I've just got back from having an MRI scan at the local hospital.  Nothing too serious, just an on-going problem I have with my knees - nothing I'm going to bore you about on this blog.

The process lasted about an hour - scanning both knees, then having to press my legs up into and deflate a big rubber ball in exactly 1.5 minutes.  Looking at the machine, I can see why people that need a headscan don't rate it as their most favourite thing ever - I only needed to put my lower half into the machine, but I should imagine going in headfirst is quite a claustrophobic experience.

Walking through the basement of what is sign-posted as 'The Tower Block', I felt I had gone into the future as I passed the Nucleur Medicine Centre. 

My original appointment card informed me that I could take along a favourite CD to listen to during the scan.  I thought long and hard about my choice of music - it would have to be a CD where every track was a thriller, with no filler, as I didn't feel I could select tracks for the staff to play for me.  It then occured to me that whatever I chose in the end would forever be inextricably linked with my medical experience.  Finally, I felt I had to make a statement with the choice of CD - one which would give me some form of credibility with the nurses perhaps!  In the end I went for a very safe and boring option of the Kaiser Chief's CD.

However, when I arrived at reception, I was asked if I had any music, or would I like to listen to the hospital radio.  Ready for a laugh at the unprofessionalism of volunteer DJs I decided to keep Ricky and the boys tucked away in my Tesco carrier bag and plump for the latter option. 

Only when the headphones were placed on my ears and I started to be transported into the scanner, did I find out that 'the hospital radio' was tuned into Pirate FM - the local commercial radio station.  I've just been sitting here racking* my brain as to what I heard and bizarrely I can only remember 3 tracks from my time in the machine - Jack Johnson, Embrace and Wham's Wake Me Up (Before You Go Go) along with copious adverts for local businesses.

I now only need to wait 6 weeks for the results to go to my doctor, by which time I'll probably be dead from the MRSA infection I have doubtless picked up from venturing into a hospital in the first place, but I've got some of my money's worth from the NHS!

* In doing a spell check for this (didn't know if it wasn't wracking) I was interesting to read that the expression comes from the stretching (as in the torture device) severely or beyond normal capacity.  Just thought I'd share that.

And sorry for the strange title - there is a reason - otherwise it would have been 'A-knee-mal Hospital' ...I'll get my coat.