Life
Lipoma and cyst removal surgery
About 5 years ago I started developing a lump on my leg - on my thigh. It grew to the size of a small marble. It was below the surface of the skin and seemed fairly firm and quite spherical. Lumps growing under your skin can be bad news so I went to see my doctor. He told me it was a lipoma - a harmless build up of fat under the skin. He [...]
NHS vs private physiotherapy – and BUPA vs Cigna
I have had multiple sessions of physiotherapy over the years for various joint problems. I’ve experienced both NHS and private physiotherapy. For my private physiotherapy I've dealt with both BUPA and Cigna. NHS vs private physiotherapy If you need physiotherapy you have two basic choices, you can either try to get it for free on the NHS [...]
Stopping junk post, annoying phone calls, and unwanted faxes
If you are in the UK and receive unsolicited post, phone calls or faxes there are several services you can sign up with to reduce these unwanted disturbances to your life. There is the telephone preference service, the fax preference service, and the mailing preference service. There is also a baby mailing preference service if you receive baby [...]
Telephone call log spreadsheet
It can be well worth keeping a log of phone calls to companies such as banks, utility companies and anyone else who you have an account with. You never know when it could be useful to have this information. For example this week I received some unsolicited credit card cheques from Natwest. I have previously been sent these by Natwest and I [...]
HMS Belfast visit in London
As it was a bank holiday weekend I decided to visit the HMS Belfast. It was a Royal Navy warship, which is now permanently moored in the Thames as a museum. You'll find it near London Bridge tube station. It served in World War II and for around 20 years afterwards. You can explore the ship seven days a week. On the day I visited it was [...]
Clothes moths attack!
I have spent a lot of time in the past few weeks helping a friend whose flat is under attack by clothes moths. The species in question is known as the common clothes moth, the webbing clothes moth, or if you are really posh, as tineola bisselliella. There have been clothes moths in this property for many years eating the carpets but it is only [...]
Tips and advice for buying windows
After recently buying some windows myself here are some tips that I have put together. This advice is aimed at people living in Britain but much of it applies for where ever you may live. 1. If you can, inspect windows previously installed by the company. The window company may be able to provide addresses of people whose windows you can view. [...]
The Exorcist Film Review
Stars: Linda Blair, Max Von Sydow, Ellen Burstyn, Jason Miller Cert 18 When the Exorcist was originally released 25 years ago it caused outrage and panic to the point that certain people needed counselling after seeing it. Compared to films nowadays it is not actually very violent. It is however a very powerful and scary film which is only let [...]
The Truman Show – Film Review
Starring: Jim CarreyCert: PG On hearing about a new Jim Carrey movie the natural reaction is to avoid it at all costs. However after years of staring in mediocre comedy films he has finally got a part in a movie that is not only clever but very enjoyable to watch. Carrey plays Truman Burbank; an ordinary individual who to his great [...]
