Anon
Monday, 17 August 2009
...and I quote
Thieved from @Gerrigee on twitter last night, no idea where it originally came from but I like it!
"What most people need to learn is how to love people and use things instead of using people and loving things."
Anon
Anon
Saturday, 15 August 2009
What can I say?
I suppose the most honest thing would be to say, yes I know , I am still being a bad blogger but sometimes there just isn't room in my tiny mind for anything more than those things I have to give priority too. Now is one of those times!
Life is all pretty surreal right now. It seems to consist mainly of massive up's and down's on a roller coaster that we thought we had all disembarked from just weeks ago, this time however it's a bigger one and it's pretty scary. We seem almost daily to have to make some pretty major decisions and to take responsibility for things we aren't really equipped to deal with.... and I feel like I'm watching myself doing it all from outside somehow. It's very odd.
On a happier note, I did make it to Thursday's 'tweetup' in Soho. I love London, everything about it and it was nice to just get out for a while. I got the tube into town early and wandered around aimlessly for a while just enjoying my surroundings, before making my way to where we had all arranged to meet.
It was a fab evening and it was good to put some faces to names at last and to be able to talk face to face for once, yes, surprisingly I can still remember how to communicate minus a keyboard, though I will admit it was quite peculiar for a minute ot two! ;o)
Life is all pretty surreal right now. It seems to consist mainly of massive up's and down's on a roller coaster that we thought we had all disembarked from just weeks ago, this time however it's a bigger one and it's pretty scary. We seem almost daily to have to make some pretty major decisions and to take responsibility for things we aren't really equipped to deal with.... and I feel like I'm watching myself doing it all from outside somehow. It's very odd.
On a happier note, I did make it to Thursday's 'tweetup' in Soho. I love London, everything about it and it was nice to just get out for a while. I got the tube into town early and wandered around aimlessly for a while just enjoying my surroundings, before making my way to where we had all arranged to meet.
It was a fab evening and it was good to put some faces to names at last and to be able to talk face to face for once, yes, surprisingly I can still remember how to communicate minus a keyboard, though I will admit it was quite peculiar for a minute ot two! ;o)
Thursday, 13 August 2009
Twitter/blog meet tonight
This evening, courtesy of The Pink Jellybaby, a 'mini meet' has been arranged in London for bloggers and twitterers who fancy hooking up for a few drinks and a chat face to face.
Whether I would make it has been a tenuous question for obvious reasons but thus far it's looking good and hopefully I will.
If you're free tonight and you want to drop by please do, the more the merrier as they say, it's at The Crown and Two Chairmen on Dean Street W1 @ approx 18.00.
More details can be found here.
Maybe see you there!
Whether I would make it has been a tenuous question for obvious reasons but thus far it's looking good and hopefully I will.
If you're free tonight and you want to drop by please do, the more the merrier as they say, it's at The Crown and Two Chairmen on Dean Street W1 @ approx 18.00.
More details can be found here.
Maybe see you there!
Saturday, 8 August 2009
I've been...
....a very bad blogger! In fact, I have barely qualified as a blogger at all of late!
My apologies, my mind is just so full of stuff that either it isn't appropriate to put here or is just more of the same old medical malarkey that there doesn't seem to be space left in it to think of anything that seems remotely worth blogging (what's new I hear you say)!
*note to self*
Must do better....well, I will endeavour to at any rate but bear with me please while things remain a little on the fraught side here.
My apologies, my mind is just so full of stuff that either it isn't appropriate to put here or is just more of the same old medical malarkey that there doesn't seem to be space left in it to think of anything that seems remotely worth blogging (what's new I hear you say)!
*note to self*
Must do better....well, I will endeavour to at any rate but bear with me please while things remain a little on the fraught side here.
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
One day at a time
Well, things are pottering along in gemmak's-ville much as you would expect, we are taking life one day at a time and getting through the tough bits as a pretty good small team.
The NHS I have to say, comes into it's own under these circumstances, the medical professionals and all the support systems have swung into action without issue and it's all pretty much running without hitch, though one does begin to feel that a degree in administration should be indicated to keep it all together! Quite how people without help manage to keep track of it all I'm not sure.
Day on day we are mostly in good spirits and despite the trials of the situation we are having a pretty good time and laughing a lot. My nurses hat is firmly positioned, though to be honest it doesn't look particularly good with jeans, and I have managed to overcome my usually extremely squeamish predilections and wield an injection or two whilst still maintaining an upright position!......be impressed please!
Tis life as they say, not always as one would choose it but life, much as we would like to think otherwise is not always entirely within our control, how we deal with it however is and things are going pretty well thus far, given the situation we are presented with.
And while I'm about it, to those of you out there who have given your, as ever, unstinting support, you know who you are and I thank you...much!
The NHS I have to say, comes into it's own under these circumstances, the medical professionals and all the support systems have swung into action without issue and it's all pretty much running without hitch, though one does begin to feel that a degree in administration should be indicated to keep it all together! Quite how people without help manage to keep track of it all I'm not sure.
Day on day we are mostly in good spirits and despite the trials of the situation we are having a pretty good time and laughing a lot. My nurses hat is firmly positioned, though to be honest it doesn't look particularly good with jeans, and I have managed to overcome my usually extremely squeamish predilections and wield an injection or two whilst still maintaining an upright position!......be impressed please!
Tis life as they say, not always as one would choose it but life, much as we would like to think otherwise is not always entirely within our control, how we deal with it however is and things are going pretty well thus far, given the situation we are presented with.
And while I'm about it, to those of you out there who have given your, as ever, unstinting support, you know who you are and I thank you...much!
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Saturday, 1 August 2009
The 'communication issue'
Yesterday was somewhat chaotic as you can imagine, caring for someone very ill at home requires a pretty large amount of organisation and there has been so much to do, so many professionals to contact and so much information to obtain that really I haven't yet had time to stop and think much. This is probably a good thing!
There is though in any situation the amusing aspects and even in this situation that applies.
TP decided yesterday morning that as we live in a three story house something needed to be done about the communication issue. The phrase 'communication issue' here refers of course to his needing to summon either myself or my mother for whatever he might need if he is on an upper level. Ever the techie, his resolution to the problem was that we should acquire walkie-talkies and so my brother was immediately dispatched to source said equipment.
Presently he returned clutching a box containing a high end version which was duly charged and 'tested'. This thing had an 8km range...and I'll give you one guess who it was got the distance end of the deal!! We of course didn't have to test it to it's maximum limit but I have to say, that having tramped a fair distance from home, testing as I went, there is no danger this thing isn't going to work within the house!!
A good idea it may very well be but there are some things you just know you are going to come to regret....and this I suspect is going to be one of them! What was wrong with an old fashioned bell? At least one could pretend not to hear that on occasion! I have informed TP that my set has an 'mute' button should he find it amusing to over use this new system! ;o)
There is though in any situation the amusing aspects and even in this situation that applies.
TP decided yesterday morning that as we live in a three story house something needed to be done about the communication issue. The phrase 'communication issue' here refers of course to his needing to summon either myself or my mother for whatever he might need if he is on an upper level. Ever the techie, his resolution to the problem was that we should acquire walkie-talkies and so my brother was immediately dispatched to source said equipment.
Presently he returned clutching a box containing a high end version which was duly charged and 'tested'. This thing had an 8km range...and I'll give you one guess who it was got the distance end of the deal!! We of course didn't have to test it to it's maximum limit but I have to say, that having tramped a fair distance from home, testing as I went, there is no danger this thing isn't going to work within the house!!
A good idea it may very well be but there are some things you just know you are going to come to regret....and this I suspect is going to be one of them! What was wrong with an old fashioned bell? At least one could pretend not to hear that on occasion! I have informed TP that my set has an 'mute' button should he find it amusing to over use this new system! ;o)
Thursday, 30 July 2009
News - The not so good kind
Ok guys, you will if you visit here regularly be aware of the TP situation. For those of you not familiar TP stands for 'The Patient' and is my father, the history can be found here.
Well, a few weeks ago TP had his one year follow up oncology appointment and all appeared to be going remarkably well.
Unfortunately, as per the law of sod, yesterday, quite suddenly, we learned after a long day at hospital that is far from the case.
I won't bore you with details and TP is anyway a very private individual and wouldn't want his medical history 'out there' but suffice to say, things are not good and treatment is very unlikely to be possible.
That's it then, you know what's going on in the background but I won't be saying much about it here, for a while at least it's 'chin up and shoulders back' but you will understand if I am a little more peculiar on occasion than usual!
F*ck!
Well, a few weeks ago TP had his one year follow up oncology appointment and all appeared to be going remarkably well.
Unfortunately, as per the law of sod, yesterday, quite suddenly, we learned after a long day at hospital that is far from the case.
I won't bore you with details and TP is anyway a very private individual and wouldn't want his medical history 'out there' but suffice to say, things are not good and treatment is very unlikely to be possible.
That's it then, you know what's going on in the background but I won't be saying much about it here, for a while at least it's 'chin up and shoulders back' but you will understand if I am a little more peculiar on occasion than usual!
F*ck!
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
Simon Toefields latest - 'Fly Guy'
For cat lovers everywhere, a new Simon Toefield treat, this guy really knows cats, hilarious!
Previous Toefield treats can be found HERE.
Previous Toefield treats can be found HERE.
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
One small step!
Ok, so those of you who have loyally visited here over the years will already know my dire financial situation, for those who are new, I was declared bankrupt a few years ago thanks to an ex in the main, ooops did I say that out loud? and discharged early at about eight months, for 'conducting my affairs suitably'.
Bankruptcy, for those who might think it is the easy way out, is not, far from it, in fact it has caused me more difficulties on a practical level than most other things I have come up against and on an emotional level it's not a great boost to one's self esteem!
Being discharged makes precious little difference in real terms, my credit rating is shot for at least six years and my ability to rent or buy a property is almost zero via legitimate channels but today I had a small breakthrough, well for me it felt pretty big I have to admit!
Today, ta da, my bank finally reinstated my debit card, at last I don't have to carry piles of cash everywhere, I can shop online, I can shop in Tesco (or wherever) without having to add every damn item up and I no longer have panic that if I lose concentration at the petrol pumps and squirt too much gas in the tank I'm not going to have enough cash to pay with!
Believe me, in my little world this is a significant step forward and I almost feel like a normal human being again! Well, for now anyways, before you say it!
Oh...and it's not often I have had cause to thank a banking institution in my life but a big thank you to Barclays, who were the only bank that would entertain me when the going got really tough!
You rock guys!
Bankruptcy, for those who might think it is the easy way out, is not, far from it, in fact it has caused me more difficulties on a practical level than most other things I have come up against and on an emotional level it's not a great boost to one's self esteem!
Being discharged makes precious little difference in real terms, my credit rating is shot for at least six years and my ability to rent or buy a property is almost zero via legitimate channels but today I had a small breakthrough, well for me it felt pretty big I have to admit!
Today, ta da, my bank finally reinstated my debit card, at last I don't have to carry piles of cash everywhere, I can shop online, I can shop in Tesco (or wherever) without having to add every damn item up and I no longer have panic that if I lose concentration at the petrol pumps and squirt too much gas in the tank I'm not going to have enough cash to pay with!
Believe me, in my little world this is a significant step forward and I almost feel like a normal human being again! Well, for now anyways, before you say it!
Oh...and it's not often I have had cause to thank a banking institution in my life but a big thank you to Barclays, who were the only bank that would entertain me when the going got really tough!
You rock guys!
Monday, 27 July 2009
'The best marriage proposal....
...in world history'! Not.
Is this for real?? Please someone tell me it isn't!
Is this for real?? Please someone tell me it isn't!
Friday, 24 July 2009
Interview #2....
...took place this morning, involved some pretty arduous testing and more of the traditional interview stuff and appeared to go very well.
So bloody 'well' in fact that the end result was my being told me I am way over qualified and hence probably not suitable for the job!! Fab!
The parting shot was that I would be contacted sometime next week with the final outcome but I suspect we can probably guess what it's going to be.
Hey ho....next! On the positive side the whole rigmarole was good experience and if I have to be turned down better for that reason than the alternative!
So bloody 'well' in fact that the end result was my being told me I am way over qualified and hence probably not suitable for the job!! Fab!
The parting shot was that I would be contacted sometime next week with the final outcome but I suspect we can probably guess what it's going to be.
Hey ho....next! On the positive side the whole rigmarole was good experience and if I have to be turned down better for that reason than the alternative!
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
The interview....
.....appeared to go well is the best I can say, but who knows!
As ever it seems it was pretty much of a grilling but I survived it intact and there was talk of 'getting me back' to meet some of the hierarchy in a few days.
Whether it was just talk remains to be seen but I should know in a day or two.
Amusingly, she says with some large degree of sarcasm, I had to 'sign on' immediately after the interview, when I asked the woman who is supposed to be 'helping me back to work' if she was interested in the fact that I had arrived hot foot from an interview she said no! When I asked her if she had any jobs on her system for me today she said....no, without as much as a glance at her screen and that she didn't have time.
I will add here that there were five staff members visible, three of whom were chatting and I was the sole 'client' in the building!
Ppffttt......each time I go there I get more incensed!
As ever it seems it was pretty much of a grilling but I survived it intact and there was talk of 'getting me back' to meet some of the hierarchy in a few days.
Whether it was just talk remains to be seen but I should know in a day or two.
Amusingly, she says with some large degree of sarcasm, I had to 'sign on' immediately after the interview, when I asked the woman who is supposed to be 'helping me back to work' if she was interested in the fact that I had arrived hot foot from an interview she said no! When I asked her if she had any jobs on her system for me today she said....no, without as much as a glance at her screen and that she didn't have time.
I will add here that there were five staff members visible, three of whom were chatting and I was the sole 'client' in the building!
Ppffttt......each time I go there I get more incensed!
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