Well, I’m glad you have all been asking why this blog has not been updated recently… well, you asked for it, so here goes!!!
19 June 2008
I woke up normal time (07h30) and hurried to get dressed and eat breakfast before the children. I managed it, but still found myself having to help Dora get the boys ready. By the time the boys were ready, we were late for school. I packed the kids and the au pair into the car, and sped away to the school. I rushed the boys into their classes and Corley into his preschool. I then hurried home. I got the tomtom and punched in the postcode, packed all my stuff into a bag and rushed to the car (which Bethany had graciously lent me). On my way out the door, Bethany told me that her gran had had a stroke. I did not have time to console her, but I tried. Two hours later I arrived for my National Insurance interview in Maidstone (11h20). I was seen immediately and forty minutes later I was done there. I then rushed across to the train station to use the public toilet and get a tube map. I then hurried back to the car. I punched in the postcode to Sevenoaks and hurried along there (before the bank closed). I got to Sevenoaks at 13h30 and had to park the car far from the bank. I parked and had to rush up one of the steepest hills in Sevenoaks… I was exhausted!!! I got into the bank, flustered.
I was seen by a consultant 15 minutes later. I sat, facing her. She asked me the usual questions: why I was there, what I wanted… and she gave me the usual speech (what you need to do is open the passport bank account [which means that you pay the bank to set you up in Britain – visas, SIM cards, bank account… and then pay them £6 monthly for their effort] when I refused this, she said I did not have an option). I smiled and said that headoffice had already opened the account and verified that it was alright and that all I needed to do was bring in proof of identity and address… The consultant was fuming. She said that was incorrect and that she was going to have to talk to her manager. I nodded her off. She left and fifteen minutes later, walked back in, sheepishly. I smiled. She said that she had had a word with her manager and that they were unhappy with the letter my employer had written (which was proof of address and employment). I asked why? She said that it was addressed as follows:
I was seen by a consultant 15 minutes later. I sat, facing her. She asked me the usual questions: why I was there, what I wanted… and she gave me the usual speech (what you need to do is open the passport bank account [which means that you pay the bank to set you up in Britain – visas, SIM cards, bank account… and then pay them £6 monthly for their effort] when I refused this, she said I did not have an option). I smiled and said that headoffice had already opened the account and verified that it was alright and that all I needed to do was bring in proof of identity and address… The consultant was fuming. She said that was incorrect and that she was going to have to talk to her manager. I nodded her off. She left and fifteen minutes later, walked back in, sheepishly. I smiled. She said that she had had a word with her manager and that they were unhappy with the letter my employer had written (which was proof of address and employment). I asked why? She said that it was addressed as follows:
The Manager
To whom it may concern
Blah blah blah blah blah……
Where it says ‘the manager’, it should say HSBC (the banks name)… I frowned (the consultant saw this and said that they were going to do me a favour and open the account, even though they should not…) How pedantic
I left the bank (with an account opened) and strolled across the road to Waitrose to buy some food. I bought some cheese, a large pork pie and some twiglets. I left the shop and walked back to the car (downhill, luckily). I reached the car, got in and started eating lunch. I came to the sudden realisation as to why mommy left the twiglets in her cupboard for so long (because they are REALLY gross!) Next I smsed mommy to tell her of the yummy lunch I was eating and then decided I had better be on my way. I looked down at the petrol gauge and saw that the car was running on fumes. I HAD to find a petrol station. I drove and drove and drove, and in my usual fashion, I got myself and the tomtom really really lost… (luckily the petrol station was downhill because I don’t think I would have made it otherwise!)
I located the petrol station and had to put petrol in the car myself, for the very first time (I was worried I was going about it in the wrong way… but I figured if David can do it, then so can I!!!!!)
After all that fun, I typed in Wendy’s postcode and left to see her. I got there around 3pm. We sat and chatted for a while, around 5pm I left her place (with all my baggage) for home. I got home nearly two hours later and was greeted by Bethany at the door.
Having left her in a state earlier that morning (because her gran had had a stroke) I sat and spoke to her until the early hours.
To whom it may concern
Blah blah blah blah blah……
Where it says ‘the manager’, it should say HSBC (the banks name)… I frowned (the consultant saw this and said that they were going to do me a favour and open the account, even though they should not…) How pedantic
I left the bank (with an account opened) and strolled across the road to Waitrose to buy some food. I bought some cheese, a large pork pie and some twiglets. I left the shop and walked back to the car (downhill, luckily). I reached the car, got in and started eating lunch. I came to the sudden realisation as to why mommy left the twiglets in her cupboard for so long (because they are REALLY gross!) Next I smsed mommy to tell her of the yummy lunch I was eating and then decided I had better be on my way. I looked down at the petrol gauge and saw that the car was running on fumes. I HAD to find a petrol station. I drove and drove and drove, and in my usual fashion, I got myself and the tomtom really really lost… (luckily the petrol station was downhill because I don’t think I would have made it otherwise!)
I located the petrol station and had to put petrol in the car myself, for the very first time (I was worried I was going about it in the wrong way… but I figured if David can do it, then so can I!!!!!)
After all that fun, I typed in Wendy’s postcode and left to see her. I got there around 3pm. We sat and chatted for a while, around 5pm I left her place (with all my baggage) for home. I got home nearly two hours later and was greeted by Bethany at the door.
Having left her in a state earlier that morning (because her gran had had a stroke) I sat and spoke to her until the early hours.
20 June2008
Woke up 07h00 this morning. I spent most of the night talking to Bethany, so was exhausted. I rushed downstairs to do Jai’s report for a special needs educator. Whilst I was doing that, there was a mad rush to get everyone out of the house on time. Bethany came to hug me goodbye and then the house fell silent.
I packed all my belongings into the suitcase that Bethany lent me. I scoffed down breakfast and called a taxi. The taxi was there within 2 minutes. I rushed out with the suitcase and my backpack. The taxi driver opened the door for me and asked if he could assist me with my luggage. I accepted with a smile. I warned him that the big suitcase weighed a ton (he smiled as if to say: ‘I’m a man, I can manage’). Having given him several tries, I offered to assist him in lifting my bag. We managed to get it into the taxi… eventually. He asked where I wanted to go, I said Chalkwell Station please!
I arrived at Chalkwell station (£3.70 poorer). The taxi man assisted me getting my stuff out and left. I walked into the unknown (again).
I was let through the gate at the station and headed towards the platform (asking one man on the way if that was the way to Fenchurch station). I boarded the train at 10h27. I arrived at Fenchurch at 11h27 (that’s when the train runs according to schedule). I got off at Fenchurch and had to ask directions to the Circle line. I had to leave the station, walk down the road and go down to the tube (you can imagine the walk – heavy suitcase, backpack, the unknown…) I entered the tube station and headed for the circle line (which goes east and west – luckily it travels in a circle, so you will get there eventually!) The only problem was that the tube is an underground thing (which meant that I would have to take my luggage downstairs… everyone could hear me coming… bang, bang, bump, bump, bang, bump, all the way down the stairs!!!!) I boarded the train. I waited about 30 minutes, and was at my final destination (Bayswater). I got off the train and headed above ground. I had to use the stairs (unfortunately for me, my bag weighs over 27kg’s and there are no lifts to get back above ground). I used all my energy and strength to get my case up each step. On my way up, two young boys asked if they could assist me (boy was I glad). I accepted, this time warning them that the bag was VERY heavy. They chuckled (all manly). I smiled. They got my bag to the top of the stairs and hurried on their way!!! Upon exiting the station, I was asked for my ticket. I showed it to the lady, who said that the ticket issued to me was incorrect and that usually she would have had to make my pay £4 extra. Apparently the ticket I was issued was to a London terminal. Bayswater was supposed to be a zone 1 ticket (luckily she let me through with a warning!!!!)
I then began my journey to the client. On the map it seems a lot further away from the tube than it is. I walked to his street and tried to locate number 29 (the street is LONG and not numbered in any particular order… so I played tourist and asked everyone I saw!!!). I got to the client’s home and buzzed the door. I was let in by the day PA and told to make myself comfortable. I did.
She then did handover and discussed the client with me. And then 1 hour later, she left.
I was lucky because the client stayed in bed all day (requesting I leave him alone so he could have an afternoon nap). Before I knew it, the night PA had woken up and it was the beginning of her shift. I took all my stuff into the room (we share a room/bathroom/bed so when my shift is over I use the room and when her shift is over she uses the room). I stayed up a little while to talk to her, eat dinner and then I went to bed.
I packed all my belongings into the suitcase that Bethany lent me. I scoffed down breakfast and called a taxi. The taxi was there within 2 minutes. I rushed out with the suitcase and my backpack. The taxi driver opened the door for me and asked if he could assist me with my luggage. I accepted with a smile. I warned him that the big suitcase weighed a ton (he smiled as if to say: ‘I’m a man, I can manage’). Having given him several tries, I offered to assist him in lifting my bag. We managed to get it into the taxi… eventually. He asked where I wanted to go, I said Chalkwell Station please!
I arrived at Chalkwell station (£3.70 poorer). The taxi man assisted me getting my stuff out and left. I walked into the unknown (again).
I was let through the gate at the station and headed towards the platform (asking one man on the way if that was the way to Fenchurch station). I boarded the train at 10h27. I arrived at Fenchurch at 11h27 (that’s when the train runs according to schedule). I got off at Fenchurch and had to ask directions to the Circle line. I had to leave the station, walk down the road and go down to the tube (you can imagine the walk – heavy suitcase, backpack, the unknown…) I entered the tube station and headed for the circle line (which goes east and west – luckily it travels in a circle, so you will get there eventually!) The only problem was that the tube is an underground thing (which meant that I would have to take my luggage downstairs… everyone could hear me coming… bang, bang, bump, bump, bang, bump, all the way down the stairs!!!!) I boarded the train. I waited about 30 minutes, and was at my final destination (Bayswater). I got off the train and headed above ground. I had to use the stairs (unfortunately for me, my bag weighs over 27kg’s and there are no lifts to get back above ground). I used all my energy and strength to get my case up each step. On my way up, two young boys asked if they could assist me (boy was I glad). I accepted, this time warning them that the bag was VERY heavy. They chuckled (all manly). I smiled. They got my bag to the top of the stairs and hurried on their way!!! Upon exiting the station, I was asked for my ticket. I showed it to the lady, who said that the ticket issued to me was incorrect and that usually she would have had to make my pay £4 extra. Apparently the ticket I was issued was to a London terminal. Bayswater was supposed to be a zone 1 ticket (luckily she let me through with a warning!!!!)
I then began my journey to the client. On the map it seems a lot further away from the tube than it is. I walked to his street and tried to locate number 29 (the street is LONG and not numbered in any particular order… so I played tourist and asked everyone I saw!!!). I got to the client’s home and buzzed the door. I was let in by the day PA and told to make myself comfortable. I did.
She then did handover and discussed the client with me. And then 1 hour later, she left.
I was lucky because the client stayed in bed all day (requesting I leave him alone so he could have an afternoon nap). Before I knew it, the night PA had woken up and it was the beginning of her shift. I took all my stuff into the room (we share a room/bathroom/bed so when my shift is over I use the room and when her shift is over she uses the room). I stayed up a little while to talk to her, eat dinner and then I went to bed.
21 June 2008
The client stayed in bed my entire shift (apparently in protest… but then, what do I care?)
I sat around the apartment watching television, playing suduko, reading, drinking… (did I mention that there is no food in the house? We have to order take-out for dinner, or run to the shop if we want anything). It was a terribly dull day all-in-all.
In the evening, the client turned the television on, where I was to discover that his television and the one in the lounge are linked (and he NEVER watches an entire program). Due to him not allowing me to turn the volume up and his constant changing of channels, I turned the tv off and read instead.
Eventually the night PA woke up (so I had someone to talk to). Spoke for a while, where I discovered that there is an internet café nearby (the client will not let us use his free internet connection – control?) Anyway, I was going to go down there after my shift (which I decided against). After my shift, I retired to bed (rather late (as I had to go and buy dinner and cook it before I could go to bed)).
22 June 2008
The client stayed in bed my entire shift, again. This time he added on the ‘hunger strike’ (he he he)
So, I sat around the apartment all day again (I had to get permission to go to the shop to buy something for me to eat for lunch – the client did not want me to go, even though he did not need me. In a moment of weakness he agreed, and I took full opportunity and left). The shop is 2 minutes walk from the apartment…
Whilst I was out (all 7 minutes of it) I bought things for dinner. Later in the afternoon I made roast chicken, roast potatoes, roast vegetables, broccoli and cheese sauce (anything make you think I was a little peckish???)
The night PA woke up and we ate dinner/she ate breakfast. The client managed 2 mouthfuls of potato (guess the hunger strike was not working too well for him???)
23/24/25/26 June 2008
These three days are a blur of the client refusing to eat and drink and refusing to take his medication. It all came to an end on the 25th. We had to admit the client to hospital involuntarily (under the mental health ace) because he had refused liquid and his medication, which had led to his mental capacity being questioned. I was quite relieved when it was over.
I spent the evening of the 25th packing my belongings and I left on the 26th for Bethany’s place (again).
It took me over two hours to get back to westcliff-on-sea, but I was quite relieved when I did. I spent the rest of the afternoon talking to Bethany and Dora and the boys.
These three days are a blur of the client refusing to eat and drink and refusing to take his medication. It all came to an end on the 25th. We had to admit the client to hospital involuntarily (under the mental health ace) because he had refused liquid and his medication, which had led to his mental capacity being questioned. I was quite relieved when it was over.
I spent the evening of the 25th packing my belongings and I left on the 26th for Bethany’s place (again).
It took me over two hours to get back to westcliff-on-sea, but I was quite relieved when I did. I spent the rest of the afternoon talking to Bethany and Dora and the boys.
27 June 2008
I went to tesco’s to look at getting another bag for my clothes (one the same size as bethany’s, as all my stuff fitted into her bag). Dora came with me (so she could get some food for the house). I was unsuccessful, and we ended up being late to collect Corley from school (as I happened to get us lost… AGAIN). So we collected Corley from Rachael’s place and then went home. Corley fell asleep when we got home (I suggested to Dora that she wake him because Bethany would be uspet if he slept – Dora said I should leave him because it was Friday and he could get up late on Saturday). Needless to say, when Bethany got home, she was somewhat fuming (and I got the blame…)
Anyway, later that day, I got Nick to take me to Argos to get another bag. I left there with a 6-piece luggage set for £29.99 (awesome stuff!) We got home and waited until Bethany got back with Paige and Kain. We stayed up, I got reprimanded, packed my new bags and then I went to bed.
I went to tesco’s to look at getting another bag for my clothes (one the same size as bethany’s, as all my stuff fitted into her bag). Dora came with me (so she could get some food for the house). I was unsuccessful, and we ended up being late to collect Corley from school (as I happened to get us lost… AGAIN). So we collected Corley from Rachael’s place and then went home. Corley fell asleep when we got home (I suggested to Dora that she wake him because Bethany would be uspet if he slept – Dora said I should leave him because it was Friday and he could get up late on Saturday). Needless to say, when Bethany got home, she was somewhat fuming (and I got the blame…)
Anyway, later that day, I got Nick to take me to Argos to get another bag. I left there with a 6-piece luggage set for £29.99 (awesome stuff!) We got home and waited until Bethany got back with Paige and Kain. We stayed up, I got reprimanded, packed my new bags and then I went to bed.
28 June 2008
I got up early, got dressed and ready to go (again). Nick took me down to the station, where I left for my next assignment. I left Chalkwell for Fenchurch/Tower Hill where I took the District line to Embankment (from there, walked to the train leaving from Charing cross). From Charing cross, I caught the train to staplehurst. This journey took me little over three hours.
I got picked up from the station by the new client’s father. We went back to their place and I received handover from the previous PA (which lasted 15 minutes). The PA then left and I was expected to know how everything works…
It was pretty easy. I waited until 23h00 (because the client went out with some friends to the carnival). Got the client into bed. Then I went to bed.
I got up early, got dressed and ready to go (again). Nick took me down to the station, where I left for my next assignment. I left Chalkwell for Fenchurch/Tower Hill where I took the District line to Embankment (from there, walked to the train leaving from Charing cross). From Charing cross, I caught the train to staplehurst. This journey took me little over three hours.
I got picked up from the station by the new client’s father. We went back to their place and I received handover from the previous PA (which lasted 15 minutes). The PA then left and I was expected to know how everything works…
It was pretty easy. I waited until 23h00 (because the client went out with some friends to the carnival). Got the client into bed. Then I went to bed.
29 June 2008
The client stayed in bed the whole day, as he was feeling sick (hangover). So I was only needed for the following routine:
The client stayed in bed the whole day, as he was feeling sick (hangover). So I was only needed for the following routine:
- Get up at 8, give client tablets. Get client out of bed. Go and eat breakfast.
- Wait around until 12, give client tablets. Go and eat lunch.
- Wait until 5pm and give the client tablets. Go and eat dinner.
- Wait until 10pm and give client tablets. Get client into bed. Go to bed.
Because it was Sunday, we had a Sunday roast. The clients father cooked the meal (as the clients mother and sister are on holiday together in Mexico). I must admit, I was VERY impressed with the meal he cooked (roast beef, roast potatoes, baked cauliflower and cheese, peas, carrots, brussel sprouts, roast sweet potato and gravy). Yummy, yummy!!!
I really like this client… but time will tell if we work out…
I really like this client… but time will tell if we work out…
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