Proposed cuts to the National Health Service.

The British Medical Association has weighed in on the new Prime Minister David Cameron's health care proposals.

The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.
The Gastroenterologists had a sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.

The Obstetricians felt they were all labouring under a misconception. Ophthalmologists considered the idea short-sighted.

Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Paediatricians said, "Oh, Grow up!"
The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it.

The Surgeons were fed up with the cuts and decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.
The ENT specialists didn't swallow it, and just wouldn’t hear of it.

The Pharmacologists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the matter...."

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.
The Anaesthetists thought the whole idea was a gas, but the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.

In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the arseholes in London .

Save Our Forests - sign the petition.

The British government plan to sell off hundreds of square miles of publicly owned forests in England to landowners and companies on 150 year leases.I don't want to get into politics. I'm apolitical but this subject is close to my heart. The government is being very clever. They are using spin and a charm offensive to say only commercial woodland not ancient woodland is being sold off to private commercial concerns.

The worry is that the proposed sales would be unregulated and that the sold woods and forests would not remain open to walkers and riders or that the new owners would be able to charge for access or even turn some into housing estates. What is interesting is that the proposals only affects England, not Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Funny that.

If you feel as strongly as i do sign the petition here.

Running again - almost.

I have finally started running/jogging/shuffling/walking again after almost six months having had a minor foot injury. I still don't know what the problem was except that i had shooting pains in my foot and ankle when i ran. I could walk ok, as proved during our holiday in Cornwall where i walked miles and miles with only the odd "twinge", but the moment i tried to run ....ow!

Anyway, as i said i've started again allbeit slowly, but this time i'm determined to build up to the point where i can at least run 5K without too much trouble. My goal is 10K but that is some time off. I find it hard to motivate myself to get up and run in the mornings because it is still darkish and cold. However the reward once i'm out there is running around our local lake. Beautiful even in winter.

Wordless Wednesday ~ "Shadows"

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Wordless Wednesday ~ " English Telephone Box".

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Polperro and Looe - Part 2.

Continuing on from my previous post, we took the very steep climb out of Polperro past the brightly painted fishermen's cottages and re-joined the coastal pathway heading east towards Looe. This part of the pathway heading down towards Talland Bay is beautiful with lovely views of both the sea and the sloping farmers fields.


Walking towards Talland Bay - stunning views.

 The pretty hamlet of Talland Bay has two small beaches with plenty of smuggling history. Only a couple of years ago a gang was arrested trying to land a large haul of cocaine into the bay from a boat offshore!

Once past Talland Bay the coastal path gets much more ardorous and tricky with the pathway undulating up and down the cliffs. The distant views of the coast and headlands are spectacular.


Horses grazing on the sloping fields just outside Talland Bay.





Me on the coastal path. This section was relatively flat....



.... and this section was very steep!



Looking east with Looe and Looe island nature reserve in the distance.



We rounded a headland and there was Looe.


Looe is situated on both sides of the River Looe. The two towns are joined together by a bridge across the river. In medieval times East Looe and West Looe were separate towns. East Looe includes the harbour and the main shopping centre. West Looe is quieter but also has shops, restaurants and hotels. They are joined by a seven arched bridge, built in 1853. This replaced a much earlier bridge from the 15th century and there are still buildings of this period in the town. It has been a holiday resort for more than 200 years, and has relayed more heavily on the tourist industry since its pilchard canning factory closed in the sixties. Looe is still a major Cornish fishing port and boasts England's only remaining day fishing fleet.

Looe harbour.



Boats at Looe left high and dry by the outward tide.



The bridge separating East Looe from West Looe.



Wordless Wednesday ~ "The Haven".

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Wordless Wednesday ~ "Sleeping Giant".

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R.I.P -Leslie Neilsen

Rest in peace Leslie Neilsen. You will be missed.
Click the link below for a taste of his genius.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2Y2RCD40hE&feature=related

Wordless Wednesday ~ "Little lost lamb".

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