Yesterday

The bootsale went really well and we raised £100 to go into the tenants fund. A few staff were there and two tenants were helping out with the bootsale too. A good amount made in the few hours, I think! A lot of stuff went back to the workplace… The items were given from the tenants etc and there’s so much left over and so much we didn’t take in the first place (due to space in the car!) … there’s another bootsale in July and hopefully a lot of it will go then.

Today

Charity walk for the British Skin Foundation, I was so stressed when it came to finding the park… I knew where the park was but I didn’t know where the entrance was to get the car into the park so I was driving around the block about 4 times before I phoned up a guy I was volunteering with and he asked where I was and he said he’d rescue me. He met me and then I drove behind him and lead us to the park. We get to the park and there’s no sign of anything. We had a nice scenic drive all the way through the park (it is a big park) and after about 30 minutes we see a tent in the distance. We try to follow it and in the end had to walk on foot over the footbridge to see how to get the car in there. So we figure out where it is and get back into our cars and YAY to finding it… !!! Race didn’t start until 12, even though H told me it was 11am start. I clocked up 40 miles by the time we got to the park and the location of where it actually is, was only 20 miles away!! That’s how much hassle took to find the place.

We then met up with another guy volunteering with us - he got lost too and only noticed he was in the right place when he saw our uniforms. 3 hours of just general chatting, no casualties. Now I’m home and cooking casserole!

… I have been watching Big Brother. *ducks to dodge the flying tomatoes*

I have to say it is the biggest pile of crap I have seen to date. I have watched a few BBs over the years and this one I just cannot really get into at all. I could easily go without watching it because not one person in that house stands out to me, and I couldn’t say who I think the winner could be, not that I really care either way. They’re a bunch of young folk and one of the main reasons why I found it interesting in the past is because of the mixture of ages and clashes of personality. This year most of them are young and the oldest I think is Mario who is in his 30s and it is just so tediously boring. But, from what I have watched, here’s my view of the housemates… keep in mind I haven’t watched this show consistently or anything so my thoughts may be waaay off what the housemates are really like!

(more…)

… because that’ll be just weird.

Gawd I’m soooo stressed. And tired. And irritable. And just generally in a bad mood, so it seems. I’m also in pain too. I think I may have hurt my elbow when using the hoist at work today. Think I used my arm a bit too much with the hoist and stretched a muscle or something so it hurts to bend my arm but it’ll be alright.
Work has been busy this week. A new tenant. Actually, two. No, three! Three new tenants. Two of them were birds though. A tiny little sparrow got trapped between one of the firedoors. How on earth it got there is anyones guess as we haven’t got a clue. My boss phoned up the RSPB but they said they couldn’t get there until the day after so my boss got out the screwdrivers and got the bird out and put Chirpy in the office in a box with shredded paper, something to drink and some food. Boss even went outside to get the little fella a worm and he was taken to a sancturay - we heard today that the bird was released.

Another bird was found this morning, outside one of the flats. It seems it was attacked or something because it couldn’t fly and apparently when my boss went to pick the bird up he moved away or something… the boss put the bird under her wings (so to speak) and kept it in the office and phoned up the RSPB and someone collected it. They said it doesn’t look good for the bird because it was unable to fly..

A lot of paperwork this week. Phewwwwy!! Assessment this, assessment that. Admission forms (for those who have had to go to hospital) as well as the daily report forms. The poor trees that have to suffer because of the city council.

Tomorrow I’m helping out at a community centre. The place I work are setting up a stall that have bits and pieces from the tenants so we can sell, and put the money we make into their fund which goes towards trips etc. It took a good few weeks sorting out all the things we were given. From tables to cooking utensils to mexican hats to clothes such as shirts, trousers, skirts and underpants/knickers - which went into the bin. Don’t know about anyone else but I wouldn’t like to buy a second hand pair of undies. Overall there’s a lot of good stuff there. Someone recently passed away and their relative didn’t want any of the things left over in the flat and she gave them all to us, many of the things were brand new and it would be a shame for them to end up in the trash, which is where they would have gone.

On Sunday it looks like I’m providing first aid cover in Cardiff. There’s a marathon and I hope for the competitors sake the weather will be decent for them, better than it has been for the past two days - weather here has been absolutely crap.

Ok well today I have been doing a lot of research about joining the ambulance service. I joined a forum namely ‘Ambulance999′ and the information in the ‘Joining the NHS’ forum is very, very helpful indeed. I haven’t posted in the forum but am sure if I have any questions there will be people there to advise me.

I got a bit more information about the course in Swansea. It’s the nearest university that offers the
Paramedic Science course and it’s fulltime for 2 years. I need 5 GCSEs including Maths & Science and English/Welsh Language at grade C or above - which I have. But, they also want AS/A Level grades that total up 160 UCAS points - which I don’t have. I have 140 points. Also, they don’t involve a science, so that’s something I need to work towards…

One of the local colleges offers a Human Biology AS/A Level course and that’s available in the evenings. Part time, I guess, which is good, if I can carry on working… but my shift patterns change soooo I dunno. =/

I also need a C1 driving license and have just checked and I can apply for that now (18+) by the looks of it… but I’ve been told it costs an arm and a leg, into the thousands, so that’ll have to wait… Some courses provide it’s students with the C1 driving license but not at Swansea.

I could go in the traditional way - making my way up from ambulance care assistant but as time goes on it’s becoming difficult to get into the service that way and it may come to a stage where less technicians will be recruited. So it’s best to go the university way…

Hmm… just needed to get this out in words, so I can look back at it later. It all really depends on what happens in August. If I stay on, and if the lady I’m covering for does decide to leave, I’ll apply for the job and work for a while to get my monies up, I also enjoy the work. If possible, I may go into education too. If the lady doesn’t decide to leave, then the ‘casual’ pay may not be enough so I’ll go back into education.

Will see what happens. =/

Ok quick rundown… the second day of the course went really well and was interesting. We were acting in senarios involving face-to-face and on the phone. One person had to be the supporter and the other, the supported. When I was the supporter on the phone I had to support someone who had money problems and thought his wife had lost her job as she was being secretive. When I was the supported, I had to act as a student who lost a friend in a terrorist bomb attack. As for face-to-face… I had to support someone who wanted to be a model but they were involved in a bad accident and left with loads of scars effecting their self confidence and lead to depression. When I was being supported, I had to act as an elderly lady who’s house had burnt down and she had lost all her possessions, and was especially upset about losing the money she had saved up. It was an interesting course.

I had the week off work last week… went to Barry Island on Monday with my dad and went to Weston Super Mare with my dad & Callum on Thursday.

On Saturday Callum and I went to London to an SF meetup and we both had SUCH a great time!! We met at Waterloo, sat by the embankment then headed to a pub where we just chatted and chillaxed. The meet was awesome and afterwards 6 of us had a sleepover and we were up until gone 4am. Callum and I boarded a train at 9am and we got back to Newport at 2:30pm. I felt sorry for Callum because he had to get another train back to Swindon.

I was going to take dad out for a meal for father’s day but the place we were going to go to stops serving food at 4pm so dad asked if we could have a takeaway instead. We both had a sirloin steak for £6.30 and it came with chips & salad. HUGE!!! Couldn’t eat half of it.

Back to work today, usual dramas! Am tired, but drinking coffee and eating bourbon biscuits so it’s ok.

Well today I went to the Red Cross course and it was pretty interesting. I got there *just* in time. I went to town to book train tickets for next weekend and August (I’m going to London) at 8am but the ticket office was closed. I then went to Greggs and got something for breakfast (as my stomach rumbles which would be embarrassing in the quiet room on the course…) and I got my dad a sausage roll. So I drove home, got out of the car, opened the front door put the sausage roll on the living room table, jumped back in the car and it took me 3 minutes to get from my house to the training centre (it’s only up the road), which is a good convieniance!

So ya the course, it’s about emotional support. The trainer was a counsellor which was helpful and she described to us the stages of reaction after a crisis, how people feel etc, how to prepare ourselves, first words, body language etc, listening skills, empathy etc. We were given case studies and we were asked how we’d help and what the people involved would want us to do if they’re in a crisis like their house has burnt down, like provide shelter, contact relatives/friends, insurance companies, arrange outside support etc. It was really interesting.

Part 2 tomorrow. Putting theory into practice and completing the last two modules.

I went to train station after the course finished today and got the tickets. Soooo confusing, but the assistant was really helpful. I should have booked the two journeys separately but decided to book at same time. Anyway it’s all done now which is great. I’m meeting some friends next weekend in London and meeting some more in London in August. Weeeeeeeee.

Another note, I have this pea sized ‘lump’ towards the bottom of the left of my face, left side of the jaw, I guess. I can move the lump around with my fingers and it’s a bit sore if I move it. It’s been there for aaaages but I forgot all about it until today when I was rubbing my face in that area and I remembered it again. I doubt it’s anything. Hasn’t changed in size, as far as I can tell. Just don’t know what it is.

As for the neighbour, while I was at the course he cut the grass in the garden and is repairing the fence!! He doesn’t take no for an answer not that we mind, it’s just, he’s not accepting anything in return and he’s being so kind. Tonight he knocked the door and gave me some curry and rice for dad, but dad had already eaten. Hehe.  He insisted though and I put it in the fridge.

Well yesterday many of the tenants went on a trip to Brecon, including my colleague, so the evening shift at work was pretty quiet as it was only the senior and I on duty. They returned home by coach at 8:30pm and we helped them off the coach. Everyone was in high spirits, the weather had been beautiful all day and they had a nice day out but one of the tenants came back a little bit drunk, to say the least. Hehe. I was the ‘barmaid’ in the bar and I didn’t serve her anymore alcohol, I asked if she’d like a coffee instead and she said yes so I gave her a coffee - on the house.

All evening she was talking about death! And she was saying the typical drunk thing to her friend, ya know, “haund on heart now… right…? you are the besh swheetist pershon i have ever met.. right?” Hehe.

Anyhoo that was interesting. Tomorrow and Sunday I am on a Red Cross course, “providing emotional support” aka. PES for the Emergency Response. It’s a two day course and my first aid coordinator (who is also very involved with emergency response) said they have some good actors to help our training tomorrow.

My dad has a chest infection, the doctor was here earlier and prescribed some medication for him. I said I don’t mind not going to the course this weekend but her was adiment he wanted me to go. It’s 9pm - 4pm but I’ll be phoning to see how he is and one of the nieghbours will keep an eye on him.

Oh, and speaking of nieghbours!!! Anyone who remembers me talking about how horrible one of my neighbours (in particular) are? Well, they’ve gone away for two weeks (hurray!!) aaaaand… there’s a guy staying there who cleaned up all their litter from our garden without being asked (hurray!!) aaaand… he said if we want anything anytime feel free to ask! HURRAY!!! There’s actually a DECENT person staying in that house. HURRAY!!!!

What I hate about Facebook is practically everyone (minus a few here and there…) have a Facebook account and there’s no escaping anyone! All the kids who you went to school with have an account, they find you through one of their friends (or whoever) and think “Oh, I’ll add her…” but get this - I don’t want all those who went to my school in my facebook account! I didn’t speak to half of them, many of the ones I did speak to gave me crap and I definitely do not want them on my friends list thank you very much. I add people to my Facebook who I genuinely want to add, who I like, who I get on with. Everyone else, why bother sending the invites if you don’t even like that person?? To be nosey? See what they’re up to in their life? I’ve had enough of the games, I’m in control now.

Well, I was going to go until literally last minute then my dad had a ‘turn’ and I decided not to go. I told my dad straight, he’s going to see a doctor tomorrow whether he likes it or not because he’s been this way for a few days now. So I’m spending an evening in, reading a book, watching some TV and possibly even doing a bit of cleaning. Oh noes!!

The book I’m reading ‘The Interpretation of Murder’ by Jed Rubenfeld. A thiller about Sigmund Freud assisting a Manhatten murder investigation. Has a bit of history thrown in too and surprisingly I am getting into it. Am 100 pages into the book and find it interesting and I don’t normally say that when it comes to historical subjects (sorry - I just am not really into history as a subject, at all). I like how it switches from one scene to the next and the description is great and detailed so much so it actually feels like you’re there in New York in 1909!

So ya so far it’s a good book, requires thinking and a tad of brain power - something I feel is fading day by day but this brings that spark to ignite the flame to get the brain going again.

I should be ironing right now, but I felt like writing up a quick entry. I am going to a Red Cross First Aid meeting in, like, 30 minutes. My first aid coordinator stayed in Newport last night and offered to give me a lift (it’s in Cardiff) tonight but I thanked him for the offer and said I’d rather drive myself as it involves motorway driving and could do with the experience. Also, I love motorway driving!! Am I insane? I perfer motorway driving to anything… although, you get a load of idiot on a motorway, such as this car that seriously cut me up a few weeks ago I mean GEEEEEE!!! How could he have NOT seen me? Maybe his mirrors were all foggy or something… uhhu, of course, that’s the reason.

I’ve come along way since September and I feel comfortable driving now, although, I am going to London a few times this year (by the looks of it) and I would never drive there. (Never say never?) Never. There’s roadsigns in London I’ve never seen before. Hehe. Traffic is chaos, I’m sure I’d be a cause of a car crash or something, not because I’m a bad driver…. *thinks* Not because I’m a bad driver, but because of all the other cars. Afterall, I have always been taught to treat the other drivers like idiots. :-p