Mysteries, mutterings and medical matters

We mentioned to our server at the hotel what our itinerary had been. She was open mouthed: “Are you spies?!” No, just peripatetic voyagers. We were about to sit down for afternoon tea and were engaging in light chat with the staff in the lounge. All was well until we asked about the mysterious and faceless tall building in our field of view from the lounge. Nope. No idea. What building. Never seen it before. This thing is like 40 metres high and has no windows. Nope. Can’t see it. Maybe it’s poking through from another dimension and only we higher beings are capable of observing its intrusion? Anyway, that was a bit of an X Files moment but we shall leave readers to judge for themselves. What do you mean you can’t see it?!

We had a slow evening that really didn’t start too well as my cough returned with a vengeance and left me feeling drained. And then, after champagne, the universal cure-all, I brightened up and we had some wine and went back to our room. The Tokyo skyline lighting up, put on a great show for us and we went to bed and … had a  good sleep. Even Gabrielle. Quite unheard of.

The day dawned and we went for a very multicoloured breakfast which we enjoyed and then Gabrielle got serious. Muttering about man of my age and 14 hour flight and don’t you think a doctor would be a good idea, as I was still barking.

We took the decision to go to the doctor and, with help from the concierge, Jovette, we head off in a taxi for the International Clinic in the station concourse. The taxi drops us at the opposite end of Tokyo Station from the International Clinic but, using our famous orienteering skills, we locate the place. Amazingly, we see a doctor within an hour.

I receive some inhalation treatment through a whistling nebuliser - much laughter all round - and then I am booted out with a diagnosis, prescription and directions to a pharmacy. All within about an hour. Think on, UK GPs!

We collect the prescription at the pharmacy after a fluffy mocha at Starbucks. There are two lots of tablets and an inhaler. It all takes me back to when I was a kid. We grab a taxi back and Gabs thanks the driver with “obrigado” - wrong country, m’dear! The whole lot including two taxis, doctor and nurse consultation, treatment in the clinic and three prescription items plus two coffees and a bun at Starbucks cost us around £150. Makes you think.

So, yes, it has all been about me and I have apologised until I can apologise no more but ultimately these things happen. It’s just that they have happened far too regularly for our liking. Today has been basically about sorting out medical issues and then resting. Maybe tomorrow we can make some steps outside to look at something touristic in Tokyo.