Categories: uncategorized
Date: 16 February 2004 20:39:17
The first one was a missed encounter, actually, seeing as I was wrenched from my solitude by a phone call from the leisure centre. The respite carer hasn't turned up to pick up Smudgelet and, much as they enjoyed his company, would I please, please do something urgently about freeing them from my son. It later transpired that the carer had been looking for him in the wrong area of the centre. He was not delighted to see me, even though I assured him he'd have far more fun having lunch with his mum and then going and sitting in the hospital for a couple of hours with Grandad.
To our delight we walked into the waiting room to find our old minister in there, waiting for an appointment. He's an old friend (and Smudgelet's godfather) and I hadn't seen him for ages. We were less pleased to discover that he had an appointment forty minutes before Dad's and still hadn't gone in. He was getting really quite impatient and I could see it being a long afternoon for Dad (not the world's most patient waiter) and the boys. I joked with Bob about letting us go in first - to which he replied in a manner most unbefitting a member of the clergy! You should have seen his face when the nurse promptly came out and called Dad in next!!!
The doctor was gorgeous...... er, I mean, really helpful and concerned. He listened and questioned and really tried to find the best way of treating Dad's problems. And when we came out I bumped into a friend I hadn't seen for months. We had a good natter and caught up on each other's news.... and I promised to go over for a cup of coffee real soon. I mean, she only lives in the bungalow opposite!
Quick turn around and out to my doctor's appointment. He was lovely too - and as soon as he heard that school had not been particularly helpful over the stress issue he promptly wrote me a certificate for another month and insisted I didn't go back in a hurry! They'll have a fit when it arrives through the door - especially as I only left a month's worth of lesson plans for them.
Out in the waiting room I find the boys deep in conversation with a lovely old lady from the Anglican church - someone else I am very fond of and haven't seen for ages. Such a brave lady - she walks everywhere and is fiercely independent, despite being totally riddled with arthritis and with her legs in calipers. A real inspiration.
And finally on my way home I encountered my brute! Yet another friend I haven't seen in ages - a 6foot6 American Footballer! With any luck that blasted tap should be turning tomorrow !