Thursday

I was up early and took the dog out for a walk as I had an appointment at the doctors to ask about HRT as I am on my last month's supply.

When you go into the reception at the surgery they give you a slip of paper with all your details on. Usually you wait in the main reception area but as my doctor, Karin Hall, has had a foot operation they asked me to wait outside her door. All the doctors go to the main reception and call their patients in - what a waste of time and energy! I was called in on time at 9.30 and after going through my notes and family history she told me I ought to think about coming off HRT as I had been on it longer than they recommend in NZ. I told her there was no way I could consider coming off it at the moment and maybe I will try in a few months time when I feel more settled fortunately, she agreed. She could not find an HRT tablet that was more or less the same as the one I was on and so called the on call consultant gynaecologist at the hospital and had a chat to
him about it and they came up with the name of a tablet for me. I was amazed and told her there is no way that a GP could do that in UK. She told me that they could "speak" to the consultants it was getting appointments for their patients that was difficult! All in all I was in with her for 40 min and felt very embarrassed. She signs the slip of paper and you take it to the reception and pay your bill. I then took my prescription to the pharmacy, in the same building, and paid about £14 for it nearly twice as much as UK for HRT my other pills were only about £1.50. All in all not a bad experience.

When I got back it was nearly time to meet Bronwyn and Alison and we went down to a coffee bar near the marina and sat in the sun and had a lovely coffee and a chat.

This afternoon was a bit boring as I had to do my ironing!

It is quite difficult over here with what to wear at the moment. Mornings are quite cold but by 11.00 I usually need to change into something cooler so both winter and summer clothes are out at the moment. Jon is still wearing shorts after work and the weekend but I am seeing more women in jackets now and they say usually Anzac day (this Saturday) is when the weather turns and people start to wear more winter clothes, we'll see.