Back to school Monday. Various briefings etc at my own school, the phrase I learnt from Jerome springs to mind, what it lacked in levity was made up by its brevity. At least I think that is correct. Then, training teachers at young G’s old school on behalf of Australian software group. Interesting audience. 99% great. 1% just silly off task…er teachers? mmmm

Tuesday to Warwick for Conference for supplier reps. Dinner was buffet and team building. The age old marshmallows and spaghetti! Excellent ammunition for firing at opposition. Wednesday, I had been invited to talk to the Reps conference. They were 100% receptive audience. Their laughter at my initial funny story about dipsticks, fueled my confidence. OOps.

Then a train to London power nap all the way and to AGM.

Followed by a whizz over to the House of Commons. Got through aiport style security after a full search of me, my bag and case. The stimulators, chargers, syringes, catheters all caused a bit of a fuss. Bleurgh. Welcome to travel with me.  Then into the bowels of government. Two rooms to make Laws and 28 rooms to entertain in!  We were in one of these, for The National Continence Care Awards. or as D keeps irreverently referring to the bladder of the year Oscars.  I had at late notice realised I could take guests. D and DG could come. Alas Jerome and young clever T could not. Perchance I had occasion to collect vital supplies from Awesome Nurse J ‘@downstairs’. Jerome  message to Govt that the 6 week notice of leave prevented his acceptance. His message for me? He said that he’d let ‘Dipstick’ accompany me instead. Dipstick? Hah. He presented me with one of said, from pot.

I explained all that to the conference. Their laughter as I produced my single dipstick was just brilliant.

Then it was home again after tea sandwiches and antibiotics! I exchanged news with Dad via email:

Dear Dad
DG lives in Bedford. She now works for xxxx as Director of Education so is the one encouraging me to go to some of the events I’ve spoken at. MP has been good at keeping in touch. He and I trying to make the Bedford CCG talk to us. He’s fixed a meeting now…so could happen. + He knows most of my students, especially the owners of all the restaurants in ‘curry mile’so we have much chatter.

As KE says: Always a story. Train home so overcrowded DG and I  squeezed past a ‘commuter club’ in the bar carriage. DG in flip flops insisting on carrying my wheelie bag too. They insisted on giving us brandy! We sat in first class,  we offered to upgrade but no-one took the money, so we got wine and peanuts complimentary. Then there was a plea for medical assistance for an ill passenger. DG volunteered. Goes with the territory I guess.  So she went down the train to help. Train stopped in Luton for ages, paramedics/ambulance managed to get poor lady off train. Reminded me of being extracted from the Toronto flight at Heathrow!
DG came back. She explained the events and added:  brandy would be good anesthetic, the peanuts might have induced allergy. We giggled loudly and reminded ourselves of other funny stories. Bizarre tales of dishwashers, AandE departments and pelvic floor exercises for the elderly. Mr Squeezy App? Technology for patients. By the way, I met the inventors, they were fabulous, got an award too. Much merriment as I told my story of erudite academic and her husband’s enthusiasm for the app. Hmmmm.  First class commuters pretended not to hear whilst smirking into their gin and tonics and pretending to ‘work’ tapping away on laptops looking very important.

So, clutching my framed award,  bag full of catheters,syringes, (thank you Jerome) not forgetting my very own dipstick, plus the electrics …
SNS remote, Nevro Stim charger kit and peppermints we stumbled off the train.

Back in Bedford…Tried to look ‘normal’. Offered our untouched brandy to our fellow passengers who looked mighty relieved we were leaving.

On 13 Apr 2016, at 21:53, D That’s brilliant. What a lovely day. Who are the other in the pix?Dadxx