OneGuyFromBarlick

I think you are right, Tiz. Hubby was advised NOT to get the flu shot until May...which was the second round of Flu Shot ( he was told it was different). I suspect that is what Cazza got too, as they may have had the shot on the same day.
Sitting watching evening TV, and I have just made him another hot toddy, containing Jim Bean. He enjoyed it very much!
(He will be tucked up under the doona with his granny rugs on top within the hour)
Poor thing has had a drippy nose for days...

Tell Dave to look on the bright side. If they have got the strain right this year there is no doubt he's immunised.
Still no bad side effects from the Ramipril.

A year ago I posted this warning about powerful illicit drugs being used in prisons and affecting the prison staff: LINK

Now we have this news about NHS nurses being affected...
'Spice epidemic in jails risk to nurses' BBC
This story mostly relates to the contaminated smoke inhaled by nurses. My concern had been that library books used by prisoners are also circulated among the public libraries and some of the drugs they are now using are so powerful that dust containing traces of the drug can result in members of the public absorbing dangerous doses through the skin.

This morning I've written to the British Medical Journal about my concerns and suggested that one of their journalists might look into the matter. Let's see if they respond.

Tizer wrote: ↑15 May 2018, 08:37 My concern had been that library books used by prisoners are also circulated among the public libraries and some of the drugs they are now using are so powerful that dust containing traces of the drug can result in members of the public absorbing dangerous doses through the skin.

Tizer you mentioned this point some time ago when the only library book on offer was from Preston Prison, Thankfully I haven't had too many illusionary trips recently. Just the odd one about MP's behaving rationally. Perhaps before the books leave the prisons and go into general circulation they could be checked out by a sniffer dog. I wonder what Salisbury libraries are doing about preventing the spread of nerve agent contamination?

I can't help thinking that a visiting Martian would be very puzzled by human behaviour..... We seem to be dead set on getting to extinction as fast as possible.
If library books are contaminated, how about money? I always remember going from Berlin to Hanover in 1955 on an escort for a consignment of British Armed Forces Vouchers (We were paid half our wages in BAFVs in Berlin for use in the NAAFI.) It was to be burned by the Military Police and when we got there we had to unload it into a large strong room to await destruction. The smell in the safe was horrible, possibly one of the worst I have ever experienced. Money is dirty stuff in more ways than one!

When we take out library books or buy secondhand books we always give the covers a clean with a disinfectant wipe. Some are OK but its surprising how much gunge comes off some of the plastic covers.

I remember having a conversation with a Japanese lady who couldn't understand why we blew our noses into a handkerchief and them put it in our pocket. She had a point!

Stanley wrote: ↑17 May 2018, 03:25 I remember having a conversation with a Japanese lady who couldn't understand why we blew our noses into a handkerchief and them put it in our pocket. She had a point!

Same in China, Stanley. They think it is gross to use a hankie! Seems it is ok to hold one nostril and blow snot onto the floor from the other, even when they are in cafes, shops or anywhere else. A variation is to blow it into their hands and wipe it onto anything convenient, tree, chair back, hand rail, bus seat, you get the idea! You get used to touching as little as possible and hand sanitiser is a must!
Is that green moss hanging from the tree? Possibly!
I also think it is gross to use a hankie, use a tissue discreetly and get rid of it immediately.

Remind me never to go to China!

Oh god that reminds me of a woman (Asian) who catches my bus sometimes. I always try to get off before her and walk as fast as I can to get away from her because she spits on the ground. She doesn't stop or look around her, she just spits and continues on her way. Gross!
So many times I 've felt like telling her that it's an offence to spit on the pavement in this country. Gross!

Cathy wrote: ↑17 May 2018, 13:18 Oh god that reminds me of a woman (Asian) who catches my bus sometimes. I always try to get off before her and walk as fast as I can to get away from her because she spits on the ground. She doesn't stop or look around her, she just spits and continues on her way. Gross!
So many times I've felt like telling her that it's an offence to spit on the pavement in this country. Gross!

The Chinese are 50 years behind the UK in manners. Remember when buses had the notice "no spitting" above the upper deck front window? The Chinese claim 5000 years of history and still eat with 2 wooden sticks!

Spike Milligan (1918-2002):

'Chopsticks are one of the reasons the Chinese never invented custard.'

Tizer, other things more than compensate for their idiosyncrasies. Please visit and see for yourself. Everyone is welcome at our house. I live in a very friendly place of Zhuang people, an ethnic minority in China, but over 90% of the population of this little town. They speak funny, something we have in common!

Chopsticks are one of the reasons the Chinese never invented custard.' I like that David!

I'm pretty sure the woman I was speaking of is Malaysian.

Cathy wrote: ↑18 May 2018, 13:12 I'm pretty sure the woman I was speaking of is Malaysian.

I was married to a Malaysian lady. She never spit in the street. She ALWAYS called herself Chinese even though she was born in Malaysia.

"If a dog is born in a stable, is it a horse?" - Bernard Manning's quote about Asians saying they were born in England and therefore English.

There are 3 major ethnic groups in Malaysia: Malay/Bumiputera (mainly Muslim) 68.8%, Chinese 23.2%, Indian 7.0%, & others 1%. I'm guessing your Malaysian woman is a Bumi.

I try to avoid anything to do with race, it's a minefield!

An interesting visit to Dracula..... My usual lady had three stabs and couldn't get any blood so she had to get Ann Marie the Sister who succeeded on her second attempt. We all had a good laugh and then I pointed out that they would have to decide who got the cream filled chocolate éclair I always take for Dracula. I think they're going to share it....

I have a query. I have been asked to do a bit of digging on a drug called Topiramate which has been prescribed for the prevention of migraine attributed to the onset of the menopause. The lady in question has looked it up on the web and is alarmed to note that it appears to be a very powerful drug used in things like depression. Evidently its use for migraine is a recent development and she wants to know more about it. Do any of you have any knowledge on the subject?

Just looked it up and it looks scary. The list of common and very common side effects is terrifying!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topiramate

Google it! Google is crippled by the state censors in China so the above link is to Wikipedia.

This is an interesting read Stanley, especially if you go right down the page to the comments.
http://www.blog.migrainepal.com/blog/to ... r-migraine

Thanks both. I had done the obvious China.
Wendy, that's useful and sounds authoritative, I'm glad I don't have to make a decision! I've passed it on.

The internet on illness and drugs frightens people to death. If you are concerned about the medication do the obvious thing and talk to your Doctor. Most surgeries have 'one to one' telephone call line without the need for a personal visit.

I have a good friend in Minnesota who's a GP under the Mayo clinic. I've asked him as well.....