Zzzzzz!

First week.

I can't believe that the first week at uni has gone and we're half way through the second. I can barely remember what we got up to every day last week, so I'm doing a quick round up, then I'll know, when I look back.

We filled lots of forms in, found rooms where we have to be and the times we have to be there, for the next five or so weeks anyway. Most rooms are off a very long corridor which has already been named 'the green mile'. All eating places have been located and the favourite has been chosen. We've met all the staff. Our personal log-ins for various things don't always work and the computers are even more moody than mine, so I feel quite at home with that one. We're assured that they will behave once the proper term starts, it's us new one's who are messing it up, because the system is programmed to activate all log ins and emails on the day the rest of the world comes back. I've been told to get a sticker for the car or I will have to park in Sainsburys, but they aren't issuing them until the official start of term........ The fellow students are lovely and a few of us have already made provisional plans to have a curry day where we will all bring bits and pieces towards a banquet. I seem to have talked a bit more about food than study, all normal there then.

We had team building on Friday afternoon, where I played lots of things ending in ball and whilst running for a footy I went flying and slid across the sports hall.

I like Glyndwr and I'm glad I chose it.

Much emotional.

I'm here every five minutes lately, I think that tends to happen with me when emotions are involved, not that I was overly emotional about the raised bed, but I couldn't miss an opportunity of a wee laugh, and me and John did giggle about it.

I've had an emotional day today and I've cried a bit, to be truthful, I've cried a lot.

Meeting up with Andy on Wednesday started me off, he's been such a precious friend since 2004 and I was gutted that I might not get to see him this year, so it was a bonus that we managed to hastily arranged Banbury.Traditionally we meet up every year to join the many people in Hyde Park who take part in the race or support the entrants in an effort to raise funds and awareness for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. I can't be there this year because I'm starting uni and I will miss those special people and our once a year hugs so much.

This morning I'd arranged to meet C (one of Chris's nurses) in the cafe at the CF unit. The reason for me wanting to meet her there was, that I'd realised I no longer needed her to visit me on a professional basis, as she has done since we said goodbye to Chris. So many times when she'd been out to see me I'd wanted to ask for her mobile number because we got on so well, but it didn't seem right somehow. I think we both knew that while it was still C visiting Chris's mum it had to stay on a professional level and now I believe it was right.

As I start on a new path in my life I wanted to tell her something that's been on my mind for a long time. I wanted to thank her so much for being there for Chris and for me. Nobody can ever take away the memory of the words he said to me time after time 'I like C a lot, she always takes the time to talk to me' She's a special person and an even more special nurse and if I can do the same for someone as she did for Chris then I'll be very happy. We are going to meet up again, but it will be to shop and do coffee because now is the right time to just be mates.

Later today I met up with two lovely friends I'd made on the access course. We all know we want to keep in touch, but we also know it isn't going to be the same as it was when we shared the daily ups and downs at college. So I was off again, sniffling into my coffee. I am so going to miss everyone, especially V who is and will always be, very special to me. I am so glad I did that course when I did.

Special day.

Yesterday's journey to Banbury couldn't have been smoother thanks to my sister's co-piloting. We met up with our good buddy Andy, wandered round the shops, then went to see the 'Lady on the horse' at Banbury Cross. After tucking into a delicious meal we went in search of a navy cardi to complete my uni list (I know how to keep my friends entertained you know). After another wander round the shops and much talking/laughing, we rounded off with cake and coffee. It's priceless spending time with good friends, even more so when they live hundreds of miles away, so glad I got the opportunity.

Magical Mystery Tour.

Still can't find the thing that lets you change font colour and style, so will have to continue to blog in boring old black standard shaped font.

Had a cracking time at The Mathew Street Festival yesterday and wasn't a bit put off by the length of the queue at the railway station, it all adds to the fun. The 'how many people can you fit in a British Rail carriage' would have thrown me into a complete panic a few years ago and I would have been jamming my face out of the 2 inch gap (all they allow the window to open). However my new found ability to get in a lift has opened up a new world and I can now cope with bits of claustraphobia here and there, which is just as well because it was sardine like in that carriage and I got far closer to fellow travellers than was comfortable. You could tell everyone felt the same though because we were all avoiding each others eyes and when they did meet we smiled and then started to talk loudly (across the many heads) to the people we were with to reinforce that we weren't actually enjoying the fact that our arm was wedged where it was.

The weather was kind, the food was yummy and all the people were there to have a good time. I just love this festival.



Tomorrow I'm off to Banbury in Oxfordshire, this will be a challenge as I tried to get there once before two years ago and didn't find it. After driving for nine and a half hours I arrived back home and our Mike asked me if I'd be trying it again. I said 'too right I will, it wont beat me' I have a map book, a sat nav and an AA route planner on board for tomorrow, together with a tent because I am not coming back till I find it.

Secret garden update.

Someone really needs to give my hubby a lesson in 'small is beautiful' sometime.

I asked him to make me a raised bed for the secret garden, he loves working with wood (despite being allergic to sawdust) so I knew it would be a work of art and I gave him the measurements. I hold my hand up here and admit that I did say 8ft long by 3ft wide, but the timber we were looking at was thin. He ordered the wood and when it arrived alarm bells should have rung, but I assured myself he was planning to make two (as I thought I'd previously mentioned).

I'll pause here to say it's nobody's fault that I now have a magnificent wooden enclosure that could, if planted with edible stuff, feed our village for a year. Alternatively, I could breed a herd of wilder beast in it, or line it and have a luxury swimming pool. I haven't even begun to work out the cost of filling it with soil, but it's going to be at least 50 big bags.

So! how much did this raised bed cost?

Wood - £105
Delivery - £5
Stain - £10
Screws - £14 (well they were brass)
New circular saw - £50
Compost/soil of some sort - £150 (guessing)
Things to grow in it - anything from £50

Total - £384

And there was me worrying about a plant I bought for it that will grow to 3ft wide by 3ft high, it will be in plant heaven stretching it's little feet out and wiggling it's toes. Winnie however is well impressed with the hugeness of the new litter tray.



I've had a mare of a time with blogger tonight, could someone please tell me where the choice of font and colour have gone because I'm going to bed now, before I do something I'll regret a lot.

Special Indian Onion Salad

1lb/450g onions (I use red and white for the colourfulness)
1 tomato (I use 3)
Quarter of a cucumber (I use at least half)
2 tablespoons coriander leaves (I use more)
1 green chilli (it's a woosies salad)
4 tablespoons sugar
Half a teaspoon salt
2oz/50g garlic vinegar (just finely chop a clove into your regular vinegar)

Peel and slice the onions thinly. Peel and chop finely tomato and cucumber. Chop coriander leaves finely, if fresh coriander is unobtainable omit entirely. Seed chilli and chop finely. Mix sugar and salt in vinegar and dissolve. Put onions, cucumber and chilli into glass dish (I put it in tupperware container so it's easy to transport). Mix well and let soak in vinegar mix. Add the tomato before serving (I add it with the onions, cucumber and chilli). Mix well and sprinkle with coriander leaves before serving (I put the coriander in a couple of hours before it's going to be eaten so the flavour can permeate the salad).

This is yummy, especially with a good burger.

Diary of a student nurse.

Only joking! I'm not really going to turn my blog into a day by day account of the life and times of a student nurse, although, for my records I will be keeping track of notable events as they happen.

Breaking news....I received my criminal bureau check form, occupational health form and student profile form. All ok except the loss of hearing in my right ear which will not be a problem they say, unless I can't hear the blood pressure thing when using the stethoscope and cuff, more on this once I undergo the test.

I've become a dab hand with Amazon and since receiving my book list I have managed to whittle the original cost of £160, down to £92 and they are all in pristine condition. Today I purchased the black ankle socks, flat black shoes, navy and black trousers, round ended scissors and black pens. So! what does that leave? (I think this probably will turn into a day by day account after all).

University starts on the 7th of September with welcome week, where we get the jabs we need, are measured up for uniforms, have pics taken and get acquainted with what's what generally. My first placement is on the 26th of October and I'll be working on a ward for 7 weeks, very much looking forward to that.

I'll not whinge on about the very nasty virus that followed the shingles but it's nearly gone now and hopefully I will be fit to actually start this next exciting phase of my life, unless 'sod' is listening in of course.

I can't end this blog entry without mentioning something very close to my heart. Chris always told me I should be a nurse and it's stayed with me, how brilliant is it, that he continues to drive me to fulfill a life long dream of mine. That's special.

What's what in my world.

Despite my promise to myself to keep my blog up to date once the course finished, I've failed miserably. However I'm in the mood this morning so here's a quick post of what's what and what has been what lately (if indeed anyone is interested).

I've nearly got over the nasty shingle thing, been to the beach a few times and been very childish (throwing oneself head first down the sand dunes is highly recommended). We've had some men in to clear the ground for the secret garden, which will be 'Chris's secret garden'. It will be in the Feng Shui style, (water, earth, wind and fire) because he liked that sort of thing. John is going to whittle a bench together and the plaque will probably include the words 'Don't worry, be happy' I may or may not attach three little birds to it, if the men allow such cheesiness.

I did a speech on our certificate presentation evening, along with two of my buddies, which was to mark the retirement of our lovely (not what I called him during the course) Biology tutor.






Today I have been married for 34 years and we're going to spend the day staining all the wooden stuff in the garden, followed by the compulsory barbecue, even if it rains. Finally, for now, I'm a bit excited about something I've added to my 1-10 list, it's called body boarding and I can't wait to try it.

Esther

Hiya hunni,

Thank you very much for your message, I've been trying to catch up with your blog but it seems to have disappeared. I hope alls going well with you, if you don't have a blog any more are you on facebook? I'd like to keep in touch somehow.

Take care, much love. x x x

Viral Gremlins.

I've got shingles, not nice.

It's not always an advantage to have done Biology, cos you know what's going on.

Oh my goodness.

I got my final results today, I passed the access course and I'm a bit choked to be honest. I can't actually believe I did it.

Nearly there

Everything has to be in by Friday..........arghhh!!!

The chair

You know you're getting on a bit when you buy one of these chairs and then go on and on about how fab they are for ages. They are good though, they have a wee hole in the arm for a cup and they fold up like a brolly and...............

Good luck Rob.

I just want to say a great big thank you tonight to a special person. Rob lived next door to us and he's been a friend of Mike and Chris's since they were all weeny. He's in the army now and a team of them are doing a 30 mile trek tomorrow and donating to the CF trust.

Huge thanks to all the team for raising much needed funds for the CF Trust, you're all stars.

I'm on a mission now to find a pic of the three of them when they were weeny *grin*

Update

Reviewing my 1-10 list today I realised I'd knocked a couple off, I got in a lift (a massive phobia) apologies to the brave people who accompanied me, read some books that are stretching my brain, I say stretching because it still has a way to go before I can say I know what they're on about and I got on a horse, albeit a mechanical one that tries its best to chuck you off, and it did. But the best by far has to be the amendment I will soon have to make to number 1.

1. Be a nurse (this will take 4 years)

I will very soon be making that read.

1. Be a nurse (this will take 3 years)

I've loved this course and hated it at times, but the very best feeling in the world is that I've actually stuck at it.

Wind ups have made a come back in the last week as well. I asked our Mike to come to Sainsburys with me, I don't do that very often and now I know why. As we were patiently waiting for the lady in front of us to pay her bill our Mike slapped her on the shoulder and announced 'put your money away, me mum will pay for your shopping' it was a tense moment, the lady looked at me, the man on the till looked at me and our Mike looked at me. I was frozen for a minute and then laughed artificially, then we all laughed hysterically. Yesterday I was sitting quietly in the kitchen reading one of the mind stretching books when I heard this massive pounding at the front door, then this thunderous voice was shouting eh you!, being deaf in my right ear I ran to the back door (you always hear the noise from the opposite direction when you're deaf in one ear) whereupon this hand landed on my shoulder and I screamed, I wasn't amused.......then I was and laughed hysterically again........brilliant!

I have to get one back on Mike.

The Ball

Emily, Lorraine and me at The Barnes Boys Charity Ball.

Good stuff

I really can't believe we're on the home stretch with the course now, only one more module to go, just six weeks in fact and I will have completed an academic qualification. This is a huge thing for me because I've started and paid for a fair few courses in my life, but I've never seen them through. Why? because I didn't have the confidence in myself that I have now, but that confidence didn't just come from my own mind, it came from being surrounded by a bunch of people who wouldn't allow any one of us on the course to give up. Fellow students and tutors are invaluable in making you believe in yourself and friends who have supported me with their encouragement have constantly inspired me to keep going.

As you might have guessed I am very smiley today, I passed the last module despite the moody shoulder and life is good.

I had a cracking time at the Barnes Boys Charity Ball last Saturday and it was so lovely to meet everyone. The speeches by Lorraine and Emily were spot on, the entertainment was great and the night was a huge success. As always, everything went far too quick and we all said our goodbyes over a hearty breakfast, but such things are precious to me, they'll never be forgotten and I'll always be so glad that I got the chance to be there.

Hello

Huge thanks to everyone who posted their kind thoughts for Jessie and her family, it's very much appreciated, bless you.

It's been a funny phase this last few weeks, but things are returning to normal, now that I nearly have the use of my right neck/shoulder/arm. I've had a cracking few days in the garden getting my hands mucky and would have produced picture evidence of all my very hard work but my camera refuses to turn on. I have the greatest difficulty with many gadgets and blame it on my staticnness, for instance when I shut the car door it throws a bolt of electricity up my arm and you can guarantee if I unload the dryer my hair will be standing on end, I've wiped out more than one pc just by being in the same room and the sat nav just gives in and babbles in another language if I'm in the car. I've thought about writing to the mayor of Blackpool and asking if I can switch on the lights one year, then sitting back and watching the havoc it would create.

I'm not sure whether I passed the latest exams as the only two I took, I exited as soon as I could, due to said dodgy neck/shoulder/arm, the two others I was given an extension for and was supposed to do them over the Easter break, however they haven't happened yet, but they will.

Liverpool have just gone one up against Chelsea 4-3 c'mon Liverpool.

Nite all.

Jessie

Now and again in life you meet someone who's very special, sometimes you don't realise it at the time and other times you just know straight away that this person is someone who you'll want in your life for ever, as I did with Jessie.

Jessie first came into my life through our connection on the cf forum where we exchanged a few posts, but our friendship grew when our Chris had his transplant and I was living in a bungalow at the hospital. She rang me regularly to chat and as a mum who's daughter (Pauline) was post transplant I can't begin to tell anyone what a huge support that was, not only did it help me to look beyond the transplant but it also felt so reassuring to talk to another mum who'd been where I was.

We kept in touch and she was there for me whenever I needed to talk about Chris's recovery from the operation, it's a rocky time and quite often I'd wonder whether this or that was 'normal' so I'd pick up the phone and within minutes she'd have me wondering why on earth I was getting wound up. Just three months after Chris's transplant I was sitting in the kitchen when the phone rang "Hiya Sue, it's Jessie, where is your local train station" said this lovely Scottish voice. I couldn't believe it, how brilliant that I was going to meet her in person. I'll never forget how I felt when I first saw her, it was like I'd known her all my life and John, Mike and Chris loved her instantly.

When Chris got poorly and I was once again living in the bungalow at the hospital Jess rang me regularly and sometimes it would be very late at night when I'd text to ask if she was still up and she always said she was, bless her. Not long after we said goodbye to Chris John and I finally got up to the lovely village in Scotland where Jessie lived and we also got to meet Pauline at long last. We had a cracking time and we were made so welcome by everyone, even as we were leaving I was mentally planning when I could get back up there.

Our chance came when Jess was celebrating her 70th birthday and I couldn't wait to see everyone again, what a brilliant night that was and what an amazing family she had around her. I can honestly say I've never met anyone with as much energy as she had that night, she didn't stay still for a second.

Sadly we knew Jess was poorly but we hoped and prayed that such a special person would be around for many more years. But it wasn't to be and Jessie's family had to say goodbye to her on Mothers day.

God Bless you Jessie I'm so glad you came into my life and I'm going to miss you terribly but your wonderful outlook will be what stays with me for ever.

Praying for all Jessie's family and friends at this very sad time.