Post 509: I forgot to say…
How rude of me not to mention my appetite in the last few days, it’s staggering, I’m a food hoover all of a sudden.
The sudden and wild ride I’m now on with eating everything in sight was pushed to the limit by having to put up with a slow cooker and stew yesterday.
If there’s one thing I like about the shorter cooler days it’s the odd time the slow cooker is filling the house with the smells of a stew or something bubbling away all day to warm the kitchen and freshen one’s appetite.
Boy oh boy there’s no better start to the day and my directions were to add a veggie stock pot, stir it and leave it to perform. I couldn’t wait to gobble up the mince based stew that was to recharge me after my walk yesterday and how it did revive me, oh yes.
I had two big helpings and sat for the rest of the night happy and full.
There was a little left for today but day two is as good if not better than day one for taste and thickness. Yum yum, I can’t wait.
Firstly, I had to go to town for the blood tests. Plural. I mustn’t forget the second test for the infusion Friday.
I got there early at the surgery and immediately noticed the walk-in check-in monitor on the opposite wall was totally black, “computer says no” so I shuffled behind the new-mum that I had followed in waiting to announce my attendance for the blood tests. However, the form to add a baby to the GP practice was not available and had to be printed new, which took ages. I patiently awaited my turn holding back from literally asking for a seat, to aid my queuing.
Just after the young mum left I was free to sit down if only I hadn’t been called by the nurse that was ready for my arms and veins. Ah well, it’s all done now.
As I followed the “vampire” down the corridor to her lair, I overheard the next patient get told that Anima was now not available due to the changes over the weekend of all services for the new group that’s taken over the surgery and has updated and brought into line all the digital services across their group.
This is taking not only the weekend but it’s still not done on this fine Tuesday morning. Gulp! The upgrade is not happening as fast as anyone would like.
As I sat down I asked my friendly “vampire” what was happening with Anima? She explained there’s a new app to use call Accurx which is the new system this group uses and it’s much the same as before. The reception would later give me a link to the online app for triage and all the other stuff that can be done without ringing or standing in line at reception.
So I asked how the digital changeover is going as the poor nurse found my left arm Barron of blood.
“It’s not going great but it will take time” she replied as she asked for the other arm and elbow.
I suddenly asked her about the “other” blood test.
She knew nothing about a second arm full, in fact she bustled out the room cursing me about needing another series of blood test-tubes after she gets the other printed sheet for the cancer wards infusion tests they need for Friday.
All was serene when the printed sheet was retrieved and the right elbow gave blood instantly and both the blood veil sets were full.
Thanks, Vamp, see you soon and I hope your day is better today than yesterday’s non-digital day due to the computers issues in compliance and readiness for the public.
Fabulous.
I walked out and as I passed the poor receptionist already tired from repeating the same message to everyone today )as it was yesterday) about the computer systems being integrated and the teething issues are ongoing. Phew, I took my Accurx text message from the surgery (via the lovely lady at reception) and left to get back home.
I got home only to find a nervous Darling awaiting a call from the cardio clinic about her results and what’s next.
This came quickly 10 minutes before time, due to a patient failure prior to her call which brought forward her interview and the arrangements forthwith.
I sat down recovering from the GP surgery and was checking out the new triage system. It’s a mirror of the last system so it’s plenty good enough and now I know I can deal with anything, as I did previously.
My Darling finished on the phone to cardiology and was happy to have a follow up at the hospital clinic for lung and heart tests on a treadmill later on.
So she was happy to await these tests about her heart. Fabulous.
The day was ours.
“Are you coming with me to the tattoo man for him to sketch my tribute to Kev? my Darling said pleasingly.
I think she was slightly nervous, but relieved at the same time about the inky memorials.
I replied “yes of course I will”, and I grabbed my still warm walking shoes and car keys and off we went.
We arrived at the tattoo parlour to find the main man Gary busy with the thigh of another man getting inked but said in an hour I should be done and to return then.
We certainly enjoyed our hour, in a cafe just a few doors up the way, and dived into their splendid brunch’s and egg royals. The food was delish and the hour ran away easily. We were back with Gary cleaning his work bench (a large buff leather seat) before the next customer.
I introduced myself as a workmate to his big brother and boy did he have the family resemblance. It was nice to give a face to a name at long last, but it wasn’t about me today, and he and my Darling talked over her Kev tribute and booking it in for Thursday this week.
So that was that. The tat was booked up, her cardio was in due process and all was well in the world.
All the while and since last Thursday I’ve had the aches in my back, and I can’t get rid of them. Caused by work probably now I think about it, and possibly due to my new computer glasses, which I’ve never had before, which means I need to position myself better in front of the screen and sit down properly.
Later I’ll see if I can sort that out, meanwhile I’ve been thinking about the tattoo that was for my daughter in law K and our cancer pathways.
Periwinkles are special to Lymphoma and the blue ribbon for the prostate cancer so I wanted an entwined tattoo with both prominent and a few words - like “we will win” along its weave.
So I had better talk to my workmates brother about it when we go back later this week.
With all this walking about my legs and calf’s are feeling it. It’s a nice and very unusual thing to deal with, because I rarely exercise. Well done me.
However I do heed all your comments about taking it easy and not overdoing the walking. I promise to behave. In fact I’m very aware I need a rest - and some fortifying sweeties (any excuse to eat sweets ha ha).
So there it is. I worked my two hours in front of my computer and quickly sorted out last weeks input problem that my eldest had diagnosed as that column needing to be formatted in ‘text’ format and hey presto the input stays as a number without changing to a date. Well done son, thank you.
I’m going to have a restful Wednesday watching tv and cuddling my Darling.
I’ll rest my legs and eat more fruit, to counterbalance the sweeties I’ve eaten lately but the first blood results are in and I’ve got a Hba1c of 40 and most of everything as before so I’ll see with the GP says about the results of the right eye blurring slightly.
I can use Accurx for the first time too.
Oh by the way. Today the NHS app is working again which means I can order prescriptions again. Hurrah!
So have a great day and relax with something healthy. That choice is yours.
Take care and sleep well.
