Hiatus Day Twenty - Part Two - Texts and Journal

Texts Monday 14/04/2025

12.00 Text to Many – Staff Nurse chasing District Nurses and Senior Sister for discharge medication & papers.  The glacier moves.

12.15 to Mrs Leftfoot – U couldn’t make it up.  We’re still waiting.  Mobile rings.  It’s freaking Northumberland WI Federation advisor about a membership enquiry.   

She’s ringing Jesmond WI’s secretary now.  Nearing hysteria.

Monday 14 April 2025 12.45 - RVI

Fester just rang the mobile so I could tell him what little is happening.

I haven’t washed Ferretfingers today and don’t intend to until I know we’re putting his day clothes on.

He’s lying flat on his bed, headphones on, laughing at whatever he has on his tablet.

Fester says a box of flowers have arrived but “They’ll keep until tomorrow”

and he has no idea who they’re from.  

My money's on Henffrind.  (I was wrong – it was DrE on behalf of the Coven)

Newcastle United beat Manchester United 4 nil last night.   

How things have changed since I was a girl.

It would appear there are some medical students and/or new house officers on the ward today.  It’s very busy.

14/04/2025

13.42 Miss Doozer – I hope Staff Nurse has their hobnailed boots on for kicking of arses.

14.06 Pearl – Hi Ben, how’s it going?  Can you let Fester know I will call by for my hat around 7.30pm please.  Thanks xxx

14.30 to Bazoukiboy – We’re not home yet.  I won’t believe it until we’re in the taxi.

14.44

Staff Nurse Mercy reports that the District Nurses are happy and now she’s chasing the Senior Sister and doctors for medication and paperwork.  A request has gone down to the pharmacy for the antibiotics they don’t have on the ward.  It should take three and a half hours.  Then we can get Ferretfingers ready to go,

15.05

Clare the Community Nurse has rung.  They have a vac-machine and will call tomorrow between 8am and 8pm.

I have phoned home and told Fester not to expect us before 8pm.  

“You’ll have had your tea then.”  

Hell we’ll have filled in the menus for tomorrow’s lunch and dinner so as not to tempt fate.

I’ve also phoned Middlesister.

I may take home the little pot of hydromol and scissors left on the side (they’d have only gone into the sharps box).  There’s also some dressings that they may be unable to use that might be useful to have.

That poor man is shouting something terribly this afternoon.  

Lots and lots of new patients being wheeled past and auxiliary nurses hunting for supportive bean bags and pillows.  

I said my pillow would be spare, but they refused to take it saying they couldn’t bear the thought of me sleeping without it.  

I said I hoped never to sleep here again.

14/04/2025

15.20 Text to Many – District Nurses on board, have machine and will call tomorrow.  Medication ordered from pharmacy & should be here in 3+ hours.  The vac can be removed, a dressing put on and a taxi ordered.  Everything crossed.

19.00 Text to Many – We’re home