Keyboard Warriors

 

The vagaries in blogger’s software has meant that I have generally always allowed anonymous comments to appear. This has become more evident in recent months where many genuine commentators have found it problematical to even log in let alone leave a message or comment and so under the initial label of anonymity they can join in the “ fun” with hopefully leaving a genuine label of who they are and where they are from. 

This isn’t always the case and it’s par for the course to have genuinely anonymous commentators  hiding snideness and tiresome negativity within comments  ….people who feel entitled to say exactly what they like and do so without the constraints of personal accountability.

Cowards, all of them.

Especially the ones that manage to log in under a pseudonym, buoyed up by a false name and a badge.

They are scum.

 

I guess this will always happen to a certain degree as I am a somewhat Marmite(ish) characteristics the truth be known. But snideness is tiresome, 

For everyone….

I know , for I grew up with a snide mother 

She was exhausting .

And so before I move on, I will repeat what I’ve repeated in the past. 

This is my playpen. 

If you have a comment please comment, but put a genuine name to your words. Be respectful of others and of me, and if they appear, personal insults, snideness or rudeness  will simply be deleted. 

By all means disagree with me, but do so respectfully but if I feel I am being trolled well then you will be deleted immediately and you have wasted your sad sack time….

Anyhow, I should be Sitges today. It’s 70 degrees and sunny .

And I had a balcony room at The Santa Maria overlooking the sea.

Never mind. I’ve got a full refund on the room and I’ve changed my flights for a Barcelona City break in September, so all is not lost. Gorgeous Dave’s new girlfriend got dumped by easyJet in the far Mediterranean, it’s cost her thousands to get flights home

Perhaps it’s good that I’m not returning to Sitges again, Barcelona looks like a fine city to get lost in.

I’m planning my week this morning. 

It’s cool and with the hint of more rain. But the garden is a lush green and the ponies in the field in front of the cottage have much to feed on in their allotted paddocks..

The bunting is still up in the village , and everywhere looks cheerful, 

As it should be 

Ps thanks to Tom , I found a load of comments tucked away in spam for some strange reason, all have been relocated to going gently

Best Laid Plans

 I chose to work my birthday so I could have this weekend off. 

My plan was to support the Jubilee Street Party but mainly I wanted today off, so I could pack.

I was due to fly to Spain tomorrow morning.

My flight now has been cancelled, cancelled by an early morning email

Like so many have been done over the last week or so.

Bugger.

I’ve lost my car parking fee which is a shame 

But I’ve managed to get a refund on the hotel.

The flights I’ve changed to a different airport so my summer Sitges trip is now an autumnal Barcelona city break, but that has cost me!

And so, I’ve got over a week in between now and my trip to Rome on the 17th to fill….

Answers on a postcard.

I shall start by the cinema on this a rather glum day

The Quiet Girl , the first Gallic feature film

Jubilee Concert

 I've cried through most of it 

Loved Diversity. And Rod Stewart and the rappers ...so pacy .....lovely to see George and Charlotte there.....the Royal Family has been reincarnated 

Loved the Queen's aside with Padington Bear 

She looked so genuine 

I loved her

And we've only got up.to Duran Duran.

Jubilee

 

The Community Association has done a grand job with the Jubilee Street Party on Chapel Street.

Despite no official “escape Routes” visible a good proportion of the village turned up on a sunny afternoon to have their photo taken with a life sized Queen Elizabeth before picking up a Union Jack sandwich box and gabbing a seat on one of the inside tables or seats outside where the brass band was playing. 

The whole afternoon was as sweet and as nostalgic as it looked. 

Everyone was there, Mr Poznan, the Manley’s from the Still House, Animal Helper Pat, Mrs Trellis of course, Affable despots Jason and Clare and the girls, Heulwen from choir 

Village leaders Ian,Nick ,Helen, Bridget and the velvet voiced Linda rushed around with teapots and proper cups and saucers. 

Eve took mary over ( Jason in background)

Village leader Ian (centre)

Bethan from a Byron street on tea duty

The velvet voiced Linda ( standing) talking to Mrs Trellis 

Everyone stood for the Welsh and English National anthym ( well almost )

Terry Wogan Reads Janet And John The Church Organ

Enjoy !!!!

Another Bank Holiday

 

The street party in the village takes place tomorrow and already the bunting is in place. One of streets near the memorial hall will be closed and already one curmudgeon has voiced concerns about safety on social media ….apparently there is no “ Escape Route “ for people in case of emergency .

I commended wryly that I hadn’t noticed that we were suffering from a zombie invasion apocalypse so questioned why an escape route was needed.

Affable Despot Jason thought it was funny.

I’ve just seen him, his bunting is out and is in LGBTQ colours rather than the traditional red, white and blue

I slept in until well. After midday 

And drove to Marks & Spencer’s to top up with nice food.

I had coffee with my sister and brother in law and then my sister in law

And will stay the rest of the day at home.

Janet n John

At five I looked like Prince Louis

Now I look a bit like Camilla 

 

Queenie

 Work is quieter today

It goes like that sometimes. 

I got a rerun of the Queen's  Flypast up.on YouTube for the nurses and housekeepers to watch.

Everyone mooned over the Queen and the great grandchildren lined up before her

She looked genuiningly happy

Andrew has covid …yeah right

 

The day I didn’t really need for it to be bloody busy 

It was bloody busy! 

Three admissions , not enough staff

You know the story , it’s boring …..

But the day was filled with lots of birthday gifts and good humour and scotch eggs were the order of the day.

I parked at Rhos On Sea’s promenade on the way home and just opened Bluebell’s windows wide 

And there I sat for an age letting the breeze edge away an awful busy shift headache 

Thank you everyone for your kind birthday wishes . 

I’m not answering you all…..but I’ve read each one , even the nasty ones

I’m off to bed shortly 

Nite xx

Northern Belle

 

I’ve opened my lovely cards and gifts over my usual bucket of coffee.

It’s 6.15 am

Lots of good wishes and some fab presents 

A luxury day out with Nu on the 1930’s Northern Belle train, some cracking dvds and worlds best uncle socks from Leo. Some beautiful gin glasses, gin, a lovely toucan print which is already been hung in the new bathroom, a vintage butter knife and salt , a grand fermenting jar for making my own kimchi , a cactus , a garden hose  and four Mars bars sellotaped intriguingly end to end and wrapped in a tea towel decorated with dog breeds of the British Isles from Mrs Trellis.

I’ve got a quick zoom meeting with friends Ruth in Scotland and Ben in Korea shortly and Nu has just rung

Then off to work….

I’m in my 61st year.

I promise no more birthday chatter

Eleanor

I’m tired tonight 

We had a nice long walk with Eleanor earlier today 

And we are all dozing early 

I’m off to bed shortly and it’s well before nine

Chic Eleanor made my day, 

She took my arm when we walked, 

And didn’t let go

And she hugged me long and hard when we parted

It was lovely

 

Birthday Garden

 The removal and subject of masks in Wales has ruffled a few feathers since yesterday and last night I received a few messages ( mainly from nurse friends who are totally opposed to the legislation) I’ve reflected on it and feel ok with the decision , especially from a hospice’s perspective.

If I was a nurse in the acute sector, I would keep my mask on

Throughout the pandemic our hospice was the only healthcare facility I know, that remained open to visitors. We had to maintain a strict policy, regarding numbers and track and trace and PPE but every patient who was at the end of their life, could have their loved ones with them to say their goodbyes. 

I visited many family homes when working on the community , where a house was packed with grieving relatives and I had to balance my own safety with the fact that syringe drivers needed changing and patients needed turning.

The taking off of our masks yesterday was almost symbolic. 

The nurses, the doctors, our physio, social worker, community nurses and support workers as well as the admin staff and housekeeper all looked at each other….properly ….and collectively we saw each other smile with our whole faces again…..

Anyhow today is dull…weather wise ….I’m meeting Chic Eleanor for lunch which will brighten the proceedings then I need to catch up with Gorgeous Dave in order to discuss Italy .

It’s choir tonight too.

While I was at work my sister has been beavering away planting the garden borders out, as a birthday gift.

It seems that hundreds of shrubs and flowers have suddenly appeared, including a lovely Japanese acer in a pot. My cousin Karen left me a beautiful yellow rose to incorporate into the design ,

Thank you to people who have sent me cards and unlabelled gifts . I will open them tomorrow before I go to work . My friend Ruth who is in Scotland and Ben in South Korea will be zooming together at 6.30 am over breakfast.

Masks

Finally after 24 months

No masks at work

We've organised a pub crawl to celebrate

 

  The woman was around 80 I suppose

She had bright orange hair which had been dyed within an inch of its life 

And she had been a psychiatric patient for most of her adult life.

Me and my fellow student nurse Paula ( a cheerful scouser with a foul mouth) were student nurses back then and we were on placement with the occupational therapy department  at the West Cheshire hospital where the patient  with orange hair visited daily.

We were being taught how to shampoo and set hair that day! 

Now, even back then, I wasn’t known for my sartorial elegance, but I was game to learn a new skill and so with the equally clueless Paula we set about shampooing and setting the patient’s hair and rolled layer upon layer with curlers that looked like rigid hairy caterpillars. The OT in charge told us to pin the curlers and to treat the lady with a cup of very sweet tea and some Jaffa cakes.

I remember Paula telling me that the hair had to be “wrapped” very tightly around the curler so after a good three quarters of an hour wrapping the patent resembled a German mine and was placed for a long heat under an industrial sized hair dryer. 

We knew something had gone slightly awry when the OT angrily called us back after she had finally “unwrapped” the patient an hour later, finding  her covered in a bright orange mop of near steel strength red curls 

She looked dreadful but the patent grinned widely at everyone as the occupational therapist shrieked at us “look at her !!! …LOOK! What have you got to say about this?” 

I just blushed

But Paula with her Liverpudlian wit spread her arms out wide 

And sang 

“ THE SUN’l COME OUT TOMORROW ! BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR THAT TOMORROW !!!!”

Sunday

 It’s a grey morning, and wet.

Even though is almost summer, it feels like Autumn.

It feels like a back-to-school day.

I’m not making my bucket of coffee this morning. I will buy some on the drive through as a treat.

I’m working with new bank staff today.

We are short staffed again

Healthcare feels as though it’s gone tits up following the pandemic 

I was talking to Nu about it yesterday 

So many nurses have left, retired, resigned, moved on….burnt out and tired.

She worked in the big teaching hospitals in London

She knows.

Dorothy knows I’m going to work and is unhappy .

Thank god for Ewan ( Trendy Carol’s hubby) who will be collecting them soon.

Dorothy loves him too

Dusk

This is my favourite view of one of the roads into Trelawnyd

Cwm Road from the South.

My cottage is the at the end on the left

It’s heading towards dusk but is warm and peaceful 

I had a date today. 

Just a walk and a coffee along the prom.

There was no spark although Dorothy seemed to like him.

I thought about it all I walked up the lane towards home.

Animal helper Pat, stopped to chat .

So we laughed a bit and I forgot what I was thinking about

Nothing important

 

Catch Up

 Like the meaning of the song Send In The Clowns, I’ve always been baffled of just how untidy my cottage becomes when I am on a run of long shifts.

It looks like a midden.

I’ve just worked two long days and today is my day off between two more.

And so it’s  a cleaning day.

Doors and windows open

Music on

Tidying and cleaning is a repetitive, mindless and also mindful chore

Everything ordered 

Everything in its place

Albert’s snot marks on his window refuge gone

The sad underpants in the wash

And with the kitchen smelling magnificently of lemons and bleach 

Full Circle

 

60 Some Thoughts

Sixty.

I know it’s such a boring platitude but I have to say the words always said at these times…

Where does the time go?

I’m writing this at 5 am Albert and I are the only ones awake. Dorothy is gently chewing my pj bottoms, she’s dreaming she’s a puppy

Where did the time go?

I couldn’t tell you…I really can’t.

So , I have been reflecting …….like you do .

I’m reflecting until Wednesday when it actually hits me albeit gently ….square in the face

On the 1st , I’m working all day and we are short handed

I won’t have time to feel anything but fucked.

Here are just 20 thoughts, thoughts in the middle of the night just after Dawn 

1. Working where I do has made me realise that people who “hate getting old “ are idiots. 

You are allowed to hate becoming ill, becoming infirm , becoming depressed ….but don’t hate getting old.

I am lucky reaching 60 , I know that, and I am grateful.

2. Memory is a fickle friend. 

3. Strangely as it may seem sex is better now  than when I took it for granted ….however it is unfortunately more infrequent 

( refer to point 2!)

4. Certain memories last a lifetime and they will never leave you……I dip into a score as I lay in bed….

1968 Janet and I doing Tarzan impersonations out of our bedroom window. 1972 my grandmother smelling of love and cold cream 1973 my first viewing of The Poseidon Adventure 1980 a family party at Ann’s house. 1992 …..getting drunk with Nu in a Galway pub…… Dancing on a Sheffield hospital roof in the dark 1996 seeing New York City  from the air 

2002 meeting my first dog Finlay…..true love 

2015 getting married, 2016 Watching the cor de ballet in Giselle at the Royal Opera house 

Salsa dancing in Sheffield 

Happiness….a flash of realising I was happy, truly happy .

5. Being a nurse …and seeing people at their very best often when they are experiencing their very worst .

 

6  Now realising that when someone starts a conversation with “;I’m not being ……”; they always are

7 Actions always speak louder than fucking words

8 I miss not being a dad but I can now be a cool sort of uncle and grandadish …..a couple of weeks ago My “teenage” nephew Leo texted after a date and excitedly told me he’d just had his first kiss. 

It made me insanely happy.

9 friends are life …but at 60 they start to leave you…please treasure them

10. The Walking Dead needs a Uk Version, and I soooooo want to be in it 

11. I no longer have to pretend to put up with bad behaviour , bad music, bad films or toxic people 

12. I Don’t expect good news coverage on breakfast tv. I say what I think more  when I deal with any services and I won’t put up with shitty management at work 

13. Never talk about politics, gun law or post a seemingly innocuous blog without thinking about it on line. And if I do, expect a load of shitty responses 

14 I now recognise that real friends are real in so much that they don’t rationalise affection or praise or support. They just accept you. 

15 sleep if you can in an afternoon….every afternoon.

16 what did we ever do without phones and internet ?

17. Don’t be unloyal to yourself . I’ve done  it for too many years now. Don’t do things you don’t want to do. Don’t be what you don’t want to be and don’t expect others to do the same 

18  Eat a scotch egg , when I bloody well want one 

19  if you love someone , tell them . Tell them as often as you can 

20  to now move forward into my 61st  year by embracing a new skill ( professional counselling ), a new career , and new experiences …..I realise that inkind of deserve it ….

Hey ho, I’m almost sixty 

And I’m off to work…….soon……

So wish me a happy birthday next Wednesday  , I’m shallow enough , to enjoy every single comment 

Adv

Tidy Up

I’m working the next four out of five long days ( the hospice is getting the most of me before I go part time in four weeks) so I may not be blogging every day. We are so short staffed, a symptom of post covid too, me thinks ….so many nurses have left nursing after the last two years 

In health care masks are still to be worn and it’s playing havoc with my beard which has morphed from being a trimmed goatee to something like Father Christmas would be proud of,

Perhaps I will leave it and wear purple, and shout in the street…..I’m 60 on Wednesday