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| Goooooood morning, all ye wonderful folks. A little birdie told me that someone(s) was eager to read some military-type stories...  Lookie what I found in my dusty ol' portfolio!
And since this wonderful site has been so kind and generous to me lately, I'll give away the shiny below to any awesome review(s) I receive for any of the items above. ![Merit Badge in Special Appreciation
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*^*Smile*^*Thank you for being you and making Writing.com a wonderful site. *^*Smile*^*](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/WDC-Special_Appreciation-70_70.gif) Fine Print: By 'awesome' reviews, I mean thoughtful-and possibly over 500 characters- type of deal. However, if you aren't in it to get the shiny, and can't conjure up so many characters/words, know that your review is also very much appreciated and welcomed! And who knows? You might get something for your time as well!  And now, I shall skiddale off to another shift (God, yesterday was  Rest in Peace, dear Mrs. G. One of the sweetest and kindest patients I had the pleasure of being with. She knew her time was up, and was ready to go. Just wish it wasn't in such a painful way.  ) |
Holy Chocolate Batman!  ![Merit Badge in Journey Through Genres
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 What a way to start my shift! Thanks so very much, Writing.com! And congratulations to Cubby  and Robrayl  as well! |
Allan Charles 🐾 2340534  - Hey! If you're buying that, I'll send you my address.  |
ReplySchnujo's Giving Away GPs  - Thank you!  |
ReplySoldier_Mike  - Thank you! |
Reply| It's chaos. It's a 'free' healthcare system, yet it is as dysfunctional as it gets. Once upon a time, the countries in that region were 'one'; and it was easy for nurses and doctors to move in and out of those countries to work in their hospitals. Then that 'exit' situation happened, and then those 'foreign' workers returned to their countries, and the country with the 'free' healthcare found themselves stuck because they didn't have enough nurses/doctors to pick up the slack. Plan B: Hire oversea workers (for cheap labor, if we're being honest). Hire LOTS of them. Fast forward to present day: 'Budget' issues all across the board. Non-essential employees need to be laid off. There's an urgent need to get rid of patients faster from hospitals (hey! free healthcare amiright?  ). Wards (or some smaller hospitals) now have to be shut down. Loss of jobs looming in the horizon. POC issues arise (package of care - where patients, especially older ones will need carers to deal with their needs once discharged). The problem? There aren't enough carers. Families - if they have any - don't want to be burdened with dealing with their aging loved one. The locals aka native borns can't be bothered wanting to work in such a 'menial' job as being a carer, but alas! the powers-that-be deems it fit to stop hiring immigrants - those who are willing to work - because of the dysfunction happening in that part of the government. Oh, and did I forget to mention that the locals also don't want to even join the healthcare industry anymore because they realize how little money is made? So yeah, do not buy into the whole 'free' healthcare banner folks keep touting. It. Comes. At. A. Very. Steep. Price. My rant is just the simplest and basic of the depth of the madness, and unfortunately, so many of us are caught in it with nowhere to turn. |
| My evangelical reading has taught me to expect the next step in this slippery slope: physician assisted suicide. Look at Canada. |
Kåre เลียม Enga  - Because the rumbles are true. There is a slow push to have more healthcare providers become privatized, but - as expected - a majority of the public still want to latch onto the premise of the 'free' system which doesn't work. I cannot begin to tell you how awful it is to visit a typical Emergency department - where unless you're bleeding out with your guts on the floor - you are stuck in there for HOURS until you're attended to. Let's not even talk about the atrocious WAITING LIST for people who are in desperate need of life-saving surgical procedures simply because it's too darn expensive to dare go private. You're rather wait a year or two just to finally get that 'free' help (if you last that long that is). So yeah, that debate of private vs. 'free' will continue to rage as long as there are folks out there who still believe in the latter and want to avoid the pitfalls of health insurance and sky-high hospital bills. |
*sigh* Dear Me, Someday, I will open up a paycheck and realize that every single cent in it will be spent on me, myself, and I only. Sincerely, A-weary-Kiya-who-works-so-hard-to-know-that-all-she's-earned-goes-into-others-pockets-and-then-realizes-she-has-to-repeat-the-cycle-until-the-next-paycheck-arrives. |
Jellyfish  - Moving North is definitely an option - well not that far up North (Scotland etc.) - but I have family living outside London and cost of living is a bit cheaper/affordable. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in a contract with my Trust, so I have to remain here for a little bit more. Just to give you a perspective, what I pay for tiny place in London, is enough to get me a whole house where my sibling lives.  |
| iKïyå§ama-Yay-Nurses! - It is mad isn't it. I can only afford to live in Bath on my own as I have an "affordable rent" studio, I am lucky to have it as there is not much of this type of accommodation. Something needs to be done about the private rental market but no government will agree to a rent cap (apart from possibly the Greens if they ever got in) - Hopefully when your contract is up you will be able to move somewhere cheaper! |
Jellyfish - Exactly! Landlords are getting away with it, and it's infuriating. Anyway, crossing fingers and toes. We've managed to survive so far, and we'll keep on going as best we can, won't we?  |
I've just edited an item in my portfolio:
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I've just edited an item in my portfolio:
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As you can see from my handle, it's International Nurses Day!!! So, here's a shout out to all my fellow nurses, currently practicing, retired, or about to jump into the madness. You are all aces in my book! |
![Merit Badge in Newsfeed 7
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*ahem* Thanks to a certain activity (un-related to dragons), I've been writing a lot more lately. So, if you're searching for something to read to either keep you busy this weekend, or to make up your daily tasks, feel free to check out any of the items below. Can't promise you'll get anything decent in return except for my undying devotion... *watches them gag in refusal* Hmph! Ah well!
(Thanks so much again for the awardicon, Sung'manitu  )
And now to go get ready for some sleep. This gal is back to the ward over the weekend! |
| Well.... ....congrats on the historical first, America. Should be interesting to see how things pan out with this guy in charge of the Vatican now. (was kinda hoping the Filipino cardinal...can't remember his name now...would have gotten the job). |
Joey's waiting on the Solstice  - Hmm...I would like to think that Francis did leave his mark even if there was no drastic change in the world's affairs. I think he, at least, reminded us that their job is to serve the people and he exemplified that with his humility and willingness to go to low places or talk about topics his predecessors shied away from. And if he picked this new guy to succeed him, then I'm sure (or at least hope) he continues that legacy. No one person can fix the world's problems. It's up to all the different parties involved to put their egos in check and try to come to a solution, but as history as shown, that will probably never happen in our lifetime. |
| iKïyå§ama-Yay-Nurses! - Yes, lofty sentiments that at one time in my life I believed in too. But now as I near my 7th decade in this misbegotten world... I've become very jaded... almost everything that mattered when I was a child is no more. There is no accountability, no respect for tradition, no homage to one's ancestors, no empathy for anyone outside their geopolitical group. The entire world is geared to self-interests... everyone blames someone else for their issues instead of accepting responsibility for their failure to thrive. I really hate when people think I owe them anything... I and my fathers before me worked our asses off for every penny we have saved and spent. Although this is unrelated to the pope beyond they have never called anyone out or required their followers to insist on change. The priest and church leaders claim a lack of power to force these things, yet the church membership numbers 1.2 "Billion" with a capital B. They could stop the world in its track on any given day by simply not going to work for 48 hours. The Catholic Church is one of the riches entities on the planet, yet it pays zero taxes and spends less than 5% of its worth on helping anyone. I know from personal experience. How corrupt they are, I have witnessed it personally in Mali, Africa. I am glad there is a new pope, and it give me a small sense of pride that he is from America. But do I have any thoughts that he will make a difference? No.. because he is no better than any of his predecessors... just a man (perhaps a good one) pretending to speak for God. (Harsh to say, I know. But it is the truth all the same.) P.S. I do love you and the things you do and have done for WdC you are one of my favorite leaders in our forum. I have been a member long enough to know the world has given you challenges, (your own crosses to bare,) So please, don't hate me for feeling any lack of mystique for the election of a new pope, he was not chosen by God, but by Man... and we don't have the best track record at these things. I was not throwing stones, just stating that I have not seen much to believe the new appointment changes anything in today's world. Please forgive my woeful perception, through my green colored cataracts. And don't let my aged views of the world effect your attempts to make it better, that's one of the things that sets you apart as an inspiration to the rest of us. Love for all you do! Joey |
| Joey's waiting on the Solstice - Thanks for the kind words. And I do appreciate your input - we are all entitled to our opinions of course, and I can understand where you're coming from. As I mentioned somewhere, I was raised as a Catholic, but stepped away from the Faith as I grew older. So seeing Francis was a breathe of fresh air in an establishment so full of all the negative stigma attached to it. As much as he brought reform in some ways, I'm sure he had to fight a lot of traditions and power struggles behind the scenes (or maybe I just watch too many movies! ). Anyhoo, let's hope for the best for the new guy. He might not be able to wave that magic wand and make all the bad things disappear, but I hope his brand of reform is one that will make the rest of the world take notice (in the positive direction). |
| Oh my God. I think I really am now allergic to gluten. For a while I kept away from the bread and sugar for a few months (for weight loss reasons) - and my coughing symptoms weren't as bad - in fact they cleared away. Every now and then, I'd cheat and get a sandwich or biscuit (wheaty items) and I'd get a little cough, but I always set it aside as just maybe dust or post-work symptoms. But last week, I decided to be extra 'naughty' and bought a whole loaf of bread and well - bam! the full-on coughing has returned with a fury; the kind where you get breathless and have to pace around to catch it or calm down. Guess this means no more wheat...or at least switching to gluten-free stuff now. |
| Aren't you a nurse, iKïyå§ama-Yay-Nurses! ? If we uneducated folks can do this, I have full faith that you can, too! It's not always the most fun thing in the world, but neither are the symptoms of the allergy, so there's that constant reminder. lol We've survived. You can, too! I have faith in you and, at some point, you'll realize, it's actually not that big of a deal anymore. That's when you'll know you've really made the transition. There will be moments here and there where you'll feel like you're missing out. But I promise there will come a time when it's really not such a big deal anymore. It comes sooner for some than it does for others, based on your lifestyle and the support of those around you. But you'll get there! Plus, when I think of all the calories I've not been able to eat because I couldn't have that piece of cake or those cookies or that hamburger at the party or whatever, geez, I'm so much thinner than I would have been! Hahaha! |
| Schnujo's Giving Away GPs - But I like my cakes and all that. Ah, well, you are right anyhow. Discipline. Discipline. Discipline. |
| Cake is from the devil! Of course, that might be why Devil's Food cake is one of the best. Hahaha!!! |
Howdy Lovers of Music and Lyrics and New Challenges! Here's something to look forward to next month....drum roll please!
To be fair, as much as I respect the Beatles - and their achievements - I am more inclined to be more inspired by the boys from Led Zeppelin. And please ignore this unfinished challenge of mine here - "Physical Graffiti"   So, signing up for this one is definitely going to be pushing me out of my comfort zone, but I'm gritting the ol' teeth and diving in! Besides, you can't beat all the prizes Rachel wants to give away! Come join the fun, folks! |
I've added a new item to my portfolio:
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