Bournville, September 25th
Using Lightroom rather than Photoshop to process the above has gotten me all enthused about ‘normal’ digital photography again, which is handy given I have a rather expensive digital camera sitting there. Now I just need to go take more photos…
Illness update: Popped into the doctor’s surgery to see how the blood test went. For some reason this is dealt with by the receptionist, which was a little alarming. You’d think someone with medical training or at least some semblance of a bedside manner would give out this sort of news. After a worrying minute or two where she couldn’t figure out what the results meant and had to call over someone else, it was announced that they’d “never seen such a clear blood test” before. So my blood is a pure as a newborn goat’s. Which is good to know. Except it means there’s something else the matter. So I’m going to see the doctor proper on Monday.
In the last week I haven’t really been doing much and it got to the stage where I was wondering if my lethargy was coming from not actually doing much rather than being non-specifically ‘ill’. Thankfully Nat, who employs me to do stuff, phoned to see how I was doing and mentioned a small job, clearing the crap off their scaffolding before it comes down and wiping clean the window frames. Not a hard job, only a couple of hours. At the very least I could see if I was capable of doing this. At first it was okay but by the end I was losing it again. It’s a strange feeling, not so much tired or exhausted but more dizzy (which is fun on scaffolding!) like I hadn’t eaten for a couple of days. Still, I’m not going to worry about it until I’ve seen the doctor. Too many variables are still out there for me to figure anything out usefully.
In other news I had a trouser-related trauma on Wednesday. First my belt, which I think I’ve had since school, broke meaning I could only wear my combats. Then the zipper on my combats broke, leaving me with no trousers whatsoever. Alex kindly lent me a belt (which I’m rather taken with as it has a rather substantial Obey buckle) meaning I can go outside in something other than my tiger camo pyjamas. Which is a relief.
Now I just need to go shopping, Where does one buy a belt from anyway?
I’ve got a belt I haven’t used in a long time. In fact, I may have two. Yes. A 40 incher that’s made of a relatively light leather, and a 43 incher that’s more substantial. If you’ve got a 30 to 33 inch waist, the shorter one would suit without modification. The longer belt has holes pucnched so that you could cinch it, but there’d be a long bit of overlap. I could drop either of them at the Higgins’ tomorrow.
Another thing. At my clinic, several of the ‘reception’ workers are nurses. One of them took my last blood sample, and another discussed the results with me – at reception. I like this. Otehr than possible conerns about people overhearing what might be sensitive matters, I’m glad to know that the people who know my medical history are also prepared to discuss it.
(BTW, the blood test showed everything to be ‘within the normal range’. ‘Clear blood’ sounds good by comparison. )
I bought my last belt at a Doc Martens Factory Sale about 8 years ago. I realise this is terribly unhelpful but you did ask.
Hi Pete,
Get your doctor to look at the results too – I’ve had blood test results given to me by a receptionist, told it was fine, only for the doctor, who happened to be passing the desk, to grab the phone to tell me it wasn’t! And a similar thing happened to a colleague, only she didn’t find out for 6 months. Mind you, it does sound as if they knew what they’re talking about, and I expect the doctor will have had a look at the results by Monday too. I hope you get some helpful advice when you go.
I’m glad you solved your trouser problem, I’m not sure that Bourneville can cope with tiger camo pjs yet…
kf
dp: thanks for the belt offer but I’m tediously skinny (30 inch I think) so I don’t think that’ll hold me tight.
SM: You’re right. Terribly unhelpful.
Re. blood. I think it was a nurse who double checked the screen for the receptionist so I’m fairly confident about the results, though I am seeing the doctor anyway so I guess he’ll have a look too.
Okey Dokey about the belt. I measured it when buckled at its narrowest: 30.5 inches. But any charity shop should have belts, as will any decent clothing store. I have a lovely and long-lived one from the Gap. The vintage shops in Moseley ought to have an interesting selection.
I have a similar thing Ive had since I can remember – wierd dizzy spells for no apparent reason. Finally went to see a doctor for the second time and discribed the symptoms and she instantly said “its vertigo”. Not the version you get when on tall buildings but just one that can happen when you are walking down the street, when you get out of bed or worringly when you drive a car.
Could it be this? I have tablets now that I take when I have an attack and sorts it within 20 minutes.
Yeah, receptionists aren’t doctors. April had a chloresterol test. The receptionist called and said it was fine. A year later she went back for another one and was told that she had been over the limit. I’m glad you’re seeing the doctor. Good luck on Monday.