Happy birthday King.

One dropped over this afternoon. He stayed for a couple of hours and we chatted about this and that. He gave me my mother's day present! I love these products and can't wait to move into the rental where there is an awesome bath.

I did sense a bit of unsaid stuff. I know they think I give more to Three and his lot than I do to them and it's true because his mother in law is always there to help even when she isn't needed. Anyway, it is what it is. It was lovely to see him and I will make a point of keeping in touch with him.

I have cleaned the microwave - not to be used. I have cleaned the dishwasher. Sadly, that will be used but it's easy to clean and I will get Himself to put it through a cleaning cycle as he leaves so the new owners will know. Several drawers in the kitchen have been emptied and cleaned. The oven needs a clean but I will wait until Himself can help me with the door as it needs to be dismantled and properly cleaned. Then that, too, will be out of commission. The bbq has been cleaned. We will be using the cooktop and air fryer and that is it.

The storage unit is now empty. 

Himself is off to Lakes tomorrow after hiring a van and packing it up in the morning. 

My bike should arrive at One's sometime between 9.30 and 3.30 so I will get an extra hug!

I want to buy some crime scene tape and tape off areas as I have cleaned them!

And yes, today is the King's birthday public holiday. Doesn't affect me at all (apart from being able to see a son or two who would otherwise be working). I wonder how much longer we will be part of the monarchy and what we will get instead. The monarchy might not be ideal but I have yet to hear about an alternative that is better. 

13 more sleeps in this house.

Busy

 

This was on sale so I bought it. I have always wanted one and plan to ride around Lakes and take it on the many rail trails in the area.

I caught up with the Mermaid today. She needed help reading a very badly written crochet pattern. We chatted and laughed which is what she needed as she is packing up her place to go on the market. She is a single woman of 70. Her kids grew up in that house after her divorce. She is sorting through memories. Her house is old and needs a lot of work doing to it. She is overwhelmed. I think she will be coming to visit a lot once we move! We will be doing another road trip at the beginning of August which she is looking forward to. At least this time I will get to Lakes Entrance and stay there!

One might pop over tomorrow to say g'day. I have a strong feeling I have monumentally pissed them off somehow. To be honest, much as I love him and his family I am over the precious that is his wife and her mother. 

Three and Alice popped over yesterday. I wish I knew what she was saying. Her chatter is accompanied with much nodding of the head and pointing. I nod and agree.

This week will see the rest of the packing done and as much cleaning as I can get done. 

I have a bit coming up ...

21st - eye op

22nd - eye review and collect Sally from school as they take possession of their new rental and need to drive a few suburbs away to get the keys

23rd - collect Sally from school as they break up an hour earlier for school hols

24th - Himself will help Three start to move

25th -  we move to Lakes

26th - Himself comes back 

27th - removalists pick up stuff, Himself does final clean and drives home to Lakes

28th - removalists deliver stuff to Lakes.

1st - Three et al come to stay

2nd - all bar Sally go home

3rd - 5th - entertain Sally ... can't wait!

6th - drive Sally back to Melbourne and stay the night

7th - drive home to Lakes

21st - eye review in Melbourne. I'll stay up a few days to catch up with a few people

3rd - 9th - drive to NSW and back with the Mermaid

A lot of driving but I enjoy it. 

This time in two weeks we will be settling in for our first night in the rental after driving the animals down. Himself will still have to come back to supervise the removalists but I will have said my final good bye to this place.

Let the countdown begin.

Welcome to my life

This is pretty much how we are living at the moment!

The stylist came and took all her stuff back. She gave me a couple of artificial plants to keep as I commented on them. I don't really like artificial but these look very lifelike and the cats can't chew them. The house is very empty but gives us space to put things in piles for the moves.

The next door neighbour has agreed to clean our carpets when we leave (it's his business after all!) for a very reasonable price. Another neighbour called in and was in tears when she left. We don't see her much but Himself has helped her out from time to time and we make sure she's OK. She's a widow and is struggling with ill health. I think she will miss us.

I saw my GP and she said I can telehealth for 12 months with her if I can't get into a doctor in Lakes. This is great news. It gives me breathing space and as I will be up here regularly I can always pop in and see her in 12 months. The current rules are that if you have been seen by a doctor at the practice you can telehealth for 12 months afterwards. I hope they don't change that any time soon.

2 weeks and 2 days til I am out of here.

A huge day

We were up at 6.15 and on the road an hour later. Two hours to Traralgon and a full day doing colours and taps and bricks and gutters and power points and shower screens and TV points and drawers and pantry inserts and cooktops and and and ....

My head is spinning. I hope I still love everything when we move into the place!

Today we went crazy and said yes to everything. We will get the estimates in the next few days and then we put our sensible hats on and cull some things. This way we don't get to say "should we have ..."

For your viewing pleasure I give you snapshots of The Mermaid and my mini getaway. 

In no particular order ...

The seafood lunch

The view whilst consuming the seafood lunch

Two light beers at the Kalimna pub

 

Cheers!

The beach on Monday morning. It was a tad chilly.

What is it with Lakes and crabs?

Views from the Sunday market

Coffee and poffertjes

I bought a walking stick. It is a bloody good walking stick.

My brain is full and my heart isn't far behind.

Drops

 

For those unsure of how to instil eye drops this is a good little diagram. I wouldn't be pressing anywhere in my eye, lightly or otherwise, after cataract surgery though! I just close my eye for a few seconds.

I did the inspection report and got that back to the real estate agent. I hope they can locate a remote control for the heating/cooling unit. No real big deal if they can't but it does make it easier to operate.

The plumber came and fixed the leaky loo and another small leak so I feel better about handing the property over.

Tomorrow we head down to Traralgon (a two hour drive each way) to do the interior design on the new place. It will be a very full day. On top of all that, Himself is trying to arrange surveys and stuff so we can apply for a particular permit from the council. I am sure it will all be fine. 

He was ruthless in the garage today and took a whole lot of stuff to the tip. Consequently he is in a slightly better mood today.

Barbecued lamb backstraps for dinner with tzatziki, hummus, salad and naan. My current favourite meal. 

Apart from seafood platters and fish and chips.

Home

It was a great wee trip.

We visited the block a few times. Still love it.

We had an amazing seafood platter at Metung pub yesterday lunch and awesome fish and chips on Saturday evening.

We did the market yesterday morning - not as busy as last time but still great. All lovely people.

We picked up the keys to the rental and did the inspection report. Only a couple of things to mention - nothing major. The house is fantastic. Just what we need and the rooms are huge. The garden is perfect for the dogs.

My eye has got better every day. I had to go and buy some cheap reading specs as the multi focal lens wasn't cutting it. The drops aren't a hassle at all. There is a technique and once you have it, it's easy. It only hurts if I rub it which I have learned not to do!

All in all a really great couple of days away and The Mermaid can't wait to come back down!

I can see clearly now the lens has gone ...

For those that are interested here is my experience of the op to date. 

I initially went to my optometrist because I thought I needed a new script for my glasses. It turned out the left cataract had grown and the right eye had developed one. So if you are unsure about changes in vision and don't see an optometrist (many use over the counter glasses if they don't need multifocals but that's another soap box for another day!) then go and get it checked out.

I am fortunate to have private health insurance so was able to get in for surgery quickly (getting the initial appointment with a busy ophthalmologist (Mark Walland if you're interested) took longer but I am not going for second best when it comes to my sight).

I was shitting myself.

I got to the hospital at 6.45am and fronted up to the reception desk of the hospital's day procedure unit. "Mark Walland" I said. "You don't look like Mark Walland" said she with a grin. "Cataract operation" I said. She said nothing and looked at me with her head on one side. "What do I need to do?" I asked. "You could tell me your name" said she. I have checked myself and Himself into this hospital (and others) and never once thought to use the surgeon's name as the point of contact. How embarrassment! Yes - I was terrified.

I was checked in and my details were verified and I paid the health insurance excess (which is a one off for the year) and was taken through to the unit. 

Shown to a bed, changed into a gown (kept me trackie daks on) and snuggled under a warm blanket.

A nurse checked my details again, took my vitals and started the eye drops. Four lots over an hour to really dilate the pupil and numb the eye.

The surgeon came to see me, gave me another lot of drops, DREW ON MY EYEBALL! which was weird but I didn't feel a thing (see eyedrops) and I was taken round to the theatre holding bay where my details were checked again.

Anaesthetist came and introduced himself and I was wheeled into another room. He popped a line in my hand and gave me something which calmed me down but didn't really knock me out. He then gave me a local just under the eye which sounds gross but wasn't. And I am a wuss so trust me on this one. After a bit my eye was asleep. It was really strange but again, not unpleasant.

Mark came into the room. The head of the bed was dropped way down, my head was draped and the microscope place in position. I could sort of see lights during the procedure but felt nothing. A nurse sat with me and held my hand. I wasn't to move but if I needed anything I was to squeeze her hand. At one point the drape fell over my nose and when I breathed in it blocked my nostril. Squeezed her hand. She told Mark, I told him why and he moved the drape. 

A pad was placed over my eye, I was returned to the initial bay, dozed for 15 minutes then got up, dressed and sat in a recliner in recovery with a cuppa tea, sandwiches, fruit and a mini muffin.

It was strange only using one eye yesterday and I still needed my glasses! Panadol dealt with the irritation - it felt like I had an eyelash poking in my eye. 

This morning I saw Mark. The patch came off. My eye is a bit red but I am on drops which will deal with that. He is happy with the results.

So moving forward....

I have to put two different drops in my eye four times a day for two weeks. No big deal. I need sunglasses for the glare and I have popped the lens out of my glasses so I only need them for the eye that hasn't been done.

No heavy lifting or serious bending for a couple of weeks. No running or strenuous exercise (as if). Once the pupil has returned to normal I can drive.

The most amazing thing is the difference in what I can see. You know cool lights and warm lights? Well my new eye sees everything crisp and bright and blues and purples are just wow. The sky!! The old eye is as if I have a yellow filter over everything. Which, apparently is what cataracts do - filter out that end of the light spectrum.

I am still a bit uncomfortable but with every hour that passes my vision clears (that pupil again). The drops help reduce the inflammation and prevent infection. Panadol reduces the feeling of irritation.

Am I glad I did this?

Hell yes. I cannot wait to have the other one done. 

So if you are considering having cataract surgery and are apprehensive I say take a deep breath, put your trust in your surgeon (research and get recommendations if you don't have one already) and go for it.  And if I can answer any questions, reach out.

Tomorrow I am catching up with J and C. J is picking me up. The Mermaid is then coming to stay the night and she and I are heading off to Lakes. We will do the foreshore market on Sunday and I will get the keys to the rental on Monday. 

I might be a bit scarce but will fill you in on everything whenever I can.