I went to see my wonderful Patsie this week. She, you may remember has been determined to live with cancer. We have had many adventures over many years and indeed enjoyed fame as the English Patients( click ) in Sweden just after a crushing prognosis had been dealt. Now being well looked after and getting to grips with taking control of her situation . We chatted about anything and everything ,of course. She insisted I lay on her bed and she sat in the guest chair. My buggered back she realised, needs to be flat. Knowing she is struggling with food I had taken a little jar of nuts, a little chocolate and a very small bottle of gin.

Stashed behind her bed I found tonic. And, more gin! We sipped guiltily. Reminding ourselves of midnight feasts as children. One story I told her was of my stashing of grandma’s duty free in a chimney at school. Drank it with my friends at night. Topped it up with water and gave it to her at half term. ! My poor parents living abroad thought their gift had reached its destination in one, full, bottle. My grandmother didn’t ever seem that grateful they said. To her credit she never once said anything to me about the diluted contents.

As we chortled at the story a knock on Patsie’s door made us jump and I for one spilt gin down my neck as I lay there. The nurse who had arrived took in the scene . Grinned the biggest grin.

The BBM pathway. Bloody Brilliant Medication. she announced. I’ll get ice . Which she did.

She later told us they do have gin and whisky but hide it. Oh gosh we

said. The patients get too pissed? Oh no she said it’s their families. They neck it ! If you need any. Just say!

That is nursing at its very best.

I felt a lot better. Hopefully Patsie did too. I’ll be back Awesome Patsie…keep sipping. Absolutely fabulously sipping.