better than reality

[pensnest]

I experienced a minor miracle today! Our dentist has sent out emails saying that they could be open for routine inspections... I called a couple of times last week and failed to get through, but this morning the call was answered on the first ring, and, well. I got appointments for both of us to get check-ups TOMORROW AFTERNOON.

*

We had a lengthy text from our GP Practice telling us how they are now opening more... and saying very firmly that abuse will not be tolerated. They have had "foul and abusive language on an hourly basis for the past 15 months, threats of physical violence weekly, and have had to have the Police out to us". Ye gods. I mean... what do the abusive people think they stand to gain by this?

*

My fingernails have a distinct line across the middle of the growth beyond the fingertips. It's quite odd. A white line, across more yellowish nail. I'm ruling out arsenic and thallium poisoning, renal therapy and chemotherapy, and I don't believe it's due to an unbalanced diet, either. But it is odd, because it's across every nail except for the left index finger, which broke, probably at the line, and was chewed off. Ahem.

*

We have received a Weather Alert for Thunderstorms, which sounds pretty evil except... the rest of the weather app is telling us it'll be sunny. Then a nice, warm evening with sunshine. Ooh, there might be thunder tomorrow. Never had such a weather alert before, so this is unsettling.*

*

Really lovely twitter thread here: https://twitter.com/nayright12/status/1414635135421538307 about England, and who 'is' or at least represents England, good and bad.

*

Arrival of a diplodocus at Norwich Cathedral, and her (I can't help it, I think of Dippy as female) welcome by the organist and choir. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGl1_dNIzXw

Follow it up with this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gduevTTuwVM



* It didn't thunder.

Comments

[corvidology]

I cannot believe what some people have had to deal with because of being being utter arseholes during Covid. In the US we've seen attacks on shop clerks after they politely asked them to wear masks!

I love Dippy in Norwich Cathedral... that would NEVER happen in Southern Baptist country.

[pensnest]

I'm assuming that the shitweasels are of the "Covid is a hoax" brigade, but who knows? Maybe they just think they should have priority over anything and anyone else, and get nasty when they don't get it.

I think it's wonderful, in so many ways. I... did sorta imagine a few American heads exploding at the concept!

[corvidology]

*people being* ... Ack!

The US can be a very strange place anyway but being English and living here is its own particular brand of strange. I used to teach cultural studies part of which is the belief system/myths upon which a nation bases itself... that heavy Puritan influence in its founding still has a lot to answer for. Combine that with its belief in INDIVIDUALISM!!! and there's a lot of very loud dissonance to process. By no means are all Americans extremely religious but a high percentage of their professed Christians are aggressively religious to the point of still wanting to control what's taught in schools, argue about the age of Earth, etc. In other words, heads across the Bible Belt would definitely be exploding. :D

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Nice. Clean teeth are a good thing. And it's great they worked you in so soon.

[pensnest]

It *never* happens! I mean, I was expecting to have to wait a couple of months, on the assumption there'd be a lot of people eager to get their teeth inspected. Perhaps people with bad teeth hate having them checked, though.

[frausorge]

That's excellent news about the appointments! But yeesh, horrible about the verbal abuse & threats.

[pensnest]

I know. It's both horrible and completely pointless - though I do hope the worst abusers were struck off the patient list. I don't know if that's a thing doctors can do, but I hope so.

[yarnofariadne]

I wish I could say I was surprised about the abuse the GP practice has been getting.

Hmm the fingernail thing is odd! I hope all's well.

I saw Dippy in Newcastle a few years ago!

[pensnest]

I don't think I was really aware of Dippy's tour, until last night when people on my knitting Zoom started talking about going to see her. And, there are dinosaur models all around the town, so we are going to have to go for a proper walk and see some of them, quite soon!

[watervole]

Slightly surreal seeing Dippy in Norwich cathedral! I went to university in Norwich.

[pensnest]

I shall have to go along and view Dippy in person. Such a great place for a dinosaur!

[turps]

Abuse like that was one of the reasons James had to change roles. He's developed a thick skin over the years but constantly getting it in the neck for things he couldn't control, like how many ambulances were on the road or how quickly they could get to people took its toll. And he was behind a telephone, being face to face must be even worse. Some people are idiots and should be ashamed me themselves, but I know they have so little self-awareness they never will be.

Did you ever get your thunderstorm? I saw some people down south got a load of rain while others not a drop.

[pensnest]

I suppose it's possible to excuse *some* of the people, for they must be under extreme stress - but in no case does being abusive actually help anything. Sigh.

No thunderstorm at all, and none of the semi-promised rain today, either, though the sky was overcast.