David's Daily Diversions

The Wait

I simply do not understand why medical professionals have no concept of time. Just yesterday and today I was in a doctor's surgery and a dentist's surgery. I had a 10:30 appointment with my doctor and didn't get to see him until after 11:00. Mrs Holford and child had a 4:00 appointment to see the dentist and actually saw him after 4:30.

Apparently the medical professional's time is worth much more than mine. I shouldn't mind just sitting there waiting in gleeful anticipation because they have actually agreed to see me and grace me with their knowledge and technical skills.

I might be more gleeful if I didn't have to sit there in utter boredom. The waiting room at my doctor's surgery is stocked with a small supply of cheap, non-glossy women's magazines. The dentist offers periodicals as exciting as "Country Homes", "Homes and Antiques". These are modestly entertaining to women who like to fantasize about furnishings they will never be able to afford for houses they will never live near, not to mention in. There were also copies of "Steam Railways" for the trainspotters. Nothing for normal people.

The dentist did also have a small selection of toys in the corner. Aidan was drawn to these immediately. Every unwashed child who has ever passed through the surgery must have been drawn to them as they were filthy. Keeping him away from them was pointless and after the half-hour wait, I was tempted to play with them as well.

Of course all of this -- the unreadable magazines, the grimy toys -- would be unnecessary if 10:30 meant 10:30 and 4:00 meant 4:00.