Locked Down Laments (April Mini-Rants)

The BBQ Pit
241

So, I need a repeat prescription from the doctor. As this is something I get sporadically, and the doctor is just down the road, this is something I normally go there and put a little paper slip in their ‘prescription request’ box for. Understandably, at the moment, this isn’t an option, they don’t want people coming in unless they have to, so I’ve been told I need to apply via the website. Sure enough, the website has a ‘Register for online prescriptions’ button and a ‘Request online prescriptions’ button. So, I select ‘Register’, put in the details, and get an email saying ‘You have registered’.
Great, I think, and go to click the ‘Request’ button. This takes me to a page which asks for a password. The ‘Register’ form I just filled out did not ask for a password, nor was one sent me in the email.

OK.

Back to main page.

There’s another button on the edge of the page saying ‘Register for online services’ with a little logo that appears to match the one on the page that needed a password. I click that. This takes me to a new registration form, with almost all the same options, but appears to be generic, not linked to my doctor (this is UK, the NHS system is pretty well joined-up). This includes a ‘select your surgery’ page, including search option. I type in my surgery’s name, and click search. No surgeries with this name.

OK.

Try postcode search. That does come up with the right place which, yes, is spelled exactly like I typed in.

Select that.

Next question ‘Do you have a referral letter from your surgery?’

No. No I don’t.

‘Without a referral letter, you can register, but you can only book a single online appointment and can’t use any of the other website features. If you need to use any other features, please visit your surgery for a referral letter.’

OK. Let’s book an appointment then, as that’s all I can do, maybe they’ll let me register online.

‘Sorry, your surgery does not have any appointments available which can be booked online.’

Am I allowed to scream yet?

242

Go play in traffic, you fucking troll?

243

SOMEbody needs a toke… know anyone you can buy from?

Remember: “Support your neighborhood businesses in these uncertain times!”

[d&r… to your neighbors’ kitchen]

244

Not yet.

You need to call the doctor’s office and hear the recorded voice listing all the possible options except the one you really need. “Press 1 for billing, press 2 for appointments, press 3 to get the doctor’s nurse’s overflowing voice mail…”

Remember though to listen carefully at the start of the call, because their options have recently changed. :smack:

245

My cell phone voicemail has no less than 9 options at the end of the voicemail. I don’t use it often so I can never remember what they are, but undoubtedly I have to listen carefully because their options have recently changed, just like everybody else’s. :smiley: Anyway, they drone on and on with all the available things I can do with this voicemail, some of which are fairly exotic – not sure if “forward it to the International Space Station” is one of them, but it probably is. About 90% of the time whatever the caller wants isn’t something I can deal with at that moment so what I’m looking for is the option “save this message”. You guessed it – it’s currently option #9 and takes about half an hour of droning for it to get to tell me that. Next week it may be something totally different because AIUI, their options may have recently changed.

246

Cultural misappropriation :smiley:

247

But I’m getting handed so many bags of Fritos, I can’t stop!

248

I’ve washed my hands so much I have scabs on the knuckles and one wrist.

249

Missy the cat has seasonal allergies. Yes, this really is a thing for cats and she was diagnosed with them years back. Its Spring, everything is blooming and we live in the pollen capital of the world and she has been sneezing and wheezing so much that I called for an appointment to get her annual allergy shot.

For some reason, the person who answered the phone when I called didn’t seem to be able to listen or use her computer to check patient records because as soon as I described Missy’s symptoms, she started arguing with me about allergies vs coronavirus. We ended up having a hissy match over it and I actually hung up the phone because I was so mad. (I really do try to never be that rude over a misunderstanding.) I called back an hour later and spoke to someone else who seemed very happy to make an appointment for Missy to get her allergy shot.

I know that cats can get Covid, but inside only house cats living with healthy slaves who have been in self-isolation for 6 weeks probably haven’t been exposed.

I feel very badly about my words and am really embarrassed that I lost my temper with her. My patience has gotten very thin lately and I am not happy about it.

250

Don’t feel bad. I scratched so much at the poison ivy/oak/vile weed on my arm I have bruises now.

Yes, I ordered a new jar of Tecnu soap. However, due to Fictional Times slow shipping, it won’t be here until Friday.

251

I think everyone’s a bit testy these days. Hell, even Gandhi would be vexed were he still around.

252

Wasn’t Gandhi a super-calloused fragile mystic vexed by halitosis? :smiley:

(You’re welcome for the earworm.)

253

Clap clap clap:)

254

Isn’t this the same guy who ordered all the liquor stores in PA closed? Heartless bastard!

255

His one misstep, and he corrected it. Dude is a friend to us dopers, though. Pushed medical through and recreational will happen once this virus nonsense is addressed. 8.5

256

Finally got my face mask that I had ordered on April 2. That’s over 3 weeks to travel from IL to OH.

257

You are very kind, thank you.

The second tech I spoke to didn’t seem to be very impressed with her co-worker, but did say she would tell her that I was sorry for getting all hissy.

I have a dead tree library book sitting on my nightstand. It is over a month overdue and vexes me every time I look at it. Its a popular title, the reserve list was very long when I got my hands on it. I read it, enjoyed it and want to return it so someone else could enjoy. I am a responsible library patron, its just not right that I cannot fulfill my part of the deal.

258

I’ve been meaning to ask about Missy. I take is she has successfully weathered her previous trial with gravity and is now working on her current tribulation?

Please give her a nice skritch for me.

259

‘fees’

I just got an email from my bank. In light of the covid-19 crisis the C-level people are cutting their ‘fees’ by 20%.

What are their ‘fees’. Is this the new way that C’s are referring to their salaries/benefits? Seems a bit fucking rich to me.

You are employees, not independent contractors. This is just the same pattern of thinking you are too big for your boots that got all you bankers (in Oz) in trouble in the first place. Seems nothing has changed.

260

Doesn’t your library have a dropbox for returning books? Mine does - it has a sign on it warning people not to let squirrels get in it.