Wooden Water Vole at Carsington

Woke up. Tested air temperature with tip of nose. Pulled three layers of duvet up around my face and went back to sleep. It is my final day of loafing, or recuperation, as I call it, and I see no advantage to getting up earlier than I have to.

Eventually I emerged, ate the beans on cheese on toast that Julia had prepared, ate the toast and marmalade she had made me for breakfast (the oranges are part of my five a day) and watched TV for a while.

It was Four in a Bed. After watching many episodes I can’t help wishing I had run a Bed & Breakfast instead of messing around as an antique dealer, gardener, pizza maker, shop assistant . . .

To be fair, it looks quite simple to run a B&B. Slightly more difficult to do it well, but isn’t that always the case?

Wooden Dragon at Carsington

I also wonder if we have finally run out of things to watch on TV if the best we have to offer is a programme on competitive hospitality. However, the best episodes are the ones which feature the human condition, such as the one today where one of the owners gave everyone a hard time, kept repeating that “the customer is always right” and repeatedly told us about his confidence and his high standards. Yes, you guessed it. His standards were not as high as he thought, anyone who criticised him was wrong and he eventually threw a hissy fit. I don’t like to see people being made unhappy. On the other hand, when they are the cause of their own unhappiness, it’s good TV. Shakespeare would have written it better, but the tragedy was there for all to see.

In truth, I spent too much time watching TV, and by the time I had rung the doctor to make a blood test appointment and book a COPD review, it was getting late. For those of you wondering when I got COPD, I’m not actually sure of that myself. It was mentioned as a cause of my problems, but until I had a text to book the review, I had no idea myself. I can’t wait until I get something serious and they let me know by sending me a link to the local hospice.

Then I had to arrange for the garage near the shop to supply a new tyre tomorrow. They are very good and will collect the car from the shop, do the job and return the car. Brilliant service for a man with a bad knee and a lazy disposition.

Finally, I rang for a taxi. It was a bit later than I had intended, but I still had time. Rang at 3.15, allow 10 minutes for a taxi, ten minutes for travel, ten minutes to walk from the entrance to X-Ray department – arrive five minutes before the appointment. It was probably better than my original plan of ringing at 3am, as they don’t want you cluttering the place up. Well, it would have been if the taxi firm had managed to send a taxi.

I’ve been using them for 30 years, since they were the local company. They have bigger offices now, a number of sign-written cars and a much more complicated phone system. If only the level of service was as good as it used to be.

Wooden Wizard and Dragon at Carsington

After 15 minutes I had an automated call to tell me they were doing their best. I rang to check what was happening and was told that they would be with me as soon as possible but the roads were crowded because it was “rush hour”. Well, it may get slightly busier, but unless you are on the ring road it’s not precisely a rush hour. And even if it was, it should hardly be a surprise.

Eventually, Just as I was preparing to ring the hospital, my car arrived.

I hate being late. I particularly hate being late when I allow  plenty of time for the trip.  The driver explained it was because of the amount of traffic. This would have been more convincing if there had been any traffic about.

Anyway, after a sit down in the waiting area, where I was able to view some interesting specimens of humanity, I had an X-Ray. That was interesting, as the radiologist bombarded me with questions about the amount of metal I may be wearing.

I took off my jacket (with zip), unhooked my glasses from the neck of my jumper, confirmed I had nothing in my pockets and that I didn’t wear jewellery, and heard her ask the next question . . .

Owl Sculpture – Harlow Carr

Did I have any underwear containing metal or underwiring?

Clearly they have some colourful characters going for X-Rays.

Pictures all contain the word “car” in the title. I was looking for cars to represent rush hour traffic. I clearly need a new system.

Owl Sculpture – Harlow Carr