Rhyme and No Reason!

Blogger, author and rhymester who likes to find the humour in life.

Episode 341: Romantic Old Fools! — May 24, 2015

Episode 341: Romantic Old Fools!

Ahhh romance….I remember it well (just about)! As time goes by, it seems to go out of the window a bit; take Valentine’s Day for example, I was not feeling very well this year and it ended up as a bit of a damp squib as you can read here.

Mr Grump does sometimes bring me home some flowers, but he no longer bothers to take off the ‘reduced’ sticker, and I oohh and ahhh over the rather tired looking blooms, happy that at least he thought of me.

We very rarely sit cuddled up on the settee together now watching some sort of romantic movie either. We changed our furniture about 18 months ago and he now has an armchair (yes he is an official Old Git), whilst myself and Miss Hap have the nice big settee to ourselves. Not only that but I nearly always fall asleep watching films (apart from the Disney ones of course)!

Well last night Mr Grump lit the candles as usual but then disappeared off to the shed. I wondered what he was up to, but after a bit of banging and crashing around, he returned triumphant with a load more candles. He faffed about digging out some more candle holders and placed them all over the front room creating a lovely atmosphere.

He informed me that he liked to have things nice for his wife (he had been at the beer). and as Miss Hap had gone upstairs by then thought he would put on a bit of 80s music which I always enjoy. I even got a bit of his ‘twerking’ thrown in as he did here.

After a while of singing along, the mood changed as George Michael’s ‘A Different Corner’ came on. Mr Grump thought it would be nice to have a smoochy dance to it like in the ‘old days.’ Fine, but it isn’t the hold days anymore! I had on my pjs for a start, but I trotted up to him and we had a bit of a dance.

It seems as if we were a bit out of practice though (although shuffling about in a circle is not exactly difficult). I trod on his foot, which meant that he was kind of pinned to the spot, so he told me to,

“get off my slipper!” I did so and he was free to shuffle a bit more. The problem is that going around in a circle after a few beers is a little bit dizzying, and he stumbled landing heavily on my ingrown toenail! Suffice it to say, we decided to sit it out!

Episode 340: What A Plonker! — May 23, 2015

Episode 340: What A Plonker!

I had to laugh at a bit of news I just stumbled across. A guy had left his bike chained up to a pole for a while only to find it missing when he returned. Enraged at the dishonesty of people he decided that he would leave a note outlining his displeasure! He thought he would throw in a bit of advice as well to the perpetrator,suggesting they might like to return the bike with a new lock and ‘re-evaluate your life choices.’

Someone had written a note under the original, addressing the bike owner as ‘Bozo’ and pointed out to him that perhaps the city authorities might know the whereabouts of the bike. The reason for this was that the bike was illegally chained to a handicap pole. The author of this note also suggested that perhaps it had been removed as it may impede a vehicle that requires wheelchair access.

Bloody idiot!

Episode 339: Nurses Are The Best!!! —

Episode 339: Nurses Are The Best!!!

Last night I went out for a meal with work colleagues as one of our Sisters was taking early retirement. It was a bittersweet occasion as, although it was lovely for so many of us to go out together (about 40 of us), it was sad that nearly half of the people who came had either retired or left the ward to work somewhere else.

When I started on the ward, four years ago, there were only 15 patients to look after! Many of the staff had worked together for years and they were a very close-knit group. I was nervous when I started, especially as I didn’t know any of them, plus I was undertaking a new role which nobody understood!

Well I needn’t have worried as they welcomed me with open arms, and gave me all the help and support I needed over the two-year training period, which certainly went a long way towards me qualifying at the end of it!

After only a year of working there, we had to amalgamate with another ward which led to a lot of uncertainty. Staff left, some deployed elsewhere, and we gained others, so that in the end, we had 27 patients and more than a few disgruntled staff. some of whom did not ‘sign up’ to work on an elderly ward!

We had a lot of ‘us and them’ situations as well, before we became a cohesive team that sorted out the differences and found a way to work harmoniously. Added to that a load more staff leaving, more uncertainty, changes in ward management, staff being used to cover other wards, and chronic shortages of staff in general, and it became quite a stressful place at times.We had enough to contend with due to the type of patients we looked after, especially as many of them liked to try to escape or wander off!

What I love about working there though is the kindness, professionalism and compassion of those nurses, They are all so dedicated to their jobs, and we have still managed to have forged a great team. Certainly for me, having had to have time off when I have been particularly unwell, coming back to their hugs, well wishes and concern makes me realise how lucky I am to work there.

Working for the NHS, us nurses get a lot of negative comments in the media who love to bring us down. Yes, there have been a few incidents that have been highlighted of appalling care and mistreatment of patients; however, those people do not represent us all. The majority of us do care, and are dedicated to looking after our patients.

Last night made me realise how proud I am to be part of the nursing community. I am only sorry that for one reason or another, we are losing so many wonderful nurses who are disillusioned with the lack of support,lack of staff, and increasing workload (paperwork) that means that they cannot carry out what they joined up to do!

Free-For-All Friday #11 — May 22, 2015

Free-For-All Friday #11

It’s Friday which means it is time to share my favourite posts of the last week. I have got a great selection for your enjoyment and all of the blogs are well worth a visit.

Behind the White Coat  This post takes me back a few years before all of the Health and Safety rules and regulations; when kids were kids and played without worrying about getting hurt!

My Travels With Depression I have been following this blog for quite a while and find that we have a very similar sense of humour. This post really made me laugh as It is a situation I can imagine myself being in.

My Friday Blog Josh has a habit of telling things exactly as they are! He has strong views that I do not always totally agree with but in this post he totally hits the nail on the head!

The Off Key Of Life I really admire George for writing this post. He is a real gentleman that does not like to see laddish and loutish behaviour towards women.

Hugh’s Views and News  I have been following Hugh for quite a while now and he is one of the nicest people around, This post is very topical, and I love Hugh’s enthusiasm as well as optimism!

The V-Pub  I have not been following this blog for very long but it is always consistently good! Rob is quite a character and very funny.

Episode 338: Not A Positive Outcome! — May 21, 2015

Episode 338: Not A Positive Outcome!

I have read quite a few inspiring post lately about staying positive, focusing on all the good things rather than the negative. I am not too good at this but decided that it was time I turned things around and concentrated on the bright side of things.

Today was quite busy at work, and I was back to looking after my ladies again. It is a lovely day today and extremely hot and stuffy on the ward. Add to the mix a plastic apron and latex gloves (which are more often on than off) and it can get rather sweaty! (I should be a good couple of sizes smaller due to all the running around and sweating I do, but hey, I am not supposed to be negative)! Oh, and don’t forget to throw in the fact that my ladies get cold, so there are no windows open for longer than a nanosecond to let any air in either).

Anyway, a couple of ladies were upset due to an incident overnight, and I spent quite a lot of time talking to one of them to listen to her concerns, and give her some reassurance (Sister spoke to the other one). She seemed happy with what I had told her, and at the end of the conversation asked if it was ok if she could ask me a personal question. I of course, told her that it was, and she said,

“So when is your baby due?” Great! I have spent the last TWO MONTHS hula hooping trying to whittle myself a bloody waist, and that is what I get!  I was mortified (and so was she when I told her that I was not in fact pregnant). I am trying to find a positive to this, and the only thing I can come up with is at least she thinks I am still young enough to have a baby!

Episode 337: One-Liner Wednesday. Laughter — May 20, 2015

Episode 337: One-Liner Wednesday. Laughter

‘I love those people who can make me laugh during those moments when I feel like I can’t even smile.’

This post is inspired by LindaGHill 

Episode 336: #BeWoW Post. How I Connect. —

Episode 336: #BeWoW Post. How I Connect.

This Post is inspired by Ronovan’s Writes Be Wonderful on Wednesday.

As I was thinking about what to write here, I came to the conclusion that actually, I am not really great at connecting, at least not in most situations.

The fact that I have a blog and belong to an online community means that I do connect with others on a daily basis, sending comments back and forth, and getting into interesting conversations, and finding the funny side of things. This seems to be where I am most comfortable!

I am very shy and can sometimes come across as aloof in person, despite that being far from the truth. It just seems that I am so much better at expressing myself with the written word rather than the spoken one! This does not bode well in social situations though. Funnily enough, although I hate job interviews, I have always been quite lucky in that I have overcome the fear and secured the job, on many occasions. That was probably due to the fact that I knew I had to do it, or I would be jobless and penniless!

As far as my family and close friends are concerned, I am much better at making connections. It has always taken me a little while to get to know people to the point where I can just be myself with them. Last year for example, we had a family friend come over to visit us from Sweden where he now lives. He has known me since I was 9 years old, and we were in my mum’s back garden with other members of my family. He couldn’t get over how much I was joining in, laughing and making jokes. That is the real me, but not that many people get to see it because of my inability to connect well with others I do not know.

One of the other ways I connect with people is again through the written word but this time, a poem which is nearly always a funny little ditty. Whenever there is a family wedding, special celebration or even sad event I have always written a poem for that person. It is just my way of letting them know that I care for them, even though I am not good at saying it face to face.

We are not a ‘lovey-dovey’ type of family, Well, at least we were not brought up like that, My parents did not ever tell any of us that they loved us, as that is just the way it was then. However. all of us constantly tell our kids that we love them as it is important to have that security and knowledge to know you are loved. Love is certainly the strongest of connections, and I do have that bond with my daughter.

Mainly,in one way or another, whether written or spoken, I connect with people through humour. I think it is so much easier to make a connection with people if you are all laughing together!

Episode 335: Wacky Word Wednesday #3 —

Episode 335: Wacky Word Wednesday #3

It is time for me to find a wacky, wonderful or weird word to play with, and this week’s word comes courtesy of my dear blogging buddy Cat. He and I share a very similar sense of humour as well as a filthy mind!  So this week we give you….

Voluptuous. What a bodacious and buxom word this is.The well-proportioned woman, curvaceous and shapely, bursting out in all the right places! She is sensuous and sexy, enticing and erotic. teasing and tantalising with a fulsome figure to be proud of.

This lady is boobilicious and bootylicious, and knows how to work it to her advantage! She is hot and spicy, warm and welcoming, not to mention delightful and desirable. She is, most certainly, all-woman!

Episode 334: Compliments and Kisses! — May 19, 2015

Episode 334: Compliments and Kisses!

Us Brits are not very good at accepting compliments as a rule. We have that kind of self-deprecating humour, which I know I use a lot of the time. (I feel that it is better for me to get in first with the put-downs before someone else beats me to it).

It’s weird, that if someone does tell me that I look nice in an outfit, for example, I will soon draw attention to how big my tummy looks in it, or perhaps my chunky legs spoil the look. Whatever it is, whoever gave me the compliment probably soon regretted it; not only that, they also now know yet even more of my flaws that just maybe hadn’t been too obvious before I helpfully pointed them out!

The thing is, for me in particular, I was brought up to believe that you should be modest, never boast about anything and that it was not nice to be a ‘big-head!’ I don’t remember getting many compliments as a child probably to reinforce the message that ‘nobody likes a show-off!’

It is tricky to know where to draw the line as well. I was so proud when I graduated as it was only a couple of years ago, and therefore something I had to work pretty hard at to achieve, yet it felt really awkward when I told people about it, as I didn’t want them to think that I was ‘up myself!’

I am getting better at it now, especially at work, where we do get compliments at times;(in fact I got not one but two kisses today, which was sweet as I don’t usually look after the men)! However, I still can’t resist making a detrimental joke about myself most of the time!

What makes you feel awkward?

Episode 333: Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge #45: Pitch and Time — May 18, 2015

Episode 333: Ronovan Writes Weekly Haiku Poetry Prompt Challenge #45: Pitch and Time

It is that time again when Ronovan sets us the week’s Haiku challenge. The words that we are to use this week are ‘pitch’ and ‘time’. I shall try not to lower the tone this time!

Here is my attempt:

Early Risers.

It is 4am:

Time for the starlings to sing

Their pitch is too high!

photo credit. RSPCB
photo credit. RSPCB
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