Archive for the ‘Friends’ Category

I have been lent some cuisenaire rods by a good friend on an extended lend for Asha.

Has anyone any of the game books they could lend me for a couple of weeks? Or just some ideas?

Vicki

Popularity: 16% [?]

for the last few weeks Asha has not wanted to play out or anything on a sunday as she has been very tired, after very busy weeks. But this afternoon she has enjoyed playing with two little ones who also live in the road.

After running around outside and riding there bikes they came inside and took over the living room. Blankets out and tucked in they sat and watched some camberwick green for a while, whilst playing with the fuzzy felts I finally got out of the loft yesterday for Asha. You would think it was some really expensive present the amount she has been playing with them. I love toy rotations!

They then found all her toy cars – also just out of the loft, and once again they played and played so for about 4 hours today I have had three children aged, 2, 3 and 4 playing in our front room. And they were so happy!

Popularity: 17% [?]

Asha had her first sleep over last night. I now sit here very foggy eyed and exhausted.

Popularity: 16% [?]

Asha at Penrhyn

A photograph a friend took earlier in the year at Penrhyn Castle

Popularity: 21% [?]

I got up, early with daddy, and then when you got up mummy you and I had a bath mummy. I wanted one, so you poped me into you rs with you. I then got dressed and we went to Julies. You left me with my friends for an hour whilst you and daddy did some thing else.

After that you had to call in somewhere then we came home and I played with ff for a bit. I then did some maths and english colouring in sheets. You read me a few stories and we talked. I went to bed after a story from you and daddy.

Popularity: 16% [?]

What a little hero she is. She loves it.

She rolled around, jumped around, followed the line around, played tick, and went on the horse thingy. She smiles, and lands with her hands together and has a great time.

I just hope she keeps on loving it!

The rest of the day wasnt as sucessfull, we think Asha is stuggling with milk and gluten in her diet, and as such is being a number one cling on. Which is tireing and hard work. Though she did play outside for a while with daddy, and she did have a small rest when we went for a drive, as she was so tired.

Education done today. Not loads, but we have talked, we have read a few stories and we did look at a big plan of a human body, and talk about teeth, blood cells and veins. We also looked at where our hearts were… My child is 4, and knows more biology than I knew at 16!

Its actually very hard for Asha not to get an education in our house, as we have SO many books of all kinds lieing around.. and with her toys as well!!!!

Oh we also melted some chocolate and added corn flakes to it. We then made some pepermint iceing up, and dropped it into the chocolate crispy cakes. Its really interesting what then happens.. you have after eight choclate crisp cakes!

Oh and before bath, Asha also played with ff.
Vicki xx

Popularity: 23% [?]

Cogs.

A friend of mine son wanted to know how a cog worked and why..

His experiment : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rciNzT_7bBI

Popularity: 18% [?]

If you are a junior doctor, you now belong to the only profession in the developed world where you can be REQUIRED by contract to work a basic 90 – 100 hours in a week ‘on-call’. When you work nights over Christmas and New Years you might be the lowest paid person in the whole hospital per hour (roughly minimum wage).

This group is for everyone who has been on call, on ward cover, or carrying a bleep/pager of any kind. At medical school you longed for the day when you could carry one, and be a REAL doctor, didn’t you?! Now you think of a few places you would like to shove the irritating, noisy bleeping thing…

We all love nurses, because they do the jobs we hate, and look out for us when we are just learning. They also gave the correct dose of drugs when you accidentally wrote milligrams instead of micrograms on your first day. We need them. But…

…there are a few points of etiquette that are unwritten, unspoken, but you just wish every nurse read, understood and inwardly digested:

1. Bleeping/paging is not a spinal reflex. Please take a few seconds to breathe, think and organise your thoughts, and stop flapping about. Half the time you may realise you didn’t even need to pick up the phone.

2. Mention what ward you are on. I don’t have the whole hospital directory of numbers memorised. If you hang up before telling me, chances are I won’t come along. This is called the ‘bingo-bleep’.

3. If you bleep/page someone, please wait by the phone. How can there be no-one picking up the phone at your end when I ring back?! This is called the ‘bleep-and-run’ and is exceptionally irritating.

4. Have the notes, obs chart and drug chart in front of you. Chances are I need to know what the obs were without waiting for you to run over to the bed and look, then run back over to the trolley to get the notes when I ask the next question. This is called the ‘relay-bleep’ and is probably not fun for you.

5. Please mention the name, age, and working diagnosis of the patient. The following is not acceptable: “Hello doctor, please see patient in 4, 6, she has chest pain”. That is ‘bleep-spam’

6. All patients with chest pain need an ECG. Don’t bleep/page me until one is being done or there in front of you.

7. If I’m in theatre (surgery), leave a clear message. The following is not acceptable: “Can you come to the ward afterwards, there are a few things to do”. This also counts as ‘bleep-spam’

8. Once in a while I will not respond to my bleep/pager. This is because I am jumping on top of someone’s chest trying to save their life. I am NOT ‘on break’. Doctors don’t have these.

9. Please check with the other nurses that you aren’t asking the same question as them. I really hate being bleeped/paged from the same ward from two phones and two nurses for same patient. This is called the ‘déjà-bleep’ and is distinctly un-fun

10. You spend twenty times as much time with each patient than we do. We appreciate your opinion and pertinent information. The following is not acceptable: “Well you’re the doctor, you should know”. Well actually I’m on call and have never met this patient who has spent 5 weeks with you.

11. Please be cheery on the phone and perhaps even flirt a little. I’ve just spent 12 hours running around the hospital doing mundane tasks, talking to angry relatives, putting my finger up bums, taking blood and ordering xrays. You will get your way far easier by making me smile.

12. When I answer the bleep/page please don’t say ‘Oops, sorry I had a question but not any more”. This is called the ‘fart-bleep’ and gets on my nerves (See also point 1).

13. Please don’t ask me to see virtually every patient on your ward when I’m on call. That’s called a ward round.

14. If you do cannulae on the ward regularly you will be my favourite nurse and I will do anything you say.

15. If I answer my bleep/pager and the line is engaged because you are bleeping/paging me from that phone again, I may well explode. This is called the ‘torpedo-bleep’ because of its incessant battle with my morale. Three hits and the boat may sink.

16. If a patient has died, he/she no longer cares how long it takes me to get to the ward. That’s a medical fact. Chances are I can do a few other jobs on my way there. If you bleep me again for this patient it better be because they have miraculously come back to life. This is called the ‘Lazarus-bleep’

17. The ‘MEWS / EWS / EWSS / PARS / MET’ score is a trigger for you to call me and is useless after that. I don’t give a crap what the score is. Tell me WHY the patient has scored it (e.g. respiratory rate? BP? heart rate?).

18. Please don’t start a sentence “Just to let you know…” or “Just so you know…” I hear this 50 times per shift. This is called the ‘zombie-bleep’ and you have just inadvertently disengaged my brain.

19. Please don’t bleep/page me and then instantly walk over to the other side of the ward to continue washing a patient behind a curtain. That makes the person who picks up the phone have to search for you miles away from the phone. This is called the ‘bleep-and-hide’ (See also point 3).

20. Don’t have someone else (e.g. a student) bleep/page for you. It’s cruel to them, and they are not your secretary. This is called the ‘kamikaze-bleep’ (see also points 4, 5 and 19)

21. Dosing a patient’s warfarin (whom you have never met and don’t know their history) at 4am is horrible, tedious, legally dubious and just plain bad for the patient. Please slap the day team round their faces when they arrive the next morning and don’t let it happen again.

22. Sit down! You may be surprised with how much this helps points 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 11, and 19

23a. If you happen to have a spare moment, eavesdrop when a doctor bleeps/pages another doctor. The majority of the time you will see how it should be done.

23b. Sometimes point 23a doesn’t work because the doctor is a week old and still learning the ‘etiquette’. He/she will learn very quickly as their senior on the other end shouts them down!

24. When a patient is in an ACUTE confusional state, please do not repeatedly ask me for, or demand sedation. This is not the year 1912. I might give sedation AFTER ruling out an infection, over-medication, drug withdrawal, metabolic cause, trauma, neurological, hypoxic, endocrine, and vascular causes, and AFTER using every other method of calming down the patient.

25. Read the latest entry/entries in the medical notes. Your question may be answered already (see also points 1, 4, 12, 13)

26. Please don’t bleep me half way through a ward round to ask whether we will be seeing a patient on the ward round. The answer is yes, and I’ve just missed what my Consultant said because I had to answer the phone to tell you that.

27. If I’ve told you I’m on my way to your ward, please don’t bleep again. Chances are that you have actually STOPPED me getting there while I went to the nearest phone. This is called the ‘road-block-bleep’

Source :David Naumann yahoo group Bleep Etiquette

Fantastic

Popularity: 12% [?]

Asha and mummy went to Piggery Pottery this morning, near Cwm Y Glo.

Umm. The play area is currently out of use, so that was a disapoitment, but we went to llanberis for that instead.

It cost £4.50 to buy a pig to paint. Then you pay £1 to paint.

So that was £5.50 to paint a pig which I can buy 6 for £7.58  bakerross

Umm.. Will i be going again? Probably, as Asha enjoyed it.. but value for money? I dont feel it is. If the Play area had been working, and she had been offered the chance to paint a stone or do the pottery wheel I may be more positive about it, but we wernt.

The staff however on the whole were very friendly and helpfull. The cafe was clean and the coffee was o.k.

Popularity: 20% [?]

Steve woke me in a panic, as he had forgotten we needed to catch the post office van this morning. We made it although I dont know how focused I was on the very short drive there.

Anyway, we then headed off to Bangor, and by the time I left the post office van car park, I was awake and ready for the August rain drive.  Its a beautifull drive through some of the most beautifull scenery in north wales (if you go via snowdonia) or its a stop start nightmare, if you follow the main roads around. Guess what i did.. Yep, I was in the stop start .. Untill brain cell kicked in, and off onto the back roads we went,,, Yes. It may be wet, windy, dull and horrid out. But even then Wales can look fantastic.

50 mins later, and the rain had eased off enough for us to get Asha’s play mate for the day, and we headed home and to Parc Glasfryn. Asha and L had a lovely afternoon on the soft play area. Then the two of them played in Asha’s play room – which she had spent time tidying for the occasion

I even managed a bath whilst the two of them were playing. My first uniterrupted bath for I really dont know how long!

Four o’clock and its back out into the madness, to return L to his parents, and the tourists, then to Tescos – well for S anyway, A and I sat in the car.

Home at last we explored another incredibably fast tea.. I really didnt realise how much freedom gluten and wheat gives you.. Chicken nuggets, peas and bread for tea!

I am seriously narked now, as I realise we spent about 40 mins a day extra careing for Asha than most parents do,.. as we have to home make EVERY meal normally!

Vicki xx

Popularity: 22% [?]

After a small lie in, we trapsed down to pwhelli, as the post office Van had forgoten to arrive on time last wednesday. After some food, in our normal cafe in Pwhelli we then did a back road drive to Caernarfon, then approaching Caernarfon there was a queue of traffic so we diverted again, and arrived in Bangor for a trip to the Pier. Followed by a visit to friends.

Bangor Pier was re-opened in 1988. Almost 100 years after it was first built.

pdf done on history of Bangor Pier here.

Asha enjoyed herself, playing on the Pier and doing forwards rolls and handstands allong the length of the Pier. She was greatly amused at having a wee wee and watching the water underneath her feet whilst she did it!

There was loads of kids crabbing along the lenght of the pier and they were all catching things, and there was some lovely sailing boats sailing past.

The view of the Menai was clear and beautifull, and it was lovely.

After our trip, we left Asha with L, F and J who Asha loves, and had a great time with whilst we dealt once more with the DWP.

Vicki xx

Popularity: 30% [?]

After a rather late start we went to Stone Science today on Anglesey. On the way we picked up two of the home edders, it seems daft us all driving, and headed into the show ground crowds. luckily we seem to have missed most of them.

We had a lovely day, looking around the museum, which whilst not hugh was very hands on, and impressive. The children even did rubbings from some of the stones, which was lovely to see!

Some of the older children drew diagrams of the different dinosaurs, and I am sure we will return in the next few weeks to follow up on what we learnt.

After seeing all the bits and peices,, we then played in the gardens, on the swings, picnic’d and watched the rabbits and hens.

The children played around the hut, and the shop was full of interesting books and items.

Wonderful day out. Tired Asha.

Popularity: 18% [?]

We had planned to go to grannys early Monday morning, but Asha woke up at 9 pm on Sunday night and couldnt get back to sleep. So a quick phone call and we drove to Grannys. Asha stayed awake untill gone 1 am.

Monday morning, she was up bright and early, so we let her play at grannys, playing with grandad, and enjoying breakfast with granny and grandad. After a morning in the house, and visits from assorted people – Mrs C, Auntie Trish, she had a bath and went to bed. Exhausted.

Popularity: 15% [?]

I woke up early and went and woke granny up. I slept through last night, and would have slept longer
but a police car woke me around 7.30. anyway, granny got up and we had a cooked breakfast. Around
9 mummy got up, and joined us, and soon after Granny and Mummy took me to the Lady Lever Art Gallery.
We got a music bag, from the gallery, and we hunted for different instuments in the museum. I found a harp
on the wedgewood, a drum, on a picture high up on the wall, and lady hamilton was playing a tamborine. (

‘Lady Hamilton as a Bacchante’

Elizabeth Vigée-Le Brun)
I also saw a harpsicord in a picture, and in the museum., there was a mini grand piano and a harpsicord.

After playing with the instruments, we went to the childrens section, and mummy and i built blocks, then we did
some colouring, and we also played with the cushions. After a drink we went back to grannys. Daddy then
got in the car and we went to the bank in bromborough, then to the shops and for some lunch. After lunch I went
to play with a friend. B. We played on her trampoline, her swing and with her other toys. We had a great time.
I really enjoy playing with B, and her mummy and daddy are funny. C always has bits of computers.. “EVERYWHERE”
and S, is cool.

At around 5 o’clock we returned to grannys, had dinner, and I chased grandad around. Mummy ran me a deep deep bath
and read to me in bed, after granny played with me in the bath. I was asleep for 8pm.. PHEW!

Popularity: 18% [?]

Is fair of face..

Well yesterday Asha was a little Angel for most of the day. We had arranged to meet granny, grandad and meg and andrew and Bruce in Llanfairfechan..

Well after playing on the swings, feeding the ducks, and enjoying the open space we went and played on the beach. Well actually Asha and Meg played on the beach, Steve and I collapsed in a heap :d

Oh the joys!

It was great catching up with bruce again though!

Vicki xx

Popularity: 16% [?]

Woke mummy up at around 3 am, she ended up in my bed.

We kind of slept.. At 7 am, mummy got in her own bed, and I opted for getting daddy up.

Daddy and I played, and then I went to see the baby next door but one, and was given a beautifull dress.

After a while, Mummy called me home for lunch, and then shortly after a friend came to play. T and I played really well and had a fantastic time!.

When he went home I watched a percy the park keeper video with my mummy, and we read some more, before bed.

We had a scrummy tea, with tiffin and carrot cake for pudding, no wonder i wasnt hungry at bedtime!

Popularity: 12% [?]

Well yesterday we went to the Welsh Mountain Zoo with my friends, and we all got wet, and mummy remeembered why she wore waterproof trousers when using her wheelchair.

Daddy got very tired pushing mummy around, and I had to walk, although I did get odd cuddle from mummy, and some of the other Mums did pick me up to show me the sights of the Zoo. It was brilliant.

We got home late, but Daddy made me a scrummy dinner.

Today I have been playing with a little baby, who is less than 11 months old, and his little brother, who isnt even two weeks old yet. They are SO cute!

After a very long play, and a video, I then played at home for a while. Mummy decided that I could go and play with the other neighbours, but I soon came back.

After another yummy meal from Daddy, he made vege burgers and we had roast chicken, followed by fruit salad and yoghurt (soya) with honey.. Yummy! I had a long bath and Mummy read to me.

The Medici childrens book “Good night time, by Molly Brett”

The lovely thing about this particular book (apart from the illustrations) and the short stories, is that My great Grandma used to read it to mummy

Popularity: 12% [?]

In snowdonia.

Well today we were in Bangor and decided to nip up to the play ground next to LLyn Padarn, and Asha enjoyed – was fascinated by a cyngnet.. why do we never have our cameras on such occasions!

She also spent a long time watching a couple sailing a remote control sailing boat. It was fascinating.

After a healthy run around on the excellent climbing frames and enjoying playing in the rain, when everyone else was hideing under the climbing frame :d I sat in the shelter off a tree and Steve played with her.

Tonight the swing has had a much needed re-paint and may be just may be Steve will get around to doing the dishes…

Asha now wants an ice cream cone with a banana in it… kids :d

Popularity: 19% [?]

Its back to full speed.

For a few weeks we have been playing outside, doing things like learning to skate, on roller blades, learning how to ride our push bikes really fast, and not get our legs jammed in the pedals, and how to play all sorts of games outdoors.

To some extent this has created a natural diverstion from reading, writing or any “formal” educational which one would get inschool. However this unformal education has included trips shopping, onto beaches and shows. Its also included numerous trips to friends to play with other children and learning from them.

Asha can now skate, unaided. Confidently rides her bike, and is a happy child. she also enjoyed having a tonne of people round for her birthday, and enough cake to swamp murcheson falls. I must check the spelling on that one.

Anyway, for a while now Asha has wanted to learn to read, we have done it is stops and starts and today we did some work on the letters using Edgard Lears ABC. Asha at least recognises all her letters and is able to read / recognise clusters of letters such as tt, ly, sy, nny, ky and lly.

I feel this has to be a healthy start to reading. I will play with these clusters with her over the next few days, and carry on from this.

She has also spent some time useing sewing cards, but I think I need to sit down with her tomorrow and do them with her, after we have been to meet Granny for the day.

Popularity: 18% [?]

Cheshire Show.

I went to my first cheshire show today. I missed it the year I was born, and mummy and daddy were busy the following two years.
It was in tabley which is near knutsford, so we had to leave the house at 8am. So rarely these days, daddy had to wake me up!

After what seemed like minutes in the car, I fell asleep. We arrived there. Mummy then got me dressed, and we had a sandwich.
Mummy had parked in the disabled area, and we slowly trundled over the the kiosk. Where we bought our tickets. We then met granny
by the cheshire hounds. The dogs were noisy. Granny then paid for me to have a go on the bouncy slide, but a boy tripped me up and I fell
down the steps. Shaken we went for a walk around. After some time, we found some fun things to look at, sheep, goats and apache. They were cute
I also saw big horses, cows and baby calfs. Mummy took me into the poultry tent, and we looked at the flat bills of the ducks, the small hooks
of the pigeons, and there wonderfull chests which puffed out. Mummy also told me when she was little she held a baby chick at the cheshire show.
I was watching them with my mummy. We looked at an array of egg yolks, the range in colour yellow was fascinating.

I spent some time playing on the fair ground, I went on the carosel, and train. I also climed into an Airport fire engine, it was a lot bigger than
the one which toppled over in portmadog recently. After making mummy a bouquet with granny, we had pork butties whilst listening to the school band.

I am sure i have missed a lot out of this.

Asha

Popularity: 30% [?]