Bearing Gifts

I am absolutely flabbergasted, having received an astonishingly nice and unexpected gift through the post today.   I’m always the one that does the nice things, and until today no one ever does that sort for thing for me.  Strange I know, but that’s the way it’s always been, and the family tend to accept it.  So with that in mind you can imagine my surprise when the chap arrived with the parcel, I even commented that I was not expecting anything and checked that he had the right address.   

I was outside in the garage gluing some bits and bobs to a small table top 'n' gauge railway layout for Mr Tister and me, so I sort of pounced on the driver when he pulled up, poor chap.  He even said, “You are Roger Bennett, aren’t you?” Yes indeed, I am. 

Enclosed with the Special Next Day Delivery Box was a note; “just a little thank you for your help”, along with a gift wrapped Vinho Do Porto Messias 10 year bottle of Port. 

Scrummy, just what the doctor ordered.

People

Why do people queue up in a coffee shop and then get miffed when there's no seats after they order their drink. It makes sense to bag a seat as you enter the premises by placing a magazine and an old pair if glasses on a table and then queue if you are alone, but one of you sit and the other queue when there's two of you.

Yet I watch person after person calmly queuing, as others walk in ages after them and breeze past to get the seat.

Is the lack of common sense a British thing? Or do we simply crave the drama and frustration that the lost seat brings? Wise up folks, bag your seat and then get your drink, or always order a take out in case you have to go.

Across the Pond

Brilliant, some new friends from across The Pond have been in touch today.  That's fantastic news as they are all such lovely people. Oh happy days

Preparedness

It’s been almost a month since I have posted on my Blog but maybe this post will be useful to some of you preparing for your next holiday.  I like to try and link some of the posts, and this one is no exception.  Leading on from the last post about two good Samaritans that helped me out prior to my holiday, part of this post is also about being a Good Samaritan for those of you who are First Aid trained and hold a current first aid qualification.

  

The latter part of my working life involved preparedness and contingency planning for organisational resilience.  In many ways I am safety conscious and alert how we should prepare, but as always I offer my tips and ideas on a no liability basis for you to accept or reject as you see fit.  Just because I mention it here; doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s right or accurate.  This bit of preparedness is for those of you who are going on a cruise holiday and by default in any close quarter environment (land based holidays equally apply) where you may encounter a Gastro Illness commonly referred to by the trade as a GI event.

Along with any traveler first aid kit that you might carry, consider packing:

·         In all cases; an alcoholic gel hand cleanser sanitizer with a lockable cap for carrying in your handbag or man-bag when you are out and about on shore excursions (there are various brands available and a fair sized item should only cost somewhere around £4.50 or less),

·         A supply of hygienic surface wipes for your stateroom and when you are out and about on the dreaded coach where everyone and anyone touches and sneezes over things,

·         A supply of Dioralyte or similar rehydration brand sachets for your group as it is unlikely that you will be able to purchase them in the on-board shop (a supply of  sachets of oral electrolyte powder should come in at circa £3.50 or less, so this is another low cost item),

·         A supply of sturdy plastic cups or beakers for your group as the Cruise line may remove all glasses from your stateroom during a GI event,

·         If you are diabetic, then a supply of Glucose Boost from your Pharmacy as it is unlikely that you will be able to pick up Lucozade or similar glucose based drinks on-board the ship and you may need a glucose boost if your sugar levels drop through sickness and diarrhoea,

·         If you are first aid CPR trained then it is always a good idea to carry your personal Resusci-aid hygienic barrier for use whilst giving artificial respiration (I bought my St John Ambulance Personal Protection Kit from Amazon for £2.87 including P&P so this is not a big cost item and a standalone one way valve Resusci-aid is even cheaper),

·         During a severe GI event it is probable that you will come across fellow passengers being sick while out and about on an excursion, if you are first aid trained and would go to their aid on the basis that something else may be wrong with the casualty; then it might be a good idea to carry your own small supply of disposable gloves,

·         Your common sense, just because a GI event is ongoing, that doesn’t mean that the person in your group is ill from that event and he/she may have something else wrong with them, so please remain alert and do not assume anything,

·         2 x your supply of medication for the duration of the vacation plus a few days in case of any delays.  I pack one full supply in my carry-on bag and another full supply inside one of the suitcases.  A full supply in both in case either the bag or the suitcase is lost or stolen.  (In all cases remove all medication from your bag and suitcase when you reach your final destination and store all medication out of reach of children by making use of any lockable safe or other secure storage facility),   

The Resusci-aid and disposable glove supply may appear to some to be a case of over-kill.  But you are either willing to step in and try to help a fellow human being or you are not.  If you are prepared to step in then it follows that you also should be health and safety prepared and carry a few small items in a pouch inside your bag, camera bag, or coat.  It just makes good sense.

So there we have it folks.  My take on a bit of sensible personal protection for you and others in your group that could become a bit poorly on any holiday where you are mooching around with fellow guests in a relatively closed environment and sharing the same dining and leisure facilities.  All it takes is a couple of bob, and a bit of common sense.  Hopefully you will avoid the GI, but if it hits you or one of your group then at least you may be better prepared.