Dot has a wonderful and loving family;she is really close to them. She is also very empathetic. She knows when I’ve done night shift and I’m tired,and she’ll say,“Don’t come today.” But I come every week,because I always feel better when I leave.
After 20 years working as a registered nurse in critical care and paediatrics,about three years ago I changed jobs and started working at a different hospital. After starting there,I saw some things that were concerning. I reported my concerns. Subsequently over the past two years things have been difficult at work. Dot has been a great source of support during this time.
We’re getting better at the cryptics. Eight years ago,we’d get about half the answers,but now we get three out of four. If we don’t get it,we don’t beat ourselves up. Really,we just like hanging out together.
DOT: I met Tim when he came one day with my niece,June,on the back of his motorbike. I was drinking a Resch’s and doing the crossword,and he walked in and looked over my shoulder. His eyebrows went up,and he pointed at the crossword. He said,“I was doing that one today,and I couldn’t get that word.”
It was Tim who got me onto the cryptics. He was good at them,but I beat him on the old words,the terms that are not used these days. It helps if you’ve lived a long time and have a good memory.
Often I’ll come out with a word,and Tim will say,“Where did you get that one?” I’ll say,“That was a word my grandfather used,” and I’ll explain what it means. Lots of words disappear,or are reinvented. So we’ve learnt from one another.
We do the crossword at the same time every week:5.30pm to 7pm on a Monday. We’ll knock over a cryptic in one night. But we also talk about sport:football,cricket. I love the AFL. I used to go down to see relatives in Melbourne,and my aunt’s house was right next to the MCG,the back fence overlooked the oval.
We also have similar politics. We discuss Mr Trump at great length. That man is a nutter. You can’t have an idiot like that floating around the world. How somebody hasn’t bumped him off by now,I’m amazed. I’d do it myself. That would sort things out:I think I’d get a medal.
Tim knows I’m as tough as nails,but he likes to think he’s protecting me.
Tim takes his work very seriously. He’s a paediatric nurse,and if there’s a breakdown at work,he’ll do a double shift – whatever it takes. Sometimes I can tell he’s thinking about work. He’ll say something about the chances of some child surviving,or he goes a bit quiet. I’ll be talking about the cryptic,and I’ll have to say,“Hey,pull your weight!” and that’ll get him back to earth.
I went to his 50th birthday at Ashfield Bowling Club. I had a dance with him:no quick steps,all slow waltz. He’s not a bad dancer,but I had to stand on his shoes. I think he sees me as a grandmother,because his has passed away. He knows I’m as tough as nails,but he likes to think he’s protecting me. I prefer male company anyway. Females irritate me. A lot of them go on with such stupid bloody twaddle. “She’s got this”,“She’s got that”,and all the backbiting.
I feel honoured that Tim would have time to even talk to someone of my age. He’s been a very good friend,full of goodness and kindness. As far as the cryptics go,he still has the edge on me. He’s been doing them for years. I’m catching up now,but together we work well.
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