Busy times
Dec. 18th, 2008 04:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
suzyscottdotcomIt has been a busy week – as ever, at this time of year! I am a little behind with things, but I think I’ve caught up to most. I’ll be doing another transport post later, but first, here’s what I’ve been up to.
I can now say that all the cards (paper and email), plus the rest, are all done. Some fairly positive feedback from the calendar distribution exercise earlier, and you can download the calendars online - ABF or DABF.
Oh, and if I’ve not managed to track you down, or email you a Christmas Card from the two of us, please feel free to download one here.
Monday 15th December, I went into Cambridge, for the first of two days back-to-back. Monday started with a trip to Boots Opticians in town, following a request from Caroline. After various checks, no further assistance (glasses etc.) needed – the last time I’d been to an optician was three and a half years ago, after I’d started transition, but before HRT. They do say that the latter can help such matters, apparently. The second half of the day was an appointment at Cambridge Regional College Riverside Studios, for a blend epilation (electrolysis) session on the face. It was my first one, and not as painful as I’d imagined it might be! After dropping in some gifts on the way back for the train (and grabbing copies of the other local train timetables for circulation to friends), I went back to Royston.
Additionally, I had put a Freedom of Information request into the local healthcare trust (PCT) re policies on moving and gender dysphoria policies. This was for the avoidance of doubt, and to understand where we stood – as my meds are prescribed, but Caroline’s were private, following previous issues. Now, last week, I, allowing the usual timescales, forwarded my issue to the Information Commissioner (despite all my FOI and FOIL requests in the UK and the US, this was the first time I’d had to make such a move!), who discussed the matter with the PCT’s FOI person at the QEII hospital in Welwyn. Now, to give him his due, he was most apologetic, and very helpful, once I got a reply. He promised to obtain the document from the East of England Specialised Commissioning Group of the NHS (all the East of England PCT’s together), and I got this 20-page (or 5 page summary) document whilst out in Cambridge. It was a bit big for the phone to digest, so I had a look at the PDF when I got home. Having read through this, I then made dinner for Caroline, as she had some reading to do! The new policy, done this summer, was a step change, based on what Caroline had encountered from the previous PCT in the past.
Tuesday 16th December, I went into Cambridge, and onto Milton to work. Firstly, some excellent news, even if I do say so myself. You may recall I mentioned that the helpline funding was up for tender, on the basis of one centre providing the service (rather than two), with some funding from HMPS/NOMS somewhere. Well, the bids went in, and from April, we’ll be sole service provider, for one year initially. My boss was stuffed with the cold, but still managed to plough on. I’d come in just before 1300, to find one of our new volunteers had stayed back to meet me (before going around 1310) – which impressed me! Our callers will be aware that we do a quarterly Ethnic Monitoring Survey. This used to be an A4 sheet, with tick boxes for Ethnic Origin, Gender, and a one-line entry box for entering the place they were calling from, which I had to translate into one of the areas (which overlap with the service areas in England and Wales). Apparently, it previously took them several days per quarter, but only took me a day and a bit, or two if mixed with other tasks – part geographical knowledge, part typing speed! I decided to do a redesign on the form, to add in a tick box for each area, and a few other refinements (such as a “Other/Not Specified” box under gender!) the form was approved. So, I was able to input just over 300 forms in little over three hours – an improvement on my own speed too. When taking the calls and completing the forms (in November), it’s easier to give just three tick boxes, and the form is mostly complete – a little change being the most effective! After work, back into Cambridge, and sat at Costa at The Grafton for a bit, before going back to CRC for an early evening appointment, for an arm wax. Caroline didn’t think it was needed, but is very impressed with the smoothness since!
Wednesday 17th December, and we’d gone into see our doctor – well, I booked an appointment for Caroline, so she could discuss the above, and her requirements for completing a form for Caroline’s GRC application. Again, to give him his due, he wasn’t aware, but he appreciated all the documents, and would make sure it was done. So, it looks like our slight one-sided abnormality regarding meds may well be resolved in the new year – certainly, legally as well as per policy, it looks like it has to be done. We shall see, but it would be another excellent boost to the New Year.
Wednesday evening, I’d given up with the Mac PowerBookG4, as it’s beginning to wear out. This is noticeable when the trackpad doesn’t work, and needs a mouse to be plugged in and removed several times… that, and the most annoying bit is the random keys. You are typing something, and suddenly the logic in it was all lost, and it took what you typed in to be a combination of Turn Down Brightness, Mute Volume, Activate Expose (F11) and type random gibberish. I don’t need help with the latter, as you’ve just proven. So, Wednesday night spent transferring, and this continued into Thursday. I’ve got the laptop for “duvet days”, and the PowerMac that I had in the study before, minus the monitor that would fall on my fingers. The laptop will be intended for studying with in the new year, too. Additionally, I’m trying out a combined mail function homepage and Outlook sync thingy from mail2web.com – works well for now, and also pushes all my mail to one place, and the iPod. Further experimentation is required, to get the right balance.
Thursday 18th December, and busy! I’ve been out briefly, after a request from a recipient of one of the printed cards for another for her mother, and picking up the long purple coat that I put in for dry cleaning and repairing last week. Now home, and busy as ever, but hello to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
transprose , who I found while clicking today.
I can now say that all the cards (paper and email), plus the rest, are all done. Some fairly positive feedback from the calendar distribution exercise earlier, and you can download the calendars online - ABF or DABF.
Oh, and if I’ve not managed to track you down, or email you a Christmas Card from the two of us, please feel free to download one here.
Monday 15th December, I went into Cambridge, for the first of two days back-to-back. Monday started with a trip to Boots Opticians in town, following a request from Caroline. After various checks, no further assistance (glasses etc.) needed – the last time I’d been to an optician was three and a half years ago, after I’d started transition, but before HRT. They do say that the latter can help such matters, apparently. The second half of the day was an appointment at Cambridge Regional College Riverside Studios, for a blend epilation (electrolysis) session on the face. It was my first one, and not as painful as I’d imagined it might be! After dropping in some gifts on the way back for the train (and grabbing copies of the other local train timetables for circulation to friends), I went back to Royston.
Additionally, I had put a Freedom of Information request into the local healthcare trust (PCT) re policies on moving and gender dysphoria policies. This was for the avoidance of doubt, and to understand where we stood – as my meds are prescribed, but Caroline’s were private, following previous issues. Now, last week, I, allowing the usual timescales, forwarded my issue to the Information Commissioner (despite all my FOI and FOIL requests in the UK and the US, this was the first time I’d had to make such a move!), who discussed the matter with the PCT’s FOI person at the QEII hospital in Welwyn. Now, to give him his due, he was most apologetic, and very helpful, once I got a reply. He promised to obtain the document from the East of England Specialised Commissioning Group of the NHS (all the East of England PCT’s together), and I got this 20-page (or 5 page summary) document whilst out in Cambridge. It was a bit big for the phone to digest, so I had a look at the PDF when I got home. Having read through this, I then made dinner for Caroline, as she had some reading to do! The new policy, done this summer, was a step change, based on what Caroline had encountered from the previous PCT in the past.
Tuesday 16th December, I went into Cambridge, and onto Milton to work. Firstly, some excellent news, even if I do say so myself. You may recall I mentioned that the helpline funding was up for tender, on the basis of one centre providing the service (rather than two), with some funding from HMPS/NOMS somewhere. Well, the bids went in, and from April, we’ll be sole service provider, for one year initially. My boss was stuffed with the cold, but still managed to plough on. I’d come in just before 1300, to find one of our new volunteers had stayed back to meet me (before going around 1310) – which impressed me! Our callers will be aware that we do a quarterly Ethnic Monitoring Survey. This used to be an A4 sheet, with tick boxes for Ethnic Origin, Gender, and a one-line entry box for entering the place they were calling from, which I had to translate into one of the areas (which overlap with the service areas in England and Wales). Apparently, it previously took them several days per quarter, but only took me a day and a bit, or two if mixed with other tasks – part geographical knowledge, part typing speed! I decided to do a redesign on the form, to add in a tick box for each area, and a few other refinements (such as a “Other/Not Specified” box under gender!) the form was approved. So, I was able to input just over 300 forms in little over three hours – an improvement on my own speed too. When taking the calls and completing the forms (in November), it’s easier to give just three tick boxes, and the form is mostly complete – a little change being the most effective! After work, back into Cambridge, and sat at Costa at The Grafton for a bit, before going back to CRC for an early evening appointment, for an arm wax. Caroline didn’t think it was needed, but is very impressed with the smoothness since!
Wednesday 17th December, and we’d gone into see our doctor – well, I booked an appointment for Caroline, so she could discuss the above, and her requirements for completing a form for Caroline’s GRC application. Again, to give him his due, he wasn’t aware, but he appreciated all the documents, and would make sure it was done. So, it looks like our slight one-sided abnormality regarding meds may well be resolved in the new year – certainly, legally as well as per policy, it looks like it has to be done. We shall see, but it would be another excellent boost to the New Year.
Wednesday evening, I’d given up with the Mac PowerBookG4, as it’s beginning to wear out. This is noticeable when the trackpad doesn’t work, and needs a mouse to be plugged in and removed several times… that, and the most annoying bit is the random keys. You are typing something, and suddenly the logic in it was all lost, and it took what you typed in to be a combination of Turn Down Brightness, Mute Volume, Activate Expose (F11) and type random gibberish. I don’t need help with the latter, as you’ve just proven. So, Wednesday night spent transferring, and this continued into Thursday. I’ve got the laptop for “duvet days”, and the PowerMac that I had in the study before, minus the monitor that would fall on my fingers. The laptop will be intended for studying with in the new year, too. Additionally, I’m trying out a combined mail function homepage and Outlook sync thingy from mail2web.com – works well for now, and also pushes all my mail to one place, and the iPod. Further experimentation is required, to get the right balance.
Thursday 18th December, and busy! I’ve been out briefly, after a request from a recipient of one of the printed cards for another for her mother, and picking up the long purple coat that I put in for dry cleaning and repairing last week. Now home, and busy as ever, but hello to
transprose , who I found while clicking today.
