Bedtime story

I’ve just finished my fourth night. I’m back in tonight. I’m exhausted but not sleepy. I worked with Brenda last night, I’ve written about her before. She’s truly terrifying in her attitude to her own professionalism. She told me I was in charge, and that she views me as more senior than her. She’s been qualified twice as long as me, and is twice my age. However she’s no more skills now than when she walked onto the ward for the first time, and no inclination to acquire any. Hence be having to mind my own 11 patients, one of whom is critically ill requiring hourly obs and fluid balance, plus two of Brenda’s, one having chemo, and the other with a picc line, which she can’t care for. She did offer to make me a cup of tea, and couldn’t even get that right. Tea, milk, no sugar. Simples. Apparently not, tea, milk, with sugar!! I actually quite like Brenda. I just don’t like working with her.

My mum is in hospital, today they are tightening the ligaments in her dislocating knee. Then it’s a case of enduring six weeks in a splint and physio thereafter. She had one done about 14 years ago, and has finally relented and agreed to have this one done.

Then there was the date. John. He’s a really nice guy, low key, laid back. We went to the beach with his dog as a chaperone! When I arrived all hell had broken loose, some old man had been run over on the road and they had to send the air ambulance helicopter to retrieve him, so closed the beach off. Obviously we stood and watched, eating ice cream as we did so! Had a wander round the lake, the dog jumped in, soaked us both, John was mortified. I just laughed, I have dogs, I know how they look all innocent but actually are waiting for any opportunity to make a show of you! Stopped for a coffee, had a lovely time sitting in the sun chatting and putting the world to rights. He gave me a parting hug and kiss on the cheek, which I thought was nice, not presumptuous at all. He text me later on that evening to tell me he’d had a nice time, and we’ve since arranged a second date, probably on Thursday, likely to be a couple of chilled drinks in a beer garden somewhere. Which, after five night shifts in a row, sounds absolutely perfect right now.