So, let me just say

[kerching]

So, it's nearing that time again when everyone starts texting every fecker in their phone book saying "happy new year", "lets make this the one" etc 

i will NOT be welcoming the new year as I do not think for one minute it is going to be a happy one..instead I am celebrating the END of 2020 the S.h.y.t.t.e.s.t.year on record

i will,be having a drink and thinking of all those that didn't get to celebrate the end of 2020, those that made seeing the end of 2020 possible ( many dying in the process), those that may be able to see their loved ones in 2021 and anyone I've forgotten: even those on my naughty list ( well not all of them, but most)



2020  

 

[binky]

I never gave a toss about New Year, nothing changes by a year number. For a minority few, some seem to manage to change lifestyle etc etc and in that respect perhaps it does inspire some good sometimes.

Hopefully this vaccine will finally bring covid under control and we can resume some form if normality, it would be good to get back into pubs for a meal and to socialise freely again, and I am looking forward to that happening. I'm also hoping some changes implemented to deal with Covid become more permanent, like more remote working, use of electric bicycles and scooters and (I really doubt this will happen) the NHS gets more funding for staff / nurse & doctor training. Those poor sods need a break from the stress of being constantly overloaded. 

 

[Sharpend]

Whilst I agree with you on NHS I can’t see how electric bikes and scooters helps with COVID? 
 

I do wonder whether cash will be accepted as before though given that many now insist on card payments? 

 

[Murdoch]

and (I really doubt this will happen) the NHS gets more funding for staff / nurse & doctor training. Those poor sods need a break from the stress of being constantly overloaded. 

there are 3 ways to increase funds for the NHS

we all pay more tax or NI - happy to do this

we all pay for things like doctors appointments like Eire and A&E - happy to do this 

cluster NHS services to improve efficiencies and also buy out the PFI contracts

at the end of the day we all cherish the NHS but most people want others to pay for it. Bevin would be turning in his grave if he knew how much more the NHS is doing now - way beyond his aims and goals

 

[Geoff1946]

I do worry that giving more money to the NHS, (or any other nationalised organisation), will just increase the management structure rather than boosting front line staff levels.

 

[Sharpend]

Management in hospitals is far too over the top, I’ve been working in a hospital recently and the number of people that just sit in offices all day is really impressive, who knew there was that much admin! 

 

[Murdoch]

One thing that really annoys us is that their system for booking holiday is so antique. 
 

3 years ago we booked the once in a life time family holiday to Florida, so we booked everything at Christmas and only knew in early June that the holiday had been granted. This is simply lettuced. No way to treat staff. 
 

then there is the amount of training the misses does, online, in paid at home - just makes me wonder the sheer costs to administer it all ...

 

[kerching]

Due to my visit by the Cancer fairy I have spent a lot of time over the last 8 years in and out of hospital.

I was always amazed at the number of people walking around carrying bits of paper!

i have posted on here previously about the Xmas Tree fiasco...that was just ludicrous

 

[binky]

any large organisation will have a  lot of admin / office staff. As for H&S / xmas trees, unfortunately that's also large organisations at work.

You all forget, our NHS is the most efficient in the world ( not the best, the most efficient). It does what American health does at 1/3rd the cost (that figure might need double checking as it's from memory), so if we end up with a bit more admin, so be it. I suspect a lot of the paper shuffling is down to double checking standards and lawyers! But lets be honest every £ spent in NHS employs an ordinary person, who then spend money in the local shops and on things like sparkies occasionally, so I'm never too worried about tax money as it get recycled in the community, plus healthy employed people are more productive. We could of course, shut down the tax evasion loopholes to raise revenue.

One of the great myths is that the state is inefficient and should not interefere with people's lives - it's always been a justification for state cuts to services. Now 2 things spring to mind, 

1/ any country that pays more like 48% tax, ie a few percentage points more than our true tax rate of around 44%, are happier than we are, and have far better all round services run by the state.

2/just look at the recent pandemic wasting of money to private companies - £billions on an app that barely works (it told my son to self isolaate for 1day, the day after getting a -Ve test result), and PPE that was not up to standard. 

 

[Rob.]

In the grand scheme of things 2020 hasn't really been all that bad.

We're all still living in a first world country with far more benefits and freedoms than a lot of the world. Even with the lockdowns!

 

[binky]

In the grand scheme of things 2020 hasn't really been all that bad.

We're all still living in a first world country with far more benefits and freedoms than a lot of the world. Even with the lockdowns!

apart from laacking some things, like nipping out to the pub, and the local area being swamped with 'stay at home tourists', I've not had that bad a year. I've done a lot to the house, had enough work to keep the bills paid, and got out of having the outlaws down for Xmas for the first time in decades  :^O . I am fed up with the constant nagging fear of catchng Covid, but other than that it's been fine.