Fred's ramblings

[SUP]

@fredk I wish we had something like that here. I'm sure most people would not mind the 5% increase in taxes. But the insurance lobbies and their political lackies will not allow it.

Now getting out of this topic before people jump on me about it!

[Sheilajeanne]

Canadians have government medical coverage too. The most expensive part of my cancer treatment was the parking at the hospital. I even caught a break on that, as they made the parking free during the COVID pandemic!  Prescriptions were covered too, as I'm a senior, though the pharmacy charges a small dispensing fee. 

[dikman]

Handstitched, if you've got a dr. that bulk bills consider yourself very lucky! We don't know any that do, they are (very) few and far between. My dr's clinic used to do it but they stopped sometime ago as they were losing money due to the pittance that the government re-imbursed them. Even with the recent increases from the government (first increases since medicare came in many years ago) they still can't afford to bulkbill because of all their other rising costs. In theory Medicare is a great system, in practice it's struggling, and guess why? The incompetence of successive governments.

[Handstitched]

On 4/20/2024 at 1:53 PM, dikman said:

Handstitched, if you've got a dr. that bulk bills consider yourself very lucky!

Yeh I agree, but we never take it for granted, it could stop anytime. Our lil ol' 'town only has 1700 people, and the majority are elderly, the original people that were born here, so perhaps thats  why we have a bulk billing Dr . But for any specialist care or treatment, we have to travel, thats the downside, the disadvantage of living in the bush.

I also agree with SUP, perhaps not to get into it too much, don't want '" polutiks '' clouding the issue  

HS

[fredk]

I finally got around to making some pouches for my stitching chisels. They've been in a small box in my tool box, all mixed together. Now I won't have to waste time sorting them out each time I need them. Nowt fancy, just some scrap upholstery grade leather, cut into strips, folded over and glued along the edges and a resin snap added to keep them closed. I'll have one more to do soon as I've ordered 5mm chisels

Edited April 25, 2024 by fredk

[fredk]

Lately I bought two new sewing machines

Two music boxes   Pull the drawer out on each and they play. On the first the foot pedal goes up and down, and on both the spool on the top goes around, the hand-wheel goes around and the needle bar goes up & down. The windup is on the side you can't see

They are much bigger than they look    The 'Singer' is 17 cm tall and ''The Boss' is 21 cm

I bought the first cos it looks like a Singer and the second cos it sort of resembles 'The Boss' . I haven't figured out what tune they play.    I may be able to change the roller and keys in each to play something recognizable  

[Sheilajeanne]

My mom bought me a small hand-cranked sewing machine when I was a kid. It wasn't a music box - it was meant to actually WORK!  I made a few things with it, and this resulted in her teaching me to use HER full sized electric machine! 

Although I never fell in love with sewing, I did make some of my own clothes in my pre-teens and teens. It was a very useful skill to have. 

 

Edited May 18, 2024 by Sheilajeanne

[fredk]

imo sewing is one of those life-skills that is no longer taught, either at home or in school

[Northmount]

20 minutes ago, fredk said:

imo sewing is one of those life-skills that is no longer taught, either at home or in school

I feel like there are a lot of real life skills that are no longer taught.  One is to work for what you want, pay your way.

[leatherfarms]

Very true words Northmount!