ouch

The lifts are borked again at work.  In most places, this would be merely inconvenient; where I work it's downright daft.  As I toiled up to my office from the basement this morning, I chanced upon an elderly patient eyeing the "lifts out of order" signs with annoyance.
"It's organised chaos round here, isn't it?" he muttered.
"I'm very sorry about this, sir," I said.  "You're quite right, it's unacceptable really.  Would you like me to help you up the stairs?"
He accepted my offer, I shifted my armful of case-notes from one hip to the other, the patient took my free arm and, clutching the bannister with his other hand, we made a slow journey up two flights of stairs.  The patient grumbled all the way, and I couldn't disagree with him - we're a hospital.  Our patients are sick or elderly or both and working lifts should be taken for granted.
We reached the second floor where he his appointment was, and I walked him to the reception desk.  When we got there, he turned to me and said
"You couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery, you lot.  That's what happens when we let immigrants run the NHS."

You're welcome.

dancing two

Last week Goth Girl came with me to indulge my Bollywood dancing aspirations, so this week I joined her in her own day-dream: a burlesque dancing taster class.  Again - so much fun!   I even managed to remember my right from my left several times during the evening (get me).
That's 3 of my 12 for 2012 already!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOHktFoe6ds

dancing

12 for 2012 part 2.
This evening Goth Girl and I went to a Bollywood dancing taster class.
I have the sense of rhythm of a doughnut, but I think it was the most fun I have had for a year.
And I have just signed up for a 10-week course.
Jai ho!

floating through the air with the greatest of ease

First up for my "12 for 2012" - life in the Big Top!
Goth Girl, Rock Chick and I took a class in circus skills yesterday.  We booked during a moment of madness and, having paid our money beforehand, presented ourselves nervously at the appointed time and place.  We were the oldest there by a good decade, and Rock Chick and I were the heaviest there by - well, let's not continue that thought.
But, it didn't matter.  As the trainer said the first time I wobbled off the tight-rope: "it's a mental, not physical, block". 
We learnt to juggle (I can now keep three balls in the air for at least 2 seconds), walk a tight-rope (albeit only about a foot off the ground), balance on each other and best of all - we all had a go on the flying trapeze!
It was amazing fun, all of it, and I want to do it again!

wow...just - wow

Really?  Maybe it's because of my own experiences with pregnancy, but still - really?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/feedarticle/10038605

hello?

Mel says that this is International Blog Delurking Week.  So - if there is anyone out there, please wave!

12 for 2012

Like many (most?) of us, I don't really make new year's resolutions any more.  Largely because I keep them until about the 3rd Jan and then fall off whichever wagon I've climbed upon, and end the year disappointed in myself.

However, I spent 8 months of last year doing nothing but gain a stone in weight (that's 14lbs for any of you across the pond) and mope.  This year is going to be different.

So, I have decided that my challenge this year is to do 12 things I have never done before.  Nothing too grandiose like swimming to France, but nothing too small either.  I mean, last year I gave myself a side parting for 3 weeks and that felt like living on the edge. No more!  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGcn15ODltA