What?

Today was my hospital audiology appointment, a follow-up on the referral from the first Boots audiologist. I was only going for a hearing test but I was really anxious. I don't do hospitals. It's Husband who has the hospital appointments, not me.

I got there and was called quite quickly. All much the same as the previous test except they added in a - hm, what was it called? - tympanic pressure test maybe? They apply pressure to the middle ear and see how it behaves. That's the theory anyway.

After about ten attempts the young woman doing my test decided to call in her supervisor, who was following the procedure online. He came in and failed to do it as well.

Bear in mind I was anxious before I started. By now I was beginning to feel hot and panicky, and fearful I would be fainting soon, because, although they said it was the machine, I knew it really meant I had something dreadful wrong with my ear.

Then her supervisor cleaned the instrument - one of the four tiny holes was blocked - and the machine worked and I was fine. But it could have been tricky had it gone on.

The final result is that I don't need to be referred to the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department, and they agreed with the previous analysis that I have mild to moderate hearing loss. She said it was up to me whether I wanted to try hearing aids so I decided to give it a go. If it makes a difference I might invest in fancy private ones, but for now the free behind-the-ear NHS ones will do. 

I will get a letter in about six weeks with another appointment to go for a fitting. Much as I hate the idea, to be able to be more fully present in conversations would be good.

Waiting for Husband outside the hospital I noticed a new sculpture made out of an old tree trunk.

* * * * *

I recounted the tale of the bible study in the leaders' whatsapp group, and after sympathising Monty replied, "Great shall be thy reward," to which I asked, "In Maltesers?"

An hour or so later he turned up at my door.