Eternal Refuge

It wasn't my fault! Honest

I had logged on Monday morning, as I was due to work in the afternoon ... however in the space of one hour my shift time was changed ... three times! The last being, can you come in ASAP.

And, while at work, my hours for yesterday were changed. So a couple of longer days at work, although luckily both went smoothly.

However as I went to walk home the calf injury was very sore. I don't know why, and despite having a lazy evening, it's still sore again today.

Despite that I want to get some housework done ... washing is done and hanging up, but dusting/hoovering are some of my least favourite tasks.

Despite the fact it's dry, it's overcast, which is frustrating. Providing it doesn't rain, and including the pain in the leg, I will still get out for a walk later.

Well, despite the fact that I haven't posted for a few days, I really don't have much news ... so ...






28. Do you own many notebooks? What do you use them for?
I have quite a few, but the only one in regular use is the one I have with my Bible, so when I do my daily reading I am picking out a couple of favourite verses to make a note of, this year.

1. Since 1990, Clean Up Australia Limited has sponsored a yearly Clean Up Australia Day. Have you ever taken part in a ‘clean up’ initiative where you live?
No - I have helped out a couple of times at a Church Spring tidy-up (although not this year!!)

2. My mother taught me to get rid of hiccups by holding my breath and then swallowing three times. It works most of the time! How do you get rid of hiccups?
I have a glass of water "upside down" ... in other words I drink from the opposite side of the glass.
Or, have a large spoonful of sugar.
The first was Mum's option ... the second Dad's. I find the water trick works best for me.

3. If you visit somewhere special, do you buy a small memento to bring home (such as a fridge magnet, keyring, ornament or something else)?
Even on an on-libe journal there isn't enough space to list my souveneirs!!! Yes, fridge magnets, yes an ornament .. and often yes, a piece of jewellery!

4. Have you ever been in a road traffic accident (either as a driver, pedestrian or on a bike)?
2 days before my 21st birthday ... I was on a push bike and a taxi shot a set of red traffic lights ... and turned straight onto my back wheel (doing about 40mph). I did a break-fall over the handlebars (luckily I had done years of judo as a teen). I have a week back, and now wear a heal-lift to help stabalise my pelvis. But considering what could have happened ... I am lucky that the ongoing problems are pretty minor.





Right ... I need to get on and do some cleaning.

I hope to finish off a set of icons later ... and hopefully post them later. I also am going to catch up with you all then

.... I can see some blue sky as I look out of the window next to where my computer is.  And, it looks like it may linger for a day or two!

Yesterday was a good, or odd, shift.  It was my normal 6 hours ... but we seemed to have an hour where it was almost as if there was no time to breath ... then half an hour where the concourse was totally empty ... then we repeated that pattern ... twice.  Then it was generally empty ... well, until I waked to where the loos were ... and I came back to a queue of people (and I was only gone a couple of minutes!)

How odd.

Today I am only in for 4 hours ... and then have my Wednesday off to continue healing my leg.  I actually also have Thursday off as well.  It was my friend, Christine's birthday last weekend.  She spends a lot of time with her dad ... getting him lunch 5 days a week.  So Thursday we are meeting in Exeter and are gooing to Killerton National Trust.  Normally I would just drive there, or drive to hers and pick her up ... but I am still car-free.

So this week should be a pretty good one overall (I hope).

I am going to do some icons now, so -






24. What are you watching this month that you are enjoying?
I am only doing some re-watching although have watched a 4 part documentary on Abraham Lincoln.
I am also enjoying this year's "Pottery Throwdown"




Right, let's get on

Apparently, that's how many consecutive days of rain we have had.  A few days it has been sunny, but we have had rain early in the morning, or late evening.  However, for many of those days it has been 24 hours of rain ... often associated with a brisk wind, as well!

Work went well yesterday, and it was nice to be home a little earlier. However I was "sent for" by my boss half way through the shift ... always a worry, even though I couldn't think of any reason for the summons! So, I strapped on my bullet-proof vest, and went upstairs. It turns out the the hospital "bosses" have had a complete shake-up. So, the Welome/Enquirery Desk is going to be under a new management ... at present we are under Telecoms, but after Easter it will be under the Maintanance Team. I was told as a courtesy, and the boss said that she has passed on a recommendation for me ... but being on a zero hours contract there is no reassurance. So I wait for developements ... or maybe this means I think about early retirement ... so, watch this space.

I am working, again, later ... And am also working tomorrow morning, so I won't be posting again until Monday ... so ...






20. Are you a fan of mayonnaise in a sandwich (either egg-based or vegan)?
I am allergic to butter ... so have mayonaise, or salad cream, in sandwiches.

21. When was the last time you heard music played live (at a concert, in a musical)?
I think the last time was the last concert I played in with Bude Orchestra back in 2012.

22. What is your favourite writing implement – a fountain pen, ballpoint pen, pencil or something else?
My favourite is a fountain pen, and I have a couple I use all the time. However I do use a biro for work, or my crossword puzzle book.





Right, I am going to catch up with my comments etc, before logging off, and getting some cleaning done before heading into work.

Have a good weekend x

I have always "celebrated" Pancake Day ... even though I don't keep Lent, like many people do.  So I get the benefits of yum, without then giving something up for 40 days!  I call that a winning plan - thanks Mum & Dad.  Mum was brought up in the same way, so that's one tradition worth keeping!!!!!

Yesterday I didn't turn on the pc before work as I decided I wouldn't be side-tracked.  Instaed I did some housework ... things like cleaning the stairs, scrubbing my kitchen floor, etc.  So a busy morning, that I could step back from, and feel positive about the day.

Work was totally odd.  It seemed to be an super-busy hour, then about quarter of an hour of near-silence ... then start again.  Very odd.

I have done some shopping already this morning.  My brother moans about my local supermarket as it's one of the 2 cheepo ones ... but at present, every time you buy something then you can pick up a free cake/doughnut/etc at the next shop.  So, more yum ... overall it's a yummy week!!

Well, I am behind with you, and with icons, so ..







16. Do you own your own washing machine in your home, or do you use a laundry service/laundry room in the building or a launderette?
That was one of the jobs I also did yesterday! My washing machine is in my kitchen.

17. Chinese New Year begins today, and festivities continue until March 3rd – the year of the Fire Horse. What animal are you born under in Chinese astrology?
I had to Google - I am The Year Of The Ox ...
"A person born on 24th June 1961 is in the Chinese zodiac year of the Metal Ox (specifically Xin-Chou). The Chinese year of the Metal Ox began on February 15, 1961, and ended on February 4, 1962. Those born in this year are typically characterized as hardworking, honest, dependable, and logical."



Right, let's catch up

Wow, the sky is not leaking, at present anyway. I suppose this awful weather we have had has had one advantage ... we can truly prove how English we are, by forever moaning about the weather!!

Yes, like most people I know we need rain & I know it's winter ... but honestly, it would be nice to have more than a few hours of rain. So a pretty decent day yesterday ... and now (so far) this morning and I am a happy girl.

(It can rain this afternoon - after all I am at work then!)

And really you can tell by this ramble, I have nothing profound to say ... so will post before I hear your snores. So ...





12. Do you have any siblings?
I have 2. When I was young I used to pray for a brother, I obviously prayed too hard!
Nick is 4 and a half years younger, in early retirement with assorted health problem. It was his 60th we celebrated this weekend ... so you all saw "the beard".
Tim is almost exactly 6 years younger, and lives just less than a mile away. He is a lawyer, but hoping to take early retirement on his 60th.
(The icon is the 2 of them aged 18 & 19)





Right, lets get this posted, and my walk done

Yesterday I didn't get on-line, but I did manage to get a lot of things done before work.  Washing, cleaning & shopping.  So although I didn't get here, I was being busy.

Today I am here, although I do have the ironing to do, and hope to get it done this morning.  As ever I am at work later.  Yesterday was an odd day, it was actually fairly non-busy, which considering it was a Wednesday that was odd.

Tomorrow I am also working, but am leaving early to catch a bus to the city centre, to catch a bus to Bristol, to catch a bus to Bath, to get Brenda to pick me up.  Bus was a third of the price of train and actually not much different in the timings.  I had left it a bit late to book as I had hoped, initially, that I would be able to drive ... but then wondered whether Tim would offer me a lift.  Actually, in many ways, I am happier travelling by myself.

Anyway I am going to Nick & Brenda's for the weekend ... as are Tim & Claire.  Last Monday it was Nick's 60th, and his boys helped him celebrate last weekend, it's the siblings turn this weekend!

I remember thenight he was born ... Dad had taken Mum to the hospital in the late afternoon and by the time he got home, I was in bed (my neighbours had come round to sit with me).  He then phoned the hospital and they said Mum was in late stage labour, so if he wanted to drive back he would be allowed to see mother & baby  (neither he, nor mum, were able to see me until I was 2 days old ... so he returned.  I then got up and sat with Auntie Doreen on the landing, looking out of the window waiting for Dad to return.  I had prayed for a brother, so I needed to know whether it was a boy or a girl  ... Nick!

So, it's good to remember 60 years ago ... and to celebrate 60 years on.

I hope that you have a good weekend - will look forward to reading about it when I am back on-line on Monday.  But, before that -






4. How old is the oldest book you own?
I have a couple of Bibles from the mid 19th century ... and some other books, such as Pilgrim's Progress, from the late 19th century.  The oldest is a small novel called "The Little Christian Hero" with a handwritten inscription of "Christmas 1835"

5. It’s the 60th anniversary of the game ‘Twister’ – have you ever played it?
No
Maybe we should play it this weekend!!!!!

6. In 1869, Harper's Weekly published the first picture of Uncle Sam with chin whiskers. Do you know anyone with a beard or a moustache?
Nick ... a shaggy beard

7. Is there a subject at school which you disliked, but you would consider learning now?
Geography - I hated it then because we seemed to spend a lot of time debating rift vallies etc ... I want to learn about locations etc

8. How often do you read fiction?
I read fan-fiction all the time




Right, Iwill try and catch up with you all ... then see you Monday!

The bad weather continues, although there was some dry weather this morning, so I managed to get a walk done and stay dry. However, areas of the city where Tim walks at lunchtime are under 4 feet of water!

But the upside is that occasionally we get the beauty of a rainbow. This was taken from my front door, and you could almost see a shadow of a double one.


Washing is up and around the house … so the day is progressing well. However, when I went to log on this morning there is some trouble … so am typing this on Word, and then will copy & paste over, hopefully later today, if not tomorrow when I get home from work.

Hoping to post later I will catch up until then -



30. In 1873, Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne was published in France. Have you read the book or seen any of the films?
The David Niven film was a family favourite, so while Mum & Dad were alive we must have watched it at least once a year. Since then, I have seen it a few times. It’s a great film – especially for noticing the film star cameos.


Right, let’s get this posted, whenever I can!


~~~


Well in the end, I didn't turn on the computer over the weekend. When I got in from work on Saturday I realised that I had to get some shopping done ... I was almost out of milk, and if I couldn't get a cuppa then we were talking major crisis.

I hadn't long got in when a friend phoned, and after chatting for a long time I decided not to go upstairs and switch on the PC. So had a lazy evening, just reading.

Sunday, still can't get to Church ... but my lazy afternoon was changed as someone cancelled their shift (after it was due to start), so I ended up going into work to cover. So many people covered me when I was off sick, it was nice to be able to re-pay the boss. The other fun fact about a Sunday late is that there is a large Pizza delivery for the doctors ... and the company always bring another (family sized) one in for whoever is on the reception. It started during lockdown, and they have kept it going. Won't be easy getting it home, walking with crutches ... but it will be worth the slight struggle!

And, now it's Monday, and, as usual, I am due in work later, but I have catch-up to do ... so ...




31. Do you like hot chocolate with or without marshmallows?
I do like it occasionally ... preferably with! After all, if I am going to indulge, let's do it all!

1. What’s your favourite hot beverage? How do you make it?
Tea ... if I have white tea, I have it strong, if black, very week. However both are English Breakfast Tea.

2. When was the last time you saw an original hand-painted painting?
When I left the house. I have them all around the place, as Mum loved painting, it was one of her hobbies.



Right, let's get this posted, at long last. Hopefully I shall be able to catch up with you all, as well.

As you can just see I have posted a couple of Snowflakes.  Although I can't get on the sites at work, I copy and paste the challenge to an email, and email myself.  So, although work thinks I am busy studying, I am ... just not hospital stuff!  However let me assure you, that all my annual training is all up to date, so this way it fills the spare moments.

Unlike the rest of England we have wind & rain here.  I did get to the local supermarket as I needed some basics, and I am trying to have a regular walk.  If it stops raining later I shall get out again.

Still it means I can get some icons done ... as well as an art challenge I am attempting for another Snowflake.

The odd thing is that I said at the beginning of the month I would probably only do a couple, yet, as it turns out there have been mostly new challenges ... so I am doing mostly them them.  I have missed a couple so far, but the rest are done, or will be when I get focussed.

I hope you are having a good weekend ... nice to be able to relax, just wish we had nice weather.

Well the bugs are still around, although I am feeling a lot better than I was.  The trouble is, as my doctor reminded me, there are 2 main types of antibiotics, and I am allergic to both of them.  So, while I am coping and slowly healing then things are OK.  I suppose it also shows how often treatment is given when it's not truly necessary, although it does take a lot longer.  I know over the years super-bugs develop.  So many people expect medication if they just have a "sniffle" ... something I have never accepted, anyway.

For some unknown reason my leg has been very sore over the last couple of days ... although I am continuing to get to work (I am not up to full time hours anyway).

I wish the weather would make up it's mind.  Yesterday was icy, cold, sunny ... winter.  Today is warmer ... but chucking it down with rain.

Although I haven't had much  internet time, I have done a few of the Snowflakes ... I will post them separately.  I just wrote them as an email while at work.  I have also done this set of icon ... with a theme of "Christmas Red" and all are from Stargate SG1

1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10
11	12	13	14	15

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



Well I am due in work soon - but wanted to get something posted, so this is it.  I know I won't have time to get caught up with you ... hope to soon though, honestly.

Much of England has had a smattering of snow, but we don't have any here.  As I am surviving on crutches, I am truly thankful.  That will be super scary if it does freeze here.

I had a nice lazy day yesterday ... and, yes, I did manage to get 2 short walks done.  However the cold bugs are back again, and I am working later, so won't do an extra walk this morning.

My decorations will stay up over the weekend ... but come Monday things will get "naked" again.  I know a lot of people strip the decs on Boxing Day, but I love having them up, so nice to keep them until almost 12th night.