Now that my new GP surgery has my medical records, finally, I decided to bite the bullet and ask for a referral to Neurology. I saw my GP Monday, described my symptoms, the fact that I’d seen a neurologist, however briefly, in Wales and that far from getting better, my symptoms have recently worsened. Last week I stumbled up the stairs, twice, and recently banged my head on the sizeable fridge door handle after misjudging where it was – I’d dropped something, picked it up, and brought tears to my eyes from ‘nutting’ the handle. Man, I’m such a klutz these days. I try not to cry in front of my son who had come running in after hearing my profanities, but I couldn’t help it. He was sweet; he put away the stuff I’d dropped and told me to sit down whilst he started dinner.

The doctor beat me about with a hammer, testing my reflexes, decided I must be dead lol, and left the room. After a few minutes I was starting to suspect he’d popped to the loo and had fallen in, when he returned stating he spoke to the senior GP and agreed I need to see a neurologist again. By Wednesday post I had a referral letter, and instructions on how to book an appointment. What service! My euphoria was very short lived though. I have an appointment, made online, but I have to wait until freaking May next year!

By Thursday morning I’d had the confirmation letter. I could be seen a little sooner at 2 different hospitals, however they both involve a 60-mile round trip. If I have to visit more than once, this could prove costly, so I’ve opted for the local hospital which also happens to have the longest wait time. Oh well… This is almost as bad as South Wales, where I waited 8 months for a Neurology appointment.

Homelessness is on the rise, more people than ever are using food banks, waiting times for surgeries and so on increases, benefits are cut, disabled are targeted, policing has been cut, yet our government gives literally millions in foreign aid whilst our own country could sorely use that money. Looking after your own people doesn’t look quite so good on the world though stage does it? Breathe…

Thursday, I attended a small local hospital for a full range of blood tests for the Neurologist; by May, they’ll hardly be relevant, will they? The place was packed though they were rattling through us. My veins often go into hiding when they see a needle and whilst it didn’t take long to drain me of my vital blood, the nurse did hurt me a little. Maybe I’m just a baby…

I then popped to the local supermarket where I treated myself to a coffee and a bacon roll to gain my strength back LMAO. Not bad. I did my shopping, and also purchased a cast iron pan marked down to £20. Not French made, obviously, but it’ll do nicely bearing in mind the budget. The weather was horrendous, and I ran to the car with my shopping and drove home in torrential rain. Once home, I noted I’d been charged £30 for the pan, so back I went. It seems the pan had been put on the wrong shelf, probably by a customer, and it was a large pan, not the smaller one that I wanted. I’d already had a double staff discount (card from a family member) on the big pan which the assistant didn’t want back. She then gave me back the full amount on the big pan, gave me the double discount on the new pan, twice, to compensate me for the mileage, and I walked away with a new, smaller pan, at a huge reduction. Nice!

Hope your weather is better than ours here: torrential downpours and high winds, and that you have a nice weekend; it’s almost upon us.