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