Flight Risk

 

I know I bang on about how good art house cinema is, but I do enjoy being entertained, no matter what the subject matter is and how it is presented. 

50 years ago I fell in love with disaster movies after watching Airport 75

You may remember the cross eyed Karen Black as Nancy the hapless stewardess manfully trying to pilot the stricken 747 over the mountains whilst the passengers ( including two nuns and a girl needing a kidney) screamed their heads off. 

Half a century later Mel Gibson has US Marshall Madlyn ( Michelle Dockery, Lady Mary from Downton) caught up in the same predicament, but this time she’s responsible for the safety of her prisoner Winston ( a wisecracking nerdy Topher Grace) an informant who is turning states evidence against a money launderer. Their small plane pilot (Mark Wahlberg) who has been chartered to fly them out of the Alaskan Wilderness turns out to be a psychopath hitman ( like you do) so the stage is set for a tense, exciting, old fashioned drama with the three leads bouncing well off each other, as Wahlberg becomes more unhinged and Dockery develops into a worthy adversary.  

Flight Risk is rubbish, but remains great entertainment and is all rather fun.

Animals In Hospital

 

Mary with Hattie, she adores women and their softness 

When I was a student nurse working in the community I once sat on a patient’s chihuahua, which was asleep on her couch. Its owner put in a written complaint about my behaviour. ( or more importantly my behind) 

In another home I once spied a mummified cat , curled up near a long used coal fire and could only go go eyed my colleague as she tried to persuade that patient to enter psychiatric hospital 

At another house, in the Sheffield districts I couldn’t help verify a patient’s death as I heard a family pet  ( a nasal pug with a habit of hiding under her mistresses’ bed ) heavy breathing 🐕

I once saw a farm dog lie still and whimpering next to the paralysed body of her shephard owner and I pretended not to notice an elderly dying patient’s Yorkshire terrier as it was “ smuggled” into intensive Care by a tearful grandaughter, under her anorak.

I’ve seen my own dear Meg , a feisty and somewhat bad tempered Welsh terrier , sit still and respectful at a moribund patient’s bedside. Something Mary copied a few years later. 

And Finlay , my first Welsh terrier once gently removed a spinal injury patient tracheostomy inner tube and held it in his mouth like a Frenchman smoking a cigarette as the staff looked on open mouthed .

I was present when a florid schizophrenic patient strangled the ward budgie 

And I’ve watched tearfully as a psych patient on his deathbed called to his dead wife only to be told he was in fact asking to see his long deceased old horse. 

Animals in hospital ….and outside hospital they love who they love 

Eponine

 In the late 1980s I was lucky enough to see the original cast of Les Miserables at The Barbican Frances Ruffelle won my heart as the urchin Eponine and stole the show over Patti LuPone who played Fantine and so forty years later,I was surprised to see a “new” Eponine that blew me away.

Nathania Ong plays the role  a visceral, raw and painful way

She lives Eponine

And she breaks your heart

Porth Eirias

 I need a boost today so lunch with a friend at Bryn Williams is a tonic. I took the welsh down the Promenade first in a first responce to anti diabetic expercise, then spoke to Nu in the car before sitting down at a nicely laid table  overlooking the sea.

The food was so so but Bryn Williams has lovely views and good coffee

We went to an art instillation at Porth Eirias, portaits of local.people from Colwyn Bay. It was simple, moving and very  effective

Then it was another walk for the Welsh , followed by supervision in Prestatyn .

It was almost dark when we got home, 

Hey ho

Memory lane January 2012

An old post revisited after 14 years

 “ I had a coffee then went out to deliver some duck eggs which I had promised to drop off and I was glad that I did for as I turned into Bron Haul I caught a glimpse of Mrs Spriggs.

Now Mrs Spriggs (not her real name) is one of those very VERY old ladies that always sound as though she is crying when she talks.She has that slightly odd, wavering voice that carries literally for miles. and when I sometimes try to pass her when she is waiting for the morning bus into town, the dogs will often stop then sit and stare at her when she cries her very odd cries of welcome.
Today, Mrs Spriggs was perched on top of a brand new shiny invalid scooter, complete with impressive wicker basket on the front. She was driving it at full tilt along the centre of the road,and even at a distance of say 50 yards, I could tell that her knuckles were white as the proverbial sheet.
Islwyn Thomas, himself in his late eighties, stood nearby and he gave me a small wave and a smile...
"watch this" , he  quipped "this should be fun!"
Mrs Spriggs passed us, letting out a long moaning scream as she did so
I noticed that the scream had a definite Doppler effect to it
"I'm scccccaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrred!!!!!!!!!!!" she cried " this is all new to me!"
she turned the scooter around and in way of explanation as she made a second run she cried out again
"The scooter is on loan..I'm trying it out!!!.....but I can't get the hang of the kerbs!"
She mounted the pavement briefly near Stan and Kit's neat little bungalow and let out a long "oooooooooooohhhhhhh!" as she did so.
And as I stopped to watch... realising instantly that this was the stuff of all passable blogs!
Mrs Spriggs glided past yet again emitting another little scream like girls do on rollercoasters

As she "hand braked it by the junction of High Street, She informed Islwyn and myself rather breathlessly that the buggy needed to be returned by Friday so she had to practise when the weather was dry.
"How do I look on it?" she wailed as she made her third and final run

"precarious !" I said under my breath”

Bloods

 New GP , jaunty practice nurse

Apologies for not being chased up

I’m not surprised but I’m diabetic 

Lots more tests, clinics, bloods, meetings booked

I’m back in the system 

GP thinks I’ve been depressed but have pushed through it ! 

Pulling bra straps come to mind.

Non of this is rocket science 

Get on with it John.

Bowls

 I usually work Sundays so with tonight free I went to the indoor bowls night at the village Hall

I really enjoyed it.

About sixteen villagers were there ( mostly men ) so I knew all but around four people . The ones I didn’t know were very friendly , including a farmer my own age who kept boosting my confidence after I told him I was always chosen second to last at games in school , and that was only because last place Alan Jones had a built up shoe!!!!

I was shit, but like I said I enjoyed the banter and the game itself …..

I shall go again 

Growing Up

 

Another bout of nasty weather approaches, so I thought it the right time to open the cat flap.

Weaver left the cottage first followed by Bun and as I predicted both didn’t venture too far in the cold and wet. Roger was beside himself and kept looking at the cat flap then to me as if to say “what’s happening Dad.?”

I tried to keep busy like parents do when their toddlers go to play school for the first time 

Hey ho

Hunkering Down

 I slept until 2 pm and did some shopping.

As usual , I parked in the mother and child spot and almost had a row with a woman who took umbrage with my explanation that the Welsh ARE my children. I say almost, I’m not in the mood for battling , not today. I just smiled sweetly 

She didn’t smile back.

Sometimes , I get a little weary of being the one who hires and fires all of the time. 

I have an appointment at the doctor’s surgery on Monday to discuss my recent blood tests and it was nice that a friend at work, who knows, gave me a kiss on the cheek as way as a support last night.

Like I said , I’m a little tired doing everything on my own.

But there is no alternative and we plod on, don’t we ? 

I’ve cooked butter beans and chillies, and made a thick fish soup with cod steaks and park Choi , walked the dogs and lit the fire . 

Tomorrow I’m going bowling in the village hall, which sounds rather third age but all rather fun, but tonight I’m hunkering down on the couch

Éowyn

 It’s rough.

I woke to the roar of the wind and Weaver angrily swiping claws at my toes.

The wind has a real edge to it, and even the Welsh who love a leisurely walk and sniff, kept their heads down and pulled for home. 

The ponies, as she had predicted stood with their backs to the wind in the shelter of the hawthorn hedges and the private windmill at Marion Mawr ,far across the valley, whirled crazily.

I checked the village Facebook page, 

The Arla cattle crossing near Sarn had been closed by fallen trees, but no one has suffered power cuts yet.

I think the school is closed too

I’m working a single night shift tonight which will be fun getting to, I will add to the post later

Gimmie

 I moved away from home properly when I was 23

I moved to York in the dead of winter

York which is the backdrop of the new police drama Patience

Patience is a police researcher who has autism , so that twist is the whole nuance of the series.

It’s a little predictable but it’s watchable and well done but more importantly it visited an old haunt I haven’t returned to in thirty six years.

In last night’s episode I grabbed a glimpse of the Hole In The Wall pub which still lies just inside Bootham Bar ( or gate in the Walls) 

I had been the new psychiatric nurse for only a few weeks when I joined the staff on a Christmas Night out at The Hole In The Wall, and as I walked in, all fearful and shy I was met by a roar of warmth by my new colleagues . Geordi Pete, Cath Sylvester, Tracey Birkin , Mandy, Anne O’Neil, Linda M, Brid, Gordon, and others

An hour or two later , arm in arm with whoever was near I found myself belting out the chorus of ABBA’s Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie ( a man after midnight) feeling I’d come  home 

The story comes full circle soon as I’ve planned to meet with one of that group, namely  Tracey Birkin in York in the spring. 

We reconnected on Facebook recently amid much emotion 

Nosfeatu

 

A couple of years I went to the Storyhouse to see a showing of the 1922 silent version of Nosferatu complete with a live musical score. One famous scene had Max Schreck climbing slowly out of a ship’s hold and this stands up to this day as one of cinema’s famous horror moment. The 2024 Roger Egger’s version pays homage to the original by presenting some amazing visual set pieces and truly impressive cinematic moments but by the end of 160 minutes I was praying for someone to dispatch a rather disgusting looking monster quick stix!!! 

It just wasn’t very scary 

I had a Phad Thai as a treat afterwards 

I will leave you with another fine blast of the lisping choir, I was there watching from the back row

Flirt

 

College until mid afternoon, before I took Trendy Carol’s hubby to an appointment in Prestatyn. I went to Tesco’s as I was waiting for him and got cruised by an attractive older man with a big beard who was working on the checkout. Lots of direct stares a couple of smiles and a big hello there as I passed his till.

I was very flattered. It made my day

When was your last flirt? 

I Will Not Forget You (From "Testament of Youth")

Today I spent half an hour , sat still and silent next to a hospital bed.

The door was open so I could see people stepping quietly by

This music was playing

I think I will always remember it.

Sipping Coffee

I heard the clip clop of the ponies’ hooves when I was sipping coffee in the kitchen. Roger barked as they passed the kitchen window and I could hear the twins scampering across the bedroom floorboards to watch from the window seat. 

The ponies return is a big deal on Cwm Road

Not fully caffeinated, I marshalled the Welsh and we drove to Parisellas in Colwyn Bay for breakfast. It was cold but we sat outside  and shared a table. By force of habit Mary sat on her own seat. Roger sat on the floor making googoo eyes at any passing dog.

I ordered a flame hot americano and a sausage bap which we shared

A group of people opposite seemed amused by Mary’s politeness and asked about her. 

She’s my old girl I told them and they smiled at her obvious age, the slightly milky eyes, the patchy coat then they “ oohed and aahed” as she sat on my knee, warming herself inside my coat flaps 

She is an old gal, not that long for this world now 

And as I thought that, I enjoyed the thump, thump thump of her heart as she pushed herself against my chest, and I sipped at my coffee

 

Faghags and Staghags

 I think most mature women with any sense will have one gay man as a friend.

These women are not faghags ( the derogatory name for a woman who spends most of her time in the company of gay men) nor are they lacking female friends.

It’s just that I think that most mature women who have an emotional intelligence like the company of a gay man .

And visa versa of course.

Having a gay bestie means you are in the sex and the City Club ! 

You are either a Carrie or a Charlotte

( but most women I think identify more with Miranda as she is the most sorted of the quartet) 

I don’t quite fit into the gay best mould mainly because I’m too scruffy

A gay best friend should be immaculately dressed and ideally look like Jonathan Bailey

I gain kudos points for being more emotionally intelligent than most and having a sense of humour

I’m not a stag hag either, which helps ( stag hags are gay men who just love the company of usually older gay men ) 

I’m eclectic in my friend choices but I do like women friends, they are special 

I think, I like them because they are more tactile than most. 

I can link arms and hug and kiss with my female friends with an ease

Now I must say here that I have gay and straight makes friends which I hug and even kiss but having a female friend is different in the heteronormative world .

I guess it’s easier all round.

Hey ho

Jobs Done

It’s taken all day but I’ve finally cleaned up and dried the kitchen and shampooed the living room carpets

Free of wet paw prints and slime. 

I’m knackered. 

But the cottage now smells of lemon and disinfectant and the humidifier given to me by the velvet voiced Linda has done its job rather well so that the windows are no longer misted.

There is something rather satisfying in a tidy house

Pizza for supper ( the Welsh love the crusts)

 

 

Bollocks

 

When we got home after counselling earlier I suddenly noticed Roger standing in the kitchen doorway looking worried.

He had his usual “It’s not my fault” expression on his face and suddenly I  heard the sound of dripping water.

The bathroom sink had overflowed and the water had leaked down into the kitchen to a depth of an inch.

The twins were sat on the kitchen table, marooned 

Both yowled at me loudly

I swore like a docker. 

Life is like this is it not?

Nice positives yesterday

Fuck off disasters today 

Bollocks twat cunt !!!!

Walking Out On Callas

 I’m running late.

Last night I caught up on sleep and although I’m not quite right, I feel a little more rested.

I drank tea from my new dinosaur cup and planned the day

I have to drive over to Abergele to see my clients, not too far but. 22 mile around trip.

Last night I went to see Maria 

It was dreadful. Lazily written and a showcase for Angeline Joline rather than Maria Callas herself., the story of the last two weeks of the Diva’s life was little more than a pout on screen. 

You see a lot of Joline and very little of Callas 

And that was a shame. 

I walked out

Sue was in the field yesterday.

The ponies return very soon

What fun

Praise

First thing I drove to Holywell Hospital for a blood test with an overly brusque phlebotomist, so treated myself to Avocado and eggs on sourdough at Sainsburys. 

It was nice to get out of my pyjamas, but I was tired out by lunchtime, so I had  small nap before supervision

Every two weeks I meet with a specially trained senior supervisor to discuss my clients 

Supervision is ..

 "A specialised form of mentoring provided for practitioners responsible for undertaking challenging work with people. Supervision is provided to ensure standards, enhance quality, advance learning, stimulate creativity, and support the sustainability and resilience of the work being undertaken."

I enjoy supervision

Today my supervisor shared something with me as I was discussing a somewhat challenging client. 

“ You’ve changed “  she observed simply 

The comment took me by surprise so much that I went quiet 

“ You are becoming an effective counsellor “ she added with a gentle smile

And suddenly I was a child again, thrilled at some much craved for praise and acceptance “