Saturday 28 July 2012

Bonkers, British, working for the NHS...and London is indeed ready!!!

Thank you Mr Beveridge....

I am proud and pleased to have worked for the NHS - thank you also to Mr Boyle for giving the NHS that moment of shininess.

Health/ill health is something of a leveller for me - reminding me once again of my Dad's phrase: 'We all piddle in the same pot'.  Whilst working in intensive care at my beloved Westminster Hospital (now luxury flats I think...) we would 'share' any  admissions from the Houses of Parliament, for example, with St Thomas' - so Lord XYZ might be in a bed next to the gentleman of no fixed abode who collapsed round the back of Victoria Station.  No distinctions made - all cared for no matter what and I  loved caring for each and every one.



We were not allowed to wear our crisp white starched aprons outside so they do not appear here! I still have my 'hard worked for' frilly hat!  The watch (tick-a-tick-a Timex tra la la - something again for the older viewer)  that I am wearing was/is remains my second bestest Christmas present - given to me when I was a child and my first watch -  circa 1968 - I could not believe that I could have such a wonderful thing - new and all of my own!

Last night was all bonkers and eccentric - lots of 'in jokes' (goodness knows what people from elsewhere made of it) but anything that manages to squash in Nimrod (tears welling up from the off), The Archers, The Shipping Forecast (extra special double highlighted), lavatorial humour and the Queen doing something that she has never done before (extra bonkers) is all good for me.  Hugh Laurie coming on as Prince Regent and/or Lieutenant George would have made it extra, extra  bonkers (but then as Bronte pointed out we would also have to have Stephen Fry and it would go on and on...).  Oh and ending with 'Sailing By' would have be just perfectomuno....

And London did not cock it up!

14 comments:

  1. Your photos are fab and you should be proud! The tribute to the NHS was fantastic, and you're right, all those random things were squished together to make a hugely impressive display of Britain's eccentricity!

    Have a lovely weekend

    Claire xxx

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    1. Thank you Claire - it was a delightful muddle and I am stilling laughing about Queenie!

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  2. Oh absolutely - I watched whilst having an ongoing text conversation with Daughter #1 [in London] and saying 'Ambridge next?' and up popped the theme tune, and Mr Bean, and the corgis, and, and and....And YES YES YES three cheers for the NHS and God bless all who serve in her. The last two weeks have seen the pair of us having 8 different appointments - and treatment - and we could never have paid for all that.

    it was fabulous. I stayed up way past my bedtime - but so glad I did!!

    have a glorious weekend x

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    1. Yes indeed Angela - managed to get a few good hymns in too. I do love to sob along with Abide with me...
      I hope that you are all well
      Take care
      Jenny

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  3. It was great wasn't it? Not sure what I expected, but it surpassed all expectations! It was fun and funny and spectacular and all about real people. And despite all the Twenty Twelve jokes about 'inclusivity', I think it was wonderfully inclusive and really representative of Britain. So Yay! for Danny Boyle!

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    1. I LOVE Twenty Twelve and will miss it very much - what will happen in the end I wonder (it is a bit like the final episode of The Office!)
      Go Danny Boy..l..e

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  4. I loved every minute of it!! but like you I would love to know what other countries made of it!

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    1. I think that we secretly/openly relish and delight in our own eccentricity!

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  5. We thought it was crazy, weird, very British! Loved it! Thought the Queen was brill! I was pleased the NHS had such a significant role, it is something we should be proud of. The torch bit was fantastic! Ada :)

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    1. The Queen was magnifico!! Go Queenie! Wonder what will happen in the closing ceremony!

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  6. Thank you for you fab comment on my blog, it made me really smile! I thought I was a follower but I am stalking you now chuck!

    I so enjoyed the ceremony, truly proud to be British xx

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    1. Annie - I boiled a bit when I read a certain comment I must admit!! I wish you well
      Go us!!
      Best wishes
      Jenny

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  7. Yes, I liked it, too, especially the first part with the pastoral scene morphing into the industrial revolution.
    Thanks for sharing your photos.

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    1. Thank you indeedy - that first section was quite something and I might have to watch it all again in slow mo!!

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