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suzyscottdotcomAfter writing out most of the story of my travel to and from Glasgow recently, I decided it looked too depressing to post, so I’m going to abbreviate it all into one post. You see, it took four visits to the station instead of two (ticket selling problems), first train was delayed by seventeen minutes, second [tube] train was replaced by a bus, third train [sleeper] had no lights in my carriage, and no carriage labels visible, so I ended up in the wrong one. And the rest.
Anyway, forget all that for now, as I made it to Glasgow for early on Tuesday 1st July – about 0730ish, but I didn’t recall the exact time. Woke up over breakfast in O’Briens at Hope Street/Argyle Street/Oswald Street corner, and then took some bus pics before leaving around 0835 to take the bus to Sandyford.
Now, there were many reasons for this visit. Firstly, catch up with all news – last time I was here was August, I was still pre-op, and the rest. The main reason for today’s visit is the issues with the Duphaston being discontinued (and the suggestion of something I’ve had before didn’t suit – so, I came for some suggestions. Now, I may be better off without a progestin/progesterone at all, but… I want to try everything before I give up, and give up at my own time – not being forced into a snap decision because of a manufacturers discontinuation of the product. My other meds (antihistamines, antidepressants etc.) are being chopped and changed, hence why I’d like some continuity for now.
Anyway, the usual Tuesday drop-in is the easiest way to do it – and I arrived shortly before the beginning of the clinic, rather than sprinting it down the A9 and M80 from Dundee, meaning I had pink card number 3. First time for everything I guess! A new doc, one I’d not seen before, Dr Gerber, called my name, and we went to talk about things. He’s going to look into it and get back to me.
So, that was done. I had some time to kill before meeting Bobby B at the end of his shift, so went out to Paisley on First service 9, getting one of the Volvo bendibuses to Paisley University. A quick browse around the town and some bus pics, before taking the Arriva 66 to Glasgow Airport.
The driver in question appreciated being given £1.45 in exact coinage, before we drove up the Inchinnan Road towards the Airport. In years to come, what are the bets this will be renamed John Smeaton International Airport? Incidentally, he’s since left his job of 12 years as a baggage handler at Glasgow, and is now a motivational speaker. The speaker who will set about ya, as the publicity says!
(Incidentally, I did like Craig Ferguson’s comments at The White House Correspondents Dinner about ‘… Al-Quaeda tried to bring a religious war to Glasgow, but they were a thousand years too late…’)
Anyway, I had a look around the bus stands, before going inside for a bite to eat, before my next trip. Outside Boots, I spotted the unusual sight of a vehicle INSIDE the terminal building…
… then from there, I went for the newly-extended First 747 back to Glasgow Buchanan.
I went to snap some pictures, so stood in the usual spot at the entry/exit to Buchanan Bus Station. Someone in a SPT hi-vi came over to see me, and was very nice about things. I had sat down briefly at this point, and he started by saying “I’ve not seen you here before” LOL – see what a few blue pills can do for the face, and the rest! He was explaining the usual situation about safety and security and stuff (turned out they’d had a security alert not far away the previous week), and I was ok in doing what I was doing. It was just his initial words that lead me to have a giggle! As ever, several waves and honks from the Glasgow area drivers, including quite a few posing for the camera! (or was it for the bit of skirt taking the pictures, I wonder? lol)
So, after Bobby’s shift was finished, we went for coffee to talk about everything, before he dropped me off at Central Station for the train south.
On the way home, more fun and games. First train from Glasgow to Birmingham New Street lost a few minutes, leaving me with only THREE minutes to run down the platform, up the stairs, and across the station, down the stairs, onto Platform 11A… only to find the Cambridge train not in by this point! (the train manager did try and call up about the connection, but couldn’t get through). Anyway, a few minutes after… Platform Alteration, now leaving in minus seven minutes from P9! We all ran up the stairs, and I barely had the energy to run this fast for the second time in the last ten minutes!
So, we left late, and the senior conductor (all different names for the same job!) didn’t sound too hopeful about connections at the other end. So, once I got to Oakham and we were still late (90 minutes away from Cambridge) I asked C to pick me up, thus not needing to worry about the train connection to Royston. I’d lost the plot, and the interest, long before this point, but there was more to come. When we got to Cambridge, the Royston train still hadn’t arrived, despite the inward train arriving when the last London train was due out!
Never mind – a long, hard day. The Glasgow bits were all very enjoyable, lots of fun, and I had a good time nonetheless. You can see all the pictures here.
Anyway, forget all that for now, as I made it to Glasgow for early on Tuesday 1st July – about 0730ish, but I didn’t recall the exact time. Woke up over breakfast in O’Briens at Hope Street/Argyle Street/Oswald Street corner, and then took some bus pics before leaving around 0835 to take the bus to Sandyford.
Now, there were many reasons for this visit. Firstly, catch up with all news – last time I was here was August, I was still pre-op, and the rest. The main reason for today’s visit is the issues with the Duphaston being discontinued (and the suggestion of something I’ve had before didn’t suit – so, I came for some suggestions. Now, I may be better off without a progestin/progesterone at all, but… I want to try everything before I give up, and give up at my own time – not being forced into a snap decision because of a manufacturers discontinuation of the product. My other meds (antihistamines, antidepressants etc.) are being chopped and changed, hence why I’d like some continuity for now.
Anyway, the usual Tuesday drop-in is the easiest way to do it – and I arrived shortly before the beginning of the clinic, rather than sprinting it down the A9 and M80 from Dundee, meaning I had pink card number 3. First time for everything I guess! A new doc, one I’d not seen before, Dr Gerber, called my name, and we went to talk about things. He’s going to look into it and get back to me.
So, that was done. I had some time to kill before meeting Bobby B at the end of his shift, so went out to Paisley on First service 9, getting one of the Volvo bendibuses to Paisley University. A quick browse around the town and some bus pics, before taking the Arriva 66 to Glasgow Airport.
The driver in question appreciated being given £1.45 in exact coinage, before we drove up the Inchinnan Road towards the Airport. In years to come, what are the bets this will be renamed John Smeaton International Airport? Incidentally, he’s since left his job of 12 years as a baggage handler at Glasgow, and is now a motivational speaker. The speaker who will set about ya, as the publicity says!
(Incidentally, I did like Craig Ferguson’s comments at The White House Correspondents Dinner about ‘… Al-Quaeda tried to bring a religious war to Glasgow, but they were a thousand years too late…’)
Anyway, I had a look around the bus stands, before going inside for a bite to eat, before my next trip. Outside Boots, I spotted the unusual sight of a vehicle INSIDE the terminal building…
… then from there, I went for the newly-extended First 747 back to Glasgow Buchanan.
I went to snap some pictures, so stood in the usual spot at the entry/exit to Buchanan Bus Station. Someone in a SPT hi-vi came over to see me, and was very nice about things. I had sat down briefly at this point, and he started by saying “I’ve not seen you here before” LOL – see what a few blue pills can do for the face, and the rest! He was explaining the usual situation about safety and security and stuff (turned out they’d had a security alert not far away the previous week), and I was ok in doing what I was doing. It was just his initial words that lead me to have a giggle! As ever, several waves and honks from the Glasgow area drivers, including quite a few posing for the camera! (or was it for the bit of skirt taking the pictures, I wonder? lol)
So, after Bobby’s shift was finished, we went for coffee to talk about everything, before he dropped me off at Central Station for the train south.
On the way home, more fun and games. First train from Glasgow to Birmingham New Street lost a few minutes, leaving me with only THREE minutes to run down the platform, up the stairs, and across the station, down the stairs, onto Platform 11A… only to find the Cambridge train not in by this point! (the train manager did try and call up about the connection, but couldn’t get through). Anyway, a few minutes after… Platform Alteration, now leaving in minus seven minutes from P9! We all ran up the stairs, and I barely had the energy to run this fast for the second time in the last ten minutes!
So, we left late, and the senior conductor (all different names for the same job!) didn’t sound too hopeful about connections at the other end. So, once I got to Oakham and we were still late (90 minutes away from Cambridge) I asked C to pick me up, thus not needing to worry about the train connection to Royston. I’d lost the plot, and the interest, long before this point, but there was more to come. When we got to Cambridge, the Royston train still hadn’t arrived, despite the inward train arriving when the last London train was due out!
Never mind – a long, hard day. The Glasgow bits were all very enjoyable, lots of fun, and I had a good time nonetheless. You can see all the pictures here.
