Absolutely Anything Else

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Like nails down a blackboard....arrgghhh.

You have very high standards.

Not a critique. Admiration. I appreciate high standards. 

But sadly, I can not raise the challenge today. Today my standards are..... average. 

Try me tomorrow. After all, "tomorrow is another day" ~ Scarlett O'Hara -- Gone With the Wind (using a quote since I don't feel terribly original today..... )

Wasn't looking for admiration nor responses on a timetable.  I tend to waffle on and on and on.....and on even....even just for myself.  Did I mention I waffle?   I continue to struggle to be interested in my day job.  I wish they'd just give me the money. 

All and every subject welcome here in this safe space - even those of average averageness.

And it's raining....again.

fluffy2560 wrote:

Wasn't looking for admiration

Damn it man. Years ago I learned to stop being modest. I use to say, well, I am an "okay at XYZ'. Then I learned if I was ever to get anywhere I needed to have more faith in myself.

Today, I am a damn good at XYZ.

Maybe one of the best.

To hell with it, I am the "the" best.

For Christ sakes. take admiration when provided. and glow with it. 

fluffy2560 wrote:

I wish they'd just give me the money.

F*** that. Demand your money!!!!!

You earned it!

klsallee wrote:

.....Today, I am a damn good at XYZ. ...Maybe one of the best. ...To hell with it, I am the "the" best.  ...For Christ sakes. take admiration when provided. and glow with it.  ....You earned it!....

Obviously I didn't explain enough....

I started out working to get  the money in my idealistic phase.  I discounted the option of me giving them the money so I didn't have to do the work.  Now in my matrix of options, my other other plan is to have the money and not have to do anything whatsoever to get it.   But it's not working out. Still I live in hope this latest plan comes to something.  I missed that day in Master Criminal 101.

BTW, the usual thing in the military is never to volunteer for anything.  Obviously you get your orders and you have no choice but to carry them out regardless of any competence in the subject.  So as soon as the orders come, instead of trying to get out of it and explaining why you cannot do it to any level of skill which will just mean going on report, you start working immediately heavily on excuses why it failed. 

It's stopped raining.  Mrs Fluffy and Fluffyettes are back from Antman and The Wasp.  Looks cloudy with pizza forming.

I clicked on, "Bridget Jones Baby "on Netflix awhile ago.
Was too lazy to stop before getting pulled into the Matrix.
What a horror show that film was.
She really is a one trick pony, or a jack a**!
I was embarrassed for Colin Firth, he looked terrible and the acting was so flat and dull from everyone.
So unreal too, like 2 men are going to fight over some skank who doesn't even know who the babies father is?
Who in the world would even want to mate with a man so weak?
Gross...
Just like the other fake movie, "Pretty Women."
Yes, every wealthy man is looking to get hitched to a street walker!
In another reality maybe.
OK, so we know a few HU men who came to Hungary and married women who worked in the adult porn industry, didn't turn out well in the end for either of these guys...
They were HU men and so were their wives.
One guy is now dead and the other divorced...She got the house in Hawaii.
Small girls who see these sick films are going to get the wrong impression about life, dangerous to set them up for a big fall.
People in the film industry are very dark inside.
Funny yet disturbing story:
My husband was on Maui setting up things, finding a apt. etc. He had a badly broken arm and was not able to work for about one year, had major surgery on is arm.
I was working at my old job in Ca. and was pregnant.
Age 20, plan was I would save a much as I could and come to Hawaii in a few months time before it was too late for me to fly over.
I quit my job and gave up my apt. about one week before I flew off.
Stayed for the last week with my sister at her apt.
Well she had a dinner date set up with some movie producer that she had known and once worked with, yes she made a bit part in a film once, a low budget film but still she had a speaking part.
This producer wanted to see her again but she told me he was creepy so she wanted me to come along so nothing "weird" could happen.
She was always getting me into strange situations but what could I say, I was her guest and soon off for my new life with my new baby.
Ok so we drove to his home in Hollywood, a nice house, parked outside and my sister said we were not going inside.
He came out and we had a nice dinner at a Japanese place.
He drove back to his house so we could collect her car and go home, she told me under no circumstances would we go inside his house even if we need to use the WC which as a 7 month pregnant lady was a possibility.
Made me wonder what was really going on between them from the past and how creepy was his house after all?
She also said she would be watching my drink, I was not drinking any alcohol but still even a coke she said had to be watched around that guy.... Yuck, not sure why she excepted the dinner date.

Seems the more power someone thinks they have the more crazy they act towards others.
Oh well, the food was good anyways.

Can't keep you hanging,
Karma must be real.
Both of those ex adult industry women/wives live in the Puna area in Hawaii.
Not sure at all but by watching coverage of the volcano it seems the house the one women got is probably under ash now.
The other was pretty much homeless by the time her husband drank himself to death in Hawaii.
Sad really, first time I met her was at  a party in their beautiful 1920's style house they just bought in the Hollywood Hills.
It was super nice, a classic.
lost it after his job was lost, used to take photos of school children for their yearbooks, lost the contract, moved to Hawaii and had another nice home. No luck with taking photos or with some small businesses they opened up. In the end he owed the bank on the house as they borrowed heavy against it. I saw her at his memorial service here in Budapest.
His family flew her over with his ashes.
i felt badly for her, his family paid her way over here but wouldn't really stand near her or talk to her, she looked terrible too, like run down looking and old and worn out.
Heard she had no place really of her own in HI , just roomed here and there and picked up odd jobs with drug dealers.

Life has so many twists and turns if you live long enough.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

I clicked on, "Bridget Jones Baby "on Netflix awhile ago.
Was too lazy to stop before getting pulled into the Matrix.
What a horror show that film was.
She really is a one trick pony, or a jack a**!
I was embarrassed for Colin Firth, he looked terrible and the acting was so flat and dull from everyone.
So unreal too, like 2 men are going to fight over some skank who doesn't even know who the babies father is?
Who in the world would even want to mate with a man so weak?
Gross...
Just like the other fake movie, "Pretty Women."
Yes, every wealthy man is looking to get hitched to a street walker!
In another reality maybe.
......
Ok so we drove to his home in Hollywood, a nice house, parked outside and my sister said we were not going inside.
He came out and we had a nice dinner at a Japanese place.
He drove back to his house so we could collect her car and go home, she told me under no circumstances would we go inside his house even if we need to use the WC which as a 7 month pregnant lady was a possibility.
Made me wonder what was really going on between them from the past and how creepy was his house after all?
She also said she would be watching my drink, I was not drinking any alcohol but still even a coke she said had to be watched around that guy.... Yuck, not sure why she excepted the dinner date.

Seems the more power someone thinks they have the more crazy they act towards others.
Oh well, the food was good anyways.

Life has so many twists and turns if you live long enough.

Wasn't Harvey Weinstein was it? 

The premise of Bridget Jones's Baby and of course many other films (not quite Three Men and a Baby) and even Mamma Mia is this unknown Daddy thing.   It's a weird idea really.  Cats will mate with any likely tomcat passing so even if there are 6 kittens, there could be three fathers.  Not something normal people do.

That whole, "We are so shocked about Harvey" thing is so fake.
I mean come on, we have heard tales of the old casting couch as early as my grandmother's time.
These people went along with it just for fame and fortune and are crying wolf now.
It's just all so fake, they would sell their mother for a movie role!
Have to get some pool supplies, looks like summer is back, is beer a pool supply?

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

That whole, "We are so shocked about Harvey" thing is so fake.
I mean come on, we have heard tales of the old casting couch as early as my grandmother's time.
These people went along with it just for fame and fortune and are crying wolf now.
It's just all so fake, they would sell their mother for a movie role!
Have to get some pool supplies, looks like summer is back, is beer a pool supply?

I tend to agree. 

But conversely, it's quite wrong really  to hassle say Kevin Spacey when he hasn't - to my knowledge - even been charged with a crime.  Weinstein has of course been charged now.   But even the accused should have anonymity to protect them from fake accusations.  What happens if he's found not guilty or acquitted.  Life ruined!     

A good example is Cliff Richard - UK singer - whose house was raided by the cops on false accusations and worse, the BBC filmed it live from a helicopter.  He just won £200K in damages - that was only last week.  There was no substance to the raid.   

Also In the UK, there's an actor called Craig Charles - he's quite well known and popular - he was accused of rape I believe. No substance to it but he was found not guilty or the case was dismissed. However, his life was throughly messed up.  However, he managed to bounce back.  He's an articulate guy and was able to very clearly address the media.  As he was so popular, there was a lot of sympathy for him at that time.   I think he was lucky.

On the other hand, deviant predators like Jimmy Saville needed to be outed to see the extent of his crimes.  It's a difficult call.

And yes, of course, very COLD beer is a pool supply as is wine, chips and a BBQ.   

It's showing 30 C on my barometer.  But that's in the sun.  But it's only work work work today.   Jeez, I need to get a life. If only I'd led a rock/movie star life of frivolous but profitable adventures, I could today have been out on my St Tropez villa terrace drinking butler served tea or walking on the beach of my private Caribbean island.

Gentleman.............. I do so think we should called Mr "Figjam"......

F**** Im Good Just Ask Me 
I wear my hat and t-shirt with pride. 

and I also know the facts " never argue with a woman....most times they are wrong 

(Hey I mean no offence to anyone...its a tongue in cheek comment)

Aries25au wrote:

Gentleman.............. I do so think we should called Mr "Figjam"......

F**** Im Good Just Ask Me 
I wear my hat and t-shirt with pride. 

and I also know the facts " never argue with a woman....most times they are wrong 

(Hey I mean no offence to anyone...its a tongue in cheek comment)

We're non-denominational and gender neutral here (probably).  Dear Fellow Posters maybe.

You say Figjam, but what have you got to back up you claims of expert Figjamist knowledge?

3 of the best people I know ......

me, myself and I.

hahahaha

Aries25au wrote:

3 of the best people I know ......

me, myself and I.

hahahaha

I'm sorry we need more detail than that.   We're all about trivia, random nonsense and anecdotes, with a HU connection in this thread.   

Nothing seems to be sacred so long as it's not really offensive (I'm not a moderator but they will catch up with you!).

For example, I mentioned Kevin Spacey who played a victim of Hungarian gangsters in the movie The Usual Suspects.    If in doubt, follow Marilyn -  she is our Showbusiness Correspondent. Simon is our Defence Correspondent and Klsallee is our Environment and Wine Correspondent. 

Please illustrate with some story or other we can comment, waffle on endlessly, take in a new direction or even take the mickey out of.

Well all I can I say is........what can I say?? 
I'm an aussie in Budapest. Speak the language fluent but cant read or write it for the life me. And are aussies ever wrong?

Just wanted to make someone smile  today, hope it worked

Kevin Spacey, miss him allot, really did enjoy ,"House of Cards"
No beer, just bought some Bull's Blood vino,
I usually don't drink and swim, I get so into swimming that it is my ,"high".
I'm the crazy old skinny lady doing lap after lap and diving under and around slow pokes in my way. I do look insane with my speedo cap on and my googles, fashion be dammed when I am swimming!

All business when it comes to my laps.
Why not, I was 18 when I learned to dog paddle and 19 when I actually learn a real swim stroke.
Have to make up for lost time.
I pray to be reincarnated as a dolphin or a super tiny fish that is so small no other fish wants to eat me.
My mother never learned to swim so she never took us swimming.
Sort of short sighted of her. My mom and step- dad ALMOST (  hate that word, sort of like coulda, shoulda woulda) bought a house in Burbank instead of outr little hick town that had a beautiful built in swimming pool where we all could of learned to swim at a younger age. The house belonged to one of the Mickey Mouse Club kids, all grown up.
Sounded like a fantastic house and it was only about $7,000 bucks more then the home they settled for. Sounds cheap but in 1968 I suppose that was  a big difference in payments.
Still... Would of been nice and sort of cool to live in a club members old home.

Not sure why but my 2 older sisters had swim lesson and my 2 youngest sib's had lessons.
Some where in the mix my bro and I were passed by with lessons.
Not even sure if he knows how to swim or not.
He did join the Air Force and not the Navy.
My poor mom, probably hard to keep track of who got what and who knows what with 6 kids in tow.
3 got violin and some dance lessons, 1 got private guitar lessons, one some karate.
Not sure who was left out of the loop.
I got a book on swimming babies when my boy was about 1 month old.
It was always perfect weather on Maui so ASAP around age 3 months I started him in the pool everyday.
Blew in his face and dunked him underwater for a second to teach him to hold his breath.
Pushed him everywhere in a tube in front of me, ocean, pool where ever there was water he was in it.
Got those swimmies when he was old enough for them to fit him.
Sort of dangerous though, at age 1 he was near the pool with us fully dressed and just jumped into the pool.
He knew how to float sort of but not swim.
Age 2 1/2 he could swim on his own.
Took him on holiday here in Budapest to the pool at Margret Island where the pros now swim.
Everyone was freaking out, so small and doing his thing in the pool without any aids on.
Age 9 we placed him on a swim team but after school 3 hours of lessons and playing water polo with older kids got to be too much for him.
One day we drove to pick him up and saw him walking home on his own, he had quit the team.
I was more upset about him walking home alone then him quitting the team.
Wish he loved swimming more then he did.
He was built to swim, he has a swimmers body type.

Oh well, another dream down the crap shoot.
Can hardly get him in a pool these days.

Aries25au wrote:

Well all I can I say is........what can I say?? 
I'm an aussie in Budapest. Speak the language fluent but cant read or write it for the life me. And are aussies ever wrong?

Just wanted to make someone smile  today, hope it worked

Well, not really satisfied.

Say something. Give us an anecdote.   

Tell us about your bike in your profile or about life in general for you in Hungary. Are you flying the Aussie flag over your place?   Are you keeping any marsupials as pets and do you have any horrible spiders like redbacks or even a hat with corks on it.   Do you call your neighbours cobber or blue?

Anything!

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

....Wish he loved swimming more then he did.
He was built to swim, he has a swimmers body type.

Oh well, another dream down the crap shoot.
Can hardly get him in a pool these days.

I reckon everyone needs to know how to swim.  There should be no argument about it.  In the school here, it's compulsory I think.  Certainly the Fluffyettes have swimming lessons as part of the lesson plan, so there's no excuse really.    Youngest Fluffy was jumping 3m into the pool at Aquaworld and then got into doing somersaults into the water!  Looked dangerous to me.

I know in Africa, there's a real fear of water and swimming.  Many people die in Africa because they cannot swim.  Mrs Fluffy and I were in the middle of Lake Victoria on a speedboat and we were passing very large boats with 60+ people in and the majority of them probably couldn't swim and no-one had a life jacket on.  Should be a minimum life skill, like driving (and in 10 years say, computer piloted drone flying).

I was on a job in Asia and while I was there I went diving just about every day.  I eventually got my PADI certificate for Scuba diving, category of Open Water Diver. I was thinking of going to the next level which was Rescue Diver I think but we went and did something else.  It was quite a while ago so I'd have to restart from scratch. No harm in that as safety first!

I hate to do this but its a little rant about Brexit.

Having a disagreement with a lady today about if there is a no deal. We will be regarded as illegals, We will be exempted from using the bank system. That is complete rubbish, son what about people that are from outside the EU, how is that they can live and work here, have bank accounts etc... That's ok they were never in the EU in the first place so that's the reason.



I really do worry about some people!

SimCityAT wrote:

I hate to do this but its a little rant about Brexit.

Having a disagreement with a lady today about if there is a no deal. We will be regarded as illegals, We will be exempted from using the bank system. That is complete rubbish, son what about people that are from outside the EU, how is that they can live and work here, have bank accounts etc... That's ok they were never in the EU in the first place so that's the reason.



I really do worry about some people!

Rant away. 

Probably our non-UK posters don't care much as they are bystanders to a large extent. No dogs in the race.

It's a hot topic and getting hotter by the day.  I reckon it's sizzling now but I suspect it'll be somewhat hotter than a blast furnace by 31 March 2019. 

I don't think we would be considered "illegal" because I would hope the transition period would cover continuity without too much disturbance until at least say 2022.  Any claim otherwise is ridiculous. They'll have to come to a deal but on the EU side, they might just push it to the nuclear option but if they play silly nonsense then HMG will just reciprocate by punishing them in other ways. I hope that HMG have a range of back up plans. 

I reckon, we'll probably get more stick about it from the authorities but I think Brexit is very much a test case.   If we had a model, we'd probably look at how Switzerland has managed to keep out of the EU.   

In practical terms, in the worst case,  we'll have to use the green lane at airports and we won't get to use the blue lane.  We'll queue up at the non-EU passports (sometimes faster!) and we'll get a stamp for only 30 days, not 6 months. EU regulations say all passports have to be scanned so no change there.  If in the car at Dover, I cannot see much difference, we're not in Schengen anyway.  French passport control in Dover and UK controls in Calais, well, bilateral arrangements.  We might get hassled about what's in your bags.

As for NI, I reckon do absolutely nothing there and leave it to the Irish Republic to sort it out as an external border of the EU.  If they want they can put up some cameras and do some number plate recognition but really, small potatoes.   

Hereabouts, I believe we're building up to a campaign against the EU so Hungary can also exit after a referendum.  I'm not being a scaremonger, just what I think might just occur in this universe if not another one.  If Brexit is a massive success, then if anyone else fancies going out the block, then the route will have an example.   Perhaps it'll  all return to the rump EU - the original members - within say 20 years.   

Just today on the radio, I'm hearing retaliation on the EU defined as making the UK into a tax haven for the world Singapore style  - 1% corporation tax, VAT down to 10%, that kind of thing, more open borders with English speaking countries:  Canada, NZ, Australia etc (but not the USA).   To me that looks like a gloves off bare knuckle fight.  But it sounds like without EU interfering, it'll be a lot easier to make the UK an attractive environment.

No need to panic until perhaps January 2019.  Get Xmas out the way etc.       

Just sayin'.....

They will treat Brexit as a test case. It could go both ways, even brexit is successful the way it's been going it might care scare others because of what a mess it is. But it might give the green light for others. Time will tell.

But for being treated as illegals that's just nonsense.

SimCityAT wrote:

....But for being treated as illegals that's just nonsense.

Absolutely. 

It's just one of these stupid statements put around by very ignorant people with silly prejudices who spend their time reading fake news.

Having lived in Austria, there are some people there who are very small minded, just like there are here.  Obviously there are many people like that in the UK as it's a bigger country but the chances of random coming across one of them in Austria or Hungary is far higher.   In other words, the density is higher (and for some that includes their brains).

This lady in question is a Brit living in France. Getting all worked up, because word has come out saying expat might not be able to get their pension on a No deal.

It's just Chinese whispers a lot of the time and no one can produce facts because nothing has been sorted.

SimCityAT wrote:

This lady in question is a Brit living in France. Getting all worked up, because word has come out saying expat might not be able to get their pension on a No deal.

It's just Chinese whispers a lot of the time and no one can produce facts because nothing has been sorted.

No, don't believe it.  There may be issues on pension inflation rises. Only British people in the EU get them but others in say Canada or Australia don't (as far as I know).   

Other issues may arise - like what happens to the EHIC?   We can travel knowing we have that as fall back and we can get travel insurance.  But will any of this be valid in the future?  Who knows?

Unless that woman is sitting in the Cabinet office or Barnier's office, she doesn't know anything more than the rest of us which is of course, FA.

As I said, panic stations (or otherwise) on 2nd January 2019.

fluffy2560 wrote:

SimCityAT wrote:

This lady in question is a Brit living in France. Getting all worked up, because word has come out saying expat might not be able to get their pension on a No deal.

It's just Chinese whispers a lot of the time and no one can produce facts because nothing has been sorted.

Other issues may arise - like what happens to the EHIC?   We can travel knowing we have that as fall back and we can get travel insurance.  But will any of this be valid in the future?  Who knows?

That's an interesting thing, because the EHIC is part of my social security card. I have for doctors, taxes etc...

SimCityAT wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

SimCityAT wrote:

This lady in question is a Brit living in France. Getting all worked up, because word has come out saying expat might not be able to get their pension on a No deal.

It's just Chinese whispers a lot of the time and no one can produce facts because nothing has been sorted.

Other issues may arise - like what happens to the EHIC?   We can travel knowing we have that as fall back and we can get travel insurance.  But will any of this be valid in the future?  Who knows?

That's an interesting thing, because the EHIC is part of my social security card. I have for doctors, taxes etc...

Well!  Then that's a perfect example. What happens next?!!

fluffy2560 wrote:

SimCityAT wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

Other issues may arise - like what happens to the EHIC?   We can travel knowing we have that as fall back and we can get travel insurance.  But will any of this be valid in the future?  Who knows?

That's an interesting thing, because the EHIC is part of my social security card. I have for doctors, taxes etc...

Well!  Then that's a perfect example. What happens next?!!

My understanding, is the EHIC card is for travelers, students, etc. If you live as a legal resident in another country, you should be contributing to that country's health care system for all your health care in that country and otherwise don't need the EHIC card except for EU travel. And if you live as a resident you can still get the EHIC card. Even third party nationals like me, or UK citizens will become next year.

klsallee wrote:

My understanding, is the EHIC card is for travelers, students, etc. If you live as a legal resident in another country, you should be contributing to that country's health care system for all your health care in that country and otherwise don't need the EHIC card except for EU travel. And if you live as a resident you can still get the EHIC card. Even third party nationals like me, or UK citizens will become next year.

I don't think there's any stipulation on why you are using the EHIC.  But yes, you don't normally need the EHIC in your country of residence. 

In Austria - I will be corrected if wrong - it's an insurance system rather than paid out of central funds so that's why it's a smart card - link treatment to insurance company by scanning at the doctor's place. 

UK EHIC cards have personal indicators (no chip, no magnetic stripe) but you  can get treatment just about anywhere by just showing your EU passport anywhere in the EU. It should be good enough to get care without further information - but only on the basis of equal treatment (i.e. treated the same as a local, not better). 

Certainly in the UK, they more or less don't care who you are and even at the ER (we call it A&E-Accident and Emergency), they wouldn't be bothered to even ask about your entitlement.  It's always free at the point of delivery.

BTW, I applied for UK EHIC cards for my very elderly parents (in their 90s). I did it myself, without even their signatures or "formal" permissions, gave their ages, and some other personal info like passport numbers and within 2 weeks, they had already received them. Rather simple.

Where your EHIC Card is valid: (Just for reference)

Austria; Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands (Holland), Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland.

fluffy2560 wrote:

I don't think there's any stipulation on why you are using the EHIC.

Really? From Wikipedia:

The European Health Insurance Card (or EHIC) is issued free of charge and allows anyone who is insured by or covered by a statutory social security scheme of the EEA countries and Switzerland to receive medical treatment in another member state free or at a reduced cost, if that treatment becomes necessary during their visit (for example, due to illness or an accident), or if they have a chronic pre-existing condition which requires care such as kidney dialysis. The term of validity of the card varies according to the issuing country.

Even with using the EHIC you can still be charged for the treatment, but when you return to your country of residence you submit the receipt and you are paid back in full what the treatment cost.

klsallee wrote:

fluffy2560 wrote:

I don't think there's any stipulation on why you are using the EHIC.

Really? From Wikipedia:

The European Health Insurance Card (or EHIC) is issued free of charge and allows anyone who is insured by or covered by a statutory social security scheme of the EEA countries and Switzerland to receive medical treatment in another member state free or at a reduced cost, if that treatment becomes necessary during their visit (for example, due to illness or an accident), or if they have a chronic pre-existing condition which requires care such as kidney dialysis. The term of validity of the card varies according to the issuing country.

I meant for travel or students studying.  You could be somewhere on business even.  Or working on a farm for a couple of weeks.   There's nothing I know of that practically stops it being used in any circumstances.   No-one would ever be refused treatment.

We've had occasion to use foreign medical services in the EU and actually they didn't even bother with it - it was just using a passport.   We got a prescription and were waved goodbye.  I expect we paid full price on the meds but it was trivial stuff like generic antibiotics or something.

SimCityAT wrote:

Even with using the EHIC you can still be charged for the treatment, but when you return to your country of residence you submit the receipt and you are paid back in full what the treatment cost.

Yes, that's correct but on the extremely rare occasion we did that, they didn't even bother with that. I got the impression it was too much bother to fill in the paperwork.  But it was simple matter.

UK citizens that have left the country more than 5 years are now meant to pay for treatment if they return and use a doctor or hospital. I still don't know how that works. As I can provide my passport give a National Insurance No. If need be I can show a bank statement with a UK address.

Last time I needed a Doctor back in the UK, it was in Wales. I had a watery eye, the doctor looked and said I needed to go to the Optician so phoned them up and told them he was sending me to them. In the end, I was prescribed some drops and as being in Wales it was free. Both the Doctor and Optician were free and I did not have to show anything. This was about roughly 5 years ago.

SimCityAT wrote:

UK citizens that have left the country more than 5 years are now meant to pay for treatment if they return and use a doctor or hospital. I still don't know how that works. As I can provide my passport give a National Insurance No. If need be I can show a bank statement with a UK address.

Last time I needed a Doctor back in the UK, it was in Wales. I had a watery eye, the doctor looked and said I needed to go to the Optician so phoned them up and told them he was sending me to them. In the end, I was prescribed some drops and as being in Wales it was free. Both the Doctor and Optician were free and I did not have to show anything. This was about roughly 5 years ago.

Once we took one our kids to be checked in the UK and they never asked a thing from us.  They just looked at the kid's passport which we proffered and they just said, OK, thanks but I don't think they really cared.  But they wouldn't have rejected treatment anyway.  Oh, and btw, the Doc was from Poland.

It was in the press the other day, some man on holiday in Spain jumped into a swimming pool and broke his back. His partner has set up a Gofund account to raise money in order to bring him back to the UK.

Well the story was in The Mirror and the comments on their Facebook wall were quite comical:

- serves them right, should have had insurance to be treated.
- If that happened in the UK they would be treated, that's why the NHS is overstretched.

The fact is, he would have been treated, but to transport someone with a broken back would need something more special. Can't just put someone with a broken back in a normal plane seat. Maybe they did have insurance but didn't cover such specialised transportation?

I didn't open up the story as I'm not keen on reading tabloid stories, so don't know the full story.

SimCityAT wrote:

It was in the press the other day, some man on holiday in Spain jumped into a swimming pool and broke his back. His partner has set up a Gofund account to raise money in order to bring him back to the UK.

Well the story was in The Mirror and the comments on their Facebook wall were quite comical:

- serves them right, should have had insurance to be treated.
- If that happened in the UK they would be treated, that's why the NHS is overstretched.

The fact is, he would have been treated, but to transport someone with a broken back would need something more special. Can't just put someone with a broken back in a normal plane seat. Maybe they did have insurance but didn't cover such specialised transportation?

I didn't open up the story as I'm not keen on reading tabloid stories, so don't know the full story.

Obviously the comments are ridiculous.  But that's all too common in the post-truth world. 

But as you say,  he's being treated there.  He could just stay there and be treated assuming he's covered  under the EHIC,   I don't think he'd have to pay anything as HMG will pick it up. One might even argue his pool accident it's self inflicted as he jumped in without checking or dived in and bashed  his head and broke his back.  Don't trust travel insurance companies one bit.

A lot of people get the EHIC but don't get the insurance - either through false economy or ignorance or plain stupidity.   It's quite difficult to get travel insurance here in HU and the claims possibility are very limited with quite low limits.  Shockingly low.  Even pathetic.

When I was in Austria and flying out of there regularly, I used to get the optional extra insurance offered when I bought my air ticket as I could just claim it all as expenses anyway.  I don't tend to do that on EU flights but I do on inter-continental trips if the insurance is offered.  Haven't been offered it recently though on flights from here. 

Insurance is a terrible scam on rental cars - all risks is a massive amount.  I usually take limited car rental insurance.  I've been driving 40 years and I've been involved 2 minor accidents, neither which were my fault, so I'm always weighing up the value.

fluffy2560 wrote:

SimCityAT wrote:

It was in the press the other day, some man on holiday in Spain jumped into a swimming pool and broke his back. His partner has set up a Gofund account to raise money in order to bring him back to the UK.

Well the story was in The Mirror and the comments on their Facebook wall were quite comical:

- serves them right, should have had insurance to be treated.
- If that happened in the UK they would be treated, that's why the NHS is overstretched.

The fact is, he would have been treated, but to transport someone with a broken back would need something more special. Can't just put someone with a broken back in a normal plane seat. Maybe they did have insurance but didn't cover such specialised transportation?

I didn't open up the story as I'm not keen on reading tabloid stories, so don't know the full story.

Obviously the comments are ridiculous.  But that's all too common in the post-truth world. 

But as you say,  he's being treated there.  He could just stay there and be treated assuming he's covered  under the EHIC,   I don't think he'd have to pay anything as HMG will pick it up. One might even argue his pool accident it's self inflicted as he jumped in without checking or dived in and bashed  his head and broke his back.  Don't trust travel insurance companies one bit.

A lot of people get the EHIC but don't get the insurance - either through false economy or ignorance or plain stupidity.   It's quite difficult to get travel insurance here in HU and the claims possibility are very limited with quite low limits.  Shockingly low.  Even pathetic.

When I was in Austria and flying out of there regularly, I used to get the optional extra insurance offered when I bought my air ticket as I could just claim it all as expenses anyway.  I don't tend to do that on EU flights but I do on inter-continental trips if the insurance is offered.  Haven't been offered it recently though on flights from here. 

Insurance is a terrible scam on rental cars - all risks is a massive amount.  I usually take limited car rental insurance.  I've been driving 40 years and I've been involved 2 minor accidents, neither which were my fault, so I'm always weighing up the value.

You make a good point there, small print your fault, your claim is void.

Damn you Mr fluffy, I had to find the ins and outs of it.

Sorce: The Mirror

Correction, it was his neck that he broke

Simona said Richard did NOT have a European Health Insurance Card or travel insurance to cover the medical costs.

It will cost £20,000 to fly him home for treatment which Simona says he needs.

Posting on Facebook, she said: "We now need to get Richard transported in a air ambulance into a hospital in UK where they will be able to help him with his breathing and the movement of his body.


"The whole transportation and other medical treatments for Richard will cost £20,0000.

"Doctors in Son Espases hospital have given permission for Richard to go on the 26th of July 2018 back home to get the medical assistance that he needs, however we do not have the funds to get Richard into a hospital in UK in an air ambulance."

I don't bother with travel insurance anymore. Well, I only seem to travel back to the UK (if I have too ) or visit the odd country in the EU. I don't do any activities other than sightseeing. But if I was to travel to the USA then I would get some form.

Saying that the other half has an insurance broker (an old friend of the family) who deals with the - car, house, contents. I am sure we could have some form of travel insurance if we needed. I do know she has her Mastercard and that has Travel Insurance on it, but that for her. (maybe I could be added on that for a fee)

SimCityAT wrote:

.....
You make a good point there, small print your fault, your claim is void.

Damn you Mr fluffy, I had to find the ins and outs of it.
....
Correction, it was his neck that he broke

Simona said Richard did NOT have a European Health Insurance Card or travel insurance to cover the medical costs.

It will cost £20,000 to fly him home for treatment which Simona says he needs.

Posting on Facebook, she said: "We now need to get Richard transported in a air ambulance into a hospital in UK where they will be able to help him with his breathing and the movement of his body.


"The whole transportation and other medical treatments for Richard will cost £20,0000.

SimCityAT wrote:

.
I don't bother with travel insurance anymore. Well, I only seem to travel back to the UK (if I have too ) or visit the odd country in the EU. I don't do any activities other than sightseeing. But if I was to travel to the USA then I would get some form.

Saying that the other half has an insurance broker (an old friend of the family) who deals with the - car, house, contents. I am sure we could have some form of travel insurance if we needed. I do know she has her Mastercard and that has Travel Insurance on it, but that for her. (maybe I could be added on that for a fee)

Maybe with Mastercard you could get a joint card and perhaps that'd cover you too.  Or just get your own card?

But going back to the story,  neck broken sounds more like it.  I have to ask myself why he didn't have an EHIC and travel insurance? While I sympathise with his pain, he's got to be either stupid, ignorant, cheapskate or whatever.  Therefore his other half wants £20K to subsidise the neglect of his own welfare?  Or there were no signs on the depth of water there in which case he can sue them later for negligence.  Oh, damn, if he had insurance, the legal fees would have been covered probably as they could recover the costs from the pool operators insurance. 

If the injured guy is a UK resident, he could have picked some insurance online before his holidays or even got it over the counter in Tesco. I've seen "packs" for travel insurance at the checkouts. I think it was like £20-30 a week probably or something - cheap anyway.

I probably sound quite unsympathetic and similar to the Facebook commentators.  But it's not like the information isn't out there and in full view.   Whenever I go somewhere (and I travel a lot) I read all the travel advisories, check the vaccinations and read up on useful stuff about the place I'm going - scams, health, water, changing money, use of credit cards, cash machines, internet access blah-blah.   Seems obvious to me.

In some countries I've been to, you have to have travel insurance or a guarantor before they'll even give you a visa - Bangladesh for example.

Anyway, even if  you don't bother with insurance,  if you have a place in the UK or even if you live in another EU country, you can still get EU wide travel insurance from the UK.  It's not very expensive - few hundred quid a year.  Then you are covered anywhere except a few regions of the world.  Only caveat I've seen is that you have to be registered with a doctor in your country of residence.   So even for Austria and here it should be possible via the UK online brokers.

SimCityAT wrote:

I hate to do this but its a little rant about Brexit.

Having a disagreement with a lady today about if there is a no deal. We will be regarded as illegals, We will be exempted from using the bank system. That is complete rubbish, son what about people that are from outside the EU, how is that they can live and work here, have bank accounts etc... That's ok they were never in the EU in the first place so that's the reason.



I really do worry about some people!

I do dislike  it when people try to upset others with info they don't really know is for real or not. That women sounds like she enjoys upsetting people, some people love to do that, makes them feel better about themselves to see fear on others faces or worry.
I seriously doubt bank cards etc. will stop working once the uK leaves the EU. Just makes no sense at all that it would get that crazy.
I have no idea what will happen but I would guess it would be just like the rest of us non EU citizens that live here.
Have to register at immigration and go through their hoops.
Why would they stop excepting bank cards,? What about tourists and their bank cards,just silly for that women to even say that.

Sorry for that UK guy that broke his neck.
By the photo it looks like he is in a "normal modern hospital.
Looks like he is getting proper care.
Sometimes we have to take risks in life, if he can afford to travel he might of wanted to look into travel insurance but young people never think anything will happen to them so often they don't even think of it.
It will work out for him one way or the other, even if he is flown to the UK he still has a broken neck and needs to lay still for awhile before getting PT.
By then he should be able to fly home for treatment with some help , hopefully.
My husband had a auto accident around 1971 in Italy when he was a refugee.
Both bones in his forearm were broke all the way through.
Was in a poor area of Italy and the hospital in that town was not up to doing such a big operation on him. His arm was broken almost the entire time he was in the refugee camp, they put a half cast on his arm to keep it steady but never set it.
This also caused his immigration to come to a stop until he was healed up.
He finally was put into the hospital in Italy for a bone graft operation , his old HU friend heard what was going on, this guy was in Sweden.
His friend took the train to Italy to double check on my husband. His friend was very upset to see the condition of the hospital. People stayed over night on the floor with the relations in the hospital, it was almost 3rd world inside.A very poor area of Italy , it was obvious that they were not up for such a big operation on his arm.
His friend insisted he travel to Sweden where he could get better care .
My husband had to travel illegally on a train without papers to Sweden and start the refugee process in Sweden.
Had surgery in Sweden after awhile, all that time he walked around with a broken arm in a half cast, over 8 months time.
His poor arm was wasting away.
Finally had his surgery, the Sweds even got him a nurse that spoke HUngarian.
Had the latest treatment, they put a 10 inch rod inside his arm with screws and bolts.
Tied it from elbow to his wrist.
Fast forward a few years to Ca.
I saw it happen, worst thing ever.
He was goofing with his HU buddies all getting ready to play football in the park.
His slipped and fell.
Got up screaming, his entire forearm was on back wards and twisted. the rod had snapped inside!
No insurance so that was the beginning of a nightmare.
Ambulance took him to the first hospital around because they had to get his arm straight or it would cut off the blood supply.
3 men held him down while another doctor made it straight, the screams!!!
Then because of no insurance he was transported to LA county hospital.
Had to wait for over 2 weeks to get surgery and was not able to eat or drink for 2 weeks time before then because he could be rolled into surgery at any moment day or night.
Only had an IV in his other arm.
I went there everyday and had a verbal fit with the staff but there was nothing i could do to make them hurry up and fix him.
I was a few months pregnant  too, I couldn't handle the smells inside the hospital very well, really was not a good time to be in the condition, the stress almost did me in. I couldn't eat or sleep at all.
Been there, I do have sympathy for that UK guy but sometimes we have to just suck it up and deal with it.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

.....
Sometimes we have to take risks in life, if he can afford to travel he might of wanted to look into travel insurance but young people never think anything will happen to them so often they don't even think of it.
It will work out for him one way or the other, even if he is flown to the UK he still has a broken neck and needs to lay still for awhile before getting PT.
By then he should be able to fly home for treatment with some help , hopefully.
.....

In a couple of ways, it's all a product of the EU - he might have  paid in the "best" case, 2500 HUF for his cheap ticket on Ryanair etc and with such familiarity now between EU countries - especially Spain -  his fatal assumption might be that things there are exactly the same as at home.   

But there's a litany of such "uninsured" stories in the media. You'd think the Mail/Mirror/Whatever Online readers would have got the message by now - travel at your peril without the EHIC and insurance.  It'll never happen to me are famous last words. 

I reckon that there should be warnings on travel tickets - make sure you are insured!

Poor kid, they can't get blood out of a stone. If he has no money or anything of value what can they do to collect?
I feel they should cut people some slack at least.
In the US they have a person working inside hospitals that is a patient advocate. They are a go between that can possibly work out a deal with the hospital to lower the bills.
I know when we had a $32,000 hospital bill in Vegas we got it lowered  to just under $3,000.
Not free but a huge discount, all depends on your income, other factors too but hopefully he can work out a payment bill that won't "cripple" him for good.