Storm Darragh

 Leaving work, there was an ominous red sky in the morning view across the bay towards Trelawnyd ( far in the distance ) 

I replaced Bluebell’s windscreen wipers ( served by a snide workman from Halfords ) then drove to meet and old friend for brunch at Chester’s Grosvenor Garden centre which was a bit of a nightmare at times as it felt packed with focused grey hairs fighting for table space. We held our ground at a small table and had a lovely talk and an average fish and chip brunch.

Tonight I’m writing Christmas Cards 

Storm Darragh approaches

Going Gently Christmas Card

The first one is an AI wish

The second is an I remember 

 Going Gently

Namely John, Mary, Roger, Weaver and bouncy Bun 

Sends blogland 

Our Christmas Greetings 

For 2024

Thank you for cards received 

I’m hanging them in an effort to surround the living room as per!

Conclave

 If you want to see an intelligent, tense and enjoyable thriller go and see Edward Berger’s Vatican based drama Conclave.

It’s a great ride.

Conclave is the claustrophobic Sistine Chapel based event where some 160 cardinals vote in the next Pope, often over a much protracted period of time .Ralph Fiennes plays Cardinal Lawrence a loyal and principled manager of the Conclave. Although eligible to be Pope himself , he oversees the run for promotion with diligence and fairness only questioning all of the top delegates when troubling information alights some of it from the dead Pope himself. 

This “ whodunnit” features some cracking scene stealing characters. The African Cardinal Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati) confident in his continent’s support, the fiercely ambitious liberal Cardinal Bellini (Stanley Tucci), the flamboyantly traditional Italian Cardinal Tedesco ( Sergio Castellitto ) who steals one scene by puffing on a vape! and the obsequious American Cardinal Trembray ( John Lithgow) all want the Papal position but each are thwarted by the twists and turns of a plot which is satisfyingly advocated and superbly played by Fiennes’ Cardinal Lawrence. 

It’s a wonderful performance , one of Fiennes’ very best in fact and the whole film is beautifully choreographed and shot by Stéphane Fontaine , who makes the most of the Papal uniforms and wonderful Vatican City backdrop.

I loved it. 

Bunlove

 

Last night Bun did the cottage proud 

As I was watching I’m a celebrity .Mary slowly walked in front of fire to warm her old bones 

And Bun walked with her, her paw swatting Mary’s tail as it dragged on the floor.

Mary drew her teeth, for a moment then Bun let go conceding defeat 

And the sisters sat together for a while, side by side

Quietly and gently 

Assisted Dying

 I’ve been asked several times now about my thoughts of the assisted dying bill which was debated so eloquently in the commons recently 

I am clear in my response to it

I am against it

And I will tell you for why

Dying is a normal progress, but it can illicit difficult symptoms which can be a challenge to live with. 

Good and proper palliative care can rectify most if not all of these symptoms, but this care is at best patchy and at worst non existent so it a lottery for many that they receive prudent end of life care.

The government needs to fund hospice care properly for this to start to happen.

Everyone should have access to the hospices’ ability to control pain, and breathlessness, delirium and agitation and fear and anxiety 

And that has to be done before we enter into the minefield of giving end of life patients medication they have to take themselves

The paralysed, the Motor neurone, the CVA patients , who it could be argued all need this bill passing more than anyone else , will at the moment never “ benefit” from it so let’s bench mark care to a good standard universally before we set a standard for those who’ve had enough

Chasing The Day

 

Jane and I went to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Lyceum which proved to be a night of pure energy. Jason Donovan played Dr Frank ‘n Furter ( with a surprisingly good voice) and The Head Of Steam pub was nose to nipple with Yorkshire brutes dressed as transvestites before kick off time. 

The energy was electric , great fun ,and a panacea for Jane as things for her has been somewhat rough recently.

The Lyceum , wisely , let the audience rule the evening, and although I would have been happy with just one half of the musical, it was worth the visit for the real fans’ reactions.

Today I met my old neighbour and friend John for breakfast and a gossip in the Hillsborough Coach house cafe ( v v impressed) then had a full roast dinner in Banner Cross’s Turnip and Thyme with Mike, Bev and daughter Maisie, which was Warm and normal and funny and comfortable 

There’s nothing like meeting old friends, and I even coped with zigzagging across Sheffield in Bluebell , braving the congested roads and remembering with some nostalgia , a city I knew well.

These guys have kept me afloat , for years

We finished our long lunch around 3 pm and after big hugs, I was on my way home through Broomhill , chasing the day westward as the light faded into evening

It’s all very Bridget Jones

 

I’m meeting Jane in All Bar One around 6 pm, it’s five now and the place is heaving

I had forgotten just how Saturday afternoons used to go here in Sheffield 

Too many drinks in the afternoon, 

Cheesy chips on the way home 

Sleeping it off on the huge couch at Wynyard Road in front of Pop Idol

I’d planned to meet Mike for early door drinks but he’s quite rightly carry out Christmas Tree duties with the family, all of whom I’m meeting tomorrow for lunch. So before the theatre with Jane later, I’m soaking up the All Bar One Christmas early night drinking vibe.

The music is louder than I remember it

The lighting more subdued 

Office workers cram the tables, shouting over the din of the Christmas party goers

Everywhere there are fairly lights and it’s dark outside

All very 1990s Bridget Jones

Decs

 The night shift was so so.

I was tired coming home but still noticed the bag , sat near to the back door.

A bag full of goodies.

Someone, I have no idea who,has just left me a bagful of Christmas decorations

How bloody lovely is that? 

Thanksgiving

It’s still just Thanksgiving

I’m on the cusp.

I like the sentiment of the American Holiday

Lets be grateful 

Let’s celebrate thanks .

So what Am I grateful for? 

My sense of humour and my emotional intelligence which have dragged me sometimes through work, life and balancing Uni with some sort of alacrity.

My home, St Trinian kittens , thick Roger and old Mary. I feel I have a home to come home to every day, even though invariably it looks like a bombs hit it.

My family and friends and my villagers, the people that keep me going

Work that tires me but which still stimulates me , and gives me the money to have a life beyond the cottage

My colleagues,

Those small oasis of quality cinema seats 

Bluebell

For my sister’s gardening skills

Talia Groupo ( the marvellous lisping Choir of Madrid) 

The blog and your support, I may look like I take you all for granted but I’m grateful for your care and thankful for you following me 

Ps scotch eggs, Russell Crowe’s manly persona, the Sagrada Familia 

Not Enough Time

 Flying visit to Sheffield on Saturday . 

A trip to the theatre is my Christmas gift to Jane

And Sunday lunch with Mike and Bev is a long overdue gift with my old urban family.

I’m working tonight and need to sort another poster presentation by Monday

I have clients most of this afternoon

Hey ho lots to do

Last month I treated myself to a Lego Statue of Liberty

It’s still sat on the kitchen top in its box

My radio in the car has been turned to radio four for days now , it’s the constant blaring of xmas songs already being played that’s doing my head in.

Of course I make an exception for the lisping choir who lisp their best through the English parts of this song….its wonderful 

Breakfast

Wednesday

My supervision day followed by my personal counselling

I met Chic Eleanor  for breakfast

I haven’t seen her since she moved from the village

“My Darling John” echoed around the cafe

And people turned to see her hug me, the pashmina swishing like a cape

And they smiled

The Tree

 I worked last night and went straight into university this morning. Surprisingly my presentation went well, well enough for me to feel somewhat christmasy at teatime.

So much so that I bought a miniature Christmas Tree from Sainsbury’s on my way home.

Bun was intrigued from the get go and watched the lights through narrow eyes before turning her back on it.

Weaver just ignored it and sat under the sofa with a Christmas reindeer in her gob. One of the gifts I need to send to my friend Nia in Australia tomorrow.

I’m off the 20th of December to the 28th and I’ve filled most days with something nice, whether it be meeting my friend Nigel in Chester, and then my friend Colin for a concert at the Liverpool Philharmonic, or having friends Nick and the velvet voiced Linda over  for dinner alongside Chic Eleanor. 

I am also catching up with the family on Christmas Day after seeing a film at the Picturehouse on Christmas Eve Day  ( instead of doing nothing) The film Christmas Eve at Miller’s Point looks just up my street. Oh I want to see the traditional barrel rolling in Denbigh on Boxing Day and on the 27th it’s Wicked  and lunch with my friend Ruth

Carol Of The Bells

I’m covering sickness tonight and stayed in bed for most of the morning and early afternoon . I woke around 2pm disorientated but with a nasty smell in my nose. Mary needed a shower and had one , we had a walk then for a treat shared a cheese bite share box from McDonalds before going back to bed. 

The village looked cheerful in the winter sunshine 

Malinka Ley Vey was out walking and I saw that the village Christmas Tree had been erected by Dai Ellis and David Paulus. Now Mr Ellis and I have never got on but I do respect his constant commitment to Trelawnyd and its residents . 

Credit given when it’s due

A Thoughtful Way Home

 My shoulder was aching at work today and I asked a member of staff if she could rub it for me.

This she kindly did with some banter talk about her regular masseuse and boy did her hands feel good and my aches felt better after she had finished.

Apart from hugs at Sioned’s leaving do, I can’t think of when I last felt someone’s hands on me.

It’s a sobering thought 

I miss hand holding and phyicality  and everything in between     

I am resolved to book myself with a local therapist 

Wintery

 It’s stormy .

I took the Welsh to the beach and we hugged the Promenade wall to keep out of the wind.

I’ve made a fish pie and the fire is lit.

It was my nephew Leo’s birthday yesterday .

He went to see Wicked and said he loved it.

I’m not sure I’m going but this scene intrigued and moved me

A lovely silent performance by Cynthia Erivo

Leaving Do

 Every company, Charity , ward , and hospice has its rules and regulations. 

And every one deals with a hierarchy that enforces the status quo with varying skills and exhausting constraints 

On a night out  tonight  , with a  much loved colleague leaving 

We are just people saying goodbye to an old friend 

Just people 

Friday night out

 I loved this snippet in the village Facebook yesterday

Sweet……

Amy Hulson-Jones

19 November at 18:52  · 

Just wanted to say a big thank you to the two lads who gave their home-made sled to my children tonight. My kids were using their coats to slide down the Gop Admittedly, my parenting skills can be questionable at times but the parents of the two lads we met tonight have nailed it Thank you for your kindness!

Sophie Shute

This will be Jenny Morris boys I’m sure. Absolutely lovely lads they are. I saw them walking down with their sleds 

I’m going to a leaving do tonight , which is a rarity as work remains a 60 mile round trip .

I’m catching the train from Prestatyn to Llandudno around five and am walking to a small brewery where the do has been organised . I’m going early and will be leaving early as the trains home are limited but I want to go as I respect the nurse that has left

And for once with colleagues I can relax and have a drink  

Ps I love this video, pure joy

 

More Lessons

 I was 21 when I first administered the " last Offices" to a patient, I must have done it hundreds and hundreds of times since

The elderly man had lived seventy years of his life in an asylum .

He had no family, no friends and had a life devoid of the normal happiness's that the rest of us take for granted. 

He had no belongings to speak of and even his clothes were picked from the generic clothes store and I remember feeling incredibly sad at the overwhelming " emptiness " of a life not lived.

The ward sister opened a window as the man died and crossed herself 

A nicotine stained enrolled nurse in her sixties had the job of talking me through the procedure of " 

laying out" , a job , I am glad to say, she took incredibly seriously.

She showed me how to shave the patient, wash him with a reverence he deserved and dress him carefully in a shroud . We combed his hair precisely then wrapped the body in a sheet, securing the last fold over his face with a safety pin and a gentle comment of " good night"

When we had finished, the enrolled nurse lit a cigarette and took a big drag of it.

Sensing I was still a bit shaken by the whole experience , she offered it to me which I refused,  then shared with me her own personal philosophy on the situation.

" Every life is important" she said carefully ......."no matter how it is lived..remember that fact"

 

That was in November 1983 on Irby Ward at the West Cheshire Hospital 

41 years ago

It was snowing

 I have never forgotten it.

Roger’s First Snow

 

At dog walk one yesterday morning the fields looked grey and icy and very cold

Roger who has never seen snow before, looked perplexed as he went on tip toe into the white ice

Is was up to four inches in places and he looked uncomfortable and looked to Mary to teach him what to do. 

Every few seconds in he bit mouthfulls of the snow and let the coldness fall at his feet.

He’s a darling 

I loved him even more when he sat down at one moment, his eyes wide with shock with his arse in the cold

During college he sat next to me facing the camera 

Watching everyone on line as Welsh terriers do 

The counsellors on line waved at him and called his name at the end of class

And he smiled as terriers do and sat unmoving like a puppet  , enjoying the attention offered.

It’s 6.15 am and the lane is covered again with snow, fingers crossed I can get to work

Hey ho

 College on the ball, email sent out very early doors that lectures would be on line .

Just having short break

Jenny from the other side of the village sent me this