Monday, 10 July 2017

Barnet Council launches new sexual health services but not at Finchley Memorial

We thought our readers might be interested in the news that Barnet Council have launched a  new sexual health service initiative. It is clearly a very good idea to have such services available locally. We have long been concerned about the lack of such provision, so it is clearly excellent news to see the council has at last started to take this issue seriously. We are rather surprised that they have not chosen Finchley Memorial Hospital as one of the sites for this service, given the situation there. Perhaps that is something we really should be looking at in detail. The hospital is fast becoming a white elephant, unsupported by the council or the local Conservative administration. Here is what the press release on the Council website has to say.

A range of new services aimed at improving sexual health has been launched in Barnet.
The new services which were launched on 3 July aim to bring down rates of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies and to make services more accessible and simpler to use by residents.
As part of a new contract with Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL), all these services will be open for longer and at weekends and will offer a new ‘one stop shop’ providing both contraceptive and sexual health services initially at three locations in the borough. Specialist clinics will also be available to young people under the age of 18 between 3pm to 6pm at one of these locations.
CNWL will provide an improved range of sexual health and contraceptive services, including contraception, testing and treatment of STIs, HIV testing and diagnosis, sexual health outreach work and health promotion.
The services will be located at the Vale Drive Primary Care Centre, Edgware Community Hospital, and Grahame Park Health Centre.
The new services have been developed in collaboration with Camden, Islington and Haringey councils. The new contract is part of a unique London-wide programme to improve the capital’s sexual health services. London has the highest rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the country, and as a result, the demand for sexual health services in London is significantly higher.
In addition to the three clinics in Barnet, residents can also use services at locations in these other boroughs as well as those in LBB Enfield.
Barnet’s services will also work closely with a new London-wide online sexual health service, which will allow patients to access information online and register to receive self-sampling kits, thereby reducing the need to attend clinics.
The website will guide people through a risk-assessment process to identify the most clinically appropriate tests for their individual needs. A self-sampling kit will then be posted to them which they can complete in the privacy of their own home, before sealing it and dropping it off at a post box.
Councillor Helena Hart, Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “This important new sexual health service will provide Barnet residents with a One Stop Shop for Sexual Health and Contraceptive Services at threelocations across the borough. They will provide a full range of sexual health and contraceptive services with far easier access and availability made possible through the introduction of longer opening hours and availability at weekends.
“The additional online services will also help to make it as safe and convenient as possible for people to get information, advice and access to self-sampling kits, whilst ensuring the utmost confidentiality.
“London has the highest rates of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in the country and these services should play a very important role in helping to reduce those rates.”
Mark Maguire, CNWL Sexual Health Service Director, said: “We’re pleased to be working with local councils to deliver a modern service across North London that is quick and easy to access.
“Our services provide a one stop shop for people wanting sexual health treatment and/or contraception. We will also focus on prevention of disease and increasing the uptake of Long Action Reversible Contraception (LARC).
“To support this, we will have two specialist centres, Mortimer Market Centre and The Archway Centre, and we’ll also be offering services in community settings that may be more convenient to access.
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Sunday, 9 July 2017

The tweets of The week in The London Borough of Barnet - 09/07/2017

So what's been going on in our neighbourhood? There has been a nice selection of tweets for your perusal. Here is our personal choice of the best. Don't forget to follow any tweeters who tickle your fancy (or anything else).

1.It seems that the old folk of Finchley were treated to a rather interesting celebration back in 1933. I wonder how this would go down today?

2. One of our regulars is rather concerned about the loss of yet more of Colindales heritage

3.Mill Hill Rugby club are looking for new players and new people to join in the fun!

4.Good to see the Burnt Oak Police joining in the fun at Pride


5. Another regular, Barnet Rebel, enjoying Finchley Fire Station Open Day

6. Seems like the iconic Golders Green Hippodrome is on the market. Lets hope this iconic site is preserved

7. I hope he's got a licence to drive that ;)

8.Hendon goes art deco!

9. The Adam and Eve has changed a bit over the years. Haven't seen too many horses outside recently

10. Mill Hill at Night!

That's all folks!
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Saturday, 8 July 2017

The Saturday List #137 - Top five dangers in the London Borough of Barnet!

Did you know that the London Borough of Barnet is a dangerous place! There are all manner of dangers lurking! Beware. Here is a handy guide

1. Wasps and bees - Apparently wasps are the most dangerous species in the UK. On average five people a year are killed by stings from wasps and bees. This is usually because they have an allergy.

2. Dogs - Seems like they are the secons most deadly species. Plenty in our hood.

3. Cows -  They kill 1 person a year! Watch out when walking across those fields in Barnet and Mill Hill.

4. Adders - They've killed 16 people since 1876 and there are plenty in the fields in the Totteridge Valley.

5. Seagulls - Attacks on humans are becoming more and more regular. As with all wild animals, feeding them encourages contact. This also seems to be changing their behaviour and making them more dangerous. Keep the chips to yourself!

I bet you never realised we lived in such a wild and dangerous neighbourhood!
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Friday, 7 July 2017

The Friday Joke - Jails and Nursing homes



JAILS AND NURSING HOMES

Ever thought what would happen if we put pensioners in jail and the criminals in nursing homes.

>  Pensioners would have access to showers, hobbies, and walks.
>  They would receive money instead of having to pay it out.
>  They would have constant video monitoring, so they would be helped instantly
     if they fell or needed assistance.
>  Bedding would be washed twice a week and all clothing would be ironed
     and returned to them.
>  Someone would check on them every 20 minutes.
>  All meals and snacks would be brought to them.
>  They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.
>  They would have access to a library, weight/fitness room, a pool, education,
     spiritual counseling, and free admission to in-house concerts by nationally
     recognized entertainment artists.
>  Simple clothing, for example: shoes, slippers, PJ’s.
>  Legal aid would be free upon request.
>  There would be private, secure rooms provided for all with an outdoor exercise
     yard complete with gardens.
>  Each senior would have a private computer, TV, radio, and phone in their room
     at no cost.
>  They would receive daily phone calls.
>  There would be a Board of Directors to hear any complaints and the rights organisations would fight for their rights and protection.
>  The guards would have a code of conduct to be strictly adhered to with attorneys
available at no charge to protect the Pensioners and their families from abuse or neglect.

As for the criminals:
>  They would receive cold food and receive showers once a week.
>  They would be left alone and unsupervised.
>  They would live in tiny rooms for which they would have to pay £5,000 per month.
>  They would have no hope of ever getting out.
>  Their families would not bother visiting them once they were "settled in", saying "it just upsets them"

Sorry. It's not really a joke, is it.

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Thursday, 6 July 2017

Holding Thameslink to account

I wasn't planning on finishing this blog this morning, but thanks to Thameslink cancelling the 07:47 from Mill Hill, I've had some extra time to do it. It seems that Barnet Council are holding a meeting with Thameslink to discuss their service. Adam Langleben, a Labour Councillor has asked the public to raise their concerns with him

There are many questions I'd like to ask. The scope of the failure of Thameslink Govia is laid bare by the number of people who travel from Mill Hill. This has dropped by over 650,000 in a year according to the latest travel survey

2014–15 Increase 2.675 million
2015–16 Decrease 1.949 million
Rail statistics. Office of Rail Regulation.

Clearly that is a massive indictment of the poor service provided by Thameslink. On Monday (the latest available figure), only 69% of trains ran on time on the route

As you can see, this is woeful.

The obvious question is 'when can we expect to see some respite from this woeful service?'

I also have several questions specific to Mill Hill, which I use on a daily basis.

1. When can we expect step free access? Thameslink could deliver this easily and cheaply via lifts and a footbridge using the existing access on platform 4. The station used to have a lift to platform 1, which was actually removed by First Capital Connect when the booking hall was refurbished. The platform 4 option would require co operation with Barnet Council, so what better time to do it?

2. Toilets at Mill Hill station. The station previously had toilets on platform 1. It is ridiculous that a station used by 2 million people a year has no toilet.

3. Under British Rail there were 8 rush hour trains an hour, privatisation has decimated the service from Mill Hill. When will this be restored?

4. Under British Rail, when trains were cancelled, fast services were stopped to help relieve congestion. Now they whizz through, half empty. When trains arrive, they are full and people can't get on. This results in the train taking longer to depart, further delaying things. The solution is simple, stop a fast service.

5. When the service fails, trains are too full to board. Thameslink refuse to pay compensation as the train ran. This is clearly a failed service. Compensations reflect the ability to travel.

6. Previously when Govia ran the service, season ticket holders got an automatic discount, now you need to manually claim it. Train operator companies get a refund from Network Rail but this isn't being passed on, this is clearly unfair.

These are my questions. Please tweet yours to Adam Langleben
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Wednesday, 5 July 2017

The Wednesday Poem #22 - Fog

Fog 

Rolling back to reveal my face
I'm standing in the marketplace
Where memories when lost or old 
can be exchanged and bought and sold

The fog is clearing to reveal 
The last ten years, I just can feel
I see them now displayed in glow
Memories of ten years ago

Rolling back to reveal the truth 
to show my life from its roots
my memories all disappear
The mindless blank is what I fear

Copyright 1979 - Pete Conway

Guest Poems are always welcome

Today's poem is dedicated to everyone coping with dementia and caring for those who are affected. Make today the day you ring up, visit or show them some love. Specially dedicated to my Auntie Audrey and Uncle Michael.



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Tuesday, 4 July 2017

The Tuesday Rant - Foxhunting

Let's get something straight first. I've no issue with farmers shooting foxes to protect livestock. I've no problem with people keeping moghies or Jack Russell terriers to kill rats. I've no issue at all with killing animals for food or essential medical research (although I do for cosmetics). I have no issue with using hawks to control pigeons or even farms shooting them with shotguns to protect crops. None of those activities excite me, but I accept they need to be done to protect our food and health.

Fox hunting is however a totally different matter. As far as I am concerned, you'd have to be a sociopath to even start to think it is an alright thing to do. It is not a sport, a sport has two evenly matched parties with an unpredictable outcome. Both play with consent. Fox hunting is simply an excuse for a bunch of revolting half wits, who have an overblown sense of entitlement to run rampage across the country and glory in the brutal killing of animals. Foxhounds are not treated like domestic dogs and when their 'useful life' is over they are usually put down. The practice has little value in pest control as farmers generally deal with nuisance foxes with a shotgun. The argument that it is part of country life is like claiming sexual abuse is part of being an alter server at church. The only economy it serves is its own bubble and does nothing for poverty in rural areas. If it did, then such poverty wouldn't exist. There can be no argument that hunts benefit the environment as fishing clubs do. Fishing clubs manage Waters and preserve ecosystems. If hunts claim foxes are vermin and require destruction, how can they claim that they are preserving ecosystems? Foxes are a nuisance and in urban areas are increasingly becoming a problem, however no one is claiming a hunt in St Johns Wood or Hyde park is the answer.

To me it beggars belief that the Tories even considered bringing it back. The UK should be a forward looking nation, not a bastion of Middle Ages cruelty.

Rant over
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Monday, 3 July 2017

A summer of festivals on your doorstep!

It has been a very busy summer for me. I've been involved in helping put together five different local festivals so far! My involvement in each has been different. Some I've been involved in planning, selecting bands and scheduling, some I've just been responsible organising PA's. There has been one theme running through all so far. I've been absolutely chuffed to death with the amazing response and apetite for live music. It all started for me in May with the North Finchley Fest!

We had 50 bands/artists at six venues in two days. From start to finish we had a great audience response. I had the privelidge of playing with my band, The False Dots on the Saturday night. We got a great reception.  Over 1,600 people attended the six venues over two days. A pretty awesome start to the local festival season! Here's a tweet with a nice piccie of us lot live at The Bohemia!
Next up we had The Mill Hill Street Market festival in Mid June, in the designated "pocket park" area in Brockenhurst Gardens on The Broadway. We had a great selection of bands and the bar did really well as well.


That weekend also saw the start of the Mill Hill Music Festival. That again was a great success, the festival seems to go from strength to strength. Over 250 people turned up for The Silencerz and Recollection at The Mill Hill Golf club and bopped till they dropped. The nine other events were also very well attended, with over 1,500 people attending the festival in total.

Last weekend, we had two festivals we were involved with. We had the pleasure of playing at Jestefest, in Fortune Green, just over the border in Fortune Green, West Hampstead, in the London Borough of Camden. I had the pleasure of also doing the early shift of MC'ing, introducing the Mayor of Camden to open the show.  We even got our picture in the Ham & High Gallery (although they cropped my ugly mug off it!)

The False Dots onstage (click for link to full Mam & High story)
The crowds really came out for the sunshine and fun at Jesterfest. Many people I spoke to on Sunday, had come back following a great day on Saturday. One lady told me she'd been walking her dog on Saturday and had stayed for the duration.
And finally we also had The Cricklewood Festival,


Yet again, there were decent crowds and a great reception for the music. Yet again some great artists appeaaring! The festival was closed with a very energetic and inspiring finale with local rockers Harri Paul!
And the summer fun is not over yet. We have the Wembley Festival coming up. Make sure to check it out.

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Sunday, 2 July 2017

The Tweets of The week in The London Borough of Barnet 02/07/2017

It's Sunday, so it's time for our most popular regular feature! Please don't forget to follow any local tweeters who tickle your fancy or have something interesting to say! We think we have a rather sumptuous selection of tasty tweets for you this week! There has been some good stuff going on in our neighbourhood!

1. On of our favourite pubs is in the runniong for an award! This is the gaffe where we have our community awards, so they thorughly deserve it

2. Some fun was had in Chricklewood yesterday!

3. The worlds finest Rugby club were frolicing in the Sun yesterday!

4.Some great news for our less mobile friends in Mill Hill East!

5. We cannot praise our emergency services too highly 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

6. There is a Festival in East Barnet today, why not nip along and enjoy some sunshine and fun!

7. We like a good historical photo for our collection and we rather like this one!

8. It was this big! The Swathmore Lecture was filmed in Golders Green this week

9. It would be criminal to miss this clip out. Perhaps the day that the UK was saved and it happened in Hendon.

10. Mill Hill Music goes to the Jesterfest in Fortune Green on a magnificent weekend of fantastic local festivals

That's all folkie wolkies!


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Saturday, 1 July 2017

The Saturday List #136 - Rog T's Ten commandments

1. Though shalt not be an hurt anything for fun!

2. Though shalt respect planet Earth!

3. Though shalt clear up thine own mess!

4. Though shalt make someone happy today!

5. Though shalt not despise your fellow man for his faith or lack of it!

6. Though shalt enjoy thine cash, not hoard it and share it with those with less!

7. Though shalt make music and be happy!

8. Though shalt not cast thine vote for those though know to be greedy, dishonest, corrupt or evil!

9. Though shalt not turn the other cheek to injustice!

10. Though shalt love thine children, especially when they do not meet thine aspirations!

They are my rules!
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