Wednesday, 24 September 2025

Wednesday 24th September

 I've finished 'This List of Suspicious Things' by Jennie Godfrey, and I'm still mulling over what I've read. 

I was expecting something lighter, less intense, and this was a deceptively deep dive into the darker sides of ordinary lives. But I'd still give it plenty of stars, as an excellent and thought-provoking read.

Yorkshire folk are renowned for plain speaking, something that is less in evidence in the book, as young Miv and her friend Sharon, both aged about 12, have to deduce what's going on from the elliptical conversation of the adults when children are about. 

Today I had a routine respiratory checkup to make sure the prescribed oxygen flow rates are still correct. 

'I've two medical students with me today, is it all right if they stay?' asked the Respiratory Nurse.

I indulged in some plain speaking of my own;

'Fine, as long as neither of them has a cold or the sniffles, in which case I'm going home!' was my rather direct reply. I did smile as I spoke!

'I'll just go and check,'

A moment later one of the medical students left the room! I hadn't seriously expected that! 

When I did go through I to the consulting room a few minutes later the nurse had opened the window and arranged the chairs as best as she could in the space. 

Otherwise everything went fine, and I'm just to carry on as I am. That'll do for me.


17 comments:

  1. Good for you for speaking up!
    Sounds like an interesting book though I'm in the mood for something light right now.

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    1. Yes, the List is deceptive; it seems light, but is actually dark.

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  2. One would have expected a nurse and the medical student who were about to check you to be aware that you cannot take the risk of catching their colds!

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  3. Well done you rather remiss on their part. There is a lot of covid here at present. Regards Sue H

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    1. The number of people who think covid has gone away astonishes me. Both of us are eligible for vaccines, and my children have each paid £90 for their vaccinations. I think it is crazy that all adults aren't offered the vaccine. But I suppose it boils down to £££££.

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    2. I find it strange that the cut-off age for the Covid jab is 75; what happens at 75 that makes you so much more likely to become ill than say 70 or 65? It makes no sense except as a cost-reducing exercise.

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    3. Some decisions are just... unfathomable.

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  4. Wouldn't you have thought that responsible students and their supervisor would have already checked that they would not be a risk to someone already compromised? Apparently not. Commonsense has flown. Well done for making your opinion heard. Glad to hear that nothing drastic has occurred to change your requirements.

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    1. Common sense is a rare commodity these days!
      Yes, no change is good news as far as I am concerned.

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  5. Good for you for speaking up! You can't assume people are making good decisions for you.

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    1. No indeed. But disappointing to find such lack of awareness on the part of an experienced respiratory nurse.

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  6. Well done for speaking up! You definitely don't want to catch any germs!!!

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