In Training

My NHS Hospital Visit: Part 1

Of course it would happen after Royal left!

Starting Monday I was having this odd sharp pain very very low on my right side and I didn't think much of it at first because it wasn't constant (only happened about 4 times in a row) and wasn't that painful.  It wasn't until later that night that I became concerned because I do have a history of what's believed to be ovarian cysts rupturing - incredibly painful. 
It continued the next day so I thought I'd better see the doctor.  I made an appointment to register with the office the next morning - which where you bring in your paperwork, a urine test, and see a nurse who takes your height and weight pretty much.  I requested a pregnancy test because of the pain and the fact that I was late.  She took two, both were negative.  She said I should make an appointment with a GP.
Went to the front and tried to do that, but apparently over here they don't make appointments ahead of time, so the lady told me to call at 8:00 the next morning.  I was pretty worried by this time but I thought, okay that's the way it works here.  Until I got back to the office and all the ladies made me call back to say how miserable I was and that I desperately needed to see a GP.  And it worked, I had to go down and wait to squeeze in.
When I did, I saw a very nice doctor who had me take another urine sample and another pregnancy test.  She thought it could be another cyst, an ectopic pregnancy, or possibly appendicitis.  She told me I needed to go to the hospital and I would probably be admitted for overnight. 

So far with Royal being gone I've been great, I have my moments but otherwise I'm just fine! 
Until that. 
I had no idea where the hospital was (it's not in this town), I was scared of the unknown - I've never stayed in a hospital before, and I had no idea what I would do with my puppy overnight, and the worst: I couldn't speak with Royal!
I fell apart when I got to the car.  I don't think I've cried that hard in my life.  I drove back to work, got myself together and went in. 
And promptly fell apart again - I think I even snorted! 
Thankfully I'm very blessed and the ladies rallied around.  One of my co-workers offered to take me to the hospital, another got me a cup of tea, ( then they took it away just in case I needed to have tests done - haha) and another got on the phone to the base to let them know what was going on - in case I was admitted, they might bring Royal home.

Which scared me even more than the hospital!  I thought, they can't bring him home!!  He's out there for a reason, to do his job, and he needs to be there.

Part II    

Common Sense

A lady at work brought the following clipping in today.  She said she'd cut it out of a newspaper a while back, though I don't know what newspaper or how long ago.

Death of a Friend
Today we mourn the passing of a friend by the name of Common Sense who has been with us for many years.
No-one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were lost in red tape.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not kids, are in charge).
His health declined when schools were required to get parental consent to give aspirin to a student but couldn't tell the parents when a student became pregnant.
Over time, Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense finally gave up the ghost after a woman failed to realise a steaming cup of coffee was hot, spilled it in her lap and was awarded huge compensation.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion, his daughter, Responsibility and his son, Reason.
He's survived by his two stepbrothers, My Rights and Ima Whiner.
- Mrs E. M., Allon

Ain't that the truth!

Update May 9th -- Just realized this was my 300th post!  Woo Hoo

"Is there not enough jobs in America?"

Before I begin this post, let me just say that I am enjoying my time in Britain no matter what negativity or customer service problems I run across! Even the fact that I'm not able to carry a gun or a knife. Or pepper spray, apparently.  But I'm getting off track. 
The people I work with are fantastic, the food is excellent, there's so much to see, and occasionally the weather is sunny! I walk down the streets and think, I can't believe I live here - that I've been here almost four months already - it's a dream!

There have been some trying moments, though. 
About two days a week I have to work in an office supply store, generally just for three or four hours to get used to it as I'll be filling in for one of the women in June.  Normally I work in an office atmosphere where I only have to deal with my co-workers and the rare customer.  In the shop... well, it's a shop so customers all the time!  I was already nervous about this because I have a block in my brain when it comes to numbers, I am in no way NO WAY good at math and need to use a calculator for most problems. 

About the second day I was training a lady came in and wanted 250 sheets of card stock in three different colors.  I said great and started counting (later it occured to me that she did not even offer to help, I mean we're talkin' 250 freakin' sheets to count, but maybe I just get irritated about that kind of thing).  When I took the paper around the counter I tried to do the math in my head but was too flustered.  I went to get the calculator right behind me when this happened:

Mean lady: "Oh you don't need a calculator, just do the math.  Young people today just can't do anything without help.  Always needing calculators because they don't use their minds. Here, you do this and this and this and get £16*.  Goodness."

Me: [turning red] "Okay that will be 16 pounds please."

Mean lady: [looks past me and says] "Where does she come from then?"

Co-worker: "Kath's from America"

Mean lady:  "Oh well it's the same in dollars then.  Shouldn't be too difficult."

* I don't remember the actual price of the paper, or the total.  So I made it up.
After the lady left, my co-workers told me she's always rude like that and they don't like her.  Kinda made me feel a bit better. 
A couple weeks after that I was helping a gentleman with faxing a paper when he just came out and said,
[smugly] "Is there not enough jobs in America then?"
I was caught off guard again so I just replied that my husband was here.

The next day a gentleman wanted to order something we didn't have in stock.  I got the form and asked him his name.  He spelled it for me and it sounded like he said 'H-w-n-e-y' but I knew that couldn't be right, so I asked "W?"  Of course not he said, it was double E, as in Heeney.  Okay, may I have your telephone number please. 
Until I moved here, I had never heard anyone use 'treble' for triple.  He mentioned treble seven so I just wanted to make sure that he meant triple, because sometimes its sounds like double.  This followed:

Mean man: [sharp sarcastic tone] "Yes 3 sevens.  How can you come work in this country if you don't understand the language?  You should be able to. 

Me: [turning red, trying to play it off] "Well I'm trying sir"

Mean man: "If you can't understand me then you're definitely not going to be able to understand the man behind me, I think I'll just stand here and listen in on your conversation to see how it goes."

He didn't.  Obviously he was trying to be funny or something. He knew the man behind him and he knew the man was Northern Irish and figured his speech would be more difficult for me.  It wasn't even close.  The man had a beautiful accent and spoke very clearly.  He was very nice as well, explaining to me that that mean man knew he was Irish and was apparently teasing him.
 
I understand most British people just fine, just not the people who mumble and speak too fast at the same time, that's all.  Once both the men had left, my co-worker said that I shouldn't concern myself with the mean man because he is just like that and ignorant. 
I'm trying not to, but sometimes things like that can get you down.