The invitation quite clearly said -
Monday evening - MRI - bring your dressing gown and a friend!
Why the "chemise de nuit"? Perhaps in case I pulled and
What can those initials possibly mean?
A new speed dating venue behind the Cathedral perhaps called
"Mr Really Interesting"?
A cultural soiree of Mozart and Rachmaninoff Interludes at the Royal
Concert Hall?
(I made that up actually like most of the stuff I write about).
She's just wondering if she remembered to turn the gas off under those eggs! |
Unfortunately it turned out to be nothing quite so stimulating
or intellectually challenging. I had been summoned for a scan of my bonce
at Bath Hospital which I am beginning to know like the back of my hand.
They want to scrutinise the bean, peer at my napper, investigate my noddle.
They go in search of my brain!
So off we three set into the night - my kinswoman, my faded
blue bath wrap and I leaving Rodney the cat in charge of
Long Dog HQ until our return.
I've never had an evening hospital appointment before and was
surprised to discover how spooky the usually bustling corridors
could be once darkness had fallen. And how eerie the
sound of someone walking with a stick became when there was
no one else around. Get a grip woman!
I found the actual scanner itself to be rather beautiful in a
futuristic, space-pod sort of a way. All clean lines
and shining white surfaces which gave no hint at all as to how
it would feel once aboard and ready for take off. Where were the exits?
They warned me about the noise and vibration but those final few passes before
touch down were frankly quite awesome. Try to imagine being strapped
flat on your back to a bucking bronco machine that had been half
wedged into the drum of an industrial sized washing machine.
But it doesn't end there because at the same time your head feels like it
has been encased in a galvanised iron bucket being beaten by
six angry riveters. And to round off the experience, piped to you
through headphones comes the sound of the Three Tenors
singing Nessum Dorma. Fat chance.
If there is ever a next time there can only be one choice of music -
Meat Loaf and Bat Out of Hell.
I'll leave you with a snippet of the lyrics. Please feel free to sing along
should the spirit move you.
"And nothing really rocks (except the scanner)
And nothing really rolls
And nothing's ever worth the cost.
And I know that I'm damned if I never get out,
And maybe I'm damned if I do!"
Sum's it all up rather nicely don't you think?
Can you see it too? |
I've never had an evening hospital appointment before and was
surprised to discover how spooky the usually bustling corridors
could be once darkness had fallen. And how eerie the
sound of someone walking with a stick became when there was
no one else around. Get a grip woman!
Your carriage awaits madam. |
I found the actual scanner itself to be rather beautiful in a
futuristic, space-pod sort of a way. All clean lines
and shining white surfaces which gave no hint at all as to how
it would feel once aboard and ready for take off. Where were the exits?
They warned me about the noise and vibration but those final few passes before
touch down were frankly quite awesome. Try to imagine being strapped
flat on your back to a bucking bronco machine that had been half
wedged into the drum of an industrial sized washing machine.
Don't try this at home - it's not cross stitch. |
But it doesn't end there because at the same time your head feels like it
has been encased in a galvanised iron bucket being beaten by
six angry riveters. And to round off the experience, piped to you
through headphones comes the sound of the Three Tenors
singing Nessum Dorma. Fat chance.
That doesn't count Shaun - it's plastic. |
If there is ever a next time there can only be one choice of music -
Meat Loaf and Bat Out of Hell.
I'll leave you with a snippet of the lyrics. Please feel free to sing along
should the spirit move you.
I understand Meatloaf can be quite cuddly at times. |
"And nothing really rocks (except the scanner)
And nothing really rolls
And nothing's ever worth the cost.
And I know that I'm damned if I never get out,
And maybe I'm damned if I do!"
Sum's it all up rather nicely don't you think?
What programme was the rinse cycle - can I catch it on iPlayer?
ReplyDeleteMore to the point - did they find it?
I always thought doctors were pirates - they had a habit of drawing Xs on me with their biros - excuse me - my treasure is my own!!!
My "treasure" didn't even come in to it on this occasion. I think it dropped off longdog ago.
DeleteEntertaining post...but jokes aside, I hope there is nothing sinister to be found.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing sinistere about me Julie is the bar on my escutcheon.
DeleteI am fairly new to your blog, so hello and thanks for every post because they are hilarious. However, I do hope all goes well for you as I watch from the sidelines chuckling.
ReplyDeleteKate
Been there, done that (with a half a tab of Valium). The head cage was a little too 1984 for my liking. I'm afraid my Hail Marys turned into Hell Marys.
ReplyDeleteThey said they didn't find anything which is a little disconcerting when it's the brain they're looking at. Pater Nosters for you Julia.
Zitella
Thanks for the chuckle! I agree about "Bat out of Hell" and Meatloaf! Such a process to have the scans. Zitella is right - it is unnerving when they scan the skull and say that they found nothing! Nothing abnormal or nothing unexpected is much more comforting. Here's hoping you hear 'Nothing unusual'! MIPat
ReplyDelete