The night shift was one of the better ones really....
when compared to the sort of night shifts we have these days. Back in the day I
used to take in a portable DVD player and we had a room in the hospital
accommodation where we would go sleep. On an average night shift I would watch
six episodes of "Star Trek", and it was unusual to get called
out of bed more than twice. These days we are rather busier and with a constant
workflow. I probably had blood samples from fifty patients overnight.
I was pleased to see the early shift arrive.
Ideally I wouldn't have done a Friday night, but such
is life. With time pushing I went straight from work to Dog Club; it seemed
daft to drive past the paddock we use, go home and immediately turn round and
drive two miles back again. When I left
Maidstone this morning it had been hossing down, but the rain had slackened off
to drizzle when I got to Repton.
I opened up the field, hung up poo bag and money pot,
and dogs (and people) soon arrived. As did “er indoors TM” and
our three dogs. And our little house guest - Darcie WaaWaa TM”.
Littlun was made up with all the dogs. As was I to be honest. So many dogs had their nice Christmas coats
on, and in minutes were all covered in mud. As was I.
After Dog Club “er indoors TM” took Darcie
WaaWaa TM” home with her via Asda to pick up shopping. I
took the dogs home for a warming shower. We’d all got rather cold and wet and
muddy. As I drove home I listened to Steve on the radio and stopped off to send
in a message – my answer to the Mystery Year competition. The year in which the
Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy was first broadcast and the country’s first
nudie beach was opened. I remember both. I was there in 1978 when it was
declared that you could walk round in the nip on Fairlight beach. It wasn’t the
most accessible of places; it was a pig to get to. But me and my mates went
there many times in the desperate hope of seeing a nudie lady without any
clothes on. All we ever saw was fat old men in the altogether.
With dogs washed and shopping brought home we put the
kettle on, and it wasn’t long before “My Boy TM” and ”Auntie
Chel TM” arrived. Yesterday before I'd
left for work we had the family bingo and I won the hamper. This morning the
hamper was delivered. Loads of sweeties and biccies.
“er indoors TM” and littlun went
off to visit great grandparents. I decided that it was too late to go to bed,
so I settled in front of the telly with the dogs and woke four hours later with
neckache. And panic. I hadn’t opened today’s window of my Advent Calendar. Normally
the voices in my head have all day to think about what we get each day. Today
was something
of a rush job.
“er indoors TM” and littlun
returned and we had a rather hectic evening chucking toy cars about whilst
shouting “Watch Out” and watching “Sunny Bunnies” and singing
songs.
I’m worn out with it all.
And today was the solstice. I left work this morning
before sunrise, and I woke up mid-afternoon after sunset. From here on in the
days get longer…
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