Medzie

60 is fun afterall

2009-03-16T11:21:00.000-07:00

have at last put the cards and presents away and now time to settle down to being offically an OAP complete with Bus pass and sore feet.

celebrations went well although i tried too hard to make everything perfect. Picked the best table in our local restaurant so the kids and partners could see the town and pretty bridge. All went well until one of the local wags deciced to moon and then turn it into the full 'highland Fling' At first thought it has been arranged by the kids doubt anyone could persuade a friend to be that uninhibited and seeing him scarper with trousers round his ankles confirmed it was just a case on one pint too many!

One of the secrets friends keep from you when you turn 60 is the NHS letter that comes through the post to offer you the chance for Colon Cancer screening. No matter how nicely this is explained in the leaflet it still means -hitting onto a poostick and sending it for testing in (they assure me) a hygienically sealed envelope. Do the postmen KNOW about this???? Do they get danger money???

The next 'treat' being a woman is to have a mammogram. This takes place in a high profile van in the centre of town so everyone knows you are putting the old boobies under the masher and makes a mockery of patient confidentiality. Still you meet old friends and catch up with the gossip.

Tried the bus pass last week, it works! free travel so can now see me spending more as trips to the city will increase three/four fold. Free travel but loads of impulse buys and of course the obligatory Starbucks coffee at £3.00 a pop! Will end up worse off. was needless to say, offended when showing my pass for the first time, he didn't ask for further ID but perhaps all the celebrating has taken it's toll and for the mo and looking 70 instead of 60.

retirement review this week so fingers crossed all will work out for me.

Thinking flower arranging classes, getting to grips with all new 'Twittering, Face book, You Tube stuff that is out there.

Mortified the kids a few weeks ago by signing on to Face book. really BAD idea. no way do i want to see how the young ones live. Will make me far too jealous for one and who wants to be the only Facebook person with only 3 friends! can see how much fun it could be but not for me.

Chest pain

2009-02-09T10:58:00.000-08:00

having chest pain with stress as family coming for first part of birthday celebrations. Unfortunately our builder (but then what builder, doesn't let you down) couldn't come until last week for some 'Home improvement' work. House now in total chaos, plaster dust everywhere and the wallpaper hasn't been delivered as promised.

Shop blaming the snowy weather which I fear will now be to blame for all life's ills for many months to come.

Unless something marvelous happens family will be looking at bare plastered walls, no curtains and because they are all nice people really saying it "doesn't matter." As IF!!!!!!

'Sister - that - can't be pleased' will be chuffed: brother who loves to wind me up will be in his element - just lighting the blue touch paper and laughing, hubbie will be slaughtered, kind brother in law will be asleep and I will be on my way to A&E!!!!!!!!

60 was supposed to be time for elasticated waists and Mills and Boon, not all this stress.

Fingers crossed wallpaper comes tomorrow or totally BUGGERED.

Asked daughter for some support and she suggested Fish and Chips and cava then giving everyone crayons to draw on the walls. Actually giving this MUCH consideration.

Hoist by my ...........

2009-02-08T05:04:00.000-08:00

After having a rant at nurses who go off sick with simplest sniffle now find i have got the chest virus that is going around.
Soar throat, aching feet!!! and feel grim. Working tonight, it is the weekend, night duty ( the shifts most nurses cancel) but to maintain the moral high ground will have to go in even if means carrying my own ventilator.
Thank goodness for 24hour supermarkets so off to get every preparation on the shelves to get me through the next couple of days.

No fear of giving the bug to anyone, they have all had it and was feeling pretty smug I hadn't succumbed. Oh yes pride defo comes before a cough.

It is now 16 days and counting till the big 60 and getting organised for 3 weekends of eating and drinking. Even looking at recipes of the Internet to impress the 'sister who can't be impressed' She is a great cook so pressure is on.

My specialities tend to be of the mince variety and the kids years ago threatened to phone Esther Ranzen/Childline is they got another meal of the stuff. neither deceived by me calling Bolognese, chilli, lasagna, shepherd's pie!!!!

Read an article in the Times today saying Mother's on facebook a 'No No' wonder what the kids would think of mother's who Blog ????????

Crikey, must be delirious, radio just now playing Any dream will Do, starting to sniffle. What Mum hasn't sat through their cherubs swaying their way through the school production of Joseph ... Sniff sniff, cough cough off to the supermarket.

Long time no Blog

2009-02-04T09:22:00.000-08:00

hadn't realised just how long it is since I sat down for a really good rant

Wish it was because life was rushing along in the 'Fast Lane' but sadly just too many unsocial shifts and too much vino recovering from the said unsocial shifts!

60 in now upon me, 20 days and counting. had the 'Talk' with Human Resources re retirement but sadly with the Credit Crunch and my sad lack of savings will have to plod on for a while yet.

Not sure how size zero, 12 year olds got into Human Resources? In the early days of nursing they were nice ladies with a tight perms called Elsie who knew EVERYTHING.
Still there is hope for me after Easter to reduce my hours so life not quite so gloomy.

Since Xmas work has been particularly hard. Mainly due to a nasty bug causing chest infections galore. Hitting all ages and of course nursing staff going down line 9 pins. Mind you a bit sceptical about the staff as the bug seems to hit them at weekends and Half Term. Wonder what would happen if No Play meant No Pay. Blimey that sounds like 'Bring Back the Birch/National Service' talk. Sorry.

60 should be something to celebrate but not 100% convinced 60 is the new 40.
As a birthday treat my friends have arranged a Spa Day with and Anti-Ageing face lift thrown in as my 'special' treat.
Trying to take it in the way it was meant, a lovely day of pampering and NOT because they think I look like a wrinkly prune. 5 of us will roll up at 09.30 and spend the day in white dressing gowns. Will have to unearth the Imaac and shed a pound or two or face total humiliation. Carol says we will finish the day with a dip in the Hot Tub and a glass of champagne. Hot Tubs are outside, it is February in the North East WHY??????

Saga Louts R US

2008-06-30T04:31:00.000-07:00

After over 35 years of friendship 12 of us took a villa with a pool for a week earlier this month. After sharing a kitchen, pool, and secrets after too much sun and sangria, remain firm friends and looking forward to Zimmer frames R US!

We became friends when we all moved into our first real homes on a new housing estate in 1970. The plans showed it as a charming cul de sac but initially there were no roads, street lighting and the only access to town was the 49 bus.
Cars then were mainly Ford escorts, Cortinas and Vauxhall Vivas and Sundays spent washing them and trying to lay a lawn. Gardens were staked out and I had a fancy for a beech hedge. I sent off to the Sunday Post for hedgeing but knew something was wrong when it was delivered through the letterbox. Have been sceptical of ads in the Sunday Post since!

My sister and I, years ago,had sent away to the Sunday Post for a special 'garment' that guaranteed weight loss.
This turned out to be a large pair of yellow inflatable knickers that fitted from knee to just under the bust. You were supposed to jump about like a demented Michellin Man and create a mini sauna. :-(

The challenge was not only blowing the damn things up but getting them off ...... If ever I see a bright yellow So'wester or Michellin man just burst out laughing. ( Beware of Sunday Post ads )
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Most of the girls met up commuting on the 49 and soon became friends. Eventually the hubbies were brought into the mix and Wine and Cheese parties and BBQs soon became regular events.

What has happened to Wine and Cheese Parties not to mention Pippa Dee and Tupperware?

Once babies came along the much malinged Coffee Mornings developed. Chaps you will never know the support these mornings give but neither will you know the sheer stress when scones don't rise, you can't produce home made biccies for the group, or your whites aren't 'whiter than white' !!!
There was real anxiety when your cherub didn't reach the milestones laid down in the Dr Spock or Hugh Jolly Bible and Boy oh Boy the panic when Potty training discussed!!!!
My beautiful redhead somewhat struggled in this department and when teeth were on the way her favorite teething toy was any unsuspecting tot that crawled her way. She would look angelic, lure them behind the settee and the wailing could be heard for miles.

Fortunately not only do we parents remain friends so do many of the children but note no one has ever married a red head!

There has been an article in the Sunday Times about a group who have been friends for 20 years, Pah - we have enough shared smiles, sadness, secrets and stories for a whole book

2008-06-30T04:22:00.000-07:00

Still harping on

2008-04-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

Still harping on about next year's retirement and getting loads of brochures and pamphlets about ISAs and savings accounts. Snag is (and pretty obvious to you regular savers out there), that you need a regular salary and several more years in the work place to actually accumulate SAVINGS! This years' NHS pay rise in MINUSCULE and will barely cover my Gin bill.

Tested the water with hubbie re HIM getting a part time job but as he is 70 and a professional sloth got nowhere. For a nano second his finger did pause over the remote while he gave it some consideration, burst our laughing and continued to channel hop.

Ah well rant over and onto family matters.

Sister (she who carps and criticises) has broken her arm so going to spend a couple of days being skivvy and Bra person. Yet again the male sex get off lightly, no jiggling with bras and petticoats for them unless it is a Friday night and they are 'On a promise' as they say.

We are having a Canadian Cousin to visit at the end of the month so looking forward to catching up with family news. Trying not to worry but her son who is a Canadian Lumber Jack and weighs in at a healthy???? 21 stone is getting married this May. His lovely wife to be, isn't far behind in the Lardy stakes are suggesting they visit the UK as part of the honeymoon. Yikes ..... I live in a bog standard modern house i.e. build em quick build em CHEAP, Paper Mache walls etc. In total panic and checking the house insurance for claims for subsidence.! Just can't imagine the upstairs taking their combined weight and as they are on their honeymoon :-(
Know the earth moved last month with that mini tremor but this could rival a Bonafida 100 on the Richter Scale and wondering if I should rent a Bungalow for their visit !?!

panic mode

2008-03-13T13:23:00.000-07:00

Now that I have turned 59, thought turn to retirement! can't tell you the despair and panic I now feel when having accessed my pension forecast find I will have to live on BUTTONS!!!!! Can't be done, so off to find the fountain of youth and try and find someway of fooling both my body and mind I am only 42 and don't need to retire yet.

No good saying I should have thought about financial stuff before now as was so busy having great holidays and adventures - little thought of putting money aside for retirement.

Now thinking if I work until I drop that probably will solve the problem of being financially buggered....... Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Blimey Riley

2008-03-07T02:30:00.000-08:00

Every year NHS employees have to have an Appraisal, "What fun" I hear you say.

Bearing in mind I was 59 in Feb. and retirement beckons was totally unprepared to be asked to go on yet another Management Course, and consider enrolling with the local University!

Blimey Riley the only course I'm interested in is how to make my pension cover bills and holidays.
Not looking forward to this year's Budget as supect Wine and spirits will take a hit. sadly too old for Alcopops but if the trend is to tax the binge drinker they can't not put up the tax on wines. Not sure a pension will cover my food bills let alone booze bills so need so Financial Planning advice.

Mind you once away from the NHS won't need so much wine and one G&T should suffice...........

Have to now review my 'Objectives' for 2008/09 so some neat footwork needed and roll on 2009!

back to work

2008-03-05T01:46:00.000-08:00

after a few days off celebrating being 59 now back at work and countdown to retirement. Worked in the NHS since I was 18 and have seen the wheel reinvented many many times. The main changes have been in attitude with repect for everyone now a low priority.

Doctors, Nurses and all disciplines work extrodianary long hours under some strain and yet No. 10 and his minions still want more but from fewer staff and more worryingly fewer resources.

love the new idea of popping into to your local supermarket for a pint of milk and a visit to a GP. Wonder if you see him/her before- or- after, you have bought your booze, full fat milk and ready meals!!! Who is going to benefit from this service I wonder? If there is going to be an on site pharmacy or large selection of pills and potions suspect it will be the Supermarket profits Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

will he won't he?

2008-02-29T07:33:00.001-08:00

have been enjoying some of the stories about Leap year proposals on the radio today, and got around to thinking would I marry hubbie of 35 years again? Then had the worrying thought of actually - would he want to marry me.
Mirror shows all my assests have gone South, hair only good due to fantasitc hairdresser who works her magic with potions and lotions not mention serving great coffee. Teeth Don't go there!

Going to browse through lastest Xmas cookery book, open some wine and as they "Sip it and See"

Have noticed that getting cookery books it fine these days with everyone commenting on the new, Nigella, Jamie cakes and pies.
My First cookery book was a Bero Baking Book. Given by my then new Mother in law who thought her son was being short changed in the Victoria sponge and cheese scone dept!
Do any new wives today bother I wonder although with M&S on every corner why would they?????

high winds

2008-02-27T01:58:00.001-08:00

totally engrossed in the Margaret Thatcher documentary last night when the settee started to shake. Just thought it was the vino and too much cheese. Quite exciting to find it was the earth moving which takes me onto quite a different train of thought!!!

Hadn't realised just what a tangled mess the Conservative Party has got into and going to really concentrate of politics and personalities from now on. We could end up in a country run by incompetents due to our/my own apathy. Makes of mockery of everything the suffragettes did.

mad relatives

2008-02-25T07:20:00.000-08:00

Have i just got mad relatives or just relatives that make me MAD! Had a wonderful birthday (number 59) yesterday only to have the sister from hell comment on my birthday pressies.

Received a gorgeous pashmina with fab necklace only for her to comment that "with global warming, no one needs scarfs anymore and necklaces like that look good but far too heavy to wear"

Went down well needless to say, but will back fire as know my brother who always buys us the same to keep sibling rivalry at an acceptable level will have bought her the same in a different colour.

Mind you blame myself as used way too much alcohol in the recipes and possibly a tad too much brandy in the snaps!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to Me

2008-02-24T05:42:00.000-08:00

59 today and very excited. Family and friends for lunch. Cooking up a storm in the kitchen and disguising all my mistakes with alcohol. Alcoholic sprouts ace.