From Diamond Geezer. 

Hi Mum. Hi Dad.

Sorry, but for the first time in my life I'm not able to be with you this Christmas. At least it's not my fault, it's that damned bird flu. Even if I was allowed to leave London, which I'm not, I don't think I'd ever be able to get round the Felixstowe Exclusion Zone. I've heard they shoot people who try to cross the M25 now…

A really powerful read, more of it on his Blog.

It seems that the Sunday Independent has been a bit naughty.  According to one of my readers they published an edited down post of mine (‘Care Home’?) without either letting me know, or paying me for it…

This isn’t the first paper to use bloggers as unpaid column fillers.  Even the Guardian, who are pretty blog-savvy did it to me once.

So I’ve decided to send them a little email…

I have several brand new pillow cases.

Jeannie wants to wash these *clean* pillow cases before they get used.

I think she is mad, she believes herself sane.

Votes in the comments please.

Feel free to vindicate my assessment of her mental health.

It’s strange, but given the amount of times that I’m in the Docklands area (normally picking up twenty-something traders with cocaine induced cardiac problems), I’ve never come across this rather astounding sculpture.

I think it is made from bedstead wires.

I would also suggest that everybody reading this should take a day out to play tourist in your own hometown.

Did you know that it is an impossibility for an American tourist to cross the Tower of London bridge at night in under an hour.  I think Jeannie managed to fill up the majority of her 1GB camera memory card with pictures of the tower, or corners of buildings.

London is lovely by night, so we did my favourite walk, which is along the South bank.

Today we attack Camden market…

I expect to spend most of today standing around waiting for Jeannie to finish trying on rings, while holding her coat.

I often talk about ambulance Control, but although I’ve spent a shift up there, I don’t really know what it is like to work there full time.

But now I do.

Nee Naw is the blog of one of our Control staff.  If you like my blog (and you must if you are reading it), then you will also love this blog, as it shows exactly what it is like on the other side of the phone.

Go and read it now, then bookmark it/add it to your feed, and then you will truly know the idiots that we have to deal with…

Jeannie has landed safely and is, I suspect, planning to invade the UK, given the amount and weight of her luggage.

Why is it that men can travel in comfort with a shoulder bag, while women need two suitcases, a backpack and a huge carry bag?