Unlucky for some

I had a birthday recently. 13th January. 13 can be thought of as unlucky and I suppose it was a little dodgy this year. Hospital in the morning for a blood test. The day before I had been there for multiple blood tests. i was supposed to have them done in the Pathology Department but when I checked in at Outpatients Reception they couldn't find the appointment on their system. It was okay because i had all the necessary paperwork including blood sample labels so a pathology nurse there in Outpatients could take the blood. I think the lovely Elise had to take 9 separate vials from me but there was one she couldnt do. Not because my veins did their usual trick of disappearing the moment they see a needle coming towards them. That day they tried it but Elise had coaxed them out of hiding. No, it was because my appointment had been booked for 12 o'clock and apparently that one sample needed to be sent to another hospital for analysis and transport left at 11.30am. Elise told me to come back Friday and be at Pathology for 9.30 but any day would be ok and they opened at 9am. We decided to go to the hospital bright and early the next morning to get it done with. (I say we because I am still relying on my husband to do the driving until I can be sure my broken leg is strong enough to perform emergency braking in an emergency.) So despite it being my birthday, we went straight to Pathology and were greeted by a surprised-to-see-us-four-days-early Elise. Quick jab of a needle not giving the veins any chance of hiding but in the right arm this time and then we were off on our way to the next delight of my birthday - a trip to Oxford for a little museum visiting before my afternoon waxing appointment. I keep my Oxford dentist and my Oxford skincare specialist because once you've found a good one of those you don't want to lose them. They are not the same person I hasten to add although that could be an interesting combination of skills. I won't tell you where I get waxed. Some things I don't share. It is slightly painful but only momentarily so. A bit like having a blood test. Then it was back home for a relaxing afternoon before a meal out in the evening. Or so I thought. My husband needed to pick up something from town so we did that on the way home and if you are going to one place in town why not visit a few including my favourite cafe who do the most delicious bakes. Yum! But I was getting tired and we still needed to pick up my dog before quickly getting changed and heading to the dog-friendly evening eaterie of choice. Except when we did get to that eaterie with Max eager for his evening treats we found it busy but closed to general public due to a private booking. 13 strikes again. So it was back home for a Chinese takeaway, glass or two of wine, birthday present chocolates courtesy of my brother and murder on TV courtesy of BBCiPlayer (so many great series to catch up on). Thirteen unlucky? Perhaps for some but, if you are born on that date, you can always find a bright side.