Water Bomb

22.06.01

Alvin’s update

Let me take a minute of your time to update you on my adventures. This last week or so has been busy a degree stressful. My new position at Manley is that of Charge Nurse, looking after aged mentally ill clients.

There are generally about 19 clients in the unit at any one time. The carers working with me are very good at their job and have been very helpful with my transition. Kath is my mentor and is helping me to understand the policy and procedures of the hospital.

I generally work 12 hours per day 8.00 to 20.00 hours. Plenty of extra work if I want it but have to pace myself while I’m the new boy. Bev starts at Manley on the 20^th of July on the same shifts and days off.

I have been approved for my tenancy in a one bedroom flat which is within a half a kilometer of work and easy working distance. I don’t want to buy a car yet because I have found the public transport system so easy to use and available.

I generally try to take a different route home from all parts of the city to assist my orientation and was looking for a railway station that neither Kath or I had used in the pass. To get to this station you have to pass some big housing estates. The trap had been set months ago, on reflection, I bet many others had been caught like me. The shopping center Kath and I are used to is very modern only about four years old. It is 20 minutes enjoyable walk from here via a park, I decided on a deviation from the normal route and set off looking for the railway station.

As my Zone of Awareness (ZOA) had been reduced to about 10 meters, coins on the footpath were of interest to me. A fifty and twenty piece coin lay on the ground. This is equivalent to a one way bus ticket back to the flat. I slowed my pace and looked about; no one was looking so I stooped to pick up the coins. As soon as I tried to pick them up I realized they were super glued to the footpath. Something hit me on the right leg which made me stand up but I was then hit behind my right shoulder. I was a bit shocked and thought Christ I’ve been shot as I could feel fluid running down my jacket as I reached to rub the spot. The big picture soon came to me though, as I looked skyward I could see fat faced 12 or 14 year old female looking down at me from about 5 stories up. She had thrown a small balloon full of water down onto a sitting target, hitting her mark with both shots. I started to laugh realizing the situation and told here that was a great joke. I don’t think she expected praise and yelled “FEEK OFF YOU WANKER” I think she might be a trainee Hooligan for Millwall Soccer Club. I’ll have to have vertical ZOA as well from now on.

On our last days off, Kath and I met up with John and Sue Annan for the day.

We took a trip on a Thames river cruise down to Greenwich Park and back.

The gardens are in full flower now as it is the longest day. People are out in droves on the parks and all seems well with the world. A lot of the people sitting on the cruise where looking at the group of odd ball Kiwis laughing and joking at the back of the boat. The one thing about over here is anonymity. You never see that same person twice. I often have pointed to a person and said to Kath “ See that bloke” Kath replies “Yes” my next quip is “Well you will never see him again”. It was a lovely day and we will catch up again soon.

This morning I carried Kath’s suitcase into Kings Cross Station. She is off to Scotland for the weekend with Kerstin Leonard. They have planned a grand old time shopping and site seeing. Kath has a four hour train journey and will arrive as fresh as a daisy and ready to explore her Drummond ancestry further.

You may have seen the Trooping of the Colour pageantry that took place in the wet last week. I didn’t go to the parade but went into the city the next day to see where everything was, as I had watched it all on television at home in the dry. I was inquisitive and began looking about Horse Guards in Westminster and was drawn to the stable area. I mossied around and while the guard wasn’t looking I poked my head in the door to have a look at the horses. A voice to the left of me said “You can’t go in there, move on” which startled me. The big menacing guard in all his finery had come off his position at the front of the building and was standing over me with his sword drawn. I think he meant business so I beat a retreat and buggered of for a walk in Hyde Park.

The National Portrait Museum was interesting. All the Masterpieces were on display. I could easily spend many hours there again but will wait until Bev gets here as I’m sure she will love that place.

Well Kath and I have been a bit home sick lately and she and I would appreciate some updates from the land down under. So get your fingers tapping and knock us up a line or two. If you don’t want to receive my updates you will have to write back and tell me to delete you from the list

I wonder what will happen next..

Alvin

Run over by BUS

11.06.01

Alvin’s update

Things are changing all the time for me so I’ll try to keep you all up to date.

To explain a major change, I’ll refer to is as my zone of awareness (ZOA).

Coming from a rural country area I have tended to scan an area of about 100 yard looking for action or trouble.

Over here, I have found that this ZOA is far too big for the city as there is too much happening. I have there for had to reduced my ZOA to about 10 meters. Only things happen within this zone do I react, I’ll give you an example.

Kath and I went to Lewisham to see her travel agent regarding her European tour next month. I waited outside the little shop near a food stall. The place was busty as hell, people everywhere.

A thump bang and squeal made me flick my head around. I spotted a youth extracting himself from under a Double Decker Bus. Panic was in his eyes as he sprang to his feet right next to me. He began rubbing his head, I assumed that is what had come in contact with the front of the bus. Inside the bus was pandemonium. Old people who where standing in the isle had tumbled against an old guy who was last onto the bus. Old George ( 83) as I later found out was at the bottom of the pile. He was in a great deal of distress. I moved forward to offer assistance to the young bloke. He had turned white with fright and was full of adrenaline. Blood was starting to flow from his fingers and he continued to rub his head. Still dazed, no broken bones. He wanted to bugger off. Some others persuaded him to have a seat inside a nearby drug store.

The old bloke George, had hurt his hip or arse end when he fell. I assisted the old fella off the bus and found him a chair. He couldn’t sit so I gave him reassurance. The Bill arrived from nowhere. It was interesting watching the cops come to terms with what had just occurred. One of the 2 cops went in and seen the young bloke, while the other questioned old George and the driver. It was about this time a second incident erupted. A young teenage girl started yelling and ran past the crowd that had gathered, she was towing a police women who had hold by the back of her clothes. She was bought to ground in about 10 yards and continued to struggle with the cops. I gathered she had been caught for shop lifting and was escorted away in the panda car.

Given that the bus driver needed to be interviewed, his bus had to be unload its passengers and the big red remained where it was, in the middle of the road. This caused a major traffic jam. Cars were backed up for ages, a real bloody snarl.

Back to George, he was starting to get real sore now and just wanted to go and have some food for lunch and get home. Not so, the cops wanted a full statement signed by him. They had also called an ambulance service. Well of course they also wanted to know what happened and started to question old George again. He had had a guts full of all this and welcomed by advocacy. He finally turned the ambulance away and moved off slowly to a fish and chip shop for some dinner

Kath came out of the travel agency, oblivious to all this, she said “What’s going on up there?” I replied a young bloke got hit by a bus. She responded matter of factly “yeh that happed all the time here” I think I’ll have to reduce my ZOA to 1 meter.

I have underestimated the hassle of a work permit in the UK.

Especially the time it takes from when you apply. This has made me rethink my plans as I can’t stay on holiday indefinitely. (No money no Funny). To shorten this up I have accepted a position at the same hospital as Kath Harrison.

Bev will be employed here also and I am assured that we can get the same days off together and have flexibility in shifts. Bev will be joining me here on the 8^th July. Our plan now is to get a flat close to the Hospital and stay here until March next year.

Rachel my first born will be over in November and there is work available for her at the hospital as well. The criteria for getting flats here is very stringent and aliens have to pay up to six months in advance (no credit history). At London rates that soon mounts up. I have furnished the unit in mind and the asking rental is £665.00 per calendar month. (that is about NZ $550.00 per week).

My love handles have disappeared from my hips and guts due to the change in diet and all the walking I’m doing. I was 14 stone when I arrived and now down to 12 stone. (hope its not AIDS). My ribs are sticking out and I feel much better for it.

Its surprising how much exercise you get on the underground up and down stairs. I’ll find a gym near here for the winter and get a range of social contacts by joining the local Millwall Soccer Club, Hooligan division, (I think Kath is already the president of this division).

Had an email from other Kiwis departing for the UK and will be meeting up with a psych nurse from Nelson MH Service at Waterloo Station. This rendezvous point to meet up with John and Sue Annan for the day. Kath and I plan to encourage them onto a boat cruise down the Thames and back.
Yesterday I spent the day at the Imperial War Museum. Shit I was blown away by the Holocaust display. It unsettled me all night. I am starting to learn basic German, as my ancestors came from Poland. I’ll need something to say when I get there ah.

Well I’m excited that Bev will soon be with me

I wonder what will happen next

All the best

Alvin

Bournemouth

01.06.01

Alvin’s update

It’s a bit disconcerting when you get off a tube and the bells are ringing.

I was heading to get a train to Bournemouth on the South Coast. An announcement came over the airways within the Underground system saying “Due to a security alert would you please leave the station immediately”

This was repeated over and over as I traveled up out of the bowels of the Underground. I buggered of out of the building in the flow of traffic and waited outside for probably five minutes. For a starter not many people went back on but as new people arrived who had not heard the announcement the stream of people entering the building grew. The announcement continued and most people seemed oblivious to the emergency announcement.

Well I thought bugger this, so I followed on in to the main platform, all seemed ok, the announcements stopped and life returned to normal.

Kath told me that sometimes people take their lives by jumping under the trains etc. I never did find out what was wrong. All a bit perplexing to me.

They say the IRA may do something prior to the elections so my antenna was working overtime.

My purpose of going to the South Coast was to follow up on a job that I had applied for via the internet. Frontline Community Mental Health Service development stuff. Nurse Consultant Level.

I had a initial meeting arranged with the Service Manager and wanted to check out the area to see if Dorset would meet Bev and my needs as a base for the next wee while.

Close to Europe, London, Wales and Ireland.

There is a ferry that takes two hours across to France from near here also.

My brother is law Dave Irving, had said the weather is like Bluff in the winter, constant sea breezes and rain. My expectations were low. The express train takes only two and a quarter hours to get there, the ride was smooth as silk and I was rocked to sleep within half an hour and woke up just outside Christchurch, a eastern town in Dorset which joins Bournemouth.

Dorset population about half million. A lot of young people in rehabilitation with Mental illness. I sussed the options and recruitment process are in the pipeline.

I wont bore you all with a description of Dorset and in particular Bournemouth, except to say it is very much like Christchurch New Zealand.

Castles, beaches, gardens basically a resort for Poms. The gardens are ready to erupt into flowers. There is a swag of them scattered around the city.
Real Estate prices are high compared to London with a vast array of accommodation places. Mega beds available.

I rode the buses to get orientated and found the natives to be friendly. They love helping a Kiwi to find his way about, especially the old ladies on the buses. Seemed to be a lot of them on reflection.

Kath has the next two days off now, having worked three days 8 am until 8 pm each day. She may be working again tomorrow, if so I’ll be digging out John Annan for a yap.

Bought a Mobile Phone and new pair of undies so I’m a real yuppie now

I wonder what will happen next

alvin