Categories: uncategorized
Date: 24 October 2004 19:29:06
I can't quite believe I'm back home, having driven over 600 miles the last few days. I especially can't believe I've got to go back to work tomorrow *groan*.
So - Wednesday night: flying visit to the parents. Lovely to see them, although it was very very short - I arrived at 10, went to bed, then up at 4 the next morning to drive to the conference in Harrogate.
Thursday and Friday - conference. I avoided the Agenda for Change debate as I'd got so wound up about it earlier in the week (see last entry). Instead I went to sessions on various aspects of health visiting practice (especially concentrating on postnatal depression and inequalities in health, which are particular areas of interest for me), and got thoroughly inspired and enthused by the job again. I can't say my particular job in Lewisham is that exciting on the whole, and have thought for a while that a lot of the really innovative practice I come across is from northern regions. I think in London we're so busy putting out fires and being reactive as there is so much day-to-day need that there simply isn't the time (or the staff) to be innovative and try new things. But it was really encouraging to know that exciting work is going on elsewhere, so if I move and end up in health visiting still there is hope that it won't just be "a job" but can be something that I can get enthused by. I also bumped into a couple of girls I did my training with, which was lovely, and picked up bags and bags and bags of freebies - lots of info about different resources and information for parents and professionals on various medical conditions we may come across, plus lots of free samples of stuff. Normally of course I'd disapprove of the whole samples thing, and I make sure (for example) that my diary cover is promoting breastfeeding rather than formula milk, I rabidly and religiously boycott A Certain Evil MultiNational Company which aggressively promotes formula, and I never ever use pens or notepads etc that advertise baby-related products in front of clients. But a lot of the stuff will be really useful in my antenatal and postnatal groups (for example I got a breastpump, and also some baby food (not by Evil MNC), which is really useful to highlight the hidden sugar content in those jar foods when I talk about weaning), and I'd otherwise have to buy them myself. I did get lots of free pens too, but rest assured I will carefully vet which ones get used in front of clients.
On the Thursday night I was so knackered from the early start that I was in bed by 9. I know it makes me sound like an old fogey, but I really should do that more often, it was wonderful.
Friday night I drove even further into the frozen wastes of up north for the wedding. Saw my friend on Friday night, very good time had, must do that again sometime.
Saturday was the wedding - of Tom and Annie, for those of you who know ship of fools. They both looked stunning, it was all I could do to hold back the tears when I saw Tom's face when he first caught sight of her walking up the aisle. *sniff* I really enjoyed the service - it's the 4th wedding I've been to this year, all of them were very different but all wonderful in their own way. And then on to the reception. It's the first wedding I've been to for a while where I can quite categorically and sincerely say that *all* the speeches were brilliant - and they didn't go on too long either, some weddings I've been to the speeches were so long they were just painful. Particular kudos to wiblog's very own PaulW for the funniest best man's speech I've heard in a long time - exactly the right combination of heartwarming and embarrassing anecdotes, he had us in stitches. The other person who had me in tears laughing was wiblog's very own holly aka Brummie posh bird for a classic mishearing of something I said. We were talking about skin tone and spots (as you do when you're as posh as us) and I said "I've got loads of spots at the moment". The band were quite loud at that point and what holly heard was "I've got loads of spots on my bottom". I would at this point like to reassure my readers that a. I don't in fact have a spotty bum at all, and b. if I had I would keep it to myself thankyouverymuch.
What I have got, which more than makes up for lack of nether region zits, is a huge lump on my knee which is turning all the colours of the rainbow. During the ceilidh a combination of polished wooden floor covered in confetti, higher heels than I'd usually wear, a few drops (*cough*) of wine and a weak ankle combined in one unfortunate split second to send me crashing spectacularly to the floor in the middle of a dance. Apparently it was very graceful, though it certainly didn't feel like it at the time as I skidded along on my front! (I'm such a laydee). This morning my shoulder was really hurting, but I think it's mainly muscle spasm rather than anything more serious so I'm not too concerned. Driving all the way home (6 hours) was interesting though, as it was the arm I use to change gears - ouch! I think I will get a doctor's appointment anyway just to be on the safe side - I have some strong anti-inflammatories left over from when I broke my foot at Christmas so have been taking them, but I'd better make sure there's nothing else I could be doing and if it's OK for me to go to the gym, given that a lot of the machines I use involve the arms and shoulders.
In other news, I'm going through a bit of a "two minds" thing about applying for the PhD this year. It's something I could do anytime I guess, and other life stuff means that now may not actually be the greatest timing. I don't know - I'll see. I have till Christmas-ish to make a decision. I have already thought of another correspondence course I'd like to do if the PhD doesn't materialise (a theology course that's been advertised on the ship), so whatever happens I'll still be able to make my parents roll their eyes and think "here she goes again".