大象传媒

Training as a nurse in 1944, I spent many hours appalled, sleepless and upset by the war injuries caused to so many. But when I was given a new post on a womens ward my problems eased.
Beds were in great demand so I was surprised to find a very aristocratic lady given extra space at the end of the ward, with pictures of her son and family pinned on the wall around the bed. I found that she had taken a great liking to me and always asked for my attention. She had her son, a Naval Officer visit her whenever he could and it was obvious she was trying to get him to pay extra attention to me.
In my day the cleaner would polish the floor with large lumps of polish, rubbed in and then polished off the floors with a dumpy, a long handled polisher.
This day as usual, when cleaning was finished, visitors were allowed in. These included two Naval Officers, her Ladyship's son and his friend to visit her Ladyship and take a look at me.
Lunch was late and I was directed to take her Ladyship's stewed lunch on a tray to her.
I walked towards her bed on my best behaviour, caught my foot on a lump of polish, fell flat on my back, skidding under the bed. I can after all these years remember the horror as to whether my head would miss the iron bars at the bottom of the bed. The tray and dinner flew through the air, luckily missing the Officers and smacking up against the wall above the bed.
The Officers helped me to my feet, trying to smother their hysterics, and needless to say, no more was I allowed to meet her Ladyships son.

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