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

I have just returned from Leicester, where I have been all week as a specialist helper.

So what exactly does that mean?

I work for a major department store and supermarket chain, which opened a new store in Leicester two weeks ago. However, around 95% of the staff are totally new so need training on everything... Enter me. I, among possibly 400/500, volunteered, around six weeks ago, to help out, and was notified my help. along with two of my colleagues, would be required, on staggered weeks, with me heading off first.

At 05.30 Monday morning, I arose , finished my packing and headed for St Pancras, little realising how big it was. As anyone who knows me can confirm, I am not the most mobiled person on the so after having walked the full length of the concourse, I was informed my platform was upstairs. Bear in mind that I have awoken nearly four hours earlier than normal! I then had to retrace my route, and head upstairs, catching the train with five minutes to spare.

The train, itself, was half full, and the journey was ninety minutes long, so arrival at Leicester was around 09.30. According to the starter pack, it was a five minute footprints> but not knowing Leicester, and having a trolley-case with a mind of it's own, when I am juggling with a stick, I decided on a cab. Fifteen minutes, and £6.00 lighter, I was dropped off at the store. Five minute walk? Being a department store, I was at the customer entrance, and then had to find the staff entrance, again taking fifteen minutes to do so... Thank goodness I'd factored in a thirty minute travel cushion.

I, with fifteen other Partners ( a little hint as to the Company there!), was then taking to the check-in point, on the third floor. It was only when we reached the mid point between second and third , that the co-ordinator realised I was struggling. luckily one of the helpers worked in my store and knew me, so helped me. She was so apologetic. On the initial briefing, it appeared my particular department was over-resourced, so I offered to work elsewhere in the store, offering audio-visual, large or small electrical, linens, china and glass, cook-shop. or literally anywhere. It appears Cookshop it was.

I knew the merchandise fairly well, and got stuck straight in. All the staff were friendly, as I'd expect from a branch full of strangers, with no established personal, only professional, heirarchy, and no animosities rearing their heads, yet. One person I met, C, was especially charming. I thought she was a Manager, as she did whatever she liked merchandise-wise, and was very self-assured. It turned out she was a helper from a Manchester branch that I, myself, had helped set up about five years ago. Small world.

The day progressed well and, at 18.00, the store closed and time to head for the Hotel, one of the HI chain. Very close, being a true five minute walk, and booking in. My room was large and airy, with TWO double beds!!! What were they expecting me to get up to?

At around 19.30 I went down stairs to the Restaurant, to see what everyone was doing for dinner, and teamed up with seven other Partner helpers. The allowance, paid for by the Company, was anything up to £25.00 including one alcoholic drink. Mine ran to £30.00, as it was at HI prices. The was B*dd*hnt*ns, at £3.10 a I later found there was a spoons five minutes away! The following nights we ate in the hotel, except Thursday night, and drank in spoons, where was £1.89 a

All in all, a very good week, but it took it's toll. On the first night, we were up until 01.00, and then surfaced at £7.30 for breakfast... Tuesday C and I partied until 03.00. Wednesday was the store's late night, so we ate later, which was a disaster. Starter was fine, then forty-five minutes for the main course. We complained quite strongly, and ended up getting a complimentary round of drinks. We did hit the quite hard that night, with most of them being on cocktails!!! A few the next day. It was about now that my lower calves were tingling, but I ignored it.

Thursday I arose, but couldn't really face breakfast... I am not a three meal a day person. By now, my ankles and shins were swollen and on fire... I'd had this before... Three times. I struggled through work, but was in agony... Yes, I know I promised not to speak about my health again, but this could lead to one-two weeks off, and jeopardise my chances of helping at Cardiff in 2009!

Anyway, we had a relatively drink for that last evening, with C being particularly upset, having been helping for three weeks, and fallen in with the place... I could see a transfer in the offing...

Come Friday, I could hardly stand. I had no appetite for breakfast and picked at lunch. Around 14:45 I went off to sign-out, and change for the journey home, then said my good-byes. When I arrived at the reception, I bumped into an ex-manager at my store and, after a lot of confusion over taxis, flagged one down, and they made their train with seconds to spare. I paid the taxi, as it gets reimbersed, and I had an hour to wait for my connection. By now, I did not know what to do with myself. I phoned the but the next appointment is Wednesday, so I have to attend at 08.00 on Monday, and hope I see one. Meanwhile my train arrived... Packed!!! No room for my case on the rack, and a young girl in my seat who moved. It then took ten minutes to manouver my case onto my lap, as I couldn't bear anything touching my ankles.

I arrived home at 19.30, hot, and A quick , off to the local, and in bed by 23.00. Today I awoke at 12.00 feeling very and but had to go shopping, which took two and a half hours. I am now home, and contemplating cooking.

The ankles? The left is 32cm diameter, and the right is 27cm, double the normal size... and the inflammation is half way up the leg...

Here is the conundrum... I know what it is, having had it before... It is Cellulitis

http://www.medicinenet.com/cellulitis/article.htm

Which, last time took two weeks to clear up. However, do I waste my whole evening at A and E, amidst all the alcholics, stab-wound and fight victims. or wait until Monday?

Decisions!!!

Anyway, not to detract on what was a really enjoyable week, or dwell on my health... I am very pleased I went, and would do it again... Just not tomorrow.

for the long Journal entry... No good at short blogs!!!



MMF

except that you ended up red, swollen and throbbing

OK, MMF. If it's cellulitis it's a bacterial infection and those are supposed to be treated with antibiotics rather promptly. Waiting several days doesn't seem like a good idea from a medical point of view.

Even if I principally don't give medical advise on the web I make an exception this time: See a doctor sooner than Monday.

I'm no doctor, but I'm with Dragonqueen on this one - there's no point being in pain like that until Monday, with no guarantee of seeing anyone then! And it'll certainly get worse untreated. Go sooner, rather than later. It'll save you time, bother, and pain in the long run.

I'm with the others on this one; err its saturday today isn't it?; That'd be easier than trying on t the Sunday if things gotted any worse, and Monday is a long way off

I'll be adding to your bonus I hope this week as I trott off to a certain store in Cambridge (still not been to it since it reopened bigger and larger than before back to its Origional location), to buy a fridge freezer, single matress for the spare room, hairdryer, kettle (hopefully in brushed alaminium to match the toaster we have from the same store), bedding, duvet and pillows for spare room, laundry basket thinggy, some new clothes, and whatever else I can think I might need (get it all done in one trip as I'm notthe biggest fan of spending hours perusing things in shops)

I'm no expert MMF, but being brave and putting up with it is not a wise thing to do. Get yourself seen ASAP please - your friends will worry if you don't and the quicker you are treated the quicker you will be better.

Take care,
Websailor

Phoned the and was put onto NHS direct. Luckily, as I've had it before, and having an extensive medical background, and a First Aider to boot, I was able to give a very exact description of the symptoms, so I am now awaiting a call from the out-of-hours Locum to call. I hope it is soon, as my dinner is cooking!!!

And now I have chatted to the and off to the I go... Wish me

And thanks everyone!!!



MMF

MMF - I think you decided right!

Glad you did the sensible thing. No-one likes 'to be a bother' but there are times when you have to put that feeling aside.

Come back and let us know how things are if you get the chance.

Thinking of you

Websailor

Hi there.

Well, it appears I have two squatters that have moved in... Brothers Staph and Strept O'Coccus, Some odd Irish couple, I believe, that the isn't happy I am co-habiting with, and he has ordered an immediate eviction notice.

A pair of bailiffs, Flu Cloxe, and his sister Peni, Cillin have both been engaged by the . However, I tried three of their residences this evening, over the course of an hour, and they were obviously out, as the lights were off, so I've got to track them down tomorrow. Once I have secured their employment I must make use of their services four times a day, one odf them twice each time! .

Then, on Tuesday (he actually said Monday, but I guess that was assuming I managed to track them down this evening ), I must visit my own for an assessment to see if the eviction is working! If it isn't, I must visit the big house and visit some guy called Intra Venous. The character is meant to be some kind of drip , I've been told, so I've no idea what what use he's going to be.

There is one good thing, though. Apart from tracking down the Bailiffs, all I've got to do is relax and put my feet up, literally , and they'll do the rest! They are obviously not local then!!!

Easy life...

Except who is going to iron the 20 shirts I've just washed?



for the concern, and the advice...

MMF

Oh, MMF, you are so funny. Send the shirts by courier and I'll do them for you. I like ironing shirts, I just need help to stand up these days Just make sure you pick up the bill, if the Bailiffs leave you anything, that is!

Seriously, I hope you are better soon and the encounter with Prof. Intra Venous does not become necessary, I hear he can be awful slow.

Take care,

Websailor

Glad you did the only sensible thing and had the antibiotics started today. Good luck in remembering taking the pills four times a day I find meds twice a day hard enough to remember

Ironing shirts... mine have been on a chair in the living room since late August and are doing just fine.

Good luck, MMF - hope they surrender without too much of a fight. Meanwhile, get someone to pamper you!

But I'm not going anywhere near those shirts! Ironing!

NO advice on ironing the shirts... My shirts have never been ironed after it was discovered my inability to iron well... apparently I can only* iron creases into them HOpe the antibiotics kick in quick, if not then from my own experiance the IV drip antibiotics relaly do work quick

MMF - that's not good news

I'm a bit worried by this ...

>> However, I tried three of their residences this evening, over the course of an hour, and they were obviously out, as the lights were off, so I've got to track them down tomorrow. Once I have secured their employment I must make use of their services four times a day, one odf them twice each time! <<

Do you mean that you haven't been able to find a pharmacy open? I understand that there's supposed to be a rota for pharmacies to cater for such out of hours prescriptions.

Did the say if it was crucial for you to start the pills today?

* paces up and down and worries

ps - the shirts can wait until you're well enough to enjoy ironing them

'Fraid so Teuchter. The one the said was open, and was half a mile's walk away, was locked and dark. The next on route home was also closed, as was the one in the Supermarket, which is open until 22.00, and the next. By then I'd given up. I've waited this long that I am sure twelve hours won't me, as I've no chills or fever, and none of the 'unpleasant' symptoms, so I am obviously fighting it fairly well already...

I'll know in the morning and then, trust me, I'll take the meds as recommended... Don't forget I've been here before.

At least I know what I'd look like if I were obese. So I'll know to watch my weight.

Must admit, red doesn't suit me.

I'll keep you updated... and stop I'm made of stern stuff!!!

At least I can about it... I just wish, in a sense, I hadn't mentioned it, as there others much worse off. This will go... Well! It should do... some aren't so lucky...

all and don't worry! Please!

I promise I'll get the prescription tomorrow. So you can all well tonight.

my friends. and Oh, and 2legs, I'd rather have a with you, than visit that drip, Intra Venous!!!

MMF

No, do keep us posted!

Usually, I assume no news is good news, but in your case, you just assume other people's news is worse

* stops pacing - but perches on edge of seat in case more is needed

Other people may well have their own problems but that's not to say yours aren't important too

What is really weird is, I'm fascinated! I feel like one of those s who experiment on themselves.

Look away now, if you are squeamish!!!








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The skin is a red colour, and blotchy. It is also very tight and shiny and reflective. It is hot to the touch as well as itchy and very, very sensitive. Just touching it hurts. The area above the the ankles is intense red, the rest variagated. It is as though I had plunged my feet, up to mid-calf, in boiling water.

Very strange. And the feeling is odd. It pulses when I rest it, but walking is more comfortable, even though it pulls the taught skin each time, and also pushes those nasty little Cocci. And they are so small... Shades of 'War of the Worlds'?

The human body is truly amazing. Anyway, off to get the penicillin tomorrow, then see what happens! I have a National Trust backpack that folds into a seat, and a collapsable ironing board, as well as last week's Times free DVD's of Alfred Hitchcock, so all is not doom and gloom... As long as I am fit to go to Kew Gardens on Thursday, with Venus... I have 118 steps to negotiate, so I'd better heal fast.

? !!! More !!!



MMF

And I bet you all thought this was a 2legs thread!!!

you!!!

MMF