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She scrubs up well!

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I am ASTONISHED by how much I’ve raised in my Gofundme campaign.  I spent about £200 myself to get started, then aimed at getting another £200 from contributions.  As of this morning, it’s standing at and AMAZING £1125!  Such generosity.  What have we come to, that out NHS is being held up by the kindness of strangers, and centenarians  completing marathon walks and climbs while in lockdown?  Shameful.

Captain Tom Moore's charity single with Michael Ball hit the No1 spot today
Captain Tom Moore
Margaret Payne on the stairs of her home in Ardvar, Sutherland
Margaret Payne

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Batch #1:  8 sets in burgundy and purple from fabric in stash

These all went to Good Hope hospital staff via my lovely niece, shown here in one of her sets

Batch #2:  11 more sets in burgundy.  These were collected by one of our volunteer drivers who took them to John Taylor Hospice in Erdington.  Ironing 11 sets of these things is DULL.

Batch #3: 2 sets in turquoise being collected today by a consultant who put out a desperate plea for something to wear to work.  This makes me cry.

I switched to this neckband finish from the original facings- fiddly at first but now WAY faster.  My ‘size labels’ are bit of recycled pillowcase plus laundry marker lol- fast results, some people are going to huge lengths to embroider fancy ones

Still on the sewing table- 16 sets in turquoise and royal blue, all assigned to Oldbury hospital.  I’m hoping to get these completed by Monday night.  Yesterday I got into my stride, worked out the best batch-sewing order and quantity [5 or 6 is OK, more makes for desperate boredom and mistakes].  I managed to sew 7 tops and 2 trousers, and part prepared a load more, ie pinning on pockets and neck bands, finishing all the back neck bindings and hems.

Once THAT lot is done, I have that pile of green, navy, purple and red to cut out…and a 100m roll of blue cotton is on its way.  Wish me luck.

Good job I have a wheely chair to slide back and forth between these machines!  It only looks this neat because this is how I tidied at the end of yesterday’s sewing session!
Everything has to be washed at 60 degrees before sending out- so lots of ironing too…

Meanwhile, although the weather has been a bit dull and rainy for a couple of days, the garden is looking lush and serene.

One of my favourite bit- the ‘japanese’ garden and grass garden, inspired by Barnsdale Gardens
the little fruit orchard on the right is just losing its blossom and getting to work on fruit!
rhododendron about to pop and the massive thistle/cardoon/artichoke whatever the hell it is, is about to start its annual race to the sky next to it!
lol just spotted me in my pyjamas reflected in the window!  Sorry!

 

18 thoughts on “She scrubs up well!”

  1. Doing a grand job missus.
    I agree that it’s sad that it’s come to this but for years no-one has wanted to pay the levels of tax that would be needed to pay for all the things we expect to be provided by government. Yes, there are certainly ways they could use the money better but I think this event will hopefully make everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) think more carefully about who and what truly matters.
    Keep up the good work 👍

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  2. You’re the only person I know of who can even approach that level of productivity.. Bet you didn’t know all those frenetic bouts of wildly imaginative costumes were training you for deadly dull production, did you? Try not to wear yourself out too much though..

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  3. Such an amazing output, I really admire your drive and ability and I am sure that the lucky recipients will thank you if they had time.

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  4. That’s a stunning output of nhs scrubs and in all the right colours. I’m awed by your productivity. Thank you so much for what you are doing, and so efficiently too.

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    1. JUst doing what little I can. When you see how many are needed, and the absolute total gratitude of those getting them…it’s shameful what’s going on, and now they’re being forbidden to speak out publicly. Shameful!

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  5. Must be crappy or high percentage cotton-poly mix? I learned the trick of pulling my uniforms out of the dryer when slightly damp so I could avoid ironing. Late to be asking this but why is there the need for volunteers to sew uniforms? Here in Canada there is much discussion about the need to get a sufficient and reliable supply of the PPE for doctors offices, community care homes and hospitals but not uniforms.

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    1. yeah they need the PPE, but they don’t have enough scrubs either…and now we’re also being asked for masks, caps and gowns, and even the bags to wash them in as the hospitals simply don’t have enough AND can’t keep up with the laundering. We’re asked to make sure the fabric has a fairly high cotton content as it’s more comfortable to wear under all the layers of plastic bags and so on they’re using instead of PPE…it’s a bloody disgrace, and a quite deliberate choice made by these money-grubbing bastards in power. Siuckening

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      1. Thanks for explaining. Here hospitals only launder uniforms for staff that get uniforms provided at the hospital which is limited to people that work in ICU/ special procedures. Totally get the comfort thing- I remember from SARS it only took a few minutes to get sweaty from all the layers of PPE we had to don when caring for someone on isolation precautions. I can’t watch much news after being at work all day and dealing either directly or indirectly with COVID.

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  6. It’s so interesting to learn of each areas shortages; the shortages differ from place to place.
    I made 30 masks the other day for Covid-19 positive patients to wear when being transferred to rehab, so the PPE could be reserved for staff. The next day I did nothing in the sewing room as I was tapped out. I’m so impressed that you keep on sewing, every day, making those uniforms. You Go Girl!

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    1. lol I’m coughing up lumps of fluff from the overlocker and keep burning my finger on the iron. Who said sewing is relaxing? These area shortages reflect [to my mind] the way all the hospitals got turned into profit making businesses [in the government’s mind at least] so even in our city, the hospitals are all acting alone, or in tiny ‘trusts’ of 2 or 3 centres, and they all have different rules. SOme will accept our makes, some won’t, some reprimand nurses wearing their own kit, others expect it…etc etc…chaos. It’s awful

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  7. You’re amazing. NHS is so lucky to have you in their corner. Cannot believe how governments don’t make health (and eduction) their absolute top priority and fund it accordingly. I’d happily pay more tax for this.
    Also your garden is lovely.

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