Other News answering a question…..

 Counselling 

I am on hold with this at the moment only because I’m awaiting to be processed for membership for the

NCPS ( The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society)I could practice without membership but Professionally it is not advisable to do so. I have sessional clients already booked with a mental health charity and will start supporting them as soon as I am able. 

I have booked my capn’gown , and intend to have my official photograph taken with my family!

Shoulder injury

My physio with his tiny blue shorts has done wonders with my arm weakness. He diagnosed a “ wear and tear” injury where my humerus had “ migrated” up into my shoulder joint, and with the smallest of manipulations in sessions funded by the Welsh Government ( !) my weakness has improved considerably

Eyes

My eye pressures have reduced significantly and the injections will continue for a while 👀👀👀👀

My consultant apologised for my unfortunate last session and assured me that a senior doctor will perform the next injection instead of one of the nurses.

Positives

I have planned to meet up with my old friend Tracey from my psychiatric days in York soon, and I am popping over to Sheffield to catch up with Mike, and Bev and Jane and Belami. My next London trip is in October when I will touch base with Nu and see the rave interactive play Every Brilliant Thing with Minnie Driver. This coming week my sister and I will see the Grosvenor Park Outdoor Theatre’s production of Sherlock Holmes ( a hoot) all activities that will lighten the heart but boil the blood of my troll who hates me socialising with the passion Hitler had for English Bulldogs. 

Emotionally and physically I have turned another corner. There is more news afoot, so watch this space for further bulletins, but I feel I’ve come through another storm, pretty unscathed , thanks, in part, to you my followers and commentators who have been kind, and supportive and warm.

That goes a long way, when you are most forlorn,

Just before dawn

Sunny Day

 Bun is in the garden and Weaver is proudly sitting in the living room. It’s warm and sunny and I’m returning to work on nights tonight. 

I met chic Eleanor this morning for breakfast. We had a full English which she described as gloriously decadent. She is a stunningly attractive woman who reminds me of Lee Remick and I love that she has the habit of holding my arm when she is moved or emotional . 

It was nice to catch up

Streaming

 The uncertainty of the past month has drawn me to the diversion of online streaming 

I found a stream that centred its attentions to mature professional gay men and found myself chatting to men from all over the world, most over a McDonald’s Coffee and porridge breakfast.

Of course like any, internet phenomenon, there are idiots and predators there, but robust policing of the site and strict boundaries set by me, tend to eject the unwelcome before they can cause trouble or offence.

This morning I had a hilarious conversation with a Spanish Physiotherapist, a Fijian Emergency Room Doctor, a gentle IT specialist from Denmark and a wisecracking father of two from New Zealand.

With the 5 of us sharing a similar sense of humour, I laughed until I cried

The world isn’t that big after all

Ps this video and story moved me greatly 

The World According To Auntie Glad

 I’ve just been The Crown 

The pub is under new management 

An Older and pragmatic couple

I met a friend from the village who is newly separated

And it felt good lending an ear so to speak .

Before we parted

He shared that he hated coming home to an empty house

And I was reminded of some sanguine advice given to me by auntie Glad when the Prof left

I shared it

“ When you go out in winter John, always leave a light on in the cottage- “ she said, her watery blue eyes gentle and twinkling

“The light will welcome you home” 

And my friend smiled at the simple power of it

Kissing

 Eye Hospital appointment today made bearable by professional care, a great consultant and a meeting with fellow patient Mo who is the leader of the village Friendship Group.

I had several scans which shows the bleed in my eye improving 

But does anyone else feel like this ? When the doctor , or nurse or technician is scanning my eyes so close up and intimate like , I suddenly have the real urge to kiss them.

Am I unique in feeling this way?

Answers on a postcard

Moon River

My favourite song 

Sung wonderfully 

Btw

It’s almost time for a new rescue bulldog !

And finally

 

Matilda and Angel

 

It was 1987 and it was a winter’s  night filled with snow in a picture perfect York.
I was transferred to take charge of an elderly ward as staffing was dire.
I was a very junior staff nurse supported by two support workers.

The support workers were two Jamaican ladies of mature years.
I was told to refer to them with a respectful " Mrs Lewis and Mrs Dawson by the handover nurse
" They will show you the ropes" I was told carefully.
I had never really spoke to a person of colour before. You never saw many non whites back then in North Wales and Chester, where I grew up and trained as a psychiatric nurse, but I was bright enough even then not to pull rank on two experienced nurse aides, and so I stepped back and allowed myself to be told what to do.
Mrs Lewis and Mrs Dawson worked at their own pace. They were unhurried and respectful, as they washed dirty bottoms and undressed the confused and the mute and I watched with some awe as together they bedded down 25 confused elderly ladies with the tired and practiced ease of two broad hipped grandmothers that had seen some hardship over a 40 year career.
They sang together as they worked and they laughed and hugged their patients with warmth when hugs were needed and by midnight the ward was quiet as they dished out their own suppers of rice and peas and jerk chicken at the nurses station.
I was given a plate too, with a napkin and a glass of homemade ginger cordial and as I listened to them chat and laugh and I answered their questions about my home and family I realised just how sheltered I had been for the first 20 years of my life
At 6 am I asked their Christian names.....Matilda and Angel, I was told and we all laughed....
It was a cold and snowy night in York and I took charge of an elderly ward of 25 senile patients
And I learnt more about good nursing care and life from two black, big hearted support workers in 10 hours than I ever did from three years of my psychiatric nurse training.

Bootham park hospital York in winter

Job

 

The email came through this afternoon. The hospice had received enough voluntary redundancy applications amongst the nursing staff for the cost cutting to be completed

There will be no compulsory redundancies. 

I rang Nu first who suggested gin and lots of it

And I’ve been messaging people for the past hour, thanking them for their support

Finally I took Roger up the lane to Mr Poźnan’s neat bungalow and told him personally

And I hugged him with the longest of Disney hugs