Eternal Refuge

Yes, I am working again a bit later, so of course the sun is shining!

Still, I just had to go and pick up a few groceries, so took a slightly longer route so I could walk across the corner of the park, and see some greenery, as well.  So I may not have been out for long, but it's amazing what even a few minutes can do for you.

Work went OK yesterday, but we did wonder if it was a full moon!!  The porters (who work in the office behind me said that they had been sent on some emergency call-outs, that turned out not to exist.  I had one lady ask where the eye department was, so I showed he (as it's opposite me), only to be asked by her, again, where the eye DEPARTMENT was  ... as this was the eye UNIT!!!!!!   So, yes, there were certainly some really unusual people out and about yesterday.  Hopefully they will all be hibernating today!  It didn't help me that the one volunteer I don't like working with was covering someone's holiday.  I really don't know why she comes in as she just stands leaning on the counter (facing me) and never seems to know any of the questions asked.  She wasn't even wearing her uniform top yesterday.  Luckily she only does cover shifts now, so at least I don't have to avoid a specific shift!!

How's everyone else doing? Hopefully I will get time to catch up with you all in a minute.

I will try now to get on ... so ...






25. The Venice Carnival runs from February 22nd to March 4th. Wearing a fancy mask is a feature of the carnival – when was the last time you wore a mask?
About 15 years ago … I fenced at least weekly for about 10 years, and yes, you ALWAYS wore a mask then!

eta I just read kazzy_cees answer and realise I was wrong - we all lived in masks for years during lockdown, didn't we?  Especially working in a clinic in a hospital, it was essential part of the uniform.





I can't believe that a year ago today I was actually taking the photo that I am using for the icon. Some times it feels like it was yesterday, other days it feels as if it was years ago!

Right, I had better get on with some things.

I do love working with people, but sometimes you have to ask what planet they come from!!

I have spent the last 2 days registering people to work for the Staff Bank that I now work for.  Ironic that I hated the precess and am now doing the same job!  However although I moaned, I just went through the process and got it done.  Quiet a few of the people I met over the last 2 days have been similar, but a few just came for a moan.  For example

• One student didn't bring any proof of address.  Said she hadn't any.  Everyone has bills, bank statements, etc, and even if on-line now, they can be requested as a printed copy with no problems at all.  And, at the moment the local area have received polling cards, which also count.  She still refused to get those done.  So I just said I would have to send her details to my "boss".


• I had a few people who were non UK/EU residents.  Most came with all their paperwork.  But one man only brought his Home Office code ... saying that to get that it was obvious he had a job, and a visa.  Which, although true, still doesn't fulfil the paperwork that is needed.  Part of me thought that he should be happy to share the details, as it shows he is not an illegal immigrant.

So, as I said - People!

I have a day off today, then it's Sunday ... and then back at the same job on Monday.  So -


27. Today we celebrate sculptures - are there any places near you with sculptures? Have you a favourite sculpture that you've seen?
I love sculptures ... don't know that I have a favourite as there are some truly beautiful structures out there.

28. Health and safety at work is really important. Have you ever injured yourself at work (or when you were working if you've retired?)
Tore a calf muscle, when an "end-of-life" patient collapsed .... ended up hopping to A&E as I refused to admit how much pain I was in, although the involuntary tears should have been a give-away!

29. William Randolph Hurst, the newspaper publisher was born today in 1863. Do you read a daily or weekend newspaper? Do you read electronically or have an actual physical newspaper?
Used to get one at the weekends, but realised I was mostly getting it just for the crosswords page, so just buy a crossword magazine now.
I do check the headlies most days, though




And, as you can see no comments about how cold it is!

Before I sign off let me also wish deepseasiren a very happy birthday. I know it will be poignat this year - but love is sent over the Atlantic to you.

Right - See you Tuesday

Work was a full day yesterday ... so I didn't switch on this pc when I got home ... see, I do listen to my health occasionally.

Today in my clinic we had the oddest of patients ... why he came none of us knew.  The matron I was working with asked him to drink 2 glasses of water and he just said "no".  She explained why, as did I but he just said he wan't going to drink anything, as he didn't like drinking!  No wonder he has urology problems.  We then asked him to wait for a strong feeling of needing to wee, and guess what his answer was ... "no".  He was not going to wait around.  So why he came in for the test I have not a clue.

Oh well, home now, washing done and airing ... so hopefully will get the ironing done later.

Well, I did say I was making icons and I made this set of 20 BtVS season 2 icons for round 45 of  Monthlyinspo over on DWmonthlyinspo. This month's theme is Au Naturel or The Fake Out, and I decided to do 10 of each ...

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10

11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20

As ever, all are snaggable, but credit would be appreciated. The credits are available over at my icon journal - d4s_icons





And now -


9 – Read in the Bathtub Day: Do you read in the bath? Have you ever been reading in the bath and dropped your book into the water?
Always do ... I don't often have baths, so when I do I "indulge". And, yes, have dropped a cople of books over the years. Mum used to borrow some of my books, and was amused when one she wanted to read was a bit "puffy" after a bath!

10 – Umbrella Day: Umbrella or raincoat? Do you carry an umbrella or raincoat “just in case” if the weather looks doubtful, or do you take your chances? What types of umbrellas do you like? Do you keep umbrellas in different places, e.g. one at work, one in your car (if you have a car), to avoid being caught by unexpected rain?
I have had to re-think umbrellas as I used to live in a town where gale-force winds were common, so no umbrellas there. I also used to be a horse rider (no umbrellas there). So, yes I have a couple of nice umbrellas, but usually forget to use them.



Right - lets get on. I am aiming to do a supermarket shop today ... so ... "see you later"

Yes I worked again today …. But also realise that I forgot to post an actual update yesterday (sorry).

I think yesterday morning the general tiredness of the last couple of weeks caught up with me. The good news is that I didn’t actually “crash”, just sort of pottered my way through some of the time. I worked in the late afternoon/evening, so nice to spend a bit of positive time. In fact, not long before I left a young lady was wheeled past by her mum … she would be about 10, and she handed me a keyring made of coloured beads. Apparently she has been here 10 weeks and hopes to go home soon. One of the things she has been doing to try to be positive is making them to give to staff to thank them for all their help. So that was a really nice end to the day.

Been working in main reception all day, and even though it’s not a full moon, certainly there have been a lot of odd questions. The oddest of all was a gentleman who asked me where he went in the hospital to see his mother’s titanium leg implant. I did think of suggesting he kept it as a garden feature, but decided I would be a good girl and not say such a thing (who says I am not diplomatic). He did think we would buy it and re-use it (very green of him …. Until he reminded me that titanium was worth a lot of money. He did assure his mother no longer needed it. But whatever, it was an odd question. I suggested Googling medical supply companies, or just the local re-cycling centre.

So, as you can see, life can be totally random on the main reception.

Now I am back earlier than expected as someone came to start earlier than I had been told ... so nice to walk home in the sunshine, and sit outside for a short time.

Now I need to post -


24. What is your most unusual nighttime or morning ritual?
Read in bed for anything between 1/4 hour and a complete hour, then curl up on my left side to sleep.
If I wake before the alarm then I read, then once the alarm has snoozed once I get up shower, drink a pint of water and read by Bible, before breakfast and on with the day

25. How do you get rid of pesky phone calls from telemarketers/scam callers?
Just put the phone down! (I do usually say "Sorry" as I do it)



Right I am all up to date. I have some time off tomorrow morning and really need to do some shopping, and take some photos for photo_scavenger as I am all behind.

Will try and catch up with you a bit later x

I have always had jobs where I work with the general public ... and really enjoy it . However every so often you meet someone who makes yoyu wonder why you do the work.

Our second patient was 25minutes late, with no apologies ... and that was the least of the problem.  He told us that he didn't want the test, the consultant was wrong to ask him to do it ... and he would stay one hour, but no more.  He couldn't see why the consultant couldn't just do the operation.  We tried pointing out that a) surgery might not be necessary, and b), even if it is then it will help to decided what the correct surgery would be.  We have certain parameters for the test, and although a few people do mumble about them, no one seemed quite as rude as this man .... he told me that I would do the test or he would just go.  I tried pointing out that we are trying to get the best results for him ... but!!!  Still, we had known from the start he would be a problem, as it took him all his time to give his date of birth when asked.  In the end I came to the conclusion he was just obnoxious ... and ironically, out of the 5, he had the least symptoms!

Oh well, at the least it made the morning memorable!

LOL - I have just seen today's question ... have I already answered it?

20. What is the craziest thing you’ve seen happen at your workplace?
Actually I think the 2 oddest things I have seen were back when I was an osteopath ...
       a)  One of my regular patients asked for an emergency appointment ... pretty normal, except for the fact the lady was 40 weeks pregnant with her 3rd child!  So I told her that if she promised to lie down "with her legs crossed" then I would see her!  She ended up having the baby that evening.
       b)  Another lady was chatting away to me during treatment telling me that she and her daughter were going to spend the day together.  Great, said I.  It turned out the daughter was already in labour with a first child, sitting in the car waiting, while the mum had treatment (and I have to add that we were an hour's drive from the hospital at the time)


So, overall I thik I can summerise -
There's nowt as mad as folk

Well I have just come to this absolutely shocking conclusion - so thought I needed to share it with someone - as neither my family nor my friend, Toni would believe me for saying that!

I have just read a post from someone on my f-list commenting on something that they had obviously read on their f-list ... and I realise that there are some totally peculiar people out there!  I know we all have our own views on things - both local to us and global - but where some people get their ideas from is beyond me.

So - either that makes me sane, or as I am listening to "Grave Peril" at the moment (read by James .... Squeeee!) ... maybe there is a leak from the Never-Never and the wrong people are getting through!!!!

So if you are thinking that you are going mad it probably means you are actually OK - it is the rest of the population that needs locking up - for their own good, if not ours!!!!