As a child I had a nurse outfit
With apron and all that
I took a convoluted route
To earn myself that hat
..
This verse is a reflection
On my retirement day
To recall all the ways
I’ve earned my daily pay
..
Paper round at Trevettes
Friday’s never funny
On to woolworths on the till
As we moved to the new money
..
I planned to continue to study
To major in IT
Sadly my exam results
Blew that dream for me
..
At 17 we had to move
My Dad was made redundant
I really sought the chance to stay
But my earnings weren’t abundant
..
I’ve remained a proud north Londoner
Wherever I have been
Most clearly ever evidenced
through my passion in my team
..
And so I moved and worked in tax
My knowledge now is very lax
I barely recall VAT
that career was not for me!
..
I left the inland revenue
In search of some held dream
Kibbutz life suited very well
An idyll not quite seen!
..
I nurtured avocado trees
Before they were a thing
Milked cows, picked fruit, arranged events
At which I didn’t sing
..
I met a lot of people
A mental health nurse, name of Jacques
Little did I know back then
That he put me on track
..
Driven back to England
By the onset of a war
The magic bus adventure
-my European tour!
..
Part time jobs in nurseries
’n’ selling supermarket booze
Before I landed in the career
I’d at last come down to choose
..
Now I’m a mental health nurse
Health career had begun
Some of it quite challenging
Most of it, quite good fun
..
I’ve learnt that serendipity
Is something to embrace
I never ever thought I would wor
with those of advanced age.
..
The closing of asylums
A time of angst and fear
When I look back on the move I made;
It defined my whole career.
..
I worked in a small hospital
Where you could have a bed
Whether your need was physical or
A challenge in the head
..
I much remember just one man
Who’d sadly had a stroke
He should have quick got better but
His mental health was broke
..
This emphasised the mal-divide
‘Tween different schools of learning
I fixed my gaze on fixing this
Still something of a yearning!
..
Why focus services and jobs
On body or on mind
Surely it’s clear, we all are both
But that’s not what we find
..
My mission was now set for me
Early adopter ACP
and later on a PhD
Through the eye of gerontology
..
Mental health Liaison nurse
At first, just one of two
Making the case, doing the job
The working time just flew
..
Amidst it all I found more luck
Supplied by Tony Blair
Consultant Nursing recognised
Of course, I got in there!
..
This opened lots of doors for me
Meeting good and great
Took part in National Strategies
And met my National mates
..
NHS life’s not all easy
So when I’d done my years
I took my first retirement
It didn’t end in tears
..
I held on to a little bit
With what became HE
Little did I know back then
How far this would take me
..
I dabbled in a lot of roles
And found a lot to learn
Not least that I could offer much
And dictate my own terms
..
I’ve led investigations
Done shifts in some care homes
Private memory service
Many many new milestones
..
All along I held my post
Worked on with HEE
Initially in Wessex
and then in Thames Valley
..
Consultant Practitioner Trainees
Supporting them to grow
Such a lucky privilege
To watch where they will go.
..
I learnt about curricula
And making new workforce’s
Through work achieved with Ghana
Developing new courses
..
The new ACP pathways
Give hope that those behind
Can carve the career that they want
In more of a straight line
..
That is me, but before I go
Before I rest…. tomorrow
“Please take that risk, against the flow
And plough your unique furrow “
GBG1954 