Hello,

First of all; I wish you all the best for the new year (I'm aware of the fact that it's almost Easter, but I've always been a bit slow and it doesn't mean I sincerely hope you all have a great year). It's been quite a while again since my last blog (I know I should try to visit the site more frequently as in the olden days; guess I'll add this to my list of resolutions). Since last time, a few things happened; I had my evaluation at work (it went all very well…in fact it went so well that it became embarrassing…self-confidence towards the other team-members could do with a bit of improvement though, but that's not really new to me), from this year on I'm entitled to take vacation (I already booked a trip to Ireland in April…more about that later…any tips are welcome, although we are thinking about hitting the south-east part of Ireland), I crowned a new blender to be king of the kitchen, I found out that handling a screwdriver is not as easy as I thought it to be, putting IKEA stuff together is a great pass-time and in March we're going to spend a week with the patients at the Belgian coast.

Talking about the patients; I think I should share this little story.

I'm not sure I already told you about this bloke who ran away last year and was found in Poland (he was on his way to Russia). He stayed there for a week or so and since then he's back with us.

Since a couple of weeks he shows interest in one of the female patients…now, there are some strict rules in the hospital: everyone has got his or her own bed; beds shouldn't be shared with other patients…but when Cupido shoots his arrows, rules are there to be ignored, I assume…and that's not all; he wanted to show his love by buying a fish…not that much of a problem, you'd think, but pets aren't really allowed…. We thought he was going to buy a goldfish, but instead he came back with some kind of tropical fish which needed salt and warm water….still not really a problem.

A couple of days later though, we couldn't find our patient anymore; we were a bit worried (keeping in mind that last time we lost him, we had to go get him in Poland). A couple of hours went by and in the sink we found a plastic bag with a very odd looking creature; after some investigation it happened to be a coral devil…a poisonous tropical fish….we also found a huge fish-tank and some other stuff. As pets aren't allowed (especially poisonous pets) we needed to take the fish away and quarantined it at the health and safety department. (The first fish got also confiscated.)

In the meantime, the father of the bloke came by to pay a visit and was informed on the situation; he was willing to take the fish-tank home…without the fish (I believe his exact words were "just pull out the plug")…

Our psychiatrist then sent a hilarious mail to the health and safety department; it went like this…

Euthanasia request for mr.Fish who lives at the health and safety department. Reason; Unbearable suffering due to captivity, DNR.

Mr. Fish's neighbour, in the meantime, sadly passed away…she was unintentionally boiled as our dear patient had put the thermostat of the fish-tank too hot.

Now we still have the coral devil, awaiting an unsure destiny (no worries though; we're not going to kill him, instead we came up with a cunning plan; mr. Fish is going to get adopted by the president of the local fishing club).

And last but not least…time for some photos:

Take care and be well,

elke xxx