Wordsley, Stourbridge, England: 10 degrees, chilly, sunny and slightly overcast.
Today is the day I am taking a blood test, the first in a long time.
The last time I voluntarily had a blood test was when I was dating Jacqueline over six years ago. However, during my emergency appendicitis operation, several blood tests were likely carried out at the hospital, but I never saw the results.
Ten days ago, I visited my local GP clinic where I had registered. Charlotte, the nurse, completed the final questions, addressing any doubts about me, including my height, weight, and habits, and I also provided my urine sample.
She also printed out labels for me to take with me when I have my blood test. She gave me a slip of paper with contact details so I could reserve my blood test, either by phone or online. After my appointment with Charlotte, I stopped by the reception.
Allison, one of the secretaries, gave me all the information I needed to register online with the clinic. Everybody was extremely friendly and helpful.
A couple of days later, I registered myself as Richard Jackson in the NHS system and at the GP clinic in Kingswinford. Everything was pretty easy and straightforward if you know a little about doing things intuitively online. I then also used the link from the piece of paper that Charlotte had given me to book my blood test.
Once again, it was relatively easy and intuitive—first my name, date of birth, and my new NHS number, and I was in. I could select from the date and place. I chose Wednesday because, until yesterday, everything I wanted was fully booked. I also chose Corbett’s Hospital, a place where I have many fond memories from my childhood.
I once had a minor operation at Corbett’s to remove my tonsils. I was very young, suffering from tonsillitis regularly, and every few months, it would return. After a couple of years of enduring sore throats and missing out on school, the doctor approved their removal.
I remember being in a huge room, a children’s ward with probably more than 20 or 30 beds, filled with children about my age, either having or about to have some surgery or treatment. Later in my life, I started doing aikido at Corbett’s Hospital. I don’t remember exactly how I was introduced to it — whether by my father or a friend — but I ended up enjoying it.
There was a kind of annexe, an indoor gymnasium at the back of the hospital with a very high ceiling and beautiful full-length windows from the floor to the ceiling on two sides. It was held twice a week, and a friend and I, whose name I also do not remember, were the youngest in the group. All the others were men who had been attending for a long time. My friends stopped, but I continued until I went to London to live.
Corbett’s Hospital has been part of my life, and now I am returning there for a blood test — one I haven’t had in a long time and a place I probably haven’t visited in about 40 years.
I got up early, did some exercise, had a coffee and a wash, and I was ready to go. The appointment was at 8:30, so I left at 7:30. It is about two miles to the hospital. I decided to take the canal route instead of walking along the road, and I’ll be there in about fifty minutes.
The weather was miserable, having rained during the night, and it looked like it was going to rain again. I left a little late, around 8:20, but there was still enough time to walk there. It was cold, but since it wasn’t raining, walking along the canal early in the morning was so pleasant.
Even though it wasn’t sunny and was very grey, it was spring, so besides the various shades of green and brown, there were plenty of bright colours from blooming flowers.
As I approached the hospital, I was surprised to see that all the old buildings I remembered from the past had vanished. The buildings used to be taller because the hospital was the main one for the region. Since then, newer, more modern, and more impressive hospitals have been built.
The hospital has reverted from its former state, with all the high-tech equipment removed, and now consists of just one or two floors. It has evolved into more of a healthcare centre than a traditional hospital.
I entered through the main door, and above the large double doors to the left, there was a banner that read ‘blood test’. Clearly, I was in the right place. When I entered, it was 8:10—early, and an elderly female nurse greeted me and asked if I had an appointment. I replied yes, and she told me to wait in the waiting room, where I would be called when needed.
My appointment was scheduled between 8:25 and 8:30, and I was called at 8:31, so it wasn’t too bad, to say the least. A younger middle-aged nurse was waiting for me in a sort of cubicle station for taking blood. She was sitting in front of a computer with a large hospital armchair next to her, with an armrest. She asked me to sit down, and within less than two minutes, it was all done.
What impressed me about Karen, the nurse, was that for the first time in my life, I didn’t feel the needle entering. This could be due to her technique, a special needle, or possibly both. However, at no point did I feel the needle inside me, and she didn’t just take one sample; multiple samples were taken simultaneously.
I was impressed, I told her and then thanked him.
Many times in the past in Brazil, a nurse had difficulty finding my vein, which was very common, or the person was a bit messy or awkward in inserting the needle into my skin and the vein. However, with Karen, it was a breeze!
When I left the hospital, I headed back on the road. I wanted to check out Lidl for anything interesting to buy. I found a pair of cycling shorts that I don’t really need, but I bought them anyway. I considered buying other things, but I had to control myself and only bought the shorts.
Lidl and Aldi, German supermarket chains in England, are excellent. They have a reputation for the lowest prices, similar to Mundial in Rio. The shop assistants and cashiers are extremely helpful, and there are no strange smells like some supermarkets in Rio from the past.
They have two or three aisles dedicated to anything for the house and home, including toys, games, tools, gardening equipment, clothing, and more. Every time I go, it is like Christmas for me. I love it.
I bought some items for the kitchen and my new cycling shorts, then walked home. I tried to find a place for a coffee, but there wasn’t one; Luke’s was closed, and another café in Brittel Lane had closed permanently the day before. I only considered going to the café on the green, which I didn’t want to do, so I hope it was okay.
I worked for the rest of the day, but in the evening, I started to cough and developed a sore throat. I hope not, but we’ll see.
One more thing I wanted to do before coming to England was completed today.
In bed by midnight.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
