Farm Shop
What’s something you would attempt if you were guaranteed not to fail?
That’s today’s writing prompt. What they seem to have failed to grasp is that if you re guaranteed not to fail you are going to succeed. Therefore you can’t make an attempt because attempt means to make an effort to do something difficult, or to try to do something or, in the case of crime, to try to commit it, but fail, whilst still incurring for your unsuccessful efforts. In all of these definitions I believe that failure is an essential part of the attempt.
I’m prepared to be corrected on this point, so feel free to write nd tell me if you think I’m wrong.
White tailed Bumble Bee
A lot of the day was taken up with a hospital appointment. I was a bit annoyed about it because I originally had a 9.00 appointment on Friday. That would have allowed me to go down early, miss the traffic, find a convenient parking space and have a leisurely time. 2.00 on Wednesday is a different kettle of fish. There is no parking at 2.00 unless it is at the far ends of the site, and I can’t walk that far. I can’t use a bus as the bus stops are too far away from the building I need. So that leaves an expensive taxi or the tram.
Julia offered to come down with me, because she has no confidence in my ability to cope with the ticket machines and the choice of trams. As you may remember from previous posts, her low opinion of me is justified, as I did get lost once by getting on the wrong tram. Bearing in mind we only have two routes, that took some doing.
Biscuits
There were several young men on the journey who automatically draw my ire. One of them had pierced ears with spacers in. Now, I have seen rural Zulus with pierced ears that they carry their snuff boxes in. I don’t mind that. It’s practical for a man with no pockets. But in Nottingham? Another had a man bun. They are an abomination in my view, and a definite sign of snowflakery. The third, who was around 40 was dressed in leather, with chins and an unhealthy pallor.
And you know what? The pierced ear guy offered me his seat as soon as I got on the tram. The chain man offered me his seat on the way back. And the man bun man offered his seat to another doddery old man (there are always plenty of us on the hospital run.
Michaelmas Daisies
It was a lesson in tolerance, humility and hope, that I needed at the time. i’m starting to get very intolerant these days. I’m going to remain intolerant of politicians, inefficiency and American spellings, but I’m going to be more tolerant of appearances.
My appointment? Well, we arrived nearly half an hour early. I sat for five minutes, ws taken through and weighed and had my blood pressure taken – neither figure reflects much credit on me. I was then taken through to the waiting room and, as I reached a seat, was called through for my consultation. That was useful. I’m going to have injectable methotrexate, which will cut out the digestive problems and the fiddling with small pills, we have worked out a plan for transferring me to another Health Authority and I have been left with an overwhelming feeling of being happy, which is unusual after dealings with hospitals.
Poppy Brooch – beads and safety pins
All in all, it’s ten out of ten for the NHS today, and the same for the passengers on the tram.
It has been a good day. Pictures are of different Octobers.
If this sort of things keeps happening, you will have to change your whole outlook on life and become cheerful* like me. Mind you there wouldn’t be room for two Pollyannas so I hope that you get another disappointment soon.
*I am not very cheerful in real life, being driven entirely mad by incompetent interviewing technique on TV and radio news programmes . . . not to mention presenters of all sorts who aimlessly stress almost every other word in meaningless ways.
I can hear the eulogy now – “It was often said that eh was nearly as cheerful as Tootlepedal . . .”
It has a ring to it. 🙂
There could be worse.
🙂
Life presents many lessons along the way regarding intolerance, humility and hope. I am glad to hear the NHS got a 10 of 10 today, and it has been a good day for you. All good news! Those American spellings! Always a mystery to me how they mutated over the centuries.
I like mid to later morning appointments (and shopping) to avoid rush hour traffic. Staff are generally more rested and happier than latter in the day when their batteries run down
Good lessons! It seems that piercings and man buns really aren’t that important. American spelling on the other hand…beat not to labor over that too much. 😉
I supposem we’d best call it a gray area . . .
Tee-hee! Maybe so.
🙂
Good to see this. A good day for each of us. I had a similar experience on the tube from a leather clad man with tattoos and face furniture
🙂 It just goes to show . . .
Exactly. I felt ashamed that I had silently misjudged him until we arrived at the final destination and he waited for others to disembark then offered to help me to my feet (just after hip replacement)
That sort of thing gives me back my faith in humanity. Clothes, mn buns and body piercings may come and go but good manners never go out of fashion.
Very impressed with the safety pins brooch.
One of Julia’s projects. Unfortunately most of our clients found it tricky as many of them had problems with the threading. The poppy is always a good design.
Excellent!