Thinking about my limited knowledge of different countries health care, I suspect that the crucial thing isn’t whether a country’s health care is privately-funded or state funded. Nor, I suspect, is it crucial whether the hospitals themselves are run by the state or private business or the Martians. I think the really vital thing is whether the politicians get the same care as the rest of us. Since they’ll take…
Divine Biscuits from the Cistercian Convent
The Cistercian convent at Buenavista in Breña Alta, La Palma The Cistercian convent of the Holy Trinity at Buenavista in Breña Alta is surprisingly new. It was founded in 1946, and it’s the only closed order on the island. I was surprised to find out that there are only ten nuns who live there. The convent has a small shop. I first went there about eleven years ago, in search…
Why would anyone prefer to be scared and miserable?
I made the mistake of trying to tell an American email friend that practically everything the US media say about the British health service is simply not true. They do not throw out premmie babies. They do not throw out old people. The do treat you for cancer if you’re old. They do treat overdoses. They don’t have a spending cap per person. I know this because I’ve lived it….
I Don’t Believe It!
(said in my best Victor Meldrew impersonation.) We’re on orange alert again, because there’s yet another storm headed our way. This one is small and intense and due to hit tonight with wind gusts up to 160 km/h on the peaks and possible heavy rain. The only good bit is that it’s zipping along so fast that it should be over by lunchtime Saturday. The observatory has been evacuated, the…
An Octupus and a Sardine
The Octopus’s funeral has been rescheduled for Friday 26th. The procession will leave the pharmacy at 8 pm and make its way to the beach, where the octopus will be cremated. There will be fireworks and dancing. Everybody welcome.This is a new fiesta, so it’ll be interesting to see Meanwhile the sardine’s funeral at Los Sauces will take place on Saturday 27th. The percussion music starts at 8 pm and…
North Road Closing
We’ve had major roadworks in the north of the island for some time, with some places reduced to one lane, so that you have to wait for traffic lights. Now they’ll be closing the road completely at km 24, just north of Los Sauces, twice a day. The road will be closed Monday – Friday 9:30 am – 12:30 am and 4 pm – 7 pm.