An apple a day...

Well today is National Nurses Day (Flo Nightingales Birthday), now in past years each ward has been delivered a cake. During a quiet period in the afternoon we would all stop for 5 mins for tea and cake. This year some bright spark, for whatever reason, decided instead of cake we would all get a piece of fruit ! It just wasn't the same.. I don't know whether to feel insulted (do they think we are all unhealthy ?) or grateful, (someone is thinking of our waistlines). But do me a favour, have cake on my birthday.
Anyway I had my eye on a nice red apple in the basket.. Mm an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Fat chance in this job. But it kind of worked, by mid afternoon the department was so quiet I was able to take a few hours annual leave..

Today's photo, sort of sticking with the health theme, is of an Apotheke in Salzburg, it is apparently one of the oldest pharmacy's in Europe.

Pigs Ear..

Well I'm not going to ramble on about swine (Media) flu to much. It seems to be dying down now just as SARs and Bird flu did. One school of thought is that it will disappear now only to mutate and come back with a vengeance next winter. Guess we will just have to wait and see.

One Swine I feel sorry for though is Khanzir. Khanzir is the only pig in Afghanistan. He is a curiosity attraction in a zoo for a population who don't eat pork. Because of Swine Flu hysteria he has now been isolated from even his goat friends. What a lonely life :-(

Todays photo was taken at an animal sanctuary near Loch Ness a few years ago. What a pair of beauties.

No more Mr Whippy ?

Reading the newspaper today at work I began to think this country has gone crazy.

First of all a mother got fined £75 when her toddler daughter dropped a piece of sausage roll she was eating. She was given the instant fine for littering, seconds before a pidgeon scooped it up.

Secondly a village didn't get it's post for a week because of a 3 inch pothole in the road... however they managed to deliver letters telling them this was the case...

Then a Policeman refuses to pose on a bicycle for a publicity photo because he has not passed the required cycling proficiency test.

And sadly in Worcestershire Ice-cream vans can now only play their jingle for 4 seconds every three minutes while in Sheffield, Liverpool and Manchester the vans are excluded from parking near schools, playgrounds and parks.

Who is making these laws/rules ? have they got nothing better to do ?

Todays photo is another quirky sculpture from the centre of Salzburg. The writing translates as 'forgive me for all my sins'

Jemaa El Fna

Ok, lacking inspiration at the present so have resorted to Plinky for ideas... one being: Describe the coolest thing you've seen in another country, so here goes..
Jemaa El Fna translates to 'assembly of the dead' but this square in the centre of Marrakech is anything but. The square comes to life at night with storytellers, snake charmers, musicians, juice sellers and market stalls cooking exotic food that that is akin to that served up in bush tucker challenges. It felt like we had gone back in time and history as we soaked up the carnival atmosphere.

Masonic Mystery ?

I am a huge Dan Brown fan and am eagerly awaiting Angels & Demons to be released at the cinema in a couple of weeks.
Like the Da Vinci Code, I know the film will not be a patch on the book but I still can't wait. After that we have his new book that it set to be released on September 15th. The release date is supposed to be significant for his new novel based upon the secrecy of masons.

I came across this tombstone in St Peters churchyard in Salzburg & it fired up my imagination. What do the masonic type symbols, skull and triangle signify ? Very intriguing...

On top of the world...

Such a feelins comin over me..
There is wonder in most everything I see..
Not a cloud in the sky..
Got the sun in my eyes..
And I wont be surprised if its a dream....

(The Carpenters 'On top of the World' 1973)

Today I worked in a different part of the hospital than I usually do & I really enjoyed working with different people in a new environment. I feel it has done me a world of good. Sometimes you just have to do something different to lift that stuck in a rut feeling that surfaces from time to time...

This photo is taken from the Kapitelplatz, Salzburg looking up at Hohensalzburg Fortress. A new sculpture in front of the medieval building, does it work ?

The hills are alive...

Salzburg now is equal to Rome in my list of favourite destinations. I'm sure there will be lots more blogs featuring our visit to this beautiful city.
This is the view from the top of the Untersberg 1805m above sea level. (Don't worry we took the cable car). The mountain marks the border between Austria and Germany and is not far from Hitlers eagles nest.
After climbing the last few metres to the summit, being knee deep in snow in places we basked in the hot sun with beer and ice cream enjoying the views of Salzburg below.
Don't forget you can click on the photos to see a larger version.

Where are you going ?

Another photo from a day in Lincoln. Heading out of the town centre you pass under this bridge. On the other side as you enter the town it asks 'where have you been ?' I keep expecting to see something a little further on saying 'missing you already'.

Anyway this question is very appropriate as I start packing for another adventurous weekend. this time the destination is Salzburg, Austria, a place I have wanted to visit since watching The Sound of Music as a young girl.

The Glory Hole

For once it didn't rain when we visited Lincoln...

The university home of my eldest daughter was bathed in glorious sun for the day.

Walking alongside the River Witham here, there were groans from the family... "oh no shes got the camera out again"

This Tudor High Bridge sits in the town centre, pass up the narrow stairs to the right of the building and you are confronted with the Car Phone Warehouse.

Built around 1160 The bridge is the oldest medieval bridge in England that still has houses built upon it.

The narrow opening created by the arch of High Bridge is known as the 'Glory Hole'. In medieval times it was also called the 'Murder Hole', as bodies thrown into the Witham would wash ashore at this spot.

Aptly my daughter is studying Criminology !

A Whiter Shade of Pale

We skipped a light fandango...
Turned cartwheels 'cross the floor...
Who can forget the lyrics of Procol Harum's A Whiter Shade of Pale ? even though I wasn't born in '67 when it was released.
Yesterday it was announced this song has topped the chart of most played songs of the last 75 years, beating Queens Bohemian Rhapsody which came in at number 2. (The Guardian).
No shocks to see Robbie Williams' Angels in the top 10 too, but was surprised Led Zeppelins' Stairway to Heaven doesn't make an appearance.
I guess my most played track has to be something off Marillions' Misplaced Childhood album. Whats yours ?

Todays photo is of my very own Kayley who turns 20 next week with her whiter shade of pale man on the banks of the Thames.

Back to Reality

After 10 days off work over Easter it was back to reality with a bang today with a 11 hr shift plus an evening "on call".
Todays photo is one taken from a family trip to London several years ago. These human statues are amazing. They were also the theme behind this years winning UK WinterGuard 'NAPA', last week, where each dancer bronzed up to represent someone from history... a fantastic show well executed.

Heaven on Earth

Ok still on the religious theme, A survey reveals that 55% of people believe there is a heaven. I find that figure surprisingly high... It would be interesting to know whether age affects the results, did the 55% of believers have a higher average age than the non-believers ?
The survey also reports that only 52% of people asked believed in life after death. It would be interesting to question the 3% that believe in heaven but not life after death !
You can read more on the survey here.
Anyway todays photo is from a visit to Plitvice Lakes in Croatia last September, a little piece of heaven on earth... well it would have been if we were the only ones there.

Happy Easter

Some interesting pictures of Easter today on the BBC website. The photo of Pope Benedict saying mass as St Peters reminded me of a visit I made to the Vatican some years ago...

Now I'm not a religious person but this place had and aura about it as we gathered for pope John Pauls' Sunday blessing of the crowds. The only trouble being that by this time the Pope was so old he appeared to doze off several times during the reading...
Via the zoom of my camera (above photo) you could see the Pope being prodded back into action! Why do Popes have to be so old ? Surely the 'main man' should be someone in the prime of their life ?

Custard Says...

"Hello"
Thought maybe i'd give this blog lark a go... just don't know what to put here yet !