Back home.
Out very early cos hospital appointment.
And I needed to find that elusive parking spot.
Too hot for hospitals.
Too hot for driving.
I stayed in the inner lane with a 65mph. The outer lane was...well for the 90 plus mph.
Long distance.
I got the very last parking spot by the entrance at 7:15 am in the morning. After me, others were driving round and round like BA flies...
My last cuppa had been at midnight, so hopefully I wouldn't need those elusive toilet facilities.
It was beautifully misty first thing, all pinks and peaches and the industrial buildings looked like the most magnificent otherworldly fairyland.
I was shocked when I went through this hospital entrance. Totally unlike the other hospital I went to recently nearer to me, where the dragon receptionist insisted I had to wear the nhs blue mask despite me being unable to wear it because of the magnet on my head, and a long discussion/argument had ensued. And finally I had said well I am exempt anyway, so I am not wearing any mask, and took mine off.
Last time I was at this hospital (and the times before in Covid), there was a receptionist, loads sanitizers, and spare masks all at the entrance. This time...no receptionist, the sanitizers at the entrance halved, and no spare masks for you. In fact there were a lot of patients/customers not wearing masks, and some came in expecting to find masks provided, so when they found there was none, they just pulled their t shirt or jumper up over their noses.
Notices all along the corridors (of which there was miles and miles, more than I have ever seen in my life), saying use the hand sanitizers dotted round the hospital. But there was not one hand sanitizer in any of the corridors, nor outside any of the wards or facilities that led through automatic doors, which were not now automatic (they were the last time I went), you had to push these awkward heavy doors now. And notices advising you replace your surgical masks regularly during the day. It implied there were 'stations' where you could pick one up, but they were in absence as well.
My department, Shooting Star Unit, is at the furthermost end of the hospital from the entrance, and each time I get lost. It looks simple on a simple map, but navigating miles of corridors and choosing which doors to take off the main corridor (which don't appear evident to me on the map), it is like a convoluted maze.
I was about to give up, mentally and physically, when someone opened a door beside me, and I thought I recognised that corridor. Moments later I was there at reception desk. The receptionist recognised me, and just motioned me to the side waiting room. The team I had last time was supposed to be the same, but it was replaced by another team and my appointment was a wee bit later now. But it didn't matter, laughing, joking, banter, and I had to say I couldn't lipread through the masks, They took their masks down, so from that point on I was totally involved and understanding of their jokes and banter, even their more personal jokes with each other, which they included me in.They were a really empathic group of nursing staff. And when everything was done, one of the nurses who had been interjecting with questions throughout, wrote down her personal nhs email number and told me to email any time and we could chat.
I would like to say I walked out on cloud 9, well I did, but I still had to walk all those slow steps back to the entrance where my car was.
I go to get in my car, and hit my head hard on the sun visor which had been down because of the blinding sun...ouch.
I was drop dead exhausted and drove the shortest distance possible, and got into bed and slept for 4 soilid hours.Just woke up.
Why didn't you get your mobility scooter out of the car, I can hear you saying. The answer is I was absolutely dying for a long wee when I got out of the car.It was not possible to lift anything.
Going back to sleep now, temp was 30C here earlier. Breathing is impossible, so hot and airless and still. And that stupid AH neighbour is with a woman (his wife?) and they have a bonfire going in their back garden, right next to me, and I have smoke all through my house. I checked online and apparently in hours of daylight you can have a bonfire, but not if it is causing danger. The day is far too hot, it's irresponsible to have a bonfire today as far as I am concerned, so while I was on the site, I reported it. He does back on to a lot of ancient woodlend.
My eyes are closing again...I need an iced drink, the ice maker has been churning away....
No painting/photograph today unless I come to before midnight...
. Baby OP is out of high dependency and off oxygen - parents understandably much happier. Nanny London apparently not only had pneumonia but something else more serious and a few other issues - she can't remember (or more likely won't tell) what Dr said. Nativity of BVM today so give it beans team.
