Off to a good start ...

This week is going to be very very long ... because I have going home to Whangarei to look forward to at the end of it, and everyone knows that when you're looking forward to something, it seems to take forever to get here ...

It started this morning with a visit to the doctor. For those of you who don't know, I'm epileptic and take daily meds. I rang to get a renewal on Friday and the nurse told me that because they had no record of a recent blood test, I had to go in and see the doc (hardly surprising they couldn't find it really, I honestly don't know when the last one was done ... I hate blood tests and managed to go two whole years in Whangarei without having to have one) ... appointment at 9.15 this morning thank you very much ...

I dropped the rugrats off at the school holiday programme, and then spent fifteen minutes trying to sort out a mix up with the fees from last week. Being considerate, I rang the doc to tell them I was running a bit late, would be five mins late for my appointment and I hoped that wasn't a problem ...

"We don't have you down for an appointment at all this morning, who did you speak to ?"
"The nurse. Look, I've taken time off work for this ... can you fit me in ?"
"How's 10.00am ?"
"Great, I'll see you then"

I arrived at five to ten, just in case my clock was wrong (we have five clocks in our house, and they all have different times on them !!!). No apology for messing me around, just the standard "take a seat, the doctor will be with you shortly" ...

At 10.20 I'd had enough and went back to the receptionist, who looked mortified when I told her I was leaving (why is it that some people act like doctors are gods ? It never ceases to amaze me the awe with which they're treated. I used to work at the med school .... but that's another story)

Me : "Look, this has been a disaster from start to finish. I rang on Friday ... all I want is a script and the nurse said I had to come in for an appointment ..."

Snippy Uptight Receptionist : "Well the nurse didn't put you in the book ..."

Me : "I don't really see that that's my problem, do you ?"

SUR : "Well the doctor is very busy ..."

Me : (by now in a dangerously calm voice) "So am I. So far I've taken two hours off work for this ... first my appointment doesn't exist and now it's 10.20 and I had a 10 o'clock appointment"

SUR : "Which nurse did you speak to on Friday ?"

Me : (very sweetly) "The incompetent one, obviously"

SUR : "The doctor is busy at the moment ..."

Me : "Me too. All I want is a script. Now, I'm not waiting any more ..."

SUR : "I'll get the nurse to phone you"

Me : "Please don't. Ask the doctor to phone me ... hopefully he knows what he's doing"

Graceful exit, stage left.

I was very proud of myself ... I didn't raise my voice once !!! Now I realise it wasn't the SUR's fault (which is why I didn't yell at her) ... but honestly her superior attitude and her "you should be grateful we let you sit in our waiting room until the doctor deigns to come see you" tone of voice and the fact that not once did I even get an "I'm sorry" didn't bode well for our future relationship.

Oh yeah ... and the number one phrase absolutely 100% guaranteed to get my back up is "such and such is very busy" .... it implies they have more important things to do than deal with me, and I don't appreciate that one iota !!!

There was a phone message when I finally arrived at work ... apparently my script is ready to be collected. There had better not be a charge involved ... or I am going to invoice them for the two hours I took off work this morning and still didn't get to see the doctor at the end of it.

I can feel my hourly rate soaring ...