Taking Mum to the Cardiologist

 
I was off to Mum's today because she had an appointment with the cardiologist for a check-up and an ultrasound.  I had already promised that I would take her to any of these appointments before she gave up driving so we just make sure that they are scheduled in at a time when I can get down from Droushia.  Today's was 11.45 but with the current roadworks it is impossible to work out how long it will take to get from Emba to the hospital but at least this time I had had the sense to look up the roads in advance and chosen my route.  I am not familiar with all the backstreets of Paphos and it is hopeless asking Mum because she just does not remember which reinforces that her decision to relinquish the car was the right one.  Having said that she still treats the car as her own so we were driving along and she is fiddling about with the heater and the air-con and switching it on and off to suit her.  I was going to say something but decided against it!  Anyway we got to Dr Ariadne in good time and Mum had her check-up and ultrasound.  Dr Ariadne is amazed by Mum because it is clear that she has some severely leaking valves but outwardly does not display any problems.  Mum had not checked that she had a referral for today and she didn't so I had to make a swift call to her doctors to get that updated on the system.  They did it there and then thank goodness otherwise that would have been a wasted trip.  Her visit to the cardiologist cost a massive 6 euros!

We left Dr Ariadne and I went to the Vorkas MRI Centre to book my appointment for my shoulder - I am down to go on April 10th so not too long to wait.  I then took Mum across to Geroskipou to Euromania to stock up on the supplements she takes - these are getting increasingly more difficult to source and have shot up in price so we got three months' supply of iron, calcium, magnesium and cod liver oil whilst we could.  We then went up to the Carpe Diem Lounge at the top of the Mesoghi Avenue for a snack lunch.  We struggle to find places for a snack and even more so for a snack that Mum will eat but we shared some home-made pate and onion marmalade and actually it was very nice but I thought that the place was very strangely decorated.  The mis-matched tables and chairs inside made it look like it was all a bit temporary and the staff were sat around a table shoveling in their lunch in between serving people.  Not sure it will be somewhere we will visit again.  I would have preferred to sit outside but that isn't going to happen in March with Mum!

Our internet was restored during the day thank goodness although it played up all night but to be honest we were happy to give it an evening to catch up.  We had a pasta dish tonight for supper with chorizo and haloumi - it is one of our new favourites and there is enough for us to have it again tomorrow night.  

My recent cholesterol tests were an improvement on what they had been and Dr Manolis doesn't want to change my medication but it does need to improve a bit more - I am not sure pasta with cream is a good menu choice but what the hell!