A Hodgepodge of memories

Wednesday and it's time for a hodgepodge of thoughts, prompted by Joyce from the blog From This Side of the Pond - if you like blogging challenges then come and join us.

1.  In a rut, in a jam, in the groove, out of synch, off balance, out of touch...which saying best fits some area of your life currently (or recently)? Explain.

After my spectacular swan dive out of the shower in June I have definitely been off balance. I'm practically back to pre fall abilities, but still feel a little bit of nervousness when I'm getting out of the shower, but at least my beloved doesn't have to stand there and balance me anymore.

2. What is it about somebody else's style of work (coworker/employee/shared volunteer project/household chore) that makes you crazy? Why?

Interestingly, I was actually talking about this with a couple of people today at work - we were commenting on how noisy hospitals can be at night. Years ago when I worked in a hospital in London, there was another nurse who had no concept of talking quietly, even on night shift. When I was talking to her I would practically whisper to her to see if she would get the hint, but no, her volume of speaking never went below loud.

3. What's a tradition that always makes you feel at home?

Not really a tradition, but the silly little things we do for each other without even thinking that makes that sense of home be my beloved. One I will definitely say is how he will often appear with a hot water bottle for me even though I haven't asked, as he knows when I'm cold or have got achy joints. He really is my prince charming.

4. A favorite song with a girl's name in the title or lyrics? Any reason why this is a particular favorite?

So many songs I could choose here, including Romeo & Juliet (Dire Straits), Waltzing Matilda (purely because I'm an Aussie), and Patricia the Stripper (Chris de Burgh). I could have even gone with Barbie Girl (Aqua) as when that came out, the girls on the ward I was working on declared it was mine and my beloved's song (his name is Ken).

Instead I've gone for the Kink's song Lola - not necessarily because it is the best song in the world, but because as soon as I hear it I'm back on the cruise I took when I was 20, as one of the performers sang it every night and got us all to sing along.

I'm going to cheat slightly and add another one that has a really strong memory for me, and that is Wayne Fontana's song Pamela, Pamela. It was released in 1966 and when I was doing my nursing training in the 1980's I had the first two lines of the song sung to me by so many male patients that if I had a dollar for every time I'd be very rich. The funniest thing was that none of them knew what came next in the song - it was a good way to break the ice with some patients.

For your listening pleasure - Pamela, Pamela

5. Share a favorite quote, verse, or saying relating to gratitude or thanksgiving.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

It is a year today since our little Muffin Monster left our lives to go over the rainbow bridge - I have a lovely vision of her and Bertie Boo sleeping together in the sun until the day we're all together again. Muffin was such a funny little cat who loved us on her own terms and I still have visible scars from some of the times she didn't feel like being loved. We miss her and every time we see a black cat it makes us both miss her even more.

One of the last photos we took of Muff, when she wanted to come to Edinburgh with us for a night.

Until next time, be good, stay safe, and have a very lovely week.

Pamela & Ken
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