Is Polly's Bite Worse Than Her Bark?

I can't believe how long it is since I last put pen to paper, metaphorically speaking! It seems that since I returned to work I just haven't been blogging, despite my good intentions...

In my last two posts I gave you a run down on how people sometimes be less than understanding, which has always struck me as odd given the nature of my job. To be honest only the innocent would say that compassion and empathy are two of the prerequisites for any job in the health care services. It is may be the ideal that we should be aiming for but in reality one has to question whether or not this is the case. Caring and sharing? No way, José!

Looking back to the events which sparked off my rather petulant outburstings, it was wrong that I should have had to face that attitude from anyone, but hey! She's only human, isn't she? So am I. Months after that episode took place I happened upon the opportunity to have my say on the subject, hence reducing the culprit to a blithering wreck.

It's funny how these things present themselves. I found myself panicking about how much leave I'm entitled to and dropped down to 'the office' to enquire. My erstwhile nemesis was sitting at her desk, thoroughly unprepared for what ensued. I introduced myself politely, shook her by the hand and then just for good measure told her that I was in fact "that nurse who'd had all that time off sick, when really there was nothing wrong with me!" and left it at that...

Needless to say, it was very much a case of me having the last laugh! Obviously I am not the nice person I am presenting myself as because this is one grudge that I hold dear, largely because it hurt me so much. I actually feel a teeny-weeny bit guilty for having behaved in such a manner, but in the main I feel vindicated and much happier than I did. I mean, the poor woman must have been astounded that I would have the gall to do what I did and in front of someone too! I wonder if she explained what was behind it all, or did she even realise what she had so carelessly done in the first place?

Anyway, that was a few weeks ago. My leave entitlement has been decided upon and I am looking forward to a couple of weeks off at the end of this month. Meanwhile I'm writing this on rest days, following three days out sick. My back locked up on me last Wednesday, resulting in numerous telephone calls to various people at work offering my excuses, etc. To be true I have spent a number of days recuperating in bed as a result...

Yesterday I attended Occupational Health whereby the lovely lady doctor gave me the all clear to work! To be honest I am delighted, my cognitive function has been officially assessed and it's good which means that I AM SAFE to work. Little did I know that I would also have two needles stuck in my arm, the first to deposit the annual 'flu vaccine and the second to secure blood to for testing, hepatitis this, that and the other! Have I ever mentioned how much I hate needles?

Afterwards I took Gypsophillus to visit our lovely, friendly vetinarian. She's passing blood in her water again. Ironically the first person I set eyes upon was my Divisional Nurse Manager! This could have been a little awkward, except for the fact that she's a lovely woman whose job it is to be tough and anyway, we're both grown-ups, aren't we? Her dog was sick (poor thing even smelled sick) and my dog was sick, end of. I didn't mention the fact that I am fit for duty, that I'd be back to work on Wednesday, nor did she...

The end all of it is that I got two needles and Gypsophillus got one! Oh yes, and I actually think she got the raw end of the deal as she had her temperature taken - rectally. Funnily enough she snapped at Derek the lovely vetinarian, I can't imagine why, can you?! I'll tell you what's even funnier and that's the fact that this is the first time that she's behaved badly with him.

In the past she's unhappily savaged a number of vetinarians, all of whom thought they knew better than to heed the warnings, she's had to be sedated to have her toe nails clipped and she frequently embarrassed herself in the waiting area! They say that animals know about these things, don't they? Derek and his lovely staff can be found at the Pet Hospital, Kilbride St, Tullamore telephone (057)9351390.

It seems to me that compassion and empathy should also be prerequisites of vetinary medicine. Unlike humans a dogs bit is generally worse than its bark and those that fail to hear it suffer, I think I've been spending too much time in the company of my two lovely ladies of late. Maybe that's why I was such a witch, I mean fancy having the last say...?

Polly's First St Patrick's Day Blog Hop With A Mouse That Waltzes...

Just in case you're wondering about the title, tomorrow is St Patrick's Day! Yippee, it's a national holiday here in the Emerald Isle - the children have the day off school and we celebrate by turning out for parades all over the country. Tullamore is celebrating in a very special way this year, with the Tullamore & Ballykillmurray Scout Troops joining forces to march in the parade...

Hopefully we should have a good turn out for tomorrow, I just hope & pray that the weather holds out and blesses us with a little more sunshine and a lot less wind than we had today. Boy, it's been cold here which has come as a little bit of a surprise after the temperate Spring weather of the past few days...

This year the town is filled with Scouting memorabilia, with exhibitions in the Bridge Centre and shop fronts all over the town. It promises to be quite spectacular, combined with the huge effort going into the parade. Teams of scouts have been beavering away (excuse the pun!) for months preparing for this week and so far it's looking pretty good. I can't wait to see the end result tomorrow - must remember to bring my camera.

So what's the big deal and why are we pushing the boat out? Well, this weekend Tullamore will be descended upon by delegates from all over Ireland attending Scouting Ireland's National Council which opens on Saturday. A second parade comprised of Scouts from all over the Slieve Bloom Scout County and the South Eastern Province will welcome our Chief Scout Michael John Shinnick following his arrival on a narrow boat at the Tullamore Heritage Centre on Friday evening. For us scouters this is the big parade, with St Patrick's Day conveniently offering us the chance to practice our marching skills - shhh, don't tell anyone!

For those of you who are not in the know, the Slieve Bloom Scout County comprises counties Offaly, parts of Laois and North Tipperary. It is so called because the geographical area covered by these Scout troops is dominated by the Slieve Bloom Mountains...

Regarding the rest of the title, tomorrow is also a big day in the card maker's world, especially those who have fallen prey to the extraordinary talents of one Ms Claire Brennan, who just happens to reside on these Emerald shores in the county of Antrim. Being that Claire is both patriotic and creative she decided that tomorrow would be the perfect excuse to bring crafty folk from all over the world together and celebrate together.

Why not drop in again tomorrow and find out what this is all about. If you're lucky I might even have some photo's of the parade for you and of course a nice St Patrick's Day card for you too...

Have a good evening, Slán!

Polly Pierce

Hand Made Greeting Cards & Wedding Stationery From County Offaly

Self-taught Scot has designs on world domination as she knits her way to fame - Times Online

I don't know quite how I came across this lassie, but I've been following her exploits for the past couple of years. Maybe it's because I've always wanted to be able to knit beautiful garments and dress nicely? Whatever the answer, I log in periodically and catch up...

Only this morning, while languishing in my lovely comfortable, warm bed making use of my recently purchased 14 foot long ethernet lead and a borrowed lap-top computer I noticed that my friend Jean was online. Not being one to miss an opportunity to indulge in a quick chat, especially as my friend lives in France I jumped right in.

Now Jean is an accomplised knitter, often publishing beautiful photo's of her latest creations on her blog. I on the other hand taught myself to knit by means of forgotten memories of childhood disasters and a brilliant little book that I picked up in the late 1980's in Leeds. To date my triumphs have included numerous benny hats and a short cravat style scarf made out of reclaimed arran wool that used to be my favourite jumper. There is no comparison...

Amongst other things the name Ysolda cropped up in our chat. Jean sent me a link to the Times online article that was published a couple of weeks ago about this remarkable lassie. I said that I thought she was definitely going places, Jean said that she thinks she already has...

Self taught Scot has designs on world domination as she knits her way to fame

Times Online

Certainly, Ysolda Teague deserves to go places. Her designs are gorgeous, often based on vintage styles which she somehow carries off so elegantly. Recently she's been on a tour of America promoting her latest pattern book Whisical Little Knits 2, while many of her designs are available on line, there are even a freebie or two. Currently I'm still struggling to make my lovely beret, but I suspect that it might be ready in time for next winter!

Polly Pierce
Handmade Greeting Cards & Wedding Stationery Made In Co Offaly

Midlands Craft Club Celebrates In Style...

Calling Crafty People in the Midlands! Why not come and meet like minded folk who enjoy crafting in Tullamore this Sunday? The Midlands Craft Club is two years old this month and to celebrate their success they are moving to a new venue. From 1pm – 6pm come and meet, chat, scrap, shop and craft in luxurious surroundings at the Tullamore Court Hotel.

Sandra Dunne from PaperPlay Challenges offers excellent tuition on putting together a seasonally themed scrap book page, this month it’ll be a spooky double layout for Halloween. Sneak peaks will be published here this week.

If you do have your own tools available

please bring them along as only limited supplies of spares are available.

Ideally you will need a sharp pair of scissors, a craft knife, craft glue and a cutting mat to protect your table.

No experience is necessary and all are welcome. If you’ve always fancied exploring the craft

scene, now is YOUR opportunity to try it out. For a modest fee, class materials and instructions are supplied, with excellent support from Sandra available at all times. In addition to this you will be making a card from the scraps and Sandra will be doing a quick demo on colouring images using distress inks.

Alternatively, if you would just like to meet people with similar interests and just make use of a space to craft the Midlands Craft Club would still be delighted to welcome you. Annamarie will be there with her Scrapbook Store offering the chance to pick up some gorgeous goodies for your stash.She will also be demo'ing The Slice from Making Memories.

NB. Children under the age of 14yrs must be accompanied by supervising adult participant.

My Wish for ME

After my rather long winded ramble yesterday I thought I'd keep it short today. Please click on the link above (in the title) to view a blog by an on-line friend of mine; Celfyddydau. It is very short & sweet; definately succinct and really explains all of what I was saying about ME/FIBROMYALGIA/CFS yesterday.

The reason it is referred to as a SECRET is because we might look okay on the outside, but we are anything but on the inside. When people can't see an affliction they can be very cruel and apply labels; lazy being one of the most popular ones!

I promised to keep this one short and sweet, so I am off now! Please leave any comments on both my blog and Celfyddydau's blog as I am convinced that this photo will make a difference; if only it were part of an awareness campaign.

Thanks for looking,

Px Polly Peirce