catmag

To work as a nurse, you need a degree in nursing and you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). You won’t usually pay university fees, as most nurses' education is funded by the NHS. You’ll also need to choose which of the four nursing specialisms (adult, children, mental health, or learning disability) you’d like to study. Nursing requires a high level of technical competence and clinical decision-making skills. To develop these, you'll spend half of your nursing degree on supervised placements in local hospital and community settings. https://www.rcn.org.uk/professional-development/become-a-nurse It has been mandatory for any newly-registered nurse to have a degree since 2013, and those who previously held the RN Dip(HE) had/have to undertake further study to obtain one. It was announced in 2009 that this would be the case. We don't carry lanterns and mop brows these days, nor is seen by anyone with half a brain as an option for those who aren't that academic. Your statement above shows a breathtaking amount of ignorance.

You all need a child like mine. It's like travelling with a far more sensible grown-up than I'll ever be.

Haven't been offered coke yet. We had the chance to buy 250 dodgy cigs from a mystical figure outside where we're staying - he wanted s/3 for them which is about 75p. And we're in the ayahuasca centre of the world, so the local Karma Cafe (real name) does very good business. South America does drugs on a spectacular level - unlike their internet connections!

Hi from the Peruvian Amazon. It's nearly 5pm, 33 degrees and about 90% humidity. Since Thursday we've mixed about a ton of cement by hand in 34 degree heat, built 4 walls, given 4 English lessons to children from the barrios (slums) nearly died twice travelling on motocarros, been followed by at least 30 street dogs a la The Littlest Hobo, been for Sunday lunch at the home of the British Consul and only been bitten by 2 mosquitos. Have no idea what is generally going on in the western world, but hope all is well. Will post some pics at some point and want to say a massive thanks to those who donated. The poverty is on a scale that I can't really put into words, save to say that most of the children I've been teaching will have lunch at school and probably won't eat until the following day. It's a humbling place to be. Take care, you lot.

Thank you. I'll try not to get arrested for smuggling drugs in (we're taking 150 bottles of eye drops amongst other legit things) Not looking forward to saying goodbye to the bairn tomorrow; been trying to avoid thinking about it thus far. We're playing happy families with his dad in the morning and taking him to SJP for the family day, so it'll hopefully take his mind of it as he's a bit twitchy about me going.

In 3hrs and 33mins I'll be finished work for a month. My mood is goooood, if slightly manic.

Sorry I can't contribute any intellectual discussion to this thread but I did see The BFG yesterday and as someone who adored the book as a child (and an adult) I approached it with a degree of trepidation, desperately hoping it wouldn't ruin it for me. I'm happy to report that I loved it, and Spielberg really has done it justice.

However, he wasn't so keen on being manhandled by the resident geek....

Bertie was delighted to have been chosen as Caths backpack of choice for her upcoming adventure...

Yep, I'm still in touch. They're good. His mam is always extremely positive and lovely and mentions him often on FB etc. This was her message today.. For you Jon Lockwood, 2 years have passed and yet it still feels like yesterday, We carry on and people think we are strong, We put as they say a face on to save others from seeing the real us, but deep down we grieve every day since you went away, We love you still and even more, our heart went with you on this day, Love you and all ways will mum and dad and all of us xxxxxxx

2 years today since Jon passed away. Still feels surreal

If I'd known I could've waited til I got there and had some custom-made by the orphans!

I just read this too. How horrible

Mosquito nets, Karrimor shoes and a fold-away backpack. This is all a bit adventurous for my liking...

So late but muchos happy birthdayness. Sounds like you had a good one

You won't get rid of the flies til the carcass has been removed. I heard of exactly the same situation last week including the fly infestation. They had to get pest control to get rid of the flies and a chimney sweep to clear the chimney.

I'll do it for you! Anyway, you've been out for real drinks - you ARE the clique

North-east.

Okay this has blown my mind a little bit.. Our resident MP Bridget is on Sunday Politics this morning at 11am. One of the other guests is the dad of one of our posters here. I think we should have a guessing game (unless you're in the gang and would instantly know who it was...)

To be fair it sounds more exciting than some of your randomly generated recipes lately

I don't normally contribute to this thread but a friend of mine completed La Marmotte today in 8hr 8mins. It looked absolutely brutal but what a bloody achievement

Borexit?

I genuinely wish I cared. I can't remember the last time I watched England with any passion whatsoever. It feels like a million miles away from the way I feel about Newcastle. I watched the game tonight with absolute apathy and was actually pleased for Iceland because they fucking wanted it. "Our" prancing, preening, overpaid primadonnas should take a lesson from this. The whole of the first half in my house was dominated by a 7-yr old who was thoroughly exasperated by the manager's tactics and how the whole thing could be improved.

Anyone who uses the A1 north at Lobley Hill to get to work - there's a massive sinkhole opened up. Closed at the moment and disruption inevitable for tomorrow's rush hour. Edit: A1 closed until Wednesday http://www.northumbria.police.uk/news_and_events/latest_news/2016/06/26/important_travel_info_a1_sinkhole/