I had an email recently, that stated that Ofgem – energy regulator - has announced an increase to their energy price cap. Basically, the power companies are being allowed to gouge even more money out of us. I live in a ‘modest’ 2-bed end of terrace. We don’t have the heating on as much as I’d like, we only have the hot water boiler on for less than an hour a day, and a third of the house isn’t on the central heating system. Despite all this, I’ve had notice that my gas and electricity bills will be rising by a combined total of over £95 a year, from April 1st. So, the jokes on us consumers, as always! Whatever Ofgem are being paid, it’s too much as they rarely protect us consumers, and prices rarely fall. Now all I need is the council tax price hike in the mail. What joy!

That’s that, now for the good news. I had my follow up eye appointment this week and all is looking good. This must be the first eye appointment that wasn’t cancelled, and rebooked, though it was for a follow-up following an emergency eye check. I still have to use some of the eye drops they prescribed originally, though they’re being tapered off over the next 6 weeks. They’ll want to see me again in 3 or 4 months to make sure all is looking good, no pun intended.

After hearing that some colleagues in work, who are younger than me, have had their vaccination already, I phoned my surgery to ask when I would be called. They advised that I was in the next priority group, and that I should hear in a week or two; I was concerned that I had been forgotten. Anyway, within 24 hours, they called me back and gave me an appointment for the weekend. Hmmm. If you are my age, or even older, and haven’t been called yet, I suggest you do what I did as I suspect some of us are falling through the cracks…

I was anxious about the vaccine; I don’t like needles though the doctor who gave me the vaccination was lovely; very quick, very efficient and I barely felt it. I had to stay in the area, sat in my car in their car park, for 15 minutes afterwards, to ensure I had no allergic reaction. I felt fine, though later that evening my arm felt incredibly sore, I had the Mother and Father of all headaches, and I had the shivers. Weirdly, I had a very similar ‘reaction’ to the flu shot, so maybe it’s just me. An early night, a couple of paracetamols, and a hot water bottle set me right up. The next morning, I felt fine though the injection site is very tender; nothing to miss work over.

We’ve had several rude customers this week with one being very impatient. He was waiting to enter the veg aisle, obviously thought he was far too important for this, so he barged through. I said, under my breath though none too quietly: Excuse me please. Thank you. You’re very welcome. I swear I heard somebody snigger… We have a visually impaired regular, and she couldn’t be nicer. She often asks for help with the price of an item, or the date on fresh produce. This week, I was helping her choose some chops when I started to laugh, so quickly explained that her guide dog was sniffing my leg, and that it was probably because I have a dog. He then proceeded to lean on me, very heavily, whilst waiting for his owner to choose her produce. That’s about 5 stone, and more, of dog lol. It made me smile, and polite customers like her more than make up for the ignorant/rude ones.

So, recently I’ve been to the eye clinic at the hospital, had my vaccination, I have the dentist today after not having seen a dentist for a whole year, and next week I have the remainder of my eye test that was curtailed due to being sent to the eye clinic. Now, if only GP’s would start to actually see their patients again…

Have a good week. Be safe out there.