Bank Holiday Blues

Lily Beetles Mating

Another bank holiday and it was a whitewash. All our plans were literally washed away. Took Friday off in anticipation for a nice long break. We planned to spend the weekend with CK in Aberystwyth and say hello to the tribe in Pembroke.

We cancelled our trip as Kevin was too ill to drive. On Saturday, I'd a sore throat and a temperature. As the weather gets worse, so did both of us. We practically caught all the virus that flew by. It was awful. We spent the weekend cuddled in bed with a thermometer, hot water bottle, lozenges and paracetamol for company.

But at least some one's having fun. The garden is packed with activities. There were a few pairs of lily beetles happily mating and laying eggs on the Asiatic lilies. A green shield bug that Kevin rescued from a water filled bucket laid eggs on the astibles.

Tiny caterpillars are happily munching on the pak choi. Lots of froghopper spawn on the chamomile and a cocoon of some sort hanging on the Japanese maple. I wonder what will be left of the garden after all this.

Oh yes and the garden spiders have been breeding on our garden bench (a big mass of baby spiders all cuddled together), so maybe they will tidy up the rest of the grubs, caterpillars and flies and such for us.

And it kept us occupied. We are always in the garden with our cameras snapping away. There's also a lovely chirpy robin keeping us company.

Last Tues, I'd a double appointment at the University Hospital. One of the ticketing machine broke down and visitors/patients were not allowed to park there. How ridicilious was that. A whole parking lot vacant because they can't make money from it. We'd to drive around twice for a parking space.

We washed our hands before entering the ward. But the door would not open. We'd to wait until someone came out. An elderly lady was already in the waiting room. She told us that she too had difficulty in entering the ward and started pressing all the buttons beside the door. She must have pressed an emergency button because suddenly all the staff rushed to the door. Served them right for not displaying the signs properly.

Waiting for my turn at the pathology dept. was akin to a cattle market. We were herded into a central enclosure watching for our numbers to be announced. It was warm, crowded and noisy. We were glad when it was over.

Attended a Culture Awareness workshop. 25% of the students were from abroad. Staff were reminded to be extra tolerant with them. We'd a Q&A session with representatives from China, France, Argentina, Italy, Nigeria and Taiwan. Was surprised that there was none from ASEAN or Islamic countries. I was furious with their complaints and indifferences. Stuff like they missed the food, the unfriendliness, language barrier, their loneliness etc. God!!! If they want those, they should just stayed home.

So that you can understand my anger, I am an immigrant to the UK, having moved form Malaysia when I married my husband. I don't complain about trivial things like these.

Watched another football final. It's the UEFA Cup finals between Liverpool and AC Milan in Athens. What a pity Liverpool lost 2:1.

Happy birthday to my neice, Ellie.

Get well wishes for my mother in law who had her gallstones removed. Will see you as soon as both of us have mended.