A bit of oddness

Today was my about monthly visit to the Australian Red Cross blood donation centre again. I think this makes about eight donations since I started last year. While nothing particularly odd happened today it was a bit of a strange experience, as though everything was a bit out of kilter. The usual receptionist is on holidays and one of the regular staff members had taken over at the front desk. It was incredibly still and quiet inside this time. I was given the clipboard with forms to complete and it seemed to take much longer than usual as I felt distracted by the quiet. Even though it was so quiet, it took quite a while before I was called back. When the nurse checked my blood pressure, the machine pumped up to a really high pressure and took ages to go down again only to never pick up a reading and start all over with another high pressure. My bp was quite normal but it made my arm really uncomfortable for the duration. Today was a whole blood donation but the last few times I’ve been there have been for plasma. It seemed almost alien to do full blood again. I was glad it didn’t take so long, though, as my arm was already going numb in the about nine minutes I was actively donating. Usually they put a pillow under my arm and adjust everything for comfort but today there was only a towel on the arm of the seat. Once I was finished I went to the canteen for my after donation snack. The staff handling reception was doing double duty at the canteen too. I chose a muffin like usual and she heated it up. But she did it differently to the usual person and it didn’t get very warm this time. Also she asked me what I wanted to drink and poured the apple juice into a tiny little cup instead of the usual paper cups they use. It was hardly worth it. I’ve organised it so that I will do my next donation (plasma) the last Sunday this month when the Scientist is doing his next regular donation.