There was an inauspicious start when several months before a visit to the A&E department had resulted in being sent away because there was no-one available to deal with the situation, then there were the attempts to get an appointment, letters from my doctor, long waits etc…..

Arriving at the appropriate clinic on the appointed day and on time I approached the reception desk brandishing my appointment letter. There were three people behind the desk. One of them was talking with another member of staff and the other two were looking at paperwork. One of these two – the closest to where I stood- looked up at me and then went back to her paperwork. Eventually after waiting over a minute the nearest receptionist acknowledged that I existed and took the piece of paper out of my hand. It turns out that the appointment was not on today’s list, although it showed up on the computer. The off-hand manner of the receptionist suggested that this might be my fault and rather set the tone.

I was told to sit down and wait and when I asked how long it was likely to be she said she couldn’t say. Could she give me any idea at all? No. But at least I was now in the pile for today. Several minutes passed and I then heard the same receptionist tell another patient that the clinic was running an hour behind so expect a delay.

I was able to observe the system. There were three or four consulting rooms that had various doctors or nurses coming and going from them. Occasionally someone called a name and a member of the congregation made their way toward the caller. Most of the time by the time the patient had reached the spot where the name caller was last seen all trace had vanished and the patient was left to wander in an uncertain manner down a corridor looking for  someone who might have called their name. One poor chap thought his name had been called twice only to be rebuffed on both occasions when it was recognised to be a similar sounding name when inarticulately called.

The reception staff appeared to be in one mind about how patients should be treated- with disdain and without any hint of humanity. It felt as if we patients were just the widgets on the conveyor belt of the clinic.

Suddenly someone called a name that could be mine! Was it? Is this it? Shall I jump up and run toward the voice before it’s owner scurries away? I rise and smile at the source of the voice and a nurse stares back without a smile – ‘this way’ and turns on her heels marching double time down the corridor.

In a small consulting room the nurse is grim faced. ‘Sit here, look through this what can you see?’ I paused – ‘nothing I have no central vision in this eye’. I felt the nurse sag as she said ‘Which line can you read on the chart?’ I gulped, knowing I was going to give the wrong answer ‘I can’s see the chart I have no central vision in this eye’ ‘What, nothing?’ ‘Only if I move my head from side to side’. I felt as if the nurse was shaking her head in dispair ‘ Put the flap over with pin holes in’ I slid a pierced cover over the viewer ‘What can you see?’ ‘Nothing I have no central vision in this eye’ I wanted to giggle at this point but felt it would probably result in the thumbscrews being attached. ‘Ok other eye. What lines can you read on the chart?’ I proudly read down several lines hoping that I could assuage the nurse with my good behaviour. No reaction. ‘Sit here’ she pointed to a chair against the wall of the small room. ‘I will put some drops in your eyes. Head back’ She reached over with the dropper. ‘Further back, more, more’ My head made contact with the wall with a ringing thud. This time I couldn’t help but giggle. Disapproving looks from nursey. Eventually after being threatened with having to have more drops if I didn’t stop blinking my eyes raneth over and I was dismissed. ‘Go back and wait’

After about half an hour while the drops dilated my eyes so that the pupils were the size of dinner plates a young doctor called my name and I was ushered in to see the Consultant who made up for all the Keystone Coppery of the reception staff and nurse with his straightforward, matter of fact manner and his willingness to listen as well as talk.

Happy that all was in order he said that ‘seen as I was here let’s have some images of the eyes. We’ll do it today to save you coming back.’  He filled in the paperwork and sent me out to reception brandshing the papers. The consultant had clearly said there were two sets of images required today. ‘Oh I don’t think we can do that today’ the receptionist shook her head. ‘You’ll have to make another appointment’ ‘But the consultant just said it had to be today’ I bravely countered. The receptionist half shrugged and wrote something on one of the pieces of paper. There were half whispered comments between the three stooges and suddenly in a Mr Ben-like moment a young girl appeared at my side and asked if I would follow her please. She brandished a big smile and was happy to make polite conversation during the short march to the imaging unit. Handing in the file the young girl behind the desk here was also smiley and explained that although there was a big pile of files I shouldn’t worry as they were for different clinics and there was only one patient before me. Within a few minutes my name was called and I was led into a technical suite where the technician taking the images had a brilliant manner and explained what he was doing, what it was for and what would happen next. In the conversation I mentioned that there were two different images required by the consultant. The technician checked the paperwork and found only one request. I mentioned that the consultant had handed me three pieces of paper which i had given into the main clinic reception. That was no problem I was told. If I would care to wait in the waiting room again he would be back in a few minutes. He re-appeared again and beckoned me over into a different room with different piece of equipment. The technician explained that he had gone back to the main reception who had claimed on knowledge of the missing piece of paper, but he had therefore been to see the consultant and who had immediately filled out a new request form. The images were duly taken and I was free to go.

I came away with a terrible feeling of having had a bad experience, but when I recount the story it turns out that two elements of the visit were poor, but two others were excellent. Funny how bad experiences can overshadow good parts.

I can only surmise that the reception and administration staff have a management system that doesn’t value patients and sees them as being a necessary evil rather than people.

Thinks…I have just the customer care training package for them……….

On Sunday Kathy and I had been booked to steward the warm up and start for the Cross-Country competition. By now the weather had decided it was time to stop messing about and all morning the wind blew hurricane force (that’s what it felt like) with periods of horizontal rain and at one point it was so heavy that the Cross Country course was stopped because of poor visibility! And that’s not to mention the hail. Riders, parents and helpers, were stoical and typically Pony Club about it – “we’ve been through worse – do you remember that day in ………”

Between 10.00am and 7.00pm Kathy tack checked and I stewarded over 250 riders and their steeds to the start box. One rider every two minutes doesn’t allow much time for relaxation and then to top it all my lunch blew away in the gales.

By the time the afternoon was underway the weather relented and although the wind was still blowing briskly, the sun shone and by the time the last rider was underway my face felt it had been sandblasted.

“But what about the long-lost relatives?” I hear you ask. Katie, who is thirteen and no mean artist herself was looking after the stand and during the day some people exclaimed that here was a portrait of their darling Millie.

The flea-bitten grey is indeed Millie who used to be on the same livery yard as our pony, but the people who recognised the portrait were her previous owners from five years ago. They were very complementary about the image absolutely capturing Millie and her whole character which they instantly recognised.

I have always tried to capture the essence of the subject, rather than just copying a photo. Displaying the character of the animal tells much more about it than a more conventional – often less animated – portrait.

We came away from Kelsall exhausted but happy.

The event is hosted by Cheshire Hunt North Pony Club who’s idea the Novice Champs originally were and who do a brilliant job at making everyone welcome and running an efficient competition.

I’ll have my mobile studio there with some examples of my work, so if you want to have a look at some of the work in the flesh or talk about commissioning a portrait then get yourselves along to Kelsall on Saturday or Sunday.

You can directions to Kelsall here:  http://www.kelsallhill.co.uk/How_To_Get_Here.aspx

There are few better sights than the forces of the Pony Club in competition. Dozens of (mostly) well mannered ponies and children striving to do their best. It’s an amazing organisation that does a lot for those that are able to, or choose to be part of it.

I have just completed ‘Shoulder-In’ acrylic on board 30″ x 10″ . I enjoy the unusual shapes and crops that put the emphasis on particular aspects or elements of an image. The day I took these photos was really harsh sunshine, an almost Mediterranean light which bounced everywhere and half lit parts of this gelding which should have been in shadow.

I hope that I will see you at Somerford park. let’s hope for good weather and some great competition!

Mike

It wasn’t until someone believed in me that I began to believe in myself and was able to concentrate on being really creative and producing portraits. They have given me a great gift.

When I look at the paintings I produce and then compare them with other similar images I tend to get conflicting emotions about worthiness, and whether my work measures up to what else is out there. But what ever I feel I still want to put myself out there for public scrutiny.

My aim in all my work is to have a conversation with the viewer. Sometimes it’s about describing the personality of the subject or about what isn’t there. The brain is a marvelous box of tricks that fills in gaps based on our previous experiences. Communication. By eye. And to write it all down… well that would take more than a thousand words….as someone once said!