I have worked for the NHS since 1979, first as a porter and domestic before starting my Mental Health Nurse training in 1984.
Learned my trade as a Staff Nurse and Charge Nurse on various Wards and Day Hospitals, working my way up to Ward Manager. We relocated our family to the West Country in 2009 and after a brief stint as Lead Nurse for Intermediate Care, I worked in a Crisis Intervention & Home Treatment Team until I was lucky enough to be able to claim my NHS Pension, aged 55.
In my semi-retired state I now work 2 or 3 shifts a week as a “Street Triage” Nurse; supporting the Police to help people with mental health problems to access the help they need.
How did you come to be in that line of work?
When I was on the domestic staff, I socialised with nurses and realised what a great job they had.
Do/did you enjoy it, if so, why?
Enjoyed every minute. It is a privilege to be allowed access to the intimacies of peoples’ lives and there is immense satisfaction in playing a part in reducing a person’s mental distress Unfortunately, deaths by suicide rose by 10.9% in the UK in 2018. Please support the National suicide prevention plan.
I have had quite the variety of jobs, from the age of 15 when I left school with zero qualifications it goes something like this -
Making metal railings - The job involved unloading long lengths of metal and dragging them into the workshop ( no fork lift ) “ Cropping “ them to length , then welding with arc welder The best bit was Dipping them in Red Lead paint ( Health and safety hadn’t been invented) We worked on ‘Piece work’ and I was chuffed when my wages reached £10 a week, which I handed over to my dad and got 30 bob a week spends.
Working down t’ Pit Yes, rats get down the shafts, and try to eat your jackbit.
Worked in the hygiene dept in a Pie Factory The ladies ( for want of a better word) were absolute fiends , I was 20 ish and not equipped to deal with older ladies who want your body, loved every minute 😊 ^ That was oop north
Below is down South
Starting work in the hotels, my good lady loved my tight black trousers which I wore when waitering ( by loved , I mean she absolute slaughtered me lol)
Worked in a pub That part is a bit of a blur.
In my 30’s I started work in a joinery firm ( Unlike the ‘ Carpenter ‘ Sean, @stokefc 😉) Love the work, it’s so satisfying seeing the end product that ‘ Carpenters’ install on site 😉
My brother worked in a factory with 'same ladies'...on his 18th birthday, they gave him a birthday card which said
"They don't come any better than you!..."
Inside it said " A little more often maybe, but not better..."
I've never seen him any more embarrassed than that day
@madprof you sly devil you, getting into cooking to meet the ladies.
cheffing...
I’ve got some mushrooms but there’s no cooking instructions and don’t have any garlic butter either booo
Any suggestions for cooking them as only ever had them In restraunts before! They are closed cup mushrooms
Mushroom risotto, which I'm having tonight!
Dont wash them, just check they have no loose dirt on, brush off
Slice them into 50grms of butter, ideally with a chopped onion(shallots better) add a cup of rice (ideally arborio but long grain will suffice..) stir the rice around until it is coated with the butter,
2 stock cubes and 1litre of stock add a small ladle of hot veg(or chicken) stock and stir and let it boil and reduce, add another ladle, stirring all the time and repeat until the rice is cooked
( to make a normal risotto they say 16 small ladles of stock, once every 45 seconds, totalling approx 12-15 mins)
Once the rice is cooked, add grated cheese to taste( again should be parmesan) and add another 25grms butter and stir through....
fresh thyme helps but any dried herbs you have and like...
then let it sit for about 3-5 mins to let the rice absorb the last of the stock and it should have the texture of a thick rice pudding....
Comments
I have worked for the NHS since 1979, first as a porter and domestic before starting my Mental Health Nurse training in 1984.
Learned my trade as a Staff Nurse and Charge Nurse on various Wards and Day Hospitals, working my way up to Ward Manager. We relocated our family to the West Country in 2009 and after a brief stint as Lead Nurse for Intermediate Care, I worked in a Crisis Intervention & Home Treatment Team until I was lucky enough to be able to claim my NHS Pension, aged 55.
In my semi-retired state I now work 2 or 3 shifts a week as a “Street Triage” Nurse; supporting the Police to help people with mental health problems to access the help they need.
How did you come to be in that line of work?
When I was on the domestic staff, I socialised with nurses and realised what a great job they had.
Do/did you enjoy it, if so, why?
Enjoyed every minute. It is a privilege to be allowed access to the intimacies of peoples’ lives and there is immense satisfaction in playing a part in reducing a person’s mental distress Unfortunately, deaths by suicide rose by 10.9% in the UK in 2018. Please support the National suicide prevention plan.
https://www.samaritans.org/about-samaritans/research-policy/national-local-suicide-prevention-strategies/
Felt a bit trapped in my previous job, but this has opened a few doors for me.
Not enjoying it currently, thought I would have some time off but apparently I'm a key worker.
And folks thought the punnage in the Daily Report was bad....