Another attempt at resurrection

This then will be a further attempt to resurrect my blog.

I have been (I would claim) reasonably busy since my last post. For example I attended a career medical board in march, the  sole purpose of which was to decide my future career options - permanently, sadly for all involved the result was a 6 month deferral, which was odd for several reasons..

18 months ago whilst enjoying a holiday overseas I developed an eye condition, specifically the Herpes Simplex Virus (Optical) which is of course related to all the other hideous forms of herpes, although a closer sibling to the Cold sore than those other nasty lesions that appear in dark sweaty holes.

The immediate question is of course how? I had previously considered my hobby a harmless way to pass a few hours, but it turns out that in certain countries using your eyeball to clean the rim of public toilets can have nasty consequences...my hobby has now been adjusted and I use a sterilised finger.

The point being that this condition is permanent, this means according to a source: "existing or intended to exist for an indefinite period, a permanent structure, not expected to change for an indefinite time; not temporary"

This permanence was stressed to me by the consultant and backed up by my own (albeit Internet based) research. The conversation with the medical board was therefore a surprise;

Frightfully important (because it seems he is old) man sat in the middle of 3 frightfully important men to me:

"We have decided to defer the board for a year in order to see how the condition develops, are you happy with that?"

Me, tentatively :

"Umm, no not really I don't really understand the logic, I was hoping for a firm decision, given the conditions permanent nature I am not sure what can be gained by a years wait"

Important old man:

"Oh I see, well, the board feels that we would not want to make a decision on your condition until you have not had a re-occurrence for at least a year"

Me, not wanting to push the conversation into farce by going down the permanent route, but nevertheless determined to seek resolution without waiting a year:

"Oh, well I had my last an attack last July, so this July would be the year point perhaps then?"

Old man :

"Oh, well I see, good point, but we would not want to see you again after only 3 months (for why?), so what about we call it 6 months?"

Greeted to general nodding from his two accomplices. At this point it was beginning to dawn on me that the timescales being bandied about had not been the subject of much medical deliberation but were it seems being rapidly plucked out of the learned gentleman's arse...

Me, a little perplexed:

"I see, well, its just that, I'm no expert - clealry, and may not have the specialist knowledge of the board but I struggle to see what the purpose of a 6 month deferral when dealing with a permanent condition, which is well, permanent and therefore not likely to have changed much in 6 months time due to its inherently permanent nature, if you understand my meaning"

Man :

"Hmmm, whilst I can understand your desire to see this matter resolved, regrettably it is this boards considered medical opinion that the case is best served if deferred for a 6 months period"

Me:

No sound at this point, I have a certain awareness about shutting up when it comes to dealing with faintly mental people, I just tried to rearrange my facial features to suggest something along the lines of - Fair enough, I know when I am dealing with a bunch of idiots - I concede.

And off I went, deferred until October, or 3 weeks time at the time of writing, my consultant has written a more explicit recommendation to the board this time, along the lines (literally) of:

'I have re-examined Hogblower, I can confirm that the permanent medical condition I diagnosed last year persists -as is the nature of permanent conditions. This condition is permanent and will remain so permanently.'

brilliant.

I wonder what will happen when I attend the next board.....