Dusty's Frugal Fortnights Return!

Muddy_Walker

My whiz left me years ago! 

dustydigger

Oh boy,it was so cold last night. Early this morning it was  still -3C, but now it has risen to a positively balmy 1C. It will even get up to 2C later..And according to BBC Weather we will have ''gentle breezes''. Gentle breezes,when said wind is one degree,feeling like -3 ? Oh boy. Really glad I cancelled my appointment on Tuesday. My lungs are protesting the cold even in the house whenever we turn the heating off for half an hour :)Seven weeks tomorrow for this cold,still coughing.,may be better by Xmas,hope so.

Have done all the gift envelopes,and christmas cards. Today will pack the goodie bags,and that will be that for gifts etc. Havent even begun cleaning or putting up decorations yet. A mere 2 weeks behind schedule. But between the consultant ripping up my back,and then teh vertigo attack,I have done absolutely nothing as a result.Feeling less dizzy today,so at least I should get the xmas bags organized. And Mr Dusty can get the xmas decorations down off the top of the wardrobe

Whoops,Mr Dusty came back from town freezing,and once again it is -1C,and its now snowing.

They rearranged my back scan for 6th Jan,at 1.30. So daylight,or what passes for it at this time of year. But much better than in the dark at 4pm.

beanielou

Is the new appointment any nearer for you Dusty? 

dustydigger

beanielou said:

Is the new appointment any nearer for you Dusty? 

No,its still at the same place. Spent ages today on google maps street view,and found the way there.  If it were summer,I would get the bus there,but not in winter. Bus to Sunderland,then leave bus station for a bus stop 4 mins away,15 mins journey,then 5 mins walk,fairly easy. But I will just get a taxi from town. Couldnt find a return bus route in the area.Would have to get a bus to a major route,and get a bus to get back to city,too much standing around in the cold so it will be taxis both ways,around £25 altogether probably.

nursemolly

dustydigger said:

beanielou said:

Is the new appointment any nearer for you Dusty? 

No,its still at the same place. Spent ages today on google maps street view,and found the way there.  If it were summer,I would get the bus there,but not in winter. Bus to Sunderland,then leave bus station for a bus stop 4 mins away,15 mins journey,then 5 mins walk,fairly easy. But I will just get a taxi from town. Couldnt find a return bus route in the area.Would have to get a bus to a major route,and get a bus to get back to city,too much standing around in the cold so it will be taxis both ways,around £25 altogether probably.

Can you request hospital transport....sometimes a bit of waiting around but it would be free and you would be warm...just a thought

beanielou

Do you have volunteer drivers in your area that take people to appointments for a small charge? 

dustydigger

With the chaos over ambulance delays etc I think the NHS transport situation is in tatters. Pre covid I did get volunteer  drivers a few times,but not sure about today,better leave it for people in worse condition than me.

As for getting ambulance transport,they collect you hours early as they go round towns and villages all over the place. Then they dont take you home for hours. And thats for hospitals,not sure if that will be available to go to a walk in clinic.

 May strongarm the family for cash help.!

MrsCD

Dusty, when I book patient transport for my dad to go to Sunderland, they ask 100 questions, and one of them is how far can you walk unaided. My dad genuinely can't walk far at all and would need a wheelchair if he wasn't going straight into the department, so he does get PT now and then. But they need 48 hours notice, so if it's an emergency appointment, we have to arrange the 45 minute drive each way, morning and afternoon, ourselves.
It would be worth asking if the volunteer drivers are still available, as you really are in need of that service.

Katiehound

I wonder if it would be possible to use the volunteer car service one way and a taxi for the other- probably in that order because I know you can be waiting for ages & other patients to get the transport home. well, that's what happens round here.

dustydigger

Katiehound said:

I wonder if it would be possible to use the volunteer car service one way and a taxi for the other- probably in that order because I know you can be waiting for ages & other patients to get the transport home.

That has crossed my mind,as long as I get there at the right time. Coming back I will have no rush. I could even  just get on the bus at the stop I got off and continue on the same route to the next place where  several buses connect to go back to the city centre. Depends on the weather of course. I usually have a reconnoitre a few days ahead ,find routes and times,and go with confidence. I can do quite a bit reading on the way!  .But thats in summer time.

I am going to forget the whole thing till after Xmas,perhaps the family can help sort it out. I have enough on my plate sorting Xmas,cant focus!

Mr Dusty was a bit depressed about the England match. I thought England was a bit lacklustre personally,but I had predicted this outcome ever since I saw France playing in earlier rounds. We finished up at the correct level for our skills,IMO,but tell the rabid English fans that and they go crazy. Rose tinted spectacles all round..Only 4 matches left to go,and then perhaps I can get some time in the telly chair,and see some stuff.

Grrr! I did this huge long post,kept clicking ''post'' and nothing . Checked and found at the top saying sign in,by time I did I found only this short original bit before I starting going in and out of the kitchen left on page,I have to put out dinner,so I'll forget it all. Not exactly super wonderful prose or scintilating ideas so you are not missing anything really!