I got in from work this evening and was rather surprised to hear loud and slightly pitiful meowing from the attic bedroom! Somehow Tiggy, next doors cat had got into my house, I thought I'd locked the cat flap as we no longer have a cat. But obviously not;the problem seemed to be that poor Tiggy couldn't work out how to get out again. Maybe it's because I've been feeding him for a few days he thought he'd pay me a visit!
Monday, 31 March 2008
Frogs Crossing
I saw a frogs crossing sign today, it had a sticker on it saying RANA I wasn't sure what that meant but apparently it's the genus name for frogs.
Clutter, declutter, clutter, declutter...the rich cycle of life...
Anyone who knows me will know why this made me laugh. It's just that I don't don't get around to the declutter very often!
Saturday, 29 March 2008
Lunch at the Blue Moon Cafe
I had a lovely lunch with one of my oldest friends Alexandra today at the Blue Moon Cafe. This was followed by a potter around town and catching up on the gossip. I also got lovely presents for my birthday.
Getting the Giggles
Unfortunately I missed poor Charlotte Green getting the giggles on Today on Radio 4 yesterday morning but they played it again on PM. Poor Charlotte was reading the 8am news, there was an item about a very old sound recording that had been found. While it was playing a colleague commented to her that it sounded like a bumble bee caught in a jar. Unfortunately the next item was an obituary as Charlotte valiantly tried to get through the item she was taken over by the giggles, even when her colleague James Naughtie tried to rescue her he also was having trouble.
If you missed it it's here
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
House
I kind of like the TV series House, and have watched quite a few episodes of it on DVD since Sarah introduced me to it. However maybe it's because I'm a nurse I find my self being slightly cynical about the plots. There seems to be a formula to it. Let me explain….
It always starts with someone collapsing or having some sort of "funny turn" almost always in front of other people. It then cuts to the titles. Then we see House arriving at the hospital; being greeted by one of his team who he is normally horrible to making disparaging comments about them or their personal life. They then manage to get him interested in the case by it being something so unusual that no one else could possibly figure out what has caused the illness. His arrogance is almost always what drives him. He will then convene a meeting of the team with the obligatory flip chart or whiteboard taking center stage. The team then comes up with a series of theories which House then shoots down in flames. The most obvious investigative procedure to allow them to reach a diagnosis then proves impossible to do because the patient is allergic to the contrast medium or the scanner is broken. They then proceed to try a series of treatments, often against the teams better judgment, these treatments often make the patient worse but add information to the diagnostic process. At some point one of the team will be dispatched to the patient’s home, place of work or other significant location to try to learn more. Often breaking into the patient’s house or gaining access to their work place by some slightly less than legal means; often placing themselves in danger. The patient or the family will at some point rebel against the suggested treatment plan but are eventually won over by House's slightly less than ethical persuasive consultation style. The patient will then have several medical catastrophes which the team are always on hand to resuscitate them from. Eventually the patient gets better and goes home, almost always in a wheelchair being seen off in the foyer by the team when House for a moment will let his arrogant uncaring façade drop and will show a little humanity and pleasure at seeing the patient well again and going home, but will not loose the opportunity to score points or belittle his team. Occasionally aspects of either Houses private life or his team will encroach on the plot line but these are there to illustrate Houses arrogance and inherent vulnerability, which of course he would never admit.
It always starts with someone collapsing or having some sort of "funny turn" almost always in front of other people. It then cuts to the titles. Then we see House arriving at the hospital; being greeted by one of his team who he is normally horrible to making disparaging comments about them or their personal life. They then manage to get him interested in the case by it being something so unusual that no one else could possibly figure out what has caused the illness. His arrogance is almost always what drives him. He will then convene a meeting of the team with the obligatory flip chart or whiteboard taking center stage. The team then comes up with a series of theories which House then shoots down in flames. The most obvious investigative procedure to allow them to reach a diagnosis then proves impossible to do because the patient is allergic to the contrast medium or the scanner is broken. They then proceed to try a series of treatments, often against the teams better judgment, these treatments often make the patient worse but add information to the diagnostic process. At some point one of the team will be dispatched to the patient’s home, place of work or other significant location to try to learn more. Often breaking into the patient’s house or gaining access to their work place by some slightly less than legal means; often placing themselves in danger. The patient or the family will at some point rebel against the suggested treatment plan but are eventually won over by House's slightly less than ethical persuasive consultation style. The patient will then have several medical catastrophes which the team are always on hand to resuscitate them from. Eventually the patient gets better and goes home, almost always in a wheelchair being seen off in the foyer by the team when House for a moment will let his arrogant uncaring façade drop and will show a little humanity and pleasure at seeing the patient well again and going home, but will not loose the opportunity to score points or belittle his team. Occasionally aspects of either Houses private life or his team will encroach on the plot line but these are there to illustrate Houses arrogance and inherent vulnerability, which of course he would never admit.
Saturday, 15 March 2008
My Birthday in Prague
The day dawned with beautiful blue skys and presents and a card from Colett.
We set off to explore the Hradcany area of the city and the palace.
The views across the city were great but it was very busy around the palace and cathedral
the hill up to the palace was a little steep Colette made a friend on the way up the hill.
we explored around the castle a little and wandered around the outside of St Vitus's Cathedral.
We the set off down the hill for a sit down in Old Town Square. The stalls of the easter market filled the square and they even have an easter tree and all the stalls are trimmed with flowers and ribbons.
we then wandered back to the hotel for a rest, our feet were aching!
In the evening we went out for a meal and then explored a few bars. The last bar wasn't quite the typical Prague bar,it was in a cellar with loud rock music, in Prague you usually sit down at a table and someone comes to take your order. After watching for a while we realised that you had to go to the bar, it was my round so I went to the bar and ordered two beers a was a little bemused and Colett was most amused when I was served with two half liters and one slightly smaller beer. She wasn't quite so amused when the same thing happened when she tried to order two beers a little later in the evening.
We set off to explore the Hradcany area of the city and the palace.
The views across the city were great but it was very busy around the palace and cathedral
the hill up to the palace was a little steep Colette made a friend on the way up the hill.
we explored around the castle a little and wandered around the outside of St Vitus's Cathedral.
We the set off down the hill for a sit down in Old Town Square. The stalls of the easter market filled the square and they even have an easter tree and all the stalls are trimmed with flowers and ribbons.
we then wandered back to the hotel for a rest, our feet were aching!
In the evening we went out for a meal and then explored a few bars. The last bar wasn't quite the typical Prague bar,it was in a cellar with loud rock music, in Prague you usually sit down at a table and someone comes to take your order. After watching for a while we realised that you had to go to the bar, it was my round so I went to the bar and ordered two beers a was a little bemused and Colett was most amused when I was served with two half liters and one slightly smaller beer. She wasn't quite so amused when the same thing happened when she tried to order two beers a little later in the evening.
Friday, 14 March 2008
Day two in Prague
Friday was our first full day in Prague. The hotel had internet access but it didn't work too well in our room but it did work in the breakfast room, so after dragging Colett away from Starship battles on Facebook and posting silly messages on my Facebook by accident we headed off into town. The light wasn't so good but we decided to explore the National Museum at the head of Wenceslas Square.The museum is rather dated and dusty a little how I remember museums such as the National Museum in Edinburgh from my childhood, no interactive displays here; just a slightly scary lady "guard" with the second most unbelievable wig I have ever seen and rows and rows of stuffed animals and fossils.
There is also a memorial to Jan Palach who set fire to him self in 1969 as a protest against the Russians presence in Prague.
We then went to explore the Jewish Quarter of the City, the Pinkas Synagogue is one of the many there, the walls are covered with the names of the many thousands of people from the area who's lives were lost in the holocaust; 77,279 people.
The weather then got a bit cold and wet, the perfect excuse to find a bar, the one Sarah and John had recommended to us The Hany Bany. were we had a "few" beers and the wandered back to the Hotel via the most surreal Tescos well it seemed odd to us but maybe that was the beer but it only sold booze, chocolates, stationary and toiletries;just the essentials of life then.
There is also a memorial to Jan Palach who set fire to him self in 1969 as a protest against the Russians presence in Prague.
We then went to explore the Jewish Quarter of the City, the Pinkas Synagogue is one of the many there, the walls are covered with the names of the many thousands of people from the area who's lives were lost in the holocaust; 77,279 people.
The weather then got a bit cold and wet, the perfect excuse to find a bar, the one Sarah and John had recommended to us The Hany Bany. were we had a "few" beers and the wandered back to the Hotel via the most surreal Tescos well it seemed odd to us but maybe that was the beer but it only sold booze, chocolates, stationary and toiletries;just the essentials of life then.
Thursday, 13 March 2008
First Day in Prague
Colett and I arrived in Prague about 4pm after a very early start, taxi at 4.30am! We got to our hotel without any problem, the light was wonderful, I couldn't wait to get out for a walk.
We walked down to the river the first subject for photography was the Fred and Ginger Building.
We walked along the river and then across Charles Bridge, the sky was really interesting. We then walked across Charles Bridge the light was starting to go a little but the colours were lovely behind the many statues.
We eventually found a bar to get some food in it was an interesting bar called The Parachutist the walls were covered in World War 2 phptographs, many of which seemed to be Nazi propaganda.
The food was interesting, I had goulash with some sort of potatoes and onion fritters they called them pancakes.
We walked down to the river the first subject for photography was the Fred and Ginger Building.
We walked along the river and then across Charles Bridge, the sky was really interesting. We then walked across Charles Bridge the light was starting to go a little but the colours were lovely behind the many statues.
We eventually found a bar to get some food in it was an interesting bar called The Parachutist the walls were covered in World War 2 phptographs, many of which seemed to be Nazi propaganda.
The food was interesting, I had goulash with some sort of potatoes and onion fritters they called them pancakes.
Thursday, 6 March 2008
Tory Peers 's veiws on nurses
While nurses no longer look like the image here I would like to defend the nurses I work with and managed for some time.
A Tory Peer recent;y made a statement in the house an extract follows
When I was taken ill, I was taken to an accident and emergency department in a hospital not in London but in the West Country. I can tell your Lordships only that it is a miracle that I am still alive. It was exactly as the noble Baroness described the hospital down in Maidstone in Kent. I will not tell your Lordships which hospital I was in, but the wards were filthy. Underneath the bed next to me was a piece of dirty cotton wool, and there it remained for seven days; the ward was never cleaned. It was a gastroenterology ward, with lots of people with very unpleasant infectious diseases. The ward, the tables, the beds and the bathrooms were not cleaned. I was extremely infectious at that time and no precautions were taken with me at all. The staff were furious when my wife wanted my bed cleaned when it clearly needed cleaning. I was just lying there, a pathetic person. It was appalling.
The nurses, who probably are the most important people in this complex area, were what I would describe as an accurate reflection of many young women in Britain today. What do I mean by that? I shall now break your Lordships’ rules and read the next bit, because I thought very hard before I wrote it. The nurses who looked after me—not all of them; we should never generalise and there were one or two wonderful ones—were mostly grubby, with dirty fingernails and hair. They were slipshod, lazy and, worst of all, drunken and promiscuous. How do I know that? If you are a patient, lying in a bed and being nursed from either side, the nurses talk across you as if you are not there. I know exactly what they got up to the night before. I know how much they drank and what they were planning to do the next night, and it was pretty horrifying.
While I obviously can't speak for the nursing staff in that particular hospital there are a few points that should be considered.
First is his rather sweeping statement about these nurses being an accurate representation of young women in Britain today, Just how many of them has he met? I would also like to wonder if the people he was describing were nurses ie qualified staff, you only have the right to describe your self as a nurse if you hold a registered qualification. These young women were probably very underpaid and over worked care assistants. While I agree that they shouldn't be exchanging gossip over a patients head I think to tar all "nurses" with the same brush is very unfair and should not be based on one experience. Working as a care assistant or Nursing Auxiliary as they are known in some hospitals is poorly paid and very hard work. They have to work all sorts of antisocial hours including nights and weekends.They have to give the majority of the personal care that patients need because the "nurses" time is taken up com pleating extensive paperwork, administering medications, planning care, meeting and liaising with the multidisciplinary team, doing dressings, supporting ward rounds, the list is endless. In an ideal world care would be given at the bedside by trained nurses, But they are an expensive resource, although they remain relatively poorly paid when compared against many other professions. The majority of HCAs in my experience are kind, experienced and very hard working people.
My next point would be if hospitals are not cleaned properly it is because hospital cleaning services were contracted out to the private sector in many hospitals; fortunately not in mine. Also if he saw there was a grubby piece of cotton wool under a bed why didn't he ask someone to clear it away instead of sitting there staring at it. If he was well enough to notice this he can't of been that "pathetic". I admit that there are lots of faults in the NHS but the majority of the time it provides an excellent service and staff work very hard to ensure that people get the best possible care. Resources are often wasted on attempts to meet meaningless and ill considered targets, See my post re Deep Cleaning.
SatNav
Those of you who have had the dubious pleasure of travelling in my car will know that I have a sat nav. It is a little eccentric as all sat navs can be. We are all to familiar with the news stories about people, especailly lorries getting stuck on narrow country lanes or under low bridges. But I must speak in defence of sat navs and my use of them. I can read a map, I even got my Girl Guide map reading badge. I even know how to use a silva compass take bearings and orrientate and ordanance survey map. Unfortunatly I am blessed or other wise with a poor sense of direction, we can't all be good at everything!. My other point is that it is very difficult to read a map when you are driving. I used to be a bit nervous about going to places I hadn't been to before as I was worried that if I couldn't follow the directions I had been given for some reason I would have to stop, work out where I was on the map and then rethink my route. At least I know now that if I do go off course my sat nav will guide me back to where I want to be. Yes it talks at me in a very irritating manner and; yes I give those of my friends who can map read and do have a good sense of direction full permission to turn the "bloody thing" off and navigate for me. However when I am driving on my own to places I have never been before it does help me find where I am going. The important thing for people who use sat navs is not to suspend their use of common sense. Do these lorry drivers not look at the road signs warning them of low bridges?! The only gripe I have with my sat nav apart from the irriating voices is that it is quite some time since the map software was updated so occasionally it tells me to turn down a road that is now blocked off or suggests I return to the nearest road when I am on some stretches of new road.
Kylie Minogue markets new range of bed linen- be careful what you shop for!
I see in the press that the glamorous pop princess Kylie Minogue has launched a new designer range of bed linen. I hope not too may people will be disappointed as if they do a Google search on "Kylie" and "bed" what comes up are the incontinence products that have been used in nursing homes and hospitals since Florence was a lass.
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