Peas perfect Peas

Apologies for being a lazy blogger - the days seem to have flown by. However inspired by the first batch of home grown pea's I decided to get my backside off the sofa, and put fingers too the keyboard.....

Ta-da....
Evidence of the child slave labour employed in my house....

Although I think Little Miss ate more than she admitted to. Fresh peas from the pod bring back strong childhood memories of my Grandpa's garden, continued on by my Uncle's vegetable patch. I hope in turn, it becomes a special memory for my two little people.

As do Sweet Pea's always grown by my Grandma. For years I have tried to grow them, with gradual improving success - this year has been the best yet....

I am beginning to find my feet in the new job, it's been a huge learning curve (more mountain, I think). I have started to take on my own case load under supervision, and I don't think I realised just how emotionally tiring it can be (& I think I may have been doing a tad too much sofa spliging in the evening). Yet I continue to be amazed at peoples kindness, warmth and often humour as I visit them at home. On hot days people have been kind enough to offer ice cold lemonade, and many a sensitive conversation has been held over a cup of tea. Everybody has a story to tell, and its fascinating (& sometimes sad) to hear them....

One of the nice things about the job at this time of the year, is driving around the many areas of green country side surrounding the patch I cover. I never realised just how green it is where I live & the rolling hills that surround the area

Here's a sneaky peak of one of my often travelled roads....

And this is the road I drive down to the Hospice each morning - Patrick Gale wrote in his book 'Notes from an exhibition' about a lane where the tree's arch over, creating a green cathedral in the light, and this is the thought I hold in my mind, as I go to & from work each day. It gives a sense of peace and calm at the start & end of my working day.

& finally (in my best Trevor MacDonald voice) continuing on the Green theme - Perfectly Happy Mum tagged me to make a green promise - I missed the proper week.

However it did make me think. I am an avid recycler of plastics as well as paper/tin/compost, redistribute clothes & knick knacks, and rarely fill my fortnightly black bin - I did notice that I am a bit of a lazy madam with the wash powder liquid & fabric conditioner, preferring to judge the quantity - far quicker... Yet it's quite amazing; when you do use the measure, the bottle really does last 24/42 washes. Better for the environment & my purse - thank you Peggy!

Love Lydia xx

Interview Day

Hello All,

What a day it has been.

The job interview was the toughest I've ever had, and I have spent most of the day getting in a tizzle over it all, convinced that I had blown it.

However I decided to count my blessings & bought myself some flowers to cheer myself up....

G was also convinced that I was in need of flower therapy & bought me 2 bunches of these...

Oh and some of theses. I think the village florists have done well out of us today....

He also bought me a card saying that him & the little people loved me...

So here I sit, looking at my flowers, brought to cheer me up, cup of tea, eating the emergency chocolate & wondering why my card doesn't say congratulations...

Because I got the job.

Oh yes - I am going to become a Macmillan Nurse...

I think my new boss may think he's offered the job to a noodle though - as I had Kate Winslet moment when he told me...

So thank you for all your support & good luck messages - I am sure they helped!

Love Lydia xxx

Drowning not Waving....

Today I am drowning in a sea of paperwork, I am soo stressed as I am desperately trying to get together a presentation for (this next bit is in being typed as a whisper...)

A job interview tomorrow....

Good job I have this....

Tomorrow I will eat it if i have to - a) commiserate or b) celebrate.

That's if either of us survive tonight....

Off to have a mini - no, major melt down!

Love Lydia xx

Who Am I? Part One

Who am I?

I am Lydia, and Monday to Thursday I am a Nurse.

I have been in nursing since I was 19, and whilst thinking about this blog, I realised that in a couple of years, I will have been a nurse for longer that I have not been a nurse.

There's a thought....

I haven't always wanted to be a nurse - Oh no, I wanted to go to Uni and study ceramics. However it didn't take long to realise that pots don't equal pounds, unless you are fantastically gifted (and I'm not)

People always told me I'd make a good nurse, and after watching a few hospital drama's (Casualty, Angels, Dr Kildiare) I thought what a good idea - drama, action, handsome doctors!

How they expand the truth....

Nursing has made such an impact on my life, I met G through work, my closest, dearest friends are all nurses, and my 3 immediate neighbours are all nurses. From student training, to the wards and finally the unit, I have made friendship's that have lasted the tests of time.

Well after a long hard slog, years on the general wards, I am here working on a Chemotherapy unit. It's a place that at the start of my nursing, I never would have thought that I'd have wanted to be, yet is the place and position that over the past few years I have worked so hard to get to - how life and growing has changed me.

It's a job that can be stressful, and sometimes heartbreaking, but usually its a job of laughter & hope.


Would you like to have a peek at me as a nurse??

My uniform - so proud to be in navy, to help set high standards, and lead by example. I am fortunate to work with lovely fellow nurses, who are really committed.

After years in solitary confinement (I worked in trousers and tunics on the wards) my buckle is back in use. Solid Silver, it was bought by my M&D for qualifying - oh the hours that went into choosing it, and I am still to this day, convinced that it is the loveliest buckle ever. My mum was so proud, sewing it onto the webbing belt...

(Somewhat more webbing was required this time round, courtesy of the babies....)

A variety of pens, all have their own uses, and are required every day. Notebooks - I am a habitual note writer at work...



My original student nurse scissors, and my tourniquet (it's got special Lydia mo-jo)- we are all a truly superstitious bunch on the unit & only ever use our own....


My bleep - so my matron can keep track of me - It reaches my home, and leaves me in a moral quandary if I forget to switch it off, and it bleeps on my day off....

Yes I do ring in the hospital & answer it, just in case its really important (which it never is....)




Finally L'Occitane hand cream - for after all that hand washing, and lippy just in case Dr Mc Dreamy does appear o the unit (You need to watch Greys anatomy & then you'll understand!)

All packed away until Monday, and how exciting, tomorrow is Friday-my -Day!

Love Lydia xx

Snow & snow school...

Today a record number of schools in Derbyshire were closed - so the nice man on the local radio announced....Oh Joy

Finally at 8.25 it was announced on the record list of school closures being read on the radio, that the Infants were shut. And a lean out of the bedroom window conversation with a neighbour told me that so was the Junior school.

The children were beside themselves with excitement - I was beside myself for other reasons. The slope & curve that needs negotiating to get of the close looked like it could be used for dancing on ice training sessions & I was supposed to be at work.

I love my mother-in-law. She caught her bus, then a taxi (because the buses were stuck) and came to my rescue. I was late to work - but better late than never (although the day off might have been nice....)

As for the small people, out came the beach buckets & spades....



Why don't you did away from the already cleared once drive?

Yes that's better....

Teamwork makes the dream work - (very cheesy, very effective, often used saying in our house).

Yes I know you love snow.....& now mummy must scoot off to work.... please be good for Grandma....

I came home to happily tired, pink faced children - who had been good for Grandma.

I'm now fed & watered, and about to catch up on a few very late thankyou's.

I'm going for the line of thinking, that it's the thought that counts - and anyway, I'm sure these lovely cards will make of for their lateyness?!

Love from Lydia xx