Radio

 

Last night, as I was driving home after college I listened to a little gem of a radio programme on radio 4

Set in a northern city school File On Four learning to survive , was a gentle, but honest look of how an inner city school deals with a population ravaged by the financial crisis .

One sequence, had me geared up at Bluebell’s wheel 

It was the moment the school organised a “day in pyjamas” 

The children and staff all turned up in nightware, which was not just a bit of fun , but a crafty way for the senior teacher to see which children needed a proper fitting set of pyjamas later in the year.

“Of course we provide the new Pj’s “ she added “;but only after they won them in a raffle” 

And it was that lie that really broke my heart just a little.

What a wonderful head teacher

What a fantastic bit of documentary radio and

What a lesson learned 

He Used To Be Mine -

Planting Out

 

I took the iris and lilies my sister donated to the TCA down to the pond this morning and submerged them in a space I found beyond the little jetty. 

I checked with Nick who was one of the TCA that spearheaded the pond if I had done ok then came back home to shower all of the dogs, all of whom had acquired a real doggy pong.

Not surprisingly it was taking a neighbour to Dyserth for a doctor appointment that sealed their showers, the neighbour opened the passenger door window and poked a nose through when they thought I wasn’t looking.

I’ve been washing bedding and throws all morning.

Tuesdays , I’m in college 6pm until 9 but will get the library early to catch up on my workbooks and journal.

I’m tired, as my rhythms  are all out after nights 

Goodbye Jennifer

 

Jennifer Aldridge died rather fittingly with a glass of Prosecco in her hand and her sister, Lilian by her side, but all rather strangely this happened off screen as her son Adam burnt the carrots for a family dinner, and husband Brian shared a cheese cracker with Justin Elliot .

I was so surprised I had to stop the car on the Promenade in order to listen 

Angela Piper has played Jennifer since 1963

A year after I was born

Jennifer always reminded me of my sister Ann in a way. 

A fierce mother, a community stalwart, popular , and funny 

She visited me today with lilies and iris for the village pond 

And left on the patio table was homemade marmalade , cheese and chutney 

It’s nice to be looked after 

Web Page

 

I’ve not had much free time over the weekend but I’ve knuckled down and made more than a start on the Community Association web page, which I’m pleased about.

https://trelawnydcommunityassociation.blogspot.com/

That’s one less thing to get done. I have yet to expand the page suggesting the hall is an ideal venture for a “ do it yourself “ wedding. We’ve had a few of those over the years and they have proved to be quite delightful.

There is nothing I want to see at the cinema this week. 

Spielberg’s homage to cinema and his family is on next week but this week’s offering of Babylon has left me somewhat cold.

My book club book arrived Three Hours By Rosamund Lupton 

I will give that a go

“Maoz Tzur” sung by cantors from across Canada.

I loved this

Tired

Off to bed

Mindful

I’m sat at the kitchen table.

It’s cold and I have my bobble hat on.

I’m singing gently to this song from the musical waitress which is on the radio

And I’m sewing by the lane window which has the best light

Sewing the rip in the arse of my work pants.

The rip that started a great deal of night shift hysteria last weekend.

I’m back on nights tonight and it took ages to find my sewing box.

The hardly used one with the chickens on the lid….

Filled with the flotsam of forty years…..

The dogs are watching me carefully.

Confused by the singing

“she is messy but she’s kind…….”

A Memory

“ John can you sort out the visitors for your patient ? we have more requesting to come in”

So asked one of the support workers on Intensive Care when I was at my busiest time.

My patient was dying and we as a team were withdrawing treatment from him which meant that extra ventilatory support and meds keeping his blood pressure elevated would be discontinued after a long discussion with family. 

The patient’s family was with him but as the patient was a popular man, extended family and friends kept turning up at the door. At these times the next of kin would organise which people would be able to visit and who wouldn’t and it was my job to sensitively put those wishes into practice.

I entered our small sitting area outside the ICU and fielded requests to come in.

I had almost finished when a man in his sixties approached and said he was an old friend of my patient.

He had been told earlier of the present dire situation the patient was in and was clutching a small sunflower in both hands. He had been crying.

I know visiting is only for family” he said quietly “ But could you give him this ?”  

He gave me the sunflower

I said I would even though it was against policy to accept flowers and as the man nodded a tearful thank you he almost stumbled through the automatic door back into the hospital corridor.

Something made me follow him and as he caught his breath. I asked him if he was alright 

He pointed back to intensive care

“ He was my sunshine” the visitor said crying and he reached out to hold my hand for a moment

“He was always my sunshine” 

His words and his grief has always stuck with me even until now, some fifteen years later

And I was glad to have been able to place the sunflower next to that patient 

As I had been requested to