Hello again. This is part2, the downstairs of the house.
Downstairs was a self-contained 2 bed flat, often called the dungeon for good reason. The 2 residents that lived here were my favourite, but they had there problems.
N was a 6ft 5 caribbean male and was built like a brick shit house. He was the house gardener, which he loved. He had challenging behaviour, but had been placed in the house due to him repeat offending. let's just say he had a thing for the ladies, and had been caught many times doing bad stuff.
His police record was a book, and very disturbing. He had to have 24 hour male support, every day of the year. So I spent most of my time with him. Under no circumstance was he to be left alone with any female. To let you know how sneaky he was, he broke into a nurses changing room at the hospital, hid in a store cupboard unscrewed the light bulb and watched them !
M had severe Autism and schizophrenia. To look at him, he wouldn't say boo to a goose. He lived upstairs when he first moved in, until one night he snapped. He destroyed most of upstairs and hurt 2 staff.
After that he was moved downstairs. He kicked off many, many times. The place became a bomb site. Broken cupboards, holes in Walls and safety glass. Before he had a 'moment', he would run round saying 'broken' or 'dangerous'. When we heard them words it was time to batten down the hatches. I've been beaten several times by him, and because of N the males had todo sleep overs downstairs, so we got the night time moments too.
I never hated or blamed him because it wasn't him, it was the 'other' person. He could spin on one leg for ages without stopping.
I worked there for nearly 3 years, and with hard work I made it upto team leader. But taking the team job was a mistake. The other TL's were women, and always made out it was a hard job. Agreed the handing out of medication was very difficult, but the running of a shift was piss easy ! And when the manager found out I was doing the TL job, then helping with residents, she wanted to know why the others weren't doing it. So I became a target, they often tried to pick faults and make up stupid stuff. There nickname was the witches of eastwick, very apt I thought !
I did the team leading for 6 months, then lumps started to appear and I was getting fed up of the hassle. So me and shell swapped, and she went back to work, while I looked after the Whirlwind.
So why the Funhouse ?
Well has P¡Nks lyrics say :
This used to be a funhouse,
But now it's full of evil clowns.
It's time to start the countdown,
I'm gonna burn it down down down.
The evil clowns being the staff !
Hope this explains a little bit about what I did.
Thanks for reading.
Offski.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, 14 July 2011
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
The Funhouse part1
Has I mentioned in a previous blog, I had worked at a residential house for Adults with challenging behaviour and Autism.
Having never done anything like this for a job before, it was one hell of a shock.
When I started there, the house was just getting started. Out of 13 rooms, only 7 had residents in them, these were the ones I worked with the most. The house was split in 2, upstairs is where 5 of them lived.
I will use the first letter instead of names.
M was a 50 year old woman, who didn't talk much. But when she got upset, which was a lot with these residents, she used to slap herself in the face. When I say slap, I mean SLAP. You could hear her anywhere in the house. She slapped herself so hard, that over the years both her eyes were ruined. The men were only allowed to support her in the afternoons, due to personal care. But I always got a 'thank you man' in a deep voice, at the end of the day.
K was a 23 year old man. He couldn't talk, felt no pain and ate and drank anything, and I mean anything (Picka), including himself, hands mainly. He could shit through the eye of a needle, and because of this, he had to wear male pads (nappies). He was the one I learnt basic sign language for, so I could at least say hello to. Because of the way he was, unfortunately most of the other residents hit out at him.
S was 19, 6ft 3 but with the mind of a 8 year old.
He was one of the frequent 'kick off' residents, and when he went, it took 4 of us to hold him down. But I got on well with S and earned his trust, so he hardly went for me unless I got in the way of him 'getting' someone else !
'I'm gonna get you' and 'bastard cow' were often shouted. And when he said 'get you', he ment it .
IB was asian, and to be honest a good breeze would of blown him over. He could talk .... A lot !
You could have a conversation with him, but most of the time he repeated 80's Tv programmes.
'how are you'?
'James Bond' ! Or Magnum, A-team, Knight Rider etc.
Why ? Probably due to the fact that when he was young, he was locked in his bedroom with a Tv. Autism is frowned upon in certain cultures.
He was also an expert at stacking anything and often all over the house. But he always made me laugh, no matter what.
J was a 5ft male of 25, he suffered from Multiple sclerosis, Autism and sometimes a serious bad attitude. From the minute you walked into his room, it was a battle. From getting him in the bath to getting him dressed, I've had many slaps and punches. He had a problem with most of us in the house. He always made out he was helpless and innocent, but that was far from it. When he was after you, he could move like the wind and fight like a cage fighter. He often got the people he was after too, then all hell broke loose. I've seen him fight his dad in the hospital car park. That was a day to remember, they both ended up in there.
So that's the top half of the house, they each had there problems, but every now and then, they were a pleasure to be with. I had a good support relationship with each of them, especially with J.
Part2 is the 2 that lived downstairs, and that's a totally different story.
Thanks for reading,
Offski.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Having never done anything like this for a job before, it was one hell of a shock.
When I started there, the house was just getting started. Out of 13 rooms, only 7 had residents in them, these were the ones I worked with the most. The house was split in 2, upstairs is where 5 of them lived.
I will use the first letter instead of names.
M was a 50 year old woman, who didn't talk much. But when she got upset, which was a lot with these residents, she used to slap herself in the face. When I say slap, I mean SLAP. You could hear her anywhere in the house. She slapped herself so hard, that over the years both her eyes were ruined. The men were only allowed to support her in the afternoons, due to personal care. But I always got a 'thank you man' in a deep voice, at the end of the day.
K was a 23 year old man. He couldn't talk, felt no pain and ate and drank anything, and I mean anything (Picka), including himself, hands mainly. He could shit through the eye of a needle, and because of this, he had to wear male pads (nappies). He was the one I learnt basic sign language for, so I could at least say hello to. Because of the way he was, unfortunately most of the other residents hit out at him.
S was 19, 6ft 3 but with the mind of a 8 year old.
He was one of the frequent 'kick off' residents, and when he went, it took 4 of us to hold him down. But I got on well with S and earned his trust, so he hardly went for me unless I got in the way of him 'getting' someone else !
'I'm gonna get you' and 'bastard cow' were often shouted. And when he said 'get you', he ment it .
IB was asian, and to be honest a good breeze would of blown him over. He could talk .... A lot !
You could have a conversation with him, but most of the time he repeated 80's Tv programmes.
'how are you'?
'James Bond' ! Or Magnum, A-team, Knight Rider etc.
Why ? Probably due to the fact that when he was young, he was locked in his bedroom with a Tv. Autism is frowned upon in certain cultures.
He was also an expert at stacking anything and often all over the house. But he always made me laugh, no matter what.
J was a 5ft male of 25, he suffered from Multiple sclerosis, Autism and sometimes a serious bad attitude. From the minute you walked into his room, it was a battle. From getting him in the bath to getting him dressed, I've had many slaps and punches. He had a problem with most of us in the house. He always made out he was helpless and innocent, but that was far from it. When he was after you, he could move like the wind and fight like a cage fighter. He often got the people he was after too, then all hell broke loose. I've seen him fight his dad in the hospital car park. That was a day to remember, they both ended up in there.
So that's the top half of the house, they each had there problems, but every now and then, they were a pleasure to be with. I had a good support relationship with each of them, especially with J.
Part2 is the 2 that lived downstairs, and that's a totally different story.
Thanks for reading,
Offski.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
My Bucket List
Yes I have a Bucket list, I put it together about a month ago.
Most I hope will be done in the next couple of years, others might take a little longer !
So here it is and the reasons why :
1. Visit Australia : it's always been my dream destination, and I so need to go.
2. Go to the Belgium Grand Prix at Spa : it's my favourite race circuit in the world, always wanted to go.
3. Visit Egypt Again : I've been once, but want to do the whole rooting around tombs and temples.
4. Top Gear : get tickets for Top Gear, my favourite Tv show.
5. Machu Picchu : to see the Inca sight, a must in my eyes.
6. Mikey Walsh : I want to meet Mikey Walsh, the author of Gypsy boy.
7. Le-Mans 24hours : to go and watch the 24hour race.
8. Caterham : drive a Caterham car.
9. New Orleans : visit New Orleans, just for the carnival and music.
10. Billy Connolly : to see the Big Yin live, my favourite comedian.
11. Billy Joel : see him live, my favourite music.
12. Glastonbury Festival : go Glasto, camping the whole works.
13. Charity Bike Ride : cycle from Lands end to John O'groats for a cancer charity.
14. Vw Campervan : I want to own a Vw campervan, I always have, simple.
15. Comic-con : the comic convention in San Diego USA.
That's it ...,. For now !
This is not me giving up, I just thought I would do one. And if you think about it, there's probably lots of things you would love to do. Give it a try !
Thanks for reading
Offski.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Most I hope will be done in the next couple of years, others might take a little longer !
So here it is and the reasons why :
1. Visit Australia : it's always been my dream destination, and I so need to go.
2. Go to the Belgium Grand Prix at Spa : it's my favourite race circuit in the world, always wanted to go.
3. Visit Egypt Again : I've been once, but want to do the whole rooting around tombs and temples.
4. Top Gear : get tickets for Top Gear, my favourite Tv show.
5. Machu Picchu : to see the Inca sight, a must in my eyes.
6. Mikey Walsh : I want to meet Mikey Walsh, the author of Gypsy boy.
7. Le-Mans 24hours : to go and watch the 24hour race.
8. Caterham : drive a Caterham car.
9. New Orleans : visit New Orleans, just for the carnival and music.
10. Billy Connolly : to see the Big Yin live, my favourite comedian.
11. Billy Joel : see him live, my favourite music.
12. Glastonbury Festival : go Glasto, camping the whole works.
13. Charity Bike Ride : cycle from Lands end to John O'groats for a cancer charity.
14. Vw Campervan : I want to own a Vw campervan, I always have, simple.
15. Comic-con : the comic convention in San Diego USA.
That's it ...,. For now !
This is not me giving up, I just thought I would do one. And if you think about it, there's probably lots of things you would love to do. Give it a try !
Thanks for reading
Offski.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday, 11 July 2011
The inner Geek
Everyone has an inner person, call it what you like but mine is a Geek.
So where do I start ?!?
I'm a huge Motorsport geek too. Everything and anything.
In Crewe where I was born we had a banger racing track and I went every Saturday night to watch, £3 for a few hours out and get covered in mud and dust, fantastic.
The Matrix is one of my favourite films ever, and when I found out that Todd McFarlane (a famous action figure maker) was making 3 series of Matrix figures, I had to have them.
It took me 3 years of eBay and web searching, but I finally got the whole collection. Towards the end I came across American McGee's Alice, 3 sets of horror figures based on Alice in wonderland. I needed these too, but were a bit more thin on the ground. Eventually I found all of them and cherished them.
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Thanks for reading.
Offski
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
So where do I start ?!?
Well I suppose 1st I was a band Geek. I played in a brass band from the age of 11 till I was 22/23, and I loved it !
I am also a bit of a Tv geek. Some of my favourites being
Star Trek (next generation)
Dr who, Red Dwarf, Blackadder and Monty Python.
I've just finished buying DVDs of Tv shows from my childhood. Ivor the Engine and Chorlton and the Wheelies being the first 2. I guess they just don't make them like they used to.
I'm a huge Motorsport geek too. Everything and anything.
In Crewe where I was born we had a banger racing track and I went every Saturday night to watch, £3 for a few hours out and get covered in mud and dust, fantastic.
This lead to me getting a job at Oulton Park as a marshal, all the Motorsport I could handle. I've marshalled at other circuits too.
It took me 3 years of eBay and web searching, but I finally got the whole collection. Towards the end I came across American McGee's Alice, 3 sets of horror figures based on Alice in wonderland. I needed these too, but were a bit more thin on the ground. Eventually I found all of them and cherished them.
But has with all collections, things happened so I sold them on. At a very healthy profit I might add !
Finally I'm a geek for all things Egypt and archeology. I watch all the programmes, read all the books. I'm a proper geek on this stuff ! I went to Egypt with an ex-girlfriend and did all the trips. I was right at the front of the group getting stuck in, while she stood at the back, bored.
So that's my inner geek. Are you bored yet ?
Offski
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Wednesday, 6 July 2011
6/7/2011
When I started this blog, it was ment to be a fun look at life, Twitter and things in general. But not long after starting it, has most of you know I got CLL and my blog changed.
I've always tried to be upbeat and funny, but it's all a lie.
Since starting chemotherapy I've turned into this person who I hate. My body is copping with the nuclear waste, just.
Apart from extreme fatigue, which means walking up and downstairs leaves me knackered, and the bout of sickness my body is ok.
It's my head that's fucked !
I am feeling all sorts of emotions, from crying at the simplest things to raging anger. Im upsetting the people that I love, and I can't control it !
This treatment is making me so depressed, it's unreal. I have a very short fuse at the moment, and snap at the smallest of things. It's getting beyond a joke now, but because its classed has a 'side effect' they can't do anything for me.
My head is all over the place. I forget things, I'm nasty and feel alone in this world. If I'm honest, it's destroying me inside. They should use chemotherapy has a torturing device of some sort, because it really does take you to pieces in a very quick and soul destroying way.
Also I've become a 'Hermit'. I never go out of the house unless it's for my blood tests or chemo. I've missed all the hot weather we've had, because of being very self conscience about the way I look (in my head), and the scar I have. I feel like people are staring at me, and that hurts.
I have 2 more chemo to have, both in August. I can't bloody wait, and I will say this now, I will seriously think about having chemo again.
I'm sorry for blogging this but I needed to get it off my chest.
Many thanks
Offski x
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I've always tried to be upbeat and funny, but it's all a lie.
Since starting chemotherapy I've turned into this person who I hate. My body is copping with the nuclear waste, just.
Apart from extreme fatigue, which means walking up and downstairs leaves me knackered, and the bout of sickness my body is ok.
It's my head that's fucked !
I am feeling all sorts of emotions, from crying at the simplest things to raging anger. Im upsetting the people that I love, and I can't control it !
This treatment is making me so depressed, it's unreal. I have a very short fuse at the moment, and snap at the smallest of things. It's getting beyond a joke now, but because its classed has a 'side effect' they can't do anything for me.
My head is all over the place. I forget things, I'm nasty and feel alone in this world. If I'm honest, it's destroying me inside. They should use chemotherapy has a torturing device of some sort, because it really does take you to pieces in a very quick and soul destroying way.
Also I've become a 'Hermit'. I never go out of the house unless it's for my blood tests or chemo. I've missed all the hot weather we've had, because of being very self conscience about the way I look (in my head), and the scar I have. I feel like people are staring at me, and that hurts.
I have 2 more chemo to have, both in August. I can't bloody wait, and I will say this now, I will seriously think about having chemo again.
I'm sorry for blogging this but I needed to get it off my chest.
Many thanks
Offski x
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Working 9-5
Hello !
So today I'm blogging about my work history.
4 jobs that I've had have stuck out in my mind.
The 1st was my 1st job. I got on a YTS scheme at a company called Saxon Sanbec who made fire engines, ambulance and specialised vehicles. My apprenticeship was on the repair section, which I loved. You wouldn't believe how many emergency vehicles meet at traffic lights !
I loved this job, I had saved up my money and bought some decent tools, and made my own rolling box.
Saxon made the fire engines for the TV show 'Londons Burning' dont you know.
I worked there for just short of 4 years, until they decided to get rid of half of us, I was gutted. But managed to get my City and Guilds of it.
My 2nd was working at Oulton Park race circuit. Motorsport is a big passion of mine, and this was my dream job. I worked has a full time marshal, sometimes 7 days a week. I marshalled for the race school, private and open testing and corporate events. And on days off I helped out in the garage looking after the race school cars.
Doing this job I got to meet a lot of drivers and even the great Murray Walker.
Through doing this I also got to do the British Grand Prix twice. I worked here for 5 years.
The 3rd job was working for a shopfitting company. We installed the metal shelving that you see in tesco, Asda etc.
This job involved working in a team, traveling all over the uk, often at very short notice and for weeks on end, fitting the shelving.
The plus point were. Good money, I got to see a LOT of the Uk and the days off while away.
The bad points were. Away from home a lot, stupid working times, often nights and the boss was a knob.
The most dangerous thing I have ever done was, me and a mate had been sent to Inverness and Inverurie to do some work on there tesco. It was just before Xmas and we had been given a rare day/night off, until we got a phone call saying, could we go to glasgow and drop some parts of that we had spare. Stupidly we said yes, not realising what the weather was like. Within half an hour of being on a pitch black road we got thick freezing fog, and I mean thick. I couldn't see anything, but pushed on with the heater on full, trying to clear the windscreen. Another half hour later, we missed a Stag stood in the middle of the road by millimetres. If we had hit it we would of been in a valley upside down somewhere. But after many, many hours we got to Glasgow and recovered.
I worked in this job for 6 years and I left just before I met shelley.
My 4th job was my last job, working has a support worker in a residential home for adults with learning difficulties and Autism. I will blog about this next time, because there is to much to put in here.
Thanks for reading
Offski
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
So today I'm blogging about my work history.
4 jobs that I've had have stuck out in my mind.
The 1st was my 1st job. I got on a YTS scheme at a company called Saxon Sanbec who made fire engines, ambulance and specialised vehicles. My apprenticeship was on the repair section, which I loved. You wouldn't believe how many emergency vehicles meet at traffic lights !
I loved this job, I had saved up my money and bought some decent tools, and made my own rolling box.
Saxon made the fire engines for the TV show 'Londons Burning' dont you know.
I worked there for just short of 4 years, until they decided to get rid of half of us, I was gutted. But managed to get my City and Guilds of it.
My 2nd was working at Oulton Park race circuit. Motorsport is a big passion of mine, and this was my dream job. I worked has a full time marshal, sometimes 7 days a week. I marshalled for the race school, private and open testing and corporate events. And on days off I helped out in the garage looking after the race school cars.
Doing this job I got to meet a lot of drivers and even the great Murray Walker.
Through doing this I also got to do the British Grand Prix twice. I worked here for 5 years.
The 3rd job was working for a shopfitting company. We installed the metal shelving that you see in tesco, Asda etc.
This job involved working in a team, traveling all over the uk, often at very short notice and for weeks on end, fitting the shelving.
The plus point were. Good money, I got to see a LOT of the Uk and the days off while away.
The bad points were. Away from home a lot, stupid working times, often nights and the boss was a knob.
The most dangerous thing I have ever done was, me and a mate had been sent to Inverness and Inverurie to do some work on there tesco. It was just before Xmas and we had been given a rare day/night off, until we got a phone call saying, could we go to glasgow and drop some parts of that we had spare. Stupidly we said yes, not realising what the weather was like. Within half an hour of being on a pitch black road we got thick freezing fog, and I mean thick. I couldn't see anything, but pushed on with the heater on full, trying to clear the windscreen. Another half hour later, we missed a Stag stood in the middle of the road by millimetres. If we had hit it we would of been in a valley upside down somewhere. But after many, many hours we got to Glasgow and recovered.
I worked in this job for 6 years and I left just before I met shelley.
My 4th job was my last job, working has a support worker in a residential home for adults with learning difficulties and Autism. I will blog about this next time, because there is to much to put in here.
Thanks for reading
Offski
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
8/06/2011
So I'm sat here all hooked up to my chemo, getting really bord. So I'm doing some blogging, this is my second today !
I went to see the specialist and have some bloods done yesterday. She says everything is going very well, my lumps are small bits of gravel (compared to the golf balls they were), and my White blood cell count is getting back to normal.
Today I'm having my 3rd of 6 chemo, and it's the same old shit, just seems to be going quicker !
So what does all this mean ? I hear you ask.
Well it could mean that this bout of leukaemia is beaten, and things are looking rosy.
But the reality is that this is just going to keep coming back, could be weeks, months or even years but it will be back. I guess has soon has I feel a lump somewhere, I start all over again.
The only way I have a chance of getting rid of this is by having the Stem cell/ Bone marrow transplant that I mentioned in an earlier blog, something which I'm not looking forward to, it's the month in hospital that will do my head in, But I suppose it's worth it.
Also the way the dates have fallen, i get to have my 5th and last chemo in the same month, August ! Looking forward to that month haha. Let's wait and see.
The planning of my bike ride from Lands end to John ogroats is coming together slowly. Just waiting for Marie Currie to put the details up so I can book my place. I'm looking forward to it, even though it's roughly a year away ! But a lot of training needs to be done from this September onwards, and I need a bike !
Anyway that's me for today, I've nearly finished my nuclear waste. Off home soon, and hoping these new anti-sickness tablets work this time round !
I am home now, feeling good at the moment.
Thank for reading
Offski.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I went to see the specialist and have some bloods done yesterday. She says everything is going very well, my lumps are small bits of gravel (compared to the golf balls they were), and my White blood cell count is getting back to normal.
Today I'm having my 3rd of 6 chemo, and it's the same old shit, just seems to be going quicker !
So what does all this mean ? I hear you ask.
Well it could mean that this bout of leukaemia is beaten, and things are looking rosy.
But the reality is that this is just going to keep coming back, could be weeks, months or even years but it will be back. I guess has soon has I feel a lump somewhere, I start all over again.
The only way I have a chance of getting rid of this is by having the Stem cell/ Bone marrow transplant that I mentioned in an earlier blog, something which I'm not looking forward to, it's the month in hospital that will do my head in, But I suppose it's worth it.
Also the way the dates have fallen, i get to have my 5th and last chemo in the same month, August ! Looking forward to that month haha. Let's wait and see.
The planning of my bike ride from Lands end to John ogroats is coming together slowly. Just waiting for Marie Currie to put the details up so I can book my place. I'm looking forward to it, even though it's roughly a year away ! But a lot of training needs to be done from this September onwards, and I need a bike !
Anyway that's me for today, I've nearly finished my nuclear waste. Off home soon, and hoping these new anti-sickness tablets work this time round !
I am home now, feeling good at the moment.
Thank for reading
Offski.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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