Thursday, 15 October 2009
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Ouch!
Today was blood donors day. I have been giving for a while now, and so I thought nothing of yesterday. I was wrong.
I got there aftera reasonable session at the gym. I had done more on most of the exercises so was feeling good. I was early, so did not have to wait long before I was called in. I am always hoping that my blood level will be high enough - I am always at the low end, but have only been rejected once (though once they were on the verge of rejecting me and they tried the other testing machine, which showed I was fine!)
Anyway that went through, and so of I go to get onto my bed. It was my favourite helper there - a lady I got to know when I was working at M&S and she was a regular shopper. Anyway, as the nurse was putting the needle in and starting the flow, she caught it and it caught a nerve/ It was really sore - right down my arm to my fingers! I enarly jumped off the bed! The poor lady was so apologetic about it. She asked if I wanted to stop, and stayed there holding the needle because it was making the tiops of my fingers feel numb. She was lovely and could not have been more upset if it had happened to her! My heklper though was keeping an eye on me as well, so I was in good hands. Even the doctor is someone I know from the hospital!
So in the end it took me longer to get back on my feet, and was not allowed to leave until I had drunk all my tea! I felt ok but was taking it easy.
Thursday update - you should see the bruising on my arm!
I got there aftera reasonable session at the gym. I had done more on most of the exercises so was feeling good. I was early, so did not have to wait long before I was called in. I am always hoping that my blood level will be high enough - I am always at the low end, but have only been rejected once (though once they were on the verge of rejecting me and they tried the other testing machine, which showed I was fine!)
Anyway that went through, and so of I go to get onto my bed. It was my favourite helper there - a lady I got to know when I was working at M&S and she was a regular shopper. Anyway, as the nurse was putting the needle in and starting the flow, she caught it and it caught a nerve/ It was really sore - right down my arm to my fingers! I enarly jumped off the bed! The poor lady was so apologetic about it. She asked if I wanted to stop, and stayed there holding the needle because it was making the tiops of my fingers feel numb. She was lovely and could not have been more upset if it had happened to her! My heklper though was keeping an eye on me as well, so I was in good hands. Even the doctor is someone I know from the hospital!
So in the end it took me longer to get back on my feet, and was not allowed to leave until I had drunk all my tea! I felt ok but was taking it easy.
Thursday update - you should see the bruising on my arm!
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
I am back
Yes I am back from my wanderings.
I got back to the island on Saturday after over 2 weeks away - my longest trip this millenium! It was a mixed trip. It started of as a bit of a rush, as I had to go over early because dad had caught pneumonia, and mum was beside herself with worry. So after a day of rushing around - changing bookings, ordering prescriptions and making sure Pepsi was looked after, I got away.
Fortunately, the antibiotics kicked in, and dad survived. It was touch and go, but he made it. That was a weight off mum's mind, but it also meant I could take my long planned trip to York. I stayed in a nice B&B which is coinvenient for the city, as it is only 3 minutes walk from Bootham Bar, one of the gates. York is confusing - its gates are called bars and its streets are called gates! I had a good time there, even though the last day was curtailed be snow falling and making the whole place cold and wet (I stayed in and read!)
From York, I went to spend the weekend with my sister and her family. That was the usual slice of chaos, not helped by the fact that they are in the middle of a lot of work on the house! But it was a good weekend.
Then back to mum's for a week. A lot of that time was spent helping ehr sort things out, which meant we did not get all our outings. But we got some of them. And I was able to spend some time with my friends over there on the 'other island'
One thing we did while I was there was go and see dad. He was lying in bed, not responding at all. If it had not been for the name on the door, it could have been a total stranger in there. It was horrible.
So that is my mixed trip away.
I got back to the island on Saturday after over 2 weeks away - my longest trip this millenium! It was a mixed trip. It started of as a bit of a rush, as I had to go over early because dad had caught pneumonia, and mum was beside herself with worry. So after a day of rushing around - changing bookings, ordering prescriptions and making sure Pepsi was looked after, I got away.
Fortunately, the antibiotics kicked in, and dad survived. It was touch and go, but he made it. That was a weight off mum's mind, but it also meant I could take my long planned trip to York. I stayed in a nice B&B which is coinvenient for the city, as it is only 3 minutes walk from Bootham Bar, one of the gates. York is confusing - its gates are called bars and its streets are called gates! I had a good time there, even though the last day was curtailed be snow falling and making the whole place cold and wet (I stayed in and read!)
From York, I went to spend the weekend with my sister and her family. That was the usual slice of chaos, not helped by the fact that they are in the middle of a lot of work on the house! But it was a good weekend.
Then back to mum's for a week. A lot of that time was spent helping ehr sort things out, which meant we did not get all our outings. But we got some of them. And I was able to spend some time with my friends over there on the 'other island'
One thing we did while I was there was go and see dad. He was lying in bed, not responding at all. If it had not been for the name on the door, it could have been a total stranger in there. It was horrible.
So that is my mixed trip away.
Monday, 23 February 2009
Read in a waiting room
A thousand candles can be lighted from a single candle, yet the life of the candle is not shortened. Happiness is never decreased by being shared.
Buddha
Buddha
Monday, 2 February 2009
Basket case!
Yes it is official - I am a basket case!
I spent a very enjoyable Saturday recently learning how to make woven baskets. And believe me, it is not as easy as it looks!
There were 9 of us on the course, along with 2 instructors. It is a good thing there were not more, as the space required is quite considerable! As is the effort, with a lot of grunting going on as we pulled the willow into place. Indeed, if someone had been listening outside, they might have come to some very strange conclusions! And if they had come in, they would have found most of us on our knees, looking like some weird prayer meeting!
But the end result, while lacking a certain professionalism, is still in one piece. The big test is how it will survive drying out, as that will shrink and loosen the willow. I have planted some offcuts of willow to see if they will grow - the soil is wet but the temperatures have dropped, so we will see!
Oh - and here it is!
I spent a very enjoyable Saturday recently learning how to make woven baskets. And believe me, it is not as easy as it looks!
There were 9 of us on the course, along with 2 instructors. It is a good thing there were not more, as the space required is quite considerable! As is the effort, with a lot of grunting going on as we pulled the willow into place. Indeed, if someone had been listening outside, they might have come to some very strange conclusions! And if they had come in, they would have found most of us on our knees, looking like some weird prayer meeting!
But the end result, while lacking a certain professionalism, is still in one piece. The big test is how it will survive drying out, as that will shrink and loosen the willow. I have planted some offcuts of willow to see if they will grow - the soil is wet but the temperatures have dropped, so we will see!
Oh - and here it is!
Monday, 19 January 2009
Here am I
This is my flesh.
I give it to you.
These are my thoughts,
and this is my work.
Here are my faults.
here is the fear
I discuss with myself.
Here are my good jokes,
here are my bad ones.
The flesh is falling apart,
it will have to do.
The thoughts are uncontrollable
some of them hate each other.
Here is my sweat,
and myd ecay,
the face only mirrors see.
This is my love
and my lack of love.
Here is my laughter.
here are the years.
here am I.
Steve Turner 1982
I give it to you.
These are my thoughts,
and this is my work.
Here are my faults.
here is the fear
I discuss with myself.
Here are my good jokes,
here are my bad ones.
The flesh is falling apart,
it will have to do.
The thoughts are uncontrollable
some of them hate each other.
Here is my sweat,
and myd ecay,
the face only mirrors see.
This is my love
and my lack of love.
Here is my laughter.
here are the years.
here am I.
Steve Turner 1982
Sunday, 18 January 2009
Good ... better ... best!
Good
Garda traffic police had a perfect spot to watch for speeders, but were not catching many. Eventually, they discovered the problem – a 12 year old boy was standing up the road with a hand-painted sign which read ‘SPEED TRAP AHEAD’. The Garda also found his accomplice down the road with a sign reading ‘TIPS’ and a bucket full of money.
Better
A motorist was mailed a photo of his car speeding through an automatic speed trap, along with an 80 euro fine. Being cute, he sent the gardai a photo of 80 euros. The gardai responded with a mailed photo of handcuffs.
Best
A young woman was pulled over for speeding. As, the Traffic Corps Garda walked to her car window, flipping open his ticket book, she said ‘I bet you are going to sell me a ticket to the Garda Traffic Department Ball.” He replied “The Garda Traffic Department don’t have balls…” There was a moment of silence. He then closed his book, got back into his patrol car and left.
Garda traffic police had a perfect spot to watch for speeders, but were not catching many. Eventually, they discovered the problem – a 12 year old boy was standing up the road with a hand-painted sign which read ‘SPEED TRAP AHEAD’. The Garda also found his accomplice down the road with a sign reading ‘TIPS’ and a bucket full of money.
Better
A motorist was mailed a photo of his car speeding through an automatic speed trap, along with an 80 euro fine. Being cute, he sent the gardai a photo of 80 euros. The gardai responded with a mailed photo of handcuffs.
Best
A young woman was pulled over for speeding. As, the Traffic Corps Garda walked to her car window, flipping open his ticket book, she said ‘I bet you are going to sell me a ticket to the Garda Traffic Department Ball.” He replied “The Garda Traffic Department don’t have balls…” There was a moment of silence. He then closed his book, got back into his patrol car and left.
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
I ache - therefore I am ...
...or I am therefore I ache (Marvin, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)
Well I made it back. First visit to the gym today. and boy!, did it take it out of me! I only managed one set, and half my rowing, and that was enough. In fact, as I staggered off to the shower, it felt like it was more than enough!
And why the lay-off, I hear you cry? (I have very good hearing you know!) Well the good old Manx winter laid me quite low, with a cold the likes of which I have not had for many years. No it was not man-flu. but a good old fashioned cold. It coincided with one of the coldest spells of weather here for many years, so all I was fit to do was huddle in layer upon layer of clothes. I must have looked like the Michelin Man!
But the days are getting longer, the weather is warmer (for now anyway!) and I feel better. I hope this goes on for a bit!
Well I made it back. First visit to the gym today. and boy!, did it take it out of me! I only managed one set, and half my rowing, and that was enough. In fact, as I staggered off to the shower, it felt like it was more than enough!
And why the lay-off, I hear you cry? (I have very good hearing you know!) Well the good old Manx winter laid me quite low, with a cold the likes of which I have not had for many years. No it was not man-flu. but a good old fashioned cold. It coincided with one of the coldest spells of weather here for many years, so all I was fit to do was huddle in layer upon layer of clothes. I must have looked like the Michelin Man!
But the days are getting longer, the weather is warmer (for now anyway!) and I feel better. I hope this goes on for a bit!
Thursday, 1 January 2009
Quaaltagh
First footing - the custom of bringing good wishes and good luck into the home.
A traditional blessing was
Nollick Ghennal erriu as blein feer vieA traditional blessing was
Bea as gennallys eu bio ry cheilley
(A merry Christmas and a good new year
I can't put it better than that, except to wish you
Shee as boggey erriu car ny Heeaney sho cheet
(peace and joy to you throughout the coming year)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
