Teeth and chips and cars

 Good evening. I went to the dentist today. I have a broken tooth which needs a repair. It was filled about a year go, or eighteen months ago, could have been two years ago, but the filling dropped out. I thought at the time that it might not last. The very young dentist who did the job took ages over it. I wondered if she was qualified because she looked so young, about twelve I thought. 

I decided to call in at the dentist rather than ring up about it. They are in Brigg, it's a Bupa dentist. I have been going there for 20 years. They used to be privately owned, then they changed to Bupa. I thought they might have called me in for a checkup before now, or maybe I should have rung and asked for a checkup appointment. 

I have always been an NHS patient. The lady on reception said they don't have any appointments because they are short of dentists. People have left and they haven't been able to replace them. She checked my details on the computer and said they will call me if they have an appointment. 

They also do private work so I asked how much it would cost. I don't want to go on a monthly plan and would rather pay as and when I needed work doing. She said that is possible. So miraculously she found me an appointment for next month for a check up. Hopefully they can do the repair then. It will have to be done so I will have to pay whatever it costs. 

It was market day in Brigg. Most of the stalls were packing away to leave, except for the cheese van. All he has to do is close the door and drive off when there are no more customers. I saw that he had truckles for sale. I couldn't resist buying one, even though I have some in my fridge. Can't resist the caramelised onion variety. 

I was hungry so I had a portion of chips, wrapped up to take away and eat in my car. Only £3, chuffin heck. I only ate half, it was a big portion. Then I made a coffee, I still have some of the camping gear in the car. 

There is a big Garden Centre on the outskirts of Brigg, so I went there for a look around. I was going to go for a walk but it was too cold. The Garden centre is massive. I didn't buy anything. 

So that was my afternoon out. I put some of the chips in a bowl with some of the stew I made last night, and microwaved it. There is still some left for tomorrow. Not going to waste the chips at that price. Chips are my once a year treat. 

I am browsing the internet looking at cars. I am quite taken by the Ford Tourneo. There are three of them in a local garage. They don't quite meet my specification though. Must be petrol, manual gear change, and privacy glass. I might go and look at them tomorrow, just to check the size. Can I fit a bed in it. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Checking in.

 Good afternoon. 

I have been asked some questions about fact checking. These come from Fat Dormouse. I am not sure if she is directing these at me personally, of if she is asking my opinion on general fact checking. 

Who would I recommend as a fact checking organisation? None. I can't see how any of them can be working independently when they are being paid by large companies. It's like a blogger promoting a product or service in return for money, when they have been given a free sample or free membership. They are hardly likely to point out the drawbacks and are more likely to sing it's praises. You don't bite off the hand that feeds you. Companies should have their own in-house fact checkers, they are called sales and promotion representatives. 

Google fact checking sites, and pick out one that you might trust. Or put the names on a piece of paper, close your eyes, and stick a pin in it. 

How do you know that facts and figures you are reading are true? You don't. Unless you have a personal connection with a human being or company who are making the claim. If someone wants to spill the beans on a company, or an institution that they are involved with, they have to be prepared to lose their job, and in some cases lose their lives. This is why whistleblowers do not come forward, and those that do demand anonymity. 

Who do you feel you can trust? I guess that this question is aimed at me. There's very few that I trust. I have been trying to work out what is going on over the last five years. People criticise social media, but that is my starting point. I have built up a list of professional people. In the beginning it was doctors, and that has lead to professionals in other lines of business. You always have to look at their backgrounds. They will more often than not be biased towards those who are paying them. I respect the integrity of those who have made great sacrifices, and resigned from their jobs because their conscience wouldn't let them carry on. 

Why do you feel you can trust what they are saying? There will always be elements of doubt in everything that I read, and see online. Even more so now that AI content is growing daily. The truth is moving further away from real life.There are very few journalists with any integrity. No matter how many rabbit holes they go down, the end result will be what their masters are paying them for. If you want real investigative journalism go to UK Column. They put out a news programme live three times a week.   

Here are a few names that I follow. You can gooogle them if you so wish. 

Dr Peter A McCollough. Physician scientist 

Godfrey Bloom. Former MEP.

Matias Desmet. Professor of clinical psychology. 

Geert Vanden Bossche. Phd, independant vaccine research.

Christine Anderson. Member of EU Parliament.

Brian Gerrish. Former Naval Officer. 

Whitney Webb. Investigative journalist.

World Economic Forum. 

Keir Starmer.

Dr Tess Lawrie. World Council for Health.

Dr Aseem Malhotra. Cardiologist. Author. 

Last question. 

Do you pay not to have adverts on your blog? No. Blogging is free. 

To sum up. AI is now used extensively. It will become prevalent in the coming months and years. It will be almost impossible tor humans to distinguish the difference between truth and fiction. Keep reading, there are big changes to come. The WEF are meeting at Davos in Switzerland. They will be deciding our future. You dear reader still have choices. Don't let them be taken away from you. 

Thank you for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona

Coffee with waffle

Oh dear, this is four days old, it got lost in my drafts folder. If you have seen it on my channel you can skip this post. 

I did another bus out - walk back home this afternoon. I called in to say hello to Nicky at the Arts centre. Treated myself to a Magnum ice cream. Nothing interesting happened. Didn't speak to anybody except the bus driver, and to my friend Sue on the bus. She was going shopping in town. 

Coffee morning tomorrow. 

Weather a bit warmer today. 

Tatty byes for now. ilona 

Respect

The man who did everything he could to save his house. 

Remember these words. A few of the 8,700 comments. 

"I did what I needed to do. I did what I wanted to do. I did what I thought I could do"

He didn't rely on the government to save him. He saved himself.

A man who thought for himself and didn’t leave his life in the hands of those who can't be trusted.

Old school guy! Great character, does not wait for any encouragement to take initiative and does not complain!

Bravo this man. Too many people are to quick to COMPLY with everything the government tells them to do. This followed his heart and common sense.

This is what's required in life. Look after yourself and your neighbours, instead of relying on others.

Men with attitude are driven by intelligence and determination, not by emotions or others' command and opinion!

Catch ya later. Toodle pip. ilona

Exploring Lincolnshire

It's Sunday night and I have had a smashing weekend. Yesterday a six mile walk in the glorious sunshine. Today a visit from my two favourite van lifers. I have been following Dan and Stephen for some time now. Two jolly chappies who have a fun life living in their van. Do you recognise them? Do you watch them? 

Recently back from Spain and France, they are touring the UK checking out small towns and villages, where they might at sometime in the future be setting down some roots. They have no definite plans, no dates in mind, just getting a feel for different parts of the country. 

After a coffee and a full hour non stop chinwag I dragged them out for a walk around my village. They were up for it. We went down the hill to the pond, and along the river bank.   

Back at the van it was time to leave. They have seen some of Lincolnshire, and now they are on their way to North Yorkshire. No route in mind, just make it up as they go along. The joys of living in a van, go where the fancy takes you, stop and start when you feel like it. Sounds good to me. 

This is the video they put out this morning. I sat watching it as I waited for them to arrive. 

Always exploring new places, always entertaining. Every so often they take a break from travelling and take a proper job. They can choose where and when they work. As for the move to bricks and mortar, it may happen sometime in the future, but for now they are enjoying the freedom of van life. 

Temperatures are rising here, the frost has gone. That's a relief. 

Thanks for popping in. Toodle pip.   ilona