A new metaphor.

Blue Care came for both respite and Dulcie's shower today so hopefully we are now back on track.We made an appointment this afternoon for Dulcie to see Dr Hew today.She has had a sore finger for a few weeks and despite trying various creams it does not seem to be getting any better.As usual we were a little early for the appointment so we all sat in the arcade outside and had a drink. Dulcie had a tea, Will his latte and I had a strawberry, apple and mint frappé.The arcade could be used as a wind tunnel when all the shops are closed...but we didn't mind due to the heat.I popped into the Surgery. I was expecting Marie but it was an Asian lady, I think it was the one that Glad, the receptionist who left, had been training up the first time we went last year.....I gave her Dulcie's Medicare card and pension card."Do you have an appointment?" She asked."Yes, Dulcie Rodgers," I said. "I'm just letting you know that we are here but we are outside having a drink as we are a bit early."She wasn't listening, all her attention was on scanning her computer screen........"Oh, there 3.40.....you are a bit early.""Yes, I know" I said. She gave me the cards back."It might be a little while." She said. There were a few people in the waiting room.I went back out to Will and Dulcie."Did you get my cards back?" Asked Dulcie."I did."Dulcie had already decided she wanted to get a pineapple while here and sat having her tea she decided she wanted some oranges too."Do you want to go get them while I go in the docs with Mum?" Asked Will."No, I think it will be nice for us all to go," I said.....a suggestion I would later come to regret.The surgery was empty when we finally went in. We just all walked passed the desk and sat down as I had already been in to see the receptionist earlier.She popped her head up over the desk...."Could I have her Medicare card please?"I got it out of Dulcie's bag and handed it over and sat down."Did she give it you back?" Asked Dulcie."No, but we'll get it before we go."Almost at once the receptionist was standing there handing the card back.....I took it and put it back in Dulcie's bag."Is my pension card there as well?""Yes," I said.Dr Hew checked her blood pressure which was good and checked her breathing. He gave her some antibiotics for her sore finger and said she was not to get it wet."Banned from washing up then," I said. She wanted to get some gloves so she could still do it but we persuaded her to just leave it to us until her finger was better.We headed out and went to the Fruit shop. it was quite busy.Dulcie spotted some mangoes...."Get three Nick." I did.She spotted the pineapples at the other side of the shop and set off pushing her walker in front of her.You have heard of 'like a bull in a china shop?' Well, now I offer a new metaphor............'like a Dulcie in a fruit shop!'She bumped and bashed and ran over people's toes. A poor woman clutching a water melon stood in her way. Dulcie stopped with her walker resting on the woman's sandal clad foot. The woman stepped back and Dulcie stepped forward again with the walker back on the woman's foot. Clutching her melon she tried to squeeze to one side and Dulcie pushed past."Sorry, " I said as I came after her."S'ok" said the melon woman.After choosing the right pineapple we headed further inside the store......a whole queue at one of the tills had to step out of the way to avoid colliding with Dulcie's walker. It was all quite stressful.When we had everything we handed it all to Will and I said to her"Let's go and wait outside."I reckon that decision saved lives.