Mornin' all

How are you all doing this morning?

Me?  I'm absolutely wiped out but I managed over 8 hours of sleep overnight for the fourth time this week so my sleeping pattern is getting there slowly now.

I've just taken my morning pills and started the virus scan, so that's another couple of things off today's to-do list.  I'm gonna spend the day with my in-laws again, so I won't put up a to-do list for today 'cos there won't be much to cross off it and I've already done 3 of this mornings things, so it's pointless really, right?

I'm pondering on not having any breakfast this morning, but I haven't decided for sure yet.

Ah sod it, I will put up a to-do list for today and I will have breakfast too.  Why break from the norm and make myself ill through hunger?

Gotta remember to put the rubbish and recycling out today otherwise I'll be left with rubbish for 3 weeks instead of two.

The virus scan was reassuringly still clear, so I'm gonna publish this now and get my to-do list then breakfast sorted out while I wait for my morning carer.

Nite nite orl

I've popped my last pills of the day and I'm gonna have another well-deserved early night tonight I reckon.

Nite nite orl.

Fifth and final update to today's to-do list

• Wake up
• Take morning pills
• Run daily virus scan
• Have breakfast
• Get washed and dressed with a carer
• Put first load of laundry on
• Put second load of laundry on
• Have lunch
• Take lunchtime pill
• Offer the bread machine and yeast on Freegle
• Offer microwave on Freegle
• Keep on top of the Hoovering
• Write some more of the sequel
• Invest in a new notice board, mini bulldog clips and pins - I've found a magnetic one that's a whiteboard so hopefully I'll be able to put that up instead and it'll last a bit longer than the cork one that's there atm!
• Read and review 9 Kindle Unlimited books - 1 down, 8 to go
• Take evening pills
• Go to bed

Fourth update to today's to-do list

• Wake up
• Take morning pills
• Run daily virus scan
• Have breakfast
• Get washed and dressed with a carer
• Put first load of laundry on
• Put second load of laundry on
• Have lunch
• Take lunchtime pill
• Offer the bread machine and yeast on Freegle
• Offer microwave on Freegle
• Keep on top of the Hoovering
• Write some more of the sequel
• Invest in a new notice board, mini bulldog clips and pins - I've found a magnetic one that's a whiteboard so hopefully I'll be able to put that up instead and it'll last a bit longer than the cork one that's there atm!
• Read and review 9 Kindle Unlimited books - 1 down, 8 to go
• Take evening pills
• Go to bed

Book Review: "Confessions of a Male Nurse" by (Nurse) Michael Alexander

Kindle:

Audiobook:

Paperback:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5

If you've read any of my other recent book reviews, you'll already know how I start 'em all off, right?  By saying that all books start off with the full trolley-load of stars but I'm not shy about taking stars off.  I always give my reasons and it always breaks my heart when an otherwise 5 star book reduces to 4 because of the authors use of trademarks.  This book ain't any different, but the newest addition is that I gladly return a knocked off star if there's a magic little sentence to say that brand names are used fictitiously and/or with permission.

Let's get on with the reading and reviewing.

Wowsers, the first few pages have been incredible and soo addictive that the world has just sauntered past me for the last 10 minutes while I've had my head in this book.  Still very much a 5 star must-read so far.

This is such a good book and that first patient experience has really lifted my spirits and brought a smile to my face.

Just like with other fantastic books, I'm not gonna comment on every chapter but will still, of course, update this review with any worthy comments that strike me as I read.

These are great chapters and it is wonderful getting to know the patients and especially the medical staff that work with them!  I had a great deal of respect for our NHS before I started reading but this book is rapidly filling every last little corner of my being with gratitude to them.  It's not an easy job and I wouldn't even last an hour but they are absolutely incredibly fantastic people and my heart is beating out of my chest with pride and gratitude for each and every one of them.

I really don't know how nurses cope with patients let alone doctors who are so blatently sexist and scary as the doctor on that ward!

Blimey!  I can see why the majority of patients wanted the mouthwash now lol

I obviously haven't got a clue who that patient is but just that one shower seems to have made all the difference to her, which is a relief!

Wow!  The section on the patients who are psychiatrically unwell was a real eye opener.  Thank you for opening my eyes, Michael.

Just finished reading this absolutely incredible book which has really opened my eyes to the struggles and stresses and strains that a nurse goes through every day of their working life.  I've always had an enormous amount of respect for the medical bods but this book has brought awareness to things that I hadn't even thought of.  Thank you to every single nurse of the past, present and future.

Third update to today's to-do list

• Wake up
• Take morning pills
• Run daily virus scan
• Have breakfast
• Get washed and dressed with a carer
• Put first load of laundry on
• Put second load of laundry on
• Have lunch
• Take lunchtime pill
• Offer the bread machine and yeast on Freegle
• Offer microwave on Freegle
• Keep on top of the Hoovering
• Write some more of the sequel
• Invest in a new notice board, mini bulldog clips and pins - I've found a magnetic one that's a whiteboard so hopefully I'll be able to put that up instead and it'll last a bit longer than the cork one that's there atm!
• Read and review 9 Kindle Unlimited books
• Take evening pills
• Go to bed

Today's (18th February 2023) lunch photo

Today's carer commented on how much veg I was eating now, but it's on a medical bod's advice and I've always loved my veggies and it's making me feel healthier than when I was eating just chips or just hash browns or just potato waffles so as long as they are happy to keep boiling it for me, I'll keep eating it!

It was 3 waffles, 8 spinach bites and 2 servings of mixed veg today which went down a treat.

Here's today's lunch photo:

Second update to today's to-do list

• Wake up
• Take morning pills
• Run daily virus scan
• Have breakfast
• Get washed and dressed with a carer
• Put first load of laundry on
• Put second load of laundry on
• Have lunch
• Take lunchtime pill
• Offer the bread machine and yeast on Freegle
• Offer microwave on Freegle
• Keep on top of the Hoovering
• Write some more of the sequel
• Invest in a new notice board, mini bulldog clips and pins - I've found a magnetic one that's a whiteboard so hopefully I'll be able to put that up instead and it'll last a bit longer than the cork one that's there atm!
• Read and review 9 Kindle Unlimited books
• Take evening pills
• Go to bed

First update to today's to-do list

• Wake up
• Take morning pills
• Run daily virus scan
• Have breakfast
• Get washed and dressed with a carer
• Put first load of laundry on
• Put second load of laundry on
• Have lunch
• Take lunchtime pill
• Offer the bread machine and yeast on Freegle
• Offer microwave on Freegle
• Keep on top of the Hoovering
• Write some more of the sequel
• Invest in a new notice board, mini bulldog clips and pins - I've found a magnetic one that's a whiteboard so hopefully I'll be able to put that up instead and it'll last a bit longer than the cork one that's there atm!
• Read and review 9 Kindle Unlimited books
• Take evening pills
• Go to bed

Today's (18th February 2023) breakfast photo

I had the same breakfast as yesterday but bizarrely the apple juice didn't taste so overwhelmingly sweet as it did yesterday morning until literally the last mouthful so maybe my tastebuds are getting used to the different flavour now?