That's great Mike.  I hope the weather warms up a bit for you both.  

my s-i-l arrives today for a week or so. It will be nice to have company

enjoy your break,Raven, and give Dageus a cuddle from me as well!

I'm not surprised - and the government isn't paying for them - taxpayers are.

I never have been to Yorkshire, but I had a very nice mail partner there and I was told that people there are very chatty. 

Our health system is no longer as good as it used to be. There's a lack of doctors and nurses and, of course, of money. Our government is just discussing a healthcare reform - I don't know whether this will improve the healthcare. Lately many hospitals had to close because of a lack of money. 
I have been to hospital last month and I must admit, I was quite disappointed - no longer the service I was used to and after two days they told me that I could/should leave. As you can imagine the first days at home again were quite hard for me. I had a foot operation and live on 2 floors. 
Immigrants get the same treatment as Germans, partly even a better one, because as they don't pay into the health insurance the government is paying for them and they are treated like private patients. Many Germans aren't very happy about this. 

Very interesting. You are right the climate has always changed, but not as quick as it does now and there must be a reason for it. Here in Germany I have the impression that the heavy rains and heat in summer are now like those I first experienced in Italy 40 years ago. 

Let's wait and see. I always watch the Last night of Proms on German TV and it's quite interesting to notice the difference in mentality between the Germans and the Brits. 

Quote from: klondike on Yesterday at 07:15:39 PMI'd guess that most London residents don't have cars and are pleased with the anti-car measures. Plus they are all pinko lefties of course.

A lot of the residents who live in flats have nowhere to keep a car, but there is evidence that house dwellers do own cars, and the local councils apply a special tax on them.

Anti-car measures affect everyone in one way or another and I suspect that the majority opinion is in the scale from opposed to neutral.

Maggie did the splits , whilst standing on her head. 
Ethel also tried it but nearly broke a leg
Mick was watching goggled eyed
As Maggie's skirt was on the slide
Luckily the bus came and they all went home to bed!

            *************

The pub was packed on Saturday night