Vocal Voices

from where we used to live.

We did the cleaning and stuff this morning (including ourselves ) before we went to Ourique.

Got to the Centro de Saude and it was rammed so I queued, as you do, for my repeat prescription.

oh no, not here You actually have to see the doctor for him to print out the prescription.

As we didn't remember the name, cue many phone calls and eye rolling from the waiting queue

Grumpy0s appointment was for 16.31 - mine was for 17.14

We'd arranged for the metal man to come at 6.00 so knew there was not a hope in wotsits of us being back in time. So had to cancel that.

So we went to Sonia's, had a coffee and chat (and yes, this is normal for repeat prescriptions ) spoke to her son who returned yesterday from 3 months in England, booked the table for tomorrow, went shopping and bumped into the lady who is the d-i-l of the lady we bought the house from. Cue long chat.

Decided we could juuuuust about welly it back home with the meat (special offers on today so bought loads) got back to the clinic at 16.34.

And waited.

And waited.

Until this little man came out and asked what Grumpy's name was, told him and off he went. Then came back, called Grumpy in

I went to book an appointment with the nurse (as I'd been told I had to, thinking, oh berlimey, it could be tomorrow, when our friends are here) and then was called in straightaway

Had my second jab, was complimented on my Portuguese and then Grumpy called me into see the doc. Before my appointment

No worries -we were told he was a grouch and wouldn't speak English.

We spoke Portuguese and he was lovely and said we both speak and write very well.

Back to the bar for a well deserved couple of beers, saw Helda, he's coming up next week, to give us a price for the pool and kitchen

And as we left, was presented with a dozen fresh hen eggs

Blimey, will you have to go through that palaver every time? Still, the eggs are a bonus

Apparently, yes Kaz

But now we know the system, no worries. Although it's the main centro de saude for the area, the docs are only there part time - we just happened to arrive on the day he was there

And I just have to ask for more back plates for Gladys and then they'll send me the 3 euro bill and they'll ring when they're in

It's hard to tell whether that's better or worse If it works, I guess it's better

As Sonia said - this is Portugal And she's Portuguese

Now we know, I'm fine about it.

Not one person in that clinic speaks English - apart from Enfermeria Sofia and she won't speak English to me - which is good