h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

How do I hate hospitals? Let me count the ways...

I had an appointment at the fracture clinic today. Naturally, I did not see the same consultant as I saw two weeks ago, and of course he said completely different things to me than the last guy did. Last time, I was told that I had to keep my elbow still, in fact the consultant was quite insistent on the point, but this time I saw Dr Paul, who asked me how I was getting on with exercising it. I pressed him on which exercises I should be doing, and have come to the conclusion that I shall exercise it lightly, and wait to see what they say next time. Dr Paul was also anxious to make sure that I knew that I may never be able to extend my arm properly again. How nice.

After that, my mother and I went into town. We got to Market Street, and then the vultures flew in. I mean this metaphorically, of course. Actually, I was accosted by a lady who thought that I should sue somebody for my broken arm. 1, if I was going to do this I would contact my solicitor, and 2, I think it's disgusting that people wait on street corners to suggest this to people. This lady took quite sound getting rid of - I actually had to be rude - and then less than 30 seconds later a man approached me, offering to help me sue. I just told him that I wasn't going there. Personally, even if my accident was the fault of the council, which I doubt, I think it would probably be better for them to spend any money they would have to settle on my claim on improving the streets around where I live, or maybe putting in a pedestrian crossing at a particularly bad junction in Didsbury, which might do someone some real good. I feel like I must be the only person in the world that something bad has happened to that doesn't wish to sue about it. Don't get me wrong - I wouldn't mind sueing if there was definitely a good case to answer, but when I broke my arm there wasn't.

Meanwhile, I am finding this voice dictation extremely trying. I seem to spend 90 per cent of my time correcting my mistakes, and while correcting mistakes other mistakes creep in when I breathe. There doesn't seem to be anywhere that I can put the microphone where it doesn't pick up my breath sounds. This is annoying. The only redeeming feature seems to be that if I dictate quite quickly it does far far better than if I dictate slowly. The problem with this is that I cannot think as fast as I need to be able to in order to dictate quickly and coherently, except when I'm angry. Well, not angry just irritated. It is frustrating as I like to take care over my words and exactly what I say, but I guess I just have to live with it.