Birds, beach, bread and a bit of a whinge (ok, a big hissy fit).

My last post suggested that I was on the mend. I spoke too soon as the cough and congestion waxes and wanes and tantalises me with a day of feeling better then hits me a day of feeling like death warmed up.

One day last week I managed a walk across the footbridge to the main beach. It certainly blew the cobwebs away but the chest infection makes breathing a a bit of a challenge.

Anyway I saw this little chap ...

... and these two beauties - I could have touched them and they probably would have let me which is a concern as wildlife should not be tame as tourists are stupid not everyone understands not to feed/touch wild animals ...

The beach was wild and windy and cold and I loved every bit of it. 

Other than that very brief sojurn I was basically housebound with the lurgy. I did my U3A stuff and then would come home and veg on the couch.

When I was in Melbourne Three and I bought ourselves a bread making pan from Aldi. (It turns out Angela did as well).

The last time I cooked a slow cooker casserole I had enough liquid left over to freeze as a soup base and yesterday was the perfect soup day. I used the left over casserole, some frozen stock from god knows when and a bucket full of veges and made enough soup for 3 meals for both of us and one serve for one of us. I popped some parmesan on the bread with sesame seeds and it was an ideal winter dinner.
 

I had a doctor's appointment booked for tomorrow for my next script of Wegovy. I am pleased with how things are going. The food noise is subdued, the hunger is less intense and I haven't weighed myself once. I have one more dose in the fridge so need a new script filled and in my hot little hands by Wednesday of next week. This evening the GP practice rang me to say that my GP has called in sick and they have to reschedule. I have been given an appointment with a doctor I have not seen before for next Tuesday at 4pm. I hope this doctor doesn't get sick. I hope that she will give me the script. I hope that the chemist will have stock of the drug. I also found out that my GP only works one day a week here and one day in Bairndsale so getting see her regularly could be a problem. 

It is not the end of the world if I don't get the script except it sort of is. It took a lot of soul searching and courage to even make the appointment to discuss this. My GP said that she would only prescribe if she can monitor me on a monthly basis. She also said that if I miss a dose I have to drop back to the minimum which isn't an issue yet as I am still on the minimum. 

I am thinking of doing something I said I never would and investigate on-line doctors just for this. If it means I get a guaranteed continuity of supply then I feel I have to consider this option. 

Lord, I sound like a drug addict. It would be easier to get ice.

I was meant to be going to NSW on Friday to spend a long weekend with Two and his lot but they have come down with Covid. There is a particularly nasty weather event forecast for when I would be driving over the mountain so probably not a bad thing I can't go but it doesn't help me feel any better.

I have made falafels for dinner with spicy harissa veges which is perfect for this very cold winter's evening so I shall go and throw them in the oven, pour a glass of red wine and get over myself.

Sick

Himself had man flu.

I, as a woman, am immune to man flu.

I did, however, come down with the dreaded lurgy, which all who are in the know understand is far worse.

Tissues, hand sanitiser (thanks, 2020), throat lozenges and Vicks helped cope with the initial symptoms. Paracetamol, neurofen and decongestants were added to the mix as it developed into a chest infection and there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel after over 10 days of snot and coughing. 

I had to drive to Melbourne to help Three and Amy with the kids (Amy had surgery and couldn't drive). At this stage of the lurgy I was just sniffly. 

Every time I do a longish drive I try to explore new territory and this was no exception. I had seen the sign to the Cowwarr Weir and decided that this was the time to explore and I am so glad I did. It is a beautiful spot.

Sally and Alice had a dance concert and I was originally going to watch them but Lurgy coughs would have made me somewhat unwelcome so I suggested Alice be dropped back home so I could look after her while Sally completed the show. Turned out to be a good idea as a 5 hour dance concert was proving to be a bit much for a 3 year old who had already done her bit "on the stage, Granny".

I dropped the girls off to school and day care on Monday and Tuesday morning which meant they didn't have to get up early and in a rush. I took Amy for a medical review (and a much needed trip to Spotlight for sewing essentials).

My plans were to drive home on Tuesday but the Mermaid arrived home from a 5 week trip to Europe and asked me to stay with her to keep her awake to battle jetlag.

I did and it was so funny watching her struggle to stay awake. She was falling asleep mid conversation and was struggling to make sense of anything. They say sleep deprivation has the same effects as alcohol consumption and she did appear very, very drunk.

We went out for dinner at a restaurant I used to go to often when the kids were in primary school but haven't been to for nearly 30 years (it's just around the corner from where the Mermaid is now living). Nothing has changed. The menu is exactly the same (apart from the prices but even they are not over the top) ...

... and my favourite starters have not changed at all. Look the same and taste the same ...

The best bit was that as soon as the owner and I saw one another we recognised each other instantly. The sad bit was realising it was well over a quarter of a century ago. Where does the time go?

I came home on Wednesday and that is when the Lurgy kicked in with a vengeance so I have not left the house and have been sleeping over 12 hours each night.

This evening is the first time I have started to feel human again and able to string words together that make some sense.

My appetite has been significantly reduced but is that the Wegovy or the Lurgy? The next week will be interesting.

Three and his lot recently went to Bali and they brought this back for me. I could do with a warm, refreshed body right now ...

 

Too much thinking ... very few words

Thank you for your positive comments on yesterday's post 

I started to write about how obesity is an unseen mental health issue and how hard it is to ask for help and a whole lot of other stuff but all of a sudden that noise went quiet. I will return to this at some point as I think it is important to talk about hidden issues that impact so many of us. Right now I am listening to the silence in that part of my brain and it is wonderful. 

I did my first jab early this afternoon. I then went out for coffee and ordered a toasted cheese sanga but could only eat half of it. 

I don't care if these are placebo effects, I am taking the win!

And as a reward for reading I give you clouds.

 

Winter has arrived.

It was a bitterly cold and wet long weekend (happy birthday King). 

I finished sewing together the rug I have been crocheting. This is a queen sized bed so you get an idea of the size. I don't know where it will end up but it's done and I love the 3D effect.

It rained and rained and rained and I swear the wind came straight off the Antarctic. Just a tad different from the glorious blue skies when I was out and about on Thursday.

I started another couple of crochet projects cos I have the crochet bug at the moment. I am still knitting a vest in front of the telly in the evenings, one of the crochet projects is mindless so I keep that for the craft group and then there is this which is easy but does require counting.

 

On a very personal note (but we're all friends here, right?) I went to the doctor and had a long chat with her about my life long battle with my weight. I currently classify as obese and have high choleresterol and high blood pressure as well having undergone two joint replacements. My mother had an eating disorder which meant I never really learned what a proper relationship with food looked like. Food was punishment, reward, bribery - never just food. We were made to eat everything that was dished up on our plates whilst my mother (who was always very thin) would complain about being overweight and eat like a sparrow. I realised once I was an adult that she would be diagnosed today with anorexia nervosa and over-feeding others is classic behaviour of this condition. After a lifetime of being on or off a diet it is no wonder that I have ended up in this pickle.

After talking at length about things my doctor said that I, too, have an eating disorder and an unhealthy relationship with food and my body and my sense of self. After great discussion of pros and cons she prescribed this ...

One of my daughters-in-law has had great success using this and a much loved blogmate has started using it as well. In fact it was her bravery in sharing that gave me the courage to seek help.

I am well aware this is not a silver bullet. It will not wipe out nearly 70 years of bad programming but it just might stop the food noise (yes, that is a thing) and give me some mental space to change my attitude to a few things and learn some new strategies to deal with life the universe and everything. I am sure everyone has an opinion on this sort of thing but please, unless it is positive, keep it to yourself. I have a hard enough battle in front of me as it is.

And as a reminder of the magnificent dignity that is the German Shepherd I give you this ...

Out and about

I have never understood the appeal of these but kids all around the world seem to love them. After reading this I am even less enamoured (to save you googling if you are not vehicularly inclined, Prestone is anti-freeze) ... 

On Thursday I drove the two and a bit hours to Traralgon to donate plasma. It makes for a long day but the drive never disappoints and I always try to explore somewhere I haven't been before. This was on the way home ...

... I wasn't sure if this was serious but seeing what appeared to be several smaller fires in a cluster I assumed it was a planned burn. I wasn't going to drive all the way to find out as even though I did take a detour, the fire stayed on the horizon. And no, I wouldn't have driven anywhere near it, I was just trying to get a sense of where it was.

I will never tire of the countryside. We are known as the Big Country for a reason. Even our skies seem big ...

On Friday we took Jinx back to the vet to get her eyes checked. I'm not sure if I have mentioned it before but she has been diagnosed with an auto-immune condition that if not treated would result in painful corneal ulceration and blindness. Needless to say I am the one who administers the drops and Himself gets to give the treat afterwards. No prizes for guessing who is the more popular human in this household.

It's definitely winter here. We have had a bitterly cold snap which is unusual this early in the season. Yesterday I decided a slow cooker casserole was in order.

I was so cold I decided to hug the cooker. 

You can see the steam bubbling under the lid and where it has bubbled out from underneath the lid.

 

I wonder how many other people have managed to scald the underside of their upper arms from hugging a slow cooker.

He's OK

After a weekend of not doing much Himself took himself down to Melbourne yesterday morning. I keep wanting to say up but apparently one goes down to Melbourne and up to Lakes even though if one wants to be completely accurate it would be across to Melbourne as near as dammit - Melbourne is 37.8136*S and Lakes is 37.8777*S.

Anyway, Ebs took him to hospital and deposited him there much earlier than he needed to be and his procedure was delayed due to an emergency so you can imagine he was not the happiest of campers.

The angiogram went well. One stent was inserted and a second wasn't needed. Here's hoping this puts Himself's mind at ease.

He was discharged this morning and wanted my blessing to drive home. Not happening. Fortunately Ebs, who is tiny but do not cross her if you value your life, hit the roof at any such suggestion so he did as he was told and spent the day at their place. He had a snooze and watched some and telly and then had beer and pizza and spent some time bonding with One which is what they both needed. I have no doubt he will be on the road before sparrows' fart tomorrow morning. 

I quite enjoy being on my own now and again but I am not sure about the dogs.

They do like my catering (I buy them gravy beef to mix with their usual food and they get TWO dentastix each in the evening) and they don't wake me two or three times through the night to go outside the way they do Himself but finding this ...

... and the remains of a cat bed and a "pruned" artificial plant suggest that they are NOT impressed with his absence. 

Jinx at least has her teddy bear to console her ... 

On Saturday I was working with the Lionesses, catering at a local market and a woman enquired about joining. She left her details with us and I decided to reach out to her as the next meeting isn't for a few weeks. I invited her for coffee yesterday and to the U3A craft group today. She and her husband have only been here for a few months and I know how hard it is to get that toe in the water. She was thrilled I asked and I didn't feel like a crazy stalker which had been a bit of a worry!

Dinner tonight was two minute noodles and whatever veg I could find in the crisper drawer. A glass of wine made it almost haute cuisine!

Penguin texted me to see how Himself is and I promised her I was about to do an update which I have duly done. 

I will now go back to working on this ... 

 

 

... and enjoy another glass of wine whilst I sew 130 crocheted pieces together and listen to the rain.

Life

Yes, I know, it's been a long time between drinks. There was a while when I would get very stressed about not updating but I am learning to be a bit more realistic with my expectations.

Last time I mentioned that Himself was going to Melbourne for an angiogram. He was gone overnight and somehow I managed to piss Max off to such a degree that he wouldn't come when I called him to come inside at dusk. He spent the whole night out and I went out looking for him the next morning to no avail. I left the back door open, fessed up to Himself that I had lost a cat and assumed the worst (he never goes missing and will always come when called). Around 10am I looked across to the chair next to one of my looms and there he was looking very sorry for himself and slightly the worse for wear. No injuries that I could see but he was very grateful for a feed and even tolerated a stroke and a snuggle - I swear he almost purred.

If he would only talk what a story he could tell.

It didn't take him long to return to his glorious arrogant self ...

... and to keep things fair here is Minnie sitting in her spot right next to where I sit and crochet or knit most afternoons looking out at the view. She always looks a tad perplexed.

We have started having lunch out once a week or so. We share the love between the local eateries as this can be a tough time of year for hospitality as the tourists are thin on the ground and the economy makes it hard for locals to spend on indulgences like eating out. Wherever we go there is always a view and even when it's raining it's still beautiful ...

As I type Himself is on his way back from yet another cardiologist appointment. He was meant to stay overnight and drive back tomorrow to avoid driving at dusk on country roads when 'roos and wombats tend to appear in front of you but he made an executive decision (ie ignored me) and will be home in an hour or so. Unfortunately he has to back again on Monday for another stent and maybe two. Which, to be fair, is probably why he wanted to get home. 

The next few days will be a bit of a challenge as he will stress and I will try not to. I play it very cool with him but I am a tad concerned. He turns 76 this year and there is a family history of cardiac issues. 

In the meantime we will enjoy where we live and how can you not grin when you see these birds ....

I will report back on Monday when he has had the procedure.