Electricity and dressing myself issues

0620 and the alarm went off, I dragged myself out of bed, with Simone already half way through his first case in theatre.  I had a shower and washed my hair, looked out of the window and saw about 2 metres ahead... It was very very foggy.  'ok' I thought, 'it's probably going to be cold'... so I planned my trip to work wearing jeans, a vest top, t-shirt and my woolly cardigan.  Last thing I wanted today was to be cold.  I switched on the hairdryer and after 5 seconds...... out go the lights and all electricity in the house....'I don't believe it', 'the one friggin day it actually looks cold outside I'm gonna have to go out with wet hair'

Yipppeeee the lights came back on, hairdryer on... 2 seconds later....all electricity goes out.  20 seconds later lights back on, hairdryer on.... 2 seconds later.... all electricity goes out....... and this is how it went, until my hair was almost dry.. FFS

'Ok today is not going to be a good day'

So I arrive at work and am greeted by the manager in cath lab. They are having an audit today after 12pm, and as I don't have a radiation badge, and neither do any of the anaesthesia staff, all paediatric cases are cancelled, except for the first one.  And so by 1030am, first case finished, delivered safely to PITU and I have nothing to do for the rest of the day.  

My two friends who are anaesthetic nurses take me off on a wander around the other hospital on site, as they also have absolutely nothing to do until their day finishes (which is later than mine).  We wandered around and wandered around until lunch time.  The dreaded lunch time. 

"erm I'm going to go up to PITU and see the patient"

"No now it is lunch time, you go later"

"But I don't have anything with me, I'll go to the shop after seeing the patient"

"No you come with us now, we have food"

'yeah and no cutlery' I'm thinking

So off we went and had lunch, which by the way was really nice, not so spicy and really tasty :)  I like free lunches.

Next stop was the nurse educator 'to pass some time' and by this time it was 1330.  I then headed off to see my patient and get a coffee.  I really wanted to go home but I had 2 problems 

1) it was really early and

2) I had Simones wallet and couldn't get hold of him.

So I got changed, hoped no-one I knew spotted me (which is virtually impossible-see previous blogs) and headed to sit in the sun and read my book on the grass.

I had drunk 1litre of water and a coffee in the coffee shop, so after half an hour sitting on the grass I started to feel my bladder 'oh no, I can't go back in the hospital in case anyone sees me in my own clothes when I should be working', so I started to put my book away, ready to go.  Simone would just have to survive with no money.  

A lady who was sat close by then came over and started talking local language to me and the only thing I deciphered (from her gestures) was..... 'lunch'

"aita" I said, which means finished

she continued to gesture and talk local language

I felt so bad that I couldn't communicate with her and she just sat there and I sat there in silence... I felt too rude to get up and leave at this point, even though I had already made my decision to go home.  She said something then went back to her family......

Oh no, no no no, she took some food and started heading back towards me... I stood up and said thank you but didn't take it.  So kind, but SERIOUSLY I have already had lunch. 

Off I went to head home, I really needed a wee.  "Oh no, no, no, no " I had looked down and realised at that moment I had my t-shirt on INSIDE OUT, tags and seams EVERYWHERE.   

I suddenly became very hot and didn't know where to put myself....

M O R T I F I E D..... I can't go back in to the hospital... I left my vest top in my bag so can't change it outdoors...and the cardigan I chose to bring today was massive and woolly, not what you want to wear in 30 degree heat when you're already wearing jeans..... OH. MY. GOD.......  SO desperately needing a wee, carrying a heavy bag (owing to my stupid woolly cardigan) and wearing my t-shirt inside out, I practically ran home. 

For the first time, today, I was desperately hoping that everyone that stared at me was doing so because I'm white.... and not because I can't even dress myself.. at 29 years old..... Surely the locals will think it is a 'western'fashion trend' to have seams and labels on show... SURELY?

I knew today was going to be a bad day.........  

Namaste xxxxx