FIRST THE MUCH NEEDED RAIN AND THEN.....

the WEEDS.

My other half's dad said years ago "If you could sell the weeds then the damned things wouldn't grow!" and I think he is so right.  We could make a fortune from the wild oats and other weeds that spring up in our back garden after the first autumn rains.  We had over an inch of rain this week so I am now continually peeking out to see those first unwelcome green shoots.  I am sure they won't be far away.

As we have grown older less work has been done in our garden and this is something we both regret.  We made the choice to stay in our home rather than go to a retirement village and so we must now put up with the decline in the garden and our own ability to cope with it.

We have a gentlemen who we can call on occasionally to work in the garden and it is wonderful what he can achieve in a few hours and his charges are so reasonable.  I feel it is time to make a call to Ron to do some tidying up for us.

Unfortunately years ago we had neighbours whose back gardens were literally full of weeds and I think we have inherited much of the weed seeds from them.  People have moved in to those places who care for their gardens and homes have now been built on some of that land so far less weeds in their gardens but they continue to flourish at our place.

MOH says "never mind, it looks nice and green" but I don't quite go along with him on that idea.

This year........a commitment to keep those damned weeds under control.  Wish me luck.

P.S.  I think this quote from Doug Larson says it all:  "A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows."

SUNSHINE ON SATURDAY

After yesterday's whinging blog and after receiving such wonderful encouragement from friends who visit me here I decided I had to cheer up and I found these two quotes which I think cover it all:

"Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."  (Marcel Proust)

Thank you for boosting my flagging spirits.  I am always so grateful to you for doing that.

"Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to work and to play and to look at the stars." (Henry Van Dyke).

Of course one must be glad of life as it does give us all the chance to indulge ourselves in that which we enjoy even if it is rather limited as we grow older.  To be alive is good and today I feel so much more alive than I did yesterday.


Thank you again for being just who you are...wonderful friends.

FEELING FRAGILE ON FRIDAY

I don't know why but I am really feeling fragile today and in fact have been feeling like that all week.  Is there a reason for this?  I am still alive and able to get around to some extent.  I have two eyes that see very well, two arms and hands that still allow me to do some things (including using my computer, thank goodness) and two legs that still work although not as well as I'd like them to.

There are so many people in our world that are sick or starving and are so much worse off than I am or probably will ever be so I know I shouldn't have this fragile feeling and am hoping it will soon go away.  My back is incredibly bad so pain lives with me most days but that is so minor compared to other people's suffering.

I realise I am being selfish feeling the way I do and I realise I have been anything but nice to MOH this week and although he got cross with me a couple of times I know he has forgiven me for getting cranky over nothing.  I keep feeling I am a burden to him even though he denies I am and I think he is being honest when he says that.

There are so many things I used to love doing that I can no longer do.  Am I bored perhaps?  Lonely? Yes, I probably am. I know I should get out and about more but can never think of anywhere I'd really like to go.  Most of my friends are gone and those that are still here live up to 40km or more away from us which is a long journey to pop in for a cuppa.   I can no longer walk around the shops without using my walker and stopping every few minutes to sit down so that's not much fun.

Forgive me for this post which is just so self-indulgent that I know I should scrub it but I won't because I just need to get this written down so I can go back and read it later and tell myself to stop feeling sorry for myself and get on with my life, even if that life has become somewhat limited and dull.  I just have to think of the alternative which should spur me on and ever onward.  I will.  I will do that.  Soon.  I promise.  

BUSY 10 DAYS ARE OVER

Phew!!!  It certainly was a busy time but we got through it OK without anything dire happening.

Had the nuclear scan of my parathyroid which didn't give a positive result although on all the films there is a wee purple spot which "could" be an adenoma and suggestion by radiologist that perhaps a ultrasound of my throat may be more definitive.  Will have blood test next week re calcium and PTH levels and see the Professor on 27 March when he will I guess decide if further investigation is necessary.  Another ongoing saga!!

Then on 7th March the preparation for colonoscopy and endoscopy.  The reason for these tests was an apparent iron and ferritin deficiency.  I got through the trying day of tablets, a glass of not unpleasant gunk to drink and then a litre of not quite so pleasant gunk to drink.  Had strained soup, apple juice, orange jelly, several cups of black tea and a couple of barley sugars.  No diabetes meds at all so blood glucose levels somewhat haphazard.

Arrived at the hospital on 8th March at 8a.m. and was in theatre by 9a.m. which was good.  Result of colonoscopy was clear which I thought it would be (apart from existing diverticulosis which I knew about years ago).  Endoscopy result - biopsies taken of a few minor bits ('polyps" which apparently are not real polyps) just in case and a check for Helicobacter and also coeliac problems as well as apparently it can cause iron deficiency anaemia.  Interesting thought!  Fortunately I am definitely not anaemic so hoping for negative result there.

Yesterday we voted in our State election and the result was quite a big swing towards the government already in power which I feel was perhaps expected.  Neither of us were feeling particularly brilliant yesterday which is perhaps a result of the rather stressful few days.  We both had quite high blood glucose readings in the morning which is a sure sign of stress.  Apart from going to the polling place we spent a very quiet day and I feel today will be somewhat the same.  At our age it takes a while to get back to whatever is considered 'normal' for us.

I won't tell you who we voted for but suffice to say we were both quite content with the result.

Sorry to have bored everyone with all this medical stuff and hopefully I will be able to get back to more interesting blogging from now on but needed to explain what has been happening in our lives which sometimes causes us to be quite dull old folk with nothing exciting to talk about at all.

Just to show how stress can affect us.  MOH let Precious out at about 6.30am this morning and CLOSED the back door and she couldn't get back in.  When I opened said door at about 9a.m. there were plaintive miaows coming from up on the pergola where she hides (sheltered by the roof) if there are other cats around. After much stroking and petting took place we have been forgiven for her being shut out. 

A WOMAN TO BE PROUD OF

I am just here for a few minutes today as it's been a very busy week (medically in particular) but all is well.

The main reason I am here is because it is International Women's Day and on the radio today they were asking people who they felt were inspirational women.  I could think of many women who I felt belonged in that category (2 in particular are Drs Fiona Stanley and Fiona Wood right here in Perth, plus many others) and then I realised that if any woman was an inspiration it was my (adopted) Mum.

Not only did she go without herself to give me a good schooling, a 21st birthday party and a nice wedding (with dad's help of course) but in later life she did so much in social welfare in the community that she received the MBE.  I know I have spoken of mum prior to this so won't go into more detail but I have just found a very good article about her which, if anyone is interested, they will find at:

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ruston-gertrude-winifred-14186

As is often the case there are a couple of very minor discrepancies but they in no way detract from this story of what was a very productive life.   I hope you may just take a moment or two to check out the above website and enjoy reading about my inspirational mum.

MEMORIES FROM A DISTANT PAST

Today my other half said "I just realised it is 65 years ago today that I joined the British Army."  Wow!  That made me realise that we are indeed getting on in years and have had many adventures but this one of MOH's was a big one.

He of course joined up to begin his two year's national service.  Remember that this was in 1947, just two years after the end of World War 2.  MOH spent 15 months in Germany as part of the occupation forces over there.  He was stationed in Luneberg which is historic because it was on a hill just south of that town that Field Marshall Montgomery took the German surrender.

Unlike many towns in Germany, Luneberg escaped unscathed so none of its historic buildings were damaged although many had fallen into disrepair over the years.  Although the town itself was intact MOH witnessed many refugees and displaced persons, many of whom had escaped from the Russian occupied zone.

From what MOH tells me he was much saddened by the things he saw while in Germany with people virtually willing to sell themselves to obtain food and even cigarettes.  As a young country lad of 18 who had lived through the Coventry blitz he was seeing the other side of the war.  England had not been invaded and they were therefore able to get on with reasonably normal lives regardless of being bombed, having rationing etc.

He had some good mates among the other soldiers and has told me some great and often quite funny tales of different things that happened to them while in barracks and out on patrol.  Perhaps I may be able to repeat some of those stories occasionally here on this blog.

The regiment he was with was the Royal Scots Greys but fortunately he didn't have to wear a kilt as he reckons he just doesn't have the knees for that type of outfit and I think he could be right.

A VERY BUSY 10 DAYS OR SO AHEAD

The following promises to be very boring so if you don't have the time to spare then don't read any further.  : )

Having settled the dispute between my GP and my endocrinologist (no actually they settled it with the latter telephoning the former) I have now rebooked my appointment with the SKG nuclear medicine department for a scan of my parathyroid glands.  This will take place this coming Wednesday.  It is one of those long-winded procedures where I have to be there at 9.20am for about 75mins of this and that and then go home, drink lots of water and return after a couple of hours for more scanning.

This has to be fitted in before MOH attends his appointment with our endocrinologist at 2.45pm.  I will be cancelling my 2.30pm appt with him and reschedule to see him when he has the results of the scan.

This scan all has something to do with certain calcium levels and PTH levels not being what they apparently should be. Scan ordered by the professor queried by my GP but the Prof. rang the GP and said even though levels had improved with last blood tests he still wanted the nuclear scan to go ahead.

 It's always nice to have one's doctors really care what is happening to one.  Takes me back to when I was young and after a visit to or from our GP he would always say "ring me tomorrow morning at 9am and let me know how you (or the children) are.  That would continue until he knew everything was back to normal.  He even had surgery each Sunday between 5pm and 6pm when he would appear after his bath in his pyjamas and dressing gown.  Woe betide you though if you weren't there about something serious but about something that could have waited until Monday morning!!

I can then have Thursday off to do some household chores and on Friday our lovely cleaning lass comes in to whiz through and vacuum carpets and wash floors as well as cleaning the bathroom etc.  We are not very grubby people but a bit untidy and we try to put everything out of Jenny's way so she can get her job done thoroughly.  I know this doesn't sound like much but we feel quite bushed after making beds, moving chairs etc., and putting things away.  Still it is nice to have the house cleaned fortnightly and left to us I know it would get neglected somewhat.  Our spirits are willing but the flesh is often weak....and weary.

We will drift through the weekend as we usually do...quietly, with little happening, and prepare for next week.

Monday:   Shopping for the following week's foodstuffs etc.
Tuesday:  Our hairdresser comes to our home now to cut our hair which is so convenient. Appt
                11.30am.      
Wednesday:  9.30a.m. To our physio's exercise group for an hour's exercise and always some fun.
                     11.00 a.m.  We both visit our podiatrist for foot care.
Thursday:  A real fun day as I prepare for a colonoscopy AND endoscopy on the Friday.  I've had a
                   colonoscopy previously but the endoscopy will be a new experience.  This caused by my
                   iron levels being somewhat low of late and trying to find out why.  2 litres of 'gunk' to
                   drink etc. etc. and care about what medications to take and not to take.  What more fun
                   could one ask for?
Friday:       Present myself at the hospital at 8a.m. for all the fun of the fair and hopefully some good
                   results and nothing sinister found whatsoever.
Saturday:    We have to go to the local school as we are having state elections in Western Australia.
                   Could be an interesting result.  Our vote usually doesn't count in our electorate it is
                   a stronghold of the 'other' party.

Now, don't you reckon the above is enough for any 81 year old to have to cope with and her 83 year old hubby to support her through.  Hopefully I will come out the other side with some good answers and no new problems.  It is certainly an exciting life we lead.  : )