Siskins

I don't seem to have taken any photos on 5th March - can't remember why!

In the morning Siskins were spotted and stayed long enough for a photo.

The 6th was a busy day and I forgot to post this so its now a day late.

It was a half day trip to Opthalmology Dept at Tameside Hospital with Mum.  Its somewhere she does NOT like going to BUT they have saved her eyesight from deteriorating and have controlled the Galucoma.

The waits were long and the traffic terrible.   Then the Nurse seen for 2-3 mins and Doctor for about 10.  The Nurse was pleasant and caring. The Doctor thorough, informative and re-assuring. They cannot be faulted.

The whole trip took a long time. We set off early - just as well. 

They give you a very specific time 2:50 for example BUT I'm not sure what difference it makes.  I think its like the airlines they overbook thinking a high percentage will not arrive in time or at all.

I have been taking Mum to this clinic for 8-9 years as well as occasionally with Dad and an Aunt when she lived near us.

The main issues I have with it is that there is a poor flow of information about progress and the clinic is very poorly lit - Some daylight lighting would probably make it tolerable.  The shape of the waiting area and small number of chairs near the doctors nurses are no place for the nervous and claustrophobic.  All the people we spoke to were concerned  that they were being missed and had trouble hearing names shouted down a corridor.   Its always been the same  - Why?

A trip that theorectically may have only taken 90 mins took  more like 215mins...   The long waits at the hospital were matched by faulty traffic lights  at the junction of the A57 A628 at Hollingworth. 

Apparently the engineers had been trying to fix them for hours but were unable  to sort it out. I assume its another over engineered solution with faulty sensors and poorly programmed controllers AND this at a true traffic nightmare spot. 

In the old days a Traffic Cop would have got out of their car and sorted it out and got it all moving or am I dreaming ?