The Search

The gop has been the scene of much activity today, as a villager suffering from depression has gone missing after leaving a suicide note. The police helicopter has circled the area constantly, and spent many minutes shadowing me and the dogs on our afternoon walk amid the trees which was an oddly weird experience.
This evening the mountain rescue volunteers have scoured the churchyard and allotment (even checking inside the duck house) and even later a dog search team has weaved its way down the lane checking the fields and woods west of Trelawnyd.
The noise and activity has unsettled the sheep and horses in nearby paddocks, and the sound of their bleating and whinnies has been rather spooky and this of course has been somewhat exaggerated bu the fact I have had not sleep and am feeling as usual rather jittery. Awful night shift last night, a multiple trauma RTA admitted.......I can't believe that Chris and friends like Geoff actually enjoy riding death traps that are motorbikes........

Catch up

Just had time this morning to catch up with Mike and Bev and Maisie for pancakes and muffins, before driving home to sort out the dogs and animals before another night shift....nice weekend!

A Sheffield/Cameroon/American wedding

It was a treat to be able to stay in a posh hotel on Saturday night, and the new St Paul's Hotel overlooking the Peace Gardens was lovely. I managed to get over to Sheffield by 2pm, met up with Chris then walked the stone's throw distance to the Upper Chapel on Norfolk Street for Mick and Meggie's wedding.

The wedding was a real mixture of cultures. Mick's family are salt-of-the-earth Sheffielders, whilst Meggie's family range from homeland in the Cameroons, to the states and a variety of countries in Europe, The couple had met on my old ward when both were working there as staff nurses. The ceremony style was overwhelmingly American, with both Bride and Groom having a score of Bridesmaids and groomsmen each, all impeccably dressed and turned out. It felt very My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

Meggie's mother, almost stole the show with a lilting,impassioned and considered speech at the reception.The speech was almost evangelical in nature with relatives singing out key important words and phrases from time to time, it felt a breath of fresh air compared to some to the more stuffy wedding speeches I have previously had to endure. The interactive feel of the whole thing was warm, heartfelt and incredibly good natured.

The evening "do" meant that we had a chance to meet up with the old spinal injury staff. Above is affable, big hearted Alexa (left) with Diane (gay man in a straight woman's body). It was all very flattering that many staff missed me in post..........shallow but ever so nice to hear!!!!!!!!!

Helen, who took my job over as ward Manager

.......and Jane of course (my old ward's deputy sister) who had an unfortunate accident with her large cleavage and a particularly impressive Chocolate fountain......enough said....

We didn't have a late night, but caught up with more old staff, had a few drinks, chats and enjoyed a comfortable bed and air conditioning in the hotel. It was a nice evening

A strange crush, and an inability to get going........

Last night was a bloody awful shift: one transfer out, one death and three admissions.All with the minimum number of staff on. I was well over tired when I got home this morning. Chris needed a lift to town to get the train to Sheffield at lunchtime(he is going on a hen night there tonight), so I managed to grab an hour's sleep before dragging myself into some semblance of normality (and a dirty pair of combats) to get the chores done.
I will meet up with Chris tomorrow for Mick and Meggies' wedding (we are staying in a rather plush City centre hotel which will be a treat), then back on Sunday ready for night shift again.
I certainly don't mind the back-to-back activity of it all as Mick and Meggie remain two of my favourite co-workers from the Spinal Injury Unit, and I am greatly looking forward to see them both on their big day.Mick is one of those broad accented native Sheffield blokes with a big heart and a sensitive soul that was always a favourite primary nurse with patients and their relatives, whilst Meggie could lighten up the dullest of rooms with her big East African laugh and warm nature. I suspect their wedding will be a joyous affair!

Anyhow,. I am afraid the allotment tidying will have to take a rain check until Monday as before I drive over tomorrow I have to take William to the vets again ( a skin condition has flared again) and drop him and George off to Janet's who will babysit them tomorrow night. Carol is keeping an eye on the birds, Meg and Maddie.

So am just about to have an early night. Watched the BBC "comedy" game show this evening Would I lie to You? Generally it is all pretty dire, save for the comic Lee Mack, who I am afraid I have a bit of a crush on. I am not sure if it is his Blackburn Northern humour that I find attractive. or the fact that several years ago he was fired from pontins in Prestatyn for being drunk on stage.

The Mist II

Hazel and I went to a late showing of The Mist yesterday evening. Now, Wales does not really do late showing of anything, so I was excited at the prospect of being a little city-ish as well as seeing the film as it should be seen on the big screen ( remember I watched it on a two inch screen on YOUTUBE a week or so back)
Watching The Mist a second time, I realised why it perhaps didn't do that well in the U.S. The shock of what hurricane Katrina did to the so-called civilized southern states, frightened America to the core.and the rapidity of how a city became almost prehistoric (as the polarised shoppers did in the isolated supermarket in the movie) is a truth just too real for a nation to accept and watch all over again. Watching Lord of the flies is one thing, but to watch small town America disintegrating into anarchy is very much another Like 9/11, a critical look at the more unpalatable side of human nature, may be all a bit too painful.............

Had a lovely surprise off Nia today, as two cases of lovely wine was delivered- a huge thank you for my meagre work helping out with her belongings' shipment. I hope she doesn't mind but I would like to use them to be enjoyed by the entire family at Ann and Tim's big party bash on the 16th.

Baby Update

I received an e mail this morning from Cheryl in Canada (of all places) who asked how all the babies were doing.
Well...........The buff chicks are 7 weeks old now and are crackling little fellas. I suspect I have two cocks and 3 hens, so I may have to "cull" one male if I can't find a home for him. The little female (Violet) is tame and loves being stroked, especially just under her chin----I will be definately keeping her,

Boris and Grace have put on weight in the week they have been with me and even at 6 weeks are substantial and hefty little birds. They are too young to be let loose in the far enclosure as yet, so will be kept in the shed for another two weeks at least

The biggest change has been Broody Nolan's chicks who are now three weeks old. I think there are two cocks in this set of five but can't yet be too sure as yet All are looking somewhat scruffy as their feathers are still poking through the down.

They are being moved into the A frame this evening.

Saved

Today, the closure list of Welsh post offices was published.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7529179.stm
Our tiny shop and post office was not on the list and it was lovely to hear that at least for now, it has survived.

L'Heure d'ete and good manners

Heure d'été, L' (2008) (English title Summer hours) isn't an easy film to concentrate upon. A talky subtitled film often means that the audience is concentrating upon the written word and the characters rather then the narrative or cinematography, and Summer Hours has the added complication of possessing a cracking, almost manic pace in the first two reels or so....
The story is pure Chekov and couldn't be simpler. An old woman dies. Her three children argue, very gently, about whether to sell the family home and her much beloved art collection.
Like Chekov, it is all very talky, but director Olivier Assayas and the actors inject a deep sense of attachment and affection between the fragmented siblings that is central to the story. Juliette Binoche had the most difficult role as the slightly colder sister Adrienne and does not quite elicit the sympathy of the audience as the more likable brothers do (Charles Berling and the dishy Jérémie Renier) but as a study of the relationships between siblings as they say goodbye to their childhood memories, the film is sweet enough.
My favourite scene in this dialogue heavy movie is strangely a silent one. The empty house of the family matriarch is locked and cold, and outside the loyal elderly house keeper Eloise (a warm and benign Isabelle Sadoyan) quietly gazes through each window with a sad dignity.
It is a beautiful, moving and powerful scene.
Anyhow I went over to Manchester to see the film at the Cornerhouse Cinema and stayed with Nigel, which is always nice.
Nigel is reassuringly old fashioned as he always looks after his visitors so very well. Food is prepared, guest towels are laid out and beds are neatly clean and tidy. It seems a small thing, but is indeed a much welcomed and appreciated treat. I was tired but had a great evening.