Its thurday so ....

 .... started the day at Limoux hospital where I'd been sent to see a pneumnologist on the off-chance that my breathing difficulties were caused by allergies. Took the 53 bus at 8.30am - what a great bus!- and there was Ferren Macintyre, a treat to catch up with his news. Anyway got to the appointment in good time and here is a picture of the old doorway that is set into the new entrance.

The specialist marked out my arm in biro and then put drops of stuff on the marks, which she proceeded to prick with a pointy thing.

Whilst waiting for reactions I breathed into a mouthpiece with a fancy clothespeg on my nose.

Often and in different ways, as instructed, I puffed away. The specialist shouted at me a lot in an effort to communicate; not comfortable. Then she squirted stuff into my lungs and breathing was a lot easier (though alarmingly I started to shake.)

My arm started itching, then swelling. Hurrah, an allergy! This might be straighforward. But no, alas. It was the control that reacted - the control always reacts, shows your arm is OK. No allergies then.

No allergies, she said. What you got is chronic bronchitis and asthma. Heres a letter for your doctor.
Oh well.
 Quite unlike the NHS. I had an appointment within a few days of asking; there was no reception nor any sign of a nurse, the specialist just comes and calls you out of the waiting room; you take the outcome letter back to the doctor that sent you there. Lean and effective.

Home easily in time for rendez-vous with the bank. They were powerless in the face of Andree, who was good enough to come with me. It was enormous fun - the young woman who is in charge of my few assets was in stiches and the three of us generated enough laughter to occasion scowls from the queue when we got out. Result; a rebate of the stolen dosh and a new card, both to arrive in the fullness of time.

Cafe in the square at l'Occitan afterwards where many old friends of Andrees were taking the sun...

Back at home - Oswald is out:) A month later than last year. What can it mean? And heres little Jessie posing with some jonquils. He/she has eaten most of the jasmine.


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