Yesterday starts very well. I receive a letter from the Department of Transport. ‘You can retain your existing licence. No further action is required. Your cooperation in this matter has been appreciated.’
Wow, this could be my lucky day.
I have an ophthalmology appointment with Dr Abdemalchamer in Dulwich that day. The name’s quite a mouthful.
As soon as I arrive a young lady leads me into a room. She gets me to sit down and peer into a machine. She says, ‘See the bright light in the centre? I want you to press this button if you see tiny blips in the circle around it.’
I think I miss a few blips as I’m waking up to what I’m looking for. And I’m sure I press the button when there’s no blip. The she puts me in another chair to test my eyesight.
I peer at letters in the distance. ‘I think that’s B, O, F … umm, ahh …’ This is not going well. She then puts drops in my eyes and says, ‘The doctor will be with you in a few minutes.’
After what seems an eternity, the doctor arrives. After initial pleasantries he says, slightly grimly, ‘You have cataracts needing attention. I’ll make a booking for you in October for surgery.’
I accept this, but in conversation say, ‘I had a recent car accident.’ Woops, should I have blurted this out?
He looks concerned. ‘How did this happen?’, he asks.
‘In a carpark’, I reply.
‘Umm, ahh, have you had a recent driving test?
‘Yes, passed with flying colours.’
‘Well, you can keep your licence. Your sight will be better after surgery.’
When we finish, he shakes my hand and leads me back to reception where I am given the bill. Ouch.
I then decide to go next door and have a pasty and coffee at the Dulwich bakery. Arriving at the door I’m stopped by a sign: ‘Bakery closed for stocktaking.’ Yes, it’s the 30th of June.
Bugger. Well, the day started well.
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