Frances144

With the greatest respect, paulb, but when I had my back op, I was confined to my house and it took them 6 weeks to deliver a perching stool and adjustable table. I had to steal a raised loo seat by calling in every favour I could think of as I needed (as in I "need" to breathe) the day I got home. They were informed of my situation the day of my op! The thing that got me most was that Bill, who delivers the stuff, said he had no idea of my existence but came over to the westside every week with stuff for Wastview so could have delivered my things much much earlier. NHS bureaucracy - not actually there for the patients, imho - they just get in the way rather irritatingly!

All I can say is until you have spent a month in a wheelchair, you have no idea what it is like. I needed one of those long-handled arm/hand grabber thingies and I had to send my able-bodied OH to the building because there is no way on this earth I could get my wheelchair up to the Occupational Therapy building! And he had difficulties opening their front door! Impossible. The world, especially Lerwick, is almost impossible in a wheelchair. I would happily join you if you decide to write to Disability Shetland. I felt like a complete outsider relying on the goodwill of complete strangers just to get from here to there and living an ordinary life. I will never take my mobility for granted again. It was an eye-opener to say the very least and something I will never forget.

I know exactly what you mean. I had to spend a summer in a wheelchair and was amazed at how difficult life was, actually impossible. I think I narrowed my life down to Boots, the Post Office and my Bank. I attended a musical weekend workshop at the Anderson and omg, those ramps are scary. I was at the mercy of everyone and their goodwill and helpfulness. It completely changes your perception of everyday life when you are in a wheelchair with no way of getting out of it. I found life very difficult and utterly exhausting to the point when it was better to stay indoors than to venture outside.

I can tow, I can tow because I am old and some very kind Shetlinker taught me how many years ago. Thanks. I am very glad I don't have to take "the test" as when I think about what I am supposed to do, it can go horribly wrong! Luckily, I can go backwards and around corners which is more than most!

I could have my very own beach. Hah!

Best meat I've had in ages. Their beef olives are superb and their steak was real and actually tasted of steak. I only buy my meat from them now. Sod Tesco's meat shelves of water injected rubbish. Even got the odd bone for my dog too and a huge pile of cheap dog food. I am very happy!

This has been an issue ever since the ADS booking system came on line. This is down to piss poor web programming and short cuts in the development process. They won't even accept that there's a problem and insist that users adopt the workaround of closing down their browsers. Crap service that we have no option but to tolerate. I completely agree. Once you have negotiated their website, got it wrong, there is no chance of making it right, getting a refund or any help. They are not interested in making things better or helping in anyway, just the money and more if you can't get their booking system right......As for wheelchairs, don't start me on that! As for support or help, they are downright rude especially in Aberdeen. It depresses me that we have to accept this airline as our only ruddy means of getting off Shetland quickly and they way they fleece us as well. To change flights costs huge amounts of money and in the age of computers, I really cannot see why. You just type in a different name - hardly rocket science. I cannot see why the flights get more expensive up to the departure date even if they are empty. If someone dies south, you don't get a month's warning for a funeral, you may get 3 days and then watch the prices soar. It is as if they have know! £600 to get to London! And, if you cancel the flight, they will probably sell it on, thus screwing the system twice! Nice. For me, the wheelchair argument was the last straw with Flybe. I threatened them with a total collapse for which I would hold them totally responsible and then flounced off (limping!). When a nice lady arrived with a wheelchair asking for me, I realised they had actually listened to my request and were worried about the consequences. Sorry for rant......but.

Well I sat outside and experimented with bits of my camera I never knew I had! http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e302/Frances144/5B4W6672-1.jpg One thing I learned - it is not that easy! Hm.

LOL - thanks jz. I thought you meant it would be chaos if I bought a copy on a regular basis......no, shut up Frances. I have just the pic too!

OH is the one who reads the actual Guardian - I just look at the pretty pictures! If we get a real one from someone coming over from Lerwick on Saturday, then that is fine and the magazine sits by the loo for many years. If not, OH is very happy to read the virtual version on the internet, saving paper (btw, does anyone want any newspaper?) and doesn't really need the actual edition. I usually get the info off the internet and duly send in a photo, and yes, I have once been a runner up! So, to phone up the Guardian and say we didn't get the relevant section would be wrong and tbh, it is a nice weekend task for me, if I have a photo I think would be appropriate to send in, trying to locate it somewhere in the depths of my computer! As they haven't, for some reason, put the competition up as per usual, I was just wondering if anyone had the Weekend Guardian and could look at what the In pictures comp was. If not, I will miss it for this week.

I go to town once a week - on a Monday. No where sells the Weekend Guardian on the following Monday. Usually, I get this info off their website but they seem to have missed it out this week. I cannot justify driving for an hour and a half for a newspaper, in diesel or time. Hence my question. I am not being a stingy bar steward, I just always go to town on a Monday - it is the day I do my messages.

Anyone got The Guardian Weekend magazine today? If so, please can you tell me what the In Pictures competition is for this week? Not the winners, just what the title is for the next comp. Usually it is on their website, but I think the YTS did it today and they omitted it. There is no ruddy consistency with that paper and their relationship with their website. Cheers Frances

Spirit Vinegar, Sugar, Cabbage, Vegetable Oil, Carrots, Gherkins (contain Firming Agent - Calcium Chloride), Modified Cornflour, Salt, Onions, Egg Yolks, Red Peppers, Mustard, Mustard Seeds, Stabilisers - Guar Gum and Xanthan Gum, Spice Extracts, Spices, Herb Extract, Garlic Extract, Colour - Riboflavin Vegetables: 35% It is mustard cabbage and gherkin salad sandwich! Yum!

Sandwich spread is known in our house as "Channel Steamer Spread" because it looks and tastes like seasick! Fave sandwiches - smoked salmon or egg mayonaise with anchovies - the best!

He'll probably be off now on full pay for six months with a "low mood". Seriously, you can be paid and be off sick for that in the SIC!

I, for one, am very pleased the buildings will be put back into use. Best of luck in the Cheese making trade. BTW, I sampled some and it was lovely!

So do I!

People who don't say "Please". Just because they are paying you, does not mean that good manners mean nothing! I have had a gutful yesterday working with folk who won't/can't/don't know the word please. I have animals with better manners than that!

What they need is a reassuringly expensive Focus Feedback Forum with Feasibility Study attachment, then perhaps a workshop with a Development Project Officer (full time on double pay brought up from south), then stick on a 150ft turbine and see if it spins or generates money!

Well, I go to the new butcher in town, don't buy any meat from either Tesco or the Co-Op. I fully support the new butcher and their venture 100%. Btw, their beef olives are superlative and the chicken version ain't bad either! Best I have ever had!

Does anyone know if Rosa actually wants to be axed? What are her opinions on this? Writing a weekly column is quite a committment, especially when you don't feel like writing much. This happens to me; I leave it to the last minute, like school homework and I only have to produce something once a month! So, what are Rosa's thoughts on this?

Hope so. Not sure when it gallops off to the Peerie Cafe. You can also see it here! http://www.fstaylor.co.uk/njuggle.html

Erm.... I have the Travelling Bonhoga Exhibition at the moment situate at Sumburgh. The Nature of Njuggle. Go and have a recce!

They need a decent cryptic crossword. They need to lose the enormous cheque dedication pages, IMHO!

I'd feel more sympathy for him if he : a) hadn't got the job in rather murky circumstances in the first place, and he wasn't one of Morgan "Prince of Darkness" Goodlad's toadying minions. Um.....right. But it isn't it written in the job description somewhere that you have to be a sycophantic dogsbody?