I've just witnessed first hand, the dental system over here, as I ended up with vertical fracture of one of my molars - it became quite painful, and decided I had to go and see someone quick-style - Rolling about in pain, after eating something hot followed by something cold is not my scene.
I ended up in a practice just across the road from our block, on the 4th floor of one of the service blocks which contain small grocery shops, hairdressers, Taikwondo classes to name but a few and a dentist! The service, as expected did not speak any English, but armed with a helpful scrap of paper which translated into "dont touch me unless you give me a numbing injection first!" and pointing at the offending tooth with much theatrical moaning seemed to do the trick.
I was whisked into the dentists chair, and given an X-ray by two lovely looking girls in matching uniforms and face masks. This X-Ray was no hand-me-down piece of kit from the local hospital, but a state of the art dinky little thing that was hand held and needed no lead aprons or protection whatsoever. The image appeared immediately onto a PC screen next to the chair! A fracture was very clear, and with some pointing and Konglish, the dentist made his case for a crown clear. Several numbing jags later, and lots of drilling, I was very gappy and a bit sore after the reaming to dig out the nerve. This was packed until then next day for a second reaming of the nerve endings. This went on for 3 sessions, and I now have a lump of acrylic as a temporary crown until I get bling this Friday. I plumped for the gold crown, as I was told that a porcelain crown could easily crack, given the molar's position and work it has to do. The cost for the gold crown? 470,000 KRW which is about £225 - around half the cost it would be back in UK. The best bit about it? I get bling, and my insurance company picks up the tab! You'll see my sparkle everytime I talk from now on. However, I'm not keen to do it again soon..
Monday, 22 June 2009
Monday, 8 June 2009
Today is not a good news day...
With Sue back in the UK, it meant that she would get to see all her family members, including our dog, Tara, who was enjoying the life of luxury being pampered by Sue's Mum at her house. Tara could want for nothing, especially when it came to enjoying the left-overs of a traditional Sunday roast complete with a splash of gravy over some mashed potato remains. A walk meant "Snowy" - Sue's Dad, taking her up the woods for a nicely paced walk, then wandering back home to sprawl out in front of the sofa with little care in the world, and dream of chasing cats.
Tara was beginning to show her age. 11 years is a long time in Cavalier King Charels spaniel terms. Normally, the average age is around 8-9 years. We decided early on, that a life in Korea would have been too much for her, and the thought of her being cooped up in an apartment was not the life for any dog, regardless of how mobile they were. A big back garden with grass and plenty of dickie birds to chase round would be much more fun, along with a loving couple who would look after her in her golden years.
Sue arrived back in the UK to find Tara was starting to lose her fur a bit on her back. I suggested taking her to the vets to see if she maybe had a skin condition, that could be easily sorted with some medicated shampoo etc. The vets took bloods etc to find the cause, but over the weekend, she started going downhill fast. She had some sort of fit, and lolled around for a bit before recovering. The resulting call to the vets on Monday told us the worst. She had some disease of the blood, started to have kidney failure, had wobbly teeth, and was bit unsteady on her paws. The inevitable decision had to be made, and it was made with all the right reasons - even the vet agreed it would be the best thing. Any treatment would lead to other complications, and would not have been in the best interests for Tara.
Sue stayed with Tara until the end, making sure her last moments were with someone who loved her, and was sure the love was returned. She went very peacefully, and is no doubt enjoying running amock in doggy heaven chasing as many dickie birds and barking at the waves by the seaside to her hearts content.
I wish I was there for Sue, and to have been able to hold her hand when she gave Tara a peaceful end Alex was there - thanks kiddo. Thanks also to Joyce and Wlf (Snowy) for looking after her for us - she loved you too.
We'll miss you Tara (Bark Bark, Woof Grrr - good girl!)
Tara was beginning to show her age. 11 years is a long time in Cavalier King Charels spaniel terms. Normally, the average age is around 8-9 years. We decided early on, that a life in Korea would have been too much for her, and the thought of her being cooped up in an apartment was not the life for any dog, regardless of how mobile they were. A big back garden with grass and plenty of dickie birds to chase round would be much more fun, along with a loving couple who would look after her in her golden years.
Sue arrived back in the UK to find Tara was starting to lose her fur a bit on her back. I suggested taking her to the vets to see if she maybe had a skin condition, that could be easily sorted with some medicated shampoo etc. The vets took bloods etc to find the cause, but over the weekend, she started going downhill fast. She had some sort of fit, and lolled around for a bit before recovering. The resulting call to the vets on Monday told us the worst. She had some disease of the blood, started to have kidney failure, had wobbly teeth, and was bit unsteady on her paws. The inevitable decision had to be made, and it was made with all the right reasons - even the vet agreed it would be the best thing. Any treatment would lead to other complications, and would not have been in the best interests for Tara.
Sue stayed with Tara until the end, making sure her last moments were with someone who loved her, and was sure the love was returned. She went very peacefully, and is no doubt enjoying running amock in doggy heaven chasing as many dickie birds and barking at the waves by the seaside to her hearts content.
I wish I was there for Sue, and to have been able to hold her hand when she gave Tara a peaceful end Alex was there - thanks kiddo. Thanks also to Joyce and Wlf (Snowy) for looking after her for us - she loved you too.
We'll miss you Tara (Bark Bark, Woof Grrr - good girl!)
Saturday, 6 June 2009
Missing home.....
We are apart for a couple of weeks, and I have to tell you, it's hard going!
I used to be away from home for several as part of one of my previous jobs on technical support, but was always back after a mx of one week. I found that difficult at the best of times.
Sue is in the UK, visiting her family, while I am in Austria on a training and conference routine. The worst part of it is having to be in a hotel at the weekend - It's not nice, even if there is something to do, or somewhere to visit, it's not with my beloved!
The only good thing to do here is to go shopping. I know, I said previously that my ppet hate is to go shopping, but in Korea, there are certain things you CANNOT get that are easily available in European countries. I name XL clothing as one particular item, or items. The Koreans are small people, by that I mean they might be abloe to dodge the VAT on clothing if they ever decided to shop in the UK, as no VAT is payable on childrens clothes. The majority of Koreans are all stick-thin, and could fit in kid's clothes. Hence, the presence of XL sized clothing is rare, unless you live near to a US airbase. Other items of interest, are food items. These as simple staples in the UK products like vinegar, brown sauce and gravy granules! Sure, they have vinegar in Korea, but it's a weak variety, that they like to drink! They also have brown sauce, but it looks nothing like, or tastes like the good old British variety. Oh well, guess the case may be a few kilo's overweight for the trip back home. I am going to look for a European food site on the Interweb that will deliver to Korea and hope they dont kill me on the delivery charges.
Did I mention that we're in Korea? Ahhhhh..... I guess that's what might be the problem is then!
I used to be away from home for several as part of one of my previous jobs on technical support, but was always back after a mx of one week. I found that difficult at the best of times.
Sue is in the UK, visiting her family, while I am in Austria on a training and conference routine. The worst part of it is having to be in a hotel at the weekend - It's not nice, even if there is something to do, or somewhere to visit, it's not with my beloved!
The only good thing to do here is to go shopping. I know, I said previously that my ppet hate is to go shopping, but in Korea, there are certain things you CANNOT get that are easily available in European countries. I name XL clothing as one particular item, or items. The Koreans are small people, by that I mean they might be abloe to dodge the VAT on clothing if they ever decided to shop in the UK, as no VAT is payable on childrens clothes. The majority of Koreans are all stick-thin, and could fit in kid's clothes. Hence, the presence of XL sized clothing is rare, unless you live near to a US airbase. Other items of interest, are food items. These as simple staples in the UK products like vinegar, brown sauce and gravy granules! Sure, they have vinegar in Korea, but it's a weak variety, that they like to drink! They also have brown sauce, but it looks nothing like, or tastes like the good old British variety. Oh well, guess the case may be a few kilo's overweight for the trip back home. I am going to look for a European food site on the Interweb that will deliver to Korea and hope they dont kill me on the delivery charges.
Did I mention that we're in Korea? Ahhhhh..... I guess that's what might be the problem is then!
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
I’m a lucky person to be around….
It has happened on several occasions, but I think I’m a lucky kind of guy. We flew back west yesterday from Korea, me to a business trip to Austria, and Sue back home in UK for the 2 weeks to visit family. We later heard that an Air France plane disappeared on a flight from Brazil to France somewhere over the Atlantic while we were in the air on our flight. Poor souls.
We were in Bali a week after the horrendous bombing in the nightclub in Sanur, where we might have gone one evening.
We were in Bali, Southern Indonesia, when the earthquake struck sending out a devastating tsunami wiping out lives and destroying towns and villages along the coastline of Indonesia and Sri Lanka. We only experienced what they called a small “freak wave” which took out a few beach front restaurant windows.
I was in New York the 2 days before the terrible attack on 9-11.
We have a habit of just missing things like this and we could so easily have been involved in any of the above incidents, had the timings or circumstances been different – I’m not complaining about it, but fate is a strange thing, and unavoidable. Make the most of what is a short life. Enjoy it!
My Gran had a saying: “you’re a long time dead”
We were in Bali a week after the horrendous bombing in the nightclub in Sanur, where we might have gone one evening.
We were in Bali, Southern Indonesia, when the earthquake struck sending out a devastating tsunami wiping out lives and destroying towns and villages along the coastline of Indonesia and Sri Lanka. We only experienced what they called a small “freak wave” which took out a few beach front restaurant windows.
I was in New York the 2 days before the terrible attack on 9-11.
We have a habit of just missing things like this and we could so easily have been involved in any of the above incidents, had the timings or circumstances been different – I’m not complaining about it, but fate is a strange thing, and unavoidable. Make the most of what is a short life. Enjoy it!
My Gran had a saying: “you’re a long time dead”
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