Ramblings of the mis-wired....

It's been an odd first week at my new job.  Ups and downs.  The people (as in 'clients', but I hate referring to them that way) run the whole gamut, from very quiet and easy to extremely challenging.  One lad in particular, though, is amazing.  The first question he asks everyone new is their date of birth and the year.  He then tells you, with barely a pause, what day of the week it fell on.  He's always right, too.  Astonishing!

Glad there have been positives to the week too. So are you sticking at it next week? 

Happier than I was mid-week.  I wasn't at all sure after the first couple of days.  I found one of the other staff members in particular to be very hard to get on with, but we worked together on Friday and found some common ground.  Partly, of course, it's about getting used to new things and people, and getting to know the people I'm dealing with.  They're much more challenging than ones I've been used to in recent years.  At my last job, they were either very capable or confined to wheelchairs, with very little in between.  Here, they're all mobile.  Some of the more challenging ones are totally focused on one activity, which they do over and over all day long - like listening to the same song all day.  Others are a little more active.  We've had several trips out - to trampolining, putting, bowling.  Next week, I'm off shadow shifts and working alone on 1-1s.  That'll probably be better, actually.  And once I've been added to the company's insurance, I can drive the buses, so I'm likely to be out much more.

On the whole, then, I feel buoyant about it all.  Another couple of weeks and I'll be more certain.  At least I don't have the horrible thing of shift changes and extra hours hanging over me.  I know when the day starts and when it finishes.  That's a big bonus.

Don't mean to offend ..  You lock up, I'll do the dishes and polish the cat! 

I'm not sure I've ever come across as silly here, but in the right place I have a fine appreciation of silly and I promise I do have a sense of humour. I can check the corridors and lock the doors too, but I quite like the idea of Lone on the look out. ()()

What bloke? I am me not just some bloke,You don't need looking after.The amazing ladies on here are very capable of coping I feel like I've just been neutered!

better leg it while I am in one peace.

Sorry Miss,

only joking Ellie.You are all amazing.

huggies.

Hugs back but didn't realise I needed a bloke to look after me? No offence put out there but would like to think that I am more than just a little lady...I may now roar...but I can meow loudly and in earnest!  

Hey what you two doing up? Ok Ellie you go round the east wing and I will do the west tom can keep an eye on the main door,see you back here,

"lone survivor" very appropriate tom.glad to hear things have settled a bit for you, I know your busy mate but keeping up with all these ladies on my own is hard work.Lol.

High maintence? Meant in jest ladies,love it really.

So many topics in my head,just need to knuckle down and get one finger typing.

Really enjoyed tonite,it got busy or buzzing,brilliant to be part of it,We of all people deserve a little bit of silliness,

hugs()

We're all survivors here.... 

Watched 'Lone Survivor'.  Seemed appropriate.

Hey..,still rattling here. happy  to lock up if it helps 

Bless! I reckon somebody would grab hold of me and pull me to safety!

I reckon you have all gone sleepy byes so I will just check everything's locked and everything is ok,try not to chatter to much in your rooms,I will look in on you all later.nite nite sleep well.

big hugs to all.x().

Lol! Not good 

He is a brave man,technically I can swim! I flap about trying to coordinate arms with legs but end up all over the shop.have swum a width but more like I am fitting.

Have a big drinkie and a small movie.... glad you made it to 100 letter 'k's....**joke**  on the book. 

Hey...Tom says he'll teach you to swim if that helps! x

Hey tom"you are a very naughty man" loving the limericks, right old chuckle.

Ellie your idea of this post was brilliant.look at the fun we all had, I think the suggestions were good as to who would do what,it kind of says"we have listened to who you are and judged you fit to be?" An anchor Lol.love that,only thing is I know I can't swim but I only weigh 9 1/2 stone so would get bounced all over the seabed dragged along bouncing off rocks and dodging sharks. 

Big hugs happy jokey pals.

Yes been really good thank you everyone but yes tired now! 

Sorry if you were overwhelmed..been a quiet day...but I do like to socialise in what I'd like to think is a safe and supportive environment....can be like a puppy of its lead when give the chance!

friggin pine needles......they are buggers! 

Me thinks the sudden burst of energy on here by us all has been real good fun,a bit exhausting though.

nice to have a laugh and let ones hair down!in my case to let my one hair down ha ha Lol.

hey Ellie thank you for keeping the laughter going,on the ferry and ultimately the island you can be in charge of laughter. Hope all is ok Ellie,to wet for gardening but I think I read you got the gravel drive raked.

not easy raking pine needles off of gravel.

big warm hug,well it's flipping cold and raining outside,even had thunder earlier.

x()

Great news tom,meaning more that you are feeling better about the whole place,take it steady and be patience with yourself. 

Had to rest a second as replies were popping up all over,I was replying to posts that had been replied to,replies I had not yet read. Admin will think we are trying to break this place,

manly hug to tom.

That's good news and hope you continue to feel that way. 1-1 and getting out sound better too. Good you felt up to writing this weekend as well. 

That's good news and hope you continue to feel that way. 1-1 and getting out sound better too. Good you felt up to writing this weekend as well. 

Mind the ornaments and your delicate self x 

Yes to that too. I drove up but think they'd been the night before and the moon was too bright. I'll maybe get to see them one day! Right I better get on and move some curtains and ornaments etc!! 

Each day seems to be a process of untying knots and creating new ones. Did you get to see the northern lights the other day btw

So do you? I hadn't realised that I did. But I suppose I am.. that's my thing.. my body does things to tell me things but I don't always recognise what it's saying and then don't know what to do about it if I find out .. lol. Quite often tired on Sundays because I have the day with dad and try to have the best day we can but drains me which I get frustrated by It. 

You sound tired and frustrated,.... x 

Yes I sort of assumed that having found that myself!! They are lucky to have you on their side. No I'm not. Pleasant as he he is not used to people in my space. Will be glad when it's finished. And not got started getting ready yet! Yes they are a good way to express a whole range of emotions and stories. 

Yep I'm more of an assignments than exams girl too. Very anxious on the tests reflected in not passing til the 4th time but very worth it.  There was no public transport where I grew up so everyone learned to drive sooner or later. But there was always someone in the village who couldn't or didn't. It must be very hard to feel stuck without it. Plus I'm just not used to public transport. My car is another cocoon for me. 

I guess.  The kids are better by far compared to the grown ups! They are honest, kind and I guess I identify with their aspiration and vulnerability...

you ready for home invasion tomorrow?

poetry and sing lyrics help give words and articulation of the inner self...the big bit I struggle to articulate x 

Yes that's when I was introduced too. Listening to Poetry Please sometimes is soothing. You put things so well. Ready for another week at the coalface? 

It ''twas stress that got me.,.at test time..or feel of failure...but happy to sail a boat..when not being the mast head! 

Big hugs. Not good to be kept in your place. Mm I passed on my 4th don't give up. Take more lessons as and when you can. Maybe we can give you encouragement. ()()x

Ted Hughes is good...o level and a level flashbacks..

i guess the happy medium is to own the key to your own cage! Or have it left ajar x 

How beautiful sad and poignant. Maybe there is also safety and comfort in the cage. Some people feel the fear and do it anyway and others don't. I know I miss out on things because of it. Do we choose to trap ourselves? And if we want to change that how do we go about it... I really enjoy the poetry you post and Tom too. I like Ted Hughes poetry he wrote about the skylark and thought fox and other things of nature. 

We have a tawny and barn owl here...curlews have a great call..... I have a car, been through a driving test a couple of times,.but need someone to got out in the car with me! Someone prefers me with clipped wings, methinks ️ 

Caged Bird
BY MAYA ANGELOU
A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.

More in common! Your description suits me well and very poetic. Definitely something special about hearing owls, skylarks lapwings and curlews. My cage is living in town and not being well enough to change that or get out to nature as much as I'd like. Could you learn to drive? 

I need the bubble...but to be unbubbled...being in here helps, but birdsong and a woodland, a long coastal walk....lying in the grass with a good read and the sound if a distant skylark would be very much welcome.  

My husband can't walk that far ...yards...and he teases me because I am like a dog of its lead when outdoors..I don't drive so land locked most if the time.....constantly urging someone to open the doors of the bird cage! Lol

Well done for the rescue mission, you'd be pleased to see it fly off. I like the sound of your local companions.. would suit me. Both of you switching off in your own ways.. mine feels like a bubble existence too which is fine sometimes and not so fine at others. Would you like it to be more lively and less of a bubble or does the bubble give you chance to recharge? 

Sort off days off are sometimes just about the light relief is needed.

I had to rescue a yearling blackbird from my cat  today ...it flew off after some care from me.., but cross with my cat...my local companions - the blackbirds, robin, wrens, owls, bat and the last remaining house martins...

my OH has been stuck in front of the television today..,so a sort of day off myself...got some space, but a rather quiet bubble existence! X 

Yes I think so. We just had a gentle day. Took flowers to mum's grave,    Had nice Sunday lunch. Then had a look over the hedges to see what farming going on. I planted some cuttings I'd taken from dad's garden and now just shooed a puss cat away as curious about my guinea pig. I used to be able to let them run free range in the garden but not any more .. still like to let him graze a bit tho. Sort of had a day off..