2015-08-30T15:18:28+01:00

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Episode 476: Inspiration and Motivation.

August 30, 2015/Judy E Martin/42 Comments

Not a bad end to the week really when I find that I have actually lost 3lb! I have had quite a bit of inspiration and encouragement from so many of you lovely bloggers, and have tentatively put a foot forward on the tightrope that is going to lead me to a healthier life, once I get to the other side.

The 3lb has had a knock-on effect in that I actually felt motivated to get out into the fresh air and have a brisk walk to shake off the inertia that had settled on me this morning, (That might have something to do with Miss Hap having a very noisy sleepover last night and me not getting a lot of sleep)!

As I am off this week I can even paint my nails, which is a luxury indeed! I have already raided Miss Hap’s extensive nail varnish collection and chosen 5 bright colours to pretty up my toenails but am going to take my time choosing something for my finger nails.

I have even been sociable with ‘My Fitness Pal’ telling him all about my lovely low-calorie meals and fruit and veg intake, in order that he can monitor my progress (poor thing is easily pleased)!

I am really grateful that motivation turned up this week as it is usually hiding away somewhere unwilling to get involved. It makes such a huge difference, especially when inspiration and support had already joined the party. It means that I have got more chance of getting success and achievement to come round!

Episode 475: Kicking Back and Letting Go.

August 29, 2015/Judy E Martin/47 Comments

What a week this has been! My routine oriented, working patterns, all arse-about-face! Two night shifts in a row is pretty alien to me, and I had one hell of a job sleeping the next day (particularly when my neighbours had a row outside my bedroom window and she kicked him out, hurling insults after him as he roared off in the car).

Unfortunately, I notice that he has returned to the matrimonial home, but must be keeping a low profile as there is none of the usual shouting (or even singing) at the top of his voice for our ‘entertainment!’

The second half of the week saw me get the job that I had applied for. The preparation and research that I did through sleep-deprived, half-closed eyes paid off, and my confidence, and self-esteem got a much-needed boost. I did it!

Friday saw me back at work, and even the fact that there were only 6 of us looking after 26 patients did not dampen my spirits, as the team that were on shift are brilliant. It is going to be so difficult saying goodbye to them, but in the last year alone 16 staff have left with a few others are to follow soon. I know I am doing the right thing as conditions are not going to improve,

The other change that I made is that sadly, I no longer write my ‘Wacky News Stories’ for the magazine, as they were looking to change direction. I could have stayed and written more serious stuff, but as I was also doing some editing and uploading articles from three other writers, I found it all too time-consuming and I do not like to do things half-cocked!

Today It was out to get Miss Hap some new school shoes and other bits that she needed as they go back on Wednesday; (I have got the week off so actually get the other two days to myself)! As both Miss Hap and Mr Grump are out, I put my feet up and had a much-needed nap!

https://pixabay.com/

Episode 469: Five Fashion Favourites for Foul Weather!

August 23, 2015/Judy E Martin/61 Comments

We have had a few heavy downpours today as the weather is so hot and humid. I thought it might be a bit of fun to share with you some wet weather gear from past and present, designed to keep us dry whilst keeping an eye on fashion (well, whatever it was at the time anyway):

I remember my Nan had one of these. She never went anywhere without it and it folded down into around an inch square. By the time she unwrapped it, her little bit of candy floss hair was soaked!!

The good old mushroom brolly. I remember walking to the bus stop after school smoking, when this umbrella barged into me and demanded to know my name and which form I was in. Underneath this mushroom lurked a very short, bad-tempered teacher, who was well-hidden in its depths. She reported me!

These head umbrellas were quite popular. I was going to share with you a photo of my brother sporting one of these along with his 80’s perm and sunglasses (?) but I value my life too much for that, so here it is modelled by a head instead.

Of course, you can’t leave your little four-legged friend to get soaked so here is one for the pampered pooch.

Now, I have saved the very best till last. This needs no explanation other than WHAT THE HELL WAS SHE THINKING?!!!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/saulocruz/10478598775

Episode 461: Recycled Teenager.

August 16, 2015/Judy E Martin/34 Comments

When my dad was well into his seventies, he and my step-mother still tried to live life to its fullest. They went off on all sorts of cruises everywhere, and when they were back at home, were members of various clubs; ‘The Walkers’ club and ‘Munch Club’ speak for themselves but they also belonged to what they referred to as the ‘Recycled Teenagers’ club, where a group of like-minded pensioners strutted their stuff to music and got up to all sorts of mischief.

For me, the teenage years although pretty uneventful are not ones that I would be keen to revisit. The one thing that I didn’t get as a teenager (apart from a bust, which I was very resentful about), was spots.

Yes, I was lucky as many of my peers suffered with dreadful acne that was both painful and soul-destroying for a young image-conscious teen. I escaped with the odd spot once a month and that was it.

So why the hell at nearly 50 years old have I suddenly got 4 spots on my face! All at once, all in the same day. I mentioned that I had a pretty rough day yesterday, but when I got home and took off my glasses, I thought the bridge of my nose was sore where they had rubbed, but no, there was a spot there, its twin had settled just near the corner of my eye, the triplet by the corner of my mouth, and its quadruplet right on top of a small mole I have just under my chin!

Not the most attractive sight in the world but when I asked Mr Grump to look at the one on my nose, he just laughed because it had caused the bridge of my nose to swell up a bit, making me look a little bit odd and distorted (well more than usual anyway)!

I know sometimes as we get older it is said that we recede back to our childhood! What happened to the 40s, 30s and 20s??!!!

http://2.design-milk.com/images/2012/04/bird-poop-chandelier-4.jpg

Episode 458: I Should Be So Lucky!

August 15, 2015/Judy E Martin/32 Comments

Tonight I am absolutely shattered! As I briefly mentioned yesterday, I am working completely different shifts to normal in order that I can cover child care for the summer holidays for Miss Hap.

Just as I had finally caught up with my sleep after working two 12 and a half hour night shifts on Monday and Tuesday, it was time for me to go back in today. Stupidly I thought I would have to do a ‘long day’ (12 and a half hours) as opposed to my normal ‘short shift’ (7 and a half hours). By the time I realised my mistake it was too late to change as we were desperately short-staffed and I headed off to work with a heavy heart.

When only 6 of us turned up for work looking after 26 patients with at least 6 that liked to wander around and escape first chance they got, I knew it was going to be a busy day, particularly as 2 staff were on short days, but of course you get on with it.

We doubled up as much as we could and managed to just about get everyone washed in time for lunch, Apart from getting a smacked face from a patient that didn’t want to have her face washed, and tripping over a crash mat into my colleague, the morning went ok up until my break time.

I decided that I would treat myself to the full English breakfast, which I took outside to eat with my colleague on the smoker’s bench (no, I haven’t taken it up again even though I felt like it today)! I managed to slop baked bean juice all down my dress which left a lovely orange blob on my grotty grey uniform which did nothing to enhance it. The wasps seemed to love it though and kept buzzing around me which, of course, made me shriek.

Once I got back to the ward one of my colleagues started dabbing at me with an antibacterial wipe, as unbeknownst to me I had a massive splodge of bird poo on my side (how the hell that got there, I have no idea. Great….looking nice and professional now. Added to that the coffee that missed my mouth, and decided to join the party, I was rather more colourful that I started out!

I thought the afternoon might be easier as we were sent 2 more staff when the other two left, which although still left us short, was a great help. It looked up a bit when I was talking to a colleague explaining something with a hand on my hip and a really tall handsome young relative decided to link his arm through mine for some reason (not that I complained)!

After that, it was downhill all the way! The restless patients had a renewed vigour to escape and did not want to be coaxed or cajoled to stay. Hoists played up, zimmer frames disappeared and one that we did have was viciously guarded by one of my ladies who was convinced it was hers and I was not to let anyone have it. I tried explaining it belonged to the hospital but she was not having it and I was on the receiving end of some very strong words several times until her daughter visited and told her it was indeed the hospital’s.

So my day was rather manic. and despite the fact that actually it is just a normal day on our ward, the longer hours were rather draining! Still, isn’t bird poo supposed to be lucky? Must check that Lottery ticket tomorrow!

Episode 457: Go On, Spit it Out!

August 14, 2015/Judy E Martin/39 Comments

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Break the Silence.”

I thought that I would have a go at today’s writing prompt from the Daily Post as it was something that resonates with me.

I have always been pretty timid and shy, as well as a people pleaser so the idea of speaking out about something is alien to me. I would rather carry on being taken advantage of, worrying or seething inside than confronting the issue head-on and trying to sort out the problem.

Oh yes, I know that I should speak up or shut up,as opposed to bottling everything up, until the inevitable explosion, where I would end up incoherently blabbing about something that happened ages ago!

Mostly though, I chose to keep quiet. Notice I said chose. I am becoming stronger, especially now that I am fast approaching the half a century milestone, and realise that life already too short is getting a damn sight shorter!

I have, little by little, been speaking up about things. There are still many that I can’t broach yet as I do not want to lose one of my friends (she has a partner who I have begun to see in a totally different light, and it is not pleasant)m but there are also some situations that I have tackled and I am pleased I did.

I e-mailed my boss and outlined my concerns at work. I did get called into her office, and explained what was wrong. After consulting with a senior member of staff who backed me up, she did take it seriously (shame she couldn’t just take my word for it, but at least I got somewhere).

I am also speaking up when I am not feeling ‘well’ (anxiety) which I just left until it got too much and would have to go to the doctor. I think people are pretty understanding about it.

I have began to realise that no-one else is going to understand my resentment of a situation if I do not let them know that it is upsetting me for whatever reason. So I am going to assert myself more and ‘spit it out!’

http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumblarge_3593/35934290.jpg

Episode 454: One-Liner Wednesday: Like Mother, Like Daughter!

August 12, 2015/Judy E Martin/5 Comments

BANG……CRASH…..THUMP…bump, bump,bump!

“Mum, there’s a bee in my room!”

Actually, it was a wasp, not that I got anywhere near it!

This post was inspired by LindaGHill

http://cristianaziraldo.altervista.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Alphabet.jpg

Episode 449: Broken English.

August 8, 2015/Judy E Martin/69 Comments

Now I am quite an old-fashioned, traditional woman as some of you might have noticed. I am also partial to using some out-dated words or phrases as we have such a rich and beautiful language. It is a shame to let them disappear into the mists of time, shrivelling up with lack of use.

I have noticed something disturbing over the years however, that has become more prevalent as technology advances and the world becomes smaller. The fact that I have a young daughter who likes to keep up with the latest fads and trends, also brings this home to me, and I don’t like it one bit.

I may not be the best at writing, I understand that my grammar leaves a lot to be desired at times, and I am careless and shoddy with my proofreading (I know, being the Typo Queen is not something to be proud of). However I do try to make sure that I at least make some use of the language that I was brought up with. I am proud of being English and as such become very annoyed that my mother-tongue is being messed about with, chopped up and put in a blender, and coming out with chunks in it that I am unfamiliar with!

Now, I do not wish to offend anyone at all, this is my opinion, and being a bit of an old ‘stick in the mud’ I like the language just the way it is, thank you very much.

To illustrate my point, here are a few examples

Text Talk WTF??? (See, I can do some of the trendy abbreviations). You will probably not be surprised to know that when I text someone, I write the whole lot out in full, complete with punctuation. I know, I am extremely uncool. (but I do love a smiley face) but I hate all of this cul8tr stuff. I mean, what the hell is that? The first time I saw it I tired to read it as a word, thinking it was ‘culture’ and that someone has pressed the 8 by mistake and did it in a hurry, (Something I am always guilty of).

All these abbreviations are fine,(if you can understand them), but I do worry that our kids are losing the art of writing. I remember when I was at school we had to learn how to write all the different types of letters, using the appropriate greeting and how to sign off, which I am not sure they still teach, despite the fact that letters do still need to be written on occasion.

The other thing I get annoyed about, is nicking words from other languages when we have perfectly good ones of our own! Miss Hap does it all the time (she knows it annoys me)

“Mum, have you got any Bobby pins?”

“What? Oh, you mean hair grips”!

Grrrrr.

Trash/garbage- rubbish

Cotton candy – candy floss

Gotten – got

You get the idea. Or calling each other ‘bruv!’ I am not your bloody bruv, nor am I your ‘mate!’

I know I am getting to be an ‘Old Codger’ but I can’t help it. Is it just me or does it wind you up that written language is becoming so informal and casual?

Episode 429: Sisters

July 25, 2015/Judy E Martin/30 Comments

A sister is a good friend

Who knows you very well

A sister is a confidante

To whom secrets you can tell

A sister is a shoulder

To cry on when you’re sad

A sister is a comfort

For when things turn out bad

A sister is a treasure

More precious than pure gold

A sister can be relied on

Whatever the future holds

A sister will support you

In all you say and do

A sister is a Godsend

And lucky me to have two!

Although I have published this poem on my blog before, I decided it needed another airing!

Episode 427: Summertime At The Beach!

July 22, 2015/Judy E Martin/31 Comments

It is my day off today, and as the weather has been so hot and sunny, we decided last night that we would go to the seaside today. Miss Hap has broken up for the school holidays and Mr Grump has this week off. As my world revolves around food I decided that we would take a picnic, and I even made my picnic pie to munch on. After all lazing on the beach with the odd bit of swimming thrown in is hungry work!

This morning we all got up and ready quite early. The weather forecast promised to be good so we set off to the seaside! The sun was shining and in just over 20 mins, we had arrived to the beach we used to go to a lot when we were kids. We pulled into the car park but it was shut! It seemed there was one a little further down the road instead.

We parked up after spending some considerable time on the phone trying to pay for the parking (stupidly we didn’t have the right change). We got that sorted and then decided to go on to the sands. We left our towels and picnic in the boot whilst we checked out whether the tide was in or not.

One we got it we noticed it was decidedly chilly, and a few ominous grey clouds had appeared. Luckily we had bought jumpers etc, and on a positive note had the beach to ourselves.

I even went in for a little paddle (it was bloody FREEZING)!

Unfortunately though, the little huts where you could buy hot drinks, ice creams and even beach goods were all closed so we moved down the coast a little to Dymchurch where Mr Grump and I warmed up with a latte and Miss Hap a hot chocolate!

At least we got a hot drink there (oh and had another car parking phone call)!

It was nice to see the English, Scottish and Welsh flags flying over the small amusement park (which was closed when we for there)! Even the poor donkeys had nothing to do.

It felt as if we were in the Twilight Zone or something; after all, it is the middle of July which is supposed to be summer, and hardly anything was open!

Oh, we ate the picnic in the car!

Rhyme and No Reason!

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

Category: Life

Episode 476: Inspiration and Motivation.

Episode 475: Kicking Back and Letting Go.

Episode 469: Five Fashion Favourites for Foul Weather!

Episode 461: Recycled Teenager.

Episode 458: I Should Be So Lucky!

Episode 457: Go On, Spit it Out!

Episode 454: One-Liner Wednesday: Like Mother, Like Daughter!

Episode 449: Broken English.

Episode 429: Sisters

Episode 427: Summertime At The Beach!

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

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