Goodbye 2008

What a strange thought, in 4 hours and 10 minutes it will be a brand new year, full of hopes and dreams and wishes. My mobile phone has already started bleeping with Happy new year messages from my friends and family.
I tend to get a bit down around now, thinking of the friends and family members I will be leaving behind in 2008. I should be thinking of whats ahead, there is so much happening in the next two years that there should be no time to look back.
I did the horses today, the blonde bird was working so I put them out and brought them back in again. Mouse has managed to damage the fence, and hurt her foot, I think its just bruised as there is no sign of blood or cuts, but she may have to stay in tomorrow, and I am dreading the thought that I might have to phone the vet on a Bank Holiday!! What a great start to the new year that would be.
Tonight I am at home, My Mum is going to her friends house and will only have to run across the road to get home again, The Boys will probably text us with a message later, Beth is off out with her boyfriend to a party, so its Lit'lun, my husband and myself, together with, the dog, the bunny, and two fur balls (hamsters) left to see the new year in together. The best bit for me, is I get to see the new year in with my family, not stuck out on cover in an ambulance somewhere, or picking up drunk, leary revellers, I actually get to be off work this new year woohoo.
Ahh, as I write the fire works are already being set off, the dog is with Lit'lun, I can hear her, she hates loud bangs, I think it will only get worse, but at least we can turn the TV up and all be together, she won't find it so distressing then.
.

.HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Nothing at all

As I sit here eating Christmas pudding and custard I am trying to think of something to write!
Today has been one of those very dull days where I have lounged about not really doing much at all. A couple of loads of laundry, and a small amount of shopping were the only thinks I did, other than put the horses to bed.
Whilst I have been writing I have had a phone call from another of my friends who also happens to be the wife of a priest, we are naughty when we get together even though neither of us are teenagers (well perhaps in mind!!) And have just spent the last 20 minutes putting the world to rights, its nice to know that I am not alone in the way I feel about certain things (hmm how very cryptic!!)
Lit'lun got the boxed set of CSI Miami from Beth for Christmas and we have all been watching a couple of episodes each evening so I know this is a very short blog today, I will try and do something worth writing about tomorrow instead of lounging about, but for now I am off to watch the next episode of CSI Miami.

Decisions?!

I am wondering, not wandering, hehe, if I should have a new years resolution. I don't drink to excess, or smoke at all, I am easy on the chocolate and dieting at the moment? The burning question is what if anything should I do or not do as a new years resolution?? (Answers on a postcard to.....) Maybe I should be nicer to my drunk patients at work? but I may be planning a career move! Maybe I should be a better housewife (hoover and dust and all that more often!) Maybe I should just be...... oh I know, I should stop swearing, oh hang on isn't a resolution something you should at least have a faint chance of managing?? Oh I give up, for now anyway........

Diamond Geezer!

I'm back!
I had a few days off as you may have noticed!
Well in brief, we celebrated Christmas on Boxing day as both my husband and myself were working and didn't see each other for the whole of Christmas day which was really bad! It was Lit'lun's idea to have our presents on Boxing day so we had a Christmas stocking each ( I took mine to work) on the day and had the rest on Boxing day.
Work has been a nightmare recently with no let up over the festive period, (and no bonus or double time!!!)
I got a text from the Northern Bird on Sunday, good job my phone was on silent!! I was in church, oops, and in reply, well your welcome! that's what friends are for. I was actually in church with my husband, this is a rare occurrence these days as I don't usually go to the church that he is with for one reason or another but if he is doing something in the service then I wanna be there! This time was his first sermon, it was good and on a difficult subject too it looked as though he had been preaching all his life, people kept coming up to me and saying how well he had done.
Today I did the horses in the morning and on my return, My Husband, Lit'lun and I had lunch then went into town for a bit of a wander. Whilst there I thought I would have a quick look at the perfumes as I am almost out of DKNY green apple. The assistant gave me four or five tester strips of similar perfumes and the one that was nicest was Emporio Armani Diamonds. I was about to get a small bottle when my Husband said to the assistant, "Make it a big bottle and I will pay!"
My lovely Husband, "Thank you" xxxxx

Happy Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas

Snowflakes

Every Ambulance station in our service has a Chaplain, our station Chaplain is Father Bob, he comes to the station and has a cuppa with which ever crew is on duty, and will ask how other members of the station are if he hasn't seen them for a while, we offered to take him out on the ambulance with us to jobs (3rd manning) and he took up the offer and has been to several jobs with different crews.
Father Bob is very easy to chat to, whether you are Christian or not.
Today when I got to work there was a box on the table together with a note from him, the note said something like please take a snowflake and put it on your Christmas tree, to remind you of Gods works. (this is probably not quite what he wrote as so much has happened since I read the note) The note went on to say that using a special type of magnifying machine this snowflake is a copy of a real one using several techniques.
As soon as I got home I showed my husband, found a thin gold thread and hung the snowflake on the Christmas tree.
It is very delicate and so pretty that your eye is immediately drawn to it.
Thank you Father Bob, I hope you have a peaceful and Blessed Christmas.

Back to work!

Today is Christmas eve, and also my first day back at work having had the last tour off on leave. I didn't want to come to work at all, for a start both Beth and Lit'lun are unwell, and for another its always hard going back after a long break. There had been no night crew as all the viruses have taken their toll on our station, my crew mate who is a trainee, and only been on the road three months was already there. Her name is Annie. We managed to stay on station long enough to watch a few programmes then got tipped out to a doctors urgent, a man found collapsed. We took him in to hospital then I tried to drop my God sons Christmas present off but we got another job! this time it was to a woman, also found collapsed and very confused, we took her into hospital too. After our meal break we were sent on cover, (deliberately I feel) to a place two minutes from my God sons home. Yay! I delivered his present and got a photo of him looking very cute dressed up as a pixie, one of Santa's little helpers. Unfortunately we got a job so I couldn't spend much time with them, we were sent to a lady having an asthma attack, she also had a UTI ( wee infection) so I arranged for the doctor to come out and give her a prescription, she didn't want to go into hospital, and the hospitals are heaving with patients so that was a very satisfactory result. On our way back to base we re fueled the ambulance as the petrol stations might be closed tomorrow. The night crew arrived, well, one half of it, Danger mouse had booked sick, Gary who had turned up probably wont last the night! he looked and sounded dreadful poor thing. Still after a quite calm day at work I drove home to see my poorly kids and my Lovely Husband.

On the Eleventh day of Christmas

Where does the time go!?

I woke up this morning (fortunately!) to the sound of coughing, constant coughing! and to find my husband at home too. AAggghhh all these sick people its like being at work! Hang on a minute, oh noo I am on my last day off, I go back to work tomorrow.
My husband booked sick at 6.30 am feeling unwell, and I have to take Beth to the Doctor as she can't stop coughing and its getting worse, Lit'lun got up walked around aimlessly then went back to bed!
After taking Beth I did a round robin of dropping off and picking up the last few presents before going home for lunch.
I promised a Moroccan style roast lamb recipe to one of my work mates he is having that for his Christmas dinner, (ooh sorry Northern Bird, I have promised you some recipes too haven't I, give me a kick after Christmas will you). Anyway I got on my laptop and sent the recipe by email, then I noticed an email from facebook, saying that my sister in law Dorothy has added me as a friend, she has moved abroad and we have almost lost touch so this was great, I accepted the friendship and immediately had a look at her photo's, my nieces and nephew have grown so much, it will be great to stay in touch now.
Then it was back out to put the horses to bed and collect another Christmas cake from my mum this one is made of sponge as she remembered that Beth actually doesn't like fruit cake!
Oh she is good.

On the tenth day of Christmas

That Monday morning feeling.

I was up at the crack of dawn this morning, putting the horses out and mucking out, then I had to go and buy a corner manger to put Mouses feed in as she has been trashing buckets and throwing her food all over the stable. My Husband had charged up his power drill so that I could use it, so I was back at home in no time. My Grand daughter and her mother came over this morning too, we exchanged presents and had a coffee, before the two of them left to do some last minute shopping in town.
The ambulance service that I work for has decided that things have got too bad recently, what with rota's being unfilled, people off sick and the 20% increase on top of the usual increase in workload this time of year. So, as an incentive (your going to love this!!) the boss has decided that the first 40 people who will do an overtime shift each day over the Christmas period will get....... are you ready for this,?? ..... Not time and a half but double time! Wow now theres an incentive, not! So if like me you happen to be rota'd to work those days anyway, I will still get normal time!! we don't even get time and a half! and they are wondering why there is so much bad feeling in the service. The arguments that are going on, and the bad feeling it is causing is really not good for our already low morale.
This afternoon my Husband decided that we better go shopping for a few food items! oh boy! first find a parking space... Then find a trolley... then slowly amble round the store as the isles are so full of people oh and did I mention the being run over by other peoples trolleys, and pushing and shoving, anybody would think there is going to be a national food shortage! aaggghhhh!!!!
I have one day left of my annual leave before I go back to work, just in time for Christmas, You know that Monday morning feeling? I've had it all day!

On the ninth day of Christmas

Party, Priests and Pizza!

Well there's a title!
Party, last night was my Husbands watch meal, the company was great, the venue was lovely but the food was expensive and decidedly under par! Which was a shame, we had all been looking forward to it, as you do, but if anyone found a green vegetable with their dinner would they let me know! I did find a single circle of carrot and two cubes of another root veg, but that was it. To be fair what I did have was very nice but.....
Priests, we went over to our friend Fr Gabriel's church again today, Beth didn't come this time, but my husband did. On the way we saw a broken down break down truck, which we all found sadly amusing.... well we did have a late night!!! It was a lovely service, which is what we went for, then my husband who is an ordinand (training to be a priest) and Fr Gabriel talked shop for a while before we all went out for...
Pizza, well Italian anyway, Lit'lun had pizza, we all had something different, it was lovely to sit and chat and eat good food, but duty calls, and Fr Gabriel had to be back in the office at 4pm, to meet one of his parishioners. We set off home, where I swapped my footware for wellies and whizzed down to bring the horses in, in the dark!
Back home now and once I have finished writing this I will be going downstairs to watch the NFL, with a glass of red wine.
Cheers!.

On the eighth day of Christmas

Painting the town ... Blue!?

Today on my way back from the stables I put my filthy car through the car wash, something I actually hate doing as I always think the car wash will trash my lovely car! how daft am I? (Rhetorical)
Once home I rang the Blonde to see how she was feeling, she sounded much better, it was a shame she was so ill yesterday, we could all have met up (her, Lou and me) I can just imagine what my husband would have thought.... we are mad when we all get together, but then with Lou living so far away at the moment we very rarely all do get together....... one day ha ha ha.
Just as I got back my Husband and lit'lun went out, they were delivering a load of cards, so I took the opportunity to wrap all the Christmas presents I could before they got back.
My Husband rang No2 son this morning for a natter as he is staying in his new flat near his Uni this year, with his girlfriend.
Tonight is My Husbands watch's Christmas meal, we are going to a restaurant, and this year we are getting a taxi so we can both have a drink! normally we have either walked or he would drink at his works do and I would drink at mine, unfortunately this year my station didn't have one, maybe we should have a new year one instead.
Lit'lun is also out tonight she is off to her friends 13th Birthday disco, Beth is going to be busy when she gets in from work, as both Lit'lun and I have asked her to do our hair for us. Beth hasn't been having a very good time at work lately and has been coming home tired and unhappy, hopefully things will change for her and she will get back to her normal self.

On the seventh day of Christmas

just keep moving.............

Today when my husband brought me up a cup of tea, I was almost awake, we chatted for a while then my phone chirped telling me I had a text message, it was the Blonde bird, she has NovoVirus and has been ill all night could I go and do the horses this morning.
I went down to the yard one of the others had put them out as the Blonde had sent her husband down just in case. I mucked out and got the stables ready for tonight then went into the village to get a few stocking fillers and some butcher made beef burgers, before returning home.
I wrapped a few of the presents which had to be posted or delivered, then went to the post office.
At 3.30 pm I decided to go and put the horses in and go over to see my mum.
When I got to the stables Lou was there with her two children, How cool she has been trying to move back for soo long but with out luck, they are off to Ireland tomorrow until after Christmas. We chatted for ages whilst I brought Mouse and her horse Red in for the night, Lit'lun will be disappointed that she didn't come with me and see Auntie Lou now! Before we leave the yard we stop and take in the wicked sunset, it is so red tonight, fingers crossed for a calm sailing tomorrow Lou.
Lit'lun broke up today at 11.30 and went round to see one of her friends.
After having a cuppa with mum I then drop some Lucozade and coke for the Blond bird, not going anywhere near, I just put them on the doorstep and run ha ha sorry hun, self preservation. xx
After dinner I sit down, aahhh but only to write this, as I now have to go to Tesco, then collect Lit'luns phone, she has left it round at her friends house!

On the sixth day of Christmas

100th

Today I should be writing about something amazing as this is my 100th post but, alas! not so. You really didn't thing I could come up with something amazing to write do you??
Today was a slow day, the Blonde did the horses first thing so I went to visit a friend of mine who kept her horses at the same place as I did before I moved Mouse down with Red.
Its funny really as our old "Land lord" told the both of us that we had to use his hay if we were going to stay! it had never been agreed before but he seemed to think that even though the hay was awfull our horses had to be given it. In fact he gave my friend Rose an altermatum use it or go!! lol never challenge a woman, we'll bite our nose off to spite our face.
I was gone by the end of the month and Rose by the middle of the next one woohoo. He still has no liveries!
Well Rose and her two horses, a mother and daughter are doing well, they had a few teething problems but they have all been sorted and she is her own boss down there, I have agreed to help her with some fence posts in the spring as she now has so much land she needs to section some off!
This afternoon I went shopping just for a few odds and ends then went down to muck out Mouse and bring her and Red in for the night, all very uneventful.
then after dinner I started the chore of wrapping presents, I started with my husbands and then did the odd ones for everyone else but not the kids as my husband and I will do them together so we can make sure they have had a similar amount of money spent on them.
I then went down stairs to see how wonderful the girls had made the decorations look ( they did the whole lot by themselves whilst I was wrapping prezzies)
It looks fab girls well done xx.
(I will post the pic of the tree to go with this post in the morning as it is already tomorrow!)

On the fifth day of Christmas

The Stone.

Today after doing the horses I decided to take the dog for a walk on the south downs, I bundled her into the car and we drove to a car park. It was a fantastic day, the sun was shining and no wind, mild as anything.
As I walked to the top of one of the small hills I remembered the last time I was here, not only did I have the dog with me but one of my friends, and after I had dropped her off home she asked me if I could get her a stone from where we had been, this is the story of your stone!
I saw it.
I took it leaving a small hole .
I put it on the trig point.
(Leave nothing but footprints, Take nothing but memories)
Next time I see you I shall give this stone to you.
Back home I prepared a curry for my husbands dinner, he has to eat early today as he is on nights, then we both sat and watched a film together, which is a rare occurrence, before cooking his dinner then going down to put the horses in.

On the fourth day of Christmas

Having a good hair day

This morning I woke up in a mood! My Husband had spent most of the night on my side of the bed, and when he was on his own side he took all the duvet with him, hmmm! I tried to be cross with him but he just turned it into a joke, lol bless him.
He is off to London today for his last session of uni this year, yay, as he was leaving he said, "you will be here for the post won't you only I'm expecting a parcel"?
No
"No" I replied "I'm going out"!
He asked me where I was going and I don't think I replied.
Beth and I drove to where she works and she did a few bits of shopping locally while I had my hair done, I had a full head highlights and a restyle, the reason I didn't tell my husband is he took a couple of days to notice last time and I want to see if he is more observant this time! (unfortunately the post had been by the time we got back and there was a card saying that a parcel now needed collecting, oops). But hey my hair looks fab!
After doing a quick food shop we went home, Lit'lun and her friend Lilly came in after school and we all made our own pizzas, a bit of fun, and the kids love it.
All that is left for me to do now is take Lilly home and wait for my husband to get back from London.

GUEST BOOK

GUEST BOOK
I HAVE BEEN WONDERING WHETHER ANYBODY ACTUALLY READS MY BLOG OTHER THAN MYSELF!
So today I thought I would put this post in.
Please sign my Guest Book.
PHOENIX
xx
(by leaving a comment as I am trying to work out how to add a proper one! complete technoidiot!)

On the third day of Christmas

Hopping mad!

My Husband woke me with a cuppa again this morning, he had to go to work and I had to put the horses out, I gave them their breakfast while I went and mucked out the field, the Large muddy puddle by the gate has grown to oceanic proportions, and wheeling a barrow full of horse poo through it wasn't easy.
Back in the yard I took Mouses night rug off and walked her up to the field, we began wading through the ocean its a slow process when your boots are slightly too big! and then it happened!!!!!!!!............. Mouse who found it much easier than I did walking through it, stood on my boot and Yep, I kept walking, aaggghhh, I didn't put my foot down, there was my other boot upright in the water, if I could just hop to hold onto the gate I could put it on again (like that'll happen) three hops, I grab the gate, it swings I leap forward and..................................... Kick my upright boot over, nnooooo! I watch as the water runs in. Nuts! Carefully I pick it up, and pour the water out. I have to put it back on, its freezing cold and still very wet.
A quick phone call to my mum (who only lives a short distance from the yard and when she could control the laughing!) saw me with a dry sock and a plastic bag to go in the boot!
I finished up then the two of us took the dog down to the beach for a long walk, we also took the ball slinger so she got plenty of exercises.
Back at mums I had a cuppa before going home, to muck out the Rabbit, sort out the back garden and take a package down to the post office for my husband! And this is a holiday?
It was just dinner for the girls and me tonight as my Husbands watch had their Christmas meal at work today, as usual they got a job and had to sit down to eat at 2pm, Happy Christmas Guys.

On the second day of Christmas

Phoenix wants to speak her mind! (but musn't)

My Husband woke me up this morning with a cup of tea, and asking if I would be going to church with him and Lit'lun. I didn't answer immediately, I want to go to church with my husband but, and here's where the title comes in. They both set off for the church that we all used to go to until about a year ago when our interregnum ended (whoa, there's a clue!) I am now spiritually homeless, today I went to a church 7 miles from our home that I was confirmed in, it has changed and I didn't recognise many people, but that's OK I don't mind as long as everything else is OK!
When I got home they were already back, my husband asked me where I had gone and I told him.
After lunch we went into town I posted all my Christmas cards and just got the odd few bits for the stocking fillers (I know how old they are but its a bit of fun,) I know that my kids know the real meaning of Christmas.
My lovely husband got me a hat from a street vendor as it was sooo cold, I love it and only took it off when it was dinner time. Traditional Sunday roast, chicken today.
It was my turn to bring the horses in, and after doing this I popped round to mums to collect the dog cage and some other things I had taken out of the back of my car and left with her. While I was there mum asked me to choose which Christmas cake I would like, mum is a fantastic cake maker and decorator, she did both mine and my brothers wedding cakes many years ago, together with countless birthday cakes, she has even done some for money they are so good, I chose my cake and told her I would collect it tomorrow when we have finished walking the dog, we are taking the dog down to the beach.
Now I am sat on the sofa with my lovely husband, a glass of wine beside me, writing this and watching the NFL oh yes.

On the First day of Christmas...

Christmas count up?!

I know the 12 days of Christmas are after Christmas, but humour me here.
Each day form now until Christmas I will post a Christmas blog along with the daily blog. A bit like an online Advent Calendar.......

Its raining men!!

I wonder what would happen if it did rain men?!
Today is the first day of my annual leave, (well officially my weeks start on a Monday so I am just on an off duty but lets not split hairs). I set my alarm for 7 to go and do the horses, it went off, I heard the rain...... that's where it all went wrong! I am so not getting up that early to go and do the horses when I know full well that I will not be putting them out today! I got to the stables at nine! oh the shame. Gave Mouse and Red their breakfast, mucked out and gave them both some fresh hay and water. most of the horses stayed in and the ones that were turned out came back in by midday, what an awful day.
It poured down and the gales where wild, my wheelbarrow went flying across the yard and several buckets ran off by themselves.
After a cuppa back home, I put a load of laundry in the washing machine and set off to do a food shop, where I met Gem, one of my best friends from way back, we lost touch when her son was about 4, he is now 13. We swapped phone numbers and agreed to arrange an evening to go out for a drink, any excuse lol.
Back home I spent the rest of the day chilling out on the computer, until going back down to repeat this mornings chores at the stables, on the way down I noticed that we'd had so much rain that the drains weren't coping the water was pushing up out of them.
Back home again I cooked the dinner, Beth is out tonight as her boyfriend Dean, is back from uni, so we had salmon, as she doesn't like it, mad girl.

50 minutes in twelve and a half hours!

Today is my last shift before my leave, it was started and finished in the dark, roll on spring!
Both myself and my crew mate "Danger mouse" arrived at the station at twenty five to seven, and instantly the night crew got a job, "DM" and I got our kit and took the job for them, if only we had known! we didn't see base until our first meal break at 2.45pm, and it wasn't cover moves either, we assisted a lady who had fallen out of bed, then we had an elderly man in Status Epilepticus, (continuous fitting in a known epilepsy sufferer), followed by a hypoglycaemic attack in a 19 year old, from there we went to a frequent called who unfortunately makes up things so she can be taken in to hospital!!! Yes I know, I don't know why anybody would actually want to go into hospital if they didn't have to. We had one other job this morning but I just can't remember what it was, as I was the driver till 1pm. At this point we got our meal break, exactly half an hour then we were off on the only bit of cover we had to do, and before we got there we got a job, to a 94 year old apparently fallen in the bathroom. It took ages to find the flat as the numbering was all over the place, I knock and walk in calling "Ambulance" only to find her and a friend sitting on the sofa chatting and looking very surprised as they were expecting the 94 year old's son! A quick address check confirmed we were in the right place, the lady said she may have pressed her community alarm pendant by mistake! hmp! Our next job had a big impact on me for more than one reason, but for now I will let you read the obvious one. Our patient was a 7 year old girl with an inoperable brain stem tumor who has two or three days to live! A beautiful little girl, who we were taking to a children's hospice! she was in my care for all of an hour and twenty minutes but has left a lasting memory. God Bless you. Before we had time to ponder we got another job 20 miles away to a 16 year old who had fallen down the stairs and had a head injury. Mum let us in and said we haven't dared take the towel away there was so much blood, the boy was lying on the floor at the bottom of the stairs, when asked what had happened it turned out he walked into the door frame of a low door, when I removed the towel............ a small cut less than half an inch long! An emergency ambulance costing somewhere in the region of £360.00 for the initial response, just because she couldn't look and see exactly what the damage was! All in all we had 50 minutes on base and were out on emergencies for 11 hours and 35 minutes but now......................I'M ON ANNUAL LEAVE!!! And apparently its going to be the biggest moon for 15 years so the night crew have got it coming to them, good luck guys.

Days!

As I have just mentioned I was on nights for the last two... the days that went with these were mainly spent sleeping, the day after my first night I managed to sleep from about 8am until 3pm, when I got up washed my hair, sorted out my dinner and went to do the horses, The Blonde bird had got everything ready for me so that all I had to do was bring them back from the field. Red came to the gate first so I took her first, she was as good as gold, none of her usual dancing sideways giving evil looks to the horses we pass on the track! I put her in then went back down for Mouse, she also walked in nicely then dived her head into her feed bucket knocking it and the water bucket over, the whole front of her stable was awash with water! Grr, now I had to go get her another feed, as the original was mixed in with the bedding, and refill her water bucket. I must get her a corner manger for her feed.
Today I again slept in till about 2.30pm when I got up my husband had gone shopping, again I went down to do the horses, and again most of the work had been done, bless her she is good.
I mucked out the Mouses stable and put a couple of fresh bales of Aubiose in (Aubiose is made from hemp, its very absorbent and brilliant as bedding if you have a horse who doesn't chug around the stable all night. Red is on wood shavings.) This time Mouse was waiting at the gate so she got to come in first, with Red following a few minutes later. This time there was none of the trouble I had yesterday, and I left them to eat in peace.
Once home I just pottered around until it was time to go to fat club, unfortunately I have been bad this week so I didn't loose any, I didn't gain either which was quite a relief, but I do need that 1.5lb to make two stone.

Nights

For the last two nights I have been at work, as I am supposed to be on leave this week I have not had my usual crew mates, on the first night Denise and I had a slow start to the shift then it went crazy and we were sent all over the county on cover and for jobs, there were several vehicles unmanned which obviously puts more pressure on the ones that are.
I have been suffering with my back for the last few days, and while this is not unusual for me it is beginning to get uncomfortable when I add the other pains I am having at the moment, fortunately we did not need to carry anyone down stairs and the patient who fell out of bed was quite light.
Last night I was working with Dan, I have never worked with him before we were thrown straight in, 7.14pm we were on our way out on cover, miles from our base station! We didn't get back to base until about 2am, what with loads of cover moves and jobs. One of which was to a frequent caller, as we were out of our area we had not met her before, she opened the door and shouted that she was not going into hospital. We never intentionally put ourselves in a position where we are open to abuse or injury, both Dan and I have been and when the patient starts shouting at us before we have even opened our mouths its time to retreat! With out further ado Dan said "OK bye then", the patient started yelling abuse at us as we retreated to the ambulance, fortunately as we had been having trouble finding the property Dan had been talking on the mobile phone to our control staff who heard the whole incident and stood us down from the job immediately.
On returning to base we got our first meal break and started to watch the first of the Borne films. The night slowed down then, and I don't think Dan touched a single patient, lucky boy! Just one thing Dan, you do snore! x
The above photo was taken on our way to a cover point, Dan thinks the house owners do this for charity! That's as maybe but I am glad I don't live next door!

Pass with Merit

Today was a bitza sort of day, I got up early and put the horses out, mucked out and did everything so that all I had to do this evening was bring them in before I go to work. Then on the way home I stopped off and got two sacks of coarse mix so we don't run out. I did some shopping and some cooking and even some more laundry! Then I just dived into a deep hot bath ahhh, woe betide anyone who disturbs me!!! This afternoon I got a text message from Lou, the BBC are not going to be using her house in the new series called, the unsellables. She must be gutted as this felt like the last chance to sell their house which has been on the market for over a year. I can't even phone her as I just don't know what to say, we all had our hopes pinned on this. Luv ya hun keep your chin up xxx. as I was preparing my dinner to take to work we had a phone call, it was my daughters singing teacher, she had the results of her exam....... We handed the phone to Lit'lun, and waited anxiously........... "I passed with Merit" she squeaked excitedly. we are all so proud of her, she was so nervous and she passed well. Back down to the stables where there is some icy stuff falling out of the sky eww! I bring the horses in and give them their night feed before heading back to get changed and go to work, I am working with Denise tonight we always have a laugh together so that is a good start even if the shift turns bad.

Respiratory Distress

As I was text last by yesterdays day crew telling me that my ambulance was unmanned last night so I didn't have to take over from anyone, I had an extra half an hour in bed, what joy! The roads between my house and the ambulance station were so icy the back end of the car spun out which was a bit scary, but I arrived safely and my crew mate turned up safely shortly afterwards. We had a slow start to the day and remained on station for almost two hours before the first job, to a doctors surgery for a 48 year old with chest pain, it turned out that the surgery had a broken ECG machine so all we did was a 12 lead ECG and left the patient to be treated by the doctor, then almost straight away we had a transfer from one hospital to another with a lady 35 weeks pregnant, for a special care bed, this took us out of our locale, which is always worrying but as we had to return the nurse escort we managed to return and get our first meal break. After which we were sent on cover and from there we were sent to a man who according to the computer had accidentally slit both his wrists with a Stanley knife, when I read this I got straight on the radio to inform control that yes I could see how you might be able to slit one wrist but two!! Oh please I told them we would hang back and await the arrival of the police. I go to work on the strict understanding that I come home again, anyone who cuts their own wrists would have no problems doing similar to a stranger! The police duly arrived and it turned out he had only cut one whilst cutting up rags to polish his car, we took him in as it did require attention. From here we were sent to a 80 year old with severe shortness of breath, after waiting for him to get off the bus that took him to the day centre he attended daily, we got him onto the ambulance, his breathing rate was fast is oxygen saturation was very low and his lower legs were swollen and pitting, (when you apply pressure the dent stays in the leg) I did a full set of obs and we prioritised him into the resus area where there is a higher level of care than the regular majors area. I thought he had LVF a heart problem, later the doctor told me that it was actually complete heart failure. We returned to base for our second break but only managed to get half of it before getting another job which would definitely make us late off! A 56 year old in respiratory distress, we arrived at the property to find the ambulance surrounded by six of the most enormous dogs. "They're fine" the wife said "I have heard that before!" I replied cautiously getting out and trying to keep my work bag between me and the dogs, and to be fair they were all excellently behaved. Inside the house our patient was clearly in distress unable to take a good breath in or out and panicking which was making his situation worse, we nebulised him (pushed an airway dilatory drug into him using oxygen which aided him, we decided to take him into hospital as when we took the oxygen away he was back at square one. Back at base the night crew were waiting for us, just an hour and fifteen minutes late off then.

Found it!

I,ve found the cable so here are the photos.

I'm in the middle of starting something!!!!!

When I woke up this morning my husband had already gone to work. Beth came home from an all night party at her friends house and Lit'lun was still asleep.
I got up and wombled about for a while reading until everyone was up.Then the washing machine went on! and on! and on!
In between loads I decided to clean the fish tank, I have cold water fish but not gold fish, I have Zebra Danio's, Orange light bar, and White Cloud Mountain Minnows. Beth has two Goldfish who are both enormous, we have had to get a bigger tank for them twice, they are called Eli and Peyton Manning after the Quarterback brothers in the NFL.
The Blonde Bird text me to say she had done the stables and everything was ready for them to go straight in, today we decided that with it getting so cold and the water not soaking away totally in the field that we would start bringing them in at night.
Lit'lun and Beth decided to go into town to do some more Christmas shopping so after getting my things ready for work tomorrow, I decided to go and do the horses. As I walked out to the car there was a strong smell of gas, I thought I would phone my husband before ringing the gas company just to see if the fire service could do anything. He picked up his phone and said hello, "are you busy?" I asked.
"I'm in the middle of starting something!" he replied
"How can you be in the middle of starting something" I asked
we both laughed, I told him about the gas smell and he suggest I ring the gas people.
I carried on to the horses, thinking that Mouse is more flappy about being left in the field on her own I led her up to the yard first, then went back for Red. Whilst they ate I picked out their hooves, then took the empty feed bowls, Mouse for one loves trashing them!
Back home I started on the dinner, they are all having roast chicken, I am having stuffed mushrooms.
when my husband came in we had dinner whilst watching the American football.
I am now sat upstairs at my laptop writing this and in the background all I can hear is the sound of the gas people repairing whatever is leaking, I do hope they finish soon I need sleep before work tomorrow!
Unfortunately I have lost the cable which uploads photo's from my mobile phone so until I find it the photo's will either be old ones or borrowed ones!

Stunt Granny!!

I just finished my Christmas shopping! How pleased am I, normally its a last minute rush to find a present for somebody but its in the bag woohoo.
I woke up this morning at 10.30! My husband let me sleep in after my horrid day and the night shift yesterday. I drove down to do the horses and could almost hear them saying "what time do you call this?" Mum met me down there and between us we fed hayed and mucked out the field.
After driving home I went on line to try and find the last of my Christmas presents, whilst looking I found the "Stunt Granny" (photo above) how much fun, I really wanted to get it for my brother as it is definitely his sense of humour, but I have his already! I couldn't stop laughing, does that make me a bad person? What will they think of next!
Then it was off to do the food shop, I hate food shopping and today was no exception, why do people wander aimlessly around stopping suddenly and blocking isles, picking things up then randomly putting them elsewhere when they decide they don't want it! Grr, and now there is a mad panic on, Hey people there are still two and a bit weeks till Christmas!! What about the way everything is moved so, as its getting busy and you just want to go in get your shopping and leave you can't find it everything has been shifted either for Christmas or to try and make you buy other stuff that you don't really want but find as you try and find what it was you went in for!
Beth has gone to a quad bike party today, I'm not sure what she will look like when she gets in! But, I will have my camera ready.....
Yesterday I realised that some of my friends phone numbers were stored on my phone and not the Sim card, which means I have now lost their numbers, including your home phone number Northern Bird, and all of yours Soutie! How brainless am I? That was a rhetorical question people please don't answer!

Round up!

I have just come home from hospital, for the past 4 days I have been getting pains which some of my crew mates thought might be Appendix related. (They have been so bad I have had to stop what I was doing with my patient to wait for the pains to ease.) It's not appendix and the hospital staff don't know what it is, they have given me some tablets and suggest I come back if it gets worse. Fine by me as I hate being in hospital for myself, much better taking others in.
For the last two nights I have been at work, both were so busy, in fact last night we went to almost every hospital in the county! The first night we only saw three patients but were out all night on cover in different areas. Where as yesterday we had loads of patients and fewer cover moves. One of our jobs was a 999 call in progress, to our local area, but the call takers could not understand the man on the other end of the phone, who was clearly in distress! we travelled up and down the 3 mile road they had managed to decipher, and although we had our blues strobing (due to the time, 3 am, we couldn't put the two tones on) nobody made themselves known to us! Jobs like this get to us a bit, clearly someone needed our help but was unable for one reason or another to make their problems, or whereabouts known. We were stood down eventually.
Yesterday I received my replacement phone, as the one I had was freezing up, the battery was over heating and the phone would cut me off mid call! not very helpful, hopefully this one will be better.
I had a letter yesterday which worries me, I "foster" three children, with Plan International, I have been doing this for about 11 years, I have one girl in Bangladesh, a boy in Egypt and a girl in Honduras. The girl in Bangladesh I have been fostering for the longest, (11 years) and so it was a big shock to receive this letter telling me she has disappeared! I know I have never met her, but all those years of letters and gifts, you do get a bond with the children. Plan have said they don't know where she has gone to and have given me a telephone number to call to talk to one of their team.
(If anyone is interested in Plan International by the way I am more than happy to give details.)
Yesterday and the day before I again made the cous cous cakes which have been my obsession lately, Wednesday I made the bread pudding style one and yesterday the lemon one. Unfortunately due to my shifts I haven't been to fat club for a few weeks so I don't know how much weight I have lost. Next week will be a surprise! A positive one hopefully.

Easy Life

Today was my third and last day shift its just two nights now.
I was single manned to begin with as the person who was due to work with me has booked sick, I was single manned for about two hours before Bob came down to crew up with me. We sat and watched wonderful daytime TV! Oh and Bob you don't half snore! Well we waited and waited it was about 2pm before we got our first job, a resus, cardiac and respiratory arrest, when we arrived it became clear that the patient had passed away some time ago. Our next job was a doctors urgent to be taken in for a urine retention problem. That was the extent of our jobs, and we had no cover moves, what an amazingly chilled out day we had. I have several shifts coming up which I am single manned for and whilst at work today, one of my friends who I have never worked with offered to cover one of them so that will be cool. I even offered to do a night of overtime this Thursday, now I am wondering why a night!! At least its a bit of extra cash. Ah well even though I have had an extremely chilled out day I am off to bed, only to read though as my Husband is at Uni and not due back till 11.15 pm, and I haven't seen him for ages due to our shifts clashing.

World Aids Day

Today is World Aids Day.
Give a thought to those who suffer with Aids to those who are shunned because of Aids, and to the orphans of Aids.
Give a thought to those who have died from Aids.
AIDS = Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.
HIV = Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Advent

The first of December and my second day today. Almost as busy as yesterday.
Our first job was to a 16 year old on a bus who had been having a seizure, he had never had an episode like it before, and was not a known epileptic. We took him up to the hospital so that he could have some tests done. Whilst up there, a friend of mine, unbeknown to me was up in maternity with her daughter who had just given birth to a 7lb 1oz baby girl. Congratulations.
Next we were sent on cover but almost immediately got another job, this time to an extremely obese 32 year old smoker who's family has a history of cardiac problems, his father even has a defibrillating pacemaker fitted! He was having CCP, central chest pain so we took him into hospital too.(some people just don't get it!)
As soon as we had booked clear we were sent on cover to three different places before getting another job. This one was in our own area, to a lady who had fallen out of her front door. When we got there we treated her for a fractured left wrist and a laceration to her shin. (checking up on her later my crew mate, Tepic, found out that she had indeed broken her wrist.
Back to base for a meal break. via Subway as I had to get a subway salad bowl. Yummy.
We swapped over at one pm so I was driving.
We had a further three jobs, a man with Postural hypotension (when he stood up he fainted!), a lady who had fallen and possibly broken her Femur (#NOF) the second NOF in two days!! and lastly a roll over car accident, The driver over did the speed on a corner and managed to roll his car bonnet over boot twice before coming to a halt in a field! he walked away from the car, and when one of his work colleagues arrived he decided to go to hospital with her and not us, after getting a non conveyance form signed we returned to base to hand over to the night crew.

Hazel

Busy Busy Busy.

Days today, and what a day it turned out to be! On arrival at the station the night crew were out on a job, when they got back they told my crew mate, Nick, and I that one of the nursing staff who works in our A&E department, was found collapsed whilst walking her dog, a crew was called out to her but was unable to revive her, she passed away at a young age. She will be missed. The first job of the day was a full cardiac and respiratory arrest. The patient had died in his sleep and was definitely deceased. We had a psychiatric job, the patient said he was going to jump under a train, then proceeded to produce a huge carving knife! Thank you for your very fast removal of the said object Mr policeman, we were very grateful. Then there was the lady who had a fit at a nursing home, another who was drowning as her lungs filled with fluid due to heart failure, and the lady who we think may have fractured the top of her right leg (#NOF, neck of femur).In between the jobs we have been sent on cover all over the place. All the while this is going on the police have shot a man at the local cathedral, he had been running round town with a gun. We got our first meal break at 15.20 lasting half an hour, as soon as it finished they put us on our second meal break a twenty minute one, this is hardly playing the game when we do a twelve hour shift! Ah well I guess I shouldn't complain, sometimes we don't even get two meal breaks.We get back to base at 19.50 only 50 minutes after our end of shift! And now I am home about to have a cup of tea with my husband who has also been at work today and who incidentally, got an overtime job too.