Purple Dead Nettles

First thing today was an appointment with the nurse at the health centre in the village for a doppler test.  I need to have this test every 6 months due to suffering from leg ulcers in the past.  A doppler test can help diagnose ~ blood clots, poorly functioning valves in your leg veins (venous insufficiency), heart valve defects and congenital heart disease, a blocked artery (arterial occlusion), decreased blood circulation into your legs (peripheral artery disease), bulging arteries (aneurysms and narrowing of an artery, such as in your neck (carotid artery stenosis).

This time the nurse was using a new " fancy pants " machine instead of doing it by hand.  (Apparently this new machine is the envy of nurses at other health centres ).  The old procedure took 40 mins.  Today it took less than 5 mins.  And its more accurate.  I had to lie down and then large cuffs similar to blood pressure cuffs were put on both arms and legs and they were inflated.  The machine did all the readings.  The results were better than last time which I was pleased about.  So I just need to keep wearing the support stockings and go back in 6 months.

I had intended coming straight home after my appointment but I got a text message saying an Ebay parcel was ready to pick up at Argos.  So I got the bus to The Metrocentre to go and get it.  Its a handbag. ( yes - another handbag )  A bargain buy.  A brand new handbag with the price tag still attached - £89 from John Lewis.  But I got it for only £19. 

When I got home there was a card on the doormat.  My parcel ( a new pair of curtains ) had been delivered by Hermes and had been put in an " outbuilding". I don't have any outbuildings.  When I checked online there was a photograph of my parcel inside my " outbuilding".  The " outbuilding " was my blue recycling bin!.  Good job it wasn't scheduled to be emptied today.

Its been another cold and dull day - but at least it didn't rain.

I took my blip shot in the back lane which runs through the allotments.  There are a lot of these purple dead nettles alongside the path.  I have tagged it for the Wild Flower Week.  Thanks to Miranda1008 for hosting.

Steps today - 6.796