Getting better

I still have the lurgy but it is improving. It has meant that I have done bugger all other than knit and listen to my current favourite podcast: "a short history of ..." on Noiser if you're interested - very well done and looks at all sorts of historical stuff in ways that make you think differently about stuff we were taught in school.

Anyway. At least I don't have to wear the cone of shame ...

Poor Jinx. She still keeps licking her nethers which causes ulceration. We think she might have a bit of urine leakage which isn't uncommon in speyed dogs so we're trying hormone replacement. The joys of being a female of a certain age. I can relate but I don't lick my nethers.

The scarf I'm knitting for Two continues to grow. I'm using a NZ merino/possum blend. It's so soft and fluffy without shedding like a lot of fluffy yarns do. It's a blue grey and the possum gives a gentle brownish tinge. Once it's finished and blocked I'll show you. 

I am also knitting a vest for me. I made one for the Mermaid a couple of years ago. It's an easy pattern but has a design to keep it interesting. Also vest = no sleeves so I will finish it before I get bored. Why do sleeves take soooooo long to knit?

Clouds this evening...

 

Still crook

I was in the process of texting a friend to say I wouldn't be at cryptics or coffee when she rang to tell me the same. Seems like something is going around so all the more reason to stay at home and avoid people. Yay!!

The day has been spent doing little but I did have a delicious lunch.

I discovered the best way to make cheese on toast if you don't have access to a grill (?broiler in the states)

I bought this from ALDI years ago with the intention of making creme brulee and never bruleed any creme!

 

Sick and it's not even winter yet

So Himself managed to get a case of man flu and shared it with me.

I am laying low and not doing the stuff I usually do cos a) I feel like shit and b) I am very conscious of not sharing it with people who can't afford to get sick because of their health or travel plans or just cos nobody likes being unwell. 

Today was, therefore, rather boring from a blogging perspective, but rather nice to have an excuse to stay at home and knit and listen to podcasts. It reminded me of why I didn't mind certain aspects of the COVID debacle. I didn't have to be told twice to stay at home. 

I have cancelled my usual Wednesday plans for tomorrow which does hurt as I love my cryptic crosswords in the morning and my coffee group in the afternoon but I would be devastated if anyone got sick ... one is in her 90s, another is about to head overseas for her daughter's wedding, another is due to head north for the winter ... you get the idea.

So another day of knitting and reading and listening to stuff. I guess it's not all bad!

And these two will keep guard as always. You never know who might think about walking past the house.

In which I realise yet again that the title of the post is harder to write than the post itself.

Thank you for your comments welcoming me back to the wonderful world of friendship that is the blogosphere. I did miss you.

I realise that I feel pressure if I don't answer each comment so, for now, I shall address some comments in the next post. It's all about keeping this doable and enjoyable, after all.

So, thanks for the condolences on my aunt's death. As many have said, it was the best way to go. Thanks also for the comments on the weight loss. Not something I want to harp on but I know some have been interested or have been on the same path. I wish our society was a bit less obsessed with appearances as this was for health reasons (two joint replacements, family history of stroke, pre-diabetic, chronic back pain, etc) but it has been nice to be able to buy clothes because I like them rather than cos they fit. Still getting used to that. I might even go into a proper shop one day rather than on-line or Kmart!! Sadly, the media make out that using these drugs is an easy way out. Trust me, it's not. 

Nuff of that.

We are still so delighted that we made the decision to move here. We love the community, the lifestyle, the clean air, the ocean.

This is the entrance to the Gippsland Lakes that Lakes Entrance is named for ...

It is man made as opposed to naturally occuring which is what used to happen in random spots along the extensive coastline and still does at Lake Tyers and Lake Bunga and is the only permanent entrance to the ocean for the very large lake system. I have probably explained this before and probably will again. 

Every so often we go out for a meal. Usually lunch but on this particular evening a local cafe was having a special that tickled our fancy. (Off the Wharf, if Penguin is reading!)

We had a delicious meal and a rain squall came through as the sun set resulting in some glorious colours. This is a boat heading out to The Entrance for a night of fishing.

 

How can I not love where I live?

Dipping my toes back in the water

Well it turned out I was AWOL for a bit longer than I intended.

I was having (and might still be having for all I know) some serious concerns about life on the interwebs and privacy issues and putting too much out there cos you just never know who might find you. But, oh boy, I missed it. I would compose blogposts in my head as I went to sleep promising myself I would write something the next day but the next day would come and ... meh.

Anyway, here I am. Granted, I still have to hit that publish button but being here is a start.

So what has happened over the past few months?

I left you with the aunt going into care so I may as well start there. 

She was not long in there when she had (another) fall and fractured her hip which resulted in a transfer to a larger town for surgery then back to the smaller town for some rehab and then back to the care facility. Whilst all this was going I was talking to doctors about treatment and ongoing management. I understand that as Enduring Power of Attorney it was down to me to make decisions on her behalf but I was frustrated when certain doctors wouldn't actually give me advice. Them: "Do you want us to start her back on blood thinners?" Me: "What do you suggest?" Them: "We can't tell you - we can just give you the statistics for and against." That's no bloody help. Then one doctor would say yes, the next no and so it went. Pros and cons for both. I think we ended up with no blood thinners because of the risk of a bleed if she fell. So she developed a DVT which meant ... yup ... back on blood thinners to dissolve it. 

Tuesday of last week I got a call to say she had had another fall and they were transferring her to the local hospital for assessment. Local hospital rang to say fall was not an issue but her "chunky" cough was. Xrays identified a pneumonia so they started her on some IV antiobiotics. It appears that the DVT had flicked off a clot resulting in a pulmonary embolism leading to part of the lung infarcting (dying) which had caused the pneumonia. We discussed options and the doctor was lovely and said that the treatment they were pursuing was adequate and further invasive tests would only prove what they already suspected and cause her considerable distress as she was already very confused. On the Friday morning I received a call to say she wasn't responding to treatment, her lungs were filling with fluid and her heart was failing. We made the decision to move to end of life care. I told those who were local and able to visit her so they could go and say their goodbyes.

Four hours later one of her close friends rang me to say she had just died. She had two very dear friends with her holding her hands and she was laughing and joking with them 10 minutes before she died. What a way to go - faster than expected, pain free and surrounded by love. Everything she would have wished for.

Over the Easter school holidays we had One and his lot down AND Three and Alice (not at the same time - don't think I could quite handle that!). Mrs Three was with Sally in the US on some dance trip. Alice has been asking when it was going to be her turn to have a holiday in Lakes by herself so I went and picked her up so that on the morning her mum and big sister left, she got to wave goodbye from my car as she went on her own holiday. Not the same as LA but she had fun.

One and his lot enjoyed themselves and are coming down for the King's birthday long weekend. They bring their French bulldog who gets on so well with our two that Murphy pines for her when she goes home! I'll try and get a photo of the three of them together.

The wegovy has done what it was meant to do. I have lost over 20kgs (about 45lbs for non metric folk) and while I can't really see it (body dysmorphia related to a lifetime of eating disorder) I have had to buy a whole lot of new winter clothes and have dropped from a size 20 to a size 14 so I guess something has worked. The best bit? Being able to go out for a meal and not worry about what I am eating (see eating disorder!!) but just enjoy the experience and stop when I've had enough. Like this prawn and hot honey pizza - 

A few weeks ago this amazing cloud formation appeared around sunset. I have no idea what causes it but it looked like the antarctic had drifted north. It only lasted for a few minutes so I was thrilled to be able to see it and capture it.

I think another thing that has kept me away from blogging is the awful things that are happening in the world. When I get overwhelmed with things I can't control I tend to double down and just focus on my small corner of the world. Lots to keep me busy here and I don't have to think about politics, war, and all the other bullshit.

I just keep paddling along.

Think I might hit that publish button!

Life and all that stuff

This is Sally at the NYE fireworks. Both girls had a ball. Do you know how hard it is to get a photo of fireworks?!

I have been MIA which wasn't my intention but The Aunt has to go into care and I am dealing with all that paperwork from a very long way away and it is taking up a lot of my time and energy.

Fingers crossed things will settle down very soon and I will be back.

Life is good - just very, very busy.

Winding down.

And here we are again.

That time of year. We don't get to see the kids or grandkids as the other side of their families get precedence. It's been like this for years - not just since we moved. In fact moving here sort of made it a little less hurtful as we can always cite distance.

When the boys were little I used to go all out with my decorations. Now I have this tree ...

... it's done me well for a few years now. It's easy to put up and take down and looks good from the street. Himself has always maintained he is a scrooge at Christmas but spent a couple of days getting the lights on the outside of the house just right! We even ended up on the local FaceBook page of Christmas lights (there are also lights on the fence to the left)!

I imagine next year he will go all out!

My fine eventually arrived in the mail. I am assuming the copper from Bairnsdale got in touch with the dude from Highway Patrol who then printed off a copy and handwrote the envelope! Anyway, I am now $407 poorer and have three demerit points on my licence for the next three years. Lesson well and truly learned.

Three and his lot are coming down on the 29th and will stay until New Year's Day which will be lovely. We will take them into town on NYE to see the fireworks. If it's too crowded we can watch from the top of the hill and still get an excellent view. The Mermaid has said she will come down on the 2nd. To be honest, I am not holding my breath as she has made plans to come and then cancelled too many times to count since we moved in here. I hope she makes it this time.

The town is getting busy with tourists. It's always a challenge but good for the local businesses who depend on the high season to get them through the winter. We weren't here during the fires of 2019 and then COVID but the town is still struggling to properly get back on its feet. Too many shuttered shops. 

I always feel a bit discombobulated at this time of year. Days of the week blur and I fluctuate between overwhelming anxiety and a need to DO STUFF. So I spend a lot of time sitting and listening to music and crocheting! 

You know I love my sunsets and clouds so here's another for you ...

Whatever the next few days mean to you, I wish you all the best. Stay safe and be well.