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I keep thinking I need to write a proper introduction, only I keep getting as far as "Hi, I'm Garnett" before I draw a blank on what to say. I'm just going to stop thinking, start typing and see what comes out
Hi, I'm Garnett. I'm 59 years old, French-Canadian by birth but grew up in England where I've been for the last 55 years. I'm a white, bi-curious, monogamous, cis-gendered woman and I've been married to my husband Quinn (a carpenter) for 32 years. We are child-free by choice but we have two dogs Cooper and River. I will no doubt discuss some of these things further.
I work as a Clinical Pharmacist in my local NHS trust, working in a number of practices across the Chester area. It's a patient-facing role and as well as dispensing prescriptions I provide medication reviews for patients who are deemed to be at risk of medication-related harm, and advise patients and other healthcare professionals who have medication queries. My job is not something I will talk about due to patient confidentiality although there may be rants about the behaviour of member of the public in general terms.
I have always been intrigued by infectious diseases and epidemiology, have been since I was a child and first learned about the bubonic plague. I've been known to utter phrases like "I love a good plague", although I should specify that's only fictional ones. Having said that, Ebola intrigues me me and the current anti-vaccination trend and recurrent outbreak of diseases such as measles. Did you know that nearly 5000 people have died of Measles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo this year alone?
My husband regularly and affectionately tells me I'm not right in the head.
Outside of work, I enjoy pottering around the garden, reading, swimming, practising yoga and cooking. I also enjoy watching TV/movies, listening to music, knitting, crocheting and scrapbooking. I love new technology, chocolate, handbags, and getting out in nature. I enjoy a good spa session, a long massage or a mani/pedi make me very happy, I'm a very tacile person. Checking items off a to-do list is very satisfying to me, as is solving an ongoing problem.
I'm a Taurus, ISFP, Gryffindor, Anglican and my favourite colour is pink.
I think that's enough for now. I'll probably do another post about the types of media I enjoy, the 'fandoms' I'm into so that this doesn't get too long. But if there's anything you want to know at this point, just ask
A Few Of My Favourite Things
Dec. 11th, 2019 12:19 pmAnd here is the post where I ramble about the media I enjoy, my fandoms if you were although I haven't yet dipped my toe properly into the active fandom side of things. I'm interested in doing so but not sure where to start or how I feel about shipping etc
My current favourite TV show is Supernatural, and I'm very much a Dean girl (and a Jensen girl). I'm a couple of episodes behind but seriously loving this season, I can't wait to see how it all plays out but at the same time, I really don't want the show to end. I'm very curious about the ending that Chuck has written and all the characters that are returning. I'm also really looking forward to seeing Christian Kane on the show.
Speaking of Christian Kane, I'm quite the fan of his as well. I have been since his days on Angel and I remember meeting him at an Angel convention, and falling in love with his music too. I LOVED Leverage (I'm very much a Hardison/Eliot/Parker shipper!) and mostly liked The Librarians (I was disappointed with the last season and would have loved the show to have properly explored a Jenkins/Cassandra relationship). I'm very much looking forward to his new show but slightly concerned he's still going to be playing the Eliot style character.
I've just started an NCIS re-watch. It's one of those shows that I've caught the odd episode of when it's on TV and enjoyed, but never actually watched. I am slowly but surely falling in love with both Tony DiNozzo and Jethro Gibbs. (and, possibly, I suspect, Gibbs/DiNozzo)
Music-wise, it's probably not a shock to say I am absolutely digging the new album by Steve Carlson and Jensen Ackles. There's a couple of songs on that which make me stop what I'm doing and just listen. Their voices are gorgeous, both separately and together
Steve is one of my favourite singers. I fell in love with his music after looking him up when I saw him and Christian Kane sing together. And through them I'm slowly falling in love with Riley Smith's music as well. He's also a cutie.
I also enjoy the rockier side of country music. Southern rock, I guess you would say. Artists like Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Florida Georgia Line, Old Dominion & Dierks Bentley spring to mind.
I don't read as much as I would like to. I find when I'm watching TV I can be scrapbooking or knitting etc. I definitely want to spend more time reading, just need a few more hours in the day. I've tried audiobooks but I end up tuning them out; it's someone talking at me and doesn't really engage me
Michael Crichton is a favourite of mine. Genre-wise its horror, fantasy, sci-fi and thriller - and if it involves a good epidemic or apocalypse, even better
My current favourite TV show is Supernatural, and I'm very much a Dean girl (and a Jensen girl). I'm a couple of episodes behind but seriously loving this season, I can't wait to see how it all plays out but at the same time, I really don't want the show to end. I'm very curious about the ending that Chuck has written and all the characters that are returning. I'm also really looking forward to seeing Christian Kane on the show.
Speaking of Christian Kane, I'm quite the fan of his as well. I have been since his days on Angel and I remember meeting him at an Angel convention, and falling in love with his music too. I LOVED Leverage (I'm very much a Hardison/Eliot/Parker shipper!) and mostly liked The Librarians (I was disappointed with the last season and would have loved the show to have properly explored a Jenkins/Cassandra relationship). I'm very much looking forward to his new show but slightly concerned he's still going to be playing the Eliot style character.
I've just started an NCIS re-watch. It's one of those shows that I've caught the odd episode of when it's on TV and enjoyed, but never actually watched. I am slowly but surely falling in love with both Tony DiNozzo and Jethro Gibbs. (and, possibly, I suspect, Gibbs/DiNozzo)
Music-wise, it's probably not a shock to say I am absolutely digging the new album by Steve Carlson and Jensen Ackles. There's a couple of songs on that which make me stop what I'm doing and just listen. Their voices are gorgeous, both separately and together
Steve is one of my favourite singers. I fell in love with his music after looking him up when I saw him and Christian Kane sing together. And through them I'm slowly falling in love with Riley Smith's music as well. He's also a cutie.
I also enjoy the rockier side of country music. Southern rock, I guess you would say. Artists like Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Florida Georgia Line, Old Dominion & Dierks Bentley spring to mind.
I don't read as much as I would like to. I find when I'm watching TV I can be scrapbooking or knitting etc. I definitely want to spend more time reading, just need a few more hours in the day. I've tried audiobooks but I end up tuning them out; it's someone talking at me and doesn't really engage me
Michael Crichton is a favourite of mine. Genre-wise its horror, fantasy, sci-fi and thriller - and if it involves a good epidemic or apocalypse, even better
Tags:
I wrote this post a couple of days ago but have been reluctant to post it due to the content. It felt like a strange subject to write my first 'real' blog post about. But then I realised a couple of points - this is my blog, so I write about what I feel like writing about, and that I've been completely upfront about my fascination with infectious diseases. Also, no-one is obliged to read any of my wafflings. So, without further ado
***
It was reported yesterday that a UK patient has been diagnosed with monkeypox. The BBC report states
Well, thinks I, that is interesting. Followed by the realisation that I don't know what monkeypox is, so I did what any self-respecting geek is and started researching.
The infection does not spread easily between people and the risk to the general public in England is very low.
This is not the first time the virus has been detected in the UK. The first reported cases in the UK were in September 2018.
I will definitely be keeping my eye on the news surrounding this case, I'm very intrigued by it. I've also found a couple of interesting looking books on Amazon about zoonotic viruses.
Animal Viruses and Humans, a Narrow Divide by Warren Andiman
Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammen
Quinn is pointblank refusing to buy me them for Christmas so I'll just have to buy them for myself!
***
It was reported yesterday that a UK patient has been diagnosed with monkeypox. The BBC report states
A patient has been diagnosed with the rare viral infection monkeypox in the south west of England.
It is believed the patient contracted the infection while visiting Nigeria, Public Health England (PHE) said.
According to the World Health Organisation, the condition is similar to human smallpox and although it is much milder, it can be fatal.
The patient has been transferred to a specialist infectious disease centre at Guy's and St Thomas' in London.
Well, thinks I, that is interesting. Followed by the realisation that I don't know what monkeypox is, so I did what any self-respecting geek is and started researching.
- Monkeypox is a rare viral zoonotic disease that occurs primarily in remote parts of central and west Africa, near tropical rainforests.
- The monkeypox virus is similar to human smallpox, a disease that has been eradicated in 1980. Although monkeypox is much milder than smallpox, it can be fatal.
- The monkeypox virus is mostly transmitted to people from various wild animals such as rodents and primates, but has limited secondary spread through human-to-human transmission.
- Typically, case fatality in monkeypox outbreaks has been between 1% and 10%, with most deaths occurring in younger age groups.
- There is no specific treatment or vaccine available although prior smallpox vaccination was highly effective in preventing monkeypox as well.
The infection does not spread easily between people and the risk to the general public in England is very low.
This is not the first time the virus has been detected in the UK. The first reported cases in the UK were in September 2018.
I will definitely be keeping my eye on the news surrounding this case, I'm very intrigued by it. I've also found a couple of interesting looking books on Amazon about zoonotic viruses.
Animal Viruses and Humans, a Narrow Divide by Warren Andiman
Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic by David Quammen
Quinn is pointblank refusing to buy me them for Christmas so I'll just have to buy them for myself!
See Garnett Blog!
Nov. 30th, 2019 03:20 pmWell, here it goes.
Hey there! I'm Garnett and this is my blog, Unhinged Forest. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now, blog that is, but like a lot of things in life that scare me, I talked myself out of it.
I've followed numerous blogs for years, my routine consists of plopping in bed with my iPad and checking them religiously every evening, and I always thought to myself, "I should give that a try". After all, I adore writing. I've always felt that I was better at expressing myself via written word than spoken... I can be a bit awkward and fumbly in person. I also love connecting with other people who share the same interests. It amazes me that this large world we live in is made so much smaller by the internet.
I guess this text serves as proof that I’ve finally mustered up the courage to do something I’ve always wanted. Unhinged Forest will be a place for me to share some of myself my writing. Unhinged Forest also marks the start of me saying "yes" to more things in life that scare me. I know what you’re thinking, 'How scary can blogging really be?!' Pretty scary, if you ask me me. I kept myself from taking the blogging leap because I was afraid I wouldn't have good content. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep up with up it.
Essentially, I was afraid of failure. And while I'm still afraid that this humble page may only reach one person (my husband), I'm not afraid of failing. Failing comes from not trying at all. If my blog generates 5 followers (seriously, that would be exciting) or 50 (that would be beyond exciting) I'll be no less proud of it, and of myself. I'll know that instead of sitting around wishing and what-iffing, I've actually taken the leap to give something new a try. I invite you to do the same.
Wear that daring dress at the back of your closet. Talk to him first. Heck, ask him out first! (It worked for me) Eat a sprinkle donut, eat two! Take a week off from work to travel somewhere unexpected. I invite you to dare yourself to do the things you’ve always wanted, and I invite you to make yourself comfy, stay awhile, and well.. See Garnett blog!
Hey there! I'm Garnett and this is my blog, Unhinged Forest. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now, blog that is, but like a lot of things in life that scare me, I talked myself out of it.
I've followed numerous blogs for years, my routine consists of plopping in bed with my iPad and checking them religiously every evening, and I always thought to myself, "I should give that a try". After all, I adore writing. I've always felt that I was better at expressing myself via written word than spoken... I can be a bit awkward and fumbly in person. I also love connecting with other people who share the same interests. It amazes me that this large world we live in is made so much smaller by the internet.
I guess this text serves as proof that I’ve finally mustered up the courage to do something I’ve always wanted. Unhinged Forest will be a place for me to share some of myself my writing. Unhinged Forest also marks the start of me saying "yes" to more things in life that scare me. I know what you’re thinking, 'How scary can blogging really be?!' Pretty scary, if you ask me me. I kept myself from taking the blogging leap because I was afraid I wouldn't have good content. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to keep up with up it.
Essentially, I was afraid of failure. And while I'm still afraid that this humble page may only reach one person (my husband), I'm not afraid of failing. Failing comes from not trying at all. If my blog generates 5 followers (seriously, that would be exciting) or 50 (that would be beyond exciting) I'll be no less proud of it, and of myself. I'll know that instead of sitting around wishing and what-iffing, I've actually taken the leap to give something new a try. I invite you to do the same.
Wear that daring dress at the back of your closet. Talk to him first. Heck, ask him out first! (It worked for me) Eat a sprinkle donut, eat two! Take a week off from work to travel somewhere unexpected. I invite you to dare yourself to do the things you’ve always wanted, and I invite you to make yourself comfy, stay awhile, and well.. See Garnett blog!