hospital | Adrian Phelan

Adrian Phelan

Post 8

Welcome to this week’s blog.

I’m in the mood

The blog week started on Saturday with a trip to Beeston near Nottingham for a surprise 60thbirthday party, and it was brilliant. There just aren’t enough opportunities to have a boogie these days and we danced the night away. I have a milestone birthday in 2026 myself and no one’s having buffet (vol-au-vents, chicken wings, quiche) until we’ve timed you dancing for at least half an hour. It’s just the tonic for life’s challenges. My feet are still going.

And it snowed on Wednesday. It was short-lived but for about ten minutes the place looked like a winter wonderland and there were fewer people in shorts and crocs (overkill on that one I know). Significantly I heard the last time it snowed in November there was a white Christmas so let’s wait and see.

Speaking the lingo

This week I started practising Irish on Duo Lingo and I’m surprised both at how much I’ve remembered and how much I’ve forgotten. What’s good about it is that it also teaches you how to learn. It does have to show me some words about 8 times before I remember them however and I have no doubt if it was human it would have thrown a blackboard duster at me by now. But I’m really enjoying it. (I hope there’s some reading this who don’t know what a blackboard duster is.)

How can I help you?

I’m deeper into my new temp job, and the comfort of the training days are long behind me. I’m chatting to lots of people on the phones now, hopefully sorting out some of their problems and suffice it to say that when 5pm comes each day I am knackered. And the work doesn’t stop there as the job searches need to take place into the evenings. I’m planning to cold approach people at companies I’d like to work for so brace yourselves, I’m coming for you. Nothing ventured…as they say. A reminder you can find me on LinkedIn at Adrian Phelan | LinkedIn

COVID-19 inquiry

If you have seen my LinkedIn profile, you’ll know I’ve spent the last five years promoting adult and childhood vaccinations. During the pandemic the focus was naturally COVID-19. It was a massively significant time for all of us, but I think even more so for the NHS staff who selflessly put themselves at risk caring for patients, day in and day out. So, I read with interest the inquiry’s findings into how the four governments did. I don’t think any of us would have taken their places but the idea that the lockdown(s) could have been avoided and 23,000 fewer lives lost is mind blowing. I’m going to leave that one there, but I hope we’ve learned lessons and are far-better prepared for any future pandemics that fingers crossed never happen.

Nizlopi SupportEd

I was delighted to see that Nizlopi, who featured in Blog post 3 will be supporting Ed Sheeran on his UK and Ireland dates in December. They have a long association so it’s great that the duo’s reunion is marked in this way. All the dates are sold out so to those of you who have tickets make sure you get down eary to check out Lemington’s finest. They really are very good.

Do Good Well

I’ve been avoiding the Prostate Cancer UK guy all week at the station. I support three charities already so can’t afford to add a 4^th but what we can do for free is raise awareness of their great work. What he was promoting was the “multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) scan which is a special type of scan that creates more detailed pictures of your prostate than a standard MRI scan. It does this by combining four different types of image.” These images give your doctor information about whether or not there is any cancer inside your prostate. Read more online and do consider a regular donation if you can.

What are you watching this week?

I haven’t been to the cinema this week but The Running Man and Wicked are on the list. If you see either of these, do share your reviews. I am nearly at the end of the Iris Affair mind and I’m enjoying that a lot. If you have Sky Atlantic, do consider watching.

So long and thanks

As ever, thanks for coming with me this far. Do get in touch for any or no reason. I’d love to help raise awareness of anything you’ve got going on so just ask.

This has been somewhat of a blogette this week, but it gets you back to your day quicker.

See you again next Friday.

Adrian

07974669338

adrianphelan@hotmail.co.uk

Adrian Phelan

Post 7 (Definitely becoming a ‘thing’ now)

Welcome to this week’s blog.

Zzzzz

I’m in the new gig three weeks now and I think I’m adjusting quite well to the routine of five shirts, five shaves, no more Countdown etc. But the one thing that’s knocking me sideways is missing the afternoon nap. My goodness did that become a thing over the last four months. Everything revolved around it. It usually happened after lunch when for some reason even something as modest as a sandwich could put me into a coma. Or occasionally it could be in the morning when I was killing time before the library opened. Either way I think it’s the lack of it that has had me looking like something out of Shaun of the Dead since my 5-year contract began in 2020. You’ve got me going now. Look out for next week’s blog which will be a nap special, aimed at putting us all to sleep. Well, hopefully not.

Glass half full

My go-to expression when people have asked how things are going is that I’m ‘Keeping the glass half full.’ But I have to admit to the occasional wobble. I had one this week when I reflected on the length of time that has passed since I left the job and how quickly that time has gone. Like pretty much every week of my 40s it has flown by. However, I have some talented good friends in a similar situation to me and there really is safety in numbers. If sometimes I feel down, I certainly don’t feel alone. There have also been times where I’ve been able to use my situation to signpost people to places (like job agencies) that could help. So, when all is said and done, I’ll try and look back at the positives.

Alas no Northern Lights for us

The weather’s actually been nice and mild this week with the sun poking through occasionally. There’s still lots of blokes in shorts; some with obvious burns to their feet (winks) however just when we needed it to be clear, it was typically cloudy the night we might have seen the Northern Lights. But they did come out in Dublin, and you can see some pictures on the RTE website. I mention this because it was with absolute joy that I saw my first ones last year and I’m really hoping we’ll get to see them again.

Putting my foot in it

I am the most medically boring person you will ever meet, but for the first time since I was 11, I finally had to go to hospital to get something done. I had a steroid injection in my right ankle to fix a tendon issue. The procedure was guided by ultrasound so there was jelly involved. If the anaesthetic needle was a bit sharp the free foot massage more than made up for it. I went in hoping the procedure would be one-off, now I’m considering feigning injury to get the other foot done.

The good thing though is that I can continue running, and I went out for a long one after work on Wednesday. Many of my deepest thoughts get processed when I’m out running so it’s very good for me. But sometimes 5k could pass by and I still can’t work out how dragons blow out candles or if there is a German word for ‘fluffy’. The natural endorphins are always a bonus though and I shall carry on. It has been the best addition to my life in 2025.

Filim slot

I went to see The Choral on Monday, and it was very good albeit I thought that Ralph Fiennes was too big for it. It was a very cute tail though, set poignantly in front of the harsh reality of war and the young men forced to go and fight in it. It was filmed in the beautiful Saltaire, a town I once worked in as a student. A fairly large local choir were in to watch on the night and the altos on more than one occasion had to be told to be quiet (Seriously). They’re a rowdy bunch those altos. But do check out the film if you get a chance.

So long Michael D

A few words on the outgoing Irish president. Ireland loved him. In 2022, one of his staff arranged for a nice official note to be sent to my parents for their 50th wedding anniversary. I don’t know how personally he got involved in such requests, but the fact that he rubber stamped them was special. The very best of luck to him and his wife Sabina.

Do Good Well – World Diabetes Day 2025

This week’s nod was a no-brainer as I worked for Diabetes UK for four years back in the noughties. Today (Friday 14 November) is World Diabetes Day. If you can afford to, please donate to Diabetes UK or Diabetes Ireland. Two very worthy causes.

Bye, thanks get in touch

As ever, thanks for getting this far with the blog. Do send feedback and more importantly, please share with your friends. Be it 2 or 2,000 readers, I will carry on.

Adrian

adrianphelan@hotmail.co.uk

07974669338

(2) Adrian Phelan | LinkedIn

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