Bank Holiday Blues

What a strange Bank Holiday weekend. One minute I'm dancing around the bedroom to 6Music without a care in the world and the next I'm in the Urgent Care department at Walsall's Manor hospital being assessed for Sepsis on what was probably one of the busiest evenings in the hospital's history.

Walsall Manor Hospital by night (Image from the Manor Hospital website, I was in no fit state to take photos.)

I know it's fashionable to knock it, but I couldn't fault the NHS. I called 111, their urgent healthcare line, when I started passing blood on Sunday night and was advised to get to the Urgent Care department with a sample within two hours. The place was heaving, with the reception full to capacity and patients spilling out into the corridor, but I was fast-tracked and triaged by the only nurse on duty within half-an-hour of arrival, with the diagnosis being nothing more sinister than a chronic UTI. I needed antibiotics which only a doctor could prescribe but, with a five and a half hour wait and the late night pharmacy due to close in minutes I opted to go home and return when the department opened at 7am the following day. 

Walsall Manor Hospital by day (Source)

I spent Sunday night on the bathroom floor, drank gallons of water and managed three hours sleep (I think Jon got even less). The following morning we arrived at the Urgent Care department ten minutes before it opened with just one person ahead in the queue. After another assessment by a nurse, I was examined by a doctor, given a prescription and was back home in less than an hour. I felt better as soon as I took my first tablet although I did spend the rest of the day wrapped in a blanket catching up on my sleep.

After ten hours of sleep I was up bright and early on Tuesday and, apart from a raging thirst, felt absolutely fine. I did my Wii Fit workout, wrapped my eBay parcels and played with Mr Trousers who'd popped in for breakfast.

I found this Indian crinkle cotton embroidered top with mirror inset ruffled sleeves in the charity clearance shop on Sunday morning, it's only one of those cheap tourist pieces from Colaba Causeway in Mumbai but for £2 it seemed a shame to leave it behind and despite the drizzle it was a mild day so I didn't need a jacket over my beloved vintage dress.

Here's what we bought - a contemporary velvet jacket, 1970s Radley sundress (could be a keeper!), 1980s rhinestone encrusted showgirl dress (initals of the wearer inside), 1980s St Michael midi dress, 1970s Windsmoor linen jacket, modern tuxedo jacket, 1960s suede patchwork bag, Adidas Hamburg shoes (Jon's!), 1980s R.I leather jacket, tobacco colour ruffled playsuit (which Jon says makes me look like a member of Pan's People), 1960s wool dressing gown and a Topshop pleated midi skirt.

1970s Ports International needlecord suit, two pairs of jellies, possibly the most amazing 1980s two-piece ever - made in England by Windsmoor, a camo bucket hat - made in the British Empire! - a 1970s shirtwaist cotton dress by Peter Barron, two batik blouses by Etam, a Merc bowling bag and some wooden clogs which we'll use as planters.

Do you remember me sharing this amazing boot Liz made me for my birthday, containing tickets for the stage production of Kinky Boots? Well, the show is tomorrow night and I'd been wondering what to wear with my own kinky boots, a pair of original 1970s purple suede platforms I'd found in a charity shop five years ago. 

Would you believe it, the perfect dress was waiting for me in one of the chazzas.....  

Possibly the trippiest vintage dress I've found in years and for the princely sum of £2 - that should ease the pain of not being able to have a glass of wine during the interval!

See you soon.