37.5 hrs

just finished 3 consecutive long shifts. in previous jobs i'd be complaining about the workhouse and the life sapping hours spent there, particularly when the weather's been so fine. but, i'm one of the luck ones. i actually like my job.

a bleep requesting an urgent ecg. normally everything is 'urgent', but this time the staff mean it. a patient is having extreme difficulty in breathing. the whites of her eyes bugling, she stares wildly at me as i walk through the curtains. iv access is of greater importance and anyway, she's not sitting still enough for a meaningful ecg.

no time for the usual ritual, opening up packets and searching for the best vein. skin cleaned, i look straight at her, unsure if she can tell what's going on, i still explain that i'm about to stick a needle in her arm. she's really gasping for air, shoulders heaving up and down. i pin her arm down on the side of the bed, conscious of how rough this must seem. i look up, the three staff nurses are now joined by the sho. nothing like a bit of pressure.

needle on skin, pushing through dermis, waiting for the back-flash of blood in the barrel. it comes. advance the cannula, withdraw the needle, take bloods at the same time and bung the end. the lady doesn't even seem to notice. her skin is so clammy the dressing wont stick. a bandage quickly applied.

fluid and pain relief flow. oxygen and nebs being blasted into her face. she's still wide eyed. return to the ecg. the bio tabs aren't sticking, again she's too sweaty. nurses help dry her skin, i place the tabs, one on each limb and six across her chest. my hands moving quickly and being careful not to cause a tangle of leads and tubes.

no one is speaking. her heart rate is spiking at 210, breathing still shallow and rapid. her whole body shuddering for air. the screen reading is pointless, there's too much interference, with each gasp the leads pick up limb movement. the nurses try and hold her arms still, pressing the tabs on to her damp, cold arms. i attempt reassure her, "your heart rate's coming down (it was but not significantly), we're just having trouble getting a reading because you're moving so much. but don't worry, it's important you keep breathing..." i can't believe i just said that and with a smile too. fortunately she understands, she gives a little nod. the tension in the cubical is released.

just my small role in the care of one of our more poorly patients. by the end of my shift, she was breathing on her own. not everything is as urgent but it's no less satisfying. i get to go home feeling like i've made a difference.


.....granddad is doing well and making massive improvements with his walking and is now in a rehab unit. he's had a few set backs though, due to a nasty uti. his confusion has been upsetting grandma but hopefully this will pass. my two days down there last week, felt harder than any shift at work.

paddy buckley round-a supporters view

23 hours and 43 minutes is what it took simon to complete the paddy buckley round, 61 miles with 28000' ascent. but this fact alone doesn't even scratch the surface of the true story. a year of total dedication, a winter of long runs and an absolute resolve to get round in under 24 hours.

starting at 6pm on friday, he leaves aberglaslyn with jon and ant. we went to the pub. it was hot, thirsty work waiting around for them. back to the roadside and team O-P swung into action. already an hour up on schedule, but i think this was kinda the plan.

he heads of into the dark with gareth. just the small matter of snowdon in between him and the next pot noodle. anxious that more time might be gained paul and i are waiting in llanberis from 0115. well, you never know. night running is not a spectators sport but the sense of anticipation and excitement is getting to me. am i jealous? anyway....

they arrive. simon still looking fresh but unable to eat. it's hot and it's only 0230. tea and crisps forced down. paul leads him up into the deserted mines and i take gareth back to the campsite. still up on schedule.

the next roadside crossing and support happens whilst i'm still asleep. but team O-P, gaynor, ant, jon and some bagpipes were all around the ogwen area from about 0530. and it's starting to get hotter....

1030 and gaynor comes storming up the road, "tea and soup, tea and soup". once again the roadside crew start simultaneously, boiling and cooling water. somehow simon manages to change shoes, have blisters burst, drink a mug of tea, spoon warm broth and change into shorts all at the same time.

simon's not looking quite as fresh, in fact, everyone's looking a bit pink and sweaty. on the final leg it's me, shane and jon-but no bagpipes. there's absolutely no wind and not a cloud in the sky. a steady pace up moel siabod and a cracking run down.

then things start to get a bit sketchy. jon is fantastic and steps up to the job of navigator. we just try and keep moving and every so often force a gel on simon. the summits are indistinct rocky outcrops surrounded by bog. the bog is sapping energy and time. quite a bit of time actually.

slowly doubt crept into simon's mind. he's blown it, there's no hope of a sub 24 any more. despite jon's calculations, simon became convinced and personally i thought he might be right. just get to the quarries. jane and gareth are there waiting with more food and water. in fact they would spend a good 5 hours up there. yup, things weren't looking good.

eventually the moelwyns come into view. blimey, that took a lot longer than i thought, almost an hour longer.... a speedy refill and we're off on a 'quick' loop of the three summits. simon seems almost resigned to the fact that time is slipping away. and there's still a few hills to go.

my legs had starting to cramp. i couldn't believe how strong simon seemed in comparison. i miss craig ysgan and head straight up moelwyn mawr. jon and shane are going well and keeping the pace going. i take few motivational phone calls from simon's wife. she says, we have to be tough with him, keep him going, he needs to get in under 24hr. message passed on.

another flying descent but this time no stopping. filling up as we pass jane and gareth. it's still on but it's going to be very close. climbing cnict i stick with simon. i can't imagine where he's getting his strength from. but he seems to be gaining seconds with every step. he's starting to believe in himself again. it was bloody amazing watching that transformation. final summit reached soon after 1700.

from the top it's all i can do to hang on. jon and shane literally tear down the hillside, simon hot on their heals. i keep them in sight out of shear survial, not knowing the final few miles!! it was an awesome performance and totally humbling to witness.

simon showed such strength of character, a true determination to succeed. when it got tough, it then got a bit tougher, and a little bit tougher and he just got on with the job in hand. he didn't once talk of stopping, just slowing. somehow he turned it around whilst ascending a scree slop to the top of cnict.

well and truly inspired.

booooze

being such a highly trained athlete i obviously would not spend the weekend getting absolutely wasted. and nor would i stay indoors, hiding from bright lights and needing to remain very still-in case any movement made me vomit.....oh, wait a minute...

in the interests of science and fun, i urge people to try sipping this after watching this. good times.

sometimes it's better to...

say nothing. the sound of wallowing is pretty boring.

last week we scattered nan's ashes. it's nearly a year since she passed away. we don't like to rush things in my family! a day of french fancies and a walk in the woods, just what nan would have liked. not a day goes by without thinking of her. particularly when at work.

we've now taken ownership of her old bureau. it's sat in pride of place in the front room, stuffed with maps and note books. all adventures will be planned from here. again, this is something she would have approved of. every time the desk is opened, a flowery scent fills the room. a whiff of nan. if you knew her this would mean a lot more. particularly after she lost her little yorkshire terrier...she could no longer blame certain 'whiffs' on suzie!

since the fling i've been finding things a little tough. physically and mentally. but some proper rest days and some good talking, things are returning to normal.

wk22 & 23 'the plan' round up

wk22 - again a week with no real training. the pain in my knee still causing problems when running. went to the fling to see what i could do....

wk23 - post fling. thank you so much to everyone who continues to offer me support and advice on this running business, and takes the time to read these ramblings and leave much more coherent comments. thank you....i think i was a bit pre menstrual when i last posted, sorry.

to summarise - running 53m appears to have resolved the issue with my knee. not sure this was the "over loading the muscle" that the physio was talking about, but it worked none the less. as for the run itself. i couldn't have asked for more perfect training for the whw. i now know what pace i need to do, what food works, how i'm going to feel on the tough parts. but more importantly i know i can keep going when i'm just fed up with it all. a more boring and detailed list of 'lessons' has been scribbled down. and as predicted, i think i'll be having another go at it next year! and after all, the whw, well....it's just a (very) long day out.

perspective, of sorts

last week my granddad was happily pulling up leeks from his garden, whilst my grandma absent mindedly made him cups of tea, forgetting that he's just had one. this week i'm visiting in him in hospital. he's had a stroke.

this is a man who maintains a large vegetable patch and at 85 still drives and is totally independent. i hope i managed to hide my shock and sadness as the porters wheeled him around the corner. but i think he saw it in my eyes. unable to stand without support and encouragement, i helped him get back into bed. just this effort pretty much wiped him out.

he's making good progress though, and gaining more strength and movement daily. it's just that he's the fit one, the one that looked after grandma. it's becoming apparent that her 'forgetfulness' is actually something more serious. without the routine and support from granddad, she no longer knows what to do. sleeping alone for the first time over 60 years. suddenly everything has changed and nothing will be the same again.

last autumn.