\nNurse – “we have coffee, biscottes<\/em>, jam and orange juice for breakfast”.
\nOur Hero – “Mmmmm – a nice, hot, strong coffee”.
\nNurse (after what can only be described as a “pregnant” pause) – “well, it’s coffee”, and I suppose that it might have been too.<\/p>\n
I managed a shower too. One of the nurses came round with a clean gown, a towel and a flannel. And seeing that my bed was just two feet away from the bathroom, I couldn’t resist the opportunity. It was gorgeous too – probably the best part of my stay in the hospital.<\/p>\n
The doctor came round a little later to discuss my case. He told me that I need to have a blood test tomorrow morning and then telephone them as soon as I have the results so that if necessary I could be called in tomorrow afternoon. I explained that I wouldn’t receive the results until after 17:00.
\n“Which laboratory handles your blood?”
\n“Clermont Ferrand”
\n“Okay, I’ll send someone round to take a sample now”. Personally, I don’t see the point of giving me this blood if they are going to take it straight back out again.<\/p>\n
A couple of hours later, he was back.
\n“Your blood shows 8.0 for haemoglobin” he said. “What is it normally?”
\n“It was 7.2 when I came in” replied Our Hero, “but the first time that I came here it was 3.8”
\nAnd do you know – I’ve never seen a doctor fall off his chair before.<\/p>\n
Anyway he went off to make further enquiries. he seemed to think that I might need a third pochette<\/em>. And he did want to know how I would return home once I was discharged. <\/p>\n However the third pochette<\/em> was not to be. Half an hour later a nurse came in. In the corridor, I bumped into the doctor again. Back at Liz’s I had a leisurely lunch and then a leisurely afternoon, dozing off every now and again to catch up with the sleep that I missed<\/p>\n And with Liz’s nut roast at lunchtime and Liz’s home-made vegan lentil and pepper curry for tea, it’ll be interesting to see if I go back on the road tonight.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Happy New Year to you all. I wish you for 2016 everything that you wished for everyone else in 2015.<\/p>\n
\n“Would you like some lunch before you go?”
\nWhat? With a friendly neighbourhood Liz in the vicinity? You must be joking.<\/p>\n
\n“Drive safely, and if you feel tired or ill make sure that you stop and rest” The fact that I’d driven all of the way to Montlucon with less haemoglobin that I was going home with had gone over his head completely.<\/p>\n
