Accident And Emergency, And Other Stuff

Hello everyone.

I have been keeping busy. My life! No wonder I blog. It's like a novel.

Anyway, so what have I been up to?

I don't know if I told you all, but a few weeks ago I went 10 Pin Bowling. It was the first time I had played, and was fun. Sam did beat me, but only just. He is a bit of a pro, so I was chuffed when I almost drew even. I don't know why I have never played before. Life is funny that way.

One of my friends has never seen Mary Poppins! Now that is strange!

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Then, last weekend, we went to the Jam Factory.

They make furniture, clothing, jewellery and all sorts of things. It is all about craft and design, using ceramics, metal, glass and a lot more, to create and sell items of a high standard.

We got the chance to see glass blowing. Three people worked together, seamlessly, to create what I think may have been vases. I didn't take photo's as I didn't want to distract or irritate them. But I wanted to.

The experience of seeing this live was very cool. They offer tours, so I might go back. I had a lot of questions about what and how they were doing what they were doing. Having a tour guide would be a huge plus.

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Racism. It does seem to be common here, for some reason. It is usually subtle, but occasionally it will raise it's ugly head.

A few days ago I found myself having to get a taxi. The driver and I had that "small talk" you have, such as "Are you having a busy day?", that sort of thing. He asked me what I did for a living, what brought me to Oz (darn this Scottish accent sometimes), and a few other things.

Then it happened.

Now, keep in mind the taxi driver is Italian. He is speaking to a Scottish nurse. We are both in Australia.

He began to speak about how "...all these Indians are coming over here taking our jobs...", and that was why he had not had a very busy day. He spoke about how he had money troubles, and about how he was working 6 and 7 days a week, and about how he was competing with the "Indians" for fares.

So an immigrant, is speaking to another immigrant, about immigrants. Oh dear. It is very odd, how some people must see the world.

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Then, yesterday, I ended up in A&E.

I turned up for work as usual. Wasn't feeling great, but then I haven't been feeling great for a while.

I have recently had 2 shots for Measles, Mumps and Rubella. I put my "icky" feeling down to either a reaction from the shots, or that perhaps my bad cold is still hanging on somehow.

So, I turn up at work. I talk to a couple of people. I show a new person around. And then, all of a sudden, I know I am throwing up. I run to the nearest toilet, but don't quite make it. What follows is a 20 minute episode of violent vomiting. My nose starts to bleed too. A very kind colleague assures me and cleans my mess up. I am so embarrassed.

I find myself at A&E. A doctor assesses me, asks me a few questions and then examines my tummy. She presses on a particular spot and I nearly go through the roof. When I am not being touched, I have no pain, but when she prods me it is very tender.

I know what she is thinking. I don't agree.

She gets a second doctor. He says what they both are thinking. Appendicitis. No, I do not agree. Mostly because I do not want surgery. It is my birthday week. I have plans and surgery would be inconvenient.

I do not have some of the signs and symptoms you would expect, and so I clutch at straws. I suggest other possibilities.

Nurses must be the worst patients.

They are pretty sure that it is my appendix. It is not a typical presentation, but that is possibly due to the fact that it is an "early appendicitis".

They want to admit me for 24 hours to observe me. They take bloods. They want a surgical consult before anything is decided. I decline. I declined IV fluids too.

I want to go home.

I am embarrassed.

I just want to sleep.

I go home and I do sleep.

This morning I feel Okay. I feel tender in my lower right abdomen, but that is due to all the poking and prodding. I hope.

So that has been my last week or so. Exciting, huh!  ;-)