Soulless

Is there anywhere more soulless than a Weatherspoons?

Bleak experience sitting amongst the alcohol dependant, the lonely, the unwashed, the drunk the old ... often all five. But it served a purpose, whiling away a few hours before returning home. I had to leave the house before nine to avoid awkward conversation with Pat, knowing that I need to be out of the house for around three and a half hours. Earlier appointment at bank was at the ten o'clock, realistically you can't be sure how long it'll take, but it was brief as previously mentioned. 

Walked into Stone to avoid having to leave the car, all the free car parks are limited to two hours and it seemed daft the park on the pay and display when the town is only a mile from home. 

Costa pre-bank AND Costa post-bank, avail myself of their free wi-fi, but there's only a certain amount of coffee I can ingest, so I move onto the anonymity of Weatherspoons and nursed a diet Pepsi until I can safely return home.

I wouldn't usually frequent a 'Spoons, that's not out of any overt snobbery*, I just think there are better. But it's cheap, open, again has free wi-fi and you can sit undisturbed, which you can't do in independents where space is money 

* Perhaps it is?

Meeting at the bank

Athough I maintain a fairly good account ... okay except for a slightly too liberal use of it's overdraft perhaps ... I am always anxious at the prospect of meeting with anyone from the financial sector. Having my business and finances scrutinised unnerves me, it probably dates back to the days of Todd Terraces when I certainly flew by the seat of my financial pants for a few years.

I admit that I remain reckless on occasion and am not as frugal as I perhaps should be, but a regular sum comes into my account each month, bills are paid, I save a bit

These necessary yearly account reviews which you are positively encouraged to attend (relentlessly pursued until you commit) only seem provide the opportunity for the borrower to justify their spending (even though it's never actually asked) and for the bank to try and sell further products.

I appreciate I'm not a very good customer for them 'cause I don't want a credit card, don't wish to take a loan, am happy with my current pension provisions, don't need another ISA and am happy with my current current account. So it feels like a formality, a hoop that needs to be jumped through to avoid being pursued further.

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As predicted a very dry and uneventful meeting, less than twenty minutes in and out. It would have been swifter still but my bankers previous appointment over ran and I was seen by someone else. Reviewed accounts and direct debits; no problems apparent. Happy with all current financial providers, insurers and services. Don't want a loan or a credit card. Thank you, goodbye. 

A month or so ago I received a letter to say that after over twenty-three years of loyalty my account was to be moved from Lloyds to TSB, I assumed this was because my account and service demands weren't very exciting; they're certainly not making much money from me. But following discussion with my personal banker I am to remain under the Lloyds umbrella (or Black Horse even ... Legal & General was an umbrella ... let's hope I don't get shat on?!?) To streamline the service all accounts are to be managed by the branch located closest to your postal address, consequently as there isn't a TSB in Stone I am to remain with Lloyds. What a colossal waste of money, letter bombing every LloydsTSB customer. 

Being Wednesday I then had to hang around for a few more hours until Pat had departed HH. With last weeks sickness and being off over the week-end I was fairly on top with jobs. I need to retain a few for tomorrow; purchase a strimmer cord, return ugly shoes to  Debenhams, try and locate a copy of 'Shallow Hal' for Liz (substandard Jack Black / Gwyneth Paltrow flick, a teaching aid about body image apparently) I've even searched the charity shops of Stone hoping for a miraculous discovery, but sadly not. The dvds found are largely fitness (home workout) based or those given away free with the Daily Mail, I wonder what this says about the residents of Stone. Largely that many are on a quest to get fit & lose weight and read the Mail, no surprises there.

All that remains in the outstanding jobs list is the purchase of a few holiday items (toiletries, etc) and that has been allotted the week-end prior to sailing when we go to Birmingham to celebrate our fourth wedding anniversary (Fruit & flowers) and Liz's birthday. 

Our trip to Brum corresponds with the Chilli Festival, which should be interesting. Despite being under fifty miles away we have happy memories of overnight stays in Birmingham, be it from gigs, shopping expeditions or other events.

We would have gone to a city further afield to pick up the few holiday items and to celebrate, but we have Harriet's christening on the Sunday in Knowle and have to be in striking distance to undertake our godparent duties which limited how far north or south we could venture. You don't want to have a longer drive on Sunday morning. or have to curtail plans on the Saturday night unless unavoidable, which ruled out Leeds, Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Cambridge or Oxford (all of which were in the running) So back to old faithful Brum.

We've got a good deal on two nights in a decent hotel, there are a few restaurants we are keen to try and we know the city well to shop. Them there's the added bonus of the Chilli Festival, which no doubt will join the successes of previous Birmingham events (Christmas market, Food festival and such)

Liz dropped the (small) bombshell that the cruise has three theme nights- Great Britain, nautical and Rock 'n' Roll. I don't think these will provide an opportunity to dress down sadly or indulge in fancy-dress, so the hunt begins to find smart accessories that fit the three themes.  Union Jack tie, hanky & socks for Great Britain, a tie with life rings perhaps, but I remain befuddled by Rock'n'Roll though??? 

Mucus Update

 

Yesterday I rang work with the full intention of telling them I'd be back to the ward today, but even just having a short conversation I became acutely aware of how congested I sounded and how troublesome my cough remained. As I coughed and spluttered I made the decision that it was completely wrong to return; thankfully my colleague was understanding and appreciated that it was foolish to return before I'm well. I'm now not in until Tuesday, the following four days will hopefully allow me to recover fully?

I've probably been unwell for approaching a fortnight, but have felt proper horrible for five days. Work on Saturday was difficult, consequently I missed out on meeting up with the Biddlecombe's in Knowle on Sunday (and a nice Lunch) not wishing to pass on any bugs to the little people and making Cath & Rob's week harder.

Woke today feeling much better. Yesterday I was debating returning to my GP for another course of antibiotics and a sick note 'cause I continued to feel so grotty. Amazingly when I woke it appeared that my secretions had largely dried up, but following taking my morning tablet the mucus begins again ... It's not as vivid or plentiful as previously so I decide to sit tight instead of returning to the doctor's for a further appointment.

As wrong as it maybe I'm a little disappointed, attending the doctors would mean I could legitimately leave the house for an hour, even grab a Costa!?!

On top of the mucus, discomfort and general 'illness' the symptoms are significantly exacerbated by guilt and boredom. Both of which are likely to force an early return to work. I know potentially how busy it can be just with one man down, I'm also very aware of how many staff are currently off sick. Dropping like flies apparently. This makes the guilt grow and grow. You enter into an internal battle in respect of do your symptoms outweigh the guilt you feel? 

Boredom, quickly the novelty wears off and I'm left feeling bored. It's almost like being on house arrest, it is inappropriate to go out. I've made short dashes to the local co-op to pick up newspapers and pain killers, but I wouldn't go any further than that.

I think if you're well enough to be in a supermarket, out in town or at a coffee shop, then in most cases you're well enough to be at work. Certainly in terms of short term sickness, if you're off for longer (stress, chronic conditions, injuries, etc) than it becomes more acceptable. Liz doesn't necessarily agree, but then she had a period of lengthy sickness years ago and that perhaps taints your opinion? 

Flush, bin or burn?

I take great pride on those occasions when we manage to fill our blue wheelie bin right to the top, the success of recycling so much in a fortnight (two hundred and forty litres approximately apparently). Utterly stupid 'cause in actual fact it is the complete opposite of success for the consumer (Rupert), but more the success of consumerism and subsequently for packaging producers.

I guess true recycling success can only be measured by comparing what is placed in the recycling bin with what is placed in the green domestic bin. Minimal in both is the obvious consumer goal, but the furthest from the goal of the distributor. We need to consume less, be aware of waste, not just in terms of recycling but also food, energy and most of all time.

It has led to the mental discussion of what is the best way to deal with used tissues; is it best to flush them, bin them or burn them (should you have the facility)? Google has up to now been unable to assist.

Out

Took the brave step of leaving the house to pick up some provisions from the supermarket, collect some laundry that Sue had kindly ironed and borrow a dvd that Ray recommends (Zero Dark Thirty) .

Although I am officially on a day off today, I still feel guilty even going out. Consequently I left home early, quickly picking up a basket of groceries and briefly stopping at the coffee shop for a light breakfast 'cause I felt a bit wonky.

Today sits between two long-day shifts, I was off sick yesterday and despite feeling much better today it's likely I will be off tomorrow also.

The tension band that was initially felt round my cheeks has graduated up my face and is now wrapped around my eyes. By tomorrow it will have climbed up to a John McEnroe'esque headband and by Friday a topknot of tension, who knows how it'll exit come the week-end? I have visions of my head just popping like one enormous spot. I'm full to the brim with mucus, uncomfortable, irritated but most of all bored (... and guilty)

LoveFilm haven't been able to dispatch films fast enough. Typically in the one week when I have to time to watch actual delivery has been delayed.  

I've even indulged in an afternoon sleep everyday, not just out of boredom but also 'cause I've really needed it. It's rare for me to be ill (proper ill), but when I am it fatigues me greatly.

Sinusitis

 Feeling proper sorry for myself today. What was initially felt to be hay fever combined with a summer cold has rapidly mutated to something more unpleasant. Up until now I have been managing it with over the counter remedies and treatments, but it has gradually worsened each day over the last week until today when we've had to bring out the heavy artillery and it has been necessary to contact my doctors.

I've lost almost all sense of taste or smell, an advantage some may say, food isn't about flavour currently more about texture. 

My GP has prescribed Doxycycline (100mg), instructed me to take regular analgesia, increase my fluid intake and rest. Subsequently I have called work and told them I won't be in tomorrow.

I'm hoping to be feeling better for my shifts on Thursday and Friday, but I know I couldn't go in as I'm feeling currently. There's not much dignity coughing, sniffling and spluttering over patients and their families, it certainly doesn't provoke much confidence in the care giver if they are also ill.

I felt awful on Saturday, even resorting to giving myself some nasal suction, much to the hilarity of my colleagues. On reflection I'm unsure of the ethics and had visions of being called to account for this at a later date, but desperate times call for desperate measures. And I was desperate. To be honest the ethics are fairly clear; I was full of snot and in great discomfort. It was suction or going home, and we certainly weren't in the position to let a member of staff depart.

Although I am fearful that these two bouts of suction may have consequently exacerbated my subsequent sinusitis?

Care Cakes