This week's award for Most Annoying Healthcare Professional goes to ... the nurse at our GP's surgery, for her stellar work in the blood clinic.

Ems needed some blood tests run, so we could choose - either have them done at our local doctor's rooms, (where we could make an appointment) or go to the hospital (where we'd have to take a number and wait in line). Obviously, we went with option A. So we arrive for our appointment this morning, and the nurse takes a look at Emily and goes ... "Oh. I should warn you. I don't usually do children, you see. I don't like doing children. Their veins, you know. And it tends to be ... well, you know. Not that pleasant. But, never mind - since you're here ...I really don't like to do children, though."

Obviously no-one had ever told her about the importance of Not Scaring The Patient. Or maybe she thought that Emily, being a child and all, was deaf. I could have strangled that nurse - all her negativity tipped Emily from her normal anxious-but-stoic state into a trembling wreck. Poor kid sat there shaking, in that state where your eyes are brimming with tears and you are a hair's breadth away from actual crying.

The actual blood draw was perfectly uneventful, as it transpired; just one vial needed, and it was very quick, and as painless as could reasonably be expected.

We were both in need of some pampering afterwards, though, so we went out for tea (or coke, actually, in Emily's case). A pleasant interlude before we looked at a couple more houses. One a very picturesque stone cottage, but too far out of the way to work for us, and the other spacious (five bedrooms! all reasonable sizes!) with a lovely kitchen, but with truly horrendous decor everywhere else in the house(textured lilac wallpaper and dirty pink fluffy carpets) and in a distinctly iffy area.

How will I fill my time when we eventually do have a house, I wonder.