1st Snow in London!

A mega cold wave has hit the UK! 

Scotland has been snowing for days and 

it only just hit London today. 

It literately snowed ALL DAY!

Despite the snow, I did cycle but very low visibility.

Case work

It was very sudden today when I was writing some case notes
in a file that I felt I did not want to do any more case work.

I am not sure yet but I might want to consider doing 

permanent duty with set time frames to return to 

casework if I want to after the set period.

Though, I will have to discuss this with my line manager
at supervision. I know which case has triggered this thought,
but I might just need a change of style. 

We shall see what happens!

-Case work: our team have max.of 20 cases allocated to individual
                   social work to follow arising issues.
-Duty: 9am-5pm emergency work with cases that are not allocated,
           on social workers' absence and further issues. Often the days 
           are quite unpredictable.
                   

...Sunflower Seeds...

Tate Modern

12 Oct 2010 - 2 May 2011

Why we cannot walk in the bed of sunflower seeds...

However it would have been an interesting experience though!

This is an enormous bed of SUNFLOWER SEEDS!

Not real but made-hand porcelain sunflower seeds

by people in China.

Therefore, ALL of them are different and unique!

Making in progress...

The man himself...Ai Wei Wei
(above three photos are from a film showing at the gallery)

Fela @ NT

Fela! 
National Theatre
until 23rd Jan 2011

It was an excellent show with such power!

The Stage- Shrine

Fela Anikulapo Kuti was a Nigerian musician, composer, 

human rights activist and political maverick.
The dance and music was just fabulous and it just jazzed me up for Cuba!

A night view of Waterloo Bridge from NT

London Eye and Royal Festival Hall in the background

Evensong in Oxford

I went to Oxford for a short break from London. 

It was so needed. I felt I was almost running away from work!

I actually went to listen to evensong at the colleges. 

It was heaven! 
New College boys choir was divine!

Magdalen College

New College

Another Oxford

 

  A walk with a very good friend who showed me 

the REAL beauty of Oxford.

Above three photos are from Christ Church meadow. 

The sunset was so beautiful.

I have been to Oxford so many times but 

my first walk by the river and the meadow.

Cuban Tourist Card

This is my Tourist Card (VISA) to Cuba.

It was not as complicated as it seems to apply. 

Tourist Card is for 30 days and it can be 

extended for another 30 days in Cuba. 

I need to travel within 80 days once the tourist card is issued.

Yes, I am traveling to Cuba in 80 days, don't worry!

Cuban Embassy in London

Remembrance Sunday

Pray for all the souls who died for the countries, for peace and for us.

Red poppy flower badge stands for remembrance day. I bought one too.

It is always the nearest Sunday to 11th November.

Below is a band from Salvation Army on Regents Street.

Minor Blue

I remember listening to some really nice music from

this website but I forgotten what it was called.

And I haven't met the friend who introduced me 

to this website for years. We met yesterday after a few 

years gap but it was still nice and comfortable!

If you are interested in World Music try

Minor Blue

Detchment

I knew I will hit a day like this one day but just did not realise

that it would come in this form.  

I will write more tomorrow as I think I need time to reflect tonight.

Literature

My team is purchasing some social work literature

for reference and further use for the team.

I went to a bookshop to look around which was a nice feeling.
I love bookshops and books!
There were interesting new literature published.
I cannot believe that it has been three years since I qualified!

• Understanding drug misuse- J. Keene (Palgrave 2010)
• The reflective practitioner- D.A. Schon (Ashgate)
• Social work placement- M Doel (Routledge 2010)
• Best practice in professional supervision-A.Davys & L. Beddoe (JKP 2010)
• Practicing social work-S. Braye & M. Preston-shoot (Palgrove 2010)

End of life.....

며칠전에 나의 서비스 이용자가, 지금은 나의 담당은 

아니지만 내가 기관 배치를 했었는데, 10월 중순에

숨을 거두었다는 소식을 듣고 좀 놀라고 또

한편으로는 감사했다. 60세를 막 넘겼는데.

MND를 앓고 있었다. 올해 5월에 진단을 받았는데.....

우선은 많이 진행이 된 상태이기도 했었지.

놀랐던 것은 생각보다 빨리숨을 거두었다는 거,

적어도 올해는 넘길 줄 알았는데. 

내가 7월에 기관 방문을 하고 쓴 글이 있다. 

다른 한편으로 감사했던 것은 당신이 원하는 곳에서,

가족들의 품안에서 숨을 거두었다는 것이다. 

우리 팀에서 기관을 반대했는데 되돌아 생각을 해보면 

그녀가 그녀에게 가장 필요한 것을 잘 알고 있었다는 것이다. 

그녀가 네게 말해주었던 것이 지금도 나의 귀에서 맴돈다. 

'세원, 삶은 짧아, 젊음이 주어졌을 때 최선을 다해서 

즐겨야해. 알았지?'

삼가 고인의 명복을 빈다.....

I discovered that one of my previous MND service user

has passed away in mid October. I placed her in a 

Nursing home after a long process and different views of 

what is best for her. She eventually went to a nursing home 

near her family. I reviewed her placement at the end of July, 

even blogged that visit I think. 

I was surprised that she did not make it to early next year

but happy for her at the same time that she died where she 

wanted with her family nearby. 

I still remember very clearly of what she told me,
'Sae-Won, you must know that life is short and you have to 
make the most of your youth whilst it lasts. Make sure you enjoy it.!'


May she rest in peace......

Locks

I remember laughing really hard at my friend's bicycle

when I saw three locks to secure his bike in central London.

Then he added that his three locks cost more than the bike!

I totally understand why....it's heaven for bicycle robbers.

There are so many bicycles. But I take my baby everywhere

so far I was refused once going into a gallery.

These are not his locks. I saw them near a banking quarter.

Very modern looking bike stands.

hummmm.....

I have a service user, *Jane, who suffers from
MS (multiple sclerosis) who is fully dependent on
others for all of her daily living activities.
Jane is lovely but she has a friend who is very
difficult to work with which is a total challenge for me.
I feel his is too much in control but it is not clear whether
how much Jane relies on him and how much he is controlling.
My line manager is supporting me with the case by
meeting the friend and Jane and I do all the ground
work behind the scenes.

I rang Jane today to make an appointment for this Wednesday
but Jane couldn't confirm it before speaking to her friend.
It may or may not happen....then another delay,
Jane cannot afford to not to have services as her
pressure sores are getting worse. Yet again, this is my thoughts
when Jane has mental capacity to make her own decisions.

I was just angry with Jane's friend and felt very sorry for Jane.
I don't have to but I did and most of it will be my own
frustration of not seeing progress.
I had a good day at work and felt quite down after the
phone call. I don't know why, I came home with a heavy heart.

*Jane- name has been altered due to confidentiality. 

Thank you very much

I received a 'Thank you very much' card from a service user and her family. 

It really made my day, I came home with such a light and warm heart!