It's been a long, long, long time

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7242447.post-1099391931773168732004-11-02T09:45:00.000Z2004-11-02T10:43:59.143ZIt's been a long, long, long timeas the Beatles once sang, somewhere on the White Album.. So what have I been doing? Well, I am usually in college for 2 - 3 days a week as I may have previously mentioned, can't really remember, and the rest of the time I am at home reading stuff and trying to be useful. I have so far avoided day time television, with the exception that I sometimes watch Cheers while having my lunch. I could easily spend all week learning the anatomy & physiology stuff - in fact I think I will be from now on as we had a mock exam last week (multiple choice) and I have come to the conclusion that learning such things in context does not prepare one for seeing 4 totally out of context seemingly random facts and having to recognise the right one. I even went back once I had finished and changed four answers that I now know were correct to the incorrect ones in the name of thoroughness. I do have the comfort of knowing, however, that I was not the only one who did this. The other slightly perturbing thing was that there were questions on there that I am sure it was impossible to distinguish the correct answer: ie - where would you find chyme? Two of the four answers offered were "in the stomach" and "in the duodenum". Having checked the textbook and the notes we have been given, which state that chyme is made in the stomach and then moves into the duodenum, I have no idea which answer is the right one. Next week I have my "trust week" where I get an of induction to the area I'll be doing my placements in, and the week after I have a placement on an "Elderly Care" ward in the hospital just up the road from me, which only has about two wards. I have my uniform, which, suffice it to say well and truely puts paid to the somewhat bizarre myth that nurses are in any way sexy. The uniform is white tunic on top, which isn't too bad really and black nylon trousers, the waistband on which comes to just below my ribcage and then they billow, attractively into a kind of nappy shape around the stomach, bum and thigh area, before tapering to drainpipe proportions around the ankle area which serves to accentuate two things: 1) the bum, stomach nappy thing and 2) the size of my feet, which has always been something of a sore point. Anyway, as one of the more practical ladies on my course keeps telling me, "They're good cos you can really boil them" so every cloud has a silver lining and perhaps I'll be glad one day very soon that my trousers can be boiled. Also, at least the tunic has a zip up the front and not poppers. I have heard bad things happen when patients grab tunics with poppers... and I'm guessing it would have to be a pretty specific grab to have the same effect with a zip. I have had to buy some flat black shoes (I did not however, stick strickly to the guidelines and buy lace ups) - anyone who has ever been shoe shopping with me will understand the true horror of this situation. I think I must have tried about 150 pairs of shoes on, before desperation took hold and I found myself in M&S trying on the "footgloves". You may mock, but I must admit they are very comfortable. Fortunately I was saved from getting "flootgloved" as Kev remembered that I hadn't been to Debenhams yet and lo, (idou for all you ancient greeks out there*) there were flat black shoes, but actually quite nice ones and so I felt lots better and bought a coat too. (It was reduced from £308.00 to £150 and so it was a bargain). Not much else going on here really - may have mentioned that we have fish - two casualties so far - Alan was the first and then Small died yesterday, after a 3 day fight with a strange illness that made him swim upsidedown and also backwards. Otis, Dave, Terry and Dr Evil are all still going strong however and at the weekend we are getting a bigger tank (54 litres) and more fish. Maddy is also fine although a new cat has moved into the flat two door up and she met him last night. He is called Russell and he is only about 1 year old, very cute but absolutely huge. Maddy was "Russelled" last night as she was out and about minding her own business and I had to go and rescue her because she was hiding and making a very loud noise which roughly translates as "I may be a 3 legged cat half your size hiding behind a wall, however please note that I am Very Dangerous and you should Keep Away". Russell however is made of sterner stuff and unperturbed by Maddy, intimidating though she surely was, spent the rest of the evening trying to batter his way through the locked catflap while Maddy kept up her display of bravado by hiding behing the footstool and wailing loudly. Eventually, civil negotiations with Russell having failed, I was forced to chuck a pint of water over him. So I think that just about brings us up to date really. We aren't thinking about moving at the moment, but we are toying with the idea of a new kitchen. Kev finished the bathroom floor last night so we are inching ever closer to completion, although he did have to be forced back in there because he is sick of the sight of it (possibly not a good time to start ripping the kitchen apart then). You will note that inbetween starting and finishing the bathroom Kev's car has acquired new dial thingys, buckets seats, subframes for bucket seats, and 4 point harness thingy. Say no more.. Right, better start this work that I sat down to do about an hour ago. (Don't even get me started on "group presentations") *while learing ancient Greek I once had to translate the phrase "behold, a sausage seller approaches", and the only bit I now remember is "idou" which is "behold" and also features quite heavily in the old testament, I believe. Bye. <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/7242447-109939193177316873?l=flufffrommybrain.blogspot.com'/></div>Flohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06471274142989570176noreply@blogger.com2