 |
| Victoria, Andrew and Derna |
 |
| Andrew and Victoria |
Andrew Cassells' Story (from FB Apr '21):
So what has Pharmacy given me, apart from two nervous breakdowns and high blood pressure?
It gave me greater confidence to face the public (though not in my real life).
It gave me a wife, Karen, whom I met while she was working over the summer in the corner shop in Ralston (she was a supply teacher and they didn’t get paid over the holidays back then). We’ve been together since Lady Di bought the farm in that French underpass in ’97 (Karen’s my official alibi) and got married in 2012 on St Patrick’s Day (so I can’t forget our anniversary).
It bought me a lovely house in Paisley (such things do exist), which we share with our fifteen-year-old brindle Lurcher called Coco. We've had her since she was rescued as a pup and she is my world. She was the inspiration for a dog blog I used to write about a fictional dog called Figbane. I’ve turned this body of work into a manuscript called “Harley Unleashed” which I’m hoping someone will publish one day.
After my pre-reg, I worked as a locum for three years, before joining Moss Chemist as a relief. Five days later, I was manager at Ralston, where I stayed for six years, before stints at Renfrew, Neilston Road Paisley, Kilmacolm and then back to Ralston. During this time, Moss became Alliance which in turn became Boots. I stepped down from management in 2016 and moved onto relief, cutting down to a four day week. This lasted six months until I was offered a base position (in every sense) in Boots Piazza Paisley. My boss is a girl I originally employed for a lunch cover position in Neilston Road. We still get on.
It didn’t buy me the cabin outside Aberfoyle (that was a deceased rich aunt). I can’t wait to get back there after lockdown for the fresh country air, amazing wildlife, lovely walks and splendid views.
I’m not so much into roleplaying or Doctor Who any more but I do still write. I gave up for a while but got back into it around 2010. I’m a failed novelist and mediocre short story writer who has managed to get a few things published (I can actually be found on Amazon, though it’s probably not worth your time searching). If I was to describe my ability I’d say remember when I thought I was a good badminton player and then played against Lesley MacCalman in the gym at Strathclyde, not knowing she was a former Scotland trialist. The rejections I take from editors and publishers are similar to the beating I took that day but I keep going because it’s fun to write and with practice I know I can get better. I did give up playing badminton though.
I thank you all for the nice comments you’ve written about the YOTGP blog.
You have no idea how uncomfortable I felt getting my current picture taken - oh wait, the evidence is before you.
 |
| Andrew Cassells |
Vicki Hunt's story (from FB April '21):
Great to see what everyone has been up to in the past 30 years.
I did my pre-reg at the Western, then switched to community, and moved south in stages. First to Buxton for a year, then Surrey. Nabbed an English husband & brought him back over the border!
We've been back in Glasgow since 1995, bounced around the Sou side, now settled in Crossmyloof. I worked for Safeway pharmacy, then as a locum before getting into primary care fairly early on (2000) The job has changed around me several times but in its latest guise, I'm a GP practice pharmacist in East Renfrewshire.
We have 2 grown-up kids, Ethan (25) & Georgia (20). Georgia is still at home, Ethan lives nearby with his girlfriend.
Outside of work I've taken up running in the last couple of years & was involved in my local parkrun before Covid put the kybosh on that.
 |
| Vicki Hunt |
No comments:
Post a Comment