Frank Sinatra and the Carbuncle

Have you ever been mistaken for someone else? I don’t mean has anyone ever mistook you for Mr or Mrs Clutterbuck at number 32, but for someone famous?

Feeling Unwell

I’m talking Frank Sinatra famous? It happened to me a few years ago now. Suffering from Oesophagitis, things got to a point where I was hospitalised for a few days. Nothing serious, but it had got to the point where I couldn’t swallow any food. I have to admit, I was scared, but it turned out to be easily treatable with a little bit of poking about and long term medication. Anyway, I’m digressing.

Meeting Snortbag

Arriving at the hospital around 10:00 pm I was assessed and assigned to a ward which contained another five guys. In the bed opposite me was a guy who could snore for England. Honestly, from the moment his eyes closed, which was quite often, day or night, he would snore with a capital S. It drove me nuts! It is safe to say, I never got too much sleep while I was there.

Meeting Ted

The first morning after my arrival, I met Ted who was a patient in the bed next to mine. He was probably in his late 60’s or early 70’s and compared to snort bag in the bed opposite, he was a real gentleman. After lying awake all night, I could sense Ted looking over at me with a stare, as though I had landed from space. Feeling irritable from lack of sleep, I wasn’t in any mood for staring shenanigans or any other shenanigans for that matter. It wasn’t long before he was up and about and came over to me.

I Know You

“Hello mate, what time did they bring you in then? What’s wrong with you? I’ve got a carbuncle and it hurts!” I have no idea what a carbuncle is and said I was sorry and I’d been admitted with something wrong with my digestive system. “They’ll sort you out, mate. I’ve seen you before, ain’t I? You’re the Frank Sinatra guy who sings at our club. I’ve got to say, you’re very good, just like him. That New York, New York you do, that’s fantastic. The best one I’ve seen. Wait till my Missus comes to visit and sees you here.”

What A Day

After a night of no sleep, the shock of being rushed into hospital, listening to Mr Snortbag at 1,000 decibels and now being mistaken for a Frank Sinatra tribute singer I can say that I really wasn’t feeling my best. Ted was adamant that I was the guy from his club who performed Frank Sinatra. The more I remonstrated with him, the more he would say things like, “It’s ok, I won’t let your secret out, it’s safe with me, mate” giving me a wink of his right eye followed by, “Hey, Nurse, this guy is a great singer, he sings Frank Sinatra at me club! He’s really good.” Thankfully, the nurses were too busy to take much notice of him plus I think they tried to get off the ward while Snortbag was in full flow.

Anyone and Everyone

The few days I was in the hospital seemed more like a few years. Although I liked Ted, his incessant going on about me being a Frank Sinatra tribute singer at his club really got on my nerves. Anyone and everyone who came onto the ward, Nurses, Doctors, Students, Cleaners, Visitors and even the guy who came around selling newspapers all got the same message off him. “Trev sings Frank Sinatra at me club, he’s really good!” No one seems interested although it doesn’t stop me going red-faced.

Discharge Day

On the day of my discharge, there was the usual hanging around while waiting for prescriptions and the Doctor to sign papers saying I’m all good to go. While Snortbag was droning away in his bed, Ted had been taken to theatre to have his carbuncle dealt with. I left a note on his bed, wishing him well in the future. I signed it with love from ‘ol blue eyes!’ I’m thinking the Frank Sinatra tribute act at his club will be in for a shock the next time Ted sees him. He’s going to swear it was him who was in the hospital.

Here’s a real Frank Sinatra Tribute.

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46 Comments
  • gulfcoastpoet@gmail.com
    October 2, 2020

    Hilarious story, Trev.! <3 I especially enjoyed the ending! All the best! Cheryl

    • Trev
      October 2, 2020

      Thank you, Cheryl. ????

  • Jasmine Rose
    October 2, 2020

    Haha! That’s hilarious! I would have gone along with it! ????

    • Trev
      October 2, 2020

      Thank you, Jasmine. ????

  • SueW
    October 2, 2020

    Oh I do love reading the stories of your life. You always tell it ‘Your Way’
    I’m sorry you ‘couldn’t sleep a wink’ (1957).

    Trev, thank you for the entertainment. ????

    • Trev
      October 2, 2020

      Lol, thank you, Sue. ????

  • Raj
    October 2, 2020

    Awesome post. I like it.

  • Trev
    October 2, 2020

    Thank you, Raj. ????

  • Going Batty in Wales
    October 2, 2020

    I think hospitals have a rule that there has to be one chronic snorer in every ward! Thank goodness you were only in a few days – between the Snortbag and the fan you were well out of there. Lovely story though!

    • Trev
      October 2, 2020

      Thank you. I agree, I was glad to get home to my own, peaceful bed. ????

  • Eileen
    October 2, 2020

    Hmm – discharge day for you AND Ted 😀 Did you never visit his club to see the Sinatra tribute? That would haveconfused him, both of you in the same room at the same time 😉

    • Trev
      October 2, 2020

      Thank you, Eileen. There’s a thought, I could have done that. 🙂

  • Jay
    October 2, 2020

    This is a great story, aside from all your pain and suffering.
    Considering rest is such an important component to healing, you’d think hospitals would treat sleep as sacred instead of constantly challenging you to get any.

    • Trev
      October 2, 2020

      Thank you, Jay. I know, but then again I suppose there’s no way of stopping anyone snoring. 🙂

  • Peter's pondering
    October 2, 2020

    …..and how much were you paid for your singing?

    • Trev
      October 2, 2020

      I would have been paid not to sing. 🙂

  • conniejjasperson
    October 2, 2020

    Glad you are better, Trev. When we meet in the rec room at the Old Bloggers Home in the Sky, I’ll be sure to tell everyone how wonderfully you sing 😉

    • Trev
      October 2, 2020

      Lol, thank you, Connie. I shall leave my singing voice on earth. 😀

  • Yetismith
    October 2, 2020

    That’s funny but I can see how it would be very annoying. Hospitals, in my experience do not bring out the best in people…not me, certainly!

    • Trev
      October 2, 2020

      Thank you, Yeti. I suppose we can think ourselves lucky if we get out of them. 🙂

  • iammrsshecky
    October 2, 2020

    That was great. Laughed and kept thinking if it was me I would have gone crazy. Now I have to google carbuncle…

    • Trev
      October 2, 2020

      Thank you. I don’t think Google had been invented when I first heard of carbuncle. I only hope I never get one. 🙂

  • Rosaliene Bacchus
    October 2, 2020

    Though I’ve been mistaken for several people I’ve never met, I’ve never had your fortune/misfortune of being mistaken for a famous person. I suppose it could have some advantages 🙂

    • Trev
      October 2, 2020

      Haha, I’m not so sure, Rosaliene, but thank you. ????

  • susiesopinions
    October 2, 2020

    How funny.

    • Trev
      October 2, 2020

      Thank you, Susie ????

  • Lou Carreras
    October 2, 2020

    Could of been worse. He could have mistaken you for the Elvis impersonator.

    • Trev
      October 2, 2020

      Lol, Lou. Indeed. 😀 Thank you.

  • Herb
    October 3, 2020

    Well, if it’s the guy in the link you posted you should probably feel complimented. I read your line about how Snortbag could “Snore for England.” She thinks I could snore for America. If the mistaken identity had happened to me I would only have had to sing a few bars of “Young At Heart” and they would have known the truth.

    • Herb
      October 3, 2020

      I read your line to my wife. I missed a spot there.

    • Trev
      October 3, 2020

      Thank you, Herb, that’s what I should have done, sing a few lines, he would have soon realised he’d got the wrong guy. ????

  • Invisibly Me
    October 3, 2020

    Oesophagitis couldn’t have been pleasant, and it definitely doesn’t help when you have wardmates getting on your nerves as you lie there exhausted and rather fed up. I guess it’s kind of flattering to be taken for a tribute band singer, and it’s very sweet of you to have left him that note, despite how much the incessant goings on might have gotten to you. I bet it made his week after dealing with that carbuncle of his (big boils!) to have met you in there x

    • Trev
      October 3, 2020

      Thank you, Caz. It was the least I could do is leave him a note. Ah, big boils, so that’s what a carbuncle is. Thank you again, Caz. 🙂

  • bushboy
    October 4, 2020

    Great story 🙂

    • Trev
      October 4, 2020

      Thank you, bushboy ????

  • Lisa Orchard
    October 4, 2020

    I’ve had similar hospital experiences. Mainly being woken up by the staff every hour to check my vital signs. I was quite grumpy when I pointed out, I’d probably heal faster if I got some sleep. LOL.

    • Trev
      October 4, 2020

      Thank you, Lisa. It is a strange experience and then they wake you at 5:30 am for breakfast. Last thing you need when you’ve been awake all night. ????

  • Carfax
    October 5, 2020

    ❤ have a nice monday!

    • Trev
      October 5, 2020

      Thank you and you ????

  • Lara/Trace
    October 7, 2020

    Have you tried singing?

    • Trev
      October 7, 2020

      Many times, I seem to have a monosybilic voice. Thank you, Lara, 🙂

  • altın mutfak lavabo musluk
    October 10, 2020

    You must be very successful, I like what I read

  • JosieHolford
    October 16, 2020

    Great story Trev.

    • Trev
      October 16, 2020

      Thank you, Josie, glad you like it. 🙂

  • denise421win
    September 3, 2021

    Awesome story

    • Trev
      September 3, 2021

      Thank you, Denise