Off with a bang

The old year went out with a bang, here. Sadly, it was the banging on the inside of my skull, also known as a migraine.

The boy realised it was going to be a bad one when I requested “a blanket, in in the freezer”. I was already huddled under three duvets and, apparently, once run through the jumble of language that is my migraine filter, cold.

Thanks to Jamie (who rescued in the form of a drive to the hospital), the A&E, it was mostly nabbed before it got too bad. The hospital staff didn’t once query the issue; I was plonked in a wheelchair as I got in the door, put on a bed, and given as prompt attention as one can reasonably expect in a hospital on New Year’s Eve. I was just about coherent enough to explain my history of migraines, and name the drugs I’ve been given in the past by A&E departments. None of them are hallucinogenic, or, for that matter, particularly effective as painkillers. Thus, I was believed.

Of course, the whimpering, vomiting, refusal to give up the dark warm fluffy blanket cocooned round my head, and pitiful crying may have turned the balance.

Either way, some pleasant drugs and a long sleep later, Toby and I saw in the New Year very quietly, with a hug, at my flat.

I’d have preferred the party we’d been invited too. Sadly, it was not to be.

It did make for a hangover (the drugs knock me around for a couple days) at work, Monday. Although my contract is officially over, the monkeys in the scheduling department decided that above-average call volumes could successfully be handled by the 5 staff who weren’t on annual leave.

My team leader felt otherwise, and begged me to remain this week. As I’ll receive the equivalent of 8 days pay for 5 days work, I’m not really complaining. Working on statutory holidays does have it’s upside, after all.

Turned out to be a good thing, today. 400+ calls. 6 staff members. Busy does not even begin to cover it.

In a way, I’m sad to be leaving. I have good workmates, some of whom I’m going to miss. And it’s nice knowing that I have a regular income, which I do work hard for, at a job I’m more than capable of.

Still. It’s a new year. I have another year’s experience behind me. And I’m in a highly unusual and fortunate position; I look back on the old year, and I don’t regret a thing.

Not many folk can say that.

Originally published at kiwi geek. You can comment here or there.