Category Archives: Health

Grenfell Tower, sprinkler systems and decision-making

Posted on November 17, 2017 by odeboyz

          Tower block living is problematical whether it’s social or private. The Grenfell Tower fire tragedy was a massive wake-up call for everyone associated with tower blocks either as residents or managers. The proposal to retro-fit … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Health, housing, Politics, tenants rights | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Adam Kay~ This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor

Posted on October 3, 2017 by odeboyz

Expectations are heightened when secret and diaries are juxtaposed. Samuel Pepys partially wrote his in code and James Boswell’s revelations were fiercely guarded for very good reasons. Neither of those diaries were published during their lifetimes so they really were … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Literature, Review | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A Natural Garden adjacent to our Tower Block

Posted on September 19, 2017 by odeboyz

This photograph was taken just fifty yards from a twelve story block of council flats, where 146 people live. A wild life garden, abundant with wild flowers and berries in autumn with small animals and insects throughout the year. It … Continue reading →

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British Social Care and Home Ownership

Posted on September 1, 2017 by odeboyz

The British family home has iconic status. Home ownership is longed-for and anyone not owning a house is silently thought of as, in some way, second class. Parents often give large amounts of cash to their adult children for deposits, … Continue reading →

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Himalayan Health Centre

Posted on September 1, 2017 by odeboyz

Ray H.

Posted in Health, Humour | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Book Review: Paul McGrath~ Back from the brink: The Autobiography (2006)

Posted on August 22, 2017 by odeboyz

Paul McGrath’s autobiography is a must read. It’s honest, brutally honest and oh-my-god honest. McGrath was brought up in a children’s home where discipline was ‘robust’. As a black boy, in racist Catholic Ireland, McGrath suffered tremendously. His natural athleticism … Continue reading →

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Our intolerant society: a rough sleeper in our tower block – London Borough of Havering 2017

Posted on August 11, 2017 by odeboyz

On our Council estate in north-east London we have a diverse group of people including some very obnoxious individuals. At the repulsive end of the spectrum our caretaker came across a woman sleeping rough in the basement of one of … Continue reading →

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Alzheimer’s

Posted on July 27, 2017 by odeboyz

Six years ago a nice elderly couple moved into our tower block opposite our flat. I was quite pleased as it meant we would probably have neighbours who wouldn’t cause any nuisance, with loud music or have weird young yobs … Continue reading →

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Organic Food Eaters

Posted on July 14, 2017 by odeboyz

“Most people don’t realize this, but you can eat organic, all natural, gluten-free food without telling everyone around you.” Chris Rock

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My disabled son and SCOPE

Posted on June 29, 2017 by odeboyz

This is a true story about my then young family. My eldest daughter Rita was about eleven years old whilst my three sons Terry, Steven and Robert were seven, five and three. So from about 1982 I was wearing several community … Continue reading →

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