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Dream segment for 20th July 2009
The setting is in a series of connected train platform, similar to the interconnected platforms at Charing Cross, Euston and King’s Cross St. Pancras. I am moving from one platform to another directly crossing over the tracks. The general feeling is trying to catch the right train to a destination which I do not know. I moved from one platform to another about five times. Finally, I went to the edge of the platform where I am able to get a very good view of all the on-coming trains on all platforms, hence enabling me to go to the right platform in time for the train.
As the train I wanted arrived, I immediately walk towards its designated platform as it slowed to a stop. The train is a massive dark, almost black, steam engine train. Two train engineers are aboard the train’s main carriage. As I moved closer to it, I saw a transparent male ghost slowly following the train and is moving towards the front. I can describe the ghost as male, transparent, similar to light smoke, elderly, a short shoulder shawl and a flat top hat. He reminds me of Sherlock Holmes or the character of Scrooge. As I now ran towards the train platform, the ghost followed me as our eyes met. In disbelief, I threw a notebook at it saying “stay-away” as I ran towards the train door. It continued to follow me.
I am then awakened by my wife. I was having a nightmare.
The 25th Barrio Fiesta sa Hounslow 2009 is finally over. The BF 2009 is the Philippine Centre’s main charity fund raising event to further its goals, objectives and aims. More information can be found at the Philippine Centre’s website at www.philippinecentre.com.
Due to some late decision-making from this year’s appointed organizer and after some deep-thoughts and weighing its pros and cons, we have decided not to join the fiesta.
First, the organizer did not finalize the Health and Safety of the Fiesta in due time. It was sorted out on the last minute had it not been for our constant bickering and questioning. To try to help in the health and safety, we announced the need for volunteers for the fiesta within our group. But the very late nature of the announcement did not do any good. As everybody knows, schedules are made 4-weeks in advance and it is now too late to plan for any volunteering activities. Some of the replies we got further say that they can’t get any day off, they have already made plans for the weekend with family and friends, they have volunteered with other groups and some even stated that they are not getting anything in return for the service. Add to this factor the fact that the organizers want the volunteers to submit a copy of their professional license and certificate of qualification. Overkill is what I can say.
Feedback was given to the organizers about these comments and concerns. However, the organizer stung the volunteers with a sarcastic reply saying that the need for stewards and first aid volunteers have been sorted out and how un-Filipino for them to ask for something in return when the fiesta has been giving them entertainment for a good number of years. Well here is our reply to the organizers: “Kaya mo pala kumuha ng first aid and stewards eh…sila na lang and if you do not know, the association has been providing volunteers for the fiesta for the last five-years and all without any burden on the organizer’s part.” We have been providing steward and first aid volunteers with the group providing everything from band-aids to full safety gear and vital food for the volunteers. Now tell me if we have not been giving back to the community.
While we could have persisted to have our presence in the fiesta with the full support of the Philippine Centre, we decided to stay away to avoid any conflict and issues in the future. Most nurses also decided to work on these days instead of spending a day or two at the fiesta only to be insulted.
Being in the fiesta this year as a fiesta-goer and not as an organizer or a stall-holder is a completely different feeling. We were more relaxed and had more time to enjoy the food and the company of others. However as a community leader, stall holders and the general public continued to approach me and voice out their concerns and issues which I conservatively passed on to the appropriate persons or groups concerned.
Indeed according to one of people who approached me on that day, the fiesta is a community event and should be enjoyed by everybody. Personal and business interests should be set aside for the benefit of the greater majority. This includes being flexible and pro-active to the capabilities and needs of both the fiesta goers and those providing a service in the fiesta. While different businesses are managed on different levels and have varying degrees of capability, they should not be denied the opportunity to participate in the fiesta just because they cannot afford the fiesta rates or even commit to a future business venture with the organizer’s own conflict of interests.
I am appalled by the way a colleague responded to the demands of work.
The night shift is finishing in about 15-minutes. The night work was relatively light and easy compared to a regular manic night shift. While everybody milled around the desk preparing for the imminent hand-over, the ambulance turned into the entrance with a patient on a long-board, c-spine collar and head-blocks. As night charge nurse, I approached the ambulance crew with a questioning look and expression of concern. The paramedic picked-up my concern and said that what we see is simply a precaution. A brief hand-over from ambulance crew to me made everything clear. The patient was side-swiped by a slow-moving car. He was found by the crew sitting and moving in the sidewalk where the accident happened. He is not complaining of any pain nor is showing any signs of neurovascular injury or deficit. He is fully alert and conscious. Paramedic crew on-scene assessment found him to be ok but due to the mechanism of injury they are compelled to follow procedure no matter how silly it may be.
I then decided to put the patient in the nearest available acute and high dependency room. I called the room nurses assigned to that room to briefly inform her of the patient’s case. The response I got from her is “Oh please do not put him in that room, it is now almost 7′0 clock! He should be in the trauma room by the looks of it.” She dramatically said this statement while in hearing distance of the patient and his father. I am just so appalled by her reaction. I countered with “We do not have a choice, do we?!”
With that answer, I then immediately called two Emergency Doctors and with the help of the ambulance guys, managed to log-roll and quickly clear the apparent injuries masked by the packaging. Within fifteen-minutes from arriving, the patient was made comfortable, seen and triaged by the AE & Ambulance team and was sent to radiology for precautionary x-rays all without the room nurse getting involved of even saying hello to the patient. What a attitude towards patients and a truly disgusting work ethics.
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