h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Lessons I've learnt so far this month:
1. My health suffers if I neglect the needs of my soul.
2. Bad working conditions are life's way of telling us to move on to a better job (dire working conditions in the NHS, including having to pay for the privillage to park at work )
3. Some people are unbelievably cruel to animals (someone has burnt my oldest cat! )
4. Children will hate their parents and leave home no matter how well they've been treated (Nephew left home in middle of the night)
5. Trust my intuition (I couldn't sleep the night my Nephew left, didn't know my sister was up all night worrying)
6. 2 vehicals breaking down at the same time with the same problem is telling me to buy a newer more reliable car

Most important is to listen to what life is telling you and make changes before the changes happen anyway

Forgot number 7. Even a worm turns. Haven't lost temper big-time for years, but conditions in the NHS drove me to it this week, and it felt dammed good

"Trusting intuition" is a big one for me. Those strong hunches are almost always right. Yes, and to listen to them in time, before change is forced upon you.

So sorry to hear about your cat!

I can relate to going completely postal because of work-related issues. It can sure feel good to let go of your temper and haul off big time, when it's warranted. Hope it all sorts itself out.

Sorry to hear about your nephew. And your cat!! I hope the poor kitty is okay? Why would anyone do such a thing?

Hang in there!

Hey Meg


I'm sorry to hear that you've been going through a tough time recently.
Why on earth would anyone want to burn your cat?!?
Lets hope that they are reincarnated as a


Has your Nephew returned yet?

That's one of the scariest things about becoming a parent - the thought that my child will one day blame me for everything and hate me.


Oh and yes, you absolutely, positively *have* to take care of the needs of your soul. After all, that's all you really own at the end of the day.

Thanks everyone.
lying low whilst his skin and fur fall off. Injury quite extensive looks like someone threw boiling water over him Like the thought of perpetrators becoming we all know how cats like to play a long time with their prey
I've been thanked for my honesty today by being sacked! Have been told not to work my notice, they just want me to go! I cried after the phonecall but am now celebrating my liberation from the NHS with several glasses of
Nephew has been in contact but may not return home. He's ready to leave the nest.
Tried to feed my soul with relaxation over the past week, but seem unable to relax enough to meditate of sleep.
Booking a woman who will truly benefit from my care, really helped today

I'm sooo angry about your !
Poor thing... I'd like to pour boiling water over *them* and see how they like it!
It's not like you can put aloe vera on the injury either I guess, the cat would soon lick that off.

You were sacked??
Liberated more like.
Think of it this way - it's making space for all your independent clients that will now come your way.


Glad to hear that your nephew has been in contact. It must be awful to not know the whereabouts of your children.

What you need is some pampering! Book yourself a massage or shiatsu and let someone else relax you.

Cat doing really well. Whole side looks really sore but he doesn't seem in pain.
It's funny really losing the hospital job. I was sad for a very short time yesterday. Cannot stop grinning today
Nephew back at home now. A truce has been called.
I've asked my sister to book me a massage for my birthday as I've been pretty tense recently.

I'm glad that your is doing well.

Good news about the nephew too!

It's a shame that you don't live nearer Meg - I could offer you a shiatsu to help with your relaxation.

I could offer you a listening ear and a backrub or some organic veg. Unfortunately we don't produce a lot, so I gave my mum about 5 carrots and the same to my new client yesterday. That leaves about 10 for us until we can pick more.
I do remember the pressure of going past the allotted date but very few babies (I think it's about 5%) arrive on that date.
I do feel very sorry for mums when very, very pregnant though. My younger sister was 4 weeks late this of course is the extreme end of the spectrum. Most babies arrive before 42weeks

I am so happy to see you are feeling great about leaving the other job. It's a very good sign. Now you have more time and room for your dream to develop

Thank you Abbi.
Being forced to leave was good. I felt really sad at leaving as Iwon't be able to help as many women being independent But there are so many up sides that more than compensate
I'm glad I've made more space for my new work as I had another enquiry yesterday
Women want better care than the NHS can offer and we're lobbying parliment to provide this type of care for everyone without cost to the woman. see www.onemotheronemidwife.org.uk
Hope you are in a good place soon Meg

Often Life forces a situation on us which seems cr@p at first but which then offers us a chance to grow.

It is a shame that the women who are under the NHS won't be able to benefit from your care, but just think of the freedom! It's just a shame that the sort of care and support that I know you offer aren't more readily available (at the moment) on the NHS.

Update.
healing well but it's taking a long time.
Nephew apparently happier at a new college
I'm happier out of the NHS but can now see it for what it really is and don't like what I see. Was given no thanks for the three years of hard work I've put in
Have 2 new(ish) cars.
My business seems to be taking off but suffered a loss of confidence stepping outside the comfort zone of regular income.
Still not much time for Hubbie but he's being very tollerant
finished teaching an antenatal class and they presented me with a massage voucher as a thank-you present. Other people know what I need before I realise it myself!

Cat mostly healed now. Still has one sore patch.
Nephew still pushing boundaries with new body piercings etc. I think he's wonderful, but I don't have to live with him.
The stress of leaving my job unexpectedly and the steep learning curve of independent midwifery have affected me physically and mentally. I've lost 4lbs in weight (I wasn't overweight to start with) and have had erratic sleep patterns. Sometimes I can't fall asleep, have very broken sleep or could sleep for 24hrs solid. Have been fighting off a headcold for weeks. Was really stressed, but getting better. Had a massage last week, and plan to start yoga classes again soon.
I've learn't how bad the NHS looks from the outside and how Independent midwives are treated with mistrust.
I've also learnt how valuable my new role is, as my first client needed a lot of help that is not available on the NHS. It was wonderful to learn that she really appreciated my care throughout. As well as being her midwife I have become a good friend. This was a dimension lacking in my previous job.

Glad the kitty is better.
Such a sad thing done.

Massages are wonderful
Good for you, treating yourself kindly!

I am following your posts and sending good wishes for you and the women you will work with.

Still learning...
Reading a good book that one of my clients lent me called "kitchen Table Wisdom". The author is Naomi Rachel Remmen (can't remember exact name). It is written by a doctor who's worked with cancer patients a lot and has applied her own wisdom and experiences of ill health to understand what we all really need from life. It is a brilliant book that every health care professional and "patient" would benefit from reading. It speaks of inner courage and making the best out of life. It also describes how healing may have nothing to do with curing an illness.
My husband saw how the book had gripped me and tried to buy me one for christmas but they're out of print. He did buy me another of her books called My Grandfather's Wisdom" (or something like that) which contains more pearls of wisdom.
Get hold of a copy if you can!