Living abroad tips and hints for money savers

Merrywidow

Hi Savvy Sue. Yes this volcanic ash is a pain. Friends of mine were due to fly to Scotland today for a family wedding so they have all piled into their cars and are driving up there. There are two babies in there - that should be fun.

Yes A&E is a pain. My late husband spent half his life in the place when he was terminally ill. The trouble with my mother who is 97 is that she is immobile and riddled with Arthritis. Junior doctors don't know that Arthritis 'scars' on bones are similar to breaks on an X-Ray. This is the third time I have been told she has broken her Arm/Hip/leg - being admitted for an op - blah blah blah. I ask them to check with senior doctors about Arthritis 'scars'. they disappear, order new X-rays, and an hour later she gets the all clear....sigh!!!!

By this time its 9pm, I am tired, hungry and cheesed off. Mum is ravenous because they have kept her 'nil by mouth' as she would need an operation and getting any food in A&E is a lost cause. THEN I have to try and get a full ambulance crew to take her back to the Nursing Home between the 999 calls. I came home last night totally spent. A few stiff whiskies was called for!!

droopsnout

I've been to A&E twice here.

The second time was after some aluminium steps collapsed underneath me, and I sprained my ankle. I went to the A&E of a private clinic (quite normal over here - I wasn't being posh!) and was seen quite quickly, and the diagnosis was properly done, with x-ray, etc. Treatment and advice was good. Waiting time was short. It may have been a private establishment, but the surroundings were rather spartan. Overall experience was good, I suppose.

The first time, though, I was flat on my back on an ambulance stretcher, dosed up with morphine, so I don't remember too much about it. On that occasion I was admitted for three nights, and the care I received on the ward was truly excellent.

seven-day-weekend

Rain. Again.

droopsnout

I think you're getting our share, s-d-w. No rain forecast here at all, until next Thursday at the earliest.

seven-day-weekend

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Rain. Again.

Although so far our newly-repaired roof terrace is not leaking, despite the inferior quality of local building materials......

Merrywidow

Sorry you have the rain again SDW - but you ain't getting my sun!!!

Merrywidow

Glad you liked your A&E DS - The only time I have ever broken anything was in Spain - in Albir in the first few days of a three week holiday. They took me to an A&E in Benidorm, stretched my arm out, X-rayed it, put it in plaster and sent me home at midnight. No painkillers, nothing. Just a prescription that we couldn't get filled till the next morning. I can still remember the agony of it.

droopsnout

Ouch! Maybe it was payback time. Maybe England had just beaten Spain at footie?

de1amo

i like this time of year because the sun is just warm and not stinking hot--its been sunny for about 3 weeks now and before that it was just grey and sunny!--the temperature is in the mid 20s and perfect --in summer the city is airless and in the 40s--much niicer at the beach house--do miss my saterlite and gym though!

droopsnout

It's been 28 or more here this afternoon, and still 27 as the sun starts to go down.

MW, I've been digging! Picked my first radishes today.

Yes ... we do watch UK telly via satellite, but although it is cheap entertainment, I sometimes feel that it does stop further integration. I mean, if you didn't watch it, you can't discuss French telly with your local pals. If you're watching UK news, you're probably not keeping up with the news in the country you've adopted. It's hard to keep a balance between roots and integration.

Wish I had your enthusiasm for the gym, though de1amo!!