Receptionists Wanted!

It's always the same, isn't it? There was unfortunately no volunteer receptionist available to cover this afternoon, after about 1:30pm, and so the phone kept ringing and people came in their droves to the reception desk. Okay, I might be exaggerating that a little bit! :) If you're reading this and think you (or someone else you know) might have a bit of spare time and would like to have a go at reception, I am sure Nicki would appreciate it greatly.

This afternoon's dive went very well, though we did only have the one 'passenger' - one of the regulars for that slot. It is a shame as when I started on that dive, the Monday 13:30 which was my 'first' regular dive, there were 4 (sometimes 5) going in it each week. Now there is 1 or 2, occasionally... well, rarely, 3 clients. We have another 'new starter' beginning her 15 sessions in a couple of weeks time - maybe she'll end up going into the Monday PM session... who knows..?

As usual on a Monday, it's very busy for a while when I arrive, then around 2pm it just goes very quiet. Well, apart from the TV which seemed to redefine the term loud volume this afternoon. I did not think he who was watching it and shall remain correctly nameless had hearing difficulties or anything... guess he just likes it loud. It made reading very difficult for me though, and I gave up in the end.

Carolyn, my regular No. 2 assistant, was back today after having some time off after breaking her elbow. Very nasty. She just slipped over and fell... I told her to try and be more careful in future, if he sees you coming along the ice cream man does normally wait... ;) Ha ha...

I mean't to not be in today, as a matter of fact, since it's my wedding anniversary - but I left it a bit late to tell Nicki so she couldn't have found cover in time. No matter, I was just away from my lovely wife for about 2½ hours or so.

I'm doing a fuller week this week - tomorrow, Wednesday, Friday and of course Saturday. The weeks go by so fast. Take care all - back soon -

Rod

Almost back to a 'normal' Saturday

So good to see Michael & Jo back at last - Michael is a fellow No. 1 operator, and Jo goes in the tank - almost everyone, all the regulars were at the centre this morning, with the exception of Mandy who wasn't feeling too well. It made a nice change for me to have Michael back running the first session (with Catherine, who has now almost completed her No. 2 training) - it allowed me to nip off to Sainsbury's with Alan and pick up a few things.

Also really nice on the second dive to see one of the children who has been really unwell lately, and hadn't been in for a long while. She is such a brave little girl, and we all admire her so much, and are praying that she will make a recovery eventually from the cancer which has blighted her life.

A small problem towards the end of the morning when the people who had arranged to borrow the MS Centre's mini-bus found that the compound nearby which it is kept in had been all locked up for the weekend, which was very naughty of whoever did it... Hmmm... I did feel bad for them...

Any way, looking forward to a fuller week at the Centre next week, since I only did Friday and Saturday this week,

Best to all,

Rod

Another Friday :)

I often don't know what to entitle these postings!! It probably shows :) Any way... two completions today at the centre to report for you: the most recent 'starter' has now completed 15 sessions of oxygen treatment, so well done to her - it is quite a time-consuming under-taking! I believe she will start to come regularly once per week now, in one of the slots. I think she has an idea of which one. And also Andrew, one of the 4 volunteers who came to the centre several weeks ago now (maybe longer, I can't keep up with time...), did his final training session and is now a No. 2 Operator. He is a very competent young man and will make a great addition to our team of Operators. I have no doubt he will probably go on to train as a No. 1 Operator, which is great (the more we have, the better).

Off those 4 new potential volunteers, two have stayed with us (Andrew and Catherine), and the other two have not. Which is a shame because all four of them seemed very eager and enthusiastic when I met them. Almost positive it wasn't anything I said! :) This happens from time to time though, and I have been told, always has done. I think back to when I first started volunteering, and how I could've easily just 'disappeared' back into the woodwork never to be seen at the centre again... It would've been the easier thing to do... I am so glad I stuck with it though.

Very quiet again at the centre, with just Charlotte holding the fort down out of the members of staff. Another volunteer, Ruth who helps in the office, seems to have been given the task of finding out what a whole load of mis-matched old keys are for. for the past 2 or 3 weeks she has been wandering around the place trying to discover what these keys are for. I think it is quite obvious that a few of them are from the old building, before HMSTC moved to it's current location, and try as she might, she just won't find locks for them... Oh well, seems to be keeping her busy...

Hoping for a couple of good Saturday sessions tomorrow - best wishes to all -

Rod

Friday 8th July

Unpredictable weather lately. It's doing my head in - one minute it's hot and sunny, next it's cold, rainy and windy. It's a bit like being back in April or something! Still... to all those who are telling me - "that's it now for the Summer" - I think we should wait and see, as I'm sure there's lots more nice weather to come.

Today at the centre it was rather quiet. My 2nd dive was cancelled this week, and also there were several members of staff not in. It made a change to leave a bit earlier on a Friday morning. I actually look forward to handing the Friday dives back to Mike, when he returns from his travels. Should be some time in August. It is not that I don't enjoy doing the sessions... just that I think I do a lot of sessions throughout the week already.

It's normally a 16.5' dive on a Friday first thing, but we went to 24' today as it was part of our latest New Starter's 15 sessions. It went well - quite quickly I thought. It's a little odd, the passage of time - it's definitely something that is in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes the hour might drag for us Operators on the outside, but our 'passengers' might then emerge from the chamber claiming that it went quickly this time. And vice versa... :)

Any way, I'm off to eat some lunch now - then sit there jealous of all the people who are at the Sonnisphere Festival in Knebworth today!!

Rod

Another quiet Saturday

Saturday mornings at the Centre used to be a lot busier than they have been lately. We have a few people away at the moment I guess. The physiotherapist was also not in today, so there was also no-one on reception. On the first dive we had just two ladies in the oxygen chamber, and Val came in to cover for Michael who is still away. She was kind enough to also stay for the second session, as Mandy couldn't make it in today due to her waking up with a bad migraine. But Alan treated us to jam doughnuts and filter coffee (with cream), and we had a nice chat and a laugh.

On the 2nd dive we just had one of our regular children divers, plus the new starter from last Tuesday, who has now completed her five 16.5' sessions. She'll move on to 24' on Monday afternoon. It is great to hear that she says she thinks the oxygen is helping her already :)  The little girl who has been quite poorly is unfortunately still not well enough to come to the centre - I do hope we will see her back again soon though.

All went very well though today, despite the fewer people.

Rod