Impressed and not impressed

[tonicha]

Very impressed with the scan in Beja. The lady doctor explained everything, what she was doing ,what she was looking for and also what she thought - which is, basically, not a lot to worry about.

We had to wait over an hour, but this is normal and my doctor will be sent the result within 10 days.

Not so impressed with Sue, who took me. Yes, she arranged the appointment, so had to ring up. I also paid her petrol (20 euros ) and she then asked for another 40 euros for her time and translation skills

Yes, she did help out, but I could have done it myself - but not knowing where we were going and also what/where etc did not cost 40 euros.

I'll take Antonia to the docs with me - otherwise it'll no doubt cost me another 20 euros

And she wonders why local people have a downer on her

[Ally]

The lady doctor Ton...was she speaking in English?

Why did you have to pay Sue money?

[Kaz]

Yes I am a bit confused too xx

[JoM]

Was this her just coming along to help or does she work as a translator?

Really she should've been upfront about it and told you that she wanted paying in advance.

[tonicha]

We did most of it in Portuguese Ally, me and the doc

Sue is in dire financial difficulty and we all help out where we can, as in "employing" her. She's fluent in Portuguese and I'm not good on the phone, as my accent is more Algarve than Alentejo.

And yes, I know exactly what you and probably many others are going to say, but I have only been to Beja once before, many years ago and had no idea where were were having to go. And she drove, as I can't do night driving.

[tonicha]

Really she should've been upfront about it and told you that she wanted paying in advance.

I wish she had - but we were gone for 4 hours

[Ally]

Fair enough Ton re the night driving.

Still about confused about the translating if you can speak the language.

[tonicha]

And yes, she is the local translater for most of the local non Portuguese speaking English. It's either her or Maxine, who charges more and I don't like her either

Which is a bit daft of me, I know, as Alberto, Jose and I had a lovely conversation, in the bar, about the weather, why I went to Beja, how he hates being too close to the fire, have some chestnuts which he roasted (they were still warm), how Alberto's father of his grandson is having to go to England for work.....

[Kaz]

Yes, it would have been better if she'd been upfront. It's tricky when the lines between friendship and a working relationship get blurred

Glad the scan looked OK though!

[tonicha]

Still about confused about the translating if you can speak the language.

I'm not fluent Ally - I can manage and have a chat, but the language and inflections here are very different from the Algarve. It's like Cornwall and Scotland or Newcastle, very different.

I was talking to the nurse, in Portuguese, yesterday and she said I speak very good Portuguese, but then spelt everything wrong.

But then, she's Brazilian