A morning in bed with Joan & Osborne House

I love Broadcasting House on radio 4 on a Sunday morning. No dogs this morning, only breakfast in bed and Joan keeping me company. Makes a welcome change not to have ginger and black canines fighting for attention, and it was lovely to have a relaxing catty bonding session with the old girl! I think she has been a bit overfaced with the new cat flap and is in need of cuddle!

Osborne House was lovely last night, the best food we have had since comming to Wales! We were very impressed. I had liver, (I was always frightened by liver as a child as my mother always massacred the cooking of it), and the meat literally melted in my mouth ! lovely

The cafe has been decorated beautifully and" feels" very French, It was a great treat. Made a change not to be wearing my wellie slip ons! Richard seemed to enjoy himself too!

A two hour cat flap & the generation gap

Richard isn't big on conversation, so it is always good to organise non verbal activities! The new cat flap looks impressive, and poor Rich spent two hours on the kitchen floor fitting it! Much to the amusement of Finlay to sat 2 inches from him at all times watching all activity and listened intently to the irritable swearing!

Chris was working yesterday so we did B & Q, a long walk on the beach and the farm and pet warehouse. I worked last night ( an awful shift as we had 10 patients at one stage and 8 beds) and after three hours sleep Chris has taken his dad to Prestatyn to do a bit of shopping and to touch base with my sister! I was working with a senior member of staff who seems to delight to pick all members of staff on something they have perhaps done incorrectly, and this inconsistent and rather petty way of working I feel often undermines young inexperienced staff, as well as being managerially unproductive. She bussled across the unit at the height of a busy episode to pull me up about a very minor point ( infront of several staff) and I was having none of it. As she spoke I smiled and shrugged but kept her gaze, and as she repeated herself I smiled and shrugged again! Finally half amused she said "You don't give a shit do you" and I broke the ice by laughing! Oh how I hate managers who cannot manage people!

The stone fish was breathing great gobs of smoke when I went out to feed the chickens! This amused me greatly as it sits on the wall by the back door! Unfortunately you cannot see it smoking clearly on the photo, but certainly Richard's cig bin has been located!


Later I have booked a table at Osborn house ( see previous blog) so I feel we have "made the effort"

Makes you think?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/guides/457000/457031/html/default.stm

The news tonight is full of the trial of the alleged Madrid Bombers. I noticed that one illustrative CCTV footage was used that I have never seen before. It was a sequence showing the fleeing crowds from one of the trains, shot from above, you could clearly make out a score of figures running. Then suddenly another bomb exploded in the centre of them all, thankfully filling the picture with flames and debris. The video was cut so the viewer could see no more, but I was totally shocked by what I saw!, namely the deaths of many Spanish commuters. Like 9/11 these images are stark,brutal and in this age of normal cinematic violance, truely shocking

Note to self: hug Chris when I go to bed tonight

The second Richard Burton & idle thoughts

Knackered after the long journey Chris' dad, Richard didn't quite need the Welsh Terrier treatment, but he certainly got it!

As usual he will be put to good use over the weekend ! tomorrow he and I will be painting the back door and replacing the cat flap while Chris is at work.

I am working Friday/Sunday nights, so I think we are out for dinner in Llandudno Saturday night. I must say that sons obviously resemble their fathers in some ways and Chris is no exception! They have exactly the same walk! w i e r d!

Chris had a bit of a tough day, but was amused when he overheard me and my sister Janet having an animated conversation about Laura Ashley place mats! . Perhaps we are very easily pleased?

Had a text a few days ago from neighbour Jonney from Sheffield. said he was thinking of me when he saw the old house door open, as I always left it when I was in the kitchen! Nice to be remembered!

Funny

Early start

Chris is in London working and spent last night with his mom, so I was up at 6am sorting the animals out! Not a lover of early starts, but there is something satisfying in getting everything done then sneaking back to bed for a crafty extra hour! Couldn't sleep though so decieded to make a list of things to do today, which include sorting the spare room out for Chris' dad, Richard who is staying for a long weekend from tomorrow. Richard is very easy going, but is not good at keeping himelf amused, so am wracking my brain to organise a few things that we can do.
Tomorrow I am taking part in a paediatric advanced life support study day ( say that when you are pissed!) which starts at 8 am and finishes at 6 pm which seems all a bit much to me! I am on nights too on Friday and Sunday , so Chris will have to look after him for the most part! hey ho.

Ps the Spazmobile has a CD player!! so exciting! went to Mochdre and priced up a new chicken coop (second hand) and poultry fencing, as I want to get going with the field! Bought nice food from Marks and Spencer for Richard on Thursday (Marks' seem to be going from strength to strength) and treated myself to a new wallet as George has "eaten" my old one last night! sounds gross but bits of it appeared when he relieved himself on the beach this morning ! Also managed to but in another load of late spring and summer bulbs in before scrubbing the inside of the hen house out ( a nasty job!!)...pottering ,pottering,pottering!

Telepathic dental nurse

Clean bill of health from the Polish dentist, who seemed very friendly and polite even though his English is obviously non existent. Pity the support staff at the new practice didn't follow his lead! as their attitude seemed one of bored indifference. Before I went in I told the receptionist that I required a check up and a scale and polish. She took my health questionnaire without looking at me and seconds later I was having my consult. All well and good! Anyhow without a word the dentist completed the examination and the nurse told me I could go! I sat my ground and asked if I could have my requested scale and polish. She answered rather dismissively that the dentist didn't think that was necessary! Her attitude got my back up and I couldn't resist saying sweetly "The dentist said nothing to you, how do you know?" I then turned to him and asked him directly if he could give me a scale and polish! He completed my request graciously, even though I could hear her huffing and puffing in the background. Some of me feels as though, with non professionals like her being the public face of the nhs, it is a case of the lunatics taking charge of the asylum

ER and a sick Fin

ER is always value for money, it is a pity that characters get written out on a regular basis then get reincarnated into a new (often younger) character with all the same personality traits! so Julianna Margulies became Maura Tierney, then the senior nurse mantle was carried by Linda Cardellini, but you can forgive this minor gripe as the writing and direction is always top notch. My favourite character is one of the more minor characters:-Yvette Freeman plays Nurse Haleh Adams,a lip pursing black middle aged nurse with a somewhat cynical attitude. She is the wallpaper of the ER, always there and always in the background! The new series is as gripping as ever!

My very favourite episode was way back in 1995. Rosemary Clooney played Madam x ,an Alzheimer patient who sang Have yourself a Merry little Christmas as she wandered confused and alone, through those never ending corridors ! Oh it broke your heart!

Finlay had a huge fit this evening, his first for an age. In fact he had two in quick succession which is a little worrying! He is asleep on the couch with me at the moment and seems to be sleeping it off. Late to bed again!

Hey ho

ps this was on Nige's blog! thanks nige!

I somehow just knew that John's favourite ER character would be Haleh Adams, although this does seem a little add odds with his later blog entry: as an avid ER fan since it's first night, I'm sure that Nurse Freeman would also have 'pursed her lips', just like his dental 'nurse'. Trouble is, despite their irritating manner, I think John secretly enjoys the challenge of rude folk. Well, he handles them better than I do, I guess...

In reply to this I guess I do like the challenge of "rude people", but perhaps more accurately I hate to feel that their rudness gets one over on me!