Bloody crap day

Have been so busy since we got back from our holiday that
a) its feels like the holiday was years ago
b) more importantly, I haven't had time to tell you all about it!

Still haven't got time actually, CSI Miami will be on in a bit, and there's not much I like to watch on tele, but that is one of my programmes, can't beat the acting skills of a man who can take his sunglasses off and then put them back on again.

Anyway, first I must tell you all about the Bloody Crap Day we had the day before we went away. Actually the morning went ok, although I had planned to pack, but then a friend turned up for coffee and that was that (I must admit to prior arrangement on that one, I just thought I'd have more time what with my extensive experience in multi-tasking).

So, back to the day in question, Adrian had his second MRI booked for the afternoon for his spine, having had his brain scanned just a few weeks previously. The Neurologist who made the original appointment for his brain neglected to make another for his spine, so the examing doctor at the MRI clinic sorted that out for him whilst we were there last time. So off we set, got there in good time, although it takes a good hour and a quarter and takes us into Nantes and we are not used to such journeys these days, living as we do as hermits in the middle of the country; checked in at reception, filled in all the forms (again), handed over all the paperwork (again) and waited to be seen, which was fairly quick this time (usually it's a sleeping bag and a flask of coffee kind-of wait time). I am allowed in with Adrian whilst he is prepped for the MRI (nice gown which doesn't quite meet at the back and flashes his arse, needle in arm for injection of whatever it is later on). Whilst he was being sorted out, the nurse said to me 'This is his second MRI isn't it?' 'Yes' I replied, 'Did he have his brain done last time?' 'Yes' I confirmed again. I then handed over Adrian's previous MRI's to the nurse, which he has to take each time, the previous years and the one he had done just a few weeks ago, on his brain. They are huge and a right pain to drag around, but the doctors say that they need to refer to them.

I went back to the waiting room, Adrian eventually came out and we waited for the results, which again, didn't take too long and I was just thinking how quick and efficient they were being (ie under two hours instead of three) when the examining doctor called us in and said to me that he was 'wondering why they had just re-scanned his brain when he'd only just had it done a few weeks ago'. I asked him why as well as they were supposed to be scanning his spine. Turned out that they are total bunch of incompetent idiots and other such derogatory words; from the Neurologist who forgot to make an appointment for the spine, the first doctor who did make the appointment, but apprantely neglected to mention why, the receptionist who didn't check, the nurse who immediately forgot what I told her (or forgot to pass the message on) and the current doctor who admitted he didn't bother to check the recent scans properly (or even at all). Well, there was no having an immediate re-scan, so the doctor offered us another appointment (third time lucky?) which Adrian duly declined, nothing has changed for the last few years and nothing had changed in his brain and he'll be having another one (or maybe even two if he's lucky) next year anyway.

So off we set back home, annoyed that we had had a wasted afternoon. But unfortunately, that was not the end of it all. No sooner had we go onto the Nantes peripherique (ring road) than we were held up in a traffic jam. Eventually, we got to the turnoff for the road we needed, but then we got stopped altogether. I could now see the bridge of the road we were trying to get onto and noticed that traffic was moving southbound, but not northbound. Then I twigged that in the northbound lane were several tractors and a milk lorry not going anywhere. Yes! France would not be France without a strike somewhere or other and today it was here - french dairy farmers stopping all traffic northbound out of Nantes (from three access roads onto the one that they were on - one from each direction of the ringroad and the other from Nantes city centre) coincidently at rush hour....

Eventually they completely and officially shut the access off the ringroad that we were trying to get onto and we made our way back onto the ringroad. Unfortunately, we had no map as I had taken it out of the car the day before to plan our trip for the holiday the following day... I hadn't put it back - I'd half kind-of forgotten and half didn't bother as I know the way so well to the hospital having done it so many times before.... And we don't have a sat nav as we don't want to get lost.

So off we set negotiating our way back into Nantes via another route and then out again on the otherside and eventually back home via the sprawling delights of the french countryside. As I said, all in all a bloody crap day and I still had the packing to do....

When I get another minute or so I will tell you all about our exciting holiday. Bet you can't wait!