Sorry about going AWOL yesterday but it was one of those days when just one damn thing after another went on and I never quite found the time to skive work up here in my garret. It began with a 9.40am appointment with a specialist at my local hospital. Needless to say, good 'out patient' that I am (not), I arrived at 9.30 and eventually, just before I was about to kick off on one which would have led to raised voices and some deeply unpleasant scenes involving, no doubt, hospital management and security, at 10.10 I was called in! Needless to say, the lady specialist concerned was immediately in receipt of some 'incoming' from me but as she was rather attractive I did manage to reduce the ferocity content. Also, to be honest, she immediately apologised profusely for the poor time-keeping and I was able to wipe the spittle from my lips! Still, not a good way to start a relationship with the medical specialist I am hoping will cure my ills.
Not that my 'ills' amount to much. As I said to 'SoD' last night, at my age a bit of arthritis and the odd joint wearing out is peanuts, really. One thinks of the multiple alternatives which instantly produce shudders of fear and suddenly my 'twinges and twangs', as I call them, do not amount to very much. Anyway, the main thing is that I can still go swimming every morning - and I can still type what I like to call my 'stream of unconsciousness' onto this blog!
Tomorrow the 'Memsahib' goes into hospital for her other hip to be replaced. Proper bionic woman she will be! She is the very opposite of me. I am totally phlegmatic at the prospect of an operation - not that I've had that many, appendix and the removal of a rather virulant verruca back in my army days. I was quite glad of those at the time because they put me on light duties for ages! But the 'Memsahib' is a worrier by nature and my notions of 'cheering her up' seem to fall flat on their face - can't think why, honestly, some people just don't have a sense of humour! Anyway, it's taking place at the same first-class hospital she went to for the first 'op', so that helps.
However, it's a shitty day that doesn't let in one gleam of sunshine. Coming back from Bath the other day, we took a rather circuitous route which led through some Somerset villages and there I spied some large hoardings by the road side with the words "A MILLION AND A HALF BOOKS FOR SALE"! Had I been driving I might have crashed the car. Anyway, by coincidence, its only a short distance north of Shepton Mallet where the Memsahib's hospital is! When I asked her if it was alright on Thursday if I just dropped her off at the door because, well, she'd been there before and knew her way around and her overnight bag wasn't that heavy, I regret to say that her language was most unlady-like! Honestly, and her a convent-educated gal - I was shocked, I tell you, shocked! Anyway, I shall find the time to sneak up there and find this treasure trove of books and all I can say are the famous last words of the very gallant, Capt. Oates, "I may be some time"!
