Less than a second this time ....... (Dec 17, 2011)


Well, today has been a strange one.

Was online earlier and tried to post something but my keyboard had obviously been studying languages while I slept and kept typing random selections of letters - even when I only pressed one key

Didn't have time to get to the bottom of that problem because I needed to be on my way to drama.

Well, I didn't quite run, I was walking very carefully actually. The street was like glass a very pretty but treacherous jet black sheen covered the ground. Then I did.

Cover the ground that is. Splat! There I was for the second time in a week nose to nose with the pavement.

It was rather more difficult to get up this time since I'm no Jane Torville and didn't have the correct footwear to enable purchase on such a surface but I made it in the end.

The good thing is that I fell on my right side this time so the left side can continue healing.

So when I got home I tried to get to the bottom of the keyboard thing - to no avail. I'm wondering is it something to do with the batteries being almost dead? Who knows? I'll buy some batteries when I'm at the battery shop next week and see if it's gone for good or just needs a break.

I'm typing this on an old keyboard that I kept for such emergencies and it has a very, very sticky keyboard - that's annoying but better than trying to read/write on the 7 inch netbook.





Click here to discuss this
(22 replies, Latest reply: Dec 19, 2011)

It only took a second ..... (Dec 11, 2011)



...but we all know how relative time is.


I was just nipping into the shop for a teeny, tiny errand. It was dark, cold and a bit wet.

I exited the car and took the first step , that went quite well, nothing of great note.

Then I sort of relaxed into it and took the second step. It was also a good step, without incident.

It was the third step that went horribly wrong.

The third step resulted in me prostrate on the hard wet ground.

Quite how or why hasn't been resolved yet even with the post-fall inquest but lying on the ground was definitely the result of the third step.

Because the ground was cold and wet I didn't stay there for too long and bounced back up just as a customer was emerging from the pool of light that is the local Mace.

'Are you alright, love?' he said

*jumps up* 'I'm grand, thanks' says I

'Are you sure nothing's broken'? he continues

*walks away* 'No, I'm sure, I'm fine, fine, thanks'.

I went into the store and made my purchase while trying to sneak a look at my left hand for signs of blood/broken bones but it looked pretty normal.

I left and sat in the car for a while.

Now when we're young our skin is springy and it sort of scrapes, when we're really old our skin's like paper and tears. Good fortune has me right in the middle with the skin of an elephant or possibly because there wasn't a mark on my skin.

Having said that my left wrist, elbow, knee and ankle are sore and I'm not entirely sure I should be throwing myself on the ground like that at my age.

Note to self: keep a closer eye on the third step of any future journey.






Click here to discuss this
(26 replies, Latest reply: Dec 13, 2011)

Messing with my memory (Dec 11, 2011)


There was nothing worth watching on the television earlier this evening so I was flicking through and found a Tommy Cooper Christmas Special on Channel 5.

I always loved Tommy Cooper and thought - I'll watch this, it'll remind me how good he was and how great Christmas was when I was growing up.

Anyway, to cut a long story short it was pretty abysmal. It was funny in small parts but for the greatest part it was ..... average. To make it worse the music acts to make Christmas complete were ....... are you ready? ......... can you take the suspense? ..........







Clodagh Rodgers and Sacha Distel.






I remember the 1970s as being way more fun than that - I think I'll avoid any further trips down memory lane and stick to the clip shows where at least they show the 'best' of memories.





Click here to discuss this
(5 replies, Latest reply: Dec 11, 2011)

By the left ....... (Dec 7, 2011)


quick march!

I've just read some posts that reminded me of a yarn I heard years ago.

There was a proud Mummy at her son's 'passing out' parade with the Army.
She took a few friends and they sat in the stand and watched the ceremony and ensuing march past. The uniforms were sharp and the marching was fine, it was a sight to behold. Then Mummy pointed out the her son was the only one in step!


Who knew?







Click here to discuss this
(28 replies, Latest reply: Dec 7, 2011)

The view from goo (Dec 6, 2011)


Last night I realised that the reasons I was viewing/using brunel were no longer valid. The tools don't work with chrome and that sort of thing. So I thought I'd give it a go in goo - my original and favourite skin.


It's lovely.

It's been so long since I've used it and it's soooo loverly.

I think I love the view from goo.








Click here to discuss this
(20 replies, Latest reply: Dec 8, 2011)

A high horse .... (Dec 5, 2011)

On a thread on this very site I recently asked if there was a stable nearby that I could hire or purchase such a thing, since there are rather a lot of them about at the moment.

One of the people in the thread seemed to think I already had one.

It made me wonder.

Do I have a high horse on which I sit to look down on other researchers?

I never thought I did because I'm in no position to look down at anyone but you never can tell how what you write sounds to other people.

I hear it in my head and my posts are meant to be civil, honest and funny (if applicable) but do other people hear preaching, mischief and jokes with jags?

I don't know.

There was thread last night where an eminent researcher wrote something that looked quite sharp to me - even considering that he is normally quite economical with words. Turns out that when he explained what he meant (using more words) and I re-read what he originally said it was totally not sharp at all except in my head. I didn't post to the convo by the way so no point in looking for it, I was just watching.

High horses, am I on one looking down, am I looking up or maybe I'm some sort of circus performer on and off while swinging a rope around my head?






Click here to discuss this
(64 replies, Latest reply: Dec 6, 2011)

In the mood ..... (Dec 4, 2011)



... for Christmas?

I haven't been in the mood for various reasons and I haven't even started decorating the house or purchasing anything for the great Christmas giveaway but .... I've just looked out the window and it's snowing.

It's positively chucking it down and all of a sudden I have a funny feeling that maybe it is the season to be jolly and I should perhaps brush off ill-health and a heavy few months and just join the festivities.


Snow, I love it. I love the way it drops a silent blanket so that if it snows overnight nobody knows until the morning.

I love it because it tidies up my messy garden.

I love it because it's always such a surprise.

It's snowing.




Click here to discuss this
(16 replies, Latest reply: Dec 5, 2011)

Najo, Wednesday 30/11/11 The end .... (Nov 30, 2011)



... of the journal a day thingy.

I've found it a bit of a task really and disappointingly only really posted reflections of my days - which was really boring for any readers but will now serve me as a permanent reminder of Nov 11.

All told it's been a busy month for me and it's ended more or less as it began with me being sick.

In the quiet moments this month I've been reading some things on site and some of it is quite alarming. I haven't really been posting but as an outsider for all of the conversations here it's really easy to see that not all the changes since Auntie Beeb left are for the better.

I've been shocked - yes, actually shocked to see people I 'know' and number among my friends being downright rude in their posts and I can't really grasp why. Manners seem to have been left back at the beeb for a lot of people and that too is disturbing. I won't add my thoughts on the decision to name moderators or on some of the moderation decisions but the quicker this site is settled the better.

I don't think it's a good idea to be advertising for new blood or inviting people in until the dust has well and truly settled and by the looks of things that could be some time.

I'm not sure how much I will be participating in the coming month due to health, work and panto commitments but I will be watching in the quiet moments and hope that some sort of 'normal' service will be resumed.







Click here to discuss this
(32 replies, Latest reply: Dec 5, 2011)

Najo, Tuesday 29/11/11 For goodness sake! (Nov 29, 2011)


I don't know if it's just me or if everybody's life goes into meltdown now and again. I just find if one thing goes wrong things just keep going wronger and wronger until it hits bottom and then ... well, just sort of levels out.

I consider myself a pretty up-beat person for most of the time and my glass is always half-full never half-empty but just for the moment the downward spiral seems to be going at full kilter.

November and this journal a day thing will help me keep this particular spiral 'for the record' and at least I'll know that it's not just my imagination - 30 days in which things went bad.

I was eating a baguette with ham in it .... mmmm, it was lovely, very fresh and tasty. Then I heard a large crack somewhere in my head. It wasn't my skull, my jaw or my neck it was a tooth. Right at the back of my mouth I have a crown, a bridge and a tooth without a nerve ?! I don't remember why - it's been like that for about 20 years - all that work was done at the same time. I can honestly say it's never given me a bit of trouble in the 20 years it's been sitting in my jaw and doing all the chewing type work. Last night it seemed to find fresh baguette just one step too far.

I'll have to find time to get to the dentist someday soon. The tooth without the nerve hurts - I don't know how or why because I can't see anything obvious but I can't eat on that side of my mouth ... maybe I'll shed a few pounds (weight).

I took a phonecall at work today from daughter's school and had to go fetch her - she was feeling sick. She's been lying on the sofa since temperature up and down the whole day.

I was at the doctor again today - I have another chest infection. More of those horse pills they pass off as anti-biotics and another course of steroids. Only back to work and off for another week! I'm sorely tempted just to give up altogether, it's getting to be a bit of a struggle.

Anyway, going to try to sleep this off - or at least sleep off the sickness caused by the anti-biotics.

Maybe things will look up when this journal a day thing is over ... it's been notably downward since it started .... when the last journal is posted tomorrow I promise I won't post another until my news is good.




Click here to discuss this
(5 replies, Latest reply: Nov 30, 2011)

Najo, Monday 28/11/11 Every little helps ...... (Nov 28, 2011)


... or so they say. I've found that Tesco's value leaves a lot to be desired. Here is my story of today.

When I picked daughter up from school we decided just to hit Tesco on the way home. That way we'd be in for the night.

Tesco is very close to my home and it's one of their bigger stores so we tend to run in and out of it like a corner shop and do several small shops a week. Today I was in for some essential. I always check my receipt because there have been a few offers in the past that haven't been given at the till. Today I checked my receipt.

On of my purchases was a dozen diet coke (I'm a huge drinker of diet coke) they were priced at £4.79 and I wasn't going to bother because it works out cheaper buying them at the Mace then I noticed a yellow label 2 for £7.00 on Coke Zero, Diet, Regular 12 x 330 cans. That works out a few pennies cheaper than the Mace so I thought - what the I'll have them drank in a week anyway.

When I checked my receipt there was no discount given. I did what I normally do in such circumstances and walked all the way to the back of the store and checked the label (sometimes they're very misleading and I wanted to be sure before approaching customer services). The label was as I remembered it so daughter and I went to customer services.

Normally at this juncture the customer service rep will scan the product and confirm whether there is an offer or not and then usually she'll go round to the product and check the label with the customer. Today was different. She rang the manager Sam who went round and checked the label. Sam then rang to say the offer was only on Coke Zero. While I was waiting another customer service rep leaned in and confirmed that the offer was over and there were NO yellow labels round there as she had checked earlier.

Unsurprisingly this all p1ssed me off greatly.

I work in a pretty responsible job where the ability to read and respond accurately to a lot of complex medical information is key. In fact I'd go so far as to say - I'm not stupid and I can read, and I am not subject to delusions.

Anyhow, I said as much. I called the manager a liar and that if there was no such label (and bear in mind I'd seen it and checked it TWICE) he must have removed it.

At this point customer service rep walked round and came back with a small yellow label stating the offer 2 for £7.00 Coke Zero. I told her that wasn't the label that I'd seen ..... then I had a closer look. The label had been folded so that the other types of coke were no longer visible - just the Zero and the offer could be seen.

This really put my blood pressure up. 'It's been folded' I proclaimed. The manager obviously went down, saw the error and folded the paper before putting it back on display - all to make me look foolish and save a few pence. I was fuming.

Customer service rep said 'As a gesture of goodwill I'll refund ...'

'I don't want a gesture of good will' says I 'I want your cctv checked and I want to see the footage of your manager fixing the price' I was outraged at being called a liar when I knew the manager had been at his work!

Anyway, to cut a long story short I had double the difference refunded but the manager has probably got away with it.

I still feel rather cross about it. I'm thinking of writing to head office about it. It makes me wonder do I need to photograph every offer I purchase just in case they try the same stunt again. Or the other alternative is to shop at ASDA or Sainsbury's. I believe my Tesco days are over.







Click here to discuss this
(10 replies, Latest reply: Nov 29, 2011)

Najo, Sunday 27/11/11 Early start ...... (Nov 27, 2011)

.... for a Sunday!

This morning I was up at 8.30 and on the phone to daughter (who was staying with her chum) at 9.00am. Today was the day that the final scenes were captured for her music video.

We were due to be at Belfast City Hall at 10.30 but somehow ended up running a little late. We made it at about 10.45 and the half dozen mates she was meeting who were appearing as extras in the video were frozen stiff. It was baltic at the City Hall. There's something about the way the wind blows down Donegall Place and meets Chichester Street that just acts like a freezer at this time of year.

We meandered round to Victoria Square where we met the producer and director. That is where I beat a hasty retreat. While the wind doesn't howl around that square and it was several degrees warmer I wasn't needed and happily went back to the car and made my way back home.

By all accounts the shoot went well and the video should be fit for public consumption in a couple of weeks.

I filled the washing machine a few times and read a few journals on site. I'm a bit disturbed that someone has upset Ivan. I don't know why anyone would want to do that because he's one of the most decent types there are hereabouts or anywhere in the world probably, so why would somebody hurt him so much that he'd consider leaving.

I have no idea what upset him but if I knew who you were I'd let you have my for free.

Anyway, during my search for what upset Ivan I see there's still rather a lot of whinging going on. It's very disappointing that while some people are knocking their pans in to keep this venture up and running that others seem intent on bringing it down and then bemoaning it's passing.*tsk*

I'd like to thank everybody who is still working hard to keep this place on line and performing so well.

I'd also like to ask Ivan not to go.




Click here to discuss this
(3 replies, Latest reply: Nov 28, 2011)

Najo, Saturday 26/11/11 Ahhhhhh (Nov 26, 2011)

Drama today but we were late. I slept in, probably because I was awakened by a coughing fit at 5.00am. Don't know why I started coughing, perhaps I swallowed a spider or maybe the cold air just got to my throat but I coughed and coughed until I could cough no more. Used my inhalers, got myself a drink, had a smoke and another little coughing fit and half an hour later I was back to sleep - just didn't waken up until 9.50.

In the afternoon daughter went into the city centre to the continental market. I went over to the East to my nephew's new house. He picked up the key on Thursday and he was in today to strip some paper and prepare for the painters who're arriving on Monday. The house is lovely, nice big driveway, garage, kitchen, two sitting rooms, two toilets, one bathroom and four bedrooms. His sister had rented his flat in London for some years but has recently moved in with her boyfriend and earlier this month she got engaged so nephew had no need to keep the flat. He sold it rather quickly and because it was in a prime location in over-priced London he was able to purchase the house with his profit. Lucky young man will be living mortgage free.

Tonight daughter is staying with a friend. The friend lives just around the corner so it'll be no trouble to get her tomorrow morning.

What a lovely relaxing day - the first in a while.




Click here to discuss this
(5 replies, Latest reply: Nov 27, 2011)

Najo, Friday 25/11/11 Jolly joy sticks (Nov 25, 2011)

Goodness, this morning's hospital appointment was the greatest waste of three and a half hours, ever! I walked for miles, waited for over an hour and was out in 15 mins - didn't get into work until about 11.50.

When I got to work - for the first time since Monday - there was a nice surprise for me. OHS had recommended I have a ergonomic mouse and it arrived yesterday. It was in a lovely box just waiting for me to unwrap it and plug it in. It's like a joy stick except it's rigid with a button on top and one on the side. It'll take some getting used to but I think it will be better for my wrist than the standard mouse.

After a stressful week I think I'll have an early night.


ergonomic



Click here to discuss this
(4 replies, Latest reply: Nov 26, 2011)

Najo, Thursday 24/11/11 Only slight confusion (Nov 24, 2011)

Well, got up this morning at the normal time, showered and dressed. Had an appointment with our Occupational Health Service doctor to review how I'm getting on with some special equipment recommended for me. Needless to say the joystick mouse only arrived yesterday and I was off work so haven't tried it, other than that there has none of the recommendations of OHS have materialised.

Still, I had an appointment at 10.00am (or so I thought). Left the house at 9.30 and because of the parking problems at the hospital had to park almost half a mile away. Had to struggle through strong winds to get there (and walking isn't one of my strengths) only to be told my appointment was actually at 9.00

Oh well.

Because I'm so sensitive at the moment I was almost in tears.

Returned home and got changed into suitable apparel for a funeral.

Went to elderly relative's funeral but didn't enter the funeral parlour until A was seated by that time all the seats were taken and I just stood in the doorway (there were quite a few people there). Didn't go to the reception. It was nice to see and chat with other relatives and also quite nice to see that none spoke with A after the service.

Skipped off to school with daughter to see her teachers about how the GCSEs are going and discuss what A levels she'll be doing next year (results permitting).

Took phonecall from elderly relatives son who apologised for not contacting me since the death of his mother - even to tell me funeral arrangements. I explained why I couldn't go into the funeral parlour or to the reception. The hypocrisy of the whole 'show' really, really stuck in my throat. He understood and accepted that. He even thanked me for not speaking up. Appearances are everything to Christians nowadays apparently.

Came home and sat down to watch the Big Bang Theory which was particularly good tonight.

Sat here while daughter composed a new song and it's sounding really good but it'll take a few re-writes before she goes into the studio with it.

Got to get a good night's sleep now because I have an early hospital appointment tomorrow before work (must make sure I'm there at the right time) and really want to get to it and work in the right order.



Click here to discuss this
(3 replies, Latest reply: Nov 25, 2011)

Najo, Wednesday 23/11/11 MOT'd (Nov 23, 2011)


Those who have been reading my journals will know that last Thursday I was involved in an accident in the car. Nobody was hurt except the car and the car I hit.

I'm insured fully comp but thought I'd fix my own car since it was a very low speed affair and all my fault - I thought it'd teach me a lesson. Well, I have a £300 excess and thought that the repairs wouldn't cost much more than that. Ha! That's what I thought.

To complicate matters the car was booked for it's first MOT today!

Well, there was little chance of it passing unless my car fixer could pull off something spectacular. He took a look. He ordered up a new number plate and some brackets for re-attaching the lights to their anchor.

We tootled off to the MOT centre tonight and although we were half an hour early the nice man took the car off us and put her through her paces while daughter and I waited like expectant fathers in the waiting room.

She passed!

The bad news was that the other repairs following the accident will cost about £1,000+ to put right so it looks like I'll be ringing the insurance company back and letting them take the stress and I'll stick with the excess.

Luckily my no claims bonus is protected and this is the first accident I've had. I'm pretty sure the insurance will still go up a lot next year but at least that'll be next year since I only renewed in September.


(I was tempted there to say that next year will be a better year so it'll all balance out but my life generally doesn't work that way)





Click here to discuss this
(7 replies, Latest reply: Nov 24, 2011)

Najo, Tuesday 22/11/11 Advice needed (Nov 22, 2011)

I've a very sore head. I'm not sure now whether to go to elderly relative's funeral or not. I'm not that bothered about funerals. They're more about the living than the dead (in my opinion). If someone I know dies I'll attend the funeral if I can. If a relative dies I'll attend the funeral. Even when a relative I didn't particularly like (or visit) recently died I attended the funeral and sympathised with the immediate family but I didn't place a notice in the newspaper or create a fuss with weeping and wailing (that particular relative didn't mean very much to me).

Elderly relative did mean a lot to me.

I mentioned in a previous journal that on Saturday night the estranged wife of one of her son's turned up while I was there at the bedside vigil. She turned up like any bad penny. A bit of history here: she hadn't seen or spoken with elderly relative for 25+ years, she hadn't permitted her husband to visit elderly relative for 25+ years, she kept her only child away from her grandmother for 25+ years. Son only dared resume contact with his mother about a year ago when his wife threw him out claiming 'he was getting too much like his mother'.

On Saturday night she turned up - I ignored her an left the room when she entered. When I returned (after 10 mins) she left but not before kissing elderly relative on the forehead and saying 'goodnight' her daughter did the same and they left.

Tonight in the paper the funeral notice has appeared and elderly relative will be sadly missed by son, daughter-in-law, granddaughter (insert names here) the woman who hated elderly relative?!?!

I'm going to assume she'll be there at the funeral leading the mourning.

After she'd left on Saturday I washed elderly relative's face and forehead and apologised for her having to put up with that visit - but there was nothing I could do to stop it because her son had arranged it. I did cry then because I knew how much elderly relative would have hated daughter-in-law being there let alone seeing her like that. Shortly thereafter I wiped some fluid that had leaked from both her eyes. Now that fluid may have been tears but it could have just been, well, fluid. She did die 27 hours later.

I'm worried that if I go to the funeral I will have no option but to tell daughter-in-law she's a two-faced, hypocritical, brass-necked , in fact I know I'll have to tell her that. So I should go or stay at home and keep my peace or hold my whisht as we say over here?






Click here to discuss this
(6 replies, Latest reply: Nov 23, 2011)

Najo, Monday 21/11/11 Too soon? (Nov 21, 2011)

Well, anybody that was watching my last journal will know that elderly relative died last night and that was more less that.

A happy release, I think.

McKay mentioned that bedside vigils are part of our humanity. My daughter asked me why we do it a couple of years ago when my sister died. She wondered why we stayed at the hospital when there were nurses and doctors already there. Reasonable enough question from a child. It caused me to think about why. I mean it's not as if we could actually do anything to help so the only thing I could come up with was that we were there just to let the person know that they weren't alone. If they should open their eyes they'd see someone who loves them. If they could hear us they'd hear comforting words from a familiar voice. If they were frightened they'd know we'd be holding their hand and making sure they were treated properly.

That was the best I could do then and it's still the best I can do now. I've sat with four close family members while they made that final journey and each one took a slightly different route but they all went with someone they loved and who loved them beside them. Is that part of our humanity?

Probably.

I went to work today perhaps too soon. I was very tired and very sensitive when a colleague ripped into me for a minor oversight. The fact that I also deal day in day out with the sick and with those people who are going through what elderly relative and family have just come through also led me to think maybe I should have a day or two off.

I was granted a couple of days annual leave and a one day bereavement leave.

I think I'll relax.




Click here to discuss this
(7 replies, Latest reply: Nov 22, 2011)

Najo, Sunday 20/11/11 Life ..... (Nov 20, 2011)

Last night we sat and wondered what life was. Elderly relative was transferred to a private room at the hospice because the end was so near. One son decided that he'd done enough and was prepared to miss the end. The other son stayed with me because he'd feel guilty if he missed it.

I won't go into my thoughts on the daughter-in-law and granddaughter who arrived to say their goodbyes - mainly because they chose not to see her for the past 25 years (alright granddaughter was only a kid then but she chose not to see her for the past 12 years).

I sat and watched the tiny frame in the enormous bed fight for each breath. I held her hand, muttered comforting words. I even apologised for the inappropriate visitors (not that I invited them). Anyhow, breath followed breath and the clock ticked on.

This morning the son who had gone home arrived back.

I waited with him until the son who'd stayed travelled home for a shave and a shower. When he returned I left them with their mother and there they still are watching breath follow breath and the clock ticking on.

I found it draining to wonder at the workings of a body that despite everything still continues to function after a fashion. The heart still beats, the lungs still fill (at least partially) and the life just won't leave. A strong heart, the motor that is keeping this particular body going, can be a curse. Just make it stop!



Click here to discuss this
(15 replies, Latest reply: Nov 22, 2011)

Najo, Saturday 19/11/11 Because I have a minute .... (Nov 19, 2011)


...I'm getting today's journal in early.

We're just getting ready to go to drama. Daughter has to take the anti-panto class (although she's only 15) because the actual teacher is elsewhere this week. So the plan is we'll finish there at 1.00. She'll go into town with her mates. I'll come home to have a sleep.

She'll come home at about 5.30 to get ready for the birthday party she's attending. I'll get up and get ready for the hospice - fortunately sister's son decided he could use his own car or borrow his wife's car today to allow sister to do a shift at the hospice.

I'll drop daughter off to party then go to hospice and relieve sister. Daughter will stay with a friend tonight and someone will arrive to relieve me at some point tomorrow.

That's the plan anyway. I'll let you know tomorrow if it all went a smoothly as we thought.





Click here to discuss this
(9 replies, Latest reply: Nov 20, 2011)

Najo, Friday 18/11/11 Sleepy ..... yawn (Nov 18, 2011)

Well today was pretty much a waste of time. Fix the car bloke couldn't get to see the damage today so it'll have to wait now until ? well, that's anybody's guess.

Elderly relative is still breathing, but only just. Neither son can apparently do anything on Saturday so I'm pulling a triple shift - afternoon, evening and overnight. I'm getting 2 hours off tomorrow at teatime to get daughter to a birthday party - or nearest house to venue. She'll then go to another friend's house after the party. I'll see her sometime on Sunday.

On the plus side my elder sister (who's named after elderly relative) is going to see if she can borrow HER car of her son tomorrow which would mean she could do afternoon shift and I could sleep in preparation for the evening/night shift. Apparently her son borrows the car every Saturday to get to his football practise, his car is seemingly unavailable on a Saturday. What is it with sons this year? They seem to be going out of their way to be unhelpful.

Anyway, photos of niece's engagement ring have appeared on facebook so the world now knows that champagne breakfasts in the Dominican Republic lead to marriage proposals and Bob only knows what else.

I'm feeling lucky so I'll purchase some lottery tickets tomorrow.




Click here to discuss this
(3 replies, Latest reply: Nov 19, 2011)

Najo, Thursday 17/11/11 - Better late than never (Nov 18, 2011)
Cutting it fine again tonight but such a lot has happened today - my life is so uneventful that I had to create drama today!

Was supposed to be doing and overnighter at the hospice tonight but number one son of elderly relative phoned to say they'd had a re-think and he'd stay with her tonight and if there's no change I could stay at the weekend. They've increased her meds and morphine so she may not last that long but at least her sons are prepared to change their plans for another few days.

Shortly after that I crashed the car!

I was exiting from a side road as I do every school day. The lights to the left of me were red. The inside lane to the right of me was blocked by traffic turning into the road I was exiting and a double decker bus. I couldn't see the outside lane at all. Normally in these circumstances the outside lane stops as well to allow traffic out (since they're going nowhere when the lights are red at the pedestrian crossing). This is normally when it's clear to go. I went. It wasn't clear. A little old lady was tootling along the outside lane. Crunch.

I don't know what they make cars of nowadays but whatever it is it's only marginally tougher than a marshmallow. Her car crumpled and mine cracked!

No-one was hurt and it was totally my fault but !

I was able to drive home since my car is much less crumpled than hers was. Insurance co is dealing with the mess now - isn't that what I pay them for?

Shortly after arriving home my brother rang. It's his daughter's birthday today. She's only just the right side of thirty and currently on holiday in the Dominican Republic with the man of her dreams. He only went and proposed over their champagne breakfast this morning!!

Almost missing the deadline so that's it for now - what a day.






Click here to discuss this
(8 replies, Latest reply: Nov 18, 2011)

Najo, Wednesday 16/11/11 Things to do (Nov 16, 2011)


If I remember I'll do tomorrow's journal early because tomorrow night if elderly relative is still with us I'll be sitting with her overnight.

Unfortunately, her two sons cannot manage to split days and nights between them for even a week and second night in one son's wife is giving off that he's done two nights in a row. Other son is claiming ill-health so he can only do days. That leaves them ...... oh yes ..... me.

This time tomorrow evening daughter and I will be heading off to spend the night at the hospice. I'm going to see if I can get leave from work on Friday but if not it's going to be a long, long working week for me.

Hey ho, I'd rather do the right thing.





Click here to discuss this
(7 replies, Latest reply: Nov 17, 2011)

Najo, Tuesday 15/11/11 Time warps (Nov 15, 2011)

Well, I set the milometre and found that there is no time warp on the way to or from the hospice. The distance is exactly the same from the city centre out and back to the centre 2.8 miles, it just feels shorter coming back because of the one way system.

At any rate, my trips to the hospice won't be lasting for much longer. Elderly relative is approaching the end. Now each breath is a battle and words spoken evaporate as soon as they reach her lips. She's being plied with relaxant to ease her departure and I suspect her time left could be measured in hours rather than days - but who knows.

My heart is heavy, this journey has taken me back some 15 years to when my own mother was battling cancer for her life. The cancer won. They couldn't have looked more different when both were healthy, strong women. Now it looks like it could be the same person doing a retake only this time in a hospice instead of home. It is very disconcerting.

I have told her son I am willing to take time off work and will sit overnight with her but he seems content to think it isn't quite time for that yet .... mmmmm. I don't know what the staff at the hospice think but I'm pretty sure she needs her family by her side now. We'll see.


Click here to discuss this
(8 replies, Latest reply: Nov 16, 2011)

Najo, Monday 14/11/11 Working 9 to 5 (Nov 14, 2011)


Well, not quite. I only work 9.15 to 3.15 but it's usually quite long enough. Usually we're really, really busy. That is so busy we seldom have time to have a complete conversation with each other. That's most days ..... today was different.

Today there were lulls in the day and to fill them (rather than with paperwork) we played 'who am I'. I emailed everyone (except 'it') and we played. We had Stephen Hawking, Terry Pratchett, Freddie Starr, Alan Sugar, Mary Poppins, Elmer Fudd in one round and then Richard Dreyfuss, Joe Pesci, James Earl Grey, Colleen Rooney and Billy Connolly the next.

Maybe that will tell you a bit about the people I work with - I had to pick people that they would know and we have quite a range of ages and interests.

It was fun though, while it lasted. Tomorrow will probably be back to head down and don't stop for breath.

How do you pass the quiet moments in work?




Click here to discuss this
(5 replies, Latest reply: Nov 15, 2011)

Najo, Sunday 13/11/11 Sick, sick, slow (Nov 13, 2011)


Oh dear, today I've had to throw a sickie.

There seems to be something going about at the minute and it's got as far as me.

I'm very weak and shaking so couldn't make the hospice tonight - don't want to finish elderly relative off with a dose of whatever this is.

The upshot is that I haven't left the house and haven't even thought of anything interesting. Spent most of the day sleeping, the other part being sick. The only thing I did think was that I should have got to the big diy store earlier and bought that replacement loo handle so that I don't have to dip my hand into cold water every time I need a flush.




Click here to discuss this
(8 replies, Latest reply: Nov 14, 2011)