NHS? I bloody wish.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning as I lay cradling my whimpering little girl in my arms I cursed myself for not bringing her to the doctor that day.

I knew she was sick, because she'd been hacking away for about a week, coughing and wheezing and generally not herself. I was just praying that she would get better on her own. But she hadn't and now we were both paying the price.

'But why? Why wouldn't you just take her to the doctor?' I hear all you people outside of Ireland ask.

Because sadly in Ireland the NHS or it's equivalent doesn't exist.

So when my 3 year old was sick last month I took him to the doctor I paid €50 (£42) for the privilege. We then traipsed to the chemist to hand over another €30 or so in prescription fees. And when the 5 year old got a chest infection that wouldn't clear up two weeks ago I took him to the doctor, paid €50 (£42) for the privilege, then headed for the obligatory visit to the chemist to empty my purse on the counter. And when he still wasn't better on Monday, and my husband also felt ill they both went to the doctor, paid €75 and then on to the chemist to hand over another €80.

The Gallery 11:11:11

The Gallery prompt from Sticky Fingers this week was a date. 11:11:11. Tara wanted us to mark the lovely date by taking a photo from that day and then putting them together in one big Gallery of 11:11:11 moments.

I had high aspirations for my picture, a flower blooming perhaps - marking the unusual warmth of November 2011, my children frolicking in the autumn leaves maybe, or a newspaper showing the big story of the day...

Unfortunately I have this instead:

A picture which sums up a week of sickness and broken nights sleep.

Oh well, I promise to do better on 12:12:12.

Now pop over to Sticky Fingers and check out some much better offerings, or join in yourself - there's £100 voucher up for grabs from Netmums you know?