Could I do better?

Wednesday 7th October, 2020

I am horrified at myself sometimes. Today I was woken by the telephone. It was to do with the SKY and Openreach wifi investigations. Were the three green lights showing? Was wifi working? Yes and no..... Feeling decidedly irritated and groggy I gulped coffee galore.

Then I walked to Mass at the local church. One could tell it was Autumn as the sun was so low. It shone directly in to the eyes. I uttered thanks for it but realised life is not as I would design it. Daily one learns new things about oneself. New angles, new reactions, new worries and experiences and new appreciations.

I arrived at church. Gel, masks and distanced seating. Sadly at the beginning the priest announced he was moving on. He is, I think, an excellent pastor. I relish his sermons and his way of celebrating the Eucharist. I will miss him.

After Church an old friend and I shot off to a breakfast picnic. I do not think it illegal although new measures have just been announced by Ms Sturgeon re Covid restrictions. Lots of talk, coffee, sausages and bacon sandwiches...it is the sort of event which is keeping me sane. ( Something called the great Barrington declaration re lockdown and strict measures has been announced today. I am concerned at the one action covers all policy. I am concerned that there is too little attention to the effects of the Covid paranoia ).

Then to the Perth Royal Infirmary to have a check up on my TURP operation. I have no sat nav. Yes, I looked up the ways to get to the PRI and noted it assiduously. A map is easier to read on an iPad than to drive on the ground. I got lost, cursed various people and one way streets, told myself to keep calm and then felt fury at some other less competent driver! What ever at least I was distracted from thinking on wifi engineers!

I had given myself much time and arrived 20 minutes early for the appointment. Well, the urology treatment centre staff were running late. By the time I was called I was not very calm. I looked at my watch and it was 98 minutes after my appointment time. Actually I was impressed at how nice I was to the nurse. Actually I was unimpressed at how worked up I had gotten. Why? I muttered to myself, why?

It took exactly 128 seconds for my check up. It involved:

" How are you?" " Fine". " Any problems?" " No". " We will transfer you back to your own GP. If anything goes wrong, please contact him". "Thank you." " Good bye".

Driving out of Perth I again got lost, drove up a one way street the wrong way and turned left expressly against signage.

The Countryside between Perth and Dundee is utterly stunning. It was breath taking. I drove reasonably and kept my eyes on the road but I noticed the beauty of the landscape. It entered my soul. When I got home I had a cup of tea and talked of William Wordsworth and his love of nature and his viewing it as a moral authority. Sadly Nature may have found me wanting.

After two mugs of tea I decided to look to my emails......wifi was not working! I took a deep breath and looked at the Tay, it too was in a turbulent mood. Yet within twenty minutes wifi had retuned. The Tay still was ruffled.

What have I learned today? Possible what I learn every day: " could do better !"