HANGING around a hospital waiting for a friend you agreed to drive there can be a drag. But like most things in life there is a humorous side – if you look.

This week my friend Gwen had an appointment at the Oxford Eye Hospital in the JR’s West Wing. The waiting rooms were heaving by 9am and seating was at a premium. After all, most patients with eye problems are unlikely to drive themselves to hospital.

There was a constant turnover as the three duty nurses seemed to be on a mission to ensure the consultants were kept busy. Teamwork at its best.

“Would those who are not patients give up their seats to those who are?” came a voice above the crowd. The request was courteous but firm. Immediately six of us – five men and a woman – leapt to our feet. But the take-up was not universal.

“I’m happy standing,” confessed a woman, probably in her early 60s when I beckoned her across. The seat remained unoccupied.

“You are older than me,” a young woman pointed out not unkindly to her bowing silver-haired knight in shining armour.

“I couldn’t possibly take a lady’s seat,” said a military-looking chap when the woman in our group offered her spot.

Well, we tried.

‘THAT’S me,” called a cheerful elderly woman leaning heavily on a white stick when she heard her name.

“Over here to room three, please,” said the nurse.

“Where’s that? You’ll have to show me. I’m here because I can’t see,” said the woman, chuckling and making light of her difficulties.

Meanwhile a serious-faced little girl, who along with her young mum had accompanied great-grandad for his appointment, was determined to make the visit an occasion for learning. She had a stream of questions that her mother was expected to answer, including wanting to know in which room new eyes were hatched and stored.

She took quite a bit of persuading that this was not the way it worked.

THE other day I stole few minutes in St Mary the Virgin Church in High Street. A sizeable number of visitors had the same idea, admiring the building that plays – and has always played – an important role in city and university life.

Cameras and i-pads were clicking. Their owners paid little or no attention to the clergyman celebrating Tuesday morning Holy Communion in the chancel. Visitors made no attempt to join in the service; instead they gazed briefly in the direction of the priest and the three communicants as if they were part of the fixtures and fittings, a display put on to entertain.

I suppose it’s the price St Mary’s has to pay for its location and its fame.