Thinking of warmer places

 The weather here has been raining almost every day for what seems like weeks now. I was sat here thinking how nice it would be to go abroad to somewhere dry and warm for a week or 2. However, looking at the news I can see Spain has had torrential downpours, Sicily was flooded with pictures of cars floating in car parks, and Tenerife has huge waves and torrential rain. I've been to a few of the Canary Islands years ago and visited Lanzaroti while working for a disabled couple as their personal assistant -  or caregiver if you're reading from USA.

Floods in Sicily 

credit to Manchester evening news

When I left social work I took a temporary job with an agency as a visiting home carer. Following this I then decided to look for something more permanent and went to an interview for a Personal Assistant to the disabled couple. At the interview the job was described as cooking breakfast,  helping the paralysed person to shower and dress, doing some laundry, light housework, and generally helping out for 3 short days a week. Then it happened! The lady, who sadly had brain damage, looked straight at me and said "Do you like boats?" I replied we used to have a small river boat which was very nice. She said "No, big boats" So I said I liked the ferry we went on to France. Her husband was desperately telling her to be quiet which was quite amusing. She looked at me and said "Cruise Ships, we go on cruises and need a carer with us" I was honest and said I'd never been on one, but was willing to try it if that's what they needed. I got the job, and did 3 cruises with them visiting Scandinavia and Russia, the Caribbean, and Asia. Also a fortnight in a very nice hotel in Lanzaroti. The pay was often below the minimum wage, I had to buy my own Visas and malaria tablets (private prescription not available on the NHS) but I did see the world for free. I left after 3 years and went self employed as a temporary live in PA, and earned enough in a year to take my daughter and husband on a cruise to Europe. 

Nothing exciting happening here this week. OH has decided to go to the pub with the meat raffle each week. He won again and brought home some Topside steaks. I think it's braising steak so that's what we're having for dinner tomorrow. 

               Our Air Purifier 

I've bought an air purifier which was recommended on a site for people with allergies, asthma and lung problems. I didn't really think it would be much use but to be honest I'm only taking one antihistamine pill instead of 2 a day, and I'm not sneezing anymore. Still coughing quite a bit since the last chest infection, but I think quite a few people have had a cough for several weeks after they caught this virus.

Bye for now All the best

Sally x

Comments welcome