Anticipation 2021

As we approach Summer and the potential end of “lockdown” and our journey on the “road map” out of the restrictions, we must all be feeling a slight wave of trepidation.

I am luckily not a nervous type of person, with no history of depression, so I have got through the last year relatively unscarred mentally. I am keen to get back to normal, with obvious care at all times, to meeting family and friends, be it in the garden. I have already started observing the weather forecast with great interest, but as us British know, it can be very unpredictable.  

My main area of concern is going back to the theatre or a trip to London. Last year we had lots of tickets booked for various events, which were obviously all postponed, so as from July, we have our first night out at the theatre. This means close contact with strangers, and although I should have my full vaccine cover by then, it is a worry.

My other worry would be my Mum. She is generally well at the moment, showing no signs of her progressive lung cancer. I want to get her out to see her friends, enjoy her garden, just generally have fun and be happy. So project Mum, is my priority, starting with lunch in the garden, then with family, as soon as possible.

My retirement with Brad, was obviously not as planned. We had the first 18 months organised with gin afternoon teas, a tour of England and Scotland, other camping weekends and a once in a lifetime trip to three countries in Asia, as well as the countless theatre shows. These fun events peppered our new life together without the daily grind of going to work and to help get used to seeing much more of each other. To be honest, I feel that I see him about the same, as I still am quite busy. I have my wonderful day looking after munchkin, I see and help Mum 3-4 times a week and I now help supervise a community fridge, one morning a week. This takes in donations from the public, or shops with produce reaching sell-by dates. This is available for anyone to come in and to take as needed.  So our marriage, in retirement and “lockdown” has survived and we look forward to our future together.

All our plans have been on hold, and not cancelled and we already have booked a camping trip in May locally and our UK tour is back on for July. (do I sound famous!) So despite some anticipation, I am ready for the rest of 2021.

Thanks for reading, how are you feeling about the road map out of restrictions? Drop me a comment below.

Nanny of Munchkin

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Never Having Second thoughts

My Life Choices

A post by Nanny of Munchkin

As I approach a rather big birthday, I can look back on my career and feel rather pleased with how things went, would I have done anything different? Absolutely not.

I knew from the age of 11 that I wanted to be nurse, followed by a career in midwifery and never even considered another occupation. I choose my ‘O’ levels accordingly and applied at the age of 15. I was given a place on the course, dependent on my exam results, to commence when I was close to 18. This was not a life choice, it was an absolute given.

In May 1979 I started and had a hard working, but rewarding 3 years of training, with a really lovely group of people, some who I am still friends with today. Training was very practical in those days, you learnt on the job and was never supernumerary. As a second year student you could be in charge on a night shift which would never be heard of today. It was scary at times, but being thrown in the deep end was a quick way to learn.

After qualifying in 1982, I spent 1 year on a medical ward and the next 23 years on a paediatric unit. I loved working with babies and children and liked the variety of specialities, medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, urology etc.

The great thing about nursing was that when I had my family, I could work part-time nights so maintaining a career, with little time away from my children.

In 2006, came my first major life choice. I decided to leave my job to start training in midwifery, to follow my original career plan. For many reasons this did not work out and six months later, I was unemployed.

I found a job within 3-4 weeks and this became the best job I ever had. I started work at a local Walk-In-Centre and spent 12 very happy years there, with again, many lovely colleagues. I had returned to a job where patients had a huge variety of conditions, with expanded my knowledge immensely. Each shift was interesting and though hard work, time would fly by. So, although midwifery did not work out, it led to greater things and the highlight of my career.

The responsibility increased over the years and the staff changed. Some shifts became overwhelming and the pressure increased, so I decided to try another change of career to a less challenging role and returned to the local hospital to work in a day clinic. Generally it was a good move and I enjoyed the work, but some of the staff were not very friendly and after one year, I decided to take early retirement.

This was a huge decision, as I would loose a large amount of my pension, but after waying up the pros and cons I finally left in 2019.

Again this worked out for the best, with my Dads rapidly deteriorating health, I was on hand for both my parents as needed. Today, I still look after my Mum, although my Dad has now passed away.

So after 40 years of working for the NHS, I feel I have done my bit. My career has been interesting and when it came to opting for a different pathway, it always worked out for the best, no second thoughts required.

Thanks for reading,

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If Only I Knew

If only I knew, what this be job would be,

Call it carer, childminder or just Nanny

An early start, always mindful, it can be quite a long day

But payed in kisses and cuddles, the very best way.


You hear people say, it’s the best job in the world

Their smiling happy faces, do prove this

Knowing, they know, you will always love them

When you hand them back with a wave and a kiss.


If only I knew, what I would feel, to see that little face

Such an overwhelming desire to hold and treasure

The feeling of love was just so strong

This little bundle could do no wrong.


So he grows and explores and is always changing

He smiles and talks and is so entertaining

If only I knew what becoming a Nan would be

The highlight of an already wonderful life for me.

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Just in case you were wondering…

Just in case you were wondering…

I felt compelled to write a few words about what I was up to at the moment, obviously no fantastic holidays abroad, no day trips to London or theatre experiences to talk about, but I have been busy!

Tuesdays are just so special, looking after the munchkin. He is so full of energy and so funny. He picks up songs and actions so easily and literally copies a lot of what I do and say. We have a little walk out in the morning to the park and to go puddle hunting! He chatters non stop, listens for the planes and trains, points out birds and dogs and hands me many stones and wet leaves. My son is working from home, at the moment, so I see him too, which is great. We go out again, in the pushchair, in the afternoon, to give his Dad a bit more peace to work in.

I see my mum regularly and this involves a little cleaning and getting her shopping. This has also involved getting her new fencing and a shed, sorting out other sheds, rooms and cupboards, buying various household items, doing her online banking and bills. There is always something that needs replacing or looking into.

The gym has been a blessing, but now it is closed again, I am back to walking, as long as it is not raining. My husband and I practice on our guitars regularly and a bottle of wine occasionally accompanies us! I have done some baking, but that always involves calories, so have tried pickling onions and homemade coleslaw. We do tend to watch tele in the evenings and old episodes of “task master” has kept us entertained.

That almost sums up life, at the moment. Longing for the chance to see friends and family on a regular basis and the possibility of a normal life seems to be almost there.

Thanks for reading,


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You Choose The Title

Well the first thing you will notice is the title, or lack of! I thought of ‘The right time to die’, ‘A fantastic father and family’ and ‘A challenging time with Corona virus’ and nothing felt quite right. Choosing a title can be one of the hardest things with these posts, I generally like catchy titles, but probably this time, catchy was not needed. My son has already written an eloquently, heart warming piece about losing his Grandad, so I will try to put my perspective on losing a loved one. I am also aware that we have all had enough doom and gloom recently, so as always, I will try to seek out some positives.

My Dad really was the most amazing, intelligent, funny and lovable man you could meet. My sister and I grew up with little spare money, but family times were so precious and valuable. My Dad seemed to know something about everything. We constantly learnt new facts and skills and a local trip out would be an adventure. He helped us when we both bought our homes with garden projects, electric and plumbing issues, he must have saved us hundreds of pounds!

Although he had health issues and had skipped dying, on at least four occasions! He would come across as fit and capable and was still driving last December. He was managing all household duties and looking after my Mum. He deteriated quite rapidly in the last few weeks and became frail and vulnerable with developing dementia. We were just at the point of getting carers in when he died. He would have hated to be cared for and we knew he was frustrated with his lack of memory. It was distressing to see him like this and I know, sadly, this was the right time for him to pass away.

I now look after my mum and she is probably fed up seeing just me, but due to the lockdown, my face was one of the few she could safely see. I am gradually sorting out her affairs, which has been trying to say the least. Getting to speak to people in banking, pensions and utilities is time consuming and some people are not at all sympathetic. Plus, you get told conflicting information, so it can be very confusing. There is still lots to do, but there is no real hurry.

It has kept me busy, in a time when you can not go to the gym, eat out and see family and friends. I have also occupied myself with jigsaws, our family quiz, guitar playing and family online games. I have missed my children and of course the “Munchkin” terribly and in a time when you want an extra cuddle, you have to do without. (Husband’s cuddles are still frequent, I hasten to add!) although I have missed the munchkin development, I am so pleased my son and daughter-in-law, got to experience it all. I do worry, that he will not really know who I am anymore, but I am sure when we see each other regularly, he will know exactly who all his Nanas are again. We have done WhatsApp phone calls a few times with my mum as well, so he knows half our faces at least!

My Dad loved family, try to not say in a Phil Mitchell voice! and I know his love and closeness to us all, will continue with us for always and we will pass on these values to our little ones.

The positives are that we did not lose my Dad early in his life, or to this wretched virus. My sister and I were with him in hospital, the evening before he died. Something which has been taken away from many, many people. We do not always say the three little words to parents and older children, but actions speak volumes and my Dad knew what he meant to all of us and he was so proud of the fact we all lived nearby and saw each other regularly.

People have learnt to care for strangers in these strange and sad times and shown enormous acts of kindness. I hope this is not forgotten in the future when we get back to normal. I hope other people have reconnected with past friends of long-lost relatives too.

Let’s continue to put others first, keep smiling and love your family, that is just what my Dad would say too.

Thanks for reading,

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The Best Job in the World. A Nanny.

A post by Nanny

Well it’s been a month of me (Munchkin’s Nanny) looking after munchkin. I am only doing one day a week as amazingly I seem to have become very busy since I retired! I worked for the NHS for 40 years but decided last spring that I had had enough. I lost a large percentage of my pension, to retire 7 years early, but decided that to leave the stress behind was worth it. I finished work early November, but was not needed by my son and daughter-in-law, to look after the Munchkin, until January.

Me and the Munchkin on his first birthday

My husband and I have joined the gym and are going twice a week religiously. Yes, we need to lose weight and get fitter, but we need to keep busy and have new interests. I will venture into the yoga and aqua fit classes at some point, but swimming and the treadmill have been my first priorities.

My dad has also been quite poorly, so I now have some planned time to help my parents, as well as the frequent GP, clinic, optician appointments that are needed. How did I have time to work..!

Back to the Munchkin!! My heart literally leaps to see that fluffy little head and sleepy eyes when he wakes up in the morning. There is the routine of meals, bottles and naps but in between we read books, play and create a mess. He can be so funny with his little ways, clapping and dancing to the music, well rocking on his bottom!

Yes, it is long day as mainly 10-11 hours, but well worth it. We were going for walks the last few weeks, but it’s felt a little cold, for me not him, with not much to see. We’ve now found a local music and play group for two hours in the morning.

Do I have any regrets? Absolutely not. As I said, It’s the best job in the world.

Thanks for reading,

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Nine months a Nanny and Natalie

Well let’s start at the very beginning.

I knew that Stephen and Natalie wanted children and would not hang about in producing a little bundle of joy. So it was summer 2018, just 18 months after getting married, that I was handed this envelope. This opened to produce a pop up cube with a scan picture, coloured balloons and a very happy picture of the two of them.

The pop out card from Boomf

So this started the extra element of worry! Yes, I am a worrier and my main cause of my worry is my two children. I find it hard to let go, even though they are now adults in steady relationships, with good jobs and good health. I’m sure I’m not the only parent who knows this feeling!

So first there was the 12 week scan and blood tests, the 20 week scan and so on. Natalie took maternity leave on the Friday 15th and had precisely 15 hours to herself, before going into labour. They live 30 mins from the local hospital but the munchkin came that quickly, his middle name was nearly A47!

So that was the start.

The last nine months have been wonderful, it has been an absolute joy to have this lovely little boy in our family. He is so smiley and has huge blue eyes that miss nothing. He puts his arms around you now, so gives you a cuddle.

nanny

I worry that he will forget me if I do not see him every week, so will relish looking after him once a week, next January.

Natalie had a good pregnancy and delivery and is amazing as a Mummy. Obviously, I could talk about my son’s good points until the cows come home, but this post is to be about Natalie. She has coped well with every aspect of parenthood, has only just stopped breast feeding the little munchkin and is now back to working full-time. I could not have picked a better Mummy for my grandson.

The love they both have for him, just shines out, and he has lots of family who feel the same, he is a very lucky baby.

Thanks for reading,

Nanny and Munchkin.

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