TRAUMATIC THURSDAY

It actually began last night when MOH returned from a trip to the chemist declaring he couldn't find his wallet. He drove back down there, checked out the area where he had walked, and asked if the wallet had been left behind (hopefully) or handed in. No luck in either case. I immediately had him phone the bank to put a stop on his bank cards and also the mastercard he has which is actually used on my account.

Today we had to sort out exactly which cards were in the lost wallet. Fortunately no money was there but our NDSS (diabetes) cards are gone (we use them for subsidised needles, strips etc) and also his Medicare and HBF (private health insurance) cards. There will be problem receiving new cards but some will take up to 14 working days to receive and with his Medicare card being reissued means mine will be as well so MY card is now obsolete. I have been given numbers to use for the NDSS and Medicare cards should we need to make a claim and fortunately my HBF card is not affected by the loss of his card which is a relief.

I feel sad for MOH as I know it gives him a sense of failure when anything of this kind happens but to me it just proves we are all human and prone to making mistakes throughout our lives. It will be inconvenient for a while as he has to wait for his new Access Card and Visa Card to access money or pay bills but fortunately I can lend him a little cash to tide us over.

Another offside about having to apply for new bank cards is that he will then have to rearrange for periodic payments all over again and then contact all concerned with new card numbers etc. Still, it'll give him something to do.

I think we ladies sometimes find carrying a handbag can be a bit of a nuisance but perhaps it is one reason we tend not to lose things like wallets etc. One of the ladies I spoke to today said it was a real man thing....this business of lost wallets. I have noticed of late that many men do carry small bags or have a bag over their shoulder and perhaps it is not a bad idea as long as, of course, they don't leave the bag behind somewhere.

I asked MOH where he would keep his wallet many years ago when he wore a suit or a sports jacket and he said "in my inside pocket of course" and I think perhaps this is a problem with men's modern clothing especially in climates where we don't wear coats very much...just not so much security for items such as wallets. MOH would never wear those trousers with button down pockets on the leg or similar style and a lot of trouser styles these days are not designed for the safety of wallets and the like.

It is still raining nicely here in Perth and we have had the wettest June in 6 years which is great news with more rain on the way tomorrow and during the weekend. Seems there will be a big rush next week to get a few loads of washing done and out on the line before more rain comes our way.

Had a good hot midday meal today so once again an easy tea with sandwiches. I am glad as my right arm/shoulder is still not happy when I use it too much. I am hoping it will soon come good as I really don't want to go to the doctor about it as I doubt there is much can be done.

WEARY WEDNESDAY

Aahhhh That was a big yawn. for some reason I am very weary today....we went to our exercise group this morning and it was as much fun as ever but I had done something to my right arm just before leaving home which made it a little difficult to do all the exercises especially with the weights.

When I came home I sat down to enjoy a cup of tea and listen to the radio and couldn't believe that I actually dozed off for about 30 minutes. I just don't sleep in the daytime so must have been really tired. Took me a moment to realise just where I was. Poor old duck!!!

I've had trouble with this shoulder/arm before and hope it is not the same problem. Hopefully when I get up in the morning all will be well. I just don't need another part of me aching.

We had a very nice hot meal midday so just ham and tomato sandwiches for tea tonight which will make it easier.

A very quiet day today with little achieved so nothing to report. Oh did get some postcards off to great-granddaughter so she should have them tomorrow. Perhaps I'll send off a second lot on Friday to make up for missing out on sending them last week. Can't have the little one being disappointed when her mail box is empty for far too long.

An earlier than usual night could be the order of the day. Perhaps 11pm instead of midnight.

I JUST HAD TO SHARE THIS

A few minutes ago the telephone rang and a little voice said "hello" to which I replied "hello darling how are you?" The voice then asked "Is that Mimsie?" to which I replied "Yes, it is".

The reason for this call from my 3 year old great-granddaughter? For a few weeks now I have been sending her picture postcards. I used to collect them years back and have thousands of them and I learned that it is good for little ones to receive mail and that postcards are a good way of sending them that mail.

I had been regularly sending the cards, sometimes one at a time and occasionally 6 or more in an envelope, but last week had other things on my mind and didn't send any. Bad oversight on my part.

The next part of the conversation went like this. "Thank you for the postcards Mimsie and can you please send me some more?"

Now I have to quickly find some more cards and pop them in the mail tomorrow. Her mother tells me she checks the mail box every day but I guess it is all part of her learning about life in that the things we want to happen don't always happen when we want them to.

Our children are wonderful, our grandchildren are great but our great-grandchildren? They are so very, very special. Thank you little one for that phone call...it really made my day.

MY FIRST BORN CHILD

I was first married in July of 1953 and am not really sure that we spoke of having children or when but feel it was definitely part of our plans for the future. After we'd been married about 16 months I began to feel unwell and decided I'd best see my very nice old doctor fearing something dreadful was wrong with me. "Well my girl" he said "I think you may be pregnant and you could be in danger of losing the baby so I'll send you to a specialist who will look after you".

This came as somewhat of a shock as I'd not experienced any signs of pregnancy, or what I understood any such signs should have been. Off I went to see this specialist who turned out to be a delightful man and he said that indeed I was pregnant and in danger of losing this baby, that I should stop work immediately and rest up as much as possible for the next month or so.

I followed all these instructions carefully and after an 8 month pregnancy I was delivered of a beautiful baby girl that weighed in at 5lbs 8oz (don't ask me to put them into grams), was 18 inches long and had almost no hair and definitely nor eyebrows or eyelashes.

I had heard tales of being in labour but I woke at about 3a.m. and knew something wasn't right. Called a friend who had had a baby 6 weeks previously who said she thought I was beginning labour. My then husband actually drove down to our GP and asked what to do. "Get your wife to the hospital" was the barked reply. Off to the hospital, water broke going up the front steps of the building and to make a short story even shorter...the baby was born at 5.30a.m. Just as well I got there in time!!!

Had a modern doctor who said it was OK for me to walk to my room and after breakfast I could have a shower. I was the envy of nearly all the other new mums on the ward as their doctors made them stay in bed for at least a week after giving birth and we all stayed in hospital for 10 days before being allowed home.

Now for the difference between then and back then. I was a smoker and continued smoking right through my pregnancy. That first morning I noticed my room mate lighting a cigarette and I asked the nurse (they were all nuns in that hospital in those days) if I should perhaps give up smoking now I had a baby. Her answer would astound people today and was as follows:

"Oh no dear, don't even think about giving up smoking. The shock of doing so could make you lose your milk!" That is honest truth and so I continued to smoke and through my second pregnancy as well at which time I had another premature birth. Was it the smoking that caused that to happen I wonder. Today those that know such things would say yes for sure but I was heading for toxemia and my specialist felt it was Mother Nature's way of saving the baby and perhaps me as well in having them born early.

My little baby was so special and as she grew her little eyelashes popped out and her hair began to grow and she had beautiful pale pink skin and everyone adored her. She unfortunately suffered from severe wind pains for the first couple of months but only during the evening and at other times she was very good. Once I got her to sleep she would usually sleep through the night so I can't complain of losing sleep or any of those things that often happen to new mums. Has perhaps distance lead enchantment? No, I don't believe it has because I can't remember having a bad pregnancy once I knew I was actually pregnant nor real problems with the baby (apart from that nightly colic).

My little girl grew up did well at school, had some nice friends and was generally a happy child. She eventually decided she'd like to leave school and get a job and then she met a boy and they got married and had a little girl of their own who was also a beautiful baby. My daughter has since remarried and had three more lovely children and is married to a wonderful man which makes me feel so happy but...........

I have suffered with arthritis most of my life and once I reached about 60 years of age it began to get rapidly worse and by the time I was 65 I began to have injections to help relieve it. Now at 79 I can only walk a very short distance and stand for but a few minutes before the pain sets in. This though is not about me....it is about that girl I love so much. She is 23 years younger than me but is already suffering much of the pain I suffer and with so much of her life still ahead of her I can feel the mental pain she is suffering when she wonders what the next years have in store for her. If there was only some miracle cure that could make her life free of pain and give her the ability to be able to get out and about and enjoy her life. I can only hope that some new drug without nasty side affects will come along to help her.

I just hope she will not give up. She has so much ability and a lot to offer and there are things she can do without mobility but when pain becomes severe it does affect one's abilities to do things. Don't give up but just keep hoping that before too long things will improve and you will be mobile once again and at least reasonably free of pain.

TEEMING TUESDAY

A strange title perhaps but it has been teeming down here during the night and morning and our own gauge showed 40mm which is wonderful with more rain on the way later in the week. The south-west of Australia (where we live) has been having drought conditions for some time now and it is certainly great to have this rain in the first month of our winter. I understand the rain has got through to the wheatbelt so the farmers will be happy about that.

Well our 'young' 47yo friend visited yesterday and connected my scanner for me and it works and I watched what he did and have tried to remember what to do but not sure it has registered. There are all these symbols showing that I have to try and understand and sometimes this old brain rebels a little at all the thinking needed. I will sit down and try and make sense of the instructions and give it a go...perhaps tomorrow. Don't want to turn today into traumatic Tuesday if I can't get it to work.

Had a bad night Sunday night and wasn't feeling too well yesterday. No idea what was wrong but just felt yuk most of the day. In some ways it was good to have RT here as it sort of took my mind off myself which is always good if you feel a bit crook.

Feeling lots better today after a wonderful night's sleep. Only woke up once during the night and straight back to sleep so overall I think I got good 8 hours which I really needed.

MOH is going to cook dinner tonight (chilli con carne) so all I will have to do is boil up some rice (long grained of course for we diabetics) and that will be my contribution.

He did say he is going go the library this afternoon and as it is now 4.20pm now I'd best get on his ginger or it is going to be late when he gets back. I hope he can find me a good novel to read as I am running out of authors that I enjoy reading. I tend to like mysteries and don't mind a good murder occasionally as long as it is not a book full of brutality.

Well off I go to stir MOH into action. Hope everyone is having a good day and keeping well and happy.

MONDAY MADNESS

I am going to endeavour to post a small blog each day so I will then know what I am doing or have been doing. No not really but just thought I'd give it a go.

It actually is Monday as it is 12 minutes past midnight. In the morning a young friend of ours (well he is young compared to MOH and me altho' he is in his mid-40s) is driving up from Mandurah to have lunch with us but mainly to show old photos he has been printing out and to do me a favour.

I have had a scanner for nearly 18 months now and not connected it to this computer. Not so much that I can't connect it but need tuition about actually using it. I am hoping that RT will be able to teach me so I can scan some really old tiny photos (and some more recent ones too) and enlarge them if possible. If I have a good collection then there is something to leave my family that they can include in our family history.

I get nervous when trying to learn new things about the computer and its attachments (or whatever you call them) so it will certainly be a bit of a mad Monday for this dear old soul.

Wish me luck!!! and goodnight.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN OLD AGE PENSIONER

We slept in this morning until 10.10am and it was the fault of Precious that this happened. MOH opened the back door for her after 7am but she wouldn't go out 'cos we think that awful tom from 3 doors up may have been lurking. She just sat and looked through the screen door and after a while back she came with her little 'I need to go out' miaow so MOH got up again and popped her out the front door where she can sit on a chair or table on the verandah and feel safe.

A while later back came Precious with here "I am back now" loud miaow and disturbed us again. Having had rather a late night last night we decided to stay in bed and that is when the damage was done....we slept in.

So, what the heck? We are retired and only have to answer to each other (and the cat of course).

Had a cuppa and some cereal and played around on Facebook for a while (I run some 'farms' on there which is a lot of fun and play scrabble with a friend in New Zealand).

More or less a fine day so a couple of loads of washing to be done. Towels, sheets and undies mainly. I sit near the clothes line and hand the items plus pegs to MOH and he hangs out the washing. I can't stand for long enough to do that now plus I am a little unsteady on my feet. Not sure it is a good drying day though as it is very overcast and practically no wind. Probably leave it all on the line overnight and hope it will be dry in the late morning tomorrow. Have a bit more washing to do as they are forecasting showers tomorrow night and then more showers over coming days. I don't have a dryer and never have had one and have always managed OK even when we were both out working all week.

Now wasn't that all exciting?? Made sandwiches for our lunch and we sat and watched question time in Federal Parliament for an hour....I say watched as we don't listen to a lot of it as we get sick of the government patting themselves on the back (not really deserved in my opinion) but some of it is interesting and you can learn a little about this and that.

MOH still hasn't been up in the roof with the rat trap so that treat still awaiting us. I have to hold the ladder for him 'cos as mentioned previously we can't afford any accidents to happen to him.

The rest of the day? I will soon shower and wash my hair and for dinner tonight we will have grilled pork cutlets and vegetables. MOH will have a small glass of red wine which he really enjoys and it is good for him so why not? As television is pretty terrible these nights we will probably watch a couple more episodes of West Wing on DVD (what a wonderful series that was....I think the US producers excelled themselves with that one).

We will eventually make it to bed before midnight after having had our two little squares of dark chocolate which our specialist says is very good for us. Just before I pop into my bed MOH will inject my insulin for me and then it's drops in his eyes for his glaucoma. The cat will start off on the end of my bed and possibly stay there or transfer over to MOH's bed depending on whom she feels deserves her presence tonight.

After reading the above you will realise why my blog is not all that interesting. I don't have children at home nor do we have visitors other than my daughter occasionally. We don't go out much 'cos I can't walk far and everything is very expensive these days anyway. There have been no holidays for about 9 years so can't report on them either. A dull life by many standards but...

Are we happy? Yes, I would say we are in our own quiet way. We pay our bills, we stay out of trouble and get things done as and when we can at our own pace. It's not a bad life after all.

R.A.T.S.

Yes, RATS. They are back in our ceiling again and the white ant man told us the other day that they have chewed a hole in one of the reverse cycle airconditioning silver ducting thingies which is not good as our aircon can be somewhat temperamental at times without help from outside sources.

MOH has bought this complicated rat trap that looks like a small water tank and in a few minutes he is going to climb the ladder and pop this trap in the ceiling. Apparently the best bait is peanut paste (I did ask MOH if it should be smooth or crunchy and I got this sort of funny look from him). I hate killing any creature, but rats we really don't need as they can do so much damage and they are not the healthiest of neighbours to have.

A few years back we had neighbouring back gardens that were nothing but weeds and I think it is possible rats were nesting and breeding in there. Now those areas have been cleared and houses built on them so the rats obviously had to find new homes but what attracts them to people's ceilings is beyond me but then I am not a rat.

I'm not keen on MOH climbing the ladder as he has osteoporosis and I always dread him having a fall but someone has to do it and me...I have never been able to get past the first rung of a ladder even when quite young. While up in the ceiling MOH is going to try and mend the hole in the duct thingie so I wish him well there.

I hope this rat trap works and the rat dies quickly, if indeed we catch one at all. It costs a fortune to have specialists do the job and when on an age pension there are some things we just have to try and do ourselves. Here's hoping for a quick result and a quick kill.

AN UNFULFILLED DREAM OF MINE

MOH came from near Coventry and my ancestors from Scotland, Denmark and England so all lived in countries where it snowed quite frequently. I experienced snow when holidaying in New Zealand back in the early 1980s and found it quite fascinating and even built a snowman!

I don't know if it is genetic but I do not like hot weather and have often dreamed of living in a cold climate where the temperature rarely rises about 25C but would I like it? MOH says no I wouldn't. He said snow is pretty on Christmas cards and the like but can be a nuisance especially when it begins to melt and also it can become quite slippery and dangerous when walking or driving.

This picture was taken from MOH's cousin's home in England. She (85) and her husband (90) live in Solihull in the West Midlands and he sent me this photo during their last very cold and very snowy winter. I don't think they found it all that enjoyable but it is certainly very pretty.

I realise I will never now know what a cold climate is really like to live in and my memories up in the snow in New Zealand all those years back will have to stay with me as my one peek at another world.

SHARING HERSELF AROUND....OUR CAT

Our little cat has decided to share herself between MOH and myself at night. She sleeps on my bed for a week or two and then over she goes to MOH's bed. We can't work out why she does this but in her mind she must feel we both need her company but she cant split herself in two so it's my bed for a while and then on to his. We both love her and she obviously loves both of us equally. A home is not a home without a pet.

CHRISTCHURCH AND ITS PEOPLE CONTINUE TO SUFFER

We keep hearing of these continuing so-called after shocks that are happening in and around Christchurch and one wonders just how much longer the people of that city can continue to go about their daily activities without suffering severe nervous strain.

MOH and I stayed in Christchurch in the 1980s and we quite fell in love with the city and its surrounds. We spent many hours walking (I could walk in those days without difficulty) around the magnificent botanical gardens and Hagley Park and along the Avon River. It was such a wonderful experience.

The city itself was very beautiful and to think that so many of the lovely buildings are either already destroyed or are listed for demolition is truly heartbreaking. One can only imagine how the people themselves are feeling.

They are saying that some of the outskirts of the city may no longer be able to sustain housing so people who have lived their lives in those areas now have the prospect of moving to other areas where it will take them some time to resettle.

Our hearts go out to Christchurch and its people and our thoughts are with them on a daily basis and we continue to hope that it will not be too long before the earth stabilises and they can resume a normal life again.

I ALWAYS KNEW HE WAS WONDERFUL

MOH and I visited our GP today and I had reason to ask him for a copy of a couple of reports about both of us that I had promised to send to our diabetes specialist to keep him up to speed with what had been happening in regard to certain problems.

Two of these reports were from a doctor in regard to MOH's mild anaemia and I was chuffed to read the opening sentence of the first report. It said:

"Thanks you for referring this DELIGHTFUL EIGHTY ONE YEAR OLD MAN..............

I 've known for years that MOH can be quite delightful but it is nice to have it confirmed and now I know it is not just prejudice on my part .... he is also obviously regarded by others as being delightful.

I am waiting for the day when somone says we are a delightful couple. That would be nice!!!

TODAY HAS BEEN MUCH BETTER

Great news when the Eye Clinic rang and my two cataract ops have been brought forward a month so now in August and September. It will be good as all my specs are becoming increasingly useless to me so looking forward to new ones come October.

MOH and I had to both fill in pages and pages of questions today in regard to a diabetic study that is being carried out by Fremantle Hospital (we go to the hospital every two years for extensive tests) and this time we sat down and answered the questions together which was a big help to me as I really couldn't see some of them properly.

These questionnaires take a lot of thought to fill in correctly but we feel that if we can do anything that helps future generations in regard to this insidious disease then it is worth the little time we devote to it. We get something out of it as well as it is possible the tests we have could discover a problem we have that we are not aware of.

I also had to fill in TWO forms for admission to the hospital for when I have the eye ops done....one for each day although they are identical forms. Hope I put the same answers on each one.

One question intrigued me...."Do you smoke?/Have you been a smoker?" Yes / No. NO I don't smoke but YES I was a smoker. Do you tick both Yes and No? Hope I didn't confuse them with my answer!!

Enough forms filled in to last us quite a while.....boy oh boy all that thinking!!!!

AM I PERHAPS TOO OLD TO DEAL WITH EVERYTHING

I always do try to keep the glass half full the same way Kakka does but there are times when it takes so much effort and I am beginning to wonder if I am perhaps too old to deal with being this old and all the problems it is bringing with it.

I should be used to arthritic problems as they first presented themselves when I was just 22 years old and before I had my two children. I've had two total hip replacements and they work pretty well but the rest of me just hurts so much at times. I sometimes can't believe that pain in my hands can be so intense, even when I am actually not doing anything. My arthritis begins in my head and neck and spreads right through my body now although (touch wood) I have no problems in my elbows..wonder why that is? I suppose I need to have just one part of me that doesn't hurt (yet). Fortunately my gout is fairly well controlled although there is still the occasional twinge but only a twinge thank goodness.

Now my diabetes has really taken a turn for the worse and nearly two weeks on insulin doesn't seem to be having any impression on my readings. Am I perhaps being too impatient and expecting miracles. Why after 16 years has this happened. You are told 'it happens". Big help.

I have put up with the tinnitus for about 15-20 years or more and it has now become an expected background type of noise that I can live with but still wish it wasn't there. That is a minor problem compared with the rest.

For some years it was MOH I looked after, watching what he ate when his cholesterol went too high and putting drops in his eyes every night for his glaucoma (he does that now and I look after the little timer for him..he has to wait for 2 minutes after each drop goes in holding his finger in the corner of his eye to stop the fluid going anywhere than in the eye). I still do remind him to do his insulin injections and also ask that he has remembered to take his tablets but it is he that is now looking after me more than me looking after him.

I've never been a person who wants to be the centre of attention and I am not taking to kindly to being so dependent on MOH as I am now. We share household chores and that is OK but he puts my pressure stockings on for me each day (they are SO tight that it is quite a job for him)and we do the lympathic massage on my legs each day (I do the thighs and he does the calves and feet). He rubs Dencorub and the like on my aching back a couple of times a day as I can't reach now and if he hears me cry out any time he is always there to see if all is OK. Now he is doing the insulin injection for me each night when we are ready to go to bed. He is not a demonstrative man but I do know what I mean to him and we to each other.

Another thing I find is not really being needed much any more after being there for folks in the past. I know MOH still needs me (as much as I need him really) and my little cat needs me as she is a one and a half person cat (she shares herself with MOH but she is usually in the same room I am in). All older members of my family and my close friends have left this mortal coil and my family are now self-sufficient so I am not needed there any more.

I knew of two ladies who at about my age decided their lives meant nothing to them any more and I hope I will never begin to feel like that. Perhaps it was because they were both widows and their grown up families had made their own lives they felt there were no longer needed. When I was told this several years ago by their daughters I found it hard to believe but I am beginning to understand what they felt and they were quite happy to die when their time came.

I am so thankful to have MOH and our cat and while I still have them I hope that the glass will most times remain at least half full if not even fuller at times.

MORE EYE NEWS

Well everything is progressing well albeit slowly but at least I now know the schedule is all set.

18 July....eye measurements to be taken so they know the size lenses to use
15 September....cataract op of right eye
13 October....cataract op of left eye
About mid-november....back to my optomertrist for new specs and then hopefully the world be a clearer, brighter place.
Just wish I could get rid of the 'floaters' in my left eye but guess I must be thankful for what can be done and put up with the little flock of thingies that I can see whenever I look at the computer screen. Just one of those little things that come to try us as we age I guess.

HAS ANYTHING REALLY CHANGED IN 20 YEARS?

I am not sure if this will be of any interest to others but I always enjoy finding old newpapers and checking out some of the articles they contained. I was turning out a cupboard today and came across a newspaper cutting I had kept and on the reverse side was the following article:

The West Australian..Friday 22 November, 1991.

"Cigarettes up 90 cents and Beer up 5 cents....

A packet of 25 cigarettes would go up from $3.65 to $4.53 and a middy of beer would cost 5 cents more.

An Opposition health spokesman said that 25 per cent increase in tobacco excise was the most effective way to curb smoking among young Australians and reduce tobacco-related disease.

Tobacco Institute chief executive officer John Welch said the proposed increase was a callous grab at the 3.5 million adult smokers.

Alcohol would go up even though the excise on liquor would remain the same and indexation would be abolished. A 140ml glass of wine would cost 5 cents more and a nip of spirits would be 10 cents dearer.

The decision to abolish fuel excise would save motorists almost 19 cents a litre for petrol and diesel and a business user almost 26 cents a litre.

That should save the average family travelling 20,000km a year $11.40 for a 60 litre tank, or $390 a year."

When you think of how much it costs these days to fill your petrol tank we could do with some price reductions as well.

I am not sure that the large increase in the price of cigarettes really reduced the number of young people smoking as I see quite a few today that smoke. It didn't affect MOH and myself back in 1991 as we had become non-smokers way back in 1971 but I am sure we were glad of the saving in fuel.

Now our Federal government in their wisdom want cigarettes to come in plain packaging that shows large health warnings. Wonder what the next big idea will be?

WELL THAT WAS QUITE AN EXPERIENCE

I saw an optometrist last week who said he felt it was time I had my cataracts attended to as they were quite seriously affecting my vision. When I arrived home that day I rang the specialist's rooms and was fortunate they had a cancellation for this morning at 11.10a.m.

MOH and I set off and arrived in plenty of time so I 'signed in' and was given a form to complete and asked to take a seat. I saw two friends of ours who had both had cataracts ops in the past few months and she was I think waiting to get the all clear to to get herself new specs. I will see them tomorrow and find out how she got on.

After about 50 minutes a young man called me in and did some tests and also put drops in my eyes which makes one's vision go all blurry and allergic to bright light. "OK I thought. Now we are getting somewhere." But no, I was wrong. I lost count of how many people saw the specialist before me but it was well after 1pm when my name was called.

"Yes" said the specialist "your cataracts are quite advanced and I'd like to do the right one first followed by the left eye about a month later". "Fine with me" said I "it would be great to be able to see properly again." I was given a form to take to the reception area as apparently my eye as to be measured so they know what size the replacement lens needs to be when they remove mine.

The receptionist said she wasn't sure if the measurement could be done 'this morning' Bear in mind it was already well into the afternoon. No, it couldn't be done today but an appointment would be made for me to come back. I ventured to say that I hoped I wouldn't have to wait two hours next time. (I said it quite politely...really I did). I was told I'd not have a long wait so hope she knows what she's talking about.

Appointment for measuring my eyes.....18th July....not June but July. Oh well I guess these things take a while. I believe I will also receive advice when the first op will take place and hope it will be this year. Oh dear sarcasm is not a good thing!!! It is only a half day stay in the day surgery part of the hospital and I am told one has to keep still for 20 minutes while the procedure takes place and it is NOT painful so fingers crossed all will be well when it is eventually done.

I've written before about having confidence in one's medical team and I did really like this specialist and think he will do a good job. He gave me a pamphlet explaining the procedure which of course contained a list of things that could go wrong but I was assured that this type of procedure has a 99% success rate so who am I to worry.

Hopefully about next August I'll be able to give a running commentary on what it is like to have cataract surgery.

TWO BEAUTIFUL CATS

I just wanted to share Precious with my friends. She will be 10 years old in October and we love her so much and we know she loves us as she always wants to be with us. She does go outside in the daytime but usually sleeps up on the pergola or sits on the carport roof keeping out of the way of other cats that sometimes cause trouble in our garden. Why they choose to come here to air their differences is beyond me but Precious keeps well and truly out of their way whenever she can.

Precious is, and always been, a very timid cat and it is only in the past year or two that she has begun to come into the living room when anyone other than MOH and I are there.

Going on 10 years ago Kakka and I went to the Cat Haven with the idea of getting ONE cat as our dear old black cat had succumbed to cancer several months before. We saw this very lively white and grey kitten climbing and jumping everywhere in the very large 'room' where the kittens were and decided he would be great friend to have. As we were deciding this I noticed this tiny face peeking out from under a blanket watching the other kittens frolicking about and I asked the attendant if she would bring her our for me. This she did and once I held this wee tiny kitten in my arms I just knew I had to take her home.....so, we went home with two kittens.

These two kittens played together and would curl up and sleep together but as Henry grew he got a little bossy and if Precious found a nice place to curl up and sleep, the next thing you would see Henry had taken over that spot. They still played but he was sometimes a little rough and I don't think he knew his own strength as occasionally you'd hear Precious give a little growl to tell him to cut it out.

A strange thing happened about 5 years ago. MOH and I decided to buy twin beds as we felt we would both get a better night's sleep in separate beds. Now, the cats used to sleep between us on the queen size bed but the twin beds caused all sorts of confusion and it was as though they thought MOH and I had fallen out as the two of them just didn't seem to get on so well from then on. It was quite weird. You'd still see them playing chasy out in the garden at times but there just wasn't the same camaraderie between them as before.

We lost our Henry in August of 2009. He and Precious were lying close to each on the carpet by my feet (in front of the little fan heater) when suddenly Henry gave a great 'sigh' and I just knew that at that moment he had left us. Previous knew too as she got up and began to wash him. I said to MOH "Henry just died" and poor man thought I was joking but it didn't take him long to realise I was serious about it. Henry lies out in our back garden and a cairn of stones has been built over his grave and a plant I have put there I hope will grow and cover it up nicely. We do miss that big cat and often have a laugh about the funny things he would do.

Precious in the picture is in her winter finery. She loses all the fluffy hair before summer and becomes quite a short-haired cat. I have never before seen any cat I've had or known lose so much hair as the weather warms and then grow it all back each year. MOH always reckons when he empties the vacuum cleaner bag that there is enough hair in their to cover a complete cat.

I have had many cats through my life but these two have been so very special and Precious still is to both of us. We know we are too fond of her but just hope she will be with us for many more years to come,

EVERYTHING IS RELATIVE

A short while ago the following conversation took place between me and MOH:

MOH "Meant to tell you that James Arness (of Gunsmoke fame) has died"

ME "Oh right, how old was he?"

MOH "He was 88"

ME "Oh, not that old then!!"

What??? The man WAS 88. Strange thing though when you yourself are approaching the 80 mark and MOH is already 81 that 88 doesn't seem all that old at all. I guess when I was about 50 I'd have said "Oh well, he's had a good innings" and left it at that.
Perhaps we all consider ourselves immortal but underneath know we are not and thus my reaction.

I am not sure if others will see the humour in the above but it did strike me as really very funny. I am just so glad MOH and I could both laugh about it. You have to laugh or otherwise at times you might shed a few tears instead and that would never do.

HOW GOOD IT IS TO HAVE A GOOD MEDICAL TEAM

Approaching the age of 80 as I am brings with it (in my case anyway) various medical problems and I have always felt that one must feel at ease with, and confident in, any medical people one has to deal with about any medical problems.

I have had some really good GPs over the year and if I've found one I am not comfortable with then I change to another that works. The one MOH and I have right now is a fantastic fellow with whom we both feel very comfortable and in my case he is good because he does have a great understanding of muscles, tendons and joints. He is a doctor with an AFL (Aussie Rules)football club here in W.A. so deals each week with those type of problems. He also deals with other problems we have and tries his hardest to solve any of those problems for us. He was wonderful when I had shingles on my face last year.

Our endocrinologist is a professor but there is nothing lardie dah about him and he is just so easy to talk to and you feel that you can ask questions and receive straightforward answers. My diabetes (after 15 years) had decided the tablets I was taking were not doing there job any more so when I saw the professor last Wednesday I heard the dreaded words "It's time for insulin". Coming from him it didn't sound all that bad!! Fortunately MOH has been using insulin (3 times a day) for nearly 18 months now so I didn't need any instructions from a diabetes educator as I have at home with me someone who wields a pretty good needle. I only have to have the insulin on retiring and it's great not having to do it myself. That man of mine is so good to me and I love him so much for all the things he does to help me.

Our podiatrist is a good chap too (MOH only goes once a year to have his feet checked) but I go every 8 weeks cos I can't reach my toenails..not just my size but my joints won't let me do it... but John is very thorough and when he massages my feet at the end of the visit with Sorbolene...mmm it is a great feeling.

We also have a terrific dermatologist we visit each year as this being a very sunny country can play havoc with our skins. MOH and I are fortunate in not having much in the way of skin problems although MOH did have a small skin cancer cut from his ear a year or so back. I have had a type of laser treatment to stop my face having that rosy glow and it has done the trick very well (I must admit it hurts a bit....feels like an elastic band snapping on the skin). We see him again in July and are quite looking forward to it.

Now..about eyes. MOH has glaucoma and see his opthamologist every 6 months for testing and they get on well together without any problems. Me? I too have visited him several times and I just don't feel confident with him. I rang recently to see when I was due to see him next and they didn't even have a bring up for me which I thought was bad. He had sent me to an optician who was very good but the spectacle firm for whom he worked did not perform very well at all. I had to go back 4 times for the lenses to be changed and they are still not right. My daughter (Kakka) recommended an optometrist she and her family have been seeing for 20 years or more so I made an appointment to see him last Thursday. He was an absolute delight but was full of surprises. I have cataracts and the fellow MOH and I see when asked what was the prognosis about my cataracts said in a flippant manner "Oh we may have to do something in one or ten years". That did not go down well with me. I know these things are unpredictable but...really. On Thursday I was asked if I was averse to having a cataract operation to which I said "No of course not. Why?" The reponse was that both my eyes needed to be done and I have been referred to an opthamologist who I will be seeing next Tuesday. I just hope I find him as reassuring as my visit to Mr P last week. I am interested to know what this doctor will have to say about it all.

I know this has been a little longwinded but I feel very strongly about the medical care we receive. We must feel comfortable with those that care for us and we must always ask questions and receive reassuring answers and not be fobbed off in any way. I know doctors have hard decisions to make and it must be unbelievably bad to have to tell someone they don't have long to live so I feel for them about that. Nevertheless whether it is an ingrown toenail or something more serioius like diabetes etc., we patients need to know what is going on (after all they are OUR bodies) so never hesitate to ask appropriate questions.

P.S. I forgot my wonderful physios....one lady in particular who manages to keep me mobile most of the time and the other who has set up this lymphatic massage which has stopped my feet being waterlogged following my 2 hip replacement ops. MOH and I do this massage between us each evening and with the use of pressure knee highs it has been magic. I takes a while and can be a little tiring but well worth it. It's only leg and foot massage so nothing compicated.

We don't get out and about much these days so I guess a lot of our outings are to medical appointments etc but it always pays to feel good about anyone in that field you are about to see. I now feel confident about all who care for me and MOH for which I am very thankful and grateful.