Unions, Strikes and Courts
Last week unions flexed their muscles in both the UK and France.
In the UK, the rail unions wanted to go on strike and were stopped by the courts, but in France the port workers and seaman at Calais just walked out.
We have laws about ballots, unofficial strikes and conciliation, but I’m not sure about French law. So perhaps if they have laws against unofficial strikes, the French just ignore them.
I would have no idea, which set of rules are best. But lets put it this way, lots of strikes might well sway votes against parties connected to the unions. Or they could get other workers in solidarity with them and move the vote the other way.
But to me strikes are wrong, as if they need to be called, then they indicate a failure of proper communication and negotiation.
Water Football
I’m just watching Burnley entertain Manchester City to a game of water football. As it’s at the start of the second half and Burnley are five-nil down, I suspect they hope the rain continues to deluge and we get an abandonment.
I can remember an Ipswich against Manchester City match that was called off in similar circumstances at Maine Road.
Metier Pen and Pencil Set
I was clearing out a drawer in the bedroom and found this pristine Metier pen and pencil set by Cross. The label says it is 10 carat gold filled with a model number of 4501.
Metier Pen and Pencil Set by Cross
I don’t think it’s ever been used.
It Pays Not to be Arrogant
Just watching the qualifying for the Malaysian leg of Formula Boring and perhaps it isn’t so.
Maclaren and Ferrari tried to be too clever and didn’t get past the first qualifying section. Whereas Lotus did what Eddie Irvine said you should and get a good lap in the bank early and made the second section.
Another Bed and Breakfast Scam
I reported that a friend had had one of these a month or so ago.
They’ve just had another.
i am inquiring for accommodation for 5 people for 25 days from June -10/2010.
Please give me total cost for the period specified including all
applicable taxes).what is your payment options? Hope you accept credit
cards or cheque?
How ever,an agent has been contacted for their flight
logistics,so all am asking from you is to get back to me with the total
cost for their rooms in the period
specified in {GBP-POUNDS}.
You can contact me at any time,your prompt reply will be appreciated.
Duk William,
Director,GLOBAL INC/GENERAL CONSULATE.
P.O. Box 7841
Sud bury, L18 8BY Liverpool.
Cell: +447045709832
I still haven’t figured out how this scam works. But there is a lot of information in this forum.
Incidentally the post code L18 8BY is very close to the halls of residence at Liverpool University. But it’s Carnatic not Sudbury.
Bad Friday
I don’t know why it’s called Good Friday. For me yesterday was definitely Bad Friday.
I didn’t get out of the house at all, as every time I thought about going to perhaps have a bike ride, it started to rain heavily. I just spent most of the time getting this blog up to date and doing puzzles in the kitchen. The television wasn’t even very good, so I spent the afternoon watching the Indian Premier League on ITV4. At least we had the Indian Hill Railways program on BBC2 in the evening.
The day had one positive though, in that I got rid of the ECG monitor in the morning.
Portable ECG Monitor
It wasn’t too bad to take off, but now I have the problem of getting it to the hospital before nine on Monday morning.
As an aside here, I suspect we’ll be seeing more of this type of device in the future. They’ll be smaller too!
A Day at the Hospital
I spent Thursday morning at Addenbrooke’s.
They did an ultrasound and found that I had one and that it gave good pictures. Why don’t they tell you there and then? I suspect that if it had been missing or badly faulty, they’d have called the Crash Team or whatever and locked me in a darkened room.
I then found out that they wanted to fit a ECG monitor on me to record the heart for some hours. So I got part of my chest shaved and the electrodes were glued on. I thought for a moment that horror of horrors, I wouldn’t be able to tuck my shirt in, but the nurse knew how to get the wires to my shirt pocket.
At least I had a lady to drive me about. She’s one of my old work colleagues, who’s married to another ex-pat Scot and work colleague, sheltering from the cold-up north in East Anglia. We went to Waitrose and then had a decent lunch. Pleased to see to, that the Star now sells Aspalls. A reason for going!
It’s only now that I realise how difficult it is living here without a car. The taxi from Cambridge on Wednesday night cost £40. It’s not the money, but I just think it’s extortionate.
The Anonymous Widower 