Similar boat here. I’m actually getting to a point where I’m considering looking for part time work to snake around my self-employed activities.

Zaphod, my kitten. He’s growing up and looking more like a small cat now. He’s been having time out in the garden no - we’ve basically let him have access all day. In the evening, we have the cat flap on “in only” so the other cats can get in if they want to. We have to revise that now as Zaphod has worked out that he can PULL the flap open and get out. His predecessor could get out with the cat flap on that setting too - she knew where and how hard to hit it to open it (I saw her do this a few times). Zaphod has taken this to a new level though. So when we want to stop him getting out (evenings, when it gets dark), we’re going to have to lock the cat flap completely, and listen out for other cats trying to get in and open the door for them.

Zaphod is just over 5 months old. We’ve got a clever cat in the making here.

Right - 10 minutes on hold and I can only see a doctor today if it's "medically urgent" - surely if someone has something "medically urgent" they need a hospital?

I asked to book one in advance but I was told that's not possible and to try again with the 8am crowds, wish me luck for tomorrow.

Right - 10 minutes on hold and I can only see a doctor today if it's "medically urgent" - surely if someone has something "medically urgent" they need a hospital?

I asked to book one in advance but I was told that's not possible and to try again with the 8am crowds, wish me luck for tomorrow.

That's really unhelpful. I can see why your user avatar is appropriate, at least for this.
If you've been trying to get an appointment for 3 days then I think it's safe to say you're not time wasting - at this rate it'll have developed into something medically urgent by the time you get an appointment

Hmm. GP Surgery down to 1 doctor and four locums. Looks like the GP who was my named GP has cleared off. Last time I got a letter telling me who my named GP was, this time nothing.

Right - 10 minutes on hold and I can only see a doctor today if it's "medically urgent" - surely if someone has something "medically urgent" they need a hospital?

I asked to book one in advance but I was told that's not possible and to try again with the 8am crowds, wish me luck for tomorrow.

That's a practice that's going to close down. Remember, the entire "named GP" is a rehash by the Govt. In the olden days, you had one GP for life (until they retired or emigrated). Then you had your main GP but could see others in the practice. Then the Govt decreed that patients should be registered to the practice and not individual GPs. Then the Govt said that old people (over 75) should have a named GP. Then they thought it was such a good idea that it should be rolled out to everyone. As far as I'm concerned, it's academic. You can see whoever you want but in a practice full of locums, there's no continuity of care. The money spent on locums means the job or area isn't attractive enough to gain new candidates, or there it's a sinking practice that will eventually close, merge or get taken over by the likes of Virgin.