Night Nurse Hysteria

I really should get up.

The little red clock on the bedside table says 13.15

I have been in bed four hours fifteen minutes

A record for me after night shift

I feel as though I have been hit by a train.

Last  night was hard work.

The girl working alongside me had an incredibly busy patient

The whole unit was snowed under

So me and another colleague not only had to look after our own patients 

But had to chip in to support this nurse

teamwork is what gets you through

when everything goes tits up at 3 am in the morning.

The three of us, and our patients made it through the night

But by 8 am the hysteria was beginning to show

" Night nurse hysteria"is a well known phenomenon 

on busy shifts

It occurs when something that is only gently amusing takes on a huge significance

The resulting hysteria is often infectious and to

onlookers insanely perplexing.

Years ago , when my mother was admitted to hospital she recounted a cracking example of 

" night nurse hysteria"

Lying in bed at night she watched as the three ward staff raced around like

blue arsed flies without a break.

Finally at around 6 am, a knackered looking support worker

Dragged herself to the nursing station to where the two trained staff were gulping down

a cold cup of tea, their first one of the shift!

There she hissed in an exhausted stage whisper

" staff!...I've found another one dead!"

And promptly the three women burst into fits of uncontrollable giggles.

Exhaustion can play very cruel tricks on a person in the wee small hours!

Anyhow, Like I said, I really should get up.

It's now 13.40.

and I have to move the new chicks from their broody box.

somehow the dogs have found their way into the bedroom

( thanks chris)

They will need a walk before we all have to go around to Mrs Trellis' house

She has invited us round for a cup of tea.

And I still feel like a bag of shite.

Winnie, giving me the dead eye......

Sorrel's Inner Child

I am sure my mother in law would not mind informing you all that she has reached an important milestone in her birthday calendar . This has not curtailed her ability, in any way,to unleash her inner child whenever the mood takes her in order to enjoy and appreciate activities and experiences usually reserved for the likes of Bobby from The Railway Children or Titty from Swallows & Amazons
Sorrel has an amazing ability to enjoy anything and everything

Sorrel, chocolate Mary and the infamous dressing gown

This morning I arranged an " Easter Bunny Hunt" for her. Four goose eggs and a chocolate bunny ( a fitting tribute to the valiant  Mary I thought) had been secreted in the front garden for Sorrel to find,
Donned in a fleece dressing gown and fluffy slippers she skipped around the garden,  squealing triumphantly  as she removed each egg from its hiding place amid the greenery
She was only  interrupted the once, when Ann  Malthoff from around  the corner walked by with a wry smile on her face. Sorrel tried hiding behind a ceanothus bush but the Purple Hearts on her dressing gown gave her away.
Ann is a happy soul too......I heard her chuckling away to herself as she disappeared down the lane.

Selfie Good Friday

I think this " selfie" speaks for itself.

Miracle Baby

A broody hen has been sitting on her eggs for around 10 days. Every day she needs throwing off them in order to have a drink and a mouthful of corn, so it took me by surprise when I turfed her off this afternoon and found a single chick hatched out underneath her.
( for those that don't know it takes 21 days for a chick to develop in the egg)
How apt for Easter Weekend
Even though I can't quite work out how she did it

Happy Easter

I went to bed at 8.45am
And got up at 10.30am
I walked the dogs.
And drove to town  to complete the pre-mother-in-law week's shop at an over crowded Tesco's

( I ate my breakfast scotch egg whilst pushing the trolley)
I had " words" with the checkout girl after she had a protracted conversation with the customer in front about her friend having a baby under the age of consent
and I forgot to buy the hot cross buns that Chris had asked me to get, so had to got back for them.

I topped up the Berlingo with petrol
Unpacked the shopping when I got home
Had a row with Chris about buying what he referred to as " cheap shit hot cross buns"
and am now just about to tackle the toilet bowl with the bog brush.
Life couldn't get any better

Operation Dog Snot Removal

Mother-in-law ( to be) arrives tomorrow. I am working night shift tonight, so as regular readers will remember only too well, today is " dog snot removal day"

The cottage windows have been left wide,  glass has been polished, I have retrieved my bottle of " fabreeze" from the church cupboard where I had left it and have squirted every inch of the  cottage where dog arse touches fabric

Garden has been weeded, lawn has been cut

Front and back

Cupcakes have been made

Am I or am I not the gay version of  friggin Jane Asher?

Thanks Flo

Arrhhh the power of the internet rears it's head today.
Postcard dealer Florence McCarthy from down in Eastbourne has just emailed me this old view of the village. (The old Black Boy pub can be seen quite clearly on the left hand side of High Street ( now the site of the pensioner bungalows))
She bought the postcard thinking it was a scene from Ireland.
I suspect it is a rare postcard from  the turn of the century.