Receiving Room

Last night on BBC one, there was room new program called Casualty 1907. It is the first of three. It is about what went on in the accident and emergency department, known as the receiving room, at what is now known as the Royal London Hospital. I did one of my house jobs in 1969/70 in that department. It was a fascinating experience. At night there was just me and one nurse working there and on one occasion, 19 firemen were brought in suffering from inhaling too much smoke. The rule was that if more than 20 people were brought in, we were allowed to call for help. The first time I had stitched a wound as a doctor involved 27 stitches put in a man's leg. He came back the next day because they had all fallen out. I did not do a surgical house job as is counted as that. In fact, I can't stand the sight of blood!

Rich Pig's Worries

I invented this several years ago and I have got one today which I will describe later. When I was the GP tutor at Pontefract Postgraduate Centre, I worked closely with a very nice chest physician, Mick Peake.
I think his title was the Clinical Tutor. One Friday he came rushing in saying everything was a nightmare that weekend. He had to go to London to pick up a new swimming pool cover for his pool in Kirk Smeeton. That is a "rich pig's worry". His partner, Diana, was and still is a consultant paediatrician. They could have afforded to pay someone to pick it up for them. My "rich pig's worry" for today is: We bought a printer for the computer we have bought for our second home in Italy and there is a connection missing. I will have to along the eastern side of Lake Trasimeno all the way back to the shop and change the thing. Oh dear, oh dear!!!

Trasimeno in March (2)

Yesterday - rain here and snow on the distant hills. 3 deg C. Grey lake. Warm house. Investigated getting to Firenze by rail from Castiglione del Lago. Easy.

Trasimeno in March

Yesterday we both thought was idilic. Clear blue skies and a lovely light. Possitively warm. 21 deg C!. The lake looked fabulous and we saw it from various vantage points. First we drove to the west of the lake and up to Cortona. We ambled around this lovely hill top town and had a cofffee with the locals standing up in a bar. The policeman came in for a coffee and greeted a woman with a kiss on both cheeks. We went up to the church of St Francis. The view of the lago from Cortona was great. We drove back and had lunch in Macchie. We had arranged to meet Katia in the afternoon in Panicale. Panicale is another hill top town 4 km from our house. It has a terrace with fantastic views of the lake. We had arranged to meet Katia in Panicale in the afternoon. Panicale is another hill top town 5 minutes drive from our house. It has a terrace with a fantastic view of the lake. She had a key to the 18th centuary theatre and gave us a personal tour. She also had a key to the church that houses a 16th centuary Perugino fresco. The background of the fresco is the view of the lake as one comes out of that church. The best view of all. We then drove to the bird walk. This is a wooden walkway at the north east corner of the lake such that one can walk abou 300 mters out over the lake. It is a proper nature reserve and for 4 eoros one is supplied with binoculars. We saw a heron, gulls, a great crested grebe, lots of coots and a pair of otters very close up. Other birds as well. We were the only visitors at that time and had the place to ourselves. The bells ring at a nearby church ever 15 minutes. Lovely.