Pat try Canadian visas. They are also available on line. We got those a couple of years ago. Keep you chin up!

I once nearly got the sack due to my hatred of mnemonics ! I went on a training course as I had changed companies but it was for doing the same sales job. The entire course consisted of a lecture on using mnemonics in order to remember "the steps to the sale".The previous company had actually given advice on how to sell the right car to the customer , how to appraise their part exchange etc and do this in a structured way (the steps to the sale). I pointed out on my feed back form that the course was OK for me but the rest of the people had never sold a car before and still had no clue how to do so but they were ace at making up drivel in order to remember a list of "steps"! Luckily my new boss was also  trained at the previous company and knew the value of their training course and also luckily I was topping the sales chart for that month and so he refused to sack me! This therefore is usually my excuse for missing some of the words in a "run" on Chi! Also don't get me started on tinea. I NEVER manage that one !!!!! Why??

Thanks for that link  Jack. I hope you find time to see them for real this year. It may depend on the sale of your house! By the way I know how hard the decision about that will be, but like Penny said I am sure you will work it out and your family will give you all the necessary support you will need.

I too like a good crime series and especially Morse/Lewis/Endeavour. I failed to see anything good about The Pale Horse! I am looking forward to further episodes of Shetland and it's brooding atmosphere.I also agree that more episodes of George Gently would have been good but then I have been smitten with Martin Shaw ever since watching The Professionals as a teenager! What about some of the sub titled things we get nowadays? Wallander was interesting. Not an easy watch especially for those of us with experience of relatives with dementia. My husband is very keen on Inspector Montelbano and certainly the scenery is beautiful but I often feel the sub titles don't always match the Italian (not that I speak the language it is just a feeling that sometimes the story "jumps" a bit).

These days I think all UK medical practices will be group ones such as you refer to Anonsi. Gone are the days of one or two man bands like in " Doctor Findlay's Casebook" Known to older UK  TV viewers. A locum Doctor would be a temp  because someone had left or was off ill or maybe on maternity leave. I try to visit the GP as little as possible but my last visits some years ago were attended to by a very pleasant and competent locum who said that he was filling in time until he joined his new group practice elsewhere.

Yes Andy Capp was in the Mirror. I used to like The Perishers especially the dopey dog character.

The chap you were chatting with was spot on sadly. I don't advocate the old clip around the ear routine but I do think we need to return to a more disciplined school routine and then when they start work they might realise that businesses actually expect them to take responsibility for their actions.However as was always the case there are good kids and less good kids. I work with a couple of young girls who are both sensible and hard working and fun to be around but I have also worked with others who just do the bare minimum but then say they are bored! I bite my tongue but I really want to point out that if you do the job properly there isn't time to be bored! Ah well I suppose that this just proves I'm getting old - having a rant about youth!

Stay put Linda as it is lashing it down in Kendal at the moment ( 11.10 am) and pretty windy! I need to set off to work in half an hour but luckily the shop I work in on Highgate is only 5 minutes walk. There were hardly any market traders there this morning.