Gondor's Grumblings

[Gondor]

I have been doing a little research for one of the builds I intend to do. Please note the choice of words, intend was chosen deliberately. As I have bought from Freightdog one of his Reaper conversion sets, and I have an Airfix Club Members Meteor kit with the rockets, Red Roo also do a set that can be used for a Korean war jet, I have been looking up which squadron to have operate mine. I have settled for 208 Squadron, flying from RAF Fayid in a trial camouflage scheme rather than bare metal or High Speed Silver. No idea when I will start it, I have four other builds I want to finish as well. 

[Pellson]

I like this. Please do carry on - in your own time.

[Rick Lowe]

I still have too many things to do.

I have said a similar thing many, many times...

At my usual build rate, I'll be here forever...

[Gondor]

Back on the Twenty-First, I said that "I still have too many things to do", so this weekend I have done nothing

Well, not exactly 100% accurate. I have been moving a few parts around the model room, organising kits to go into deep storage. I have also been looking for a set of decals that I was given at Telford, for free. Can I find them, can I heck! So I ordered another set and a different set to go with it. This time, when the decals arrive, I shall put them into the kit box that they are destined for. So that build gets bumped up the list of projects. So I had better get a few builds finished by April for the Scottish Nationals. If anything turns out half decent, I might even enter something. Emphasis on the word Might.

I am so glad that I have Tuesday off work so I can get to a Hospital appointment for my left eye. The lack of focus is really starting to get to me. I am still very surprised at how quickly things have moved so far with this. It's just over a week ago that I got my eyes checked, and now I have my first hospital appointment in a couple of days. I am taking public transport for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I don't know how bad the parking at the hospital is, and it is in a major city as well. Secondly, as this is about my eyes, I might be given eye drops, so driving would be out of the question. And Thirdly, I have a bus pass so the travel is free 

[Rick Lowe]

Hope things go well for you, Alastair. 

[NARSES2]

Hope things go well for you, Alastair. 

Yup, all the best 

[Gondor]

Today's trip to the Gartnavel Hospital started well. As you can guess, things went south from there. Getting to Glasgow was no problem. Getting to the Hospital was a problem because the bus stop I was going to use was shut due to work on the building behind it, and I had no idea where else to catch it. I eventually found a stop and just missed the bus; it was pulling away as I got to the stop, and these days they stick to their times regardless. So, with this being Glasgow, no hailing a cab or even a taxi. I worked out how to get to a known taxi rank and hired a taxi, reaching the Hospital in time for my appointment.
Once inside, I went to the wrong reception desk; from there, I was redirected to the correct desk. Very busy place, not quite enough chairs for the number of people, but no space for more. Over an hour later, I was called. I had almost got to the point of asking if I had been forgotten about. When I was called, it was for a basic eye test, which was good for the right eye, but bad for the left one. Not surprising, as the problem is with the left eye. After the test, I was directed to a different area where I had to sit again, not as long as previously though. That had been a sort of general test area for everyone going to the eye department, from there we were separated into more specialised areas. Eye drops next, followed some time later by pictures and scans of the backs of the eyes, followed by more sitting and waiting. A bit later, I was called by a "more senior" person whom I assumed was the specialist, and when introduced, I was proven correct. He had a very nice-looking young female student with him 
After he checked both eyes, he told me that I had two choices. Leave well alone and experience some further degradation of vision in the left eye, or take an 85% success rate, chance with an operation. He also mentioned that it was a one-time offer, no changing my mind in three months or so.
The upshot is that I will be going back later this month to have the operation.
Travelling back home was not exactly straightforward, as none of the buses at that time of day were going directly to the bus station, which would have been very nice. I did ask the driver of the bus that I did catch, to drop me off at the nearest stop he made to the bus station. I did explain to him that I didn't know his route, so I had no idea which stop was closest. When I got off the bus, he was very helpful and pointed me in the right direction. I then managed to find the right bus to get me back to Stirling quickly.
So back home after some seven hours. My nerves frayed around the edges due to my lack of knowledge about the buses and their routes, and no tea during all that time!

[Rick Lowe]

and no tea during all that time!

Oh, The HORROR!! 

You have our sympathies... and that, with $5, will get you a coffee/tea/beverage of your choice... 

Glad there is an option for you, and hope it goes well. 

[NARSES2]

At least there was no waiting for results 

Best of luck with the Op mate, hope all goes well 

Chris

[The Rat]

He had a very nice-looking young female student with him 

So your vision is still good enough to notice that! 

[Gondor]

He had a very nice-looking young female student with him 

So your vision is still good enough to notice that! 

I have one perfectly good eye; the other one has difficulty focusing at close distances. So I can see well enough to get within arm's reach if need be 

[NARSES2]

With glasses off I go by sense of smell and have for over half a century 

[Charlie_c67]

With glasses off I go by sense of smell and have for over half a century 

Wish I'd been able to do the opposite at SMW when downwind of one individual. First time outside a hospital where I've been able to know who was approaching without having to turn around!

Our various lady medical students and junior doctors were often much easier on the nose/eye. Even if it did result in a higher heart rate when being treated by one

[kerick]

I had to go for these verbal tests of my memory a few years ago. I might have done better if the young lady giving the tests wasn't so distracting! Very lovely and made it extra hard to concentrate!

[Rick Lowe]

I had to go for these verbal tests of my memory a few years ago. I might have done better if the young lady giving the tests wasn't so distracting! Very lovely and made it extra hard to concentrate!

Probably all a part of it...