A very frustrating day

I had to go to town yesterday. It all started so well.

Headed down to the ferry dock in plenty of time to catch the 11:40, only to discover the 11:05 was running late and I got on it. Seemed to bode well.

The supposed reason for the trip was an x-ray my doctor suggested I have done when I told her I was getting an ache in the side of my right knee after long walks. “Probably arthritis,” she said. “Best to check.” Oh right, because I’m old now. Thanks for the reminder. That was at the end of January, so you can tell how worried I was. Good thing was, being told I needed an x-ray meant that I could get a pink slip for a free ferry journey.

I had been meaning to get over there for a while, although not for the x-ray. Last year Mickey’s strap broke and I needed to replace it. Tried to do that months ago, the last time I had to go to town. That was on a Monday and I discovered, much to my annoyance, that the watch repair counter at the Bay was not open on Mondays. Grr. For weeks now I’ve been telling myself that I’d go over for the x-ray on a Wednesday, but hadn’t managed it.

Then, on Monday, the handset on my cordless phone gave up the ghost. Simply would not take a charge. The phone’s so old that, of course, you can no longer get replacement batteries, so a new phone was needed. Oh, and, there’s no elderflower cordial to be had on the island. The grocery store has, as I’ve previously complained, stopped carrying it, but there was a specialty shop that did. Unfortunately, it’s also out of it and they don’t seem to have any idea when new stock might appear. So: watch strap, phone, cordial. Three reasons, in addition to the x-ray, to get the ferry to town.

Might as well get the x-ray out of the way first.

There are two places in town where you can get this done. One is a private imaging place, the other is the hospital. I hate hospitals at the best of times. Not to mention how germy they are. Headed to private place, got out of car, walked up to the door where there was a sign: NO X-RAYS TODAY. Yes, I can read, but I went in anyway, just in case, you know, it was a bad joke. Of course it wasn’t. Only other option, the young woman behind the desk told me, was the germy hospital. Told her I didn’t know how to get there. She gave me directions. Found hospital (although not the main entrance), pulled into a parking lot only to discover it was staff only. Pulled out again and drove around until I found the entrance to Emergency. This was paid parking, but where the hell was the meter? Finally found it inside the building. (Why not?) Got directions to x-ray department. Took number. I was 17 and they were already on 14. Maybe this wouldn’t take that long. Number called. Go up to desk. Hand over doctor’s x-ray requisition and my health card. Told it would be one and a half to two hours. Sent to different waiting room. Oh, well, I had a book with me. Actually only took an hour.

Head up to the Bay. Watch repair counter is open, but the guy does not have a single black leather strap that will fit Mickey. Bloody annoying. I wonder if I can superglue the other strap back together? Turn to leave counter, which is next to the women’s shoes section. Once upon a time there were two good shoe shops in this mall, but lockdown did for both of them. However, the Bay does sell Clarks. Perhaps I can find a pair of black ankle boots that I like. I do and they’re on sale! Oh, of course they’re on sale. Because they’re the last pair and they’re not my size. Argh.

Figure while I’m in the same mall I might as well go to see if the Body Shop is still there. Yes, it is and the young woman working there says they are cautiously optimistic that they are one of the outlets that will survive the axe. Unfortunately, they do not have any pink grapefruit soap, which is the only thing I wanted. Tell her I’ll have to order it online. She reminds me that online sales have been suspended. Argh.

Leave mall, head back into town. Go to supermarket. Search high and low, but there is no elderflower cordial. This is very bad news, because I’m back on the spritzers. Lime Bubly just doesn’t cut it as an evening drink – nor does anything else I’ve tried. Maybe I can find that online.

Go to shop beside supermarket to sort out new cordless phone. Some are very cheap, which means they’re very crap. Only brand I recognise is Panasonic, which used to be reliable, but just because they used to be reliable doesn’t mean they still are. God forbid quality should get in the way of shareholder profit and director salaries. (Boeing anyone?) Take Panasonic to counter and ask guy to be honest with me. Is this a good phone. Yes, he say, there are fewer returns on this phone than all the others put together. Okay, I say, I’ll take it. Out of force of habit he asks if I also want to buy the warranty? No, I say, because hardly anyone has ever returned one of these phones. He grins and says, “Doh.” (Not that I ever take one of these warranties anyway.)

Head for ferry. It’s there, unloading. Doesn’t look like there are that many cars in the parking lot. Hurrah. Might be able to drive straight on. No sooner has the car in front of me pulled away from the ticket booth than the gate comes down. Bollocks. Ferry leaves, gate opens. I will be the first one on next ferry. Pull out book.

So, no watch strap, no pink grapefruit soap, no elderflower cordial, no ankle boots.

At least the phone works.