing about working for the NHS is that they've a good pension scheme. The shame of it all is - I love my job, get on really well with my boss and the medical team as well as all the colleagues in our department - it's just the management and unrealistic Government targets I detest.

[Gingerheid]

Jackie - I never noticed your post before - must've been typing at the same time as me! A hundred million congratulations and I hope you enjoy the job - though I'm certain you will!:)

Anita - sorry to hear about the [insert any choice of wording re work]. Think about the pension indeed. Along with flexi time so I can disappear off bouncing, gets me through the day! I'm never going to move away from my civil service pension unless I don't have a choice, ie, unless I'm one of the 106,000 unlucky ones and as long as I don't get privatised:mad:.

I worked out that to be able to buy my pension from contributions to an annuity I'd have to be earning an extra 25%. Do you have flexi time? I think it's worth quite a lot too, if I'd to volunteer to do the same job without flexi time I'd have to be getting paid a lot extra.

And if the worst comes to the worst, brush up on drivel speak and get a management job that benefits from a non-detrimentally directioned renumeration reward package and a incrementally reduced span of role breadth and instensity.

(I fear for tapes getting sent abroad for typing - no wonder it takes so long to get reports back from consultants.)

[Anita]

Apparently there have been some real gems of errors such as:

The patient who had a "baloney amputation" (a "below knee amputation")

Another who had the diagnosis of "flea bite his left leg" instead of "phlebitis" (vein inflammation) left leg

and another who was prescribed the drug "Lanzarote" ("Lansoprazole") for his ulcer

Mind you if I get an ulcer I might ask to be prescribed a holiday to Lanzarote to cure it!

PS: Congratulations Jackie!:D

[Vivien Gourlay]

And quite rightly too I say. Maybe I am a little older in the tooth than you and life has hardened me a little, but I now approach all this "stress" by letting it waft over the top of my head because Prof does not seem to let it bother him!!

My Consultant Orthopaedic Professor works in the biggest guddle you could ever think of and has "THREE" secretaries. One is Clinical, one is Academical and me I am just "Comical" no that is not right I am the Research Secretary. Basically because I am always searching and researching for things that he cannot remember where he put them.

For the money they pay us, it is certainly not worth getting your blood pressure up for. Medical Secretaries are supposed to abide by the unwritten job description - "Jack of all trades master of none". You can do all the work but do not overstep the mark and accomplish anything because you will get well and truly put back into your box!!! By the others who should have done the job in the first place.

My Prof is great- he never gets ratty at anything so take a leaf out of his book - I have.

Deep breaths, think nice thoughts and relax.

Vivien

[Anita]

What I find most stressful is the total incompetence and laziness of others! My job on it's own is the easy part - it's all the ******* we get heaped on us by others because they can't - or won't - do their jobs properly.

My Consultant is very supportive and understanding so I'm lucky, although I believe he and his counterpart had some very strong words to say at a recent meeting about the lack of back-up we have. I'm almost caught up now from my holiday in September (I only had a week off) but my counter-part (the other "diabetic" secretary) is worse off: she went on holiday for 10 days when I got back. She used to have someone who typed for her one or two days a week but she retired whilst I was on holiday - eight weeks' ago. M is still typing September clinics, you can barely move in her office for piles of notes on the floor and spare desk. She is never going to catch up without help - and we don't get any help now at all ...... so much for a five-day turnaround! Her resignation is being handed in as soon as she can join the flexi-bank.

As for the high blood pressure - runs in the family unfortunately! (not helped by the fact that I've been on HRT for nine years and need to remain on it for as close to 60 as I can get).

[Vivien Gourlay]

Seems like this is an epidemic throughout the whole of the country. They never replace people and expect the others to pick up the work. We are constantly getting sent on workshops to introduce us to new computer systems that will alleviate the need for all the paperwork!!!! My Prof has two offices and you cannot get across the floor for paper.

I used to file away all work and never take anything into the New Year, you should see my filing trays now cannot get time to file let alone find a place to file it all.

Good luck with the HRT I had 6 years on that then gave it all up in favour of alternative therapy. Bad 12 months then everything was as normal as I could expect it to be. Should get my bus pass this December.

[Laura]

I worked out that to be able to buy my pension from contributions to an annuity I'd have to be earning an extra 25%. Do you have flexi time? I think it's worth quite a lot too, if I'd to volunteer to do the same job without flexi time I'd have to be getting paid a lot extra.
Ohh my dad does this, leaves home at 6.45am and arrives home at 6.45pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Has Wednesday and the weekend off. Works out well because he never works more than 2 days in a row! and saves on petrol money aswell only make 8 journeys a week. He is also pretty flexible in those timings and has been known to go in early in order to get home early to go to a concert or parents evening or something.

[Anita]

We can work flexi time where I am now, which is a saving grace. It was today in fact (had a VERY bad day: why is it that the only three doctors I've had trouble typing tapes for are the three English ones?) I left work at 3.45 as I had "P*****offitis" (my line manager and a colleague left at the same time, for the same reason!).

Vivien: what are the alternatives you use as I'm thinking about trying some so I can at least reduce the amount of HRT I'm taking (had an enforced total hysterectomy at 40 so I have no choice on that front).

[Dave]

My Apologies for the late reply been very busy recently !
its ok for some Antia i would love to work flexi time but unfortunatly i cant :(

Anyways is it me or is the forum quiet these days ???

[Anita]

Very quiet - maybe everyone's gone into hibernation for the winter :D

[Gingerheid]

Surely not? It doesn't even get cold down here!

[Anita]

Unfortunately Gingerheid not every has the constitution of an ox! ;)

My colleagues are starting to moan at me - I'm still walking around in sleeveless tops and sandals at work: they're in jumpers and cardigans (sometimes both!) and boots :p

Have just resorted to wearing a jumper in the car in the morning: but I leave home at 7.25 am and it's still chilly:rolleyes:

[Gingerheid]

Now that the summers over I'm starting to feel as if I'm not going to take heat stroke. Have to admit that it was a bit nippy this morning, though.

Expecially as the stinking bus didn't turn up. ("How would I know what happened to the last bus? I'm driving this one" = :mad: )

[Dave]

Its been a bit nippy where iam in the mornings the past couple of weeks ! however this week it hasnt been that bad though;)

So out of interest whats everyone up to for xmas ? anyone going abroad etc etc etc

Anita - I have some goodish news i start back in the gym in around 2 weeks providing everything keeps going alright as it is at the moment....Not too sure how im going to re-adjust to doing gymnastics again after such a length period out.. Somehow me thinks im going to struggle alot - mind you i wont be tumbling straight away im gonna be spending about 8 weeks stretching and conditioing before i do any tumble work.... Wish me luck

[Lucy]

that's good news Dave, good luck I hope it goes well this time.:)

[Gingerheid]

Luck wished Dave! Hope all goes well!

[Anita]

Glad to hear you're on the road back to fitness again Dave - will no doubt see you sometime next year then?

Xmas - doing my usual: we go to my father-in-laws for Christmas day and Boxing day. He does all the cooking etc - I spend two whole days doing absolutely nothing :D . Been married 27 years and haven't cooked a christmas dinner yet :cool: .

Got to go and pack now - off to Stoke for the weekend (British Tournament for those who don't know!).

[Jackie]

Nice to see some people will be enjoying Christmas! Have got to work this Christmas - Christmas Eve and Christmas Day late shifts. Family not happy as having to have a nice quiet lunch at home before I go to work (no alcohol allowed either!). Shall make up for it on Boxing Day though. So, for all you people who decide to fly on Christmas Day, so we have to work, at least be friendly to the check-in staff!!!!!

[Gingerheid]

Would we ever be nasty to the check in staff!? :D

(But I suppose I'm saying that because I'm paranoid about packing and my case is always miles under the limit, even on the way back!)

[Jackie]

Hi Gingerheid

Have you not watched Airport and Airline!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anita]

Gingerheid hasn't got a TV :p

[Gingerheid]

Too true:) My flat is a TV free zone. From time to time though I stay in hotels when travelling for my work. I switch them on seeing as I've got the rare chance, see what I've been missing (OK, I am missing the Simpsons!). I then switch them of again, reassured I've made the right choice!

I was racking my brain to think of the only thing check in staff could do to annoy you. I got that they could charge you excess baggage on all those holiday bargains.

Why, is there more? :confused:

Ah! Should I throw a tantrum and become a complete, ehm, something, if the weather is bad and there are delays?

[Anita]

Having seen a lot of these programmes some people just throw tantrums for no reason! The worst ones, though, are those who blame everyone else but themselves for their plight!

[Gingerheid]

We all come across them from time to time (ie on a pretty much daily basis) :(

[Elliot]

How can you live without a TV then?!!!?

[Dave]

NO TV ARE YOU MAD ????

Anita - Hopefully i should be back in competition some time next year ! not sure if i wanna rush back for the Premlims and the Nationals, i might give it a miss and go for the british the following year ( Who knows im just gonna start enjoying it more )
Thanks to everyone who is wishing me luck, its much appreiceated


On another note NO TV U MUST BE MAD ?:confused:

[Lucy]

I think I might hibernate having just driven back from Cambridge in snow!!

[Gingerheid]

Snow? Yuck. Hope it doesn't happen here!

TV - It started off when I moved into a place where I'd have had to get my own licence 'temporarily'. I thought I wasn't going to be there long, so it seemed like more hassle than it would be worth getting one then cancelling it a few weeks or months later, so I took the TV card out the computer and gave it to my parents to take home. Also seemed like a good idea for saving a wee bit of money. In the end I stayed in that place quite a while, and the next place had the same arrangement. I've now got a place to myself.

Before the first week was up I realised it was costing me a fortune, as I'd so much more time and was looking for things to do with it. But I realised I'd found out was life was like before TV, and thought it was a much better, so I carried on...

NO TV ARE YOU MAD ???? Expressing astonishment at ability to live without a TV. Reminds me of something...
On another note NO TV U MUST BE MAD ?:confused: Repeated, persistant astonishment... I know what it is!!!

Have you ever considered working for TV Licensing? :)

Just send them no less than three letters (couple of red ones too) saying you want a job, and warn that you're going to turn up and demand one. If they invite you for an interview - write again saying you've passed the matter to the Enforcement Manager to schedule a visit and you really are going to turn up and ask for a job. You'll be a dead cert! :D

[Dave]

Gingerhead,
I Can see the plus points off not watching TV, the past week or so i have been so busy i have hardly watched any tv, when i do turn it its normally late at night and there is nothing on i end falling asleep and waking up to GMTV playing on my TV @ 7am in the morning, Ooops !

[Gingerheid]

Eh? What's happened now Dave? (Looking at the sig)

[Dave]

Gingerhead sorry for the late reply, but basically my club have decided to close the tumbling squad down as the club isnt getting any lottery money so they can afford run the tumbling squad !

[Elliot]

That is really bad Dave. I think its really sad when clubs have to close due to lack of money or funding from governing bodies.

[Gingerbop]

I'm in the same bunch as Gingerheid. Do you think it's something to do with our hair?

You'd be shocked how much more free time you have when you dont have a TV anymore, when you free up all the time you spend just mincing in front of garbage. Instead, I sit around drinking tea and trying to juggle and doing a million and one things more constructive that watching rubbish.

But I love the letters we get from TV liscencing- that they're gonna come round, find our TV and fine us. I look forward to their visit, I really do.

[Gingerheid]

I got another letter today... looked like my bank statement at first - opened it up to see how rich I was... nope.:(

Dear Mr -

Our experience has shown that a small but significant minority of people who tell us that they do not need a TV licence.... They're making me so mad buying a TV would be like giving in; I don't think I could ever stomache having to phone them up and say I'd just got one...:mad::mad::mad:

No wonder there aren't any decent programs on TV - they must spend all other people's licence fees on sending an avalanche of pointless letters to people that don't have TVs.

I've been advised that even once they have visited and seen that you don't have a TV they still don't leave you alone. I need sugestions for fun and legal ways to ensure that they don't want to visit again.

So far I have:

- Invite them in, lock the door, pocket the keys, and make strong suggestions that I fancy them (whether male or female)
- Invite them in, lock the door, pocket the keys, look at them with weird cross eyes and remain totally silent
- Answer the door ...[can't put that on this forum]. (And they might come in winter anyway.)

Anyone have any more ideas?

[Steve Adamson]

sounds like a harasment case if ever there was one...

[Elliot]

this post should now make me a senior member.

[Elliot]

yay it worked.

[Elliot]

La de dah - boredom starts to kick in about now.