Are We Still Attached To The Rest Of The Country.

It's howling a hurricane here with winds strong enough to shake the whole house. It's also bin day and as last week was a holiday, the binmen have two weeks worth of stuff to collect today. I don't envy them. Looking out of the window, the whole street is littered with bin bags that have taken off in the gale. Some have broken open and the lids of te recycling bins have come off making the area look like a landfill site. What is it about some motorists. I have watched them drive down this road and seen them deliberately drive over bin bags rather than drive round them. Stupid people. I had to go to the co-op for some bread and milk. It's opposite the doctors surgery. It's so full in there it's like sardines crammed into the tin. It doesnt bode well for the admissions areas at CGH as you can be that it's the same situation at all surgeries this morning. A number of them will be referred to the hospital and from my experience, the hospital will be stretched by mid afternoon. And that's not allowing for the bed state. If the hospital is already full then things will be mighty difficult. Maybe being off sick has its advantages.

Day One

Hmmm. Not sure about all this blogging. But having written a daily diary for the best part of 30 years, perhaps this is a natural progression. Or maybe I just picked it up after watching the new series of Sherlock on BBC1 last night. Either way, I'll give it a try.

At the moment I am off work long term sick and my future is a little muddy. Could be that is why I'm writing this blog. Keyboard therapy. I work as an MTO at a nearby hospital in an Emergency Area. I love doing this work and there is always something new. Anyone who says they are bored working in such a place is effectively brain dead. Everyday there are new patients all with different problems, needs, personalities, life stories etc. I work with a brilliant team of people too and that something I have never experienced in any place I've worked before.

However, that may all be coming to an end. Some years ago I began to develop spinal problems. An MRI scan showed that five lumbar region discs were affected and I have facet joint treatment to try and sort it out. It was fine for about a year. But then it all came back with a vengeance. I got put onto new drugs, one of them is Pregabalin which has a few pretty antisocial side effects. It has helped with the pain though. I saw the doctor in Occupational Health and the last I heard, they felt I couldn't carry on in my present role and asked if I could be redeployed to a more sedentary role. Failing that, medical retirement looms. 

I'm quite open to trying a different role but the problem will be the Human Resources department. They take the view that any illness is a heinous crime and one particular official from HR told me that illness was a disciplinary matter. Charming people generally known as inhuman resources. Watch this space because if HR try anything then I will be naming names. I once had to report HR to the RCN over their attitude towards illness. Did the trick too.

So there we are. I have an appointment with the pain control clinic in February and am awaiting the result of deliberations by HR. You don't need a degree to see where this will end up.

I keep the mind alive with puzzles and reading and while my mobility is reduced I do manage to get around the town where I live and meet people. 

Lets see where blogging will lead me.