So there was Mrs Fogg and I, looking at going to Leeds by train a nice relaxing time, we went to find out whether we could save money on train fares by booking in advance, “oh no, you can only do a day return, otherwise you will have to buy single tickets if this is journey does not return the same day”. Ok so what does that work out to then, well to travel 15 miles on a train will cost you £19.50 per person, right so £39 for two Foggs to travel to Leeds and return the next day, ok plus either £15 each way by taxi to the station or £12 per day to park your car at the station. So let me get this right, it will cost between £53 and £69 to go to Leeds overnight, plus the cost of hotels, or (wait for it) £11 in petrol to drive there and back. So I ask you where is the incentive to save the planet and use the train. THERE AINT ONE!!!!!!
Hey Wass Up Doc?
Paranoia city here we are!!
So me and Mrs Fogg decided to get a full copy of our medical records from the doctor, all handwritten and electronic ones, quoting the Data Protection Act, which entitles you to full disclosure of your details. Well they don’t like doing it do they, 20 questions on why you need it, forms to fill out (you have to write requesting a form, fill it in, send it back, they then want your cash, then you have to collect it in person and then sign for it as well), if only your personal banking data and government records were this secure!! You also have to remember that according to our doctors surgery, you don’t need any of this information, it is all 100% accurate.
Well I digress, so there was I sitting reading my rather interesting medical history about the number of flu vaccines I have had (should be none in reality), all my childhood bouts of “Pendular Plumbosis” (so I played sick to avoid school), interestingly I broke my jaw in a fall (that was news to me) and then blow me down with a feather if I didn’t find out that I had been discharged from the army in 2000 on medical grounds (apparently I have some pretty ghastly illnesses that I am not aware of), to cap it all I also had an ECG at Bradford Royal Infirmary in Nov 2005 (when me and Mrs Fogg were off touring that there US of A) and then insult to injury I also appear to have been born in either 1968 or 1944, now I may look old, but bugger me I aint that old yet. So call to the doctor and a rather embarrassed Practice Manager who is a little concerned that I seem to have someone else’s medical history mixed up with mine (I’m glad she is concerned, cos I am extremely annoyed). I now have to go into see the doctors so that they can examine the records in more detail.
Based on my experience I would suggest that everyone get a copy of their history, you never know, you could be leading a double life and actually be the queen or an hactor in reality!!!