“IMPATIENT PATIENT” by Des Kelly

For the first time since 2001, this impatient patient has been admitted to a private hospital in Berwick, Melbourne, a hospital resembling a 5 star hotel, anywhere in the World, & quite possibly, costing just as much to “reside” in, as well. The bill will probably come in later, leading to another admittance for “hip-surgery”.

For the first time, he has experienced the vast difference a “hospital residency”in Melbourne Town is, compared with just 17 years ago, when he survived a bout with the big “C”, after a major “op”, leaving him with 1 kidney with which to survive. Thankfully, that organ was the stronger of the two, giving him a 2nd chance to be the “impatient patient” he continues to be.

“Patience is a virtue”, or, so we are told. Unfortunately, this is not a virtue of mine. Still, hospitals are the best places to be in, when one is ill, I suppose, rather than being obstinate and trying to cure oneself (at home), but, as already mentioned, being obstinate is one of my favourite hobbies.

It was, anyway, until “an enlarged heart” decided that it was time for another “check-up” & here am I, at the “Berwick- Bungalow” (or “wallauwa”, as we call it, in Sinhala).

As, with everything in life, we have the good, the bad, & the ugly, and so it is, with hospitals, medical insurances for same, etc., as with everything in life, we tend to come across the good, the bad, & the ugly, (why do I keep repeating myself ?), you tell me, mate, then we’ll both know.

What I would say to you folk out there is the fact that more will be written by me (hopefully), when my patience runs thin and I am back at home, telling you good readers about what it is like to be “Home again, naturally.”