Both Cadfael and I suffered trauma recently – I think Cadfael’s is worse but we’ll start with mine. I went to A and E yesterday, (which to American’s that doesn’t sound too bad ‘oh Arts and Entertainment – did you watch a biography or maybe talk to Bill Kurtis?’) No it means Accident and Emergency – like E.R. only less life story of George Clooney. I was sitting about at 10:30 yesterday morning – mad at myself for not knowing about the bus strike even though I read a local paper everyday – when my vision went all fuzzy. “hmm” I think “This ain’t good.” I call the NHS help line; I feel like I passed the test or should win a prize because after all their questions they actually tell me to go to the hospital. Usually they are like “Are you alive?” “Do you think you can stay alive for the next 20 minutes?” “Then walk it off, put some butter on it, hit it with a family Bible, and call your doctor.” So if they are telling me to go to the hospital I guess I should – what the heck it’s free, and my head hurts.
There are still no buses – which is a shame because the bus that stops in front of my house drops me off in front of the hospital and I just bought a weekly pass. Call a cab – make ideal chit chat with cabbie as head pounds – it coast eight pounds! (I thought I was being ripped for the ten pound weekly bus pass!) Next is a bit blurry as my eyes really didn’t want to stay open. As I told the doctor “I can open my eyes but they are more comfortable closed.” I see a receptionist, another receptionist this time dressed more like a nurse, a nurse, a doctor, and a different nurse who gives me drugs and the way out. Efficient really, can’t complain about a thing. Except cab ride home with same cabbie which still cost eight pounds.
The thing I’m really proud of is I had better eyesight then the doctor. He asked me to read which ever line was most comfortable, so good lil’ ol’ eagle eye’s me reads the bottom line, the doctor pauses, scratches head, walks closer to eye chart, squints, tells me good job.
Turns out I had a migraine (or as the doctor said ME-grain). I’m sure its just stress but it’s better now.
Cadfael hates vacuums; all good dogs do, it is their job. Cadfael met our new Dyson, he tried to take a chomp out of it, and I wasn’t having any of that. So it is a bit of a high noon showdown before I turn the vacuum on; Cadfael squares himself, my finger twitches on the power button, I press, he charges, I yell “OFF!” , he snarls and foams, I keep my hand up and yell “OFF!” a few more times, he retreats, the vacuum is unharmed but shaken.
Cadfael has trouble with our stairs. Those of you who saw him in his first weeks here know that this is mostly due to his fatness. Bellies and stumpy legs don’t go up stairs easy. Well now add the trouble of me cleaning the house and having items strewn up the stairs like a gladiator course. Cadfael was currently being Chris’ shadow because Chris was being more exciting and not yelling “OFF!” at him all day. Chris went upstairs, Cadfael tired to go upstairs, Cadfael slipped on detritus/belly, Cadfael came tumbling nub of a tail over head down the stairs, (Worst on all!!) Cadfael landed on nemesis – the vacuum! (Okay this is worst of all) he turned it on. He was a bit stunned and for the first time in his life didn’t bark at the vacuum but stood blinking. Blinking at the vacuum and thinking very hard; I sure he blames the vacuum for everything.
He was fine, no Corgis where hurt in the writing of this blog and where only slightly laughed at while also comforted.
There are still no buses – which is a shame because the bus that stops in front of my house drops me off in front of the hospital and I just bought a weekly pass. Call a cab – make ideal chit chat with cabbie as head pounds – it coast eight pounds! (I thought I was being ripped for the ten pound weekly bus pass!) Next is a bit blurry as my eyes really didn’t want to stay open. As I told the doctor “I can open my eyes but they are more comfortable closed.” I see a receptionist, another receptionist this time dressed more like a nurse, a nurse, a doctor, and a different nurse who gives me drugs and the way out. Efficient really, can’t complain about a thing. Except cab ride home with same cabbie which still cost eight pounds.
The thing I’m really proud of is I had better eyesight then the doctor. He asked me to read which ever line was most comfortable, so good lil’ ol’ eagle eye’s me reads the bottom line, the doctor pauses, scratches head, walks closer to eye chart, squints, tells me good job.
Turns out I had a migraine (or as the doctor said ME-grain). I’m sure its just stress but it’s better now.
Cadfael hates vacuums; all good dogs do, it is their job. Cadfael met our new Dyson, he tried to take a chomp out of it, and I wasn’t having any of that. So it is a bit of a high noon showdown before I turn the vacuum on; Cadfael squares himself, my finger twitches on the power button, I press, he charges, I yell “OFF!” , he snarls and foams, I keep my hand up and yell “OFF!” a few more times, he retreats, the vacuum is unharmed but shaken.
Cadfael has trouble with our stairs. Those of you who saw him in his first weeks here know that this is mostly due to his fatness. Bellies and stumpy legs don’t go up stairs easy. Well now add the trouble of me cleaning the house and having items strewn up the stairs like a gladiator course. Cadfael was currently being Chris’ shadow because Chris was being more exciting and not yelling “OFF!” at him all day. Chris went upstairs, Cadfael tired to go upstairs, Cadfael slipped on detritus/belly, Cadfael came tumbling nub of a tail over head down the stairs, (Worst on all!!) Cadfael landed on nemesis – the vacuum! (Okay this is worst of all) he turned it on. He was a bit stunned and for the first time in his life didn’t bark at the vacuum but stood blinking. Blinking at the vacuum and thinking very hard; I sure he blames the vacuum for everything.
He was fine, no Corgis where hurt in the writing of this blog and where only slightly laughed at while also comforted.
V.S.
3 comments:
Real dog vs. what-looks-like robot dog? There'll only be one winner. Which is a shame.
"I think that's how Chicago got started. A bunch of people in New York
said, 'Gee, I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it just isn't
cold enough. Let's go west.'"
I saw this and though of you.
Hello, missing your lovely musings. Sorry for the last comment, was in odd mood.
Hope you're happy and well and have not had any more scary migraines.
We're missing our Norwich friends but probably wont come back till Christmas so keep in touch via e-mail and blog.
I enjoyed Cadfael's e-mails and was amazed at how much English he'd learnt by the time he sent the second one!
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