Tuesday 3 October 2006

A weekend retreat

 Thankyou Donna ,once again just the right graphic .

When I was still at work ,I would finish work at four thirty, Hah ! and my evening would be my own.....well you would think so wouldnt you ? Because I lived on site ,the residents would often come to me with their problems stuff that could be dealt with in the office ,but they didnt always think so ,the elderly are very proud and to ask advice on financial aspects of their lives ,would some times ,prompt them to tap on my door with a request to advise them ,or it might be a little medical problem Not very professional you might say ,but my own fault really I suppose ,I tried so hard to make each one feel special ,so when a little tap at the door heralded ,a 'its only me ,I know your not at work now so I wont keep you a minute' ....

and then there are the official callouts ,where the residents will pull their alarn cord ,tell central control the problem ,control would call me ,if it was serious enough they would have called an ambulance ,but I could get a phone call at any time during the evening and night,from control ,Asking me to visit resident name,bungalow number and any details,they had,it could be any thing from chest pains !a fall ,slurry speech !to burglary ,where the police would be called .to meet me at the residents home ,these were awful ,because of the after effects the residents would be left frightened to stay in their home all sorts of feelings ,as you will imagine ,I might be with them alot of the night ,then work the next day as usual ....

Dont get me wrong I loved the job,and all aspects of it ,But the reason for this entry was to show you how we escaped at the weekends ,As soon as I finished on a Friday afternoon, I would start putting the things together for our weekend away,as soon as Maurice got home from work ,he would load up the car and off we would go .We have a caravan on a private fishing lake ideal for getting away from it all ....

We often called at the fish and chip shop ,so thatwould start our weekend ,then we would set up the awning and then if it was still daylight Maurice would start to fish ,me I would probably watch a video ,(maybe some thing I'd taped throught the week and hadnt had time to watch )I would spend Saturdays reading sewing dozing ,or sometimes Jean and Pete would join us ,or another couple Ian liked to fish with Maurice ,Mu and I might explore the country side ,we made some fantastic meals ,and really enjoyed our selves ,Sundays would be spent in a similar manner....We made some lovely friends on site too ......

We have hardly been since I retired  but I found the pictures the other day ,and thought you might enjoy seeing them .......Have a lovely evening everyone with love from     Jan xx

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

Looks like a quite lovely place to go for the weekend. Ken and I used to have a camper on the water and we would take off on Friday at noon and stay until Sunday afternoon. We made some great friends also and had some great fish fries at our place. Helen

Anonymous said...

Hi Jan! The photos are beautiful it looks such a peaceful place to spend your well earned break at the weekend! I couldn't enlarge the pics but I'll tell you how I got to see them bigger next time I speak to you .... where there's a will there's a way! Jeannette xx  http://journals.aol.co.uk/jlocorriere05/Welcometomytravels

Anonymous said...

Hi , what a lovely spot. It brings back memories of when my old Mum and I lived at the sheltered housing complex ( was deputy warden) same story as you the knock at the door etc. and on the Friday Mum and I would escape to our caraan down on the Gower in Wales.  Thanks again for bringing back the memories Sybil

Anonymous said...

I couldn't enlarge the pictures either Jan but I have had that problem all day so perhaps aol has a hiccup ~ it does look lovely there Dick would have loved to be there fishing ~ loved reading your account of your working days ~ they must have really missed you when you retired ~ Ally

Anonymous said...

That took me back  a few years to when Reet and I had a caravan. It wasn't in quite as peaceful a setting like yours but it did serve to help Reet relax. Had she been at home weekends she'd have been finding work to do but when we were at the van she chilled right out. B. x

Anonymous said...

Your weekends sound so nice and relaxing!!  Must have bee nice after being permanently "on call" all week.  But then that's dedication for you. and I bet the residents loved you for it!
Gill xx

Anonymous said...

Hi Jan,nice to hear about your time at work again I bet they did miss you when you retired and moved ,like you said you tried to make each one special and I think you were extra special to alot of them.It was great to come and visit on a Saturday  Pete and Maurice would fish and we would chat and chill out or visit the little shop that sold the lovely pork and stilton sausages........Love Jeanxxx

Anonymous said...

what a nice place to go and get away for awhile.... I bet it brought back all kinds of good memories looking at the pictures, Sandra

Anonymous said...

Here is where I come when I want to leave my house for awhile.  I very seldom go anywhere, especially now, that I'm jobless.  When I come here, Jan.. and look at your pictures, and read about your adventures, I get to get away for a few minutes.. even if it's only virtual reality! :)

Thank you for sharing all your travels and pictures!

Hugs
Jackie

Anonymous said...

hi Jan...

lovely pics, your weekends away looks and sounds really relaxing...

Astra!

Anonymous said...

You must have been a blessing for the residents Jan  and sorely missed when you left.   Your weekends sound blissful.... peace quiet good food  friends lovely scenery AND fish and chip shop  lol plusMaurice in his glory fishing ...what else could anyone want!!!    Eve

Anonymous said...

Love the pics, sounded so relaxing! {{}}
Sugar

Anonymous said...

Hi Jan,  What a lovely place to have as a hide away.  Jim would love somewhere like that as you can imagine.  You must be sorely missed by the residents. :o)

Sandra xxxx

Anonymous said...

We used to go away in a caravan every weekend for years. We still miss it very much.  That looks like such a lovely spot.

http://journals.aol.co.uk/jeanno43/JeannettesJottings/

Anonymous said...

sounds like maybe you should go again:) what fun i love to fish:) have a good week

Deb

Anonymous said...

Oh to beable to pack up and go away, to beable to leave all your worrys and cares behind for a few days it sounds like heaven, even if it is to recharge your batteries, do you still have the caravan,?
take care Lynne xx

Anonymous said...

I certainly can't grudge you your weekend getaways but I'll wager you are sorely missed by the residents.
Dianna

Anonymous said...

what alovely retreat and picture! I loved the story and I loved teh graphics! great entry Jan! love,nat ps is Maurice a great fisherman?:):)

Anonymous said...

What a great place to get away from it all. I have often thought i would like a caravan. You should use it more now that you are retired and get away occasionally It does you good! Love Conniex

Anonymous said...

What a great wee place to get away from it all.  I've had some of my best holidays in caravans....I love them.
Hugs,
Ains xxx

Anonymous said...

Sorry I missed you in Chat this morning was in the loo when you popped in.J tried to comment

Anonymous said...

This weekend sounds lovely!  I loved the peaceful pictures.  I could sit by those banks forever.

Susie
http://journals.aol.co.uk/susanebunn/ItAllStartsAfter50/

Anonymous said...

Just to let you know I am still around Jan!  Love the pics - so-oo peaceful.  I'm now trying to catch up on everyone's journo's - not been ignoring you, honest - still getting over a nastly cold - tchoo!
ttfn
Freda

Anonymous said...

Hello Jan - how idelic, its so good to get away from it all. Now you've found the photo's and re lived he memories of these weekends maybe you and Maurice will soon be off on another one :o)
Luv Jayne x

Anonymous said...

My parents bought a caravan when I was 10, it was on a farm in South Wales and we spent about 8 weeks of the year there. They had a van there until I was in my mid thirties, so my children used to go there too. I really miss it. I had some of the best times of my life there.

Linda x.

http://journals.aol.co.uk/lindaggeorge/GeorgeMansions/

Anonymous said...

What a lovely place.  I can understand the residence calling you instead of some "stranger" with the ambulance or the police.  You were such a great comfort to them but I do know how draining that probably was on you.

Anonymous said...

sounds like great times  bella x

Anonymous said...

Great pictures, once again.  I got mail...thanks...watch your mail box.  :)   Linda in WA

Anonymous said...

What a cute little trailer.  I bet you and Maurice had a lot of fun getting away from the demands of your jobs on weekends.  There is nothing better than to be out in nature to make you forget your troubles and help you relax!
Kathy  

Anonymous said...

Love your little caravan.I think I would be calling round to Jan if I were one of the elderly. . .I would never be away with my problems! I bet you are so much missed there Jan.

Anonymous said...

Jan, you were so kind listening to those elderly people.....aw......that escape must have been such a tonic, it sounds wonderful! Is your caravan still there or did you take it with you each time? (I know I know, Im nosy!!) Linda xx
http://journals.aol.co.uk/lindachapmanuk/metamorphing

Anonymous said...

What a neat little caravan...we call them trailers in the US.  I'm sure you needed a little escape as you were so giving when you were working.  Lovely little place you have it in also.  xx  Chris