Happy New Year
Quite a lot to say, but for now it's going to have to wait and I will put it all back up later (in the new year). I'm currently off work for at least the next week, as I'm in need of some time to myself right now. Keep watching, but pls. don't worry unduly.
Happy New Year to you all, and thanks for coming in 2005.
Suzy xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Pre-Christmas Round-Up
Not that there's a lot of news. This week has largely been quieter than the previous one...
After 10pm this evening I'll be off work until the 28th - as I'm off Tuesdays anyway, and not needed on Monday (the building is closed).
The "result" guideline that I previously posted as 16 or 18 (see Monday 12th December post) should actually read 36. That does make me feel ever so marginally better. Don't ask why... I don't know...
Those in Bangalore who will soon be doing our jobs (see Tuesday 13th December post) have already started taking residential calls i.e. they were in training before we even knew we were losing the contract... which makes us feel so much better... again, we don't know why...
Otherwise, everything is exactly where we left it.
Merry Christmas to you (and yours where applicable) to everyone who reads this, and I'll see you all after the holidays.
p.s. No calls for two hours, then two in ten minutes!!!
Interesting typo...
Speaking of the Mayor, his politically inspired freesheet "The Londoner" is now updated online for the end-of-year-religious-holiday-of-choice(for-gods-sake-dont-say-xmas) edition. The most recent edition includes a bit on the TfL fare rise, which makes paying with an Oyster card even more cheaper than cash.
On the bus - 17 year old single ticket at peak time
Cash fare £1.50
Oyster fare £50
Oyster saves you £1
Is that why the Mayor's ideas and figures need more cash from central government? ;-)
(p.s. For those not playing along at home, it should have said Fifty PENCE).
(edit: it's advertised as the January 2006 edition)
New Year's Eve tube strike
Once again, a London Underground spokesman who values his life (and not given his name!) has defended the company, and attacked the staff. Seems fair enough on principle, but I thought the frontline staff WERE the life and soul of the company?
New Year's Eve Tube strike talks: LU statementFollowing talks between London Underground (LU) and the RMT, LU issued the following statement.
An LU spokesperson said: "We are dismayed that the RMT is once again proposing to hold London to ransom over the festive period.
We remain ready to talk to the RMT at any time to resolve this issue
LU spokesperson"The whole basis of the shorter working week deal is to improve customer service and staff visibility on the network.
"London Underground has been quite correctly implementing the deal hailed a year ago as 'groundbreaking' by the RMT leadership and supported by the membership by a margin of 30-1.
"The RMT is effectively asking LU to dismantle the process and timetable that implements the deal. This is unacceptable to LU and our customers.
"We remain ready to talk to the RMT at any time to resolve this issue.
"This agreed deal is good for London Underground, the RMT's members, and is good for London.
"If the strike does go ahead, London Underground will seek to run services where it is safe to do so."
But, according to The Institute for Advanced Motorists, it's the staff's fault... via PA News, reported in The Scotsman.
Tube strike 'to put lives at risk'"As last-ditch talks to avert a crippling New Year's Eve strike on the London Tube got under way, a leading road safety charity warned road users could be put at risk if the walkout goes ahead.
Transport for London bosses are meeting RMT chiefs after the transport union announced its London Underground (LU) station staff had voted by more than five to one to take industrial action in a dispute over the working week, manning levels and safety.
Both sides are attempting to settle the dispute through conciliation service Acas at the Euston Tower building in the capital.
The Institute for Advanced Motorists said the strike threat could put revellers at risk with a surge in drink-drive incidents.
IAM chief executive Christopher Bullock said: "Human nature being what it is, the Tube strike will encourage more people to drive to New Year's Eve parties so that they can get home afterwards.
"They may set off with the intention of not drinking and driving, but alcohol is famous for weakening the inhibitions and that includes the resolve to not do things. We are concerned that the best of resolutions may weaken during the night."
Police services often report a peak of drink-driving incidents around Christmas and the New Year, and the Department for Transport carries additional adverts to dissuade would-be drink-drivers. The most recently available DfT statistics have shown that 590 people died in drink-related accidents in 2004, 10 more than in 2003.
Mr Bullock is urging the RMT to reconsider the strike, saying: "The RMT puts a lot of emphasis on the safety of its members and passengers. But this strike, if it goes ahead, would mean that, with no Tube service on one of the busiest and most alcoholic nights of the year, lives will be put at risk on the roads."
"It is playing Russian roulette with our roads," he added.
The RMT has called a 24-hour strike starting at 12 noon on New Year's Eve and lasting until 12 noon on New Year's Day. The union said a further 24-hour strike would be held from 6.30pm on Sunday January 8 to 6.30pm on Monday January 9."
Now, remember the staff are on strike because ticket office staff (who are a seperate grade on a higher rate of pay) will be doing more basic work (and presumably for less money, although I don't see the RMT accepting that... which may be the route [geddit... oh come on, it's christmas...] of the problem. There will of course be the usual enhanced night bus network, DLR, overground trains, plus a handful of services which do not normally run all night, will do.
As one door opens, another closes...
The first strike (for 25 years) on New York's Metro and bus networks has been called off, within the last hour.
By Chris Reese and Claudia Parsons
NEW YORK, Dec 22 (Reuters) - New York transit workers on Thursday called off a three-day subway and bus strike that caused havoc in America's most populous city at the height of the holiday season and which may have cost the economy $1 billion.
"They'll go back right away," Transport Workers Union Local 100 leader Roger Toussaint told reporters after the union's executive board voted overwhelmingly to end the strike after mediation by a state labor board.
A TWU spokesman said workers would soon be opening 26 subway routes and many local and express bus routes but it would take 10 to 18 hours to resume full operations. Commuters still faced a chaotic return home on Thursday evening.
City officials have estimated the economic hit from the strike at $1 billion over the three days. It came in the week before Christmas and Hanukkah when retailers, restaurants and other service industries would normally be at their busiest.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcomed the resolution and said he expected some bus lines to be running later on Thursday, and most subways back to full service on Friday. "There's still plenty of time for people to shop," he added.
Reaction on the streets was unanimous. "I'm glad that it's over. I didn't think I'd be able to leave the city to go home to Virginia for Christmas with all the hassles," said fashion stylist Christina Turner.
The strike was called off after talks at which the union and transit authorities agreed to resume bargaining on key issues such as pensions and healthcare, mediators said.
The union's executive board voted 36 to 5 with two abstentions to resume work immediately.
Some 34,000 workers in the Transport Workers Union Local 100 walked off the job on Tuesday after contract talks broke down over pay, health care and pensions, stranding some 7 million passengers who use subways and buses each day...
but... In London...
A union has called a 24-hour strike on the Tube network for New Year's Eve.
The 4,000 Members of the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) voted five to one for the industrial action over staffing levels and will walk out at midday.
The RMT fears plans by London Underground (LU), including closing ticket offices, could lead to job losses and compromise safety.
LU and RMT officials are to meet on Friday morning at conciliation service Acas to try to resolve the dispute.
Tube bosses said they were redeploying staff to more "visible positions" and there would be no cuts.
Another 24-hour strike has also been called for 8 January which will begin at 1830 GMT.
Safety-critical staff
BBC London's transport correspondent Andrew Winstanley said the strikes would severely disrupt services.
The New Year's Eve stoppage could prevent the Tube running all night on 31 December.
Transport for London had already announced the continuous running with the Tube being free from 2345 GMT on New Year's Eve until 0430 GMT on New Year's Day.
Last December the RMT agreed a deal which would effectively create a 35-hour week for Tube station staff.
The RMT will not accept any dilution of safety standards either for our members, or Tube users
RMT's Bob Crow
But RMT general secretary Bob Crow said the strike vote had been taken because of Tube bosses "back-door attempts to displace hundreds of safety-critical station staff under spurious cover" of the deal.
Mr Crow added: "The RMT will not accept any dilution of safety standards either for our members, or Tube users and we hope that the travelling public will join us in calling on London Underground to step back from the brink and start talking to us seriously."
He said the RMT headquarters would shut down for Christmas at 1700 on Friday and not reopen until 1 January, so management had "better get a move on".
A London Underground spokesman said: "There are no staff cuts across the Tube network.
"London Underground and the RMT agreed to implement a shorter working week, as long as it came at no extra cost to the Tube fare payers.
"This means some staff being redeployed from ticket offices to station platforms and ticket halls, which can also boost reassurance for our passengers and security."
London Mayor Ken Livingstone said Mr Crow hailed the deal last year as "ground breaking" and said there was no question of renegotiating.
Mr Livingstone said: "There can be no justification for the RMT now reneging on its agreement and trying to ruin New Year's Eve for thousands of Londoners. "
Naturally I speak as a former member of the Finsbury Park branch, during my time at LUL-Hell, but this "ground breaking" arrangement took many years, and several strikes (including one when I was taking industrial action) to reach!!! RMT may seem like an increadibily militant union, but just look what is happening to other people in other professions...
Christmas tale
Christmas tale to warm your hearts, as posted to AD2-jokers earlier...
There was a man who worked for the Post Office whose job it was to process all the mail that had illegible addresses. One day just before Christmas, a letter landed on his desk, simply addressed in shaky handwriting to "God".
With no other clue on the envelope, he opened the letter and read, "Dear God, I am an 83 year old widow living on the State pension. Yesterday someone stole my purse. It had £100 in it, which was all the money I had in the world and no pension due until after Christmas. Next week is Christmas and I had invited two of my friends over for Xmas dinner. Without that money, I have nothing to buy food with. I have no family to turn to, and you are my only hope. God? can you please help me?"
The postal worker was really touched, and put a copy of the letter up on the Staff Notice board, at the main sorting office where he worked. The letter touched the other postmen and they all dug into their pockets and had a whip round. Between them they raised £96. Using an official franked Post Office envelope, they sent the cash on to the old lady, and for the rest of the day, all the workers felt a warm glow thinking of the nice thing they had done. Christmas came and went.
A few days later, another letter simply addressed to "God" landed in the Sorting Office. Many of the postmen gathered around while the letter was opened.It read, "Dear God, How can I ever thank you enough for what you did for me? Because of your generosity, I was able to provide a lovely dinner for my friends. We had a very nice day, and I told my friends of your wonderful gift - in fact we haven't gotten over it and our Vicar is beside himself with joy.By the way, there was £4 missing. I think it must have been those thieving bast*rds at the Post Office!!"
Secret Santa
Not a huge amount to post from today. I was fine when I got home Saturday night, for some weird reason.
Monday we had our "Secret Santa" handouts in the team. Someone (naturally no idea whom) bought me the 2006 Omnibrush calendar... now that's someone thinking of you. Although Simon (the writer of the series) took a long break this year, this is back to the "classic" standard, even though there was no technical problem.
Last minute ideas
So, what do you get the girl in your life who already has too much?
Well, I've not got one of these yet... ;-)
BT brings Santa to Bluewater...
"Sending that letter to Santa used to mean pen, paper and some bad handwriting, but it's now moved into the interconnected wireless age.
Children (and adults!) at the Bluewater shopping centre in Kent can email him using wireless broadband before meeting him in his grotto. BT have teamed up with the centre and while waiting in the queue, his helpers will pass around with laptops so you can mail him directly at father.christmas@bt.com.
This means that when dads who ask for a new Lamborghini Diablo, Santa's helpers will have time to rush out and get one before you sit on his knee!
“BT is working with Bluewater and Motorola in helping even Santa to join the hi-tech world.”
Chris Clark, CEO, Converged Mobility Operations at BT Retail
On a side point his elves seem to have changed for the better!!"
Yeah, ok. So the kent-area-commuter-belt people who cleared out our jobs this week can now take their kids to see Santa, partly thanks to BT.
Now we know why the need for savings was needed, but why so shortly after this press release (which I've just google-d up) ?
"ClientLogic agrees to further Five-Year Outsourcing Contract with BT
Initiative Will Provide Customer Care Agents with the Advanced Skills Necessary for Business-Critical Contact Centers
May 23, 2005
NASHVILLE, TN & LONDON, UK -- ClientLogic Corporation, a leading global business process outsourcer, today announced that it has signed a contract with BT to provide contact center services to the company over the next five years..."
But still, if the money is being spent on laptops for Santa's elves, it's money well spent... can you detect the tone of my voice from there? You can? Well, how about this... Suzy wants for Christmas... her job back... and we'll take it from there...
Mind numbing Saturday
I forgot to mention... this was on the BT website, the day that it was announced that our jobs are off to Banning-lore.
How outsourcing can streamline your business
"Around 50 per cent of UK businesses currently outsource some of their business functions and the practice has grown in popularity as an efficient way to accomplish more at a lower cost..."
Who's idea of a sick joke was that? Is someone getting off on these?
Aah well, at least it's NOT a case of "Do as we say, not do as we do". Which is nice. Aaagh...
I got home last night, and you know how I felt? Virtually worthless. Here's the almightly client at one side threatening me (see above re phone bill which was a little excessive after charging for free calls), then moving our jobs elsewhere. When I work part of my day off to try to reclaw some cash, I end up not being paid for the previous week (although that was resolved - I still don't know why). I'm not even sure that I was paid correctly, as the amount didn't seem much more than the last week when I'd worked less. The customers are already telling us how this will contribute to the downfall of the company, and the fact I cannot change ANYTHING from this week is kind of futile. On the other hand, customers who complain about our accents etc. will have fun in the new year.
For now, you might like to see where our work is going. For the benefit of those of you not mad enough to have already googled it, HCL is a company based in Delhi. I cannot link to a page of theirs, as the site is mostly written in flash. In the meantime, have a read of the Guardian article from last year...
WWE - Worst Week Ever?
It's not just the headlines. Like today... going back to the chemist to pick up the last final item of my prescription - after waiting for it to be ordered in - and they got it wrong - so I had to go back again... and it's a one in two chance of getting it right... and I've had them before... yadda yadda yadda as I say, it's minor things that have let me down too this week.
So, today. And what happened? Called the bank to check what I had in (and it was due to be a few pennies more) - not been paid. In the end, the agency did a same day transfer, and it looks like I wasn't the only one, but I've not been able to get an explanation as they'd all gone home by the time I went in for overtime this evening.
The theory I've worked on recently is that my life either goes in two or three year good/bad cycles. It's not always been bad, but even numbered years seem to go better than "odd" ones. It's easy to say I've got plans for 2006, but it's partly the stuff I didn't get this year. There is a lot more to it than that, though.
New owners for Strathtay & Meffans
It's been something every day this week. Yesterday someone was due to be leaving work, but turned out she'd been and gone on Wednesday. Anyway, today's early morning (my time!) announcement was Strathtay and Meffan's parent company Traction Group Limited being taken over by Stagecoach, effective 2am this morning. As a result, changes are expected in the first quarter of 2006, but not immediatly.
Acquisition of Traction Group Limited
15/12/2005
Stagecoach Group plc (“Stagecoach”) is pleased to announce that on 14 December 2005, it completed the acquisition of the entire share capital of Traction Group Limited (“Traction”). The principal vendors are Mr Frank Carter, (who prior to the acquisition was Chairman and Managing Director of Traction), two trusts in favour of members of Mr Frank Carter’s family and a Traction employee share ownership trust.
Traction is the sixth largest operator of bus services in the UK and is the largest operator that was still privately owned. Traction’s operations are centred on South and West Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Tayside. In its financial year ended 31 December 2004, Traction reported turnover of £56.6million, operating profit of £2.5 million and gross assets of £50.5million.
The consideration paid for the shares was approximately £26.0million, which was satisfied by £21.5million in cash and the issue of 4,022,070 Stagecoach ordinary shares of 12/19th pence each. Stagecoach has assumed Traction’s net debt of approximately £11.0million. The consolidated net debt of Stagecoach will therefore increase by approximately £32.5million as a result of the acquisition.
Application has been made to the London Stock Exchange and UK Listing Authority for the admission to the Official List of the new ordinary shares and listing is expected to become effective on 16 December 2005. The new ordinary shares will rank pari passu with the existing ordinary shares.
Brian Souter, Chief Executive of Stagecoach Group plc, commented: “The acquisition of Traction is consistent with our strategy for growth in our core UK and North American markets, and follows the acquisition of Glenvale Transport earlier this year.
“Traction is the largest of the remaining privately-owned UK bus operators. We are excited by the prospects of acquiring Traction, and believe we can add value through innovation, investment and by applying Stagecoach’s operational expertise.
“Stagecoach’s investment in improved services and initiatives - including Kickstart, sector-leading telemarketing campaigns and online sales - is seeing large numbers of people return to the nation’s buses and demonstrates our ability to deliver impressive growth."
In the recently reported Stagecoach Group results for the six months ended 31 October 2005, revenue in the UK Bus division was up 10.5%.
ENDS
By this evening, the Tully had got this to say...
15 December 2005
Stagecoach takes over Strathtay busesPerth-based Stagecoach has bought out Strathtay Scottish buses, who operate throughout Tayside and parts of Fife, as part of a £26 million deal, writes Stefan Morkis.
Staff at the Dundee base for Strathtay, part of Traction Group Ltd, only discovered they had new employers when they arrived at work today and found notices announcing the sale pinned to the wall.
One employee said the entire workforce had been shocked by yesterday’s takeover.
“Nobody had any idea this was happening. It has come completely out of the blue,” he said.
The takeover prompted fears amongst staff that it could lead to job losses, although this was refuted by Stagecoach today, who said it planned to invest in and further develop the Strathtay network.
A spokesman said, “We are retaining the local management team and, obviously, the frontline staff will continue in place.
“We see a lot of potential to develop the Traction business, including the services operated by Strathtay.
“Stagecoach has had a lot of success in attracting more people to bus travel as a result of improved telemarketing and we have a good record of investment,” he added.
Traction was the sixth largest bus operator in the UK, with operations in South and West Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
In its financial year ending December 21, 2004, Traction reported a turnover of £56.6 million, an operating profit of £2.5 million and gross assets of £50.5 million.
The deal is worth £26 million, £21.5 million of which was paid in cash and the remainder by the issue of 4,022,070 Stagecoach ordinary shares.
Stagecoach has assumed Traction’s net debt of approximately £11 million.
Brian Souter, chief executive of Stagecoach Group plc said, “The acquisition of Traction is consistent with our strategy for growth in our core UK and North American markets, and follows the acquisition of Glenvale Transport earlier this year.
“Traction is the largest of the remaining privately-owned UK bus operators.
“We believe we can add value through innovation, investment and by applying Stagecoach’s operational expertise.
“Stagecoach’s investment in improved services and initiatives — including Kickstart, sector-leading telemarketing campaigns and online sales —is seeing large numbers of people return to the nation’s buses and demonstrates our ability to deliver impressive growth,” he added.
I've done a few leaflets for Strathtay this year - not looking forward to getting my hands all blue (assuming the city ones eventually all go to Stagecoach style pocket leaflets...!)
Christmas & New Year
A wee headstart for you lot. DCC's publication of the Christmas & New Year bus guide is on their website now. You won't see it just yet, but thanks to a voicemail left earlier by Neil G (and you missed out the last level, but I worked it out!) it's to be found at http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/xmasbustimes
Look out for the leaflets around the City from tommorrow, and the posters will be put up in town tommorrow during the day. If anyone gets pics of them, I'd love to see them.
Not your average rest day...
As I'd been off work on Monday, I'd missed out on the news. Having ran past newspaer billboards about call centre job fears, it was assumed one of our neighbours was under threat again.
I'd arranged to go into work for 1500, to discuss what I learnt yesterday. Whilst I was there, they asked if I'd had the briefing... basically, the campaign I am working on is about to be no more from early 2006. All staff will be offered something - pay and hours to be decided in time - but our colleagues in Derby and Exeter are losing more, because these centres will close completly.
Personal mode on... whilst we've all been working v.hard for an un-named broadband provider - me for well over three years - and the last few weeks of "compliments" and telling us how well we've been doing... and it still didn't matter. Yesterday I told you the rule of genetics i.e. if it's genetic, you're f**ked. Now, the rule of any job - if someone can do the job cheaper than you *regardless of what you do, and where or when* then you're f**ked.
Just that I've now been technically f**ked twice in just over 24 hours... I'm having quite a good month....
Came out of work, was going up to Westgate Health Centre for 1750, but visited my mum in hospital first. In theory. I got a message on my voicemail as I left saying she'd been discharged... so after talking to someone I met again yesterday and then doing some bus spotting (the refurbishement job on the two ex-CCS Olympians now used as bus-coaches with Travel Greyhound is immaculate, btw), I then had twenty-odd minutes to sit because I was a little early... and then got seen last appointment, which I'd normally kill to get any other time. The last 14 of the day took me cross-town, but that was my last bus as I ended up getting a taxi after staying at my mum's until well after half midmight. Last hour or two was mostly spent discussing religion, gender, politics, and bits of my sex life...
One day, we knew this day would come
I did warn you all back on Saturday that this date was coming up. If you didn’t read the post (shame!) then today was the day when I’d be getting the results of the blood test taken to analyse my genetic build up to determine as to whether I’ve picked up the genetic defect (repeat) that makes up Huntingdon’s. Before today, no-one (barring the medical staff) knew which way it went. It was a 50/50 chance either way.
In the end, the result was given, and was fairly clear cut. If you ever have had this done, or know someone who has, you will know that the figure which is considered to be having developed the faulty gene is something like 16 or 18. Naturally, you are hoping for as little a repeat as possible. (I forget, but I am sure you can Google it if you need to). My result was 46 – well into a “medium” case, and now have a very good chance of developing the same conditions and disturbances that my dad has been through in the last ten or so years. They don’t use the terms positive or negative, or didn’t in my presence at least, but it’s a positive, no doubt about it.
So, what now? This doesn’t change a thing for me right now. It just means that longer term i.e. into my thirties/forties, there is a good chance I will end up as he is now. Or worse. Or better. Maybe even avoid it altogether (v. unlikely). There’s no cure. There’s no current treatment, but someone with more money than me is spending a lot of it trying to find one. As I said back in March, there’s no “reinstall the drivers and phone us back”. There’s no putting a new body on the old insides (well maybe, but that’s something else). But lets go back a step. Thirties or Forties? I’m 27 on the 16th of January…
There are various medical studies on the web which show a *possible* genetic disturbance in transsexual people, even those who’d not gone for any injections or surgery. As the father’s “side” is what determines the birth gender of the child (at birth), can there possibly be any link? Far too early to even tell, but it’s kept my mind off other things. There was talk a few weeks ago on the Venus Envy discussion group (I swear, one day they are going to talk about something to do with the strip!) about genetic testing which could predict trans in the future. It could never happen, and it might give people the wrong idea. Maybe this is what they said about HD all those years ago.
I went back to the ward with my mother (she’s still in Ward 4 Ninewells, but getting out this Wednesday), and stayed until just after 1510. 54 home, 313 – showed up on the “real time” as 5mins but was outside when I walked out… Maybe I was walking slowly for once. I came home. I thought, and dozed off for a bit. Booted up the mobile, tried messenger on the mobile, tried to get to Jay… maybe next time, as I think his pc kept crashing. Or something. With luck I’ve not given him a heart attack…
I still don’t think it’s hit me what has happened. When I went for the test last month, I could barely sleep. This time, I made sure I could in advance. Maybe that’s why I was chilled so that it all just has slipped over me. It’s not, I’ve taken in every moment.
Back in 2001, I was somewhat depressed following a spate of bad luck. I was miles from home, just out of hospital for five weeks and no better than when I went in, no job, having the landlord kicking down the door drunk, and the deep down suspicion that somewhere, somehow, I was going to end up with whatever it was that my dad had. At this time, I wasn’t out as my real self. Yes, I’d admit to saying I felt suicidal then. Someone kept me talking… until the police were at the door… you get the idea.
Four years later, a lot has changed. Job and home can sort of both keep each other happening. Other medical issues have come and gone, came and got worse, came and improved, so I’m better now than I was. Only now, my fate is confirmed. At least it gave me some hope for the last four years, in which I did accomplish a hell of a lot, sometimes acting against the odds, and even beating my own expectations.
One of the most basic rules of medicine is “if it’s genetic, then you’re fu*ked”. Oh yes. Except this time, there was a chance it might not have been – my brother has tested ok. Now my sister is next up for thinking about it, esp. as she’s just passed 18 and is now engaged (that’s making me feel even older now…)
So what now? I really don’t know. It does not change anything for me. I won’t be doing anything any differently. It means that the time I’ve spent attending appointments and departments before getting ok’d to go ahead with testing can now go back to being spent in progression of pursuit of the “new” me. That will not change. The results were something that I could not have changed, no matter what. As I said on Saturday, by the time conception has occurred, it’s already too late. Because I was conceived more than thirteen years before anything was known about this, and about fifteen years at least (rough dates but you get the point) before my dad knew about this, there was no reason to suspect this.
My mother used the opportunity to reiterate her faith to me, which I found a little out of place (but hey, I’m used to it just about every time I see her). She still thinks someone out there is looking out for me. In what way? Protecting me from passing this onto anyone else (children) by punting me out in the wrong body and leaving me to my own for sixty odd years? Oh yeah, nice one, what about me in the meantime? Religion and her choice of words in such are for another day. For the last few years, I’ve been living and surviving on self-belief. Right now, it’s maybe all that’s kept me going. Into 2006, who knows what will happen?
Kind regards
Suzy xxx
Home
In preparation for tomorrow, spent the day relaxing at home. Remember I mentioned the landline was off? Well, I found the bill… and took another look at it… several weeks of “free” calls being charged to me at full rate, not long after I changed package! This makes me feel less “bad” – it’s not all my fault… The irony being last week, I’d had extra hours to think about paying this, technically for the same people! Complaints letter pending, esp. as they’ve still not changed my name yet…
This Moment Had To Come
Yeah, I've been quiet of late. My mother is in hospital (again, after her second stroke this year!), my little sister is now engaged to Luke, my phone line is down (sort of my fault but I'm too broke to even think straight!), the Christmas & New Year leaflets are done (paid for this year by Dundee City Council), and although most things are working, strage surprises hit me every day.
Yes, we all knew this day would come.
It's coming on Monday.
How did this all start? Well, remember four years ago I was admitted to North Midx Edmonton for urology? Well, then I moved, twice, and then had to see everyone up at Ninewells. Urology passed me to Neurology, who were a little bit "interested" that my dad had this genetic condition. Eventually, I've spent a few days this year at Ninewells trying to get tested. After a trip via Pshychiatry as well, the blood was taken, and on Monday at 1015 - no, change that, it's now 1200 (not a huge difference in the sphere of things), I will know.
It is a one-in-two chance I will either have this (positive), or negative. In the positive case, that is al it says. I may never get as bad as my dad, or I may get so much worse. In the negative case, then I am cleared for life. Maybe not as much of an issue for me, but any children of mine would also be clear. If I've understood that correctly, but as I say, it's probably not to be a concern of mine. If I am clear, this lets me start 2006 with something lifted off of my shoulders. A huge weight, that has been there for a decade. If it's positive, then it just gives me something to think about i.e. one daay you might like to go for a driving licence, because another day you will lose it.
I've pointed a few people to this blog spot. I am at home tommorrow, and then off Sunday. Monday test results so off all day, Tuesday not in work anyway, should be back on Wednedsday.
What do I want from you? Nothing in particular, in fact even any religious thoughts might already be too late (i.e. it's already decided years gone by, before the mum-to-be even realises she's late). I really do not know how I will react either way, so expect the unexpected for a few days. I promise to blog when I get a chance about how I got on. This time four years ago was probably the lowest point of my life, and I don;t want to return there. Nothing I can do or say will change Monday's result, so I'm going into it for a 50/50 shot.
love & kind regards
Suzy xxx
RE: Santa
Following yesterday's festive blog, here's a brummie response...
Hey Suzy
Just read your blog entry about female reindeer, so I thought I'd share some Christmas statistics with you:
No known species of reindeer can fly. BUT there are 300,000 species of living organisms yet to be classified, and while most of these are insects and germs, this does not COMPLETELY rule out flying reindeer, which only Santa has ever seen.
There are 2 billion children (persons under 18) in the world. BUT since Santa doesn't (appear to) handle the Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Buddhist children, that reduces the workload to 15% of the total - 378 million according to the Population Reference Bureau. At an average (census) rate of 3.5 children per household, that's 91.8 million homes. One assumes there's at least one good child in each.
Santa has 31 hours of Christmas to work with, thanks to the different time zones and the rotation of the earth, assuming he travels east to west (which seems logical). This works out to 822.6 visits per second. This is to say that for each Christian household with good children, Santa has 1/1000th of a second to park, hop out of the sleigh, jump down the chimney, fill the stockings, distribute the remaining presents under the tree, eat whatever snacks have been left, get back up the chimney, get back into the sleigh and move on to the next house.
Assuming that each of these 91.8 million stops are evenly distributed around the Earth (which, of course, we know is not true but for the purposes of our calculations we will accept), we are now talking about 0.78 miles per household - a total trip of 75.5million miles, not counting stops to do what most of us must do at least once every 31 hours, plus feeding, etc.
This means that Santa's sleigh is moving at 650 miles per second - 3,000 times the speed of sound. For purposes of comparison, the fastest man-made vehicle on Earth, the Ulysses space probe, moves at a poky 27.4 miles per second, and a conventional reindeer can run 15 miles per hour, tops.
The payload on the sleigh adds another interesting element. Assuming that each child gets nothing more than a medium-sized Lego set (2 pounds), the sleigh is carrying 321,300 tons, not counting Santa, who is invariably described as overweight.
On land, conventional reindeer can pull no more than 300 pounds. Even granting that "flying reindeer" (see point 1) could pull TEN TIMES the normal amount, we cannot do the job with eight, or even nine. We need 214,200 reindeer. This increases the payload - not even counting the weight of the sleigh - to 353,430 tons. Again, for comparison, this is four times the weight of the Queen Elizabeth.
353,430 tons travelling at 650 miles per second creates enormous air resistance - this will heat the reindeer up in the same fashion as spacecraft re-entering the Earth's atmosphere. The lead pair or reindeer will absorb 14.3 QUINTILLION joules of energy. Per Second. Each.
In short, they will burst into flames almost instantaneously, exposing the reindeer behind them, and create deafening sonic booms in their wake. The entire reindeer team will be vaporised within 4.26 thousandths of a second. Santa, meanwhile, will be subjected to centrifugal forces 17,500 times greater than gravity. A 250-pound Santa (which seems ludicrously slim) would be pinned to the back of his sleigh by 4,315,015 pounds of force.
In conclusion - If Santa ever DID deliver presents on Christmas Eve, he's dead now.
Bah humbug
paul ;)
Designed to move Santa
"According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.
Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.
We should've known. ONLY women would be able to drag a fat-ass man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost."
