I’ve been really busy lately with everything. As I type my dad is talking about his girlfriend and it would be nice to spend an hour with him and not hear him talk about her. She is the cause of a lot of our problems although he fails to realise it, and it makes me so angry sometimes I just need to bite my tongue.

Well I start my new job this week. I had the induction last Friday and it was so indepth, so much to remember, just hope I can cope with it! I was given a HUGE folder to look through, as well as some forms to keep and I have sorted them out ready for my first round, visiting the clients in their home. I’m a little nervous, a little excited, also a little upset because I won’t be working at the sheltered housing scheme as much any more, it’s looking uncertain as to whether I can return there actually. I did enjoy the job, but I guess everyone needs to move on sometime. I need to focus on my college and at the same time generate enough income to keep the house running, it’s a heck of a lot on my mind.

Toby is laying beside me right now falling asleep on my lap (squeezing his head between my laptop and my belly), he’s so adorable. Although at the moment he’s got a thing with chasing cars and it is a bit concerning… thankfully he’s been on the lead when he goes to run after them so I can hold him back, but I hope he grows out of it soon because it’s not good! I think he developed it because of his chasing squirrels (just let out a little snort as it reminded me of the recently released movie, ‘Up’ – “SQUIRRELS!!” … er what’s she on? I hear you ask, watch the film you’ll understand)

Anyway I’m going to go to the Red Cross meeting now, think I got the First Aid updates due, plus we’ll be discussing the trauma management course next weekend I think, am looking forward to that. Exhausting weekend but a huge learning experience.

See ya.

Remember me talking about the interview I went to? Well I checked the local newspaper the other day and they’re still asking for people! I really think I messed that up with the hours I offered. I dunno I am trying, and I’ll keep trying. I phoned up Careers Wales asking if they could help and they just referred me to their website and told me to check out the vacancies. I’m going to see my tutor in college next week and ask if the college can help in any way. I really would take anything at the moment!

Not sure if I mentioned but a few weeks ago I asked the Job Centre if they could help with employments or benefits until I get a job but as  soon as I mentioned “college” they didn’t want to know. It annoys the hell out of me that there’s people at home with absolutely NOTHING wrong with them, who sit of their arses all day watching TV raking in all the money under the sun, and there’s people like me who go back to college to get a greater education and can’t get bugger all. Where’s the fairness in that?

I haven’t took many photos at all. I have been swamped with college work and to be honest, I’ve sadly lost interest lately. However today I tried to take a few snaps of Toby but he wouldn’t keep still. I will try again later and upload them if they’re decent!

Oh well on Sunday I’m on another Red Cross course, advanced resus and monitoring. I took it last year but would like to do it again this year. I’m thinking of redoing my IHCD (Ambulance Crew, Red Cross) but I’m not sure yet. Last time I turned into an emotional wreck. Seriously. First scenario I was on was a ‘trauma’ and heck, wasn’t I traumatised after it!! I just could not stop crying. So much to do, little time to do it, time critical. I felt like I badly let myself down. I really felt like going home after but thought bugger it, I’ve gone all this way may as well see it through, and my colleagues were trying to make me carry on.  Anyway I failed, nothing major just small little things but to be on the ambulance crew you’ll gotta be way on the ball. I wasn’t the only one who failed, quite a few did, some were truly surprising. I did pass the theory though, which is great. I’m not sure yet though I’ll have a think about it!!

I have my interview tomorrow, I think I know where my certificates are and I need to look for something to wear!

I tried making skin tonight for the casualty simulation practice I’m having on Friday. It’s made with stale breadcrumbs and water and make it into a dough, and you can add colouring to adjust the tone to go with the skin. It looks ok but I think I’ll practice more tomorrow. I’ve ordered my blood and it should be here this week, then *HOPEFULLY* I’ll be all ready for next week. I’m helping out promoting the Red Cross and their services by doing wounds on small children in a supermarket car park. I’m a little nervous about it, mainly because it’s children!

I got confirmation about my counselling appointment today, the soonest one she has is the 31st July. I hope I don’t need to wait that long between each appointment!

Tomorrow Jim is coming down and then we’re driving to his for the weekend, I can’t wait. Meeting the family too which is pretty scary but they seem ok and hopefully it’ll go well.

Anyway I had better go now, see yaz!

I misjudged the traffic and left a bit later than I should have and got stuck in the traffic in the city centre and I ended up being 15 minutes late. I didn’t have time to do anything this morning, except the essencials such as getting dressed, washing, brushing teeth and going to papershop etc. While I was there I got the only cereal bar they had and was chomping at it as I drove. When I got to our base I was greeted with toast and coffee – perfect!!

We had a bit of a natter before being paired up and being sent out into the crowds. The organisers of the event could not have pushed us more to the back of the festival if they tried. There were no sign posts, except for a really small red cross first aid symbol on the map, which very little people had. So as we were walking about people were approaching us so it’s good we were out and about. Small things here and there, nothing major except a young girl who kept vomiting but my colleague and I didn’t deal with them, another two did.

While we were walking around we went into one of the many buildings, just to look around at the art work and the music etc that was happening that day. We heard a huge bump and turned around and saw a womans legs hanging out from behind a chair. We walked over to see if she was ok but she fell and banged her head against a glass wall. Went down with quite a wallop. Her head was hurting slightly but it was her neck which was giving her problems. After asking the general questions about consciousness, concussion and spinal injuries nothing was apparent but to stay on the safe side we tried to support her head but she wouldn’t have it, we offered her oxygen but she refused, offered a chair to take her to the first aid post to give her a good checking over and do paperwork etc (it was a very busy place and most of our kit is at base) but she didn’t want that either. Need to be careful with neck pain, especially after the whack she had. I think she was embarrassed, because she worked there, people trying to fuss over her but she just wanted to get on with the job but in the end we convinced her to come back to base with us, it was only a short walk anyway.

She laid down on the bed for a short time while we did some obs and checks, refused any further treatment (her neck was still hurting) so we gave her a head injury card to take with her and told her if she feels worse or doesn’t get any better or any other symptoms start to either call for us or if she’s at home, see a doctor or go to A&E. She was very appreciative of our care and help but unfortunately there’s only so much we can do. If she refuses treatment she refuses but we did the best we could.

Back out on ‘the beat’ my colleague and I preformed an operation. Seriously! Well, it was serious, but not on a living person. Nor an animal, before you say! There were a lot of stores etc around the place, offering different activities, freebies, lectures/talks, food etc and one of the stores was about a medical school. They had a plastic body and put the game ‘operation’ on top and we had to get the ‘organs’ out of him! When we did it we were given a free stress ball shaped like a doctor. It’s so cool!

So yeah anyway the morning was interesting, took me ages to get home because I tried to be smart. I thought I wouldn’t need the sat nav, only got to follow signs for the M4 – how hard can it be?? Well I did just that, and ended up driving towards Barry. I thought this wasn’t right, turned on the sat nav, “take the next exit… !!!” Ended up putting 15 minutes on my journey! Felt like it took forever to get out of Cardiff.

• Humanity
• Impartiality
• Neutrality
• Independence
• Voluntary Service
• Unity
• Universality

The start of the Red Cross Movement was inspired by a Swiss businessman named  Henry Dunant in 1863. He was disgusted at the lack of care the wounded recieved, on both sides, from the Battle of Solferino in 1859. As a result volunteers were trained in peacetime to offer neutral and impartial help during times of war. The Red Cross has developed a lot since then and if I was to type out everything I’d be here all day so if you’re interested read this link: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The Red Cross are always looking for volunteers to help out in any of the 14 services they offer, including First Aid, Emergency Response, Messaging & Tracing, Camoflage and Theraputic Care. I found this video on YouTube a long while ago and it’s sent to all police, local authorities etc throughout the country talking about our Emergency Response service so I thought I’d share it here. It gives an insight into how hard the Red Cross works to look after and protect people who are in crisis and how appreciated and respected the organisation is. If you’re ever bored or want to spend a few hours a week, or even a few hours a month, helping out with a charity then do consider the Red Cross. You seriously will not regret it!!

http://www.redcross.org.uk/

The weekend went really well and I totally enjoyed it, spent time with great company.

The work situation, well I heard from employers and they have given me a contract, thank goodness!!! I was really worried about it, but my boss was on my side and worked hard to keep me. I’m still casual though, and the other girl could return anytime, that leaves me a bit unsettled and because of this, I am looking for other work, and my boss does know this so I’m not doing it behind her back or anything. There was a position going in the local psychiatric hospital working with elderly people who have mental health problems but it was only 6 months temp and it wasn’t worth applying. Yeah, yeah…  I know. It’s quite ironic I was going to apply considering I probably belong in one!! If I got the job, I would have gone to my first shift and not returned home. LOL

I have my IHCD exam next weekend and to say I’m shitting myself over it is an understatement. I have been so busy studying. Today I went to work only to do my laundry and while it was drying I did some studying in the staffroom. I sent my Red Cross service manager a text asking how to remember a way to remember part of a system (boring stuff, won’t go into it here), and he replied and told me. Then a few mins later I got another text off him saying, “How are you getting on with I E S S W A E Y?” …. I replied asking what was that, and he said, “Thought that would get you – it stands for “It’s Easter Sunday So Stop Worrying And Enjoy Yourself!!” LOL

Geeze I almost choked on my orange juice, see I really do only have a small mouth. I have ran out of coffee which is a total disaster, seeing as it’s Easter no shops are open so I’ll have to suffer until tomorrow morning. WTF. This ain’t fair. Also – I have cut down my alcohol intake a lot this week!! I am trying to purify myself so I can be clear headed (ish) for my studying and exam next weekend. Although saying that I am doping myself up on anxiety tablets so perhaps I’m not all that detoxicated afterall!!

The lady I was talking about in last entry died last week, I wasn’t on shift when it happened but at least she is in peace now. I went to her funeral on Thursday and a lot of my colleagues turned up – 12 of us in total. Sadly not many relatives or friends went and it got me thinking – you live your life until you’re old, when you’re in your 80s and you end up with very little people around you. Sadly some people don’t have anyone. I hate the thought of that. It’s really sad. I guess sometimes as the saying goes – you come into this world with nothing and you leave with nothing. Although with this lady she left with our love, I have to admit there were some tears at the service. Her family did thank the staff at my workplace though for the love and care we provided in the final months of her life, they were praising us for our compassion and sometimes going beyond what our job entails to ensure she was comfortable. Anyway it was a nice service, it’s just hard having to walk past her flat when I’m doing my board now, I’m so used to walking in, her sitting in her chair watching TV then looking at me, smiling and saying, “Hiya Kid, how’re you?” RIP. x

I have been pretty busy lately, I’ve been working where I am now for over a year and the past few weeks has been the busiest period yet. I have had some time off lately, and I needed it but I’m glad to be back in work now, makes me feel like I do have some use.

I was providing first aid cover at the Britain’s Got Talent auditions on Monday. It was a busy day but so cool to see behind the scenes and actually meet the presenters and judges! Driving there was a complete nightmare though because there was heavy snow thoughout the night around the valleys etc which meant the A48 was even more delayed than normal so I got to the location a bit later than I should have. When I finally got there I missed the turning for the car park so I had to go back around the block, in the middle of the city centre which was at a standstill. *Sighs* Everytime I go somewhere I don’t know, I ALWAYS take a wrong turning or something. Seriously. Even with a flaming sat nav!

Anyway the day went well, nothing exciting as far as first aid is concerned but it was a good day. I had my photo taken with Stephen Mulhern which was awesome, when I saw him my jaw dropped to the floor he’s a lot more handsome in real life than what he looks like on the TV! Simon Cowell really is as short as the TV makes him out to be (but then you do see him quite often with a tall model of some sort on his arm), Amanda was wearing a lovely white dress but you could really see how thin she was, could do with eating a bit more chocolate! Piers winked and smiled at us and Ant and Dec are lovely. Woot!!

I’m going to Coventry to play dead in April, I’m still sorting out the transport and accomodation with the Red Cross but it looks like they’re going to give me their pool car! It’s the first time I’ll have drove that car and I’m a little apprehensive about it… if it was going to the racecourse or something I wouldn’t mind as that’s like 20 miles away, but Coventry is a 2 and a half hour drive! Anyway to elaborate it’s a Casualty Simulation course, I’ll learn how to be a casualty and help trainers on their courses.

The snow was pretty bad here during the night. It started about 11pm pretty heavy and I hoped it would have melted away by this morning as I had to drive to work. But it hadn’t. I decided I wasn’t going to be one of the 25% of people who stayed home from work today and set off in my thermals. My first time driving in the snow, and the first corner I took I skidded. Only a small skid but gee snow is dangerous! Thankfully my route to work is pretty straight and it snowed for most of the day but it’s all gone now. Snow is pretty and all, but that’s as far as it goes. The UK comes to a TOTAL standstill when we get a bit of snow, I bet other countries look at us and think, “you bunch of wimps!!”

I was really nervous at first because everyone else on the course had been on the course before, but it was my first time and they were a lot more experienced than me.. it wasn’t a full course either, technically, I shouldn’t have been on it but my service manager knows I want to get on the ambulances and sit my IHCD so he arranged so I could go on it.

Anyway I thought I’d have to wait until June/July to sit the full course but apparently if I’ve done the practical side and feel confident enough to go with it, all I need now is learn the theory (body works, anatomy etc) then I can sit the IHCD exam in April.

The race was 10 minutes late starting and what had happened was in the paddocks, one of the horses who was due out to race went a bit crazy, flung the jockey off him who fell onto the floor, kicked another person in the paddock in the head and then fell onto the jockey, lodging him between the horse and the wall. Didn’t sustain any apparent head injuries and was talking etc but was in a lot of pain in her hip area. She was administered morphine by the onsite doctor and strapped to a board to stablise her and then had to wait for the ambulance, the race happened and the meeting drew to a close by the time the ambulance got there, thankfully there were plenty of trained personel in the jockeys hospital (on site) including 1 red cross paramedic, two private ambulance paramedics, one county paramedic (only saw one… there was probably another around, though), a doctor and a nurse. Oh, and the trainer decided to say hello too, he was very upset and wouldn’t leave the jockey when we asked him to step back, in the end he spoke to the doctor he was most concerned about any possible spinal injuries, I guess seeing the jockey strapped to the board was a concern to him, but the doctor reassured him sayinng it was more of a precaution than anything and to stablise her. Anyway off the jockey went to hospital, the other person who was kicked in the head was surprisingly ok.

I got to drive one of the ambulances today. I was a bit reluctant because I was a bit nervous, haven’t drove this one before! My feet could hardly reach the pedals and the handbrake was in an odd place! Stalled it a few times and I think I scared one of the guys I was in the ambulance with, because when we got out of the ambulance and had to get back in, he jumped in the drivers seat before I had the chance to. Haha. I wasn’t THAT bad. Seriously, I wasn’t.

I’m waiting for Callum now, he’s staying a few days and I’m picking him up in 20 minutes, then going to my mums to drop off her Christmas presents.

Wow, what a day… work as stressful and I didn’t stop. Started almost as soon as I started work when I walked in a flat to see a tenant on the floor, not moving or talking. I was concerned but felt a sense of relief when I heard moans and groans and incoherant sounds coming from here. She said she felt sick and was vomiting on the carpet so I asked her if she fell, did she hurt herself/in any pain, did she bang her head and she said no, she just fell. My senior arrived and we had to call in my colleague to help out so there were three of us with her. It was a difficult task getting her up off the floor (she was laying in the most uncomfortable of positions) and onto a bed, we did use an inflatable cushion but she concerned me a lot, looks like she had a possible stroke.

Another tenant is dying, in complete heart failure and there is absolutely nothing we can do for her, and it has upset the staff as well as her fellow nieghbours who know about it (her friends). She is a lovely, lovely lady who has a wonderfully supportive family (unfortunately, it’s not the case with a lot of the others…), she is so weak, this lady knows she is dying, the way she talks and I honestly think people do know when it is ‘their time’. Today my boss spoke to her at length and she will not go into hospital, to be honest I can understand her. This lady knows everyone and they think of us, the staff, as good friends, family, people they know. No one wants to die in hospital on their own and possibily down to one of the numerous infections floating about on the wards… It just makes me so sad, I really, really hope she makes it through to the new year, I think that is what this lady is fighting for.
You feel useless but I think in times like this they just appreciate the company and care, my job is rewarding but at the same time you just cannot help but get attached to the tenants and you do think of them as friends so at times it can be depressing.

There’s quite a few tenants who are ill, between going back and forth to their flats and serving up the Boxing Day 3 course lunch it has been busy… my colleague asked if I wanted to go out tonight but I was so tired I said I’d rather stay in and do nothing. Ha, right. As soon as I got home I was back out at Tescos shopping (food shopping, not ‘January Sales’, they can kiss my ass). Then I cleaned up the living room. Then I cleaned the gerbil cage, and cooked the dinner, set up the new DVD player. Now I’m drinking a glass of wine.

Providing first aid cover tomorrow at the Welsh National, you may see me on the TV