The doctor’s was crowded yesterday afternoon with old and young fogeys, along with a scattering of small children, all waiting for their swine ‘flu jabs. Some were nervous. Some were terrified. Most, like me, were indifferent, watching the clock and hoping to get the job done as quick as possible.
One very stern little old lady grabbed her poor husband by the elbow and forced him into the consulting room ahead of her despite his protestations. The door closed, there was a howl, and then a little while later out came the poor bloke, still propelled by the elbow, and looking a rather whiter shade of pale than he was when he went in. What it is to be managed in old age by a strong woman, eh? Or a strong man, come to that.
The doctor warned me that the site of the vaccination ‘might be a little sore’ and that I might suffer a ‘short period of very mild fever’ and then plunged the needle in, right up to the hilt. Didn’t hurt at all. The site of the vaccination was not and still is not sore, and I’ve experienced no fever or any other side effect (some 20 hours later). Didn’t even have vivid dreams last night.
So, all in all, it was a bit of a non-event, despite all the alarrums and diversions controversing and conspiring around the world. I feel a little cheated to be honest with you.
“Is there a mark of any kind?” I asked Graham this morning, proffering my upper arm for inspection.
“Nope. Oh, what’s this. Ah. Just a bit of dirt, that’s all.”
“You cheeky bugger.”
“I do try.”
“All I wanted was a little sympathy, even if there’s no cause for it.”
“Well, you came to the wrong place. I’ll put the kettle on. You can make the tea.”
Graham’s task since my last report has been the application of small natural stone tiles to the hearth and shelf of the new chimney feature. I think he must enjoy playing with mud because I didn’t hear a single expletive throughout the job and, at the end, when he’d cleaned his tools off, he expressed himself completely satisfied. They do look good but I’m still expecting some expletives when it comes to grouting and waxing the finished job.
Tiles, sans expletives
Dolly enjoyed the chance to watch Graham working quietly on a nice little project. She didn’t enjoy the Guy Fawkes fireworks yesterday evening, though, and I was obliged to spend a dozy couple of hours on the bed with her, cuddling and cooing reassurance at her. It worked, of course, and Graham got all misty-eyed when he came up to wake us as the fireworks died down.
“You two look rather cute there, all snuggled up,” he said.
“Don’t be too sure about that. It may look like Dolly and I are being cute but actually we could be plotting dire and extremely unpleasant thing here for all you know.”
“Nothing new there, then.”
Perhaps the elderly man had real need to be seen by the Dr. and had refused to go so she made sure he did? ;-0
I like my hands in soil but not so sure about tile mud. lol
have a good day cute one.
I’m not eligible for the shot yet. People over 65 are not a priority group.
My doctor’s office is still waiting for the vaccine. Lucky you to have it available. Graham is doing a beautiful job with the new feature. The tile is lovely. Keep the photos coming.
Love the tile. More and more, I like Graham’s idea.
Mine’s booked for the end of November.Would love to have seen the cute picture of you and Dolly asleep!
I was told by my doctor that people over 65 are probably immune already, I am in a high risk group, but for once the docs are unconcerned. So am I.
I was given the regular flu shot early tho.
I guess that fierce old lady wants to keep her man around for a while longer.
What Graham is doing looks like a lot of fun!
You’re going to have a really handsome hearth there, sir!
I had an early version of swine flu when I was in high school, and a mild touch of it when the kids brought it home from school in the 1970s, so I doubt it will affect me now. Still there’s the seasonal flu to watch out for, so I’m being careful to shy away from sick people, staying out of crowds and washing my hands very carefully when I get home.
Glad to hear the flu shot was a non-event. That’s always nice for that sort of thing. And, ohboy! That fireplace feature is looking better and better by the day! I’ve always preferred a raised hearth to the floor-level style. So much friendlier I think.
A few weeks back I spiked a very sudden onset high temperature, started shaking and trembling and feeling awful and my muscles ached a helluvalot — but it all passed in a few hours, after a brief massive sweating delirium. I have had every influenza going, since the 1960s, including 2 hospitalisations. Four years back got post-viral neuropathy. Real flu is a very bad disease indeed in my experience! But I guess it was most likely SF I had the other week, though, of course, there ain’t no way of knowing for sure without “viral studies” being done. Whether to go for the jab? Duh…?
I guess you don’t have a vaccine shortage in the UK — here in southern California I had an appointment for a flu shot at a free senior clinic and got a letter last Friday to tell me the clinic has been cancelled — no seasonal vaccine or H1N1. Called my local pharmacy — they are out call back in a couple of weeks. So will try and be diligent about hand washing etc.!
Yes, no flu shots available here, either. The seasonal flu shots ran out weeks ago and the swine flu shots are not available yet.
Jim got the seasonal and the pneumonia just before they became unavailable. Lucky him. I’m still waiting.
Beautiful tile! Wanna come do mine???
You know I saw a shot of “builders bum ” there.tee hee!