Today I got a problem fixed with a little animation program that I bought about two years ago. I showed the kids how it worked when they got home from school, and they played with it till bed time. This is the result... and was a joint effort...!
I present to you: The adventures of Dog, Cat and Bird, by Matilda and Phoebe....
Monday, 30 May 2011
Saturday, 21 May 2011
Getting better....
Hello peeps. Things are getting progressively less sore, but each day I end in complete wipe out, usually having overdone one thing or another... today I got dressed in outdoor clothes and went out to several places with my chauffeur... (Daile) who stalwartly refused to let me drive.
Actually, although we've not been officially told, the opinion on when I can drive again varies from 'not before the catheter comes out' to 'four weeks after the op', the latter being the government PDF about prostectomies. I'll be driving after 3 unless I end up on a different trajectory to the one I’m on now, as I’ve told the people at work that I’ll be back on the 6th. I FEEL like I can drive now.
Today we went out to get some timber so that I can make a few things that I’ve been conceiving of during the next couple of weeks. The problem is moving the material around as I’m not supposed to move more than 10lbs at a time... over and above my own considerable bulk. The pains I’m having lately are actually more to do with the other bits of me rather than the cut about bits of me... like spasming shoulder muscles and wind! The catheter is supposed to be coming out on Monday, but before it does, they want to do some tests that involve dyes and x rays to see if there are any leaks! At close of business today they still hadn't booked that... so I’m going in first up on Monday to see what eventuates. I really don't want to have to wait another day to have the thing out.. it hurts unless you lay still.
I have been struggling this week with a painting of Liam Neeson from a captured frame from Schindlers List. I've spent an inordinate amount of hours on it, and it still looks like someone else. It's a good job i've painted other stuff before this, or I’d be giving up painting as something I can't do! I may even give up on it for the time being... much against my own principles with this kind of thing.
A major event that happened this week in the UK was that Josh handed in his dissertation and that effectively means that he's finished at university, as although he's still got other things to do there, none of them count towards his mark. Needless to say the university is finding that attendance to the remaining stuff is very low. From Josh's perspective it's all over. From mine, it signifies even more than any event in his life up to now, that I can chalk up 'one down, three to go' on the back of the workshop door next to the height chart that we occasionally use to see how the little ones are growing.
At the other end of the spectrum Phoebe is performing her first violin concert next Thursday, and unusually for me, I'm going to be able to go to it... which is nice. It'll be all the same stuff that Matilda performed a couple of years ago when she first started. It's a pretty good school for the music and Tilda has been making some solid steps to proficiency lately after not really having been 'enthusiastic' for it. Something seems to have clicked. Phoebe seems to have more of a diligent approach and I suspect may have a disposition for it. Of the two little-uns, she's the more 'arty' and if our scanner hadn't carked it recently I’d post up some really amazing stuff that she's been doing. That said, she's no slouch on the academic stuff either!
Tilda is obsessive about reading stuff, to the extent that she will walk past me in the bed here, on her way to our en-suite, one hand holding a book in front of her face, the other trying to undo her trousers... and come out after the event doing the trousers up but still reading. She's got a rep at school for being an avid reader too, preferring to read than run around screaming. Interestingly however, nobody touches her in terms of bullying, as she's also known to be able to handle herself. The teachers love the fact that she's bringing a level of 'cool' to the business of reading...in debunking the swotty label that other readers have to wear traditionally.
She's been getting into Greek mythology lately as a result of her best mate Aiden and the latest craze books called 'Percy Jackson the lightening thief'... of which there are many. She's had to order a replacement set for Aiden as she's trashed his by getting her breakfast and other grott on them. If you ask her to name the gods that were Greek or Roman currently she'll rattle them off in between burps. I wish it had all come so easily to me.
On the subject of following a different path to the rest of your contemporaries, Molly was telling me that since she was with us in Oz, she's become a bit of a 'Billy no mates' back in blighty, preferring to stay in and paint or read than go out and get pissed like all her old mates, many of whom are at university or art college in fairness, but many of them are still around and beginning their careers by developing a social need to consume alcohol. I think Daile must have worn off on her and I”m delighted to hear it. It seems that this whole alcohol = 'a good time' thing that our societies support is such a sure fire way to social distress later. Much of the work that Daile does with kids at the 'Kids Helpline' is related to this problem and there's a great deal of evidence that developing a need to drink in order to feel OK about yourself is a pretty crap state of affairs to propagate. The 'Billy no mates' thing is a side effect of thinking and acting in ways that are different to everyone else, but when you're reasonably self confident and consider yourself to be worth something, it doesn't really matter too much. Who needs mates that fall apart all the time anyway? There's so much more important stuff to do! (That probably sounds harsh and arrogant, but it's not meant to... I just reckon that you only have time for a certain number of things in your life and it may as well be things that are supporting you and making you happier rather than the opposite, NOT that I advocate not having friends just because they may fall over from time to time)
Oh dear, I’ve rambled on a bit... I'll let you go. :-)
Sunday, 15 May 2011
enzid joke
Digging the Kumara patch
An old Maori man lived alone at his family home in Rotorua. He wanted to Dig his kumara garden, but it was very hard work. His only son, Hone, who Used to help him was in Paremoremo prison. The old man wrote a letter to his Son and described his predicament.
Kia ora e Hone,
I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I wont be able to plant my kumara garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up the hard ground for my garden plot. I know if you were here, all my troubles would be over as I know you would dig the garden plot for me.
Aroha nui, Papa
A few days later he received a reply from his son:
E Pa, don't dig that garden. That's where I buried the bodies.
Love Hone
At 4 a.m. the next morning, the Rotorua C.I.B and the local police Arrived with a search warrant and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologised and left.
Later the same day the old man received another letter from his son.
E Pa
Go ahead and plant your kumara now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love Hone.
An old Maori man lived alone at his family home in Rotorua. He wanted to Dig his kumara garden, but it was very hard work. His only son, Hone, who Used to help him was in Paremoremo prison. The old man wrote a letter to his Son and described his predicament.
Kia ora e Hone,
I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I wont be able to plant my kumara garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up the hard ground for my garden plot. I know if you were here, all my troubles would be over as I know you would dig the garden plot for me.
Aroha nui, Papa
A few days later he received a reply from his son:
E Pa, don't dig that garden. That's where I buried the bodies.
Love Hone
At 4 a.m. the next morning, the Rotorua C.I.B and the local police Arrived with a search warrant and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologised and left.
Later the same day the old man received another letter from his son.
E Pa
Go ahead and plant your kumara now. That's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love Hone.
Thursday, 12 May 2011
Cut and dry
Well, I'm lying here in hospital and the offending article has been removed. As yet, I've not had an opportunity to discuss what was found with surgeons, but from a post op perspective, things are looking fine currently.
I have s**t loads of things hanging off me, as per normal, and it's a bit inconvenient... for example, there's a cannula in the fold of my right elbow and if I bend it for more than a few seconds, it sets off an alarm that wakes everyone up!
I elected to have button push self administered pain killer over an epidural. The epidural procedure is apparently quite safe these days, but there's no feedback from your body if you're hurting yourself in some way, so I thought it best to keep that connection open.
Foodwise, I've had a bit of a fast, with nothing to eat from 5pm yesterday till about 4.30 today and, worse, no fluids for about 20 hrs by mouth. Daile had to sneak me a soggy cloth to just facilitate my ability to actually talk to her! My mouth was completely dried up and there just wasn't any saliva to sort it out!
Too much detail perhaps...... but anyway, it's all fixed now, and I've had a jug of water put on my table for the last 6 hours.
So... the risky bit is over, now I've just got to wait to find out how well it worked. I'll keep you posted.
I have s**t loads of things hanging off me, as per normal, and it's a bit inconvenient... for example, there's a cannula in the fold of my right elbow and if I bend it for more than a few seconds, it sets off an alarm that wakes everyone up!
I elected to have button push self administered pain killer over an epidural. The epidural procedure is apparently quite safe these days, but there's no feedback from your body if you're hurting yourself in some way, so I thought it best to keep that connection open.
Foodwise, I've had a bit of a fast, with nothing to eat from 5pm yesterday till about 4.30 today and, worse, no fluids for about 20 hrs by mouth. Daile had to sneak me a soggy cloth to just facilitate my ability to actually talk to her! My mouth was completely dried up and there just wasn't any saliva to sort it out!
Too much detail perhaps...... but anyway, it's all fixed now, and I've had a jug of water put on my table for the last 6 hours.
So... the risky bit is over, now I've just got to wait to find out how well it worked. I'll keep you posted.
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
Surgery
I had a call from the hospital today at work (I got that job by the way!), asking if I'd like to have my surgery 'tomorrow'!
I checked with Daile and with the new bosses at work and they all said to 'go for it' so I am. I'll be having surgery tomorrow at 8.30am and I'll be in the hospital for about a week... and another couple of weeks at home.
What a change of fortunes eh? New and better job, and now the surgery is back on only a week after they canceled it.
WoooooHooooooo!
I checked with Daile and with the new bosses at work and they all said to 'go for it' so I am. I'll be having surgery tomorrow at 8.30am and I'll be in the hospital for about a week... and another couple of weeks at home.
What a change of fortunes eh? New and better job, and now the surgery is back on only a week after they canceled it.
WoooooHooooooo!
Gaff
I saw this today... classic gaff. Click the image to get a better appreciation.
Do you think I should contact them?
:-)
Do you think I should contact them?
:-)
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Last weekend...
OK, a more normal type of blog today. This one is about last weekend, the much awaited trip to North Straddie, which those of you who've followed this blog for a while will know is a firm favourite with the girls. It was a great relief, after the issues at work this week to pack up that big old car and head for the ferry, which is about half an hour away from our house. We were running a little late but still got there in good time in the end. The weather was looking a bit inclement, but we managed to get all packed without any rain.
We were going this time with Matilda and Phoebe's close mates (Tilda's best mate actually) and their Mum and her partner. They are Aiden, Kyla, Peta and Jess respectively.
Once we were on the ferry, the kids and I went on deck... despite a fairly 'cold' wind. (I use the term in relative terms. By UK norms it was quite pleasant, however I DID wear a padded jacket that Daile had bought me 6 months ago.. for the first time).
This was the camp, which we pitched in an increasingly intense downpour, so we got thoroughly wet. However that was the last of the rain bar a 10 min interlude the following day.... so all was good. The little orange tepee is Phoebe's play tent... bless.
It's about a minute to walk here from the camp... and this is looking back into the woods with your back to the beach...
..the vegetation beneath my feet here is known by the locals as 'the grass' !
The camp fire... from which I spoke to you Mum and Dad and Moll...
....and one of the marshmallows that the kids just HAD to cook before the fire was anywhere near hot enough to avoid the soot effect that this one has.
Daile, as ever, is a heat hog... this was 'backing away from the fire' in Daile speak. On one occasion it appeared that her sandles were actually melting!
At our favourite cafe...
Gannie, this is the knife that Matilda bought with the Easter money you sent. She's chuffed to bits with this. You should know that she's been briefed that if she's seen doing anything silly with it, it's going to be confiscated. Both she and Aiden were very knife oriented during this trip... Aiden sporting a multi-tool that Matilda had bought him with her own money for his birthday a couple of weeks ago. She now owns 5 knives...one of which we actually made ourselves.
This is Kyla and Phoebe on the beach with sparklers...
and a view from our bit of beach to Point Lookout. There were SO many stars! (click the image to enlarge)
The kids like to play on the rack... it's their hang out.
On the trail....out and about...
...and finally on the way home.
Good weekend. Really needed a good break!
:-)
We were going this time with Matilda and Phoebe's close mates (Tilda's best mate actually) and their Mum and her partner. They are Aiden, Kyla, Peta and Jess respectively.
Once we were on the ferry, the kids and I went on deck... despite a fairly 'cold' wind. (I use the term in relative terms. By UK norms it was quite pleasant, however I DID wear a padded jacket that Daile had bought me 6 months ago.. for the first time).
This was the camp, which we pitched in an increasingly intense downpour, so we got thoroughly wet. However that was the last of the rain bar a 10 min interlude the following day.... so all was good. The little orange tepee is Phoebe's play tent... bless.
It's about a minute to walk here from the camp... and this is looking back into the woods with your back to the beach...
..the vegetation beneath my feet here is known by the locals as 'the grass' !
The camp fire... from which I spoke to you Mum and Dad and Moll...
....and one of the marshmallows that the kids just HAD to cook before the fire was anywhere near hot enough to avoid the soot effect that this one has.
Daile, as ever, is a heat hog... this was 'backing away from the fire' in Daile speak. On one occasion it appeared that her sandles were actually melting!
At our favourite cafe...
Gannie, this is the knife that Matilda bought with the Easter money you sent. She's chuffed to bits with this. You should know that she's been briefed that if she's seen doing anything silly with it, it's going to be confiscated. Both she and Aiden were very knife oriented during this trip... Aiden sporting a multi-tool that Matilda had bought him with her own money for his birthday a couple of weeks ago. She now owns 5 knives...one of which we actually made ourselves.
This is Kyla and Phoebe on the beach with sparklers...
and a view from our bit of beach to Point Lookout. There were SO many stars! (click the image to enlarge)
The kids like to play on the rack... it's their hang out.
On the trail....out and about...
...and finally on the way home.
Good weekend. Really needed a good break!
:-)
'Difficulty' and 'Implications'
Two itsy bitsy little words with huge meanings.
Many of you will know that I lost my Job last week. It wasn't a very good job, it paid the bills, more or less (mostly less) but it was a job. This Thursday (tomorrow) I was due to have surgery for prostate cancer, which was discovered by biopsy in December. Yesterday I found out that the surgery has been canceled due to a hospital double booking screw up. Currently it's rescheduled for the 26th of May, although there appears to be a chance that it will be sooner.
It's weird isn't it how difficulties like this come along in groups like buses.
I've been coping with the fact that I have 'the C word'. I'm fortunate that the cancer is a slow growing variety that is not likely to be fatal for me, but it's still cancer and has a certain amount of fear attached. I feel like I've got dog crap on my shoes and I'm walking around on a white carpet trying not to leave any evidence.
My job situation has been coming for a while, I knew he was a snake, but I didn't think he'd be this cutthroat. He's been frustrated because I wont negotiate deals with straight out of college newbie contractors that effectively box them into $6 per hour pay rates or less. The minimum wage here is $16 per hour. He expects his workers to do unpaid overtime, sometimes several hours of it a night! He's been taking away my autonomy for several weeks, instigating forms that I have to have countersigned before I can hire anyone etc. So it's not all bad that this job evaporated... it's just the timing.
Making me redundant less than a week before an op that would take me out of the labour market for a month was really low down of my ex employer. However, I have seen a job somewhere else, I've responded to it, had a telephone interview which went well, and I have a proper interview for it today. But what will I tell them? I WAS planning on being up front and telling them that I wouldn't be able to start for about a month. Now I don't know if it's even worth going in for the interview and wasting their time! They're after someone who can start right now... I'm not likely to be available for 2 months... or they could have me for less than a month and then I'd be off for a month... which won't sound all that attractive when I'm up against younger healthier alternatives I'm sure.
So the implications of the junior underpaid badly managed clerk at the hospital having missed the fact that the surgeon does a 12 week rotational clinic in Bundaberg that would prevent him from attending a surgery on the 5th of May in Brisbane are multiple. It's possible that I won't see another suitable job go past for months, it's a desert here for me. Without income, we could have to move. There IS something positive in here... I KNOW there is, it's just that right now I'm struggling to see it.
... and to think that I used to think it was my destiny to be a millionaire!
Many of you will know that I lost my Job last week. It wasn't a very good job, it paid the bills, more or less (mostly less) but it was a job. This Thursday (tomorrow) I was due to have surgery for prostate cancer, which was discovered by biopsy in December. Yesterday I found out that the surgery has been canceled due to a hospital double booking screw up. Currently it's rescheduled for the 26th of May, although there appears to be a chance that it will be sooner.
It's weird isn't it how difficulties like this come along in groups like buses.
I've been coping with the fact that I have 'the C word'. I'm fortunate that the cancer is a slow growing variety that is not likely to be fatal for me, but it's still cancer and has a certain amount of fear attached. I feel like I've got dog crap on my shoes and I'm walking around on a white carpet trying not to leave any evidence.
My job situation has been coming for a while, I knew he was a snake, but I didn't think he'd be this cutthroat. He's been frustrated because I wont negotiate deals with straight out of college newbie contractors that effectively box them into $6 per hour pay rates or less. The minimum wage here is $16 per hour. He expects his workers to do unpaid overtime, sometimes several hours of it a night! He's been taking away my autonomy for several weeks, instigating forms that I have to have countersigned before I can hire anyone etc. So it's not all bad that this job evaporated... it's just the timing.
Making me redundant less than a week before an op that would take me out of the labour market for a month was really low down of my ex employer. However, I have seen a job somewhere else, I've responded to it, had a telephone interview which went well, and I have a proper interview for it today. But what will I tell them? I WAS planning on being up front and telling them that I wouldn't be able to start for about a month. Now I don't know if it's even worth going in for the interview and wasting their time! They're after someone who can start right now... I'm not likely to be available for 2 months... or they could have me for less than a month and then I'd be off for a month... which won't sound all that attractive when I'm up against younger healthier alternatives I'm sure.
So the implications of the junior underpaid badly managed clerk at the hospital having missed the fact that the surgeon does a 12 week rotational clinic in Bundaberg that would prevent him from attending a surgery on the 5th of May in Brisbane are multiple. It's possible that I won't see another suitable job go past for months, it's a desert here for me. Without income, we could have to move. There IS something positive in here... I KNOW there is, it's just that right now I'm struggling to see it.
... and to think that I used to think it was my destiny to be a millionaire!
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