Been a grumpy couple of days.
Yesterday, heading towards the M4, joined the dual carriageway past Swindon, and immediately came to a stop. 7 miutes later, and 1 mile, we passed the problem.
An army Land Rover had broken down. But the vehicle was completely off the road, so shoudl not have been an issue, until a recovery vehicle arrived. But in lane 1, were a series of cones gently moving us all to lane 2, and a police car. The policeman was stood on the verge talking to the two army guys. If the policeman had packed up his stuff and f****d off, there would not have been a traffic problem. He could (should) have sat at the previous slip road, and followed the recovery vehicle, when it arrived, then blocked lane 1.
Got to Uncle's house, to find a gas bill. And a reminder, and a final demand. (Uncle died last year, we're still clearing the house, so no gas being used) Bill based on estimated readings. Eventually found the meter, took a reading. Actual reading is less than the previous bill's estimate, so they probably owe us money. Tried to submit reading online, their system failed. Tried again today, on home computer, "Date of reading cannot be before today, but can be after today." Isn't that upside down? Or are we spposed to estimate tomorrow's reading?
Earlier today, took partner for a hospital appointment. To try to reduce the backlog, they are running full clinics. But the car park is the same size as before. Joined queue at main road. 10 minutes to get to the fork where disabled can by-pass the rest to get to the disabled spaces closer to the building. Need this as pushing the wheelchair is not good for me, as currently blood pressure way too high. Disabled spaces full, 7 people waiting ahead of me, no movement. Circled around, main queue had reduced, joined that, into main car park. This is on a hill. Not a steep hill, but still a hill. Barriers count occupancy, and only allow one in for one out. Allowed in, so there must be a space somewhere, but some aisles do not connect to others, so choose one, may miss a space on adjacent lane. Found one, a bit narrow, and with 'extra' spaces painted opposite, aisle is narrow. Have to put the Doblo in forwards, to get wheelchair out the back. Then the long, slow push uphill to the hospital.
Once there, need to go up one floor, so to the lifts. If a passing lift is full, it needs to close and go, before can call again. 'Helpful' occupants insist we enter, despite insufficient spce for the chair. Am I supposed to push her in and race it up the stairs? That'd kill me. (That is not overestimating my condition). While trying to get the first lift ot go, both the others pass by, so a longer wait.
Eventually into the clinic, to find it busier than we've ever known it. Her name is called, I raise my hand, as we are sitting backs to the caller, and I stand up. Looking towards the clinic rooms, there's one woman, studying a file. I push the wheelchair towards her, as she turns and disappears up a corridor. Was that for us? Another staff member arrives, looks puzzled, and asks who we are. "Someone called us!" The prat who wandered off returns to claim us. Perhaps if after calling a name she'd looked across the waiting area, she'd have seen us, instead of going to check the inner waiing area, that she was now directing us to. 10 minutes there, and another nurse calls our name, and again, studies the file, instead of looking around. Then trips off down the corridor from whence we came 10 minutes ago. Eventually she returns and seems surprised to find us there. As if we were hiding.
This is one of a pair of appointments. Usually they are scheduled consecutively on the same visit, but not today. We have to go through this nonsense again in a fortnight.
On the upside, Panda passed its MOT. 19 years old and ready for more.
