I Haven't Written...

...in yonks years!

Christmas has come and gone, a new year has begun, Valentine's Day has now passed, and Tuesday is the first of March.

Where as the time gone?!

Since I last wrote I have had ups and downs. Lots of challenges with work, getting a new job, and then turning it down. The CQC came in and we got a compliant rating, and things were looking on the up and up. Now, residents are falling ill, or just falling, and the home is emptying out one room by one. We unfortunately lost one resident this week, which is sad.

And in 24 days my Dad will be here for two weeks to visit. SOOOOOOOO looking forward to that. The three of us will be traveling around the UK catching up with people and seeing sites. We're trying York again because last time we had to cut our holiday short due to food poisoning.

Ian and I have changed our eating habits (but not 100% strict) and we're now SLOWLY starting to lose some weight.

Friends have had great news to share. I won't go into full details all around, because I can't, but you all know who you are. :)

So it's been busy since Christmas. Let's see what life brings next!

Day 359 of 365: You Don't Bring Me Flowers

Nothing too exciting today. Went for a nice 2.5 mile walk with Ian today out in Chandler's Ford, and spoke with Jantina on the phone for a bit.

And we also got this aromatherapy thingie for Spike since I have failed to mention that the little guy has been spraying. Hopefully it'll work in stopping Spike from spraying, because I don't want to get rid of the boys. Spike seems really fine tonight though snuggled up between Ian and I.

But, photos of today....some pictures of flowers that the residents and I have grown from seeds at work:

Lady Bird Poppies

One of the dozen sunflowers that have come up

And of course, as soon as I finished watering this morning, the really dark clouds rolled in and it even thunder stormed today!

Day 358 of 365: Milestones

Took four residents to Milestones Living Museum today. Spent literally the last month planning for this day, and the last week freaking out about how we were even going to get there, and were there enough people to help escort. But all in all, it worked out.

Absolutely Knackered now that I pushed the heaviest resident in her wheelchair, as well as did an almost 2 mile walk with Ian when I got in. Goodness. Can barely keep my eyes open doing this post, so will keep it short.

Here are some photos from the day:

A pub inside Milestones that is a Fuller's pub, but called the original brewery name.

A real book published in 1956.

A REALLY scary fake cat at the grocers.

Now....I need sleep......

Day 331 of 365: Thank God It's Friday Night

Work seemed to drag on FOOOORRREEVVVEERRRR this week....and I only worked 4 days!

Was hectic, had visitors, and I worked at home until about 9pm Wednesday night making posters from our visit to the Watercress Line because we had VIPs from the council come to visit the home today (but my boss had a feeling they would arrive on Thursday). So we battled with visitors, and the power kept going out today due to workmen being in the building. But had a lovely morning chatting with the ladies and playing "Famous Faces."

Now, just taking a short break from the AMAZING book that I've been reading, thanks to one of the resident's daughters:



It's about a woman named Alice who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. She's only 50 yrs. old when she was diagnosed. And the story is about her experiences, and how she progresses month to month. Some moments were quite shocking. Some beautiful. Some heartbreaking. But I read the majority of it evening, and about to read more once I finish this blog entry.

Oh, and I also took a break to take this photo:


Spike likes sleeping on his back for some odd reason. He's adorable. :)

Day 318 of 365: We Are All Made of Stars

Absolutely GORGEOUS day today...

...but no time to really enjoy it because around 10am this morning, I met a woman that would decide the fate of my working career at the residential home.

It was the inspector from the CQC!!!

We had been waiting for months and months to have our "make or break" inspection. Was supposed to happen shortly after Christmas. But, it's now past Easter and it's finally happening.

Everyone working today had a short interview with her. She walked around the home. She looked at care plans. We all waited with baited breath.

Finally....at the end of the normal working day, we got the news.

We got the star that we needed to stay open and start admitting new residents!!!!!

The inspector said she wanted to give us 2 stars, but it's not something that can happen (to go from zero stars to two). So....they'll be back in October and if things are still going well or have gotten even better (which I'm hoping things'll get MUCH better), we can bump up to 2 stars!!

Definitely a wonderful day. It's nice to know that none of the residents have to move somewhere else.

And my co-worker, Jean, got me flowers as a way of saying thank you for driving her up to Basingstoke for our food training course a few weeks ago.


Now I'm absolutely knackered, and about to head out to dinner with Ian, Jon, and Amanda. :)

And also, thank you to Kathryn and Cheryl for picking me up from work today!!!!

Day 317 of 365: WOOOOO HOOOOO!!

Today was the warmest day of the year, thus far. And it was absolutely gorgeous!

Unfortunately, I couldn't appreciate it to the fullest because I had a long training day at the council offices. Although, the training was QUITE interesting and can't wait to learn and practice more.

Annnnnnddd......coolest thing. I went to bed early last night, but woke up when Ian came to bed. I had the greatest, sleepy laugh when I saw his most AWESOME mustache.

Ian and his co-worker decided it would be awesome to have weird mustaches for their meeting today, but I seriously think Ian should keep his for awhile. :)

Day 315 of 365: Chirp Chirp

O.k....so this is a bit of a cheat entry today, because I didn't actually take the photo. It was taken by Jenny T, the kitchen assistant at work (she's a sweetheart, btw).

These little feathery things are the baby chicks that hatched over Easter weekend. My boss and I got a flyer in the post about a company called Living Eggs. So, we thought it would be adorable for Easter so we had it all set up. They were delivered early last week when I was on holiday, and today was the first day I had seen them. I picked them up, changed their bedding, almost killed them (the light fixture blew the bulb off of the unit and it shot across the box...the poor chicks! It LITERALLY scared the poop out of them), had some of the residents hold the chicks, and one of the carers and I gave most of them a bath in the sink in the toilet to wash the poo off their bums.

They go to a hobby farm this coming Saturday, but we still want to keep them. Just a shame that we no longer have grass in our courtyard because they could live out there free of harm. Oh well....hopefully they will go to a good home.

But aren't they adorable?!

Day 308 of 365: What Holiday???

Was supposed to start my holiday off from work today, but was conned into going to a training course.

Atleast it was next to Winchester Cathedral, and it wasn't a bad training course, actually. Quite informative.

Day 288 of 365: Curling

Haven't really had a chance to catch any of the Olympics, although I found out that some of the residents at work stay up until about 2am to watch the events. No wonder they've all been very tired lately?!

Today I finally got to watch a few minutes of the curling though with one of the residents. She had it on in her room, and I stopped by for a short visit. Was nice to catch some with her.

Day 273 of 365: Snowmen, Old Ladies, and Snuggies

FINALLY took a photo of the snowman that they made at work when I was home on Wednesday. Apparently some of the old dears sat and watched as one of the line managers, and our registered manager's son built the snowman. I have to say though, that the snow has made everyone work together at work, annndd the atmosphere is getting better. If only we could do away with some of the negative people, it would be MUCH better.

Anyways, Ian took me to and from work again today. Got in and our Snuggies had arrived!

And, btw, if my husband sees that I've posted this photo, he'll kill me. :p Taken on the sly with my mobile:

We're like kangaroos now because the Snuggies have a pocket in the front!

Day 243 of 365: I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost

One of the carers said that I can do "recession friendly arts and crafts" since a few of the residents and I made this wreath all out of things that I already had (aside from the ghosts and pumpkins, which I printed off of the internet).

Not bad, really.

Day 238 of 365: Who Let The Dogs Out?

Long day at work again today, but it was quite good and everything went well this morning with our visitors.

Before leaving tonight (after an 11 hour day) I gave the dog at work, Harry, a little snuggle. He's an adorable dog, but his farts are the WORST that I have EVER smelled before. But, ya gotta love that face.

Day 237 of 365: Ice Ice Baby

Woke up this morning, did my usual thing. Eventually got in my car to go to work and look what was on my windscreen already......ice. A very thin layer of it. It WAS blinkin' cold out this morning, but my goodness!

I told Fudge to go inside because it was so cold. She proceeded to walk under a parked car, ignoring me.

Had a long day at work today. Going to have a long one tomorrow as well.

So off to bed for me!

Day 236 of 365: Mmmm....Indian

My MIL wanted a takeaway tonight for tea, which worked out since Ian and I didn't really feel like cooking.

Above is a photo of an onion bahjee, which is excellent. :)

Work was a bit crazy today. I have lots of little things to get done by Wednesday. HOPEFULLY I can get them all taken care of.

Now..it's time to relax and drift off to dreamland here.

Day 233 of 365: Friday!

It's Friday!

Which means I don't have to look at my locker or go to work until Monday.

Woot!

Also, Happy 69th Birthday to Mr. John Winston Ono Lennon! <3

Day 231 of 365: Color or Colour?

However you spell it, the tree outside the front of work is really starting to turn now.

I went out and picked up leaves off the ground today to laminate to have for future use. Hopefully they never turn moldy.

Day 229 of 365: Spooky....I Love Spook

Back to work for me today. Stomach is still feeling a bit wonky, but gotta press on.

So I want to get work ready for Halloween. Might work, might not. Spent time today looking up easy craft ideas to make with the residents. Found instructions to make this ghost windsock out of paper.

One resident said it looks like a squid.....*giggles*

Gotta love the elderly!

Day 217 of 365: Girl, You Better Work...

Went to a training course for activity coordinators today. I'm really glad I said I would go!

Got lots of ideas from other coordinators in the county, met lots of nice people, and even got a few email contacts.

Looking forward to the next meeting in November. :)

Day 215 of 365: I Gotta Wear Shades...

...because my new work uniform polo shirt is so bright I could go out, stand on the M3, and not even be hit at night.

And this photo doesn't even do it justice. If I used the flash on the photo, it looked white, so this had to be taken without the flash, and with bad overhead lighting.

Oh well, even the residents said "We'll never overlook you again!"

Day 211 of 365: Stop, In the Name of Love

My view on the way to work.

And yes, you may just be able to see that I listen to Chris Moyles on the way to work in the morning. LOVE his show. No wonder he's been on the radio for so long.

Anyway, which is the really busy roundabout that I approach that EVERYONE seems to use in the morning. Drives me nuts.

But I felt bad for the guy on the motorbike in front of me because shortly after he got into the queue, his bike stalled to the point where he couldn't restart it, so he had to pull over into the bus lane on the left.

Poor guy.

And this shot was taken after I had sat in the queue of traffic for about 10 minutes. And the line goes for about half a mile behind me. It's crazy in the morning.