The totally off-topic thread

[TonyHancock]

Only four more sectors remaining this year.

 

[dfcatch]

Don't worry. It is my turn for delays tomorrow afternoon....

I know

I did look for you - then I realized it was only Thursday!!

 

[jetlagger]

Only four more sectors remaining this year.

& I as on behalf of many look forward to your November diary Tony... Thanks in advance for your considerate consistency

 

[penegal]

Only four more sectors remaining this year.

Don't you mean that you just haven't booked the rest yet?

 

[penegal]

Been hectic (and sick) recently.

Saw the doctor a few days ago, never seem to walk out of there with good news

 

[JessicaTam]

Been hectic (and sick) recently.

Saw the doctor a few days ago, never seem to walk out of there with good news

Hopefully it is only temporary.

 

[penegal]

Hopefully it is only temporary.

Thanks JT... What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I should be fine, just should probably take it 'easy' for a little while.

 

[simongr]

Only four more sectors remaining this year.

Still eight more DOM sectors this year - I can some points upgrades in my future...

 

[medhead]

I think I have 11 sectors.


Sent from the Throne

 

[anat0l]

As Schoolies starts to wind down, two stories that stand out from News.com.au:

He's not sorry - ledge idiot Cameron Cox shown the door | News.com.au

Girl, 17, dies during Schoolies after falling from high rise balcony in Surfers Paradise | News.com.au

The question does arise: is any empathy or sympathy deserved in any of these stories...



...but on a more positive note, here's an interesting one, which may spawn into a new thread:

Girl, 10, campaigns to honour black box inventor | News.com.au

 

[Katie]

Big dramas at Little Miss's school this past week. Got an email Fri night to let us know the outside school hours care (OSHC) provider - you know, before and after school care & vacation care mob - was not the successful tenderer to supply OSHC to the school for the next 5 years. Qld Govt/DETE now requires OSHC to go to tender every 5 years, if the P&C does not want to run OSHC as a sub-committee. So it went for tender earlier this year, only not-for-profits could tender in this process. I believe the final decision was made by the Chief Procurement Office in the govt.
Our school has had a community, not-for-profit OSHC provider for ~20 years, with many staff working there for 5+years. So, they will be shutting operations in a few weeks, and the new provider is now going to start a little earlier than planned (rather than early Jan).

Quite a heated P&C meeting (with lots of attendees! Stark contrast to the one in the winter months where we couldn't hold it as we didn't have a quorum) earlier in the week, as well as a not terribly helpful information session with the new providers with lots of "we need to work with parents to find out what they want/need to recruit for staff, etc" answers to questions. I know they only found out they got the tender on Fri night, but I'm hoping they can put together something decent for vacation care in three weeks time!

Wondering what the appeal process is for tender decisions. As parents/the P&C/the school were not tenderers, as third parties, we can't ask for any information around the tendering process. But I think somehow, someway those who wish to can appeal the tender decision.

Didn't think such "excitement" would happen in Little Miss's first year of school. :shock:

 

[penegal]

...but on a more positive note, here's an interesting one, which may spawn into a new thread:

Girl, 10, campaigns to honour black box inventor | News.com.au

That would be positive...

 

[JohnK]

I know

I did look for you - then I realized it was only Thursday!!

Fingers crossed but all is OK so far with only a few minutes to boarding.

 

[QF WP]

Big dramas at Little Miss's school this past week. Got an email Fri night to let us know the outside school hours care (OSHC) provider - you know, before and after school care & vacation care mob - was not the successful tenderer to supply OSHC to the school for the next 5 years. Qld Govt/DETE now requires OSHC to go to tender every 5 years, if the P&C does not want to run OSHC as a sub-committee. So it went for tender earlier this year, only not-for-profits could tender in this process. I believe the final decision was made by the Chief Procurement Office in the govt.
Our school has had a community, not-for-profit OSHC provider for ~20 years, with many staff working there for 5+years. So, they will be shutting operations in a few weeks, and the new provider is now going to start a little earlier than planned (rather than early Jan).

Quite a heated P&C meeting (with lots of attendees! Stark contrast to the one in the winter months where we couldn't hold it as we didn't have a quorum) earlier in the week, as well as a not terribly helpful information session with the new providers with lots of "we need to work with parents to find out what they want/need to recruit for staff, etc" answers to questions. I know they only found out they got the tender on Fri night, but I'm hoping they can put together something decent for vacation care in three weeks time!

Wondering what the appeal process is for tender decisions. As parents/the P&C/the school were not tenderers, as third parties, we can't ask for any information around the tendering process. But I think somehow, someway those who wish to can appeal the tender decision.

Didn't think such "excitement" would happen in Little Miss's first year of school. :shock:

Exactly the same at MissLW's state school, the incumbent has been shown the door - although some of their staff have applied with the NFP awarded the contract. MissLW goes twice a week and really likes some of them. Not sure who has successfully transfer yet.

 

[amaroo]

As Schoolies starts to wind down, two stories that stand out from News.com.au:

Girl, 17, dies during Schoolies after falling from high rise balcony in Surfers Paradise | News.com.au

The question does arise: is any empathy or sympathy deserved in any of these stories...

I hope I never see the day where sympathy or empathy is not forthcoming with the passing of such a young life!

 

[JohnK]

The question does arise: is any empathy or sympathy deserved in any of these stories...

It is really really sad to read these type of stories.

Time to end this stupidity. No need for week long celebrations.

 

[markis10]

It is really really sad to read these type of stories.

Time to end this stupidity. No need for week long celebrations.

Schoolies warned over highrise balcony hopping after two men fall on Gold Coast | The Courier-Mail

There have been a lot of deaths down the coast including quite a few at the same location over the years, its more to do with partying and alcohol than just Year 12 celebrations, meanwhile the road continues to claim a greater share of young talent.

 

[Katie]

Exactly the same at MissLW's state school, the incumbent has been shown the door - although some of their staff have applied with the NFP awarded the contract. MissLW goes twice a week and really likes some of them. Not sure who has successfully transfer yet.

Might PM you on this Lindsay. Am wondering if the new provider for you is the same new provider for us. Staff currently with our incumbent are invited to seek employment with the new provider. Shall see what happens & after the churn of daycare, I think Little Miss will cope fine of the decision can't be overturned.
I asked my Little Miss what she wanted to do with vac care if there was an option tobe with some of the incumbent's staff. Her mercenary response was to ask who had excursions ...

Cynical side of me/Mr Katie is wondering if the Qld govt is actually working towards a "preferred supplier" model through these tenders.

 

[amaroo]

Big dramas at Little Miss's school this past week. Got an email Fri night to let us know the outside school hours care (OSHC) provider - you know, before and after school care & vacation care mob - was not the successful tenderer to supply OSHC to the school for the next 5 years. Qld Govt/DETE now requires OSHC to go to tender every 5 years, if the P&C does not want to run OSHC as a sub-committee. So it went for tender earlier this year, only not-for-profits could tender in this process. I believe the final decision was made by the Chief Procurement Office in the govt.
Our school has had a community, not-for-profit OSHC provider for ~20 years, with many staff working there for 5+years. So, they will be shutting operations in a few weeks, and the new provider is now going to start a little earlier than planned (rather than early Jan).

Quite a heated P&C meeting (with lots of attendees! Stark contrast to the one in the winter months where we couldn't hold it as we didn't have a quorum) earlier in the week, as well as a not terribly helpful information session with the new providers with lots of "we need to work with parents to find out what they want/need to recruit for staff, etc" answers to questions. I know they only found out they got the tender on Fri night, but I'm hoping they can put together something decent for vacation care in three weeks time!

Wondering what the appeal process is for tender decisions. As parents/the P&C/the school were not tenderers, as third parties, we can't ask for any information around the tendering process. But I think somehow, someway those who wish to can appeal the tender decision.

Didn't think such "excitement" would happen in Little Miss's first year of school. :shock:

Exactly the same at MissLW's state school, the incumbent has been shown the door - although some of their staff have applied with the NFP awarded the contract. MissLW goes twice a week and really likes some of them. Not sure who has successfully transfer yet.

Big news in Brissie - Parents want answers after school care provider terminated at Winsdor State School | Local news, events and sport from central Brisbane | The Courier-Mail

 

[Hvr]

Some things you shouldn't combine:

Picoprep, Glycoprep and packing for a removal.

That's going to be one helluva removal!

Good for cleaning up right through.

Well everything has been done and someone has the photos to prove it! :mrgreen: (not me I hasten to add!).

However, afterwards I wasn't allowed to leave by myself so I had to stay in the hospital for 12 hours. Grr. Fortunately they found a bed and fed me. However before discharge (and paying $5 to watch the television!) I was asked to read a form detailing what I wasn't allowed to do for the next 24 hours. One of which was sign important documents. I was then asked to sign said document. I asked if by signing was I breaching what I wasn't allowed to do?

I am now thought of as a smart cough by the nursing staff, ironic really considering what was done to me. However, it was sign it or stay the night. I never seek to antagonise nursing staff but this was at the end of a long and frustrating day.

And they wonder why men don't do preventative medicine? The actual procedure wasn't as bad as the cough (pun always intended!) I had to go through to be allowed to actually have the procedure because there was no one to take me home, despite them knowing this for the last 14 months I was on the waiting list (6 months later than the originally advised waiting period) and a notation on my admission form. The anaesthesiologist was ropable with the staff when told about, and subsequently seeing this notation and finding out nothing was prepared for me.

I then had to take a taxi the very short distance home, in fact I waited longer for the taxi than it would've taken to walk.