You are here: Home > 2007 - November 8th - Thursday   Go Back

2007 - November 8th - Thursday

Kathy just managed to ring JH when JH was discussing WRVS shifts with Becky!  However, JH Rang Kathy’s mobile number back: Kathy was actually ringing from the Hospital (? which one); she is scheduled to have another scan any minute and so did not want to be chatting on the phone in case she got called by a member of staff.  Anyway, JH was able to confirm the arrangements for JH and K to meet in Greenwich – with Ralph of course: JH planned to travel up to the Lawn Guest House this evening – after attending a Talk at Plymouth Museum, throwing a few things in her wheelie, washing up, and the rest.  JH caught the 1802 train from Plymouth but – JH having already got up to get off – the train stood for half-an-hour outside Reading Station, so JH borrowed a fellow traveller’s mobile to ring the GH, but Brent, the new Recruit at the GH, was not in the least bit phased-out by JH’s anxiety about missing the next suburban train to Maidenhead!  [When JH walked up to the GH, she was gratified to note that an enterprising Bangladeshi family had re-opened the convenience store in Grenfell Road, so JH was able to purchase some supplies.]


 

 
2007 - November 11th - Sunday

JH met Kathy and Ralph in Greenwich.  JH had a reasonable journey from the Lawn GH to Greenwich: she set out to catch the 0904 train from Maidenhead to Paddington where she had a ‘pit stop’ and cup of tea; she then caught an underground train on the Bakerloo Line to Charing Cross but, upon having to wait about 20 minutes for the next train to Greenwich, she decided to have another pit stop, but could not get the Enquiry Gentleman’s RADAR key to unlock the door to get into the ‘accessible toilet’; however, the kind EG said it was prone to jam!  Subsequently JH arrived at Greenwich Maritime Railway Station.  {JH must remember to apply for a RADAR key.}

By this time it was about 11.11am: JH quickly realised that the rendezvous venue – McDonalds – was not right next to the mainline station, but rather right next to the Cutty Stark Docklands Light Rail Station.  However, having asked for directions, JH remembered that she had been there before, and so found Kathy in McDonalds at 11.25am.  Ralph had popped off somewhere on an errand, so Kathy and JH popped next door - into a pub which served breakfast up until 12.00md; Kathy had a friendly exchange of greetings with the Barman – as from one Greenwichite to another – but JH did point out that Kathy was now very posh, as she lived near Benfleet! 

Kathy ordered 3 breakfasts which were served up shortly after Ralph returned from his errand.  The breakfasts was so colossal that JH popped several slices of toast and portions of butter into a ‘doggy bag’; also, she acquired several packets of sauces – because the Skinners always stock up their larder with packets which they collect up from their eating venues, and so shared their spoils with JH! 

In Plymouth, JH had spotted an advert for the latest die-cast model to be added to the range of First Group’s buses, so she bought a Park-and-Ride bus, together with a letter of authenticity, and a ticket for the route from the George Junction Car Park, to give to Ralph; Ralph gave JH a big hug!  JH said she had not got a present for Kathy but, as KATHY’S kidney is working excellently, JH thinks she was forgiven for this omission.

Kathy and Ralph explained the present situation with regards to their health.  Upon JH enquiring, Kathy explained that nobody had actually said to her that her backache was a direct result of something that happened to her whilst on the operating table or shortly thereafter; however, she did say that one of the theatre nurses told her that it had taken four people to pin Kathy down, as she was recovering from the anaesthetic; this nurse spoke to Kathy at some point – so she was supposedly supporting Kathy’s thoughts that something had happened to Kathy’s back whilst lying around under anaesthetic or shortly afterwards; however, when Kathy told one of the many clinicians whom she has seen since the operation, that she thought her recurrent back problems ‘re-occurred’ whilst lying about peri-operatively, said clinician refuted this suggestion.  {But JH recollects being told more than once during her nursing career, that what the patient has to say about their malady, should not be disregarded, until carefully considered.}  Kathy has to undergo yet more imaging investigations of her back; she is still very restricted in her activities, but can only take paracetamol for the control of her pain; as she is so inactive (compared with her pre-operative state) she is putting on weight – which worries her, as she realises that this will further compound her mobility problems.

Ralph is also being given a thorough MOT with regards to the clinical management of his diabetes, and – Ralph admits it – his OWN management of his diabetes.  Also, he is being investigated for some sort of cardiac problem (? associated with his diabetes) which is rather worrying but, obviously, as he is still ‘up and running’ and keeping Kathy ‘up but not quite running’, it will be a relief to have a his ‘MOT’ completed.
 
Ralph then explained about trying to claim for some sort of unemployment and/or sickness benefit – which (as the saying goes) became a very trying experience!  Ralph rang up the appropriate benefits office, and was told that these details are now recorded over the phone – by the interviewer at the end of the line, who asks questions from a set (script) form.  Ralph was on the phone for 40 minutes: the interviewer did apologise for asking the most mundane of questions, including asking Ralph if he was pregnant!  Ralph persevered with given his answers until the interviewer stated that he needed to know the amount of cash that Kathy had ‘saved’: Ralph informed the interviewer that he really was not going to wake Kathy (even though it was during normal office hours) because she was so weary that she had to sleep for long periods; furthermore, Ralph explained that he himself is ill, and that that was the whole reason for him phoning in the first place.  Both Ralph and the Interviewer gave up at this point.  At a later date, Kathy phoned up the same office and kept on and on insisting that they be sent a Form: the Form was eventually received but has about 20 pages of questions – so Kathy and Ralph have not yet mustered up the energy needed to fill the form in – JH wonders if it might be better to do this eyeball-to-eyeball down at the office!

At about 12.45pm, JH had to leave - to get over to the Trinity School of Music, to attend the Finalists’ Performance in the Society of Recorder Players/Moeck Solo Recorder Competition.  JH did tell the Skinners that they no longer should feel obliged to keep JH fed; however, they assured JH that – in spite of their struggles to get some sort of state benefit, which they are undoubtedly entitled to – that JH is still their bestest friend, and they are not quite impecunious yet.  Good!

JH arrived at the TSM to learn, at the Early Music Festival’s Reception Desk, that the Performance did not actually start until 2 00 pm – probably because there were, this year, only three finalists.  Whilst standing at the Reception Desk, JH was greeted warmly by Haley Johnstone with whom JH used to play recorders in Plymouth; Haley is now established as a music teacher in London.

During the intervening hour, JH went in search of a recital being played on behalf of one of the instrument manufacturers (not that JH planned to be seduced into buying an expensive instrument) but, instead, found herself in an exhibition room full of memory boxes.  A ‘curator’ explained that these boxes had been constructed under the auspices of the European Reminiscence Network, in co operation with the Age Exchange Reminiscence Centre, - www.europeanreminiscencenetwork.org - which is just ‘down the road’ opposite Blackheath Railway Station; he further explained that this room in TSM had been hired as the venue for this Reception, and that – although the exhibitors were presently watching a film show – JH would be welcome to partake of the buffet lunch which was shortly to be partaken of.   JH had little time to look at the memory boxes, but – over a chunk of cake and drink of fruit juice – spoke to a Polish lady, a Polish gentleman, and a German lady, about their histories of immigrating into England many years ago and so becoming members of the local community.  JH was warmly invited to come to visit the Centre in Blackheath; JH also bought the Book Making Memories Matter which is a complete record of the whole project – usefully - the text being both in English and German: so JH has another interesting venue to go to when she next visits east London.

JH did make it to the Peacock Room by about 1.50pm, but the room was already full to bursting; however, when a few seats were found to be vacant, JH rather pushily asked to sit down ‘as, she could not possibly stand for the whole afternoon’.  However, the room became extremely warm and, after the performance of the first finalist, JH went out to the foyer, and offered her seat to someone else from the queue which she had jumped; fortunately, amongst all the musical paraphernalia, there were two tall chairs (presumably for bass players) and JH managed to perch on one of these – although she could not see the two other performers, she was able to hear them play.  As always, JH had a most enjoyable afternoon listening to the performance by three finalists who are already well established in their musical careers, and can delight an audience with their playing.
 
JH made her way back to Greenwich Maritime Station but, on the way, sat on a bench to munch slices of toast and butter for her tea, so that she could make room in her shoulder bag for her new book – for fear of leaving it behind on a train on the journey home, if carried in a separate package! 

JH sent the last two pages via email to the Skinners – hoping that she had got the story straight.   JH mentioned that Bill had phoned her on Tuesday 18th November to say that he and Pic were planning to stay with Stephen in Tavistock at Christmas, and that we hoped to arrange to go out for a meal together.


 
 
Print Print