ballettaxi

Bit late to the GP Receptionist conversation with this one, but I've just had the joy of an emergency Cardiologist appointment, 24 hour ECG monitoring and going for an Echo later this week- despite our wonderful Practice receptionist telling me, in her usual very curt manner, that no further action was needed following an initial exploratory ECG 8 WEEKS ago. Thankfully my GP - who had been out of the surgery for that period of time - insisted on reviewing my results on his return and called me in for an urgent appointment on Friday. Despite there being a very large message on the front screen of my records stating that those initial ECG results were to be reviewed by a GP in his absence. On the positive side though my Cardiologist does believe that its not anything serious - I have a very irregular 3rd beat on every ECG print out and I just need to be very aware that this coupled with my ridiculously low BP will increase my likelihood to pass out if I do have any severe flu/infection instances in the future. So my GP has updated my records (again, let's see if anyone takes note of it!) to say that IF I call to see a doctor with any of the above I do need to be given an appointment as I will probably need an antibiotic to ensure I don't pass out again. This all started when I passed on our a flight to a work meeting - came to after 10 minutes, sitting at the back of the aircraft with an oxygen mask on. I'd only had a bad cough for 5-6 weeks at that time - but I would never have previously even thought of going to the GP with a 'cough', apparently though it was 'just' a cough, it was a severe chest infection. Maybe if I'd listened to family/friends and had taken a few days off work then it might not have been so extreme - but who's got time for that!!! Anyway my knuckles have been well and truly rapped and I will do as I'm told in the future (possibly! when I've got time!).

Ballet West application deadlines for last year were late April - I can't see any update on the website for this years dates yet. There are now 3 locations for Associates - Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee (which was added last year). If you check the website there are e-mail addresses for each of the Associate programmes - you could drop them a wee note and I'm sure they'll come back to you, I know all of the Associate personnel that I spoke to in the past were lovely and helpful. Good luck wherever you apply

DD and I had gone out on Saturday evening to watch the new Mary Poppins movie so I had set my Tivo to record this - looks like I'll be able to free up that storage space this evening. Won't waste my time with it.

Christmas treats thoroughly ruined by the error of picking up Gingerbread flavoured Matchmakers - especially when I was eagerly anticipating that delicious orangey flavour. Why would Nestle do this to me??!! Yuck, yuck, they taste like cough medicine, avoid if at all possible! I had to console myself with a large bag of individual Cadbury Whole Nut's instead, it was hard, but I forced myself to finish the bag in two sittings. (Nothing at all to do with the fact that I really do need to start to wear my reading glasses whilst shopping - they need to package them in a very obviously different colour for simpletons like me!)

Thanks for the recommendation Alison I'll remember that for next time. The return fair from Queen street to my station is £17.50 - which is ridiculous for such a shirt journey but with the traffic as it is then they can get away with it.

Rather than starting a new thread on the topic of Train Fares I thought I'd resurrect this older one. Earlier this week I had tickets to see the Trocks at the Festival Theatre in Edinburgh along with 3 of my sisters in law. On previous outings to various shows in Edinburgh we've all joined the same train but at our various stations along the route. Some starting the journey at Glasgow Queen Street where the return fare is £26.50 - not ridiculous but certainly adds to the expense of an evening out. Whereas 2 of us are always the last to join the party and positively gloat in our £12.50 return tickets. This week however, those who would normally join the train in Glasgow decided that they would drive to my station - which is only 15 minutes from Glasgow QS, with a free car park - and join us there. As I arrived at the station early I offered to purchase the tickets for everyone to save them some time. So, with £50 in my hand I approached the desk. Imagine my absolute shock when the ticket attendant offered me a ticket - for all 4 of us - for £33!!! Wow!!! So instead of the total cost of our journeys totaling £78 we all travelled (not quite in luxury as it was a ScotRail carriage) for the tiny sum of £33!! It just proves how much you can save when you know what the offers are - I absolutely didn't know this type of ticket was available and was flabbergasted that the ticket attendant pointed it out to me. Great Customer Service on his part. Now the bargain hunter in me is wondering how much more I could save if I purchase this type of ticket in advance for our next outing. I love a new challenge!!

Yes Alison, this is precisely what the individual I was referring to was doing. We all have to shift our weight from time to time to remain comfortable - however this can be done discretely and without an entire body shift. Whereas continuously moving from one arm rest to the other and shifting your entire body mass each and every time can become very frustrating for those sitting behind.

Love, love, love the Trocks. Can't wait to see them again on 30th October in Edinburgh. This will be my third time watching them and I am positively giddy with excitement as they are so fabulous in every way. It will be an interesting evening as I'm taking along 4 Sisters in Law - all of whom have watch 1 ballet to date (Giselle by Ballet West earlier this year). I'm doing my best to bring some culture to their lives.

This definitely needs to be highlighted and addressed to prevent any other families experiencing this dreadful situation. Signed today. My deepest and most sincere condolences.

Well I thought that too, but the shows been running for a few weeks already, so had dismissed that - but you're probably right. Anyway I know what he looks like and if I turn up to another show and he's there I'll be swapping seats with whoever I'm with.

While having a lovely time last week at Sunshine on Leith at the Kings in Glasgow, I had the very strange situation of having someone who could only be described as a corpse sitting next to me. For anyone who's ever seen this fantastically funny play (or indeed the film) it's full of humour, emotion and amazing sing-a-long opportunities - all to songs from the fabulous Proclaimers back catalogue. The gentleman sitting next to me didn't smile, snigger, laugh, sing or even applaud any of the scenes. It was truly bizarre. At first I felt quite awkward and thought I was maybe disturbing his intense enjoyment of the show - but after about 15 minutes when I'd come to the conclusion that he was just plain weird, I joined in with the rest of the crowd and laughed out loud and cheered and gave rapturous applause whenever the action called for it. Why do people go along to a show of this nature if they clearly don't enjoy this genre. Yes it may have been the case that he had been dragged along as a Plus 1 - but curiouser and curiouser when the show finished he left on his own, without a backward glance at anyone! Anyway it didn't spoil my enjoyment so if you ever get a chance to see this hilarious show I can thoroughly recommend it - although for those of you south of the border it may be wise to go along to a captioned show as some of the accents and vernacular are particular to the Central Belt !!

DD had problems when her arches collapsed about 5 years ago. A good (NHS) podiatrist thoroughly examined her and gave her some strengthening exercise and customised insoles which she wore for about 2 years. Dr Martens & Kickers were her shoe of choice for school and day wear (or sensible Clarks ones as I insisted). After the 2 years her feet had shrunk by 2 sizes - back to a size 3 from a 5 at the worst point of the arch collapse. A different podiatrist (due to the original one being on holiday) commented that it was 'impossible' for this to happen. Maybe it's rare but we know exactly what happened and I have the old shoes in a cupboard to prove that they were well worn in the larger sizes (along with the little sizing cards you get from Clarks when they are little) - all recorded the growth and then reduction in her foot size. She may not have the most elegant arch shape but her feet are now very strong and she still uses the exercises to 'maintain' her arches. Now at 18 if she's out with friends she'll wear her 'nice, going out' shoes for the start of the evening but will always have a pair of sensible shoes to change into later in the evening!

All leotards now sold.

6 x petite blue First Year uniform leotards for sale. 2 are well worn but still wearable as spares - £5 each (plus p&p). 4 have been worn but still excellent condition - £15 each (plus p&p) Happy to arrange for hand delivery in Taynuilt in September to save on P&P. All leotard have still got plenty if wear in them and will be more than suitable as main uniform or spares.

I know this has already been mentioned on numerous occasions earlier in this thread - but why do people have to continuously fidget and shift their weight from one side of their seat to the other. Very, very annoying for those sitting directly behind them!!! I had the unfortunate pleasure (!) of having one such individual sit in front of me last night at a performance of Wicked at the Edinburgh Playhouse. This man didn't sit in one position for more than 2 minutes. Having arrived minutes before curtain up he completely burst my wonderful cosy little bubble than I was about to have an entirely unimpinged view of the performance. He wasn't overly tall so I thought it probably would be okay, but no!!! Thankfully I was able to have a quick, sneaky, look behind me and realised that the patrons behind me were exceptionally tall and had no problem seeing over my head, so I was able to adjust my viewing line as necessary to enable me to see something. As I had a sister-in-law on either side of me I was able to encroach on their space slightly to allow me to do this. And the one sister-in-law who had seen the show previously who swapped seats with me for the Second Act is certainly getting a bigger/better Christmas pressie this year!!! (The show was fabulous despite Mr Fidget.)

DD takes a Vitamin D supplement every day - and has done for the last 3-4 years as she was advised by our GP that her fatigue at that time was likely due to her low levels of this. It was at the time when she was starting to seriously study for her Academic exams. I enquired about cutting back on her dancing commitments - our GP said it wasn't necessary. She said if DD had the energy then it wasn't a problem. As soon as she started taking this she felt a noticeable difference. (As a family we take a Vitamin D supplement regularly - in fact it was recommended by the Scottish Government a few years ago.)

Ainsliewear versaille print leotard and skirt from Just Ballet is beautiful. My daughter picked the Allegro leotard from the range last week when we visited - its beautiful with the skirt. But you're right they aren't cheap but they are really beautiful quality and gorgeous on.

Unless you're Scottish and chose to attend Ballet West - in which case the maximum tuition funding you can receive is £1250(!) with the remainder having to be covered by Parents. You would think Holyrood would want to encourage Scottish talent to remain in Scotland - but apparently not! (I'll get back off my soapbox! - sorry.)

Hi Colman, I've been monitoring Dublin airport too as my other half has been stuck there since yesterday tea time. It's now looking likely that he won't make it home until Saturday night at the earliest. He is due back in Dublin Monday morning for another meeting - I think we'll be have a discussion about that !!

I know what you mean Alison. I dislocated both kneecaps almost 25 years ago and I cringe whenever I see a mogul!. 'I could have been a contender!!'

You can also get Ivy Park from JD Sports - and they ALWAYS have a sale on!

Confuddled I'm not sure what size these relate to in Childrens clothing, but DD has just turned 18, is 5' 1" in height and still wears age 11-12 leggings (when we can find any she likes in Tesco etc when she is home). Not sure if this helps or not.

Ivy Park, TK Maxx and some very astute monitoring of the Dancewear Retails websites waiting for the sales - that is basically DD's daily attire. Definitely keep an eye on the Sale sections of all the websites as there are some fantastic bargains to be found there - especially if you're buying for a XS or size 4 (makes me so jealous). I picked up an amazing Bloch hoodie in the sales pre-Christmas for £25 that had previously been over £70. DD loves it and wears it all the time and I look like super generous mum who bought her loads of pressies! One piece of advise I'd give too before you start buying all sorts of warm up clothes is to check if she's a 'black' or 'blue' base girl - my DD is very definitely a lover of 'black' so no navy items otherwise they'll clash. She will wear all sorts of very bizarre colour combinations - the multi coloured striped knitted warm up is a favourite - but they are all backed up with a 'black' base item.

Yikes Anne - what on earth have I taken on??? So far Clover hasn't shown any fondness for water - in fact she hates going out for a walk in the rain even with her raincoat on. Plus side - we don't have to go for long walks in the pouring rain / Down side - she still has all that energy to burn off / Result - Springer running in circles round the house for a few hours!! Also I thought Spaniels were supposed to be intelligent - maybe it's because she's still a puppy but she does the most stupid things at time. i.e. running in circles until she's so dizzy that she walks into walls or tries to walk away and thumps her head on door frames or simply falls over and lays on her back for a few minutes until she can focus again. Then there's the fact that she doesn't understand that momentum will keep her moving - so when she's out running and decides to grab hold of a branch (that's still attached to a tree/bush) not realising that the rest of her body will keep moving and spin her around. So the look of bewilderment on her face every time this happens to her is hilarious. Or my personal favourite - where she grabs something she's not supposed to have and tries to drag it into her crate, but can't fathom why she can't get it through the door so just keeps ramming against it, thinking that if she runs at it she'll be able to force it in! I let her do it a few times and then take it from her and give her something that will fit AND that she's allowed to have.

Yes, we had that too. Every corner that was plasterboard was chewed through to the wooden framing behind it AND my beautiful mahogany doors were also chewed - what is a puppy's obsession with chewing everything except the toys we buy for them for that purpose???