A nice rest...

Nurses on the ward here have been going down like flies with viruses, sickness, nausea, headaches, so it was nice that this last weekend was the ships holiday. Lots of us have had quite 'tough' patients and several quite hard situations on the ward. Some of us have done extra shifts and pretty much lots of us were at the end of our tethers! On a holiday weekend, we don't do surgery on Friday and Monday and have a long weekend off (though the nurses still work, it gets quieter and more of us are able to have an extra day off). It gives everyone a chance to have a rest and lots of people go up country.
I worked Saturday and Sunday, but had Sunday afternoon and Monday and Tuesday off. I have had the loveliest days! Today, I spent a little time sorting out photos and getting things in order and then my friend katy and I decided on a random trip to the beach. By the tim ewe planned to leave, our little group grew to 5 lovely nurses, all very excited as we hadn't been anywhere alltogether. We hopped in a taxi and went to Whitesands beach. It was just the most perfect day....beautiful blue sky and gorgeous sea (and not so rough that you couldn't stnad up which makes a change I can tell you! Having said that I did end up spectacularly washed up on the shore several times with sand in quite surprising places...!!). We had a great time chatting and playing in the sea then retreated to the shore and we all relaxed, read and napped a little. Absolutely perfect!
This evening I decided to go to the ballroom dancing class taught by the lovely Val (who works in the post office and cafe on board). We had so much fun, even the touch rugby people gave in and joined us. I am now the Tango queen i can tell you.....Hmmm well, lets not get carried away, slow slow quick quick slow. All is well as long as the man leads! Hilarious and so nice to be out at the end of the dock, lightening flashing in the background, a nice cool breeze. Ahhhh...
Some people may think I am just having one long holiday, but really this weekend has been such a blessing particularly for our ward nurses. All of us were at breaking point, and moments like these are what you need to get you through. All I can say is thank God for days like this, and thank the Lord for laughter...