Medicare

After nearly 10 months of being in Oz I decided to test out the Medicare system ! This is similar to the NHS in the UK, but with a difference !

A few weeks ago I hurt my back shovelling soil in the garden, a week ago this became quite sharp leg pains which were constant but in different parts of my leg. I gave it a week of sleepless nights then rang a local doc for an appointment at 9am on Friday morning. I got an appointment at 9.45 THAT day ! No emergency appointment needed - this was normal - I was stunned, shocked and very, very pleased. Turns out I have arthritis in my back and sciatica in my leg, lovely, got many tablets none of which are helping and told to go back in a week for a back scan if things no better. The doc chatted away explaining it all to me, I didn't feel rushed, I felt valued, not moaned at for my weight (well he couldn't really he was 3 times the size of me!) and gave me some tablets for free to try.  I went out to the desk to pay (you then claim a portion back from the Medicare office) and found that they bulk billed too (they charge Medicare direct) so nothing to pay either. After the dentist visit, this was a very pleasant experience !!

Things are getting easier with the dog. We fitted a dog flap into the patio door, it's a separate panel that just slots into the runner so it's not permanent and was fitted within minutes. We've finally decided that he really is stupid and not stubborn as he can use the flap, but quite often forgets where it actually is and goes up and down the whole length of the door tapping with his paw to find it !! It does mean, however, that he can just go out when he wants the loo so toilet training is now sorted. Yippee. Now we just need to fit an internal door to stop him going into the bedrooms and taking all the girls' toys and putting them in his basket !!

Work continued this weekend on the garden but still no pics of "after" as nothing has been finished. We still need some mulch to finish off the fruit garden but Paul has promised to get it tomorrow - we'll see !! I'm desparate for at least one project to be completed in this house, the pool is held up at the engineers, we need bricks for the internal door (oh, and a door but we have a frame !), have to get the plans drawn up for the second storey and the changes we want to make to the first floor  and most rooms need decorating and new lighting and sockets put in. I've drawn up a list and there was 127 items to do - and only 6 crossed off - at this rate we'll be finished by December 2017. Perhaps we'll throw a party for my 50th birthday to celebrate !!!!!!!!!!!

09:47 - Sun 10 June 2007