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The unexplained
I knew it, today is the most amazing day ever.
Last night 'I had a dream', sorry Martin, but I did. Now that's not unusual, I always dream, and I always dream in colour. Last nights sub-conscious ramblings were all easily explained, cruise ship (Aurora), B list celebs (CBB), losing keys (I had lost mine yesterday), cats, animals in poor conditions (TV prog), but then the colour red. One of the unknown, but apparently famous women in my dream suggested I wore a red dress, which neither in my dream, or when awake do I have, infact nothing red 'cos it isn't my colour. Out of interest I looked up Red in Dream Book. Apparently the Chakra the colour red is associated with is located at the base of the spine, and dreaming of the colour red might indicate that the body is undergoing healing. How weird is that? I hurt my back, sacral region, and it is gradually getting better. Well, I was really impressed.
In my dream my Room Number had the number 7 in it, and guess what, when I looked at my E-Mails I have won the lottery, £725,000. Now I'm supposed to keep this a secret to avoid 'unwarranted abuse by some unscrupulous elements', but I trust all my fellow bloggers and know that they will be rejoicing in my good fortune. Also, my dream is now far more pertinant, I will go on a cruise, get a new car, so need new keys, be presented with my prize by a B-list celeb and give some money to an animal protection charity.
Must go now to E-Mail my details to the lottery's fiduciary agent.
Warm cuddles
I had forgotten the feeling, and there is nothing quite like it. Having a baby snuggled up with you in bed. A little warm person, breathing gently on you, their downy hair tickling your nose, then as they wake the inquisitive stroking of your face. I know, all of you with babies will be raising your eyebrows and making comments about 'Yes, it's OK for one night, but...'. That's why I relived the experience though. Jack has been a very wakeful babe for the past couple of weeks and so I decided his Mummy and Daddy needed a night off. They left him with us at 7.30 last night, and he went to sleep like an angel. At 3 he woke but sang himself back to sleep after about 10 minutes. At 4 he woke and decided that his own company was enough. I went in and rubbed his back hopefully for a while, difficult to do as he was rocketing all round the cot and then gave in and bought him into the spare bed with me. All this was done in virtual silence, just with the night light on. He sat up staring at my recumbant form for a while, shouted a few sounds that will usually elicit some response, and then snuggled up to me. Every so often he would sing quietly, but in between he would sleep, and thats how we stayed until 6.30 when he that decided this behaviour was no longer appropriate and so some offensive action should be taken. When the sticking his fingers into my mouth failed to achieve his objective, and the pulling the hair didn't work, he played his trump card, scratch the inside of Nanny's nostrils. Immediate response, we got up. I did get two kisses and a massive cuddle as my reward, so I felt happier about sitting in the kitchen at that ungodly hour, banging a saucepan with a wooden spoon and singing 'Row, row the boat.'
Got to go now. He's just woken up from his hours nap, and doesn't sound a Happy Jack.
Auto-suggestion
What a stupid thing to do, tell people that today is the most depressing day of the year. It's been in all the papers, I gave it cursory attention at the time, but it obviously crept into my sub-conscious like a 'worm' and waited to weave it's way through my psyche. Today is no different to any other day. As far as I know my family are all well, my house is still standing, I have job, my back's improving daily, son even bought round flowers yesterday, but I feel malcontent. It's an 'I can't be bothered day'. It really started last night, didn't do any work on daughters birth sampler, should have done the off-duty, but didn't, made snide little remarks to Hubby about his ownership of the remote control, and then tried to start an arguement by suggesting that we took turns with the remote ' you have it one night, I'll have it the next'. Once the arguement started I decided it wasn't worth it and just plonked myself in front of the computer instead. Oh b****r, now it's snowing, and my washing's on the line, well it can just stay there. Really I lead a good life. I know that. I've just got to pull myself together. I'm going to start right this minute by getting the washing in, 'cos now it's REALLY snowing.
Right, got the washing in. Now I can start worrying about the road conditions. Just sent pregnant daughter an E-Mail telling her to be careful on her way home. Well, at least I'm not at work today driving around in it, will be tomorrow though. There, that's something to look forward to, work tomorrow.
Return
Had hoped for a gentle re-introduction to work, no on-call for a week. First day, phone-call from one of my ladies wanting a home-birth 'Hi, I think I'm in labour'. Quick look at the rota informed me that the first on-call was teaching antenatal classes and the second was at a study-day. Told puffing Mum that I would be there ASAP. Rushed back to the hospital to collect the on-call equipment.
First bag has all the instruments etc, second bag has oxygen cylinder and resuscitation equipment, third bag has gas and air cylinder. All very heavy. Arrived at Mum's house, very early labour, so didn't unload equipment, explained why I didn't think a Shetland Pony in the sitting-room during labour was a good idea and requested that during labour the Jack Russell was also kept out of the room. (Apparently the Pony would be just the right height to lean on when she had a contraction.) Continued on with my visits. At the end of the day re-visited Labouring Mum. still early labour so explained that I was off-duty now, but that if things hotted-up before 10pm I would be prepared to go back out to her. Returned all the equipment to the hospital. So much for taking it a bit easy on my back for the first week.
Yesterday was better, much kinder to my back. When I got home there was a note from Jack's Mummy, she had spent the day at our house whilst her car was MOT'd, to say there was a Belgium Bun awaiting my attentions. Mmmm. Mind you the house looked as if she had been running a nursery for the day, but you can't have everything. Went to Pilates last night, pregant daughter is starting to encounter problems with some of the exercises as her lump is getting in the way, also her balance is slightly unpredictable.
Once again Midwives are in the news. Mr Blair, your governments pathetic attempts at recruitemnt/retention are failing, look not at incentives, look at the Trust's set staffing levels and you will solve the problem. The reason midwives leave is because the staffing levels are set too low, this equals increased stress, so they leave and this exacerbates the problem.
Feline Friends
I have two cats, both neutered, a black boy, Elmo, who is 11, and a softy. His only bad point is that he is finding it difficult to retract his claws, but instists on 'padding' when on your knee, so not only does he puncture your legs, but also gets stuck to your clothes. I also have a black and white girl, aged 5, Kizzy, who is bonkers. She is extremely unpredictable in her moods. One week she thinks she's a kitten again and races around, leaping over furniture, chasing everything, very friendly. Then suddenly she is moody, quite aggressive, doesn't want to know you, and can be quite scary. Now, over the last week we have become a Mecca for 3 local cats, Pugley, 'cos he's ugly, Noisy, obvious reason, never stops talking, and Bagpuss, he's ginger. They sit on the patio most of the day, and by the sound of it, the night, and wait for our cats, preferably Kizzy , to go out. Then they follow her. She just ignores them, doesn't seem concerned that these 3 cats, much bigger than her, are all trooping after her. Apart from the noise they make, they weren't really a nuisance, until this morning. Kizzy was outside, waiting by the back door, and Pugley was his usual 2 feet away from her. I opened the door to let her in, in she strode, followed by Pugley. No hesitation, a miaow as he walked past me, and there he was, sitting next to Kizzy, both of them looking at me expectantly. I shouted and he ran out. Now, he is sitting on the back door step, crying. I feel really mean. Why are the local cats doing this? What has suddenly attracted them to my house?
Pregnant logic
Phone call from pregnant daughter. 'Hi, I'm in Tesco's looking at baby sleepsuits and vests. The newborn ones say 11lbs, the early baby say 7lbs. Which should I get?' 'Well, I'd get the newborn' I reply. ' No, I'm going to get the early baby 'cos I don't want a big baby'. I just hope that 'Baby Bean' was listening to this conversation and stops growing as much as s/he is at the moment.
Very chatty, gossip filled night last night over a take-away Indian at next-door but one neighbours. Feel I may have had several too many vino's, got home, laden with books at 2.30am. Now I've just got to decide what to read. The choice is between:-
The DaVinci Code - should read it 'cos as a Roman Catholic (lapsed), I feel I should know something about Opus Dei.
C ( Because cowards get cancer too...) - Purely because I admired the way in which John Diamond appeared to deal with his terminal illness.
Chasing the Monsoon - Recommended by inebriated neighbour.
The Blind Assassin - It won the Booker Prize.