I worked within the NHS for almost 30 years, and during that time I must have worked at Christmas time for 25 of them.
It is never pleasant to be in hospital, but Christmas in hospital is no fun at all.
having said that we did try to make it as comfortable as possible.

Christmas Eve was lovely...... a choir of Nurses would come around, we would dim the lights and the Nurses would progress slowly through the ward with a lantern, singing Christmas Carols....their caps and...

The other day I was lamenting my lack of Christmas spirit, and the fact that I seem tardy in getting my btm into gear for the festive season.
I have to report a concerted effort today.
I did say I was going to go out armed with a list.....so full of good intentions that it overloaded my poor little brain. I didn't do the list.
Today I took myself off to Preston....courtesy of my NOW card.
Hubby had heard that there was bad weather coming and had psyched himself up for staying...

I have tried half heartedly to write some Christmas cards....well, perhaps on reflection it was quarter heartedly......and wrap some presents too. I keep telling myself to get a wriggle on, but somehow it doesn't feel like Christmas.
I was much better organised when I was working full time......I Christmas shopped for myself and for the ward too......it is as if there isn't the same pressure there anymore.
You know a bit like the last minute push to revise for exams.

I...

The phone went at five past three this morning......the ringing hauled me out of my pit of sleep......just as I swung my leg out of bed it stopped.
I sat there on the side of the bed in the dark asking myself if I should go downstairs and check who it was....full knowing that I could not ignore it.
I trundled downstairs hoping that it wasn't some drunk ringing for a taxi.....and had punched in the wrong digit......then thinking of the alternatives I hoped it had been a drunk, with sausages...

We all have them...don't we?
Great expectations....of people in our lives, of events and happenings......and sometimes I think that these great expectations are damaging and unrealistic.

We embark upon a project or an experience and plan in our minds how it is going to be....not really thinking that life may have other plans for us.
I know that on my run up to retirement I imagined how it would be.
I am just a few years younger than hubby, and expected to be retired...