Wednesday 1 February 2012

Spring and Blood


Spring is on the way!

I know, I can see it!

A couple of weeks ago I was taking photos like this

on my way to work.  But this morning the sun was well above the horizon.  It snuck up on me because we have had a lot of cloud cover recently so the sun has not really been visible in the murk.  So I am wrapping up warm and thinking warm thoughts.

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Yesterday evening I went to give blood.  It was all a bit of a rush - leaving work, cycling home, eating dinner, walking the dogs, deciding that I would rather walk the the hall but then realising that I was running a bit late and jogging the rest of the way...

They were pleased to see me, though, as I am O Negative - anyone can have my blood, regardless of type which makes it valuable stuff to have around either for emergencies where the don't know what type the victim is or for babies who have not been tested yet.

Mrs RC says I am obsessed with my new camera.  I don't know why she thinks that...


After they had finished they sit you down and give you drinks, biscuits and crisps.

There was a guy there who seems to have been put on a diet by his wife.  He was gleefully stuffing down the biscuits, saying "I don't want them, but they ORDERED me to eat them! COOOOKIIEEEEEEEESSSSSS"

Then it was back home to slob on the sofa for a while.  The new sofa seems to act as a magnet for the kids - they never used the sittingroom while we had the camping chairs there...

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Donating blood is a worthy cause.... The only two things that stopped me from donating are.... I have a phobia of shiny sharp things and I believe that my blood is so tainted with evil, it would make the recipient of my blood a lot worse.

I know these may sound silly. But that's only me.

wigsf3 said...

Giving blood. You know it's all a racket run by vampires. You think you're supporting a good cause but really you're just supporting the undead.

And O negative is the best tasting blood.

Rock Chef said...

Shadowthorne - Maybe anyone who got your blood would become one of your minions...

Wigsf - Sounds fair - the blood service is often refered to as "the vampires"! Mosquitos seem to think my blood tastes good, attacking me in preference to my wife who never gets bitten.

Abby said...

O negative. You're such a giver!

I kind of enjoy giving blood. Makes me feel useful. I'm coming up on my 2-year tattoo anniversary which, I understand is the probation time to give again. Maybe I will celebrate with a donation and some of those awesome coooookiiieeeeeeees!

That sofa is very inviting. Your camera obsession proved it to us all.

terri said...

EEW! I don't like needles. I can have blood drawn and such. I just don't like to see the whole process. Therefore, I can't look at your photo for long. It freaks me out! :-)

The kids always gravitate to the good furniture. It's your own fault for picking out such a good couch! My first thought when I saw the picture was, "I could totally fall asleep on that."

terri said...
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agg79 said...

Bravo on the blood donation! My mom is "O" positive and since anyone can use "O" positive, that made her a popular girl in her younger days.

I'm still banned for life to give blood (since we got our meat from England) so I am always miffed that my juice isn't good anymore after 20 years.

I was a "fast bleeder" and always liked the juice and cookies afterwards.

Rock Chef said...

Abby - Yes get down there and make up for the lost time! And YOU think I am obsessed too!

Terri - Yes, we have all had a good doze on that sofa. You don't like needles? You have given birth and donated an organ but don't like needles? I love the way the human mind works, don't you?

Agg79 - Apart from monitoring of herds, Mad Cow Disease is pretty much forgotten over here - it is certainly not something that our blood service worries about.

CiCi said...

Funny the photo made me squeamish. Yikes.

Rock Chef said...

CiCi - Hey, my arms aren't that bad! :-)

kenady said...

Love your obsession with your camera! makes me feel like I am there with you:)

Good job on donating! I had a friend who was "O" negative and the blood bank would call him when they were running low so he could come donate:)

Rock Chef said...

Kenady - I haven't had that sort of call yet but they do seem eager to make sure I turn up.

Shrinky said...

I CANNOT BELIEVE you took that bloomin' picture - only a blogger.. (giggle).

I have to go for my bloods taken every 3 month, but they spurned me when I tried to become a donor (the meds I'm on gives me a free pass, apparently).

My dear old Ma was the very opposite of you, in that she had a very rare blood type. She used to supply on demand - I jest you not - she'd get a call in the dead of night, and they'd send a taxi round to fetch her. Made her feel like a VIP!

Rock Chef said...

Shrinky - Don't think they are allowed to do blood on demand these days. Glad you appreciated the photo! :-)

Shrinky said...

Do you know, that never even crossed my mind, but I guess you are right, they need to screen it now, don't they? (She died over 20yrs ago) Things have kinda' changed..

Rock Chef said...

Shrinky - Oh yes, they do all sorts of checks before they give it to anyone...