After the non-event of the Golden Globes, I had to do some research on the film for which the wonderful Julie Christie won her award. She is an actress I have admired since seeing her as Bathsheba in Far from the Madding Crowd, which I studied at school.
Anyway I was interested to find out that Away from Her is based on the moving story The Bear Came over the Mountain by Alice Munro, who is one of my favourite short story writers.
Until I started studying creative writing I never read short stories. I picked up a copy of Alice Munro's collection, Runaway, and was immediately hooked by her ability to create short stories which tell a tale as complex as many novels. She has a wonderful ability to craft touching stories from mundane everyday life.
If you haven't read Munro yet, do. She only writes short stories and is rated one of the best at the art.
Three notable things:
1. Son 1's therapist is leaving next month. Another blow for him and I guess we may have a setback.
2. I have received my badges from Nice Caroline. I'm going to use them to accessorise my black handbag...
3. My mouth is no longer sore from yesterday's visit to the dentist.
Showing posts with label dentist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dentist. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Care
Here in the UK social care services are massively underfunded, resulting in huge reliance on informal carers, usually family members.
But when you read about the situation in some other countries, you start to realise how far we have come. It is not so many decades ago that, even here, parents of severely disabled children were encouraged to place them in large institutions at an early age and disabled people were considered ineducable. Nowadays there are many other options, including residential school or foster care, when parents do need help, but most are cared for at home and all receive a tailored education.
This article on caged beds in the Czech Republic is just too upsetting. I shan't be watching the TV news report tonight, because I can all too easily imagine how, in another time or place, it could have been son 2 in that situation. Instead we have a happy, loving and smart child who, despite all his challenges, is learning fast. He will always need care, of course, but that care must and will be respectful of his needs, not treat him like an animal.
Three notable things:
1. Dentist today. Again. I am suffering from a sore mouth and poverty.
2. I got wet walking to the dentist and wet again walking back...
3. I should have been doing Open University work this afternoon but didn't. Ho hum.
But when you read about the situation in some other countries, you start to realise how far we have come. It is not so many decades ago that, even here, parents of severely disabled children were encouraged to place them in large institutions at an early age and disabled people were considered ineducable. Nowadays there are many other options, including residential school or foster care, when parents do need help, but most are cared for at home and all receive a tailored education.
This article on caged beds in the Czech Republic is just too upsetting. I shan't be watching the TV news report tonight, because I can all too easily imagine how, in another time or place, it could have been son 2 in that situation. Instead we have a happy, loving and smart child who, despite all his challenges, is learning fast. He will always need care, of course, but that care must and will be respectful of his needs, not treat him like an animal.
Three notable things:
1. Dentist today. Again. I am suffering from a sore mouth and poverty.
2. I got wet walking to the dentist and wet again walking back...
3. I should have been doing Open University work this afternoon but didn't. Ho hum.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
The good and the bad...
Well, today's good news was that my lovely little car (jade-green metallic Nissan Micra, around 10 years old) has passed its MOT with no problem, apart from the fact that all four tyres are getting very close to the legal tread limit. Still, I do low mileage so they will probably be OK for a while and we can think about changing them at a time of year when we are feeling a little less poor.
The bad news is that my dentist subjected me to some intensive teeth cleaning and scraping this morning. He gave me an injection so it didn't hurt at the time, but my mouth is rather tender now. I've also spent the afternoon struggling with my Open University Writing Plays coursework, as the final assignment is looming. I know I'm far from the only person to be having difficulty getting into writing for the stage. I wonder why, when most of us will happily write fiction and poetry?
Three notable things:
1. Yahoo has identified the most strange and innovative British websites of 2007 and the list includes Free Rice, where lots of us have tested our vocabulary.
2. I read on Casdok's blog about the McCarron case in the USA, where a mother is on trial for suffocating her autistic daughter. I had not heard of this before. How very sad.
3. A BBC music poll has identified singer Adele as the hottest prospect for 2008. You can hear her here. I think I am going to like Adele.
The bad news is that my dentist subjected me to some intensive teeth cleaning and scraping this morning. He gave me an injection so it didn't hurt at the time, but my mouth is rather tender now. I've also spent the afternoon struggling with my Open University Writing Plays coursework, as the final assignment is looming. I know I'm far from the only person to be having difficulty getting into writing for the stage. I wonder why, when most of us will happily write fiction and poetry?
Three notable things:
1. Yahoo has identified the most strange and innovative British websites of 2007 and the list includes Free Rice, where lots of us have tested our vocabulary.
2. I read on Casdok's blog about the McCarron case in the USA, where a mother is on trial for suffocating her autistic daughter. I had not heard of this before. How very sad.
3. A BBC music poll has identified singer Adele as the hottest prospect for 2008. You can hear her here. I think I am going to like Adele.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Stormy weather
I woke up this morning to the sound of the wind howling outside and the sight of our mutant giant pear tree swaying alarmingly in the onslaught. It was not long before the rain started, so I searched for son 2's waterproof jacket and put it by the door. He moved it and put his cotton summer jacket there. We were still arguing the toss when the school bus arrived, but in the end I let him have his own way, as the TV weather forecast had seemed much better for later in the day and so it has been. Some battles are just not worth fighting.
I haven't written any more over the weekend , although I have been doing some thinking and planning of possible scenes. Today I had to go to the dentist this morning and although I had every intention of writing after lunch, in the end the lure of coffee and gossip at a friend's house was just too much.
Three notable things:
1. No fillings needed at the dentist!
2. Son 2 got kicked when he managed to get himself in the way of a playground fight today. His teacher thought he might have a nasty bruise by the time he got home, but I can't see one. He's probably been lucky.
3. Hearing some interesting gossip this afternoon.
I haven't written any more over the weekend , although I have been doing some thinking and planning of possible scenes. Today I had to go to the dentist this morning and although I had every intention of writing after lunch, in the end the lure of coffee and gossip at a friend's house was just too much.
Three notable things:
1. No fillings needed at the dentist!
2. Son 2 got kicked when he managed to get himself in the way of a playground fight today. His teacher thought he might have a nasty bruise by the time he got home, but I can't see one. He's probably been lucky.
3. Hearing some interesting gossip this afternoon.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Results day
My Open University K272 course results were published today. I had actually forgotten they were due by tomorrow!
I scraped a Pass 2 ( sort of 2:1 equivalent) which I am pleased with. Not my best result ever, but to be honest I did well to finish the course at all. It was interesting, yet also quite complex to understand what was wanted when writing the essays, as I suppose it was all quite theoretical and subjective.
Anyway now I can get back to some writing, or at least I can in two weeks time when I have finished my accountancy work...
Three notable things:
1. My exam result.
2. Feeling very proud of son 1, who found the courage to go into his old school yesterday and tell the head of year what he had experienced there, in the hope that she can protect one of his friends from bullying.
3. Yet another visit to the dental hygienist, who said my gums were healthier than last time and asked me what I had done differently. All I could think of was that the battery has run out in my toothbrush...
I scraped a Pass 2 ( sort of 2:1 equivalent) which I am pleased with. Not my best result ever, but to be honest I did well to finish the course at all. It was interesting, yet also quite complex to understand what was wanted when writing the essays, as I suppose it was all quite theoretical and subjective.
Anyway now I can get back to some writing, or at least I can in two weeks time when I have finished my accountancy work...
Three notable things:
1. My exam result.
2. Feeling very proud of son 1, who found the courage to go into his old school yesterday and tell the head of year what he had experienced there, in the hope that she can protect one of his friends from bullying.
3. Yet another visit to the dental hygienist, who said my gums were healthier than last time and asked me what I had done differently. All I could think of was that the battery has run out in my toothbrush...
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Total confusion
So, the day started badly because I had to go to the dentist. At least, I thought I did. After wasting half the morning waiting for my appointment I duly arrived, only to be told that I should be there next week. Oh well, I needed to make an appointment for son 1 anyway, so all was not lost, but I could easily have done that by phone. Came home to double check my appointment reminder and damn it, they were right and I was wrong. That is the second time in a week I have got muddled about a date. I blame my hormones!
Rather belatedly, I rushed off to my voluntary work. I didn't actually DO much there today, but caught up with some colleagues and had some interesting and very informative conversations. After a quick supermarket visit I returned home to send off some courtesy emails prior to an important multi-professionals meeting about son 1 on Friday. I got a reply asking me to arrange for yet another professional to attend. Am feeling rather peeved because a) it is not really my job to invite the professionals and b) it is such short notice that it will probably be impossible to get them along anyway. But no doubt I will do my best to arrange something tomorrow and if I don't succeed then at least I will be able to say I tried.
Rather belatedly, I rushed off to my voluntary work. I didn't actually DO much there today, but caught up with some colleagues and had some interesting and very informative conversations. After a quick supermarket visit I returned home to send off some courtesy emails prior to an important multi-professionals meeting about son 1 on Friday. I got a reply asking me to arrange for yet another professional to attend. Am feeling rather peeved because a) it is not really my job to invite the professionals and b) it is such short notice that it will probably be impossible to get them along anyway. But no doubt I will do my best to arrange something tomorrow and if I don't succeed then at least I will be able to say I tried.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Fillings and photocopies
Back to the dentist this morning to have two old and crumbling fillings replaced. My dentist is a very good dentist and a perfectionist, but my teeth do seem to cost me rather a lot of money. At least I didn't have to go to Superdentist!
Back at home I set up my new multifunction printer and got it working without any help from son 1. I then spent the afternoon using it for some of my voluntary work, as I had lots of paperwork to copy urgently.
So another day has passed without any writing time. Now I am off to make spaghetti and meatballs for dinner and relax in front of CSI. There's nothing like some crime and gore to entertain me!
Back at home I set up my new multifunction printer and got it working without any help from son 1. I then spent the afternoon using it for some of my voluntary work, as I had lots of paperwork to copy urgently.
So another day has passed without any writing time. Now I am off to make spaghetti and meatballs for dinner and relax in front of CSI. There's nothing like some crime and gore to entertain me!
Thursday, February 01, 2007
How did I do?
Time to revisit my targets for January:
1.OU assignment...done, still awaiting the result.
2.Tax return...done (couldn't afford the fine if I didn't!)
3.Voluntary work...have done quite a lot but not necessarily what I set out to do!
4.Novel writing...prologue and chapter one finished, chapter two started. Not as much as I'd hoped but better than nothing. Also first 1000 words edited thoroughly and sent off to a competition.
5.Wardrobe tidying... not even started. Oh dear.
Not too bad though. Now I must set my targets for February. I'll have a think and try to post them up tomorrow.
My virus never developed into anything too much, so perhaps it was just the tail end of a tummy bug we have all had. I'm glad as I'm actually going out to dinner this evening, a ladies night out (I would say girls, but some of those going are definitely no longer girls!) with a special needs support group I attend.
Today I also had my six monthly check at the dentist and of course, he found a very old filling that needs replacing. He has to make money somehow! But it is not desperately urgent so I am leaving it until after half term.
I finished 'Something Beginning With' by Sarah Salway a couple of days ago. I enjoyed it...a quick and easy read, but well written in prose which conveys hidden depths beneath a seemingly superficial surface.
1.OU assignment...done, still awaiting the result.
2.Tax return...done (couldn't afford the fine if I didn't!)
3.Voluntary work...have done quite a lot but not necessarily what I set out to do!
4.Novel writing...prologue and chapter one finished, chapter two started. Not as much as I'd hoped but better than nothing. Also first 1000 words edited thoroughly and sent off to a competition.
5.Wardrobe tidying... not even started. Oh dear.
Not too bad though. Now I must set my targets for February. I'll have a think and try to post them up tomorrow.
My virus never developed into anything too much, so perhaps it was just the tail end of a tummy bug we have all had. I'm glad as I'm actually going out to dinner this evening, a ladies night out (I would say girls, but some of those going are definitely no longer girls!) with a special needs support group I attend.
Today I also had my six monthly check at the dentist and of course, he found a very old filling that needs replacing. He has to make money somehow! But it is not desperately urgent so I am leaving it until after half term.
I finished 'Something Beginning With' by Sarah Salway a couple of days ago. I enjoyed it...a quick and easy read, but well written in prose which conveys hidden depths beneath a seemingly superficial surface.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
A busy day
A voluntary work committee meeting last night at the home of an Indian friend who fed us all with delicious chickpea masala, rice and naan bread. We didn't get down to the formal business until half way through the evening so it was late when I got home. She even gave me some yummy curry and rice to bring back which Son 2 has enjoyed this evening.
Today has been strangely frustrating, with lots of things to do and all sorts of arrangements going slightly wrong. Yet another visit to the dentists, the ordinary one this time not superdentist, for my regular appointment with the hygienist. I really like my dental hygienist, we always have a good gossip before during and after the scrape and polish, as she has a boy the same age as Son 1.
Another voluntary meeting early this afternoon about funding opportunities and the complexities of working with local government and the NHS. I had to leave early as Son 1 had a therapy appointment at 3pm. Got home to find Hubby already back (he had been on a business trip) so I wasn't really needed and then the therapist forgot to come anyway and phoned with a grovelling apology just before clocking off time. Ho hum.
Have written a small amount more on the novel and will try to get back to it later this evening if I can.
Today has been strangely frustrating, with lots of things to do and all sorts of arrangements going slightly wrong. Yet another visit to the dentists, the ordinary one this time not superdentist, for my regular appointment with the hygienist. I really like my dental hygienist, we always have a good gossip before during and after the scrape and polish, as she has a boy the same age as Son 1.
Another voluntary meeting early this afternoon about funding opportunities and the complexities of working with local government and the NHS. I had to leave early as Son 1 had a therapy appointment at 3pm. Got home to find Hubby already back (he had been on a business trip) so I wasn't really needed and then the therapist forgot to come anyway and phoned with a grovelling apology just before clocking off time. Ho hum.
Have written a small amount more on the novel and will try to get back to it later this evening if I can.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Superdentist
So yesterday I went back to Harley Street to have my root canal work done by the specialist (who I have started referring to as superdentist). For those of you who may have missed the start of this story, it is here and here.
The consulting room is very high-tech and the equipment mainly computerised...and to think I had considered my regular dentist quite modern! Anyway, superdentist gave me a computer dosed anaesthetic, put in a prop to keep my mouth open and got ready to work. I did a bit of deep yoga breathing, watched some of the action on a tiny screen in front of me and nearly two hours later, when he asked me how it had been, all I could say was 'quite relaxing really....', even though I did feel a little lightheaded when I got up. Well any time away from the kids is relaxing, isn't it? It probably also helped that the tooth he was working on was already dead before he started!
Afterwards I wandered down to Oxford Street, via the Oxfam bookshop of course, where once again I found some interesting books. I went into Selfridges, which I hadn't visited for ages. I love that store, it is so much how the other half lives, with all the designer accessories and trendy cosmetic ranges which can be hard to find. It reminds me of when I used to work in the West End and would pop in there, if it was late night shopping, after having had a bad day.
Then, as my mouth was fully back to life, I went off to have a hot chocolate and a croissant before getting the tube home.
The consulting room is very high-tech and the equipment mainly computerised...and to think I had considered my regular dentist quite modern! Anyway, superdentist gave me a computer dosed anaesthetic, put in a prop to keep my mouth open and got ready to work. I did a bit of deep yoga breathing, watched some of the action on a tiny screen in front of me and nearly two hours later, when he asked me how it had been, all I could say was 'quite relaxing really....', even though I did feel a little lightheaded when I got up. Well any time away from the kids is relaxing, isn't it? It probably also helped that the tooth he was working on was already dead before he started!
Afterwards I wandered down to Oxford Street, via the Oxfam bookshop of course, where once again I found some interesting books. I went into Selfridges, which I hadn't visited for ages. I love that store, it is so much how the other half lives, with all the designer accessories and trendy cosmetic ranges which can be hard to find. It reminds me of when I used to work in the West End and would pop in there, if it was late night shopping, after having had a bad day.
Then, as my mouth was fully back to life, I went off to have a hot chocolate and a croissant before getting the tube home.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Harley Street
Off to Harley Street to see the dental specialist today. After a couple of x-rays and a quick opinion (total cost over £100) I was left to consider the next step. It will probably be (a little) cheaper if my local dentist does the required work but I don't yet know if he will be able to.Either way it will cost an arm and a leg!
Didn't have to rush straight home so walked over to Marylebone High Street and found a specialist Oxfam shop full of books and music. I bought four books, including an unopened copy of Tessellate - the UEA Creative Writing Anthology 2006 which was only published last month and cost me less than half the cover price. As I hope to do a creative writing MA one day it is interesting to see what graduates of these courses write, I have previously also found an anthology by MA students at Royal Holloway in a charity shop near home.
Then onwards to Oxford Street, stopping for a caffeine boost in Starbucks on the way. Debenhams had one of its spectacular sales on so was crowded, but I bought a couple of things then had a snack in John Lewis before heading for home.
Didn't have to rush straight home so walked over to Marylebone High Street and found a specialist Oxfam shop full of books and music. I bought four books, including an unopened copy of Tessellate - the UEA Creative Writing Anthology 2006 which was only published last month and cost me less than half the cover price. As I hope to do a creative writing MA one day it is interesting to see what graduates of these courses write, I have previously also found an anthology by MA students at Royal Holloway in a charity shop near home.
Then onwards to Oxford Street, stopping for a caffeine boost in Starbucks on the way. Debenhams had one of its spectacular sales on so was crowded, but I bought a couple of things then had a snack in John Lewis before heading for home.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
The dentist
Went to the dentist this morning and am now on strong antibiotics which are knocking me out. My dental history is unusual, due to a rare genetic condition which I won't bore you with. Earlier this year I had some root canal treatment but there have been complications, which I always knew was a risk. To sort it out is going to need an expert with specialist equipment and to make sure it gets done sometime this century I will go privately, so Harley Street, here I come. Better warn the kids that Christmas might have to be cancelled...
Last night I downloaded a demo of some writers software from Writers Cafe so am having a little play with it. I'm not sure whether this type of program is worth paying out for or not, but its good to be able to try before you buy.
Last night I downloaded a demo of some writers software from Writers Cafe so am having a little play with it. I'm not sure whether this type of program is worth paying out for or not, but its good to be able to try before you buy.
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