Guilt Free Railing 13

[WouldBeGood]

Unlucky for some.. maybe lucky for us?

Finally got that blooming app to recognise me 😂 after 11pm seems to work.

I phoned my insurance company (AXA) to check and they do not stipulate anything about smoke alarms in their policy. The advisor said that the presence of working smoke alarms (or interlinked ) was not a condition of cover and they would write and inform if things changed.

Cool, that is a comfort as thinking about it lots of houses probably still don't have any form of smoke detector.

My neighbour works in insurance and says that, in her company at least, not having them won't invalidate existing claims.

An update from me about the vaccine passport exemption. I finally heard back from my MSP's assistant or whoever he is. No offer of sympathy for what I've gone through health-wise, just gleefully reiterating what a great idea it all is and people who can't have the vaccine just now, tough shit.

Apparently there will be exemption letters sent out in a few weeks, but, as he was again at pains to tell me, less than 0.1% of people can't have the vaccine and in most cases they can find a "pathway". In other words, not up to clinicians to decide.

Also linked me to their website. Now, that differed in an interesting way from the national one. The national one has a list of possible reasons for why you can't get vaccinated (including autism, which I have a diagnosis ofalthough that is not why I'm seeking exemption).

The Scottish one just tells us silly little children that Doctor will decide and let us know. We don't need to know things like reasons, that's up to the grown-ups in charge apparently.

So that's where I am just now. As I said before, the passes as they stand won't have much impact on me but I'm thinking if they get extended, or recognised by other countries with stricter pass systems, then that's a big big difference to my life.
I feel furious and resentful though. This has been ongoing stress which surprise surprise actually worsens my condition so cheers SG for making me sicker, thanks for that.

Thanks for the info re insurance and fire alarms will check ours and speak to them when we get back.

I'm loathed to do it because we live in a small fisherman's cottage it does not need 4 alarms it's complete overkill and a waste of money!

Good to know insurance companies aren't concerned just yet. I'm reluctant to change ours until the very last minute. We just bought ours now as there's a backlog and it won't arrive before November. I bet there's going to be a mad scramble to buy them once the government actually bothers to remind people /post through our letterbox rather than assume everyone picks up flyers at their library or leave it to sales companies to remind the public - again. They'll probably give people 12 hours notice like they did with the vaccine status app.

I contacted my local MSP at the start of the announcement regarding vaccine certificates and got the party line response. Essentially every valid concern I raised was ignored.

Can I rail about how long it takes to get the results of a pcr
My teenager had a headache and temp on Thursday, said he felt really weak, so we got him tested as an abundance of caution...
As of Friday afternoon he has been absolutely fine

But despite him being vaccinated and having had it previously we are now stuck in limbo..he can't do his part time job or see friends

If I hadn't had him tested we would just be going about our day as normal

Surely they need to make test results available within 3 hours and not 3 days..its no wonder the country is grinding to a halt..with everyone putting their life on hold for days at a time

Another vote of thanks for the alarms/insurance info.

Mrex . For you. Fewer than 0.1% or whatever it is is completely irrelevant to you.

frasersmummy How annoying. You've been penalised for being conscientious.

That is just total shite @MaxNormal. Appalling way to treat people. It’s all so dystopian.

So, railing about the suggestion that the SG rejected using the UK app for free, and spent all that money on setting up their own crap one, rather than the functioning English one..

That's £600,000 nhs money

Thanks guys. I'm not giving up yet! I've drafted a letter to my gp which I'll post shortly, will keep you guys updated.

The really frustrating thing is that England have launched an exemption mechanism process. Phone 119, get a form sent out, fill it in, take it to your gp to get signed.
List of exemptions for some reason includes autism which I have a diagnosis of.

So looks like I could realistically get exempted in England on a couple of grounds and use this for international travel in future?

Whereas here in Scotland.... well, we'll see.

I wish I could say I was surprised at them spunking away our money on a barely fit for purpose app rather than using the UK one but I'm not. Their insistance on being different has caused total headaches throughout the whole pandemic, which I railed about plenty previously, for instance that ridiculous nonsense of having to quarantine if landing in Scotland from anywhere abroad whereas one could happily just land in England and drive back.

In practice, this has meant that DH spent a ridiculous amount of time driving between Glasgow and Heathrow, including driving back when exhausted from long-haul flights.

The good news, for us personally, is that there is literally nothing beyond getting our arses in gear to sell the house keeping us here in Scotland. Just think, I could live somewhere where it didn't rain all the time, I needn't expect police at my door for tweeting about biology, and I might even not be a second class citizen. Imagine.

@WouldBeGood

So, railing about the suggestion that the SG rejected using the UK app for free, and spent all that money on setting up their own crap one, rather than the functioning English one..

I already knew this. The most hilarious thing is, it didn’t get awarded to a Scottish firm either. Even if it was to keep the spend here, to make a point about having ‘our own app’ but no, it’s money out of the door to pay for something that absolutely wasn’t needed. Ask yourself where the data about you is being held- you’re not even close to being right if you think it’s the sNHS that now have all your info. An utter fail all round.

Sorry you're having such a hard time @MaxNormal
Travel could be really difficult without it!

Be interesting see what happens with the exemptions.
Up until now the CMOs of the 4 nations have been in agreement on all things medical and presented a pretty united front.
This could be the first time they diverge in medical matters if England say there's conditions that shouldn't have the vaccine and Scotland say it's fine for them to have it 🤷🏼‍♀️

Oh, where is the data being held @OnceUponAWhine? Depress me further! Is it China?

DH finally managed to get the ill-fated app working and he said it uses Microsoft authentication.

sartorius I'm hopefully being unduly pessimistic, it's more than ScotGov aren't actually providing any information, unlike nationally, and after the last 18+ months I tend to think the worst as a knee-jerk reaction.

Look at Michael Riordan on Twitter on this, @MaxNormal

@WouldBeGood

So, railing about the suggestion that the SG rejected using the UK app for free, and spent all that money on setting up their own crap one, rather than the functioning English one..

This is so ffffing infuriating! What a bloody waste of money all to say noooooo I want to do it myself! Reminds me of having a convo with DS who's 2.5 years old!!!

Bloody disgusting when that could have been spent on health care or social care or to fund charity projects to help social issues but nope they have to show they can do it themselves....... Which has led to a shit show app which doesn't work!

There is no UK wide App. Wales and NI have their own also. The English App works for those who were vaccinated in England.

@StarryEyeSurprise they were offered the English app and refused: obviously it would have been able to save the same details.

I can’t see why having a special one just to save a QR code is helpful.

They’d probably even have let us put a saltire on it if we’d asked nicely

@StarryEyeSurprise

There is no UK wide App. Wales and NI have their own also. The English App works for those who were vaccinated in England.

SG still turned down a free app and wasted a load of money making their own for what??? For it not to work and to be a balls up!

We haven't been able to download it at all whilst we are still on holiday comes up with a error given its supposed to be for travel and vaccination passport it's a joke, an expensive and poor one at that!

[quote WouldBeGood]@StarryEyeSurprise they were offered the English app and refused: obviously it would have been able to save the same details.

I can’t see why having a special one just to save a QR code is helpful.[/quote]
"Residents of The Isle of Man cannot use the app as there is a requirement that you are registered with a GP in surgery in England."

"If you live in Wales, you cannot get it via the NHS app as this is only valid in England."

Again, the app is only valid in England. But go ahead and pretend that the other nations of the UK have thrown away thousands on developing their own apps.