How Was Your Week?

If we were having coffee or something a little stronger, I’d tell you that it’s been another busy week and at times stressful.

A VISIT TO THE DOCTORS – Take 2

On Thursday, as I’d still not received an appointment to see a doctor and the pain in my hip was becoming unbearable at times, I decided to pluck up courage, drive to the health centre and queue to see the doctor for an emergency appointment.

On arriving at the Centre de Suade (Health Centre), several people were waiting outside and I was advised to take a ticket and join the queue. After a while, I wondered what the queue was for. The last time I joined a random queue on the beach with my daughter, when we got to the front, we were given a phone condom and a pair of Havaianas flip-flops. I plucked up the courage to ask in my best pigeon Portuguese if this was the queue for the doctor. Yes.

I waited, and when my number was called, the receptionist informed me that the doctor was Cuban and didn’t speak English. I shrugged. I am a master at charades, and a helpless smile goes a long way. Besides, I had already translated my symptoms into Portuguese which I’d printed off, and I had a voice translation app on my phone. I was reluctantly given an appointment.

By the time I got to see the doctor, I was physically shaking. “Eu stressado”, I said. I don’t know if stressado is a Portuguese word, but I took a gamble. The doctor smiled kindly. “Relax”, he said, and as I’d forgotten my glasses, I handed the piece of paper with my translated notes on and showed him the medication I was taking. We managed, and despite going for a pain in my hip best likened to a bad toothache, I came away with a prescription for three pages of blood tests, a cardiogram and two X-rays. At least he is thorough. We will see…

TAKING TIME OUT TO RELAX and Destress …

Mr P keeps moaning that the pool was a waste of money and not worth the hassle of maintaining it. ‘you don’t swim’. Since my knee op, I find it painful to swim. I sigh. Give him the evil eye. Gentleman, you know the look. Don’t poke the bear.

One of my favourite ways to relax now is to float on my lilo, sipping a glass of wine or G&T

On a positive note, I managed to swim ten lengths a couple of weeks ago but that aggravated the pain in my hip. Don’t you just love getting old! NOT.

AZEA CHARITY LUNCH

Saturday, I attended a lunch to raise money for the local animal charity, AZEA. While it was fun to meet so many people, the noise level of the chatter as people struggled to make themselves heard made my ears bleed.

I never win at raffles. Never. Lady luck was on my side because my ticket numbers struck lucky 3 times.

IN THE NEWS

I can’t even begin to comprehend the craziness in the world right now, which I hope does not result in conflict. Sadly, I am becoming an ostrich to preserve my sanity. I have also realised that expressing an opinion is not PC because it could cause unintentional offence. What happened to let’s agree to disagree and move on?

I paint and bury my thoughts in the garden or throw them on the compost heap … Onwards

My Buddha painting is progressing slowly as my lessons have stalled until July.

How do you relax?

For more weekend coffee shares, do pop over to Natalie’s blog.