Annoying Americans
About ten minutes ago, I was sitting on the toilet reading and the phone rang. I didn’t run for it, as because my trousers were round my ankles, the quick movement might have meant I’d have had an accident. That would have been all I needed!
So when I got back to my desk I checked the phone and BT 1571 told me that there were two messages waiting for me. They were both identical and said.
Key 9 to speak to a representative.
As the voice had a very annoying American accent, it was some automated system trying to sell me something that I don’t need now and probably never will. So I hit 3 twice to delete them both.
I get very annoyed with these messages, which in the UK are against the rules of the Telephone Preference Service.
But then Americans don’t have to follow rules of decency, good taste and law laid down by other governments.
Earthquake in Italy
Reports are coming in of a smallish earthquake on Lipari in the Aeolian Islands. I think it’s the first time, that a place I’ve visited a couple of times, has suffered in such a way.
There are some pictures of the very beautiful islands here.
Let’s hope the damage if any, wasn’t too serious!
Real Tennis at Cambridge
I went into Cambridge today to have a game of real tennis at the Cambridge University Real Tennis Club in Grange Road. I was also introducing an old Metier friend and colleague, Spencer Hamill, to the game.
I fared better than last time and still miss balls that are low at the left with a backhand. But then I was always crap in that area. But I did find that I could volley reasonably well and also I was serving overhead, which I haven’t done since the stroke. Here’s a clip.
Next time I play it’ll be off handicap and it will be interesting to see what happens.
Mass Executions – Iranian Style
A report that more that more than 70 prisoners have been suddenly executed in Mashhad has appeared in Planet Iran
There are reports that in the past few days more than 70 people detained in Mashhad prison were executed suddenly and without prior notice. Based on the information available, prisoners under the age of 18 years were among the executed.
Based on reports by Neday-e Sabz Azadi, some of the people who were allegedly arrested in connection with drug smuggling had already received their sentences. The sentences issued did not include the death penalty, and in some cases, they had only been sentenced to pay a fine. But, in a sudden unannounced move, a judicial order was issued to execute them.
So far, the reason behind the execution ruling is not clear, however, there are speculations that the executions were carried out on orders by the Intelligence and Security organizations. Based on information obtained by a Neday-s Sabz Azadi reporter, in the past and at the beginning of the 1st term of the 9th government (Ahmadinejad’s presidency in 2005), in a similar case like the one in Mashhad, more than 60 people were suddenly executed. The executions took place in the wake of the disclosure of ties between a high-ranking security official and drug smuggling groups. Most of those executed in 2005 were citizens of Torbat-e Jam and Taibad. Family members of the security official in question were among the executed.
I received this by e-mail, from an anti-death penalty group, I subscribe to, so I suspect it is true, but I can’t find the actual article. But it is still chilling.
How can countries like Japan, India and the United States, which consider themselves civilised, still retain this barbaric practice?
Gluten-Free Food on East Coast
Readers may think, I’m just a whingeing coeliac, but no, I’m looking at this from a marketing point of view, as because I know that when there is nothing suitable to eat, I don’t! So that means that every trip I do up and down the East Coast Main Line costs them probably at least a tenner each way in lost revenue. Also, how many coeliacs don’t book say from London to York, because they know if they drive there’s a nice place for a meal halfway!
There are also alternatives at present, as because I live in East Anglia, I change trains at Peterbrough and as I usually have an hour or so, I can walk across to Marks and Spencer in the Queensgate Shopping Centre and have something in Cafe Revive or one of several other places in the city centre. But as I said in an earlier post, the route from the station to the shopping centre is not good.
If I move to London as I intend and I was going north for the day, I’d walk across to St. Pancras and have a gluten-free breakfast in Carluccio’s. I hope my favourite Italian caffes will book a place in the new King’s Cross, as it develops. But if it doesn’t, it’ll always be worth the walk!
But why should I have to, when I’m going on the train?
So what should they do in my opinion?
- East Coast offer a ready-made cottage pie in their Light Bites. As it is just microwaved there is no contamination problem. so this and I think the fish pie could easily be made gluten-free. After all, most peoples’ cottage and fish pies are gluten-free anyway, but then some food manufacturers can’t resist adding flour to everything!
- A nice curry would also be gluten-free. Incidentally, curries are often the gluten-free meal on many airlines. I remember one I had was excellent.
- There is also a smoked salmon salad, which should be gluten-free, but they’d run out last time I asked for it.
- I notice there is a full English breakfast. I might try it one day leaving out the sausage. If they are prepared individually, it should be possible to deliver them gluten-free. That is just systems and perhaps a little bit of training.
- The choice of snacks is important, as some are suitable and others are not! Most coeliac-friendly pubs just stock the basic unflavoured Kettle ones. I didn’t check the crisps on East Coast, but as they were Walkers, they’d have been marked suitable for coeliacs if they were. I’ve been in pubs, where none were!
- Coeliacs don’t drink beer, so perhaps a bottled or canned proper cider, like Aspall or Weston might be an idea. That may not be possible, but wine is fine though, although I find some don’t taste too good with my stroke.
Incidentally, I’d travelled on GNER some years ago and I had asked the waiter, if the salmon was gluten-free. The chef came and said it was, but he'[d cook it personally to avoid any cross contamination. I remember, it was very good.
I don’t always want or need service like that, but with just a little bit of thought and virtually no extra expenditure, train companies might actually increase revenue.
Asthma Drugs
There was a lady on BBC Breakfast last week complaining that a new asthma drug has not been approved by NICE. At up to £26,000 a year, I can understand why not, especially as there are other cheaper alternatives.
Now I know a lot about asthma, as I funded the development of a metered dose inhaler to deliver asthma drugs. Sadly, the only people who made money out of the device were me and my fellow collaborators, as it offered completely green and very efficient delivery. But you can’t compete against the big drug companies, even if you are one of the top-ranked second-level ones.
Interestingly, one of the countries with the highest level of asthma, as measured by devices prescribed is that very polluted country, New Zealand. So there’s myth number one seriously questioned. Clean air is good for your asthma! Possibly, but then why do the Kiwis prescribe so many drugs?
A teacher once told me that in her classes of seven-year-olds, some years no kids had inhalers for asthma and in others a good proportion did. She felt there was a lot of peer pressure. As Johnny has one, can I have one Mummy?
Then there is research that shows that naked flames are a problem, as the oxides of nitrogen produced can cause the disease. So chuck out that gas cooker and never smoke, whilst your kids are around. It also would appear that sealed modern houses with fitted carpets are not good either. I have heard endless tales of people moving to a draughty cottage and the asthma in their children has gone. Especially, when kids now walk to school, rather than are ferried.
So before we prescribe expensive drigs, let’s sort out the lifestyle factors that cause the disease first! We’d probably all be healthier!
The Anonymous Widower 