I had an appointment with Doc today.

That is now quite an achievement. I used to get a same-day appointment in the past but with half a million Ukrainians filling the local hotels and Youth Hostel he has become so busy he has taken on a couple more doctors and still it takes nearly two weeks to see him.

So I sat with Ludmilla and her young daughter [neither of whom had a word of Irish] in the waiting room until it was my turn.

Doc looked tired. The first thing he said to me was that I looked tired. It must be an infectious thing that’s going around making everyone look tired?

So he gave me my road test, checking various parts of me to see if they still functioned. They do, for the most part. Apparently my heart is still beating and my lungs are still breathing so things can’t be too bad? At one point he grasped my elbow and I winced. He asked if it was sore. I said it was. Probably Tennis Elbow says he. He poked the joint. I didn’t react. Not Tennis Elbow says he. He poked the other side of the joint. I winced. Golfer’s Elbow says he. I pointed out that I haven’t played golf in many years. I haven’t played tennis either. Apparently that doesn’t matter.

Anyhows I got an antibiotic prescription for an infection of the snot passage [which is very sore] and trotted down tho the chemist. Half an hour, they said.

So I had a pleasant mug of coffee and a smoke while I waited.

Life is good.