Time Flies
I had my jacket, hat and gloves on. I’d packed a
thermos of hot tea, and even considered taking along a sleeping back – just in
case. I’d walked this way before and it had taken several days…well, many, many
hours. I decided to time it to confirm that my perception of the length of time
was the same as the reality. I started my stopwatch and off I went…
16 minutes later I arrived at my destination. Huh?
From home to the library in only 16 minutes!
But whenever I walk here with the kids it always takes…wait
a minute. Whenever I walk here with the kids.
London isn’t suddenly shrinking. I was not moving
through a time warping vortex. I simply had no kids with me. I could walk at a reasonable,
adult, pace. Normally we walk with Grace, aged three, or Grace goes in the
buggy with the others hanging off it or near it. Progress is often slow…but we
eventually get there.
The reason I headed to our library was because there
was a dental surgery almost opposite that I was hoping to join the family up
at. Luka had banged a tooth and we wanted to get it checked out.
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| Carrying The Shopping Home |
Of course, it's not aways their walking pace that is the thing slowing us down!
Joining Up
With GPs And Dentists
I went to the dental surgery with fear and
trepidation. Naomi had recounted her experience of trying to join us up at a London
GP. Her conversation with the receptionist went something like this
-
Hello, could I
please sign my family up with your practice?
-
I’m sorry, not
today. We stopped signing up new members at 1pm
-
But it’s 1.01pm
-
Exactly!
-
Well, when could
I sign up?
-
Between 12.53 and
1.00pm on the third Wednesday of months with an ‘R’ in them and the second
Thursday of all other months…unless the moon is in its first quarter, in which
case…
So you can see I was a little tense as I turned the
door handle to the dental surgery. I had arrived with our NHS numbers (official
number to say we can use the British health system), our passports, proof of
address, and a receipt from the local supermarket – which is irrelevant, but it
was in my pocket.
I had worked out my opening phrase. Not, “Could I join
my family up at your practice?” A closed question like that could too easy be
answered, “No”. Instead, I chose, “Hello, I’d like to join myself and my family
up with your practice, please”. I gritted my teeth, crossed my fingers, and
hoped for the best.
-
Sure
-
Oh, okay then, do
you know of any other practices around here. Wait! What? We can? Great. How?
-
Just write down
your name, address, and date of birth on this piece of paper
-
Wow! Okay. My
wife has a British passport and…
-
That’s not
necessary. Could you also write down the names and dates of birth of the other
members of your family?
Incredible! Within a few minutes I was joined up and
had an appointment for Luka a couple of days away. Without me prompting in any
way the receptionist asked, while smiling – not that common over here – would you
like your other kids booked in for a free check-up? I was too flustered and
turned her down saying I would have to confirm dates as we had a family wedding
coming up with various members flying into the country.
In New Zealand, an event like being treated pleasantly
and ‘reasonably’ would hardly rate mentioning in one’s diary, but over here it
is…unusual, to say the least.
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