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What was your fasting blood glucose? (full on chat)

You didn't go to the Simon Langton Grammar School in Canterbury, did you? Your story is much the same as mine. Smart kid - top marks in the 11+. First year at the Grammar School I was in class 1a, then 2b, then 3c, 4x and 5x. I just didn't understand what was wanted of me and, when in 4th year was told by the headmistress that I would never amount to anything. She had an MA from an Irish university and the day I gained my own MA (Open Uni as a very mature student) I told her, in my mind; she was long gone from this earth by then; "See, I did amount to something at least". How petty to have held that grudge for so long. I was told not to join the maths class in 4th year. I did gain some O levels but not in maths (obviously). There was bullying, not physical, but psychological. Dad, a postman when I went to the school, was a civil servant by the time I left and that was far beneath the notice of the big farmers, land owners, bank managers and so on who were parents of others at the school.

Edit: I blotted my copybook big time in the RI classes when I asked awkward questions or couldn't make sense of the shorter catechism, so couldn't learn it by rote. "You don't need to understand it - just learn it!" "You are a wicked girl questioning the Bible!" Never did get any answers from them. That, and Macbeth 5 years in a row are some of my abiding memories of the years 1956-61.
I think we are much too old to let past wrongs done to us be nursed and nurtured.
God knows that I have done many wrongs and have been forgiven in Christ so that I should forgive others.
Derek
 
You didn't go to the Simon Langton Grammar School in Canterbury, did you? Your story is much the same as mine. Smart kid - top marks in the 11+. First year at the Grammar School I was in class 1a, then 2b, then 3c, 4x and 5x. I just didn't understand what was wanted of me and, when in 4th year was told by the headmistress that I would never amount to anything. She had an MA from an Irish university and the day I gained my own MA (Open Uni as a very mature student) I told her, in my mind; she was long gone from this earth by then; "See, I did amount to something at least". How petty to have held that grudge for so long. I was told not to join the maths class in 4th year. I did gain some O levels but not in maths (obviously). There was bullying, not physical, but psychological. Dad, a postman when I went to the school, was a civil servant by the time I left and that was far beneath the notice of the big farmers, land owners, bank managers and so on who were parents of others at the school.

Edit: I blotted my copybook big time in the RI classes when I asked awkward questions or couldn't make sense of the shorter catechism, so couldn't learn it by rote. "You don't need to understand it - just learn it!" "You are a wicked girl questioning the Bible!" Never did get any answers from them. That, and Macbeth 5 years in a row are some of my abiding memories of the years 1956-61.
No, is the answer! It was a Technical Grammar school in Cheshire, at the time of going there, soon to be Merseyside. I got four O levels and two GCSE 's.
We must be soul twins of some description even though my wish to be an apprentice in colour printing became beyond me, despite the entrance exam and IQ test smashed, I couldn't find a company to take no on as an apprentice. However, I worked at three printing company's in the warehouse dept. But I was allowed to use my experience to run a gestener press, a guillotine receiving and packing parcels, a bit of lithographic printing, masking, film work, artwork, mainly using grammar in proof reading and more, not bad for two and a half years!

Like myself, I went onto becoming a team leader of team leaders in a car plant. On pilot build, being responsible for training team leaders how to implement new vehicle build. Co-operative with engineering, design, and senior management around Europe. Been to plants in Germany, Belgium, France, and Spain. Nearly went to Poland and if I had not took early retirement, maybe St. Petersburg in Russia. The last one, I hosted at my home plant. Which was in the first half of the noughties, the first all electric model was revealed as a design get together for many engineers. However the batteries were still too heavy back then. The load weight ratio was a major problem as was battery stability and length of charge, never mind the low mileage! The places were the too large batteries went, amused me!
When I went back to work because of the wife's accident, we needed another wage, though part time at first.
I got some work at my local football club. Which progressed to full time, doing many roles including groundstaff, maintenance and anything else that was needed to be done. At every club, there must be someone capable of turning his hand to cleaning to organising work. I became a matchday supervisor of ball boys. Then going on the kit van to away games! Then, given the chance to work with the kit department as manager.
Fulfilling a dream since childhood, to get on the Wembley turf! Not once but three times!
Being a part of my clubs success was a dream for me.
You may think that this was quite a successful career. But these are the real highlights.
The years spent doing really awful tasks, shifts, mind numbing repetitive days on a production line. Having to work nights, while the wife was home with four young children, it wasn't easy! And it was a good thing that we could just afford to not to struggle. How we coped I don't know, as we also needed to help her brothers and sisters, as they were younger and still needed family to help them through their teenage years. My parents were getting old as well! My father died early because of being a war veteran in Burma. My mum was not well.
But we got through it somehow as the kids got older, and four nicer children you could wish for.
But as it is. My wife and I are in a similar situation now to that time!
Fifty years of work and still not comfortable.
And as my counsellor told me, facing knock after knock, after knock, trying to be positive about our future is a battle of my mental stability and our health.
I have had some brilliant times, but the bad far outweigh those days. Being happy is something that I find I cannot ever get again. It was hard work that was my life, But was it worth it? Especially in today's economic climate of increasing poverty and disenfranchisement of the working population and the persistent attack on those who are less able or disabled and those discriminated against because they are different!
What an appalling country this is!

Hope your diety rewards you and blesses you.

Keep safe and stay well!
Have a peaceful night!
 
No, is the answer! It was a Technical Grammar school in Cheshire, at the time of going there, soon to be Merseyside. I got four O levels and two GCSE 's.
We must be soul twins of some description even though my wish to be an apprentice in colour printing became beyond me, despite the entrance exam and IQ test smashed, I couldn't find a company to take no on as an apprentice. However, I worked at three printing company's in the warehouse dept. But I was allowed to use my experience to run a gestener press, a guillotine receiving and packing parcels, a bit of lithographic printing, masking, film work, artwork, mainly using grammar in proof reading and more, not bad for two and a half years!

Like myself, I went onto becoming a team leader of team leaders in a car plant. On pilot build, being responsible for training team leaders how to implement new vehicle build. Co-operative with engineering, design, and senior management around Europe. Been to plants in Germany, Belgium, France, and Spain. Nearly went to Poland and if I had not took early retirement, maybe St. Petersburg in Russia. The last one, I hosted at my home plant. Which was in the first half of the noughties, the first all electric model was revealed as a design get together for many engineers. However the batteries were still too heavy back then. The load weight ratio was a major problem as was battery stability and length of charge, never mind the low mileage! The places were the too large batteries went, amused me!
When I went back to work because of the wife's accident, we needed another wage, though part time at first.
I got some work at my local football club. Which progressed to full time, doing many roles including groundstaff, maintenance and anything else that was needed to be done. At every club, there must be someone capable of turning his hand to cleaning to organising work. I became a matchday supervisor of ball boys. Then going on the kit van to away games! Then, given the chance to work with the kit department as manager.
Fulfilling a dream since childhood, to get on the Wembley turf! Not once but three times!
Being a part of my clubs success was a dream for me.
You may think that this was quite a successful career. But these are the real highlights.
The years spent doing really awful tasks, shifts, mind numbing repetitive days on a production line. Having to work nights, while the wife was home with four young children, it wasn't easy! And it was a good thing that we could just afford to not to struggle. How we coped I don't know, as we also needed to help her brothers and sisters, as they were younger and still needed family to help them through their teenage years. My parents were getting old as well! My father died early because of being a war veteran in Burma. My mum was not well.
But we got through it somehow as the kids got older, and four nicer children you could wish for.
But as it is. My wife and I are in a similar situation now to that time!
Fifty years of work and still not comfortable.
And as my counsellor told me, facing knock after knock, after knock, trying to be positive about our future is a battle of my mental stability and our health.
I have had some brilliant times, but the bad far outweigh those days. Being happy is something that I find I cannot ever get again. It was hard work that was my life, But was it worth it? Especially in today's economic climate of increasing poverty and disenfranchisement of the working population and the persistent attack on those who are less able or disabled and those discriminated against because they are different!
What an appalling country this is!

Hope your diety rewards you and blesses you.

Keep safe and stay well!
Have a peaceful night!
Very much agreeing on those last few sentences.

Hoping there is always some light in among the darker days
 
I think we are much too old to let past wrongs done to us be nursed and nurtured.
God knows that I have done many wrongs and have been forgiven in Christ so that I should forgive others.
Derek
You are quite right, of course. It was pathetic to have held that grudge (unconsciously) for all those years. I've made plenty mistakes myself and beaten myself up over them but I think I can say that I have never deliberately put anyone down either publicly or privately whereas that particular headmistress seemed to take great pleasure in telling the whole school about faults she found in me. I really didn't like the woman, or her depute (RI teacher). Sad. In fact I think they must have been pretty sad people to have behaved as they did. I have no idea what problems they faced to make them the way they were.

Just sitting here, wasting time really, waiting until it is time to go for my plane to Glasgow. I had my timing all worked out but spoiled it all by going to bed early (11 pm) which meant I woke early and was ready to go early. Another hour before DIL should arrive to pick me up. Can't get over how much the health board is shelling out to get me to Glasgow for a half hour appointment - fares of £430 each for DIL and myself plus about £40 for taxis to and from the hospital. Total about £900. No wonder they're short of funds.

BG at 2 am was 8.9. 10.7 before breakfast. No idea now - I've put everything away in my bag to be sure to have it with me.
 
Perhaps you could send down some of that rain to Norfolk as we haven't had a lot of rain lately.
It was torrential overnight! :). I walked in the garden last night before our meal and the heavens opened when I was near the front gate under a big Ash tree so I had to walk fast, hardly run to the back of the house out of cover and got wet but Marjorie had the door open waiting, so I got called a silly old man!:)
 
You are quite right, of course. It was pathetic to have held that grudge (unconsciously) for all those years. I've made plenty mistakes myself and beaten myself up over them but I think I can say that I have never deliberately put anyone down either publicly or privately whereas that particular headmistress seemed to take great pleasure in telling the whole school about faults she found in me. I really didn't like the woman, or her depute (RI teacher). Sad. In fact I think they must have been pretty sad people to have behaved as they did. I have no idea what problems they faced to make them the way they were.

Just sitting here, wasting time really, waiting until it is time to go for my plane to Glasgow. I had my timing all worked out but spoiled it all by going to bed early (11 pm) which meant I woke early and was ready to go early. Another hour before DIL should arrive to pick me up. Can't get over how much the health board is shelling out to get me to Glasgow for a half hour appointment - fares of £430 each for DIL and myself plus about £40 for taxis to and from the hospital. Total about £900. No wonder they're short of funds.

BG at 2 am was 8.9. 10.7 before breakfast. No idea now - I've put everything away in my bag to be sure to have it with me.
God bless you Ann I hope and pray it all goes well.
Derek
 
No, is the answer! It was a Technical Grammar school in Cheshire, at the time of going there, soon to be Merseyside. I got four O levels and two GCSE 's.
We must be soul twins of some description even though my wish to be an apprentice in colour printing became beyond me, despite the entrance exam and IQ test smashed, I couldn't find a company to take no on as an apprentice. However, I worked at three printing company's in the warehouse dept. But I was allowed to use my experience to run a gestener press, a guillotine receiving and packing parcels, a bit of lithographic printing, masking, film work, artwork, mainly using grammar in proof reading and more, not bad for two and a half years!

Like myself, I went onto becoming a team leader of team leaders in a car plant. On pilot build, being responsible for training team leaders how to implement new vehicle build. Co-operative with engineering, design, and senior management around Europe. Been to plants in Germany, Belgium, France, and Spain. Nearly went to Poland and if I had not took early retirement, maybe St. Petersburg in Russia. The last one, I hosted at my home plant. Which was in the first half of the noughties, the first all electric model was revealed as a design get together for many engineers. However the batteries were still too heavy back then. The load weight ratio was a major problem as was battery stability and length of charge, never mind the low mileage! The places were the too large batteries went, amused me!
When I went back to work because of the wife's accident, we needed another wage, though part time at first.
I got some work at my local football club. Which progressed to full time, doing many roles including groundstaff, maintenance and anything else that was needed to be done. At every club, there must be someone capable of turning his hand to cleaning to organising work. I became a matchday supervisor of ball boys. Then going on the kit van to away games! Then, given the chance to work with the kit department as manager.
Fulfilling a dream since childhood, to get on the Wembley turf! Not once but three times!
Being a part of my clubs success was a dream for me.
You may think that this was quite a successful career. But these are the real highlights.
The years spent doing really awful tasks, shifts, mind numbing repetitive days on a production line. Having to work nights, while the wife was home with four young children, it wasn't easy! And it was a good thing that we could just afford to not to struggle. How we coped I don't know, as we also needed to help her brothers and sisters, as they were younger and still needed family to help them through their teenage years. My parents were getting old as well! My father died early because of being a war veteran in Burma. My mum was not well.
But we got through it somehow as the kids got older, and four nicer children you could wish for.
But as it is. My wife and I are in a similar situation now to that time!
Fifty years of work and still not comfortable.
And as my counsellor told me, facing knock after knock, after knock, trying to be positive about our future is a battle of my mental stability and our health.
I have had some brilliant times, but the bad far outweigh those days. Being happy is something that I find I cannot ever get again. It was hard work that was my life, But was it worth it? Especially in today's economic climate of increasing poverty and disenfranchisement of the working population and the persistent attack on those who are less able or disabled and those discriminated against because they are different!
What an appalling country this is!

Hope your diety rewards you and blesses you.

Keep safe and stay well!
Have a peaceful night!
When I was newly qualified electrician in a gas works my Electricians mate had worked as a Japanese prisoner of war on The Railway, he got of it all out talking to me when we worked together in the retort houses.
Your dad must have gone through a lot.

Within two years I had an HNC in electrical engineering having been a school failure, but I got a job as a direct entry broadcast engineer which changed my life for the better.
D.
 
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It was torrential overnight! :). I walked in the garden last night before our meal and the heavens opened when I was near the front gate under a big Ash tree so I had to walk fast, hardly run to the back of the house out of cover and got wet but Marjorie had the door open waiting, so I got called a silly old man!:)
That's exactly what I would call Mr K if he did the same. Obviously great minds think alike :)
 
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It was torrential overnight! :). I walked in the garden last night before our meal and the heavens opened when I was near the front gate under a big Ash tree so I had to walk fast, hardly run to the back of the house out of cover and got wet but Marjorie had the door open waiting, so I got called a silly old man!:)
Well spotted Marjorie. Bonus gym session and skin is waterproof. Mind you, as we age, running, or in my case a fast stagger can be a dangerous thing. Hope your garden is now thoroughly watered.
 
Good morning everyone on another marvellous day here in the dark and dangerous north. Bloods this morning of 5.3 but accuracy is suspect and the reading only available for a short moment stuck in time. Blood test this morning and then meeting our daughter and the Girl In The Bubble for an early breakfast - 1030 is far too early for me but hey ho, it’s not a disaaaaaster daaaahling. One of my cousins has taken her mum over to France to visit with my mother. They have not seen each other in the flesh for several years so they are having a wonderful time of it. I think that my dad is keeping a low profile and tending the garden although my parents have been told never to be in the garden on their own. My mother fell over last summer and it took her nearly an hour to get back inside out of the heat of the sun. She did have the foresight to have water with her. Art bit, colour added so on with something a bit more open air. Have a smashing day. My koffy is ready to pour.


1688371090235.jpeg
 
Good Morening Ladies and Gentlemen and all who struggled through academia.

Blood sugars this morning were 5.8, a nice number, but prime numbers are mysterious on many levels, a little like that Pi number, but let’s not waffle ( pun intended) on about food.

Wishing luck to @gennepher on her travels and all who struggle to see the brighter side of life, the last lines of that poem, me, me’s and myself think sum life up. “With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.” Look the whole thing up if you must “ Desiderata “.

A fair bit of chatter this morning about schools, the school me, me’s and myself attended was truly far sighted, the teaching staff analysed the future of the majority of the pupils and changed the curriculum to subjects such as practical safe breaking, mugging, extortion with menaces, taking without consent ie cars, the list is endless and the school got more pupils into prisons than places of higher education.

Now it time the walrus said etc, etc,

Stay safe all

Foot and hand note from yesterdays posting, our relative completed the marathon in just under 4 hours and it was his 395 marathon, not bad for someone in their 60’s, his wife does park runs.
 
Fbg 6.8

Watching the myriads of baby sparrows through my open glass bedroom door into the garden. But it will be closed when I need to get out of bed. These are winter temperatures. The air is icy cold. Time to put away summer clothes, find the winter duvet..

Wildlife nighttime videos.
Badger son tries wrecking my rubber mat! Pa Badger pushes him out of way, My mat, Pa says... Midnight comes along & repeatedly smacks Pa Badger. Then Midnight looks into Trail Camera lens, "See what I just did, Mum"...


Creative is a kaleidoscope of my raspberries in my garden...they are delicious...

Have your best day.

Time for a nap....

IMG_1931.jpeg
 
Good morning everyone on another marvellous day here in the dark and dangerous north. Bloods this morning of 5.3 but accuracy is suspect and the reading only available for a short moment stuck in time. Blood test this morning and then meeting our daughter and the Girl In The Bubble for an early breakfast - 1030 is far too early for me but hey ho, it’s not a disaaaaaster daaaahling. One of my cousins has taken her mum over to France to visit with my mother. They have not seen each other in the flesh for several years so they are having a wonderful time of it. I think that my dad is keeping a low profile and tending the garden although my parents have been told never to be in the garden on their own. My mother fell over last summer and it took her nearly an hour to get back inside out of the heat of the sun. She did have the foresight to have water with her. Art bit, colour added so on with something a bit more open air. Have a smashing day. My koffy is ready to pour.


View attachment 61754
This is incredibly effective @dunelm
 
A fair bit of chatter this morning about schools, the school me, me’s and myself attended was truly far sighted, the teaching staff analysed the future of the majority of the pupils and changed the curriculum to subjects such as practical safe breaking, mugging, extortion with menaces, taking without consent ie cars, the list is endless and the school got more pupils into prisons than places of higher education.
Was it approved by any chance.
Fbg this morning was 6.0.
 
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Good Morening Ladies and Gentlemen and all who struggled through academia.

Blood sugars this morning were 5.8, a nice number, but prime numbers are mysterious on many levels, a little like that Pi number, but let’s not waffle ( pun intended) on about food.

Wishing luck to @gennepher on her travels and all who struggle to see the brighter side of life, the last lines of that poem, me, me’s and myself think sum life up. “With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.” Look the whole thing up if you must “ Desiderata “.

A fair bit of chatter this morning about schools, the school me, me’s and myself attended was truly far sighted, the teaching staff analysed the future of the majority of the pupils and changed the curriculum to subjects such as practical safe breaking, mugging, extortion with menaces, taking without consent ie cars, the list is endless and the school got more pupils into prisons than places of higher education.

Now it time the walrus said etc, etc,

Stay safe all

Foot and hand note from yesterdays posting, our relative completed the marathon in just under 4 hours and it was his 395 marathon, not bad for someone in their 60’s, his wife does park runs.

Thanks Alf!

Sounds an interesting school...

My last school the girls and boys ran it, teaching staff, and finally the headmaster (who had come to our school straight from running Borstal) was at the bottom of having any authority or control. He was so cruel, dragging boys along the corridors by their hair, that we gave him no respect. He didn't instil fear in us.
For girls if discipline was to be metered out, the offender girls were dragged into the domestic science room flat (where we were supposed to learn housewifely activities such as ironing hubby's morning newspaper) and the the rest of us formed a ring to enclose the two girls who had to slug it out in a cat fight (not a pretty sight).
For boys, it was a ring of boys in the tar-macadam playground, out in public, and the offender boys had a boxing match until one was declared a winner.
If it was something between boys and girls, us girls were very good at mediation...
If it was something between the boys and teaching staff ( the boys could be complete idiots in causing needless trouble), then us girls acted as mediators in order to calm the teacher and get him back into the classroom.

And that was basically how my last school was run. And before you ask what kind of school it was, it was a Grammar school in a very deprived run down area.

And I was the different pupil. My prior senior schools had told me I was useless, not capable of taking exams etc.gave me nought or one out of ten for anything. When your back is against the wall, you can do anything...there is no other place to go.

So, at this last school I attended, I had nothing to lose. So, I didn't give a monkey's. My last two years in it were spent decorating all the corridors. I collected as many colour and Sunday magazines as I could, and spent my time cutting out and pasting these on the corridor walls throughout the school, creating murals. 'You can't do that', said the younger pupils, you'll get into trouble. 'No I won't,' I said. I did get called to the headmaster's office, but by the time I finished my verbal argument with him, I walked out with permission to do this mural, but I had to get it off all the walls before I left the school. Well, I didn't have to, because by that time the headmaster was proudly showing all visitors the kind of gifted pupil the school was creating. And to my surprise, the mural remained for many years on the walls.

I am now a respectable batty old lady...
 
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