Why the Nurse Slapped Me, and Other Matters.

 

                                    Neo Gothic Wills Tower,  University of Bristol 

So off I went to Ham Green Hospital in an Ambulance. No windows of course so I was disoriented.   We passed the 20th C Wills Tower  (endowed by the Wills Tobacco family for the University of Bristol. I heard the bell  (Great George) ring the hour.  "Ah" I thought  "now I know where I am". That made me feel very secure.

Ham Green was partly an isolation Hospital  That's why I was being taken there.

It was also a training Hospital for State Enrolled Nurses (think LPN's).  The young women lived at the Hospital for the duration of their training.  Early one morning I saw the solemn procession of the trainees (in black capes) headed by the Matron  (the head honcho Nurse).  They were off to the Chapel to start their day with prayer -  most likely from the Book of Common Prayer. Wouldn't fly now!

My twin sister trained there. My father died there in 1974.

The slap.  Dad and Mum had brought me a care package. It included an apple.  I asked the nurse if I could eat it.  "No" she said, "It's too near dinner time".  I thought "it's my apple and I can eat it whenever I like".  I ate half, and hid the other half under my pillow.  Of course the nurse found it.  Slap!  Wouldn't fly now!

I bear no grudges towards Nurses, and I like Apples.

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Persnickety note.  People often say that the saw Big Ben in London.  They didn't. Big Ben is the bell; the Tower and Clock Face are  named the Elizabeth Tower - that's what tourists see.

All great bells have names.