Notts Nurse

Back

2009-02-26T16:25:00.002Z

I found myself at a lose end today and decided to trawl through the Internet. I have a rare day off and too much time on my hands and not enough money in my pocket. It suddenly struck me - write a blog. I have not done so for a very long time and now seemed the ideal oppertunity. So here goes ...

What has happened to me.

1) My job is going well. I have been therre 18 months now (doesnt time fly) and am still loving it. I have leart many new skills and now feel like a real nurse. whilst my job is very safe (great thing in the current economical climate) I am still unsure where my future will be.

2) Im still single - enough said.

3) Im off on holiday to Australia in October for 3 weeks. Now financially sound and debt free I had some oppertunities for a nice holiday. I met a very nice Australia last year in the summer. He moved back to Oz but we still keep in touch. I told him I had always wanted to visit there and he gave me the inspriation and detemination to make it happen. I saved up the cash (with a mountain of overtime and not going out) and now it is paid for. I also have many months to ssave up cash to have fun with aand buy myself some new clothes.

4) Im debt free (as mentioned above). I had a reasonable amount of savings but a large debt hanging over me like some great albatross. I bit the bullet and it has now gone along with all the bad memories attached to it.

5) I plan to blog a little more now - well atleast twice a month.

Bye for now.

Hello

2008-04-14T09:20:00.002Z

Hello. I have been away for a while (not prison - just very busy with work) but now hope to get back to writing a few things.

This did catch my interest though. It is a cunning little puzzle that drove me mad for about 30 mins and then I got it and boy did I feel stupid that it took me so long> By all accounts it takes some people even longer and some may never get it. Read on and have fun - but enter into the spirit and promise not to reveal the secret with others. It adds to the mystique !!!

Petals Around a Rose

Life’s Little Mysteries

2007-11-14T11:30:00.000Z

Why do washing machines have so many settings and yet we use so few ?

I have lived in my house for four years now and still have only ever used two settings, C (normal wash) and S (spin) despite it to have over 12 settings for me to use. I can’t even work out what some of them are used for !

Amsterdam Trip

2007-11-14T11:27:00.000Z

I must have been one of the few people who had never been to Amsterdam … or so it seamed. Everyone I talked to had a tale to tell about there visit, most of which revolved around vast amounts of drug consumption ! Now I am no angel but this sort of thing does not appeal to me any longer (honest). I needed a holiday and the added incentive was that fact that the Reluctant Nomad was there. I contacted him a said that I wanted to visit and he was more than happy. Another friend, P, was also planning to go at the same time.

My flight was booked and I counted down the days. I arrived at the airport and consumed the customary pint of Stella at 6am and waited to board. Going through to departures I noticed a man who I recently pulled at a club. Should I say hello ? My mind was soon made up for me when I spotted him with his wife and young child !!! Bastard. Hey Ho. The flight was quick and uneventful and then I was in Amsterdam.

My first thoughts – lots of water – lots of bikes - very flat – everyone is so bloody tall. Train and tram and I was at my destination, the flat of the Nomad. A very comfortable and stylish abode apart from the bloody awful picture of what can only be described as a devil dog that hung above his bed. Ask the Nomad for more details about tis monstrosity.

So the weekend went on. Much fun was had. I must admit that it was a few months ago and I can recount all the details and do not wish to tell about others but it must be said it was one of the best holidays I have ever had.

A few details:

The boat trip. During which we almost crashed – twice !

Dinner. The Nomad is a wonderful cook (beware to typing slips there) and I am sure that anyone who has read his blog will be aware of the number of recipes he adds from time to time. You should really try to get him to cook for you at least once. P and myself managed this every night for the whole holiday ! We did buy him lunch at a very nice restaurant to say thanks for his hospitality.

The bars. Fun, friendly and the ability to smoke inside ! God how I miss that so much. Drinking played such a big part of the holiday but it was not just the consumption of alcohol that was important but the relaxed atmosphere that greeted me on every visit to the pub. Even Spyker, a leather bar that the Nomad took us to for shock value and maybe the hardcore porn playing on two TVs in the corner.

The sights. Wonderful architecture and some stunning young men. The city is clean and easy to get around and the people are very friendly.

So much happened and I seem to have written so little but hopefully that will be put to rest in the New Year as I have already booked my return visit. I hope to write much more then. So until then Prost.

Leave of Absence

2007-11-14T11:26:00.000Z

I have not blogged now for a number of months. This is due mostly in part to my new job. It has taken up a huge amount of my time and I have found myself unable to concentrate on much else. It is not that I have not wanted to put my thoughts and whims onto the web but time just seems to have flown by and before I knew when or when it was I found myself in November !

It has not just been about getting up for work each day that has done me in but all the new things that I have had to get used too. My responsibility has increased and it seems that three years at University did little to prepare me for what nursing really was. Also I have has to do so much work for extended roles for my job it often feels like I never left formal education.

But now they are done (for the most part) and I have some time before I can start the next lot (thank God) so I think that I now have the time and the inclination to spend a little more time blogging.

So what have I been up to ? Well work as mentioned but a few more exciting things too. A trip to Amsterdam (to visit the Reluctant Nomad) which was great fun, many alcohol fuelled nights out with friends, my 31st birthday (so much alcohol) and the return of one of my guilty pleasures – Strictly Come Dancing.

So here is more to come …

Old Friends Re-United

2007-08-08T08:41:00.000Z

Many years ago I used to be the assistant manager of a bar in Nottingham. Over the time I was there we employed many staff but one in particular became a close friend; Sophie. We got on like a house on fire and had many a drunken time together. We soon became the best of mates and used to tell each other everything. For some time we shared a house.

But then it all went wrong !

We fell out. Even to this day I don’t know what it was over or even who started it. It upset me a great deal but my stubborn nature refused to allow me to apologise and we drifted apart and she moved out and we both moved on. We did meet briefly in the street some months after losing touch but we were both in a rush and did little to reconfirm our once strong friendship.

Years later, whilst I still remembered Sophie fondly I had one little to try and get back in touch. That was until I was looking through some old things of mine and found the first Christmas card she had ever sent me. It said some very nice things and made me realise what a fool I had been to let such a good friend go (you don’t get too many). All I knew was that she had a very unusual surname (not going to mention it here) and I remembered that she had planned to move to London to study medicine. My search began.

I googled her … all I got was a research paper that she had co-wrote whilst at Nottingham University. I trawled the phone book (I remembered the town her parents were from) but despite the unusual surname there where too many names for me to call up. What next ? Friends Re-United … no luck !!! Then one day my sister phone me to say that she had seen some of my old school mates on Facebook. I wasn’t that bothered in contacting them but did ask her to look up Sophie … success !!!

I sent her a message and she replied. I felt so good to hear from her again. We both apologised but neither of us remembered why. Unfortunately she is in South Africa at the moment as part of her medical studies but we have planned to meet up when she gets back in October. I cant wait and I am sure that we will have a great drunken night out (or maybe two) as we have so much to catch up on.

Blade Runner

2007-08-08T08:39:00.000Z

Everyone has heard of the Olympics and most people are aware of the Paralympics but where does on end and the other begin ? I am referring of course to Oscar Piturious the South African sprinter who is known as the “Fastest Man On No Legs”. A birth defect left him as a double below knee amputee but he did not let this get in his way and took up running.

He uses specially modified running blades which allows him to complete against other amputee athletes. He has done this with great effect. He has a number of Paralympic gold medals and holds the world record for 100m, 200m and 400m. But he his now so far ahead of the rest of the disabled world he wants a new challenge – racing against able bodied athletes. He has already had a few races in his native South Africa against athletes with both legs and did quite well. Well better than most people expected. But where to now ?

His dream is to compete at the able bodied Olympics but there are many people that wish to stand in his way. He is quick. His personal bests would have won him the gold medal in the womens sprit races at last years World Championships and he is improving at a great speed (pardon the pun). However, many people say that his “blades” give him an unfair advantage over able body athletes normal legs by giving him a greater stride length and more recoil of the track. At present the IAAF (the governing body of athletics) have given him the go ahead to compete in able bodied events but it is still unclear weather he can go to the forthcoming World Champs in Osaka and next years Olympics.

Checks on the fairness of his blades are currently been undertaken and the sports world awaits the decision. And I am all for his inclusion. That is what the Olympics is all about; inclusion. He is a talented sports man who is so far ahead of his peers he wants a new challenge. His blades allow him to run and a long stride length is not the be all and end all of good running. Whilst a number of sprinters have been successful with long stride lengths (Roger Black and Marie Jose Perec were said to have a stride length pushing 4 metres) the greatest sprinter of the modern era, Michael Johnson had a very short stride and went on to hold the world record over 200 and 400m as well as numerous World and Olympic medals.

I feel he will be a breath of fresh air in the sport and at least he is clean ! The sport of athletics has had a bad reputation recently with a number of high profile drug cheats being exposed. Lets hope that the governing body see sense and allow him to run or at least try.

A Job !!!

2007-06-04T08:57:00.000Z

At last I have a job. After many months of worrying about the current status of the NHS I have secured employment. The interview was two weeks ago and I thought that it went very well. Despite this I still wasn’t sure if I had got the job and had to wait until last Thursday to get the conformation. I now have a start date (9th July) and can look forward to many (happy) years in the Health Service.

Once again I would like to say thanks to everyone that has helped me over the last three years and good luck to all those that I graduated with.

Odd facts from a bored mind.

2007-05-04T03:40:00.001Z

Here are some odd facts that I have discovered whilst trawling the Internet.

A cockroach can live several days without a head – but will eventually die of starvation.

Men are six times more likely to be struck by lightning than women.

To be considered for the Olympics a sport must be widely practiced by men in 75 countries on four continents and by women in 40 countries on three continents.

The youngest parents ever where a Chinese boy aged nine and a girl aged eight !

A human could swim through a blue whales aorta.

Eighty-five percent of all plants and animals are to be found underwater.

A dentist invented the electric chair – he was put to death by it for murder too !

More to follow when I next get bored.

Problem solved

2007-04-26T18:21:00.000Z

The perfect package belongs to Matt Shirvington, an Australian athlete. He was very good when younger but had to retire due to many injuries. You can find out a bit more about him here.

The perfect packet

2007-04-02T12:09:00.000Z

I am not sure who this is but I am trying to find out. You dont see too much so keep your eyes peeled. More pics when I find out who it is. any thoughts on his identity will be appreciated. I have an idea but not 100% as yet.

Czech it out.

2007-03-17T05:10:00.000Z

I have recently returned from city break in Prague where I went with Craig as a treat fro completing my nursing course. I did not know what to expect having never been to a former Communist country before but I was determined to enjoy myself. It was one of the quickest check-in/flight/check-out I had ever experienced and the whole travel thing was hassle free. Prague airport if very modern and better than most I have seen in the UK. Now for the trip to the hotel.

Myself, Craig and seven others crammed into a minibus (much cheaper than a cab) and the driver set off at 90mph around the narrow and busy streets. We had only been in Prague for 20mins when the minibus driver (and so the passengers too) was almost involved in an accident. But we arrived at the hotel in one piece. It looked a little stark from the front but the receptionist (Svetlana – how very Communist) was polite, the room large and clean and the mini-bar full and cheap ! Now to explore the city.

We set off map in hand (looking very touristy) to see the sights. Unfortunately, the map was not that good and it was starting to get dark so we decided to eat and drink (and me smoke) and save the exploring for the morning. Now I don’t want to go into great detail about every little thing that we got up to whilst away but I must say that Prague is a wonderful city and the Czech people were nothing but hospitable. A place that you must go and see. Now here are my five tips for having fun in Prague:

1. Leave the map at home.
There are enough large and visible landmarks to prevent you from getting completely lost and anyway you will never see anything with your head stuck in a map. Explore, get lost, explore some more – it is much more fun.

2. Sturdy shoes.
The best way to explore Prague is by foot but be warned, there are lots of hills and cobbled paths both of which can be enough to cripple you. Maybe that is why we saw many people with crutches whilst we where there.

3. Be careful on the roads.
Not many drivers take too much notice of the zebra crossings and you don’t get that much time to cross them. Drivers rarely indicate and never use their breaks ! The trams travel at a surprising fast speed and stop for no man. Look both ways, look again, make sure your life insurance is up to date, run to the safety of the other side.

4. Shop around.
Weather it is for sights, food or presents look around. Get off the main tourist places and look further a field. You will experience much more of the real Prague if you avoid the garish neon signs and gaudy hoardings of Wenceslaus Square and head into the Jewish and Old Quarters. Food is slightly cheaper than the UK but the Czechs don’t seem to have a concept of portion control – you will get loads for your money. Beer is always cheap (60p for ½ litre) and so are cigarettes (£1.60 for 20 Marlboro Lights).

5. Look up.
One of the best things about Prague is the gorgeous architecture but most of it is just above normal eye level. Don’t stare at your feet – look above the horizon and see the wonders of the art-deco hotels, the history of the Jewish Quarter and the starkness of the Communist tenements (strangely beautiful in an odd way). Also the graffiti can be very attractive in places and can also be used as handy landmarks.

Graduation

2007-03-02T12:45:00.000Z

I am about to graduate ! Three years of training are about to come to an end and I face the big bad world as a qualified nurse. And I am shitting myself !!! But the panic can hold off for a moment as I still do not have a job. Looking hard but the funding crisis within the NHS has hit hard and newly qualified staff seem to be bearing the brunt of it all. But here is to happier times to come.

I would just like this opportunity to thank (well the Oscars have only just gone) everyone who has supported me over the last three years and got me to where I am today – an un-employed nurse. No, seriously I couldn’t have done it without you all.

Thanks again.

Get the point !

2007-02-21T07:47:00.000Z

Carrying on with my theme of athletes here is a piece about one of my favourite track and field stars. Roman Sebrle is Czech decathlete who currently holds the world record at a staggering 9026 points. This may not mean much too many but 9000 points was considered the ceiling in the decathlon world and many great names (Daley Thompson, Dan O’Brian) never achieved this.

Roman’s body has been through the mill as a decathlete and he has had his fair share of injuries. However, one injury sustained recently was quite amazing. Whilst training in South Africa he forgot to pay attention to the other athletes on the track. As a result he was hit in the shoulder by a javelin. “Hit in the shoulder” is a bit of an understatement as it actually went in one side of his shoulder and came out the other ! He is a resilient chap though and seems none the worse for it and hopes to be in the mix for a gold medal at the World Athletic Championships later this year in Japan.

Athletics - the fun of the sport.

2007-02-20T08:06:00.000Z

People ask me what I love about the sport of athletics. Is it the power, the speed the strength ? Yes, yes and yes I answer - but it is also something much more powerful. Its the rivalry, being the best in the world, the olympics, lycra, blond Finns with thight bums and a big dick !!! There is so much more to it than running !!!

This Little Piggy

2007-02-20T07:45:00.000Z

It is now the Chinese year of the pig. The pig is honest, tolerant and makes a good friend. However, they can often become disappointed by their friends due to their own high standards. Well known pigs include Dudley Moore, David Bowie, Elton John and Reluctant Nomad.

Passport Thoughts

2007-02-05T19:55:00.000Z

I recently had to apply for a new passport as my old one was somewhat out of date and I am planning to go away just after I qualify. I finally got together all the relevant documents and the fee and sent it off hoping that it would be back in time for me to travel when planned. To my surprise my new passport returned within 10 days despite a warning on the forms saying it could take up to 3 weeks.

Although the speedy return did surprise me it was what was posted with my passport that gave me a greater shock. Among the usual bunk of helpful reminders of what to take on holiday with you was a donor card registration form. Do the passport office know something that I don’t about the safety of air travel ? I was always under the impression it was one of the safest ways to travel but the inclusion of this application form got me thinking.

Another thought that entered my head at the time of receiving this form was do you manage to get a successful organ harvest from the site of a plane crash ? When I have ever seen them on TV they always look like – well a plane crash ! Carnage everywhere and a tangled mass of steel and bodies. Just how do they expect to retrieve a suitable set of corneas or a kidney from such a melee ? And just say that among the carnage they do find an organ still in a fit enough for transplant how do they know if the donor card that has come to rest on the body after the crash belongs to that specific person ? Getting a positive ID could take much longer than the window of opportunity they have to transplant the organ.

When all is said and done though I feel that I allowed my mind to long to wonder over the subject and it should be put to better use like booking the holiday in the first place.

Incidentally, I did fill in the donor registration form and return it saying that they could have what they liked but it is hard to tell which organs if any will be fit for another after the abuse I have put them through !!!

Jean Galfione

2007-01-18T02:33:00.000Z

Was bored so thought I would add some pics of one of my favorite athletes Jean Galfione. More to come soon.

The Nigth Shift

2007-01-18T01:49:00.000Z

I am back doing nights again. It is not that I particularly want too but I have some time off from Uni and I could do with the cash. I have worked on a number of different places and have enjoyed them and cant wait to get paid. The money wont last long though as I have a number of out goings and am skint post Christmas.

1. Bills, bills and more bills.
2. New passport (£66) so I can go on holiday in March.
3. The holiday in March.
4. Suit for my graduation ball.
5. Drinks at the graduation ball.

Despite the money leaving my bank account as quick as it will enter the nights have been good and I have got off my arse and done some work. Also I have slept very well during the day. Well back to work !!!

Seven things I hate about Christmas

2006-12-20T09:53:00.000Z

1. Panic Buying
Food disappears off the shelves like people are stocking up for a nuclear war and alcohol is brought like the public expect prohibition to start in the New Year

2. Pub Price Hike
Just because the pub puts up a bit of tinsel and the bar staff all don Santa hats it does not mean that they can double the entrance price and put a quid on the cost of drinks.

3. Christmas Food
Mince Pies, Xmas Pudding, bread sauce, cranberry sauce; the list of awful food goes on.

4. Shit Songs
I hate Xmas songs and the same old shite is thrown into the charts again and again every Christmas – will Slade please write a new song and Cliff Richard stop writing songs.

5. No Snow.
Years ago we were guaranteed a good two foot of snow and now if we are lucky we get a miserable half inch of slush.

6. Shit TV
Five hours of Eastenders, Xmas special after Xmas special and endless repeats.

7. Carole Singers
Three ASBO wielding youths singing (off key) the first verse of “Silent Night” over and over again is not my idea of entertainment.

Manners, manners everywhere but no-one stops to think

2006-12-07T11:52:00.000Z

Arriving at University today I was in a bad mood - lost to do and not enough time. my bad mood did not improve when I started work and found that the computers were very slow ! I went outside for a breath of fresh air (cigarette break) and opend a door for someone. To my surprise she turned to me, smiled and said thank-you. All of a sudden my bad mood had lifted. It is amazing how such a small gesture can do so much. I returned to my desk and even the slow computer seemed to be working faster now my mood had improved. Time passed and I popped outside for another break. I opened a door for another person - not a good move. She turned away, said nothing and carried on walking !!! Instant bad mood. Are manners being rationed out at the moment as they seem to be in short supply.

Here is what a few other people have to say on the subject of manners.

“The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any.”
Fred Astaire quotes (American stage and motion pictures Dancer, Actor and Choreographer, best known for a number of highly successful musical comedy films in which he starred with Ginger Rogers.1899-1987)

“Children are natural mimics who act like their parents despite every effort to teach them good manners” Anon

“Good manners sometimes means simply putting up with other people's bad manners.”
H. Jackson Brown, Jr. quotes (American best selling writer, author of Life's Little Instruction Book)

“Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot.”
Clarence Thomas quotes

“Good manners is the art of making those people easy with whom we converse. Whoever makes the fewest people uneasy is the best bred in the room.”
Jonathan Swift quotes (Irish Author and Satirist of prose, 1667-1745)

“You can get through life with bad manners, but it's easier with good manners.”
Lillian Gish quotes (American Actress, regarded as one of the most creative cinema artists. 1896-1993)

National AIDS Day

2006-12-01T12:58:00.000Z

Today is National AIDS Day and I hope that people who support this cause are doing their bit to help. As I am going out into town tonight I am sure that I will be tapped for money in every pub I go to. Have fun and be safe.

Ryk Neethling

2006-11-29T12:55:00.000Z

There was no real reason for this post - just a chance to see some nice pictures of Ryk.

How observant are you

2006-11-28T12:51:00.000Z

There are two identical pictures that will appear on the screen. Almost 8,000 people were tested to see if they could find the 3 differences in the two pictures and only 19 found all 3. See how observant you are. If you find all 3, you're one of very few people who are able to do this.
P.S. The text is in German and simply says look for the 3 differences CLICK

Me in the USA

2006-11-20T15:37:00.000Z

HowManyOfMe.com

There are:
1,469
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?