End of an Era

Neighbours has finished on the BBC. The mighty Australian soap opera.

I have to admit I love neighbours. I know, I know its a sad addiction but it is true. I have been watching it for as long as I remember. Tea was at 5:30 after school so I would gulp down my food in the hope I would catch the last 10 minutes as this was enough to understand the story line! Now I have a cup of tea with Neighbours before cooking dinner as a relaxing end to a busy day.

I will of course follow Neighbours to channel 5 but it is a great loss to the BBC.

We look back and remember Kylie and Jason and the wedding of Scott and Charlene. When Daphne died uttering the words 'I love you Clarkie'. Harold missing presumed dead then returning. Oh the fantastic story lines they have had.

I know the show is pretty rubbish, who am I kidding very rubbish, it is just so addictive and a great way to enjoy a cup of tea.

Everybody needs good Neighbours

Change of scenery

Today I had a change of working scenery and spent some time at a local University teaching student nurses. This is not a full change of job but just a couple of extra hours over and above my full time job.

I had to run a workstation teaching the students how to give injections. In my day we learnt how to give injections by practising on oranges. Oh how times have changes now they have these great manikins with injectable skin and everything. It really reminded me of when I did my first injection 10 years ago. I was so excited, it felt like real nursing being able to give an injection. Do you tell the patient it is your first or not? I go for letting the patient know afterwards or else the thought of the needle will be even worse than normal.Now it is second nature and a daily occurrence. One student was shaking with fear so much I worries she would jab herself drawing up the solution and that is with a dummy, what will it be like for her in placement.

I had fun, it is a nice little earner for extra cash - next time NG feeding tubes.

In Memory

On the 23rd January my Grandpa passed away. Aylmer Astbury reached the grand old age of 90 and he was a great man. I remember my grandpa with great fondness, I have my logical matter of fact mind (or Astburyness as Joe calls it) from him. He was a very clever man and always had an interesting little fact about almost everything. Grandpa could make a joke about almost anything and would fit a witticism in to any conversation.

Grandpa was a man of many talents, great at any form of DIY being able to do anything he put his mind to. A lover of music, cars and sundials to name a few. Grandpa told me the story of his first car - I guess he was barely 17 but probably 16, at boarding school and him and a couple of the boys owned a car they kept hidden in the woods by the school. Grandpa was great for letting us ride around on his back, pictured above is Rich having a ride.

Although Grandpa was diagnosed with Alzheimer's towards the end he knew the answers to the mini mental test better than I did. And to the end of his life remained a clever witty man who was a joy to converse with.

So goodbye Grandpa we will all miss you and remember you forever.

Book review: A Spot of Bother

A while ago I read Mark Haddon's first book, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. Which although was actually a kids book it was very well written about an autistic boy. When I heard he has written a second book I was very keen to read it. This time it is not a kids book but a novel based around a pretty normal dysfunctional family. The book focuses on mental illness and I think is very well written showing how family members think someone is being irrational and does not notice that really they need help until it has gone too far.

It is a very enjoyable funny read with a serious subject matter. In an easy to read format - which is an extra bonus for me! Who needs soap opera's with great novels like this.