Grumble Thread

[oddoneout]

I "lost" Word some years ago after the PC had been in for some major work and it wasn't re-installed, so I've been using Office since. It hasn't been an issue until relatively recently when some newer members of a Friends group for which I take notes at meetings complained that they couldn't open the odt document on their phone, Mac or whatever - there seemed no consistency as to which device. Someone else kindly changed my version before distribution as I couldn't work out an alternative at the time. However after a bit of digging I tried using an option that appeared on a "save as" menu. One of the people who had a problem reported back that it had worked, and 2 who hadn't had a problem anyway were kind enough to say the new version worked for them. Perhaps at the meeting next week I'll find out if no news is good news as far as the non-feedback from all the others, or if it's just because they don't read the notes anyway, which I gather is the case for at least 2 of them...

[french frank]

Yes and more:

Just the facts, ma'am. Just the facts All I need is word processor and spreadsheets (Fun projects? )

I'm having 'fun' with the keyboard on the new Mac atm. It keeps changing the language and when I key in my passwords it rejects them because it's using Greek characters or the French azerty keyboard. I was replying to a post earlier and all my a's turned into q's and m's into , , , , . I've now deleted all languages (including Czech and Welsh) bar 'British' from the keyboard.

[Old Grumpy]

Just the facts, ma'am. Just the facts All I need is word processor and spreadsheets (Fun projects? )

I'm having 'fun' with the keyboard on the new Mac atm. It keeps changing the language and when I key in my passwords it rejects them because it's using Greek characters or the French azerty keyboard. I was replying to a post earlier and all my a's turned into q's and m's into , , , , . I've now deleted all languages (including Czech and Welsh) bar 'British' from the keyboard.

. All the fun of the fair!

[Cockney Sparrow]

I find Office 2019 irritating, and continually consider switching allegiance to Libre office. I'm reluctant to subscribe to Office 365 or whatever Microsoft call it at the moment..

If you (internet) search "libreoffice always save as .docx" in the word processor and "libreoffice always save as .xlsx" for the spreadsheet you should find out how to always work in an MS Office file format. (This is from a computer magazine I read on Tuesday - I haven't used that method myself but I have used Libre Office for a few months in the past and used Office file formats without trouble).

[french frank]

If you (internet) search "libreoffice always save as .docx" in the word processor and "libreoffice always save as .xlsx" for the spreadsheet you should find out how to always work in an MS Office file format. (This is from a computer magazine I read on Tuesday - I haven't used that method myself but I have used Libre Office for a few months in the past and used Office file formats without trouble).

Thanks CS. I'll experiment with that. Meanwhile I'm avoiding the hassle by using my 2016 Macbook - still good for its 'age'.

[Dave2002]

Thanks CS. I'll experiment with that. Meanwhile I'm avoiding the hassle by using my 2016 Macbook - still good for its 'age'.

My MacBook Pro is a few years older. I was using Open Office until recently, and also on the desktop [newer -2019 ish], but it went bad a few months ago. I always thought LibreOffice was more problematic, but now it’s all I’ve got left, though I do have a share of an MS365 account. I prefer the spreadsheet in MS Office - but I’m not so fussed about Word. What does annoy me is having to remember the codes for MS365 to work. Never had that faff in the days when I had MS Office installed.

It should generally be possible to save in a Microsoft format from OpenOffice or LibreOffice, if needed to avoid .odt [ Open Doc Text] files, or .ods {Open Doc Spreadsheet] files/.

Re Pages it does seem to have got better in the last year or so, and should be able to read and also edit/create MS files. However I still thoroughly dislike Numbers, though Keynote often gives better results than PowerPoint.

[Pulcinella]

I've had a hacking cough for over four weeks now (unable to sing at choir, and we have a concert coming up that I'd really like to be part of). After comments from several members there and neighbours, I've just been to the GP surgery to seek their advice (I didn't know what approach to take if I used their preferred online request option; the pharmacy simply suggested cough syrup), and although the receptionist as usual was very kind and considerate, my 'request' has been treated as 'routine', with an expectation to hear from them in 4 to 6 weeks, and advice to contact them again in the meantime if it got worse.

At least something should now be on my medical record, which was part of my rationale for going, but the system truly is broken.
There probably is nothing that can be done other than letting whatever infection I have run its course, but it's not very reassuring.

[smittims]

My recent experience mirrors yours. Something really must be done about our collapsing NHS. I don't blame the front-line people. We all know where the problem lies

[Sir Velo]

My recent experience mirrors yours. Something really must be done about our collapsing NHS. I don't blame the front-line people. We all know where the problem lies

What would help immeasurably would be if the government had the balls to tackle the biggest epidemic of them all

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/mar/10/hugh-fearnley-whittingstall-accuses-ministers-obesity-england

[LMcD]

What would help immeasurably would be if the government had the balls to tackle the biggest epidemic of them all
https://www.theguardian.com/society/...besity-england

Fat chance! (Joking about it stops me getting angry).

[smittims]

Yes, I heard recently that some people are too heavy for ambulances

[oddoneout]

Yes, I heard recently that some people are too heavy for ambulances

I don't know what the situation is now but years ago the only ambulances that could be used for moving morbidly obese people to hospital belonged to the St John Ambulance folk - and that was something of a postcode lottery to say the least! I imagine as NHS(are they still NHS or are they Trust and leased back or somesuch?) ambulances are replaced they are upgraded for larger loads but even so there is a limit, you can't leave out the paramedic, and somebody may have to accompany the patient rather than follow behind.

[oddoneout]

My recent experience mirrors yours. Something really must be done about our collapsing NHS. I don't blame the front-line people. We all know where the problem lies

My experience with a back appointment and the follow-up(or not) has been an example of things being made worse by attempts to plug one hole having a knock-on effect down the line. My GP referred me due to a worsening of my scoliosis, as it had been 7 years since I was last seen. I knew, and she warned me, there would be a wait. During that time I had two calls, one asking if I still needed the appointment and asking some questions about my physical and mental state, and a second asking if I would be prepared to go elsewhere(including out of county) to be seen as that might reduce the waiting time - not an option for me due to transport constraints, as had already been notified. More questions, but more detailed than before. Frustratingly, neither person could answer my questions as to why I was on the spinal surgery route, since I'd already been told 7 years ago that surgery wasn't an option, as their job was simply to phone patients on the waiting list, establish they were still alive, and not suicidal. I did manage to speak to someone at the hospital about the surgery question and the answer was that that was how it was done now, having changed since my previous appointment. Eventually I got a date, 14 months after the referral was made, but it was at a medical centre not in hospital, so no Xrays could be done, and the consultant was in a mood as he had been delayed by a meeting, couldn't find the things he needed as it wasn't his place of work, and the computer was being uncooperative. So, a part consultation, presumably as a way to tick me off the waiting list, Xray appointment a month later, consultation appointment part 2(at hospital) 3 months after that. Except that I didn't see the same person, I saw his registrar who had been told I think what he was to talk at me about(and that was how it was conducted, I didn't get any input), much of which wasn't what I needed or wanted to know and didn't in any case follow on from the preliminary part-consultation. So - 3 appointments over 4 months in 2 different places to (not)achieve what had 7 years previously been done in one go. The NHS split appointment version got me ticked off their waiting times data, but it can't have been the best use of expensive staff time, and only partly dealt with the reason for the referral request. I now have further difficulties, due to the 2nd consultation and the report dealing with pain management which wasn't what I was referred for, as the GP surgery refused today to give me an appointment to discuss the registrar's letter with a GP. According to the receptionist, who disappeared out the back for some time after I made my request, "the secretaries have read the letter and say there is no reason for you to see the doctor". I have to "exhaust the possibilities of physiotherapy("you have to really make an effort to stick with it you know or it won't help") and acupuncture" before I can talk to the doctor. There were so many things wrong with that verdict (not least it isn't what the letter actually says) I gave up; I didn't think I could keep my temper, there was a queue behind me, and she was the only person on duty. I know receptionists are a filtering/triage mechanism but I don't see that that stretches as far as secretaries reading an orthopaedic specialist's report and ruling on whether I can be given an appointment. I will go back next week and ask to speak to the practice manager.
Sorry that was a bit of a moan - but after 50 years of managing it myself with virtually no NHS input, and bearing in mind that future prospects are worrying, I don't think it is so much to ask that I speak to a GP. Or perhaps 2 appointments in 20 months(one for the referral and one for a reaction to a dental antibiotic ) is being too demanding...

[smittims]

Goodness, oddoneout, what an experience. I hope you have a successful outcome eventually. Getting an appointment these days is about as easy as getting a new opera staged.

[teamsaint]

Goodness, oddoneout, what an experience. I hope you have a successful outcome eventually. Getting an appointment these days is about as easy as getting a new opera staged.

When looking at the issues in the health service, following the money is unavoidable. And that includes looking at the worst of the inefficiencies, which are all too obvious.
An organisation as vast as the NHS will inevitably have bureaucratic failings, but some of the failings and inefficiencies are avoidable and very costly.

And yes, good luck to Odders in getting the treatment needed.