The Barmaid and The Squits

Winnie's squits resolved yesterday
Mine started yesterday,
No connection there but conincidence
Serendipity is not a word to used when your bowels are playing up
and you are never so vulnerable as a human when you have the squits

I'm annoyed
I'm annoyed because I will off work at least three days
and I don't get paid for days off sick

Luckily I had already booked the sexy bearded dog walker , so at least the girls have had a good walk.
I dare not venture too far from home
Yesterday I had a " bit of an incident " in the lane which necessitated a quick-sticks gallop for home and a hot bath!
I won't paint a further picture of the afternoon!

Today I'm a little washed out.
I slept too long yesterday and already today, I have cat napped on the couch whilst the dogs were out.
This afternoon I took an Imodium and took a chance to go out to buy dog food

Being ill, when single makes for self pity
Everyone wants someone to stroke your hair when you're poorly.

However the positive of today was a brief moment listening to radio four .
It was an arbitrary arts programme where some articulate Boffin was discussing art
The painting he was discussing was A Bar At The Follies Bergere by Manet, which I suddenly realised was the piece of art I was most impressed with on a visit to The Courtauld Gallery back in 2017
The Boffin explained the painting's possible meanings in relation to the power of the barmaid Suzon
As well as the power of women in general and it was lovely to have that " ah ha!" moment, albeit years later when I realised just how complicated the set up and the positioning were to Manet.
I enjoy looking deeper into things like I did when I studied film at Sheffield Hallam University

It's time I did some serious study again
But not today

Agapanthus

The white agapanthus sun burst

I was up early dealing with Winnie's " accidents in the night" and now the cottage smells of dettol and grass cuttings as the cottage windows are wide and open and welcoming.and the sound of the washing machine wafts down the lane with a purr.

It's a bright lovely morning.

The velvet voiced Linda has already sent out her weekly morale boosting Warden message and like any good leader would expect the replies have been making my phone wriggle with excitement as they come in

Happy Sunday one and all. It's a truly beautiful morning. I hope you're all well and that life is good in your part of the village. HUGE thank yous for your kindness and generosity - you are a wonderful bunch 💕🌈🤗 xxxxx

All seems well in the village, according to the warden replies anyhow .
There is a meeting in the village hall soon about the hall putting in for a drinks licence next week and work continues to obtain funding for the clearing of the village pond
Old Trevor rang me earlier  complaining that the binmen had taken his recycling bags.
I told him I had found them wedged in the fence and I would return them shortly
He wished me a good Sunday
There feels a change in the air , which I think Hattie sort of captured in her Warden reply to General Linda

"The outlying areas all quiet and we're all okay over here thank you lovely linda :) the world is slowly finding its way isn't it! Xx💞

Im going to visit a couple of friends later, but as the sun is shining and it's warm and comfortable  I'm off to plant foxgloves and salvia in the garden,

I note that the Ginger Bastard is sitting very erect  in the long grass of the old Church Yard. He is watching the cottage . Dotty and Albert are sunbathing on the path  and have no idea they are being watched
The white agapanthus I planted a couple of months ago has now started to flower with exuberant firework bursts blooms
They look quite magnificent against the dry stone wall

Counting Butterflies

Last night the Royal Opera House streamed the ballet Romeo And Juliet 
I missed it 
I had my third date with the same guy
He is an emotionally intelligent soul with a gift of the gab
He stayed over and enjoyed counting bufferfly species on the buddleia  in the front garden this morning over coffee
Gossip will be rife in this part of the village!
Tee hee

I'll catch up with the Ballet tonight on line
I so miss going in person

Gobby

The older I get , the more I call people out
I think it's a confidence thing rather than a don't give a shit thing

Staying silent is often a more pragmatic and safe option
But I'm sorry I just cannot shut my mouth when I think it should be open.
In Liverpool , I would be referred as a bit Gobby

Shortly before I retired I witnessed a senior member of staff talk down to and essentially bully a large group of experienced nurses. Hierarchy and habit prevented anyone from saying anything and I was so glad I turned and said clearly and assertively that I didn't agree with what she was saying.
Surprised the senior staff repeated herself with thin lips
And so did I, without emotion
And the atmosphere in the room became charged with uncomfortable embarrassment and stress.
I'm better with an audience when things like this happen
But I will only challenge in public if the other protagonist starts it in public.
She brought the problem to the table and I picked up the plate.

Generally disagreements , especially at work should be done behind closed doors.

I am a Gemini , so I am quick to temper and equally quick to settle
But I am also blessed with an ability to think quickly which is a useful thing when confronting an issue head on.
However if there is too much emotion in the arguement , as there was when I had to deal with my ex husband's lies, then that quick witted ability went out of the window!!
I am, however also cursed with the scourge which is the blush.
A childhood habit from a less than confident upbringing

Anyhow less about me

When did you last call someone out? What happened?
How did you feel....?
Over to the readers in this last blog today
Your stories are always so more interesting than mine

The Goats Of Llandudno

The wild goats that live on the Orme behind my hospice have been seen in Llandudno
centre again.
This time a group of Billy goats all queued up outside a barbers shop
You couldn't make it up

Attention to detail Nurse Gray ..attention to detail!!!!

" Pay particular attention to the details of your work. 

Paying attention to detail makes for the personal touch...it is thoughtful and  it is kind"

This was a particular manra of my tutor Mr Brint , back in my psychiatric days

I remember it well as in one lession we had, the class was taught how to put ladies hair rollers in! 

The ladies were a group of "patient volunteers" from the long stay ward and Mr Brint and a tired looking Occupational therapist were showing us all how to shampoo and set!

" Hair and make up are vital for good self esteem" Mr Brint trilled " Everyone can be made to feel beautiful " 

He looked over at me as I manfully tried to roll my patient's grey locks around a roller which resembled a hairy caterpillar 

" And how is your lady looking Nurse Gray?" he purred 

I looked at my lady's head thick with haphazard looking rollers 

" She looks like a German mine!" I told him honestly 

His heart was always in the right place 

Mr Brint was right. It is attention to detail that makes a difference 

I was reminded of that yesterday when I collected my mail from my work pidgeon box

In it was a thank you card. 

Hand written from a friend of a patient who had died  a couple of months ago now.

The friend thanked me , not for  any sparking nursing care  but for a small moment of attention to detail where I had " sneaked " into the patient's room , two large rum and cokes from the kitchen booze stores which I had presented to them both on a tray with a paper doily on it.

They had Mr Brint to thank for that one

" Attention to detail Nurse Gray, Attention to detail!" 

I was reminded again of all this by a gift pushed through the letterbox

It was a gift from fellow Chorister Hattie and the accompanying letter was written to me and another  choir member Heulwen 

We of the " Trelawnyd Sandwich" . 

Before lockdown we had all agreed to go to the cinema to see Military Wives.

You know the choir based  feel good movie

But real life and covid had gotten in the way, so on the first week of the DVD being released Hattie had bought us a copy to watch, one that we all three could talk about when we eventually meet up in Heulwen's garden.

Thoughtful and kind.....

Mr Brint would have approved of this attention to detail....


Ps thank you all for Winnie concern
She is brighter this morning x

Tick

6.00 am
Dogs walked ...tick
Uniform...........tick
Bucket of coffee.....tick
Low cal stew for lunch........tick
Winnie check.........tick

Back to work ....sigh

They tear my heart

It's ten pm and I'm off to bed soon. I'm working tomorrow,
the dog walker and Trendy Carol are on hand tomorrow !!
The steroids and other meds kicked in and Winnie rallied again this afternoon
She's had more comebacks than Lazarus
I have a feeling it will be her last.
At 8 pm she finished a second small bowl of chicken and rice and peed like a horse on my lovely new garden lawn.
She then climbed heavily onto the couch and promptly fell asleep with a  sharp fart
But not before she shlepped over to me in my armchair
Where she stood , and raised her head for a kiss goodnight

These dogs tear my heart