All about Me!

Am being extremely decadent, sitting here still in night attire, writing a post and watching tennis - today watching Petkovic a young German girl playing Li, who is from China. Anyone who likes sport, watch out for Petkovic - she is a breath of fresh air and I think a role model in the making for future generations of tennis players. She has a delightful sense of humour as well as playing a mean game of tennis.

After finishing my last post which was more of a weather/sports report, I realised I had forgotten to mention my brushes with the medical fraternity over the past two weeks, hence the title of this post. Those who know me well, know that I am such an infrequent user of all things medical, I have not had a regular GP for nearly 30 yrs. Practising aromatherapy and going through the 70's cycles of yoga, aerobics (at home in front of the telly, lol), and various positive healthy eating binges, such as avoiding preservatives and additives where possible (in between cycles of total indulgence I might add) and a reasonably hearty constitution, not to mention a healthy fear of needles and pain has helped me avoid medical attention. I have from time to time used physiotherapy and the school nurse when back in NZ for the odd injury, but on the whole have been pretty good. Therefore, when I do have medical needs they are usually because of an acute situation. After saying all this, I have been troubled by an unidentified pain that has occurred intermittently over the past few years. I have almost self diagnosed this as possible gall stones due to the fact it always occurs after eating something that is fatty such as pork, or has cream, but there is no definitive thing that sets it off because I can eat both the above with impunity at another time. The other factors combined with the food, are an unusually high level of stress, which may involve working lots of hours, lack of sleep and or general worries. Most times chewing on a gavascon tablet relieves the pain and a good nights sleep puts me back on the right track. I had a couple of attacks at Tardun and that tactic worked - no other option when you are an hour and a half away from medical attention.

However, two weeks ago just as a shift was coming to an end after a couple of particularly trying days, and eating some hideous pastry (yes, I know I should have known better), I started feeling off. It is difficult to explain as it starts like a pressure feeling mid section just under my rib cage and builds to an unbelievable pain like back ache labour - except it is in yr middle (men reading this will have no idea what I am talking about, lol) It is like having an elephant standing on yr mid-section and without relief and in the past, I have toyed with the idea of ripping out my said intestines with my bare hands at the height of the pain - I am sure you are getting the picture. Anyhoo, I grabbed some gavascon but the pain had already gone past that, so as it was close to end of shift I decided to go home rather than moaning and groaning at work until the pain passed. Because when I am not experiencing this pain, it becomes like a dim memory, on the way home, I decided as the local hospital is virtually around the corner from where I live. I thought I may as well go and see if they could check me out, mid attack and maybe I would get some idea of what is going on. (Also the ex workmate and husband have nagged me for ever to do just this).

I was seen right away by a nurse, then directed to a clerk type person to take details. During this time, I am standing there, breathing through the pain like in labour, hands gripping the front of the counter, with the odd moan for good effect. "Yes, thank you for the details, please take a seat" . Good oh. There was only about four other people in the waiting room as it was only 3pm. By now the pain was building to a crescendo. I closed my eyes, slumped in the chair, thinking - go to your happy place, go to your happy place, doind short panting breaths and emitting several moans until finally the gavascon kicked in. All of a sudden I could hear the tv (flood reports), feel the air conditioning and become aware of others around me. I waited about 10 mins, and then looked up to see that average waiting times to be seen was four hours!!!! If my oscar winning performance of someone in pain was not going to work immediately, I was thinking I may as well go home and curl up for a snooze, was just going to leave, when my name was called out. I was seen by a Dr not of Australian extraction for about 5 mins - asked a few questions, heard the words oesophageal reflux, was given two pills and thank you very much, here is a prescription goodbye. OK, then.

Have not had a twinge since, have eaten cream and pork in the meantime but no nasty pie things, am not stressed so all is good again. Have yet to get the prescription filled but will attend to that this week. Almost forgot to mention it the following day, such was the rapidity of feeling back to normal once the pain had passed. Have seen ads on the telly for GORD ( gastro -osophogeal reflux disorder ) so am now self diagnosing maybe that rather than gall stones, watch this space, lol.

My next brush with medical attention could not have been more different. During the course of two twelve hour shifts on the weekend at work, I noticed that my hip and right ankle was aching which is not something I am used to experiencing. Was this the start of old age I wondered, is this what arthritic pain is like, will I be able to tell the change in weather patterns (I think this was exacerbated by my trying to sort out the lad who went for me with the cricket bat of several posts ago) ......... As it happened the pain worsened and spread to my back and by Tuesday I could hardly move. Any time I sat down, I had to lurch myself forwards off the couch/chair, rise at a 90 degree angle, push hands down on thighs and ratchet myself upwards until I could stand like I had a carrot up my *rse (so to speak) and then walk gingerly about.

One of the woman at work had mentioned Bowen therapy and I had thought that as Mum had had great relief on her knee and leg in the past with Bowen therapy I would have a go envisioning some gentle massage to aforementioned areas. Told my friend to ring up and book me an appointment as she wanted to go as well. The appointment was for the Thursday so struggled with little sleep and actually succumbed to taking a couple of ibuprofen for the aggravation and to keep moving. Got to the apt to find out I was seeing a chiropractor - (still do not know what happened to the Bowen therapy) and OMG!!!

A woman came to the reception area who would not have been out of place of the prow of a Viking longboat and beckoned me into her "surgery" or should I say, place of infinite torture masked as a surgery. By this point I was bent double, could barely carry my handbag as my back hurt so much and once launched off the chair (which took at least a minute) I shuffled crab like into her den where she said " At the risk of sounding silly, how can I help you" - maybe I should have shuffled off then. I said I thought I was out of alignment (where would I be without Shortland St, All Saints, House and Grey's Anatomy, lol). "Come lie on my table" she said.

Now, the table resembled a massage table the width of a plank and was lower to the ground than the hip level I am used to. Dropping down onto it was extremely painful and then she wanted me to flip onto my stomach which involved flapping about like a beached whale as I tried to manoeuvre into said position from a bent up and pained state. I flattened out somewhat and she put some gel feeling like pad under my left hip and then dropped like an All Black prop onto the same area. There was a whoosh of air from my lungs, a crack of bones, and a tortured moan came from somewhere, then she did the same thing again under my right hip (repeat of sound effects). She had felt up and down my spine, and then pressed a bit round my sacral area, - more tortured sounds but wait there was more. The next thing, I feel something like a bullet shape something the size of my little finger being fired from something like one of those air pressure nail guns up either side of my spine, through my sacral area and up into my shoulders. Gasps and moans shot out of me after just about each firing. She then asked me to flip onto my side. I was like a cast ewe and for a moment thought are you mad, I can't move. By some dent of shuffling and flipping myself about I finally got onto my side whereupon she tucked me into her hip and jerk, she twisted me. Another ooof of sound. Repeat on the other side and onto back. She had worked on my shoulders with the nail gun thing and said she was just now going to align my head. She seized my jaw and shoulder and crack, jerked my head in one quick motion one way and then the other. She said my pelvis was twisted, and my muscles had gone into spasm (lockdown type reaction) to compensate or some such thing. I was obviously in a bad way, to ice neck and sacral areas, to take some voltarin and come back Monday.

Poor Donna in the waiting room had nearly gapped it, hearing all the sounds of torture coming from within, lol. The woman had told me that I needed to walk or lie down and not to sit through the healing process. Needless to say, I chose the lying option, spending the next day, on the couch, iced up like a hoar frost, swallowing the voltarin as prescribed, and did the same the following day as much as possible as I had work again. I got up on Sunday like a spring chicken, took no tablets, because I forgot, as there was not a twinge of pain and I moved so easily, I was half way through the day before I remembered I had been in such bad shape only two days before. Score one for the chiropractor Brunhilde who could have made me a paraplegic with one false crick only two days before. Such was the miracle cure, I went back for the 2nd apt, leapt on the couch, and only offered up a few oofs, and ouches when she hit the remaining tender spots, and I handled the nail gun weapon with hardly a noise. She only did the hip press this time with the nail gun up the spine and sent me on my way $50 lighter each time.

I am hoping that will be my first and last experience with a chiropractor and I am glad to have lived to tell the tail. I still have no idea what happened to the Bowen therapist, or how I came to the idea of that was who I was going to see, lol. I have come to notice my other senses such as hearing seem to diminish when I am in extreme pain (mild ache to most others, lol.) I got home to find I could smell the bar of gardenia soap that Jude had given me for Christmas which I had been unaware of smelling during the week, so go figure.

The last issue was a very minor one and this time involved my glasses. In the extreme heat and humidity, they had kept sliding down my face and the bridge over my nose and those little bits on the side which were metal had started to dig into me. I went back to the optometrist who said, I can replace the nose things with silicon pads which she did , and I have not looked back. My glasses remain on my face without sliding and I am able to see much better as the graduated lenses are now fixed where they should be woohoo.

Damn Petkovic lost but I am now watching Federer play Wawrinka - go Federer!!

So there you have it, I am now running on all cylinders, lol and have survived - yay.

And the rains kept falling.

I am at work and it is 4am, so I may finish this later at home but will make a start. Being busy continues in 2011 but I am pleased to say, being down to one job, even though I worked 103 hours last fortnight, is a dream compared to working two jobs, both ends of the day. I have been able to work extra hours as we had two extra girls in over Christmas who went back to family this week and we get two new boys tomorrow for an undetermined time. We have had them in for respite twice in the last week, and first impressions are that it will make for interesting dynamics with the others already here. Watch this space, lol.

On the home front, I am still unpacking, sorting and sifting. Yesterday I wanted to use my external hard drive to take stuff off my laptop which led to my office and part of the garage being cleaned and straightened today. I have ended up with numerous cords, plugs,etc with each electrical purchase so part of the sort today was to try and match cords with appliances. I managed all the obvious ones and still have a small shop's worth left over. If I was feeling truely anal I would pull out all the booklets that came with said appliances to match what should go with them, but can safely say, that is not going to happen in the near future. I figure if I haven't used them in the last two years, how important are they. I am however, going to put them in various snap lock plastic bags so they are all sorted properly - just in case I should find out what they are for, lol. Out of all this, the cord I was actually looking for was not to be found - spit, snarl. I do however have my ipod charged, my nz ph charged, one small external hard drive sorted, (not the one I wanted though), the camera and the video camera sorted and all recharged woohoo.

Since the move and major unpack I was aware the tripod for my camera was missing. It has been percolating at the back of my mind for the past three weeks and as I have continued to clear boxes, it was nowhere to be found. I remembered I had packed it with my shoes in a bag, and of course, no shoes either. Procrastination and general inertia had prevented me from ringing up the removal folk and ripping their ears off for losing said articles. I had not got to the point of putting a word up to St Anthony (patron saint of lost things) as though he has come through on many occassions for me in the past, (and usually within the day I might add), he let me down when I misplaced the lens cover of my camera -( still nowhere to be found after several months now!). In the midst of the search for the lost cord, I took down the last two Christmas light decorations at the front door which necessitated a trip to the garage to retrieve the boxes that they came in to preserve them for another year. That necessitated building some shelving that had come apart (garage sort of shelving), lifting boxes of papers and books etc onto shelves, plus tent and small barbque, then moving a washing machine in front of another one, when lo and behold, I noticed a large cardboard box with a laundry bag, suitcase and plastic file holder in it. Eureka, as I opened the suitcase, there was my tripod, leather boots and shoes, woohoo again. A narrow save from becoming a harpy towards the removal people. St Anthony did get a thank you by the way for the save as a bonus as in one on credit, lol!

Between work and unpacking for the past two weeks, I have been caught up in the compulsive viewing of the floods in Queensland and now Victoria. It would seem it is Australia's turn to be the New Years disaster hotspot and no less compelling than the tsunami reporting or the bush fires of yesteryear. Western Australia has not remained untouched with Carnarvon being declared a national disaster zone the week before the Qld floods and an arson lit bush fire south of Perth which was devasting for families who were evacuated for days before they could return to their homes and farms that were reduced to ashes. There have been other reports of smaller fires here and there throughout the state that have been deliberately started and words fail at the horrendous toll these fires take on the communities where they have been lit.

With the floods in Qld, we are talking floods of biblical proportions - 75% of the state was under water last week and declared a national disaster. I woke up on the first Monday morning to watch "Sunrise" to the devastating news of the flash flood that has taken over 20 lives. It was very emotional watching when Grant Denier - the usually very bubbly weather presenter, broke down saying, they were meant to report the weather, and they couldn't warn them. I sat there with a lump in my throat as the unbelievable pictures of torrents of water wooshed through various towns. One of the first people lost in the floods was found 80k from where he was last seen. I tried to get my head around that one and thought that is like from Hamilton to Waiuku and it doesnt seem possible. Tragedy after tragedy unfolded - the parents who got their toddlers onto the roof but perished themselves, the four year old boy swept away as he was being put into the rescue boat and the 13 year old boy who insisted the rescue people take his 9 year old brother first, only then to be swept away with his mother before his rescued brother's eyes. Then there was the rescue folk - the helicopter pilot visibly emotional for the ones he could not save, and the chap who rescued the 9yr old - absolutely heart wrenching stuff. They say that there is over 160,000 homes that have been flood damaged and though the clean up has begun, there are still flood warnings in Brisbane as they wait for the king tide to come up the river. The dam built after the floods in '74 were working at 240% capacity at the height of the floods, - the week before it had been at 17% capacity.

The public response has been huge from the very beginning and the state has taken on a war time battling attitude as it copes with the blows to its infrastructure, communities, and its people. There has been responses from around the world - immediate aid with rescue people from NZ, messages from HRH, Prince Charles, President Obama to name a few. I have had people on one of my face book games comment that they have heard about it as far away as California. There will no doubt be huge enquiries as to why this event occurred is such a major way, some communities may never be rebuilt due to the low lying nature of where they are - cold comfort to those who have lost everything. Many were not covered by insurance after previous floods, and today they were talking about a disaster levy to cope with such things in the future. As we go into the third week, most people I talk to are disaster fatigued, and are over the continuing reports of the losses, but for those involved, the updates are crucial. When you see the amounts of rubbish as the houses are stripped of everything just about apart from framework, there is another story to be told. The mud left behind is phenominal, and they say the stench of rotting vegetation, mud, and rubbish, the removal of all the above and possible disease outbreaks is the next thing to tackle. Every building involved has to be recertified by an electrican before it can be inhabited again. The list goes on and on.

The gloom about the Aussies losing the Ashes in cricket to the Poms kinda got overtaken by the floods, but there is much national nashing of the teeth at the Aussi cricket team's failure - much like what the All Blacks went through a couple of years ago as they rebuilt their team. At the moment, the Australian Open in tennis has taken over TV and there has been some brilliant matches played. I watched Federer win his second match today - his first match against a French guy was so close, I had to go to bed, in case Federer didn't win, lol. Great news to wake up to that he had. Tonights big upset was Venus Williams walking off after her first game which she lost to her opponent with a leg injury. A young Australian player goes up against Nadal tomorrow so will be watching that - if I am awake.

On the homefront once again, I have a boarder - Jude's grandson who is a 17 yr old apprentice. He seems a nice lad though with my shift work, we do not touch base often. A couple of his mates have turned 18 in the past two weeks so he has been out a fair bit - so far so good, lol. Have restrained from making any comment except to ask if he was driving one night or staying the night (assuming there was drinking involved). Have said he can have his mates around but the same rules apply as they did for my boys - anyone drinks, they do not drive, anyone throws up, they clean up (I did say they would get their nose rubbed in it heh heh) and would not be welcome again. He seemed ok with that so we will see. Jude still comes and stays a couple of nights a week so is keeping a weather eye on him too.

I have taken the plunge and booked my tickets home!!!!!!! I am flying out of Perth on the 10th April and coming back on the 27th. I got an Air NZ flight straight through from Perth which is my favourite choice, but am coming back with Qantas doing a stop over in Sydney for a few hours. I did look at Virgin Blue who were slightly cheaper, but I like getting something to eat, and the movie if I want - in relative comfort. I am hoping to hitch a ride to Perth as Jude is having a 60th birthday on the 9th and have booked a flight back from Perth to Geraldton on my return. Great news this week has been that Qantas may be starting flights into and out of Geraldton which will give some competition to the monopoly that Sky West have at the moment. The costs are rediculous currently for an hour flight which is the same as Auckland or Hamilton to Wellington. The cheapest I think I have done Hn to Wtgn is $49 and I have seldom paid over $100 whereas the cheapest flight I can manage to Perth is just over $200 - rock on competition.

It's time to go and do some more work before the kids wake up as it is nearly 6am.
And oops, delayed posting but another one coming :):):)

Happy New Year 2011

Well, here we are at the start of another year and who knows what this one will bring. I have had a day off work today and have another tomorrow so feel that I am starting off on a good note so to speak. I worked last night until 11.45pm, got in my car and with one eye out for police cars heh heh, managed to shave a few mins off usual travelling time to get inside the house by 2 mins to midnight, to flick the telly on and to watch the next 12 mins of fireworks off the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which was spectacular. One of my best New Year's Eves was spent in Sydney and on that very harbour bridge. There was a more modest display of fireworks back then (20 + yrs ago) from around the Opera House and a band played on a barge just below the bridge. The friend I was with and I shared some of our tequila and orange with a random person who was standing beside us just before midnight, as we were part of a huge crowd of people on the bridge that night. They said there was over a million crowd in Sydney for the display last night which is amazing. I heard today that there was 2 million dollars worth of fireworks used.

Donna, a friend from work left a little after me and made it here for the tail end of the firework display and I introduced her to Brandy Alexanders (brandy, kahlua and milk over ice) to welcome the New Year in. The first one was so good, we had to have another, lol. She came prepared to stay the night so we did not have to worry about her drinking and driving. (ah, the responsibility of old age, lol remembering back to the days before that was an issue - something you can only remember if you are a good age, I might add, heh heh). To aid the consumption of our New Year's drinks I opened up some of my Christmas parcel from home covering the vital food groups - cashew nuts, feta and olive chips (crisps) and pineapple lumps (pineapple flavoured marshmellow insides covered with chocolate). Donna had experienced pineapple lumps before having had a NZ colleague at a previous job and was very happy to try them again. She had an early night around 2.30am and I got to bed around 4.30am.

Had a slightly slow start to the day. Breakfast in the sunroom overlooking Geraldton before Donna left, and then I got on with unpacking and putting things away from the Tardun stored items. In between that I got washing out on the line to dry. We have been experiencing brisk winds over the past week and as I have been washing all my stored linen, I have had to use numerous pegs to keep sheets and duvet covers on the line. Between the heat and wind I have been able to get things off the line as the next cycle has been completed in the washing machine. I have a washing line situation that would be the envy of my sister and various Bulte family members in NZ (I think Lorne might still win with her washing line of over 50+ years out in the front paddock)!

I had just put on my last load and uploaded some photos from Christmas Day when the phone went today and it was Gerard telling me to get round to their place for lunch as Janette, Geoff and family were in from Tardun. Let me see, lunch and good company versus cleaning and unpacking - yep, lunch won, lol. I got back here at 9.30pm after playing cards in the afternoon and watching a couple of DVD's of an Australian comedian called Carl Barron. I had tears rolling down my face more than once as did Janette and Bronwyn. J & G left late afternoon and I stayed on to finish off playing cards and for a pizza dinner. Got back here just in time for an episode of "Midsummer Murders" and I am now watching Strauss waltzes being played in Vienna which is a feast for the eyes and ears. A great way to end the day indeed.


What of Christmas - well, it passed somewhat in a blur. I didn't get to bed before 3am Christmas eve with last min preparations as that afternoon was it for my Christmas shopping. I was up at 6am Christmas day and flicked on skype - did not see anyone on so decided I was going to open my parcels from home with Bronwyn, Gerard and family before I went to work. I loaded up the car with my small parcels for the family and got there at 7am as they were opening all their gifts. After the exchange of parcels I opened up my packages from home and laughed immensely at the creative thought that had gone into it. I have mentioned the items consumed on NY's eve - other items included a small bottle of Lindauer Cuvee, a pkt of Ernest Adams brandy snaps, a pkt of Griffins round wine biscuits, a pkt of Griffins toffee pops (choc covered biscuits filled with toffee filling), a Nutri-metics moisturising body satin,3x Whittikers peanut slabs, a pukeko (swamp hen) sort of ornament, soap, pkt of very nice serviettes, a small bottle of Kiwiherb Herbal insect repellent, a pkt of wine gums, 2 x Christmas crackers (from "Kids Can - fundraiser - I won a months membership to Fatso.co.NZ in one of them - tears, lol, a copy of Metro magazine, a copy of North and South magazine, and a December copy of the Listener - the serious radio and tv mag from NZ. There was much laughter and small squeals (well almost small, heh heh) as each item was unwrapped and the family especially loved the Listener being put in. I received a copy of the latest "Outrageous Fortune" series and a calander with photos on every page of the No 2 grandchild from No 2 son and family, and from No 1 son and family, a DVD of No 1 grandson in his choir at school, dancing to Pink Floyd being played by his Dad and friends in their band, and a short movie segment created by the No 1 grandson called Train Rampage, where he creates a train wreck with his toys. I also received a calander from him made at school and some paua and silver earrings. So, how spoilt was I and what a wonderful start to the day.

Work was mayhem when I got there - 8 children all with new toys opened, paper everywhere and toys being named as fast as possible as things were already getting mixed up. There had been great excitement and I believe some of them were awake by 5.30am to see what Santa had bought. I started work at 8am and by 9.30am we had completed somewhat of an army manouver loading all the kids, food, more gifts, extra clothing and towels into two vehicles and then driving to the venue where we spent the day. Friend Donna had booked herself and family into a place called 'The Mantra' which is a fairly upmarket motel type accommodations right on the waterfront. She had a three bedroom unit type setup but the best part was the spa pool and two swimming pools outside. The kids spent most of the day in the pools with a break for lunch and afternoon tea. They had all received blow up items for the pool as gifts so that added a lot of fun to their experience. As it was 45 Celcius it couldn't have been a better venue. The spa pool and small pool were semi enclosed and roofed, so no worry about sunburn or heat stroke, and about half the big pool was also under the enclosed part which was great. I stayed poolside and kept a watchful eye mainly on the little ones, thankful other staff were in the pools and that I did not have to rescue anyone - I took heaps of photos so the kids will have something to remember the day by. Lunch was probably the most un-Christmassy lunch I have ever had - cold corn beef sliced, turkey roll sliced, and several pasta salads and a tuna salad. The kids enjoyed the lot with ice cream, jelly and trifle for dessert. We had left overs for dinner and we got back to the home around 6.30pm with some very tired individuals. I finished work at 9pm, called round to B & G's to have a fizzy drink and dessert with them and was back here by about 10.30pm dead on my feet. I worked the same hours the following day, got called in for extra hours on Monday and then worked each day for the rest of the week. I am not sure I can remember anything specific as I felt like a zombie by the Monday. Luckily I did not have to work that day until late afternoon so slept until just before I had to get ready.

I have jokingly said, 2010 will be remembered by me as the year of exhaustionn most of the time, with an affinity for those hamsters who run interminably in those wheels, not appearing to get anywhere fast. With the aching feet from working at Maccas to serious forgetfulness over Christmas, I am hoping the worst is behind me. I knew I was tired Thurs a week before Christmas when I was meant to go to lunch. Firstly I was so engrossed in unpacking, I forgot the time. When I was rung by friends already at the restaurant, I gave them my order, showered, dressed and was out of the house in 15 mins. I went to get my car keys and couldn't find them. Not wanting to hold the friends up any more than necessary, I grabbed my spare car key, grabbed Jude's house key she had left behind, went and had lunch and came back to finish more unpacking. It was not until later that evening when I went to water the back lawn, I found my house and car keys (all the keys to the kingdom, lol) in the side garage door which was also wide open - duh. The following day, I got home from work to get the washing off the line to see washing still in the basket. I had obviously zoned off halfway through hanging it all out - how does anyone do that, lol.

All the shows on TV last week talking about NY resolutions said that most were unfulfilled and usually fallen by the way side by mid Jan. So as not to set myself up for failure this year, I have therefore resisted making any. I am resolved to continue to make the best of what I have and to keep following up opportunities as they present themselves. Having my own abode has been a step in the right direction. I am still loving it and though I never thought I would see the day, am thinking I kind of liked the minimal look of the place before I got all my extra and mostly unmissed things from Tardun. Mind you, have not touched my craft stuff yet, or my photos pre digital age, lol.

Hope you all have a safe, prosperous and Happy New Years. xoxoxoxo