A trip to London with purpose!

Hello

Last week I had so many engagements, including two important medical appointments and there was no time to write any blogs. This week I’m aiming to write two blogs! The first is about my latest trip to London. The second blog will be a review of my reading whilst on holiday in Dungeness.

Last Monday, was the day of my annual trip to the Mole Clinic.  Which, as you know, I consider essential as I sunbathed so much as a teenager and into my 20s and 30s, without much sun protection either.

I decided, as ever, to dress up for this.

I wore my much loved and pre-loved Paige jeans, my M&S black lace-up shoes that are so very comfortable plus a white Zara t-shirt with a charity shop, black cardi bordered with a white stripe.

Over this I wore a white animal print duster coat I bought 2 years ago from the Dress Agency and never wore.

I even tried to sell it back to the Dress Agency but there were no takers. On getting it back and mourning the lack of interest, the owner remarked, ‘you know, why not wear it! ‘And so I have and am rather glad it didn’t sell.

And finally I topped it with a white Baker’s Boy hat bought for a song in a charity shop.

As you can see we travel by train – with the rollator.

The service that you get from ‘Assisted Travel’ is astonishing. I think I could even consider travelling up to London on my own as it’s just fill in a form online (and btw you could also phone and ask for this assistance). All you do is say what train you expect to catch going somewhere. On the day you rock up 20 minutes before hand and they say, no problem.  When the train arrives a ramp is then set up and on you go, meanwhile they phone ahead to make sure you are met and got off the train. Coming back is even more amazing as you just ‘turn up and go’. Which is what the service is described as, for the end of your train journey. I cannot recommend this service enough, it is such an easy process. Well done all of the people who make the rail journey so easy.

Once in London it was off to the Mole Clinic, by bus. I travel by bus frequently and the rollator folds up to a very thin size, so it is easy to go on all buses, not just London busses.

Once there it was the usual thorough look at every blemish on my body. It was well worth it as they found two Basel Cell Carcinomas – on my right forearm.  These are very slow growing and I expect them to be removed in around 6 months time, which is perfectly OK for that diagnosis. They would, btw, move very very quickly for a melanoma. You would be seen by my local Skin Department and done within two weeks as was both my experience and my husband’s when he had a melanoma found. Rightly so as these are killers.

Btw, for those of you with partners or friends who have moles on their body. There’s always a reduced price for 2 bookings. Three years ago I dragged my husband up to the Mole Clinic on one of those deals. He was so reluctant, as he thought it such an expense and why bother. Reader, they found a melanoma. OK, like mine it was at an early stage, but neither he nor I had spotted it as it was on the back of his neck.  Afterwards he agreed the appointment had been essential and probably had saved his life.

Anyway, after the appointment, we crossed the road and went to a very large department store, John  Lewis for a light lunch. Gail of Is this mutton, calls John Lewis the mothership, as it has just about everything in it. I went to the women’s outfits and Bill to the tech. I nearly bought a coat but didn’t!

And that was the end of our trip to London. No cultural visits to art galleries this time, but there will be other opportunities.

Hope you are all well and thriving. With love, PennyX