I once ended up in A&E with what seemed like heart problems thirty plus years ago. After lots of tests it was decided it was trying to manage a three year old, his buggy and our luggage round the London transport system that had caused the pain. I hope it is something similar @North East Quine but worth getting it checked out. My A&E experience was enlivened by a guy who was there handcuffed to a couple of police officers. He did a runner while being seen by the doctor.
I like the birthday party idea @la vie en rouge . I very much enjoyed my son's birthdays when he was that age, but they did tend to descend into chaos.
I've had a nice day. It was sunny and warm if a bit windy for a start and I have yellow crocuses out in my garden. My philosophy group this morning was fun, even if I rather rashly agreed to lead a session on positive and negative freedom next time. A subject, that I realised when I got home and started researching it, I know less about than I thought. This evening my husband and I went out for a very nice Indian meal. We've been like ships that pass in the night this week so it was good to actually be in the same place at the same time. We've also got a start date for our new kitchen, which is exciting even if it does mean a lot of sorting out before hand.
Tomorrow we are off to a museum of the horse in a town to the north of here.
We had a prison runner once in clinic, Sarasa. He was handcuffed to his guards and asked to go to the toilet. He had got a friend to hide a gun in the cistern, so he overpowered his guards and ran through casualty in a balaclava, waving his gun around. We weren’t sure why he thought the balaclava necessary, as everyone knew who he was as he had an appointment.
A colleague and I once transported a prisoner (on remand) from a high-security jail to A&E - the chap had IIRC taken something noxious, and had lost the use of his limbs. He was, nevertheless, accompanied by two guards, one of whom rode shotgun with me in the cab, whilst the other, chained to the patient, who was lying on the stretcher, rode in the back with my crewmate.
On arrival at A&E, we were met by two more prison officers, and transferred the patient (in a wheelchair) into the Police Office, to the wondering gaze of the assembled throng of the halt, maimed etc. etc., who were puzzled as to why this obviously helpless man was being seen to by four burly guards...
The reason was not so much that there was a fear of him escaping, but that someone else might try to free him (or to do him harm) - not that he would have been of much help to himself, either way.
A howling dog? Did you find out the problem eventually?
A brighter and milder day today than it has been of late. I guess I should get in the garden for a bit, but there are always lots of other things I'd rather do.
I did smile at your story of the Big Issue seller @North East Quine . I find it hard to know what to do in such situations.
Mr Nen is out for a run and has a friend coming round later to watch the rugby. Stir fry for tea because Saturday.
The museum of the horse this morning was excellent. It would have been better if I actually knew something about horses, but I enjoyed looking at the rare saddles, old riding breeches, boots etc anyway. We then went to the cafe in the same building. It was an old fashioned British tea shop where we had tea and excellent Bakewell tart. Worth heading that way for the cafe alone.
The rest of the day will be devoted to various things such as knitting and writing, and may include a bit of gardening if the weather continues to be nice.
Mild and Sun-Shiny (after overnight Rain) in Arkland the Mild and Sun-Shiny.
Yet more Cubbud Sort Ing has resulted in a couple of large bin-bags, full of rubbish, but also a selection of odd items of bric-a-brac which I no longer want or need, and which will be donated to Our Place's next Grand Jumble Sale (apparently, the bric-a-brac stall is usually a money spinner!).
I now await Neighbour F's next trip to the Arkland Bin Compound to dispose of the rubbish - he has a stout and handy Trolley which he uses to cart all sorts of things to and fro. He also has two stout and handy Sons, who often do the carting...
TEMPURA PRAWNS n'CHIPS for Lunch, mainly because they all need to be eaten by today.
... We weren’t sure why he thought the balaclava necessary, as everyone knew who he was as he had an appointment.
I'm reminded of a story told by the late Dean of Belfast about the church where he was before he came to the Cathedral. Some local eejit had made an attempt at arson by setting light to an envelope and posting it through the church's letterbox. It didn't catch, and what remained was a slightly scorched envelope with the silly bugger's name and address on it.
Didn't have the brains he was born with ...
It's a glorious, Spring-like day here: the sky is a rather fetching blue colour, and there's a big yellow ball thing in it.
I had a really rather nice amble down to Tessie's (although see TICTH for rant re: their re-organisation of the shop). It was a bit of a trawl back, as I'd offered to get milk for the church coffee tomorrow; a two-litre bottle of milk weighs rather a lot, especially when it's accompanied by four bottles of WINE (I had let my supply get dangerously low).
I also bought a STEAK, which will be the basis of supper.
That big yellow ball thing is, in fact, none other than Her Most Gracious Majesty, The Big Yellow Face (to whom be all praise!).
Pigletland is obviously more favoured than Arkland, as She is veiling Her Face in a sort of milky cloudiness here, but the warmth of Her Rays can still be felt.
We have spent the morning in the garden as it is mild enough to get some work done cheerfully. Mr Heavenly has been putting primer on the office doors and preparing inside for its first emulsion coat whilst I have repaired the patio side border which he dug up for the electric cable. This was a blessing in disguise as it has enabled me to remove all the invasive bluebell bulbs, which will now be planted in the dark border where nothing else ever grows.
They are Spanish bluebells, they romp across my garden and eliminate everything in their path (even the alkanet!). They have now been relocated. They do look pretty but are very hard to control.
Mr Heavenly is currently frying some lamb scrag with lemon and thyme which he will then braise in lamb stock. Not sure what we will have with it, I have suggested gnocchi.
I’m about to have a glass of Lambrusco, which is much better than it sounds. It is a lovely fruity organic one, a world away from cheap 1980s plonk.
I managed a bit of weeding in the garden, coming to the conclusion - as I often do on these occasions - that while I love flowers and a pretty garden I really Don't Like Gardening.
This afternoon we also had a nice Zoom catch up with Nenlet2.
Gardening was done, mainly a bit of weeding and pruning. It’s tricky to know what is going to re-appear this year, but it looks hopeful.
Tea was roast veg and cous cous with a nice New Zealand Sauvignon blanc.
We are going to watch Emilia Perez this evening. I’m not at all sure we’re going to like it.
... I’m about to have a glass of Lambrusco, which is much better than it sounds. It is a lovely fruity organic one, a world away from cheap 1980s plonk.
Good heavens, that is a blast from the past; I have less than fond memories of hangovers courtesy of the aforementioned 80s plonk! 😳
I'm currently finishing off the glass of Malbec which accompanied my steak - cheers! 🍷
A howling dog? Did you find out the problem eventually?
<snip>
Not howling, but whining and barking. Soothing words didn’t settle him, nor a 2am visit to the garden. Eventually I put clothes on over my pyjamas and took him for a walk up and down the deserted 2.30 main streets of the southern Scottish burgh. Eventually he did what he needed to and it was duly bagged and binned and I returned home and put him back to bed. I last heard him scratching away at rearranging his bed.
Why he couldn’t have done what he needed at his usual last-thing-before-bed walk I do not know. It took over an hour and a half out of my night.
Have returned to the south west after a couple of lovely family days out (rhs garden with superb cafe and castle/museum in nearby town which covers history from the iron age to the present day with loads of stuff dug up locally (especially romans)).
Given we also did lots of clean-ing for the aged we give hearty and sincere thanks for living somewhere without lime scale.
Spent this morning shop-ing and admin-ing and the afternoon with friends which meant some time being assaulted (aka playfighting) by the littlest twanglet and her two smaller chums as well as learnedly reviewing little godsons most recent lego.
Playing bass at afternoon/evening church tomorrow so sneaky lie in... @la vie en rouge space helmets sound fab. We've often been grateful for "holding tasks" at such events - Mrs Twangist is jolly good at that sort of thing. We still don't talk about the time I forgot the ice cream for jelly and ice cream @North East Quine glad to hear of improvement I would certainly join the "please get checked " choir.
In honour of the Other Half's birthday, tonight we took our evening repast in this establishment. I firmly recommend getting on a flight or Eurostar at your earliest possible convenience and going there. I had paté en croûte, scallops and profiteroles, and it was one of the best meals I have ever eaten. After finishing the choux, there was chocolate sauce left in the dish so I literally just ate it with a spoon. It would have been an insult to the pâtissier to do otherwise.
[ETA progress report: we are now up to 2 space helmets. And the balloon didn't explode this time.]
@la vie en rouge the space helmets sound amazing, as does your meal.
@Twangist, I am going to phone the GP tomorrow, and get checked, but the more I think of it, the more I am concluding it was heartburn. We had been planning to have a nice lunch somewhere on the drive south, but as it was chucking rain and grey, the NE Man thought it made more sense to have a quick, efficient lunch and get back on the road ASAP. So we went to a roadside Burger King and I had a cheeseburger meal. It's not the sort of meal I would choose, nor is it something I have often. I'm starting to think that the combination of tensing up while driving with minimal visibility and the recent Burger King cheeseburger were a bad combination. Although google describes a "burning" sensation, which I didn't have.
I have been up since 4, as I had to deposit the NE Man at the airport at 5, to catch the red-eye to Schipol. I have a truly splendid "to-do" list drawn up for the NE Man's absence, and am contemplating the glory that will be my life if I get everything ticked off.
In honour of the Other Half's birthday, tonight we took our evening repast in this establishment. I firmly recommend getting on a flight or Eurostar at your earliest possible convenience and going there. I had paté en croûte, scallops and profiteroles, and it was one of the best meals I have ever eaten. After finishing the choux, there was chocolate sauce left in the dish so I literally just ate it with a spoon. It would have been an insult to the pâtissier to do otherwise.
[ETA progress report: we are now up to 2 space helmets. And the balloon didn't explode this time.]
Wow, that looks amazing!
You do, I presume, realise that they have five other restaurants to sample?
There'll always be La Vie's own birthday, wedding anniversaries, Captain P's birthday (well, maybe not for a wee while) ...
Church has been gone to (and a silly wee chorus-type thing beloved by Rev'd Rosie survived ), laundry is laundering and brunch will happen when I start feeling more hungry than sleepy.
Glad you had a great time celebrating Mr LVER's birthday. Not much I could eat there, but I did like the sound of the puddings.
I headed off to church today where I was doing the reading, which I slightly buggered up, St. Paul being tricky and all. I don't think anyone noticed.
This afternoon will be devoted to hobbies and trying not to have an afternoon nap.
Why he couldn’t have done what he needed at his usual last-thing-before-bed walk I do not know. It took over an hour and a half out of my night.
Aren't dogs the same as us? It's pointless trying to go when you don't need to as Nothing Happens.
Glad M en rouge 's birthday was thoroughly enjoyed.
I've been to the morning service at Our Place, had coffee with friends afterwards and got very wet on the walk home. Roast chicken dinner later - the bird is bubbling away in the slow cooker. Various things happened this morning to put me in a Bad Mood and I'm wondering how soon I can decently start on the pre-dinner glass or three of sherry.
We are just back from the agricultural show where we have admired France's finest cows. Also sheep, goats and prizewinning horses. Always a pleasant jaunt. Husband en rouge is still there buying various delicacies, but that bit bores Captain Pyjamas so we've come home.
I remember seeing some beautiful French cattle - Charolais IIRC - at our local agricultural show here in Kent many years ago.
Our show also featured numerous varieties of Pig...an attractive and sagacious animal.
ION, another pleasantly mild day in Arkland the Relieved, after a night of Storm, Rain, and Tempest. One or two pieces of timber, stored near the Ark next to mine, came loose during the small hours, and crashed onto the jetty, waking me from a far-from-deep sleep. No damage, but the owner of the said Ark will need to do some tidying-up.
The Monday Expotition to Tess Coe has been accomplished, and the next batch of Coal has been ordered via Neighbour T, who manages to get the lowest possible price from the Coal People. We'll probably eke this batch out until early May, when the Coal People apply their quite substantial summer discount for bulk buying.
SWEDISH MEATBALLS with Mash n'Peas for Lunch, because use-by date (yesterday, in fact!). One of Tess Coe's new range of ready meals for Pore Old Singletons, bought last week, and nearly forgotten about...
A day of sunshine and showers. As I couldn't get into Pilates this week I've had a lazy morning apart from a quick dash to the corner shop (aka Waitrose) for some olives as we'd eaten our supplies for lunch and we'll need them for tea too.
This evening I'm off to a briefing about our market.
They actually use crushed olive stones, left over from olive oil production...the greatly-increased price of olive oil is reflected in the greatly-increased price of the Coal over the past few years!
Seriously - does it give the coal a nice fragrance when burned?
Alas, no - though the smoke produced whilst the top gases are burning off does have a distinctive tang...only for a few minutes, though, after which it is indeed smokeless.
From my memory of school meals in the 60s, they were pretty grim then too.
I told my husband about the use for olive stones, and his reaction was don't they fall through the grate? I assume they are crushed and moulded into larger lumps @Baptist Trainfan.
It was almost still light when I left home at 6.10 for my meeting this evening. It was interesting if a bit bad tempered, but at least it didn't last too long.
This morning I made myself a nice cup of coffee, and chose a nice, peaceful snow scene jigsaw on Jigidi. I settled down in front of my computer jigsaw, with my phone and my coffee at 7.55 a.m. and said to myself, aloud, cheerfully Well, isn't this a nice start to the day, sitting here with a jigsaw and coffee.
On the dot of 8am, when the lines open, I phoned the doctor and got the "lines are busy, call back" message. So I redialled, and redialled, and redialled, while doing the jigsaw and drinking my coffee. At 9.05am, having attempted to get through THIRTY times, and listened to the "call back later" message thirty times I gave up. By 9.05 the chances of there being any appointments left were the square root of bugger-all.
Perhaps I'll choose a nice picture of a cat for tomorrow's jigsaw.
Apart from that, I've had a pleasant day while the NE Man conferences abroad. The house is looking tidier, I made a good start to a writing project (I think - I'm waiting for feedback), I had a long chat on the phone with a friend and I restrung our whirly, restoring it to full functionality (I hope - we'll see what happens when I try hanging out bath towels).
I have to confess to eating anything that stays still on my plate long enough but, even so, school meals put me off mash for years (it was the hard grey lumps lurking therein that did it), and it was a good 15 years before I dared sample curry again.
I'm sorry you have so much bother @North East Quine I had a note on my last drug haul to arrange my annual MOT. I phoned the practice about lunchtime, got a nursing appointment for tomorrow at a reasonable hour.
I'm hoping for the verdict I got on a previous year - 'On paper, you look great'.
Until recently our surgery was just as bad. But now they have a telephone queueing system - you may have to wait some time but at least you're told that "there are X callers ahead of you". It works much better than the endless (and fruitless) redialling.
Until recently our surgery was just as bad. But now they have a telephone queueing system - you may have to wait some time but at least you're told that "there are X callers ahead of you". It works much better than the endless (and fruitless) redialling.
Yes, our local GP has this system, too. I don't think I've had to wait for more than ten minutes or so.
We submit an online form for all GP appointment enquiries, they get triaged by an GP and either the doctor rings you or you get called by the receptionist to make an appointment for a face to face consultation. If you can’t fill in online forms then you ring the receptionist who will fill it in for you.
My previous GP surgery allocated appointments according to what I think of as the “pool of Bethesda” model - i.e. first come first served, and the slowest/most needy don’t get an appointment at all.
Since we moved house I have changed GP. The new surgery is wonderful. You phone them and a recorded message says something like “if you would like a call back regarding making an appointment, please press 1 and put the phone down”. So you do. And in under an hour a nice receptionist rings you back, takes a few more details and makes an appointment.
Our surgery has a ring-back system for those who don't want to sit on the phone for 20 mins or more. You get a call when it reaches the place you had in the queue, and then you either get a same day appointment, or one in two days time, depending on the urgency - that is if they have any left! If they don't you have to try again at eight the next morning and go through the whole thing again.
Comments
I like the birthday party idea @la vie en rouge . I very much enjoyed my son's birthdays when he was that age, but they did tend to descend into chaos.
I've had a nice day. It was sunny and warm if a bit windy for a start and I have yellow crocuses out in my garden. My philosophy group this morning was fun, even if I rather rashly agreed to lead a session on positive and negative freedom next time. A subject, that I realised when I got home and started researching it, I know less about than I thought. This evening my husband and I went out for a very nice Indian meal. We've been like ships that pass in the night this week so it was good to actually be in the same place at the same time. We've also got a start date for our new kitchen, which is exciting even if it does mean a lot of sorting out before hand.
Tomorrow we are off to a museum of the horse in a town to the north of here.
On arrival at A&E, we were met by two more prison officers, and transferred the patient (in a wheelchair) into the Police Office, to the wondering gaze of the assembled throng of the halt, maimed etc. etc., who were puzzled as to why this obviously helpless man was being seen to by four burly guards...
The reason was not so much that there was a fear of him escaping, but that someone else might try to free him (or to do him harm) - not that he would have been of much help to himself, either way.
A brighter and milder day today than it has been of late. I guess I should get in the garden for a bit, but there are always lots of other things I'd rather do.
I did smile at your story of the Big Issue seller @North East Quine . I find it hard to know what to do in such situations.
Mr Nen is out for a run and has a friend coming round later to watch the rugby. Stir fry for tea because Saturday.
The rest of the day will be devoted to various things such as knitting and writing, and may include a bit of gardening if the weather continues to be nice.
Yet more Cubbud Sort Ing has resulted in a couple of large bin-bags, full of rubbish, but also a selection of odd items of bric-a-brac which I no longer want or need, and which will be donated to Our Place's next Grand Jumble Sale (apparently, the bric-a-brac stall is usually a money spinner!).
I now await Neighbour F's next trip to the Arkland Bin Compound to dispose of the rubbish - he has a stout and handy Trolley which he uses to cart all sorts of things to and fro. He also has two stout and handy Sons, who often do the carting...
TEMPURA PRAWNS n'CHIPS for Lunch, mainly because they all need to be eaten by today.
Didn't have the brains he was born with ...
It's a glorious, Spring-like day here: the sky is a rather fetching blue colour, and there's a big yellow ball thing in it.
I had a really rather nice amble down to Tessie's (although see TICTH for rant re: their re-organisation of the shop). It was a bit of a trawl back, as I'd offered to get milk for the church coffee tomorrow; a two-litre bottle of milk weighs rather a lot, especially when it's accompanied by four bottles of WINE (I had let my supply get dangerously low).
I also bought a STEAK, which will be the basis of supper.
Now for a spot of brunch.
Pigletland is obviously more favoured than Arkland, as She is veiling Her Face in a sort of milky cloudiness here, but the warmth of Her Rays can still be felt.
There are loads of the latter in Our Place's church grounds, though they do look splendid when in full bloom.
I’m about to have a glass of Lambrusco, which is much better than it sounds. It is a lovely fruity organic one, a world away from cheap 1980s plonk.
This afternoon we also had a nice Zoom catch up with Nenlet2.
Tea was roast veg and cous cous with a nice New Zealand Sauvignon blanc.
We are going to watch Emilia Perez this evening. I’m not at all sure we’re going to like it.
I'm currently finishing off the glass of Malbec which accompanied my steak - cheers! 🍷
Not howling, but whining and barking. Soothing words didn’t settle him, nor a 2am visit to the garden. Eventually I put clothes on over my pyjamas and took him for a walk up and down the deserted 2.30 main streets of the southern Scottish burgh. Eventually he did what he needed to and it was duly bagged and binned and I returned home and put him back to bed. I last heard him scratching away at rearranging his bed.
Why he couldn’t have done what he needed at his usual last-thing-before-bed walk I do not know. It took over an hour and a half out of my night.
He is very cute, though, and spends a lot of time avoiding shortage of sleep.
Given we also did lots of clean-ing for the aged we give hearty and sincere thanks for living somewhere without lime scale.
Spent this morning shop-ing and admin-ing and the afternoon with friends which meant some time being assaulted (aka playfighting) by the littlest twanglet and her two smaller chums as well as learnedly reviewing little godsons most recent lego.
Playing bass at afternoon/evening church tomorrow so sneaky lie in...
@la vie en rouge space helmets sound fab. We've often been grateful for "holding tasks" at such events - Mrs Twangist is jolly good at that sort of thing. We still don't talk about the time I forgot the ice cream for jelly and ice cream
@North East Quine glad to hear of improvement I would certainly join the "please get checked " choir.
[ETA progress report: we are now up to 2 space helmets. And the balloon didn't explode this time.]
Many happy returns to M en rouge! 🍾
@Twangist, I am going to phone the GP tomorrow, and get checked, but the more I think of it, the more I am concluding it was heartburn. We had been planning to have a nice lunch somewhere on the drive south, but as it was chucking rain and grey, the NE Man thought it made more sense to have a quick, efficient lunch and get back on the road ASAP. So we went to a roadside Burger King and I had a cheeseburger meal. It's not the sort of meal I would choose, nor is it something I have often. I'm starting to think that the combination of tensing up while driving with minimal visibility and the recent Burger King cheeseburger were a bad combination. Although google describes a "burning" sensation, which I didn't have.
I have been up since 4, as I had to deposit the NE Man at the airport at 5, to catch the red-eye to Schipol. I have a truly splendid "to-do" list drawn up for the NE Man's absence, and am contemplating the glory that will be my life if I get everything ticked off.
Wow, that looks amazing!
You do, I presume, realise that they have five other restaurants to sample?
Church has been gone to (and a silly wee chorus-type thing beloved by Rev'd Rosie survived
This afternoon's project will be making SOUP.
I headed off to church today where I was doing the reading, which I slightly buggered up, St. Paul being tricky and all. I don't think anyone noticed.
This afternoon will be devoted to hobbies and trying not to have an afternoon nap.
Glad M en rouge 's birthday was thoroughly enjoyed.
I've been to the morning service at Our Place, had coffee with friends afterwards and got very wet on the walk home. Roast chicken dinner later - the bird is bubbling away in the slow cooker. Various things happened this morning to put me in a Bad Mood and I'm wondering how soon I can decently start on the pre-dinner glass or three of sherry.
Our show also featured numerous varieties of Pig...an attractive and sagacious animal.
ION, another pleasantly mild day in Arkland the Relieved, after a night of Storm, Rain, and Tempest. One or two pieces of timber, stored near the Ark next to mine, came loose during the small hours, and crashed onto the jetty, waking me from a far-from-deep sleep. No damage, but the owner of the said Ark will need to do some tidying-up.
The Monday Expotition to Tess Coe has been accomplished, and the next batch of Coal has been ordered via Neighbour T, who manages to get the lowest possible price from the Coal People. We'll probably eke this batch out until early May, when the Coal People apply their quite substantial summer discount for bulk buying.
SWEDISH MEATBALLS with Mash n'Peas for Lunch, because use-by date (yesterday, in fact!). One of Tess Coe's new range of ready meals for Pore Old Singletons, bought last week, and nearly forgotten about...
This evening I'm off to a briefing about our market.
They actually use crushed olive stones, left over from olive oil production...the greatly-increased price of olive oil is reflected in the greatly-increased price of the Coal over the past few years!
It wasn't a bad day at all here until shortly after I got home from work, when the heavens opened and H2O issued forth.
Supper was further SOUP, with bread and CHEESE.
Ah... But you are too young to remember school lunches in the 1950s...
Alas, no - though the smoke produced whilst the top gases are burning off does have a distinctive tang...only for a few minutes, though, after which it is indeed smokeless.
They were fecking awful in the 70s and 80s too. Anyone who remembers them with fondness has either a faulty memory, faulty olfactory lobe, or both.
I told my husband about the use for olive stones, and his reaction was don't they fall through the grate? I assume they are crushed and moulded into larger lumps @Baptist Trainfan.
It was almost still light when I left home at 6.10 for my meeting this evening. It was interesting if a bit bad tempered, but at least it didn't last too long.
https://www.homefire.co.uk/ecoal50.html
On the dot of 8am, when the lines open, I phoned the doctor and got the "lines are busy, call back" message. So I redialled, and redialled, and redialled, while doing the jigsaw and drinking my coffee. At 9.05am, having attempted to get through THIRTY times, and listened to the "call back later" message thirty times I gave up. By 9.05 the chances of there being any appointments left were the square root of bugger-all.
Perhaps I'll choose a nice picture of a cat for tomorrow's jigsaw.
Apart from that, I've had a pleasant day while the NE Man conferences abroad. The house is looking tidier, I made a good start to a writing project (I think - I'm waiting for feedback), I had a long chat on the phone with a friend and I restrung our whirly, restoring it to full functionality (I hope - we'll see what happens when I try hanging out bath towels).
Tubes. Meat with tubes. Gristly bits with tubes. And yellow wobbly bits.
But tubes...
I have to confess to eating anything that stays still on my plate long enough but, even so, school meals put me off mash for years (it was the hard grey lumps lurking therein that did it), and it was a good 15 years before I dared sample curry again.
I'm hoping for the verdict I got on a previous year - 'On paper, you look great'.
Yes, our local GP has this system, too. I don't think I've had to wait for more than ten minutes or so.
Since we moved house I have changed GP. The new surgery is wonderful. You phone them and a recorded message says something like “if you would like a call back regarding making an appointment, please press 1 and put the phone down”. So you do. And in under an hour a nice receptionist rings you back, takes a few more details and makes an appointment.