Winsome

My hospital discharge letter suggested blood tests 1-2 weeks afterwards and when a community nurse came for a mandatory check I was managing the stoma OK 2 days later we worked out today would be a good day to fit into the timescale and avoid their busy Bank Holiday schedules. We checked on the calendar for the date and I rang my GP practice requesting the appropriate form be sent to the team and the receptionist and I worked out what we thought ought to be on it as no one had actually said...

Last Wednesday the nurses' office rang up and said they were running late that day and weren't sure if they could fit me in. I explained they didn't need to. Yesterday they rang up and said they knew I was due for bloods today but did I know why I was down for a Tuesday visit too? I suggested it might be that, despite repeated explanations as to what I was going into hospital for, the implication on my need for nephrostomy dressing changes might have been misinterpreted... or forgotten... or ignored....

This morning a community nurse rang up and introduced herself slowly and carefully...Yes? I said. 'I've been asked by the GP to come and take some blood from you...did you know about that?' Sometimes I'm not always as polite as I might be...but I give thanks that she accepted my later apology.

When I went out with Laura yesterday we spotted that a hose had been recently attached to the leaking overflow directing the water down the downpipe instead of through the 'repaired' flat roof. Gratitude to whoever came up with this bit of diagonal thinking...

However, today there was a bill for my share of said flat roof 'repair'...without a summary of rights and obligations but with threats of legal action over non-payment of previous service charges also without this document. I made a long phone call to Leasehold Advisory Service just to check I (and even Pat) had not overlooked some special loophole that meant demands for payment didn't have to be made in the prescribed manner if your name was Martyn Ashcroft or you lived in Torquay and played golf for instance but they assured me it's not negotiable, debatable, or in anyway related to the reasonableness of the parties concerned or the charges contained therein. It is the law and he can't take me to court if he's not acting within it himself. You might think I'm being petty here but it's the only part of this whole horrid situation about which right and wrong is clear and unambiguous. He can slither and dither and wheel and deal and bully and badger but the fact remains, no likey no cheque!

Anyway I'm exhausted after an hour or so's admin. I give thanks for a cup of Earl Grey tea and a couple of delicious oat biscuits left over from a Christmas present from Amy which sufficed for breakfast and lunch, for the zombie idleness now causing my arms to stretch out for remote control and cosy throw, for having a remote control and cosy throw and for a pretty golden dawn this morning which seems such a long time ago!