Aubergine and chorizo pasta

This morning mum woke me up as she was feeling really unwell. I was on the phone to the GP surgery within 30 seconds of opening my eyes, while mum laid in bed and occasionally sobbed and / or apologised for being unwell.

As always, I was asked what number I wanted the doctor to call (my mobile, because I can’t reach the landline quickly enough) and, as always, the doctor ignored that information and called the landline. By the time I’d waddled my way into the living room (when my legs are bad I walk like a duck), the doctor had hung up.

I called the practice back and asked that they take the landline number off our records, so there can be no future confusion over which number to call. Of course, while I was doing so the doctor called my mobile and couldn’t get through. They left a message promising to try again, so I postponed my plan for a shower because the doctor would call back soon, surely?

Now hold that thought.

Around lunchtime, mum asked if she would still be going to her hospital appointment tomorrow morning. I told her I would have to check with the hospital but, given her symptoms, I thought it would almost certainly have to be rescheduled. I’m not implying that mum was faking – I’m sure she wasn’t – but as soon as I said that she managed to drag herself out of bed, get dressed, and get herself some fruit and a cup of tea. I started to feel like I’d been had. 🫤

Later still, I talked to the relevant hospital department and got confirmation that, given mum’s symptoms (of an active UTI and thrush), she would just be sent home, so we might as well save ourselves some effort and reschedule the appointment.

Then I cancelled our ride to the hospital, then waited. Then I hung up our door wreath, then waited. Then I took some photos of the white moon and black rain clouds, then waited.

By then it was time for dinner, which was the Simply Cook recipe for penne alla rustica with added aubergine (“I like aubergine”, said mum), chopped using my new veg chopper. It took a fair bit of force to cut through the aubergine, but after today I didn’t mind having a gadget to take some of my frustration out on.

The end result was delicious, or at least I thought so. Mum refused to comment, again, but she ate a generous portion so she can’t have disliked it that much. I just have to accept that the only food that reliably gets any enthusiasm is mass-produced, and preferably full of fat and salt or sugar.

After dinner I went to the bathroom and spent no more than 30 seconds sorting out an uncomfortable contact lens, and of course it was at that point that the doctor finally called. I called straight back and was told, rather apologetically, that there was no answer from their extension and they’d clearly left for the day.

We’ve been put on the call-back list for tomorrow, so I can do the whole thing again. Yay.