6th Year – 1993

Sunday 12th December 1993 After breakfast 10:10 I had decided that I had to tell Dad that I was leaving the practice. I could not put it off any longer. I had managed to get a place in Liverpool next

Sunday 5th December 1993 Sunday lunch 13:10 “I’ll have that roast potato if you are not going to eat it, Daphne.” Before Mum had a chance to answer, Gran reached over and pierced the last potato with her fork. It

Friday 26th November 1993 After dinner 19:30 “It’s Valerie.”My Dad was absolutely horrified. He stared angrily at the telephone handset. “Mrs Vaughan! Why are you ringing me at home on a Friday evening?”“I have just heard that they are planning

Friday 19th November 1993 Morning coffee break 12:00 “Do head lice really prefer clean hair?”“Of course not, Dilys. We only say that so we don’t upset the dirty children and their parents.”“Oh!” Dilys looked disappointed.“Don’t listen to him, Dilys.” Dr

Thursday 11th November 1993 Morning coffee break 12:15 Dr Lewis came into the staff room, looked at her watch, sighed loudly and sat down heavily.“Well,” she said, I have reached that uncomfortable, final stage of my pregnancy when almost everything

Thursday 5th November 1993 Morning surgery 11:10 Bill Parry was already very overweight when his cherished, first wife died. For years, she had provided an abundance of delicious treats. Bethan, his second wife, knew she had a lot to live

Thursday 28th October 1993 Morning surgery 10:30 “How are you Mr Rowlands?”“He’s not bad, doctor. His breathing is better.” Mrs Rowlands sat attentively beside her husband.“Yes, they increased my water tablets while I was in hospital. That seems to have

Friday 21st October 1993 Morning surgery 10:00 My Dad looked over at us, a resigned expression on his face. “After you’ve qualified,” he said, “you will have to deal with quite a few patients like Mrs Rosser. Heartsinks we call

Sunday 10th October 1993 Afternoon tea 16:15 “I would prefer to have a colonoscopy,” Gran said as she took another slice of cake.“You can’t just have whatever investigations you fancy, Mum. They are doing a gastroscopy because they think there

Thursday 7th October 1993 Morning surgery 09:55 “Hi, Dr Dennis, it’s Penny in reception. Richard Rees has just come in. He insists he has got an appointment with you at 10 o’clock this morning.”My Dad frowned at the ‘phone. “He

Friday 24th September 1993 Morning surgery 10:15 My Dad had an altercation with a patient this morning.“She is obviously drunk,” he muttered when she arrived at his consulting room door. Miss Nerys Hughes was unsteady, her speech was slurred and

Friday 17th September 1993 Morning coffee break 11:50 “I had my appendix out when I was 14,” said Dr Lewis. “The diagnosis was delayed. They said it was tucked behind the bowel. I had peritonitis by the time they operated.

Thursday 9th September 1993 Morning surgery 10:40 “When did your father die, Carys?”“It was on the 16th September 1991, Dr Lewis. Next Wednesday, it will be two years exactly.”“He died of lung cancer, didn’t he?”“Yes, he did.”“Was he in a

Sunday 5th September 1993 Sunday Morning 09:05 Mum came in and put the Sunday papers down and a carton of milk.“I have just seen Caradog outside the chapel, Desmond. He is devastated.”“It’s a terrible tragedy,” my Dad said. “Moira died

Sunday 22nd August 1993 Morning walk 10:00 It was a particularly cold morning for August and Elfed Edwards was paler than usual. His face was ghostlike: his skin looked almost translucent.Elfed had been striding along Stanney Lane at a brisk

Thursday 12th August 1993 Morning coffee break 11:45 My Dad groaned and put his coffee down. Andrea handed him the phone.“I am in the middle of my coffee, Mrs Vaughan. I have just finished a very tricky surgery.”“There are no

Thursday 22nd July 1993 Morning surgery 11:00 “Let me know if you are not improving, Mrs Mills.”“I am sure I’ll be fine, Dr Lewis. It’s always the same. I get some new symptoms. At first, I will try to ignore them

Thursday 15th July 1993 Morning surgery 09:10 My Dad has never been empathic. His matter-of-fact approach is nothing like Dr Lewis’. It annoys Mum when she is ill but most of his patients don’t seem to mind. I have come

Thursday 8th July 1993 Morning surgery 10:10 Valerie Vaughan started to get up then stopped, sat down again and frowned at my Dad.“Desmond, I have no doubt that the majority of our consultations would have a far more satisfactory outcome

Sunday 20th June 1993 Sunday morning 09:15 “I have been thinking about Mrs Vaughan’s beds, Desmond. You should help her.” Mum had made bacon and eggs for a change. She was watching Dad like a hawk, hoping she might be

Thursday 10th June 1993 Morning surgery 11:17 I had never really thought about why the lady who worked in the chip shop always had a bandaged leg. Harriet called my Dad and I in to see her today. She had

Thursday 29th April 1993 Morning coffee break 11:35 “I’ve just seen Mrs Bradley, Lois. She is doing remarkably well.”“I really didn’t think she would cope after her husband died, Desmond. He’s done everything for her for years. He was completely

Thursday 22nd April 1993 Morning surgery 11:30 “How are you, Mr Elias?”“To be honest, doctor, I have not been feeling too well. I have been sleeping badly. I have been tired. I’ve felt a bit depressed, really.”“I am sorry to

Thursday 1st April 1993 Dinner at home 19:10 “Look at you, Dennis! You are such a mess!”I glanced down. There was a splodge of brown gravy on the front of my jumper. I tried to wipe it off but only

Thursday 25th March 1993 Lunchtime 13:00 “I hope this is an emergency, Mrs Crosby!” My Dad looked angrily at the telephone handset and took another bite of his sandwich.“It’s more than an emergency, Dr Dennis. I consider it a major

Thursday 11th March 1993 Morning surgery 09:50 “How do vaccines work, Dr Dennis?”It took me a few seconds to realise that Jack was talking to me.“Jack wants to be a doctor like you, Dennis.” Mrs Butterworth said by way of

Thursday 25th February 1993 Morning surgery 10:10 “I hope this is urgent, Mrs Vaughan.” My Dad looked angrily at the telephone handset. “I am in the middle of a busy surgery.”“I consider it extremely urgent, Dr Dennis.”“Well . . .

Sunday 14th February 1993 After lunch 13:30 I knew that if I collapsed, Dr Lewis would save my life. I trusted her completely. What could make me feel better than regaining consciousness and seeing her kind face gradually come into

Thursday 11th February 1993 Lunchtime 12:30 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 . . 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 . . 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 . . 1 and 2 and 3 and 4

Thursday 4th February 1993 Morning surgery 10:00 “Does anyone know why we get atrial fibrillation?”Dilys shook her head. Even Dylan looked puzzled. “Is it due to a re-entry circuit or an automatic focus?” he asked.“No one really knows,” said Dr

Thursday 14th January 1993 Dinner 19:00 “How was Dr Lewis?” my Dad asked.“She was alright.”“Did she have a good Christmas?”“She said it was very quiet.”“Really!”“Yes, and New Year. She didn’t go to a party or anything.” For some reason, I

Thursday 7th January 1993 Morning coffee break 11:50 “There are two gentlemen to see you, Dr Lewis.” Andrea ushered them into the staff room. “Gary Grant from the Child and Adolescent Metal Health Service and Paul Knowles from the Community