On 'Being Nuts'

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest - Funny blooper videos are here

 
As American Journalist Hunter S Thompson (1937-2005) wrote:

"...If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up. ..."

One thing about working in psychiatric wards for decades, you quickly became able to spot those around you who were crazy - including your fellow employees. You soon realised that these were all the smart ones - they knew things were not right in their world but they were on the inside. They were the ones getting treatment while all the other suckers stumbled around on the outside, following their mundane lives and hoping something good was going to come from it.

I always held the philosophy that if I, or any of my staff, got physically injured through our interactions with residents than we were really to blame 'cos we got careless and dropped our guard. In near thirty years I only got hurt/injured by residents twice and in both cases it was my fault, 'cos I forgot the rules and dropped my guard.


We were taught, early in the piece, the 10 Commandments:

1. Always try work in pairs (how I met Rhonda LOL! ).

2. Always check the Med Charts when you came on and note what ‘extra’ medications the high risk residents were ordered.

3. Dispense your ‘extra’ medications for high risks and leave in the locked treatment room – never try to get them ready in an emergency, you will be too rattled and spill it everywhere!

4. Always back-up your partner, never leave them alone or exposed to risk.

5. Never walk straight through a door into a residents room/area. Always approach a doorway and move sideways through it and always towards the most open space in that room/area.

6. Never stand within reaching distance of a resident and if you need to make a restraining move, step to their 'on-side' and take hold of their wrist, move behind them, place your free hand behind their shoulder and apply an 'armbar' hold. (We practiced it, regularly!)

7. Talk quietly, modulate your tone of voice, never make sudden moves.

8. Always (ALWAYS) keep your hands down - at or below your waist.

9. Keep your back to a wall and keep a clear space between you and the nearest exit.

10. Know when your meal break is due and make sure you get off the ward for it!


Feel free to add your thoughts on 'Being Crazy' - try starting with a 'craziness' quote.

Rhys Priestland Incredible Try - Scarlets v Perpignan

Heineken Cup Rugby - 09-10-10



Scarlets (Llanelli, Wales) score a magnificent team try against Perpignan, although I reckon there is a good case the breakaway that stole the ball didn't come through the gate, and was offside.



If Wales can play with flair like this then the World cup is theirs for the taking.

We've lost a great soprano

Opera legend Joan Sutherland has died in Europe after a long illness, at the age of 83.



RIP "La Stupenda"

Sunrise by the Lake

We had a few days at "The Camp".

Denny-the-Dog was restless and woke early and wanted to go for a walk, so, I grabbed my camera and set off around the lake just as the sun broke over the ridgeline across the water.

Then, through the trees the sun reflected off the surface of the water

As it got higher a 'con-trail' was rapidly dispersed by some high altitude air movement.

The ice-cold waters of the late winter came into full view.

As the early morning shadows moved off the rocks along the pathway.

Then finally the sun settled on the waters before another day of aquatic events.

All of this in around 15 minutes!

For Jim

Hi Jim,

Here are a couple of images of the hibiscus I mentioned on your blog - Long Live Hibiscus.

John

Another favourite plant of ours is the 'pigface' or Carpobrotus spp They are a very hardy succulant that is frosttolerant and open and close with the sun, in fact they will 'track the sun' and always grow facing towards the sun's path across the garden.

We managed to save a cutting of this plant and it has survived on the highlands in a large pot out near our BBQ setting. We have decided to propogate some more cuttings from it and replant it in the gardens up at "The Camp" to form a ground cover.

A Ewe-nique Event...

Boorowa's "Running of the Sheep" festival images.

The Boorowa Hotel top verandah is a good viwing spot, but you have to get there early:

The floats lead the way:

Followed by the Irish Pipe Band (see why you have to get to the Hotel early):

The Bull and Stallion was a bit removed from the action but suited myself as a base to "park and walk"

Enter the sheep:

and they just kept coming:

Some of the locals got into the swing of things and added a few decorative touches of their own:

Views around Yass

Just a few shots I took as I walked Denny-the-Dog up to the shops this morning, mostly the catholic college, Mt Carmel's and St Augustine's church.

The old convent, now part of the Mt Carmel College:



Mt Carmel College Administration Building:

The old Church:

The Grotto in the old church courtyard:

The Presbytery in the old church grounds:

The Church Hall:

St Augustines - the new church:

A stone cottage:

Yass Public School, viewed through the tree from Riverside Park:

A tree lined avenue:

Sunday stroll through the streets:

View from the Post Office:

The Post Office building:

Yass River and road bridge:

The river weir and footbridge:

The disused iron railway bridge over the Yass River: