field testing my app

Today I do some testing of "my app".

The app can provide a d.i.y orienteering event. Follow an O map and the app will use the phone GPS to check whether you are in the right place.

So today I plan to add GPS coordinates for a nearby O map.

Two challenges really: (1) using the app and (2) I can't follow a map... I started this map back in the days when I could navigate. Or at least see and follow a map :-)

Deb drops me near the start of the map. I slowly... slowly... work out where I am. Where to go next. Except:

Turns out that I have missed one small step. Which means that I can't use the app. Oops. It's a small step, one which I can only fix at home.

I walk home, it's only twenty minutes. Walk back to the map and try again.

Success!

I do some "field work" with the app. It's good :-)

Okay, one problem, which I expected: A smartphone is designed for people who live in shady cities. In daylight -- I can't read the screen. I shuffle round, keeping my own shadow on the screen. Awkward but it works.

I manage to follow the map, to find all the control points. I can navigate :-) But slowly. Oh so slowly :-) Every step needs careful consideration, checking and re-checking. But I succeed :-) I find every control point, use the app to locate each point. It works.

I walk home. Past a cafe. I have a celebratory iced latte, I need it, it's warm work.

Home, lunch, relax...

I've been out for three hours. It's worth it. In a practical test -- the app works. Next step: I need to get it onto app libraries. Where other people can find it.

But so far -- so good :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Yesterday I knew nothing. Today I know that." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

my app

A while back I mentioned "my app" to Deb. It was a bad time. Deb was not interested. She did not want to know what it did. She saw it as a hobby to keep me busy, nothing more. This depressed me. Since then the thought of that same response has made me miserable. So I have not mentioned the app to Deb. Just pretended it did not exist.

Today I bite the bullet. I tell Deb that the app is looking good. Not great but good. Still only working as a test version for Apple. But working.

This time Deb listens. Says she wants to (or is willing to) test the app. She even listens to my brief description of what I'm now doing with it (setting up some tests for anyone to try... when the app is generally available, which should be in January.

Now I feel a lot better :-)

There's still work to be done... now I have a reason to do it :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Yesterday I knew nothing. Today I know that." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

Christmas Day 2022

Christmas Day. I'm in a right mood. Not a good mood.

My app is at a difficult stage. It's working, quite well, as far as I can tell. There are some tidy-ups to be done. Even without them, the app is ready to be added to the generally available app libraries. Which brings a new problem:

I need to do something with it.

I need to get out. Talk to people. Get it tested by other people... but mainly I need to convince people to use it :-) Not something I enjoy. My attitude is: I like it therefore it's good so people should want to use it...

What I expect is: no, not interested, why don't we use something else... I'm defeated before I even start :-) I need to get out and "sell" it. Something I hate.

This puts me in a bad mood.

I want to talk about my app. Discuss it. Brag about it. I don't like to hog the conversation. Instead, I'm in a right mood.

====

Worse: it's Christmas Day, the family gathers, I don't feel comfortable at the thought.

Oh and I don't enjoy eating with others: my depth vision is suspect, I worry that I'll knock things over, I know that I will spill food on the table.

Still. I'm looking forward to the day. And looking forward to it being over :-)

The morning is good. It's the immediate family. The big ones ignore me (except for some betting, Will I return to eat dinner? The little ones have a great time. Unwrapping, playing, swimming. One asks, where's Grandad? Yep, For most of the morning I hide upstairs. I enjoy the sounds of fun, I am more comfortable by myself.

====

I eat some of the food. Stuff I can identify, eat easily.

I avoid the prawns: too difficult and I can't stand the way they make my hands stink for the rest of the day. Still... I eventually think, I'll try a few, the cocktail sauce is special this year. I look for the prawns, they are packed away. I look for the sauce, Deb has cleared it away, thrown it out. Oh well. That's the penalty I pay for wanting to eat very slowly.

====

Evening, we descend on the in-laws. At the best of times I have very little to say to any of them. I listen, leave the conversation to others. This year I have to guess who's who, no-one's face looks familiar. No worries, I know who should be there, I guess identities by broad visual clues (mostly size, gender and how they introduce themselves. The kids (nephews? nieces?-- I have no idea of names, that's okay, I never talk to them anyway.

I sit next to Deb. Which means that the two people I would normally talk to are on my left, my blind side, they may as well not be there.

Deb gives me some cheese and crackers, other than that I can't be bothered working out what there is to eat, so I don't.

====

I would really like to leave. To walk out, to walk home, it's a beautiful evening, a few hours' walk, even busy roads would be relaxing -- more peaceful.

So why don't I leave? I stay because I expect that I could not work out how to open a strange but secure front door.

Finally, we go home. I'm absolutely exhausted. I sit down... and fall asleep before I can stand up to go to bed.

====

I wonder, when did I lose all my social skills. Or... did I ever have any. I have never enjoyed mixing with people. Now I've added a dislike of eating in company.

By keeping to myself, I enjoy the day. Now it's over. And that's something to be glad about :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Yesterday I knew nothing. Today I know that." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

another year

Deb and I celebrate another wedding anniversary. 46. We agree that it is good so far :-)

Usually we celebrate by saying, Oh yes, another anniversary.

This year we go out to lunch At Zamia in Kings Park. It's a nice cafe with a range of food, some exotic. Deb has a bready thing, I have Indonesian fried rice and push aside the chili. Then we share a dessert, the main point of the meal :-)

The rest of the day is grocery shopping and relaxing, a very satisfactory anniversary.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Yesterday I knew nothing. Today I know that." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

Ghost Trail weekend

We spend Saturday night at the Yanchep Inn. It's an old hotel plus motel in Yanchep National Park. Our room is first floor, looking over grass and across the lake. Very nice. Plus, the grass has kangaroos and ducks, sitting, walking, sleeping, eating. A very relaxing outlook.

Deb does the driving, Yanchep NP is about an hour from home. Once we're settled in Deb goes for a walk. She has a fear of falling asleep in the afternoon and not being able to sleep at night. I have no such fear, I sleep in the afternoon and sleep again at night. Deb's walk is a bit longer than she planned: she finds the koalas, spots a few in their usual activity (sleeping), walks along a "Woodland Trail" that takes a while to loop back.

Dinner is the Christmas special, with ham, turkey, mystery sausage, plus dessert. All very nice.

Sunday we're up early -- out and walking by 5:30. That's why we're here: to walk around Loch McNess. Following the Ghost Trail.

It's 12km, we've done it before including as a trail run (those were the days!). Today is very peaceful, we meet no-one else at all. Three hours walking... and we're back at the Inn on time for breakfast. We had not realised that our room comes with breakfast, we have built an appetite, we enjoy a cooked breakfast.

With time to shower after the walk, pack up and check out. Followed by the drive home. Deb drives, I sleep, I do a lot of sleeping :-)

It's a good break, very pleasant, we may do it again next year :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Yesterday I knew nothing. Today I know that." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

lungs: good

Several months ago Deb and I decided that we should go on a hike in NZ. An organised hike. First, they need a doctor to sign off that we can do the hike.

No worries for Deb.

The GP sends me off for a heart test and a lung test.

The heart test is done.

I suppose that I should find out the results, sometime.

It takes months to get an appointment for a lung test. Today is the day.

There are two parts: breathing tests then a meeting with the specialist doc.

First: a covid test. Negative.

I could have done it at home and taken a photo of the results. Ha! as If I could test myself. Or take a photo.

The breathing tests take maybe 45 minutes. Breathing in. Out. More out. Light gasping. Out... more. And so on.

With a pause when I breath in some Ventolin. The repeat all the breathing.

Wait an hour till I see the doc.

There's a nice cafe down the road says the nurse who runs the tests.

It's hard to find, it's inside another shop she tells me.

The cafe is easy to find. I stare at the wall of glass till someone comes out... only then do I know which stretch of glass is a door.

I sip one coffee. Wait. Walk. Get back to see the lung doc.

====

It's all reassuring. Perhaps because I hear everything as I expect to hear it :-)

My lungs are okay... for my age.

Very good transfer of oxygen from lungs to blood.

The ventolin makes no difference so probably not asthma.

Do I want a definite test for asthma? It's something direct from Guantomo Bay: get me to breathe in salt water. If I do have asthma, that will force an attack. No thanks, we agree.

The doc asks about symptoms of breathing problems: none. Family history of lung problems: none. Wheezing, coughing fits, none.

Can I exercise? Well... 8km yesterday, okay.

I say that I'm doing the typical asthmatic thing: aerobic exercise, trying to build spare lung capacity. Good, she says.

While I'm sitting talking, the feeling that I can't take a full breath comes and goes. Typical. That's the way it works (or fails to work).

The doc gives me a prescription for some extra-strength not-quite-ventolin.

She looks at the alternate that I have tried. Says, well, the delivery system doesn't work -- it's delivering nothing. That's why that one doesn't work.

She may have provided a bigger-dose prescription for the same stuff. I've heard enough, I'm starting to lose concentration.

She outlines a schedule of daily  puffers and wait and see. Okay I say, adding, though I will probably not follow it. Not while it's just difficulty getting a full breath. But if I use ventolin -- I now have a "spacer" and know how it works (maybe).

====

The lung doc will get the results of my previous lung test and see if anything has changed.  That's something I would like to know.

She will check with the cancer doc, see if I had the chemo which is known to damage lungs (I think I did).

She will get hold of my PET scans which cover the lung area, make sure there is nothing nasty. (Probably not, the analysis once mentioned RSI in my shoulder, they are not likely to have missed lung damage.

Am I thinking of taking up, for example, aqualung-ing? No way. Okay, no worries.

Does shortness of breath affect me? Yes, it slows me down (even more than usual:-) when I run -- then it clears. I don't have the asthmatic can't-breathe episodes.

Sitting around, I sometimes need to focus on breathing deeply and carefully. It feels uncomfortable but usually not for long.

====

That all sounds a bit ho hum... but I'm satisfied.

The main message is: There is nothing -- nothing obvious -- that is dangerous.

I could try more extreme anti-asthma drugs -- but it may not be asthma.

What I'm doing is good. I'm not badly affected.

====

The lung doc will contact the cancer doc and the GP. I'll check with the GP, about both heart and lung tests.

I can't get out the door without a phone appointment for March next year.

====

Nothing really new. Except... reassurance that... there is nothing new.

I am reassured :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Yesterday I knew nothing. Today I know that." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

uber bad

This post follows on from the post -- yet to be written -- where I describe my lung test.

====

Lung test finished, I need to get home. Easy, I call an Uber.

My ride is two minutes away. Good. I wait.

Then wait. And wait.

As far as I can tell... I have been stood up by uber.

I think, try again. No cars in the area is the response. What?!

Did the driver cancel my ride? Then go somewhere to hide?

I'm 4.5km from home. Along a bus route.

The next bus is due in an hour.

I start walking.

While entertaining myself by finding out how to complain to uber.

I walk. Wait at a bus stop.

The bus arrives -- exactly on time.

I catch the bus to within 200m of home.

A couple of hours later there is a response from uber. An automated response which shows that no human being read my complaint.

I respond.

I can no longer trust uber.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Yesterday I knew nothing. Today I know that." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

Strike me dead

I have another blog, one dedicated to letting off steam. Rather than annoying Deb with my opinions on the stupidity of the world, I post to that blog. Get it off my chest.

Back in August I had a rant about a woman who had a near-death experience, who recovered, then felt that this experience qualified her to understand people who are dying.

Worse, she has turned herself to making profits from the dying.

She charges for the provision of scented candles, dim lights and soft music.

To my mind, near-death -- with a full recovery -- to a life which is much as it was before -- is completely different to the absolute knowledge that you are going to die.

From the depths of my sarcasm I referred to this woman as a "death doula"

Well strike me pink. In today's paper is a double-page spread about "death doulas". People who make money from the dying.

I don't object to the profession. I'm sure they provide comfort to the survivors at least. Today's article does not claim to understand what the dying person is feeling. The emphasis is, more aptly, on provision of comfort to "the "loved ones left behind".

But I do strongly object to the use of my term -- intended to be sarcastic and vaguely insulting -- as an acceptable word for the people who sell dim lights and scented candles.

Good grief, that woman still annoys me.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Yesterday I knew nothing. Today I know that." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

status and regrets

There's a "status" page on this blog. It's there so that anyone can easily see where I'm at. No need to read the drivel that appears every so often. This is how I am, now.

Except that I don't often update it. So, today I will. (Eventually!)

===

There are regular gaps in my posts. If nothing happens -- nothing blog-relevant -- then I don't post.

Since my last scan -- nothing much has happened. So that's good :-)

I had been lost in Karrinyup shopping centre, a horrible place, designed to trap you inside.

Later, we go to Claremont Quarter. Much better. The layout is a multi-level rectangle, easy to understand. Okay, I still have trouble finding a specific shop -- but it's easy to walk round and look.

So that worked well.

====

Sometimes I regret doing something. Or regret *not* doing something. For example, I regretted not staying up to watch when Australia won the Americas Cup... that regret lasted perhaps five minutes, I have no real interest in rich men's boats.

I have a bit more regret from not watching all the World Cup soccer.

When I watch, I enjoy it. Unless I have some interest in who will win, then I don't enjoy the stress.

I'm enjoying one game, it's nil-all... until I wake up and it's 2-1. I enjoy what I see, sleep through the stress. No regret.

We want to buy a Christmas tree. A real one, pine smell and all.

We drive to the tree farm. The only remaining trees are too large to fit in the house, let alone in the car.

Next day Deb goes to "the market" to look for a tree.

The market? I don't know where Deb means. I imagine a large shop.

Deb heads off, I'm still waking up, I stay home.

Then I check Deb's location on my phone. We share location. Mostly so that Deb can find me when I'm lost (or possibly collapsed, but not since that one time...)

I look at Deb's location and... understand which market she means.

It's a weekly market. We've been there before, bought a Christmas tree there. I can picture it.

It's not some strange scary place, it's familiar (sort of) nothing to worry about.

Except that I should be there. Keeping Deb company. Reassuring her that it's worth the effort.

I should be there with Deb. But I'm not.

And I regret it.

Yes, Deb gets a tree. The house now has tinsel, flashing lights, a tree -- and a pine tree smell. Excellent :-) Deb did well, of course.

But lesson learned:

I don't like strange new places. I'm uncomfortable with crowds. But... if I stop and think... it's not so bad.

Especially with Deb to keep an eye on me.

Next time -- I'll be there.

====

Now for that status (which I shall copy onto the front page of the blog).

status at 7th December 2022

I'm well :-)

Physical:

The MRIs show shadows on my brain. The experts agree that it is radiation necrosis rather than tumour. A tumour would be fast growing -- and bad. The current shadow is growing but  slowly so not good but not dangerously bad. So that's good.

The cancer cells are still in there... waiting. Waiting more than five years so far, it's a bit embarrassing :-)

I have no vision to my left. My eyes are fine (for my age!) it's the brain that is the problem. Or, rather, it's the missing bit of brain. That problem will never be fixed.

I've lost a lot of fitness. The chemo treatment lost me some lung capacity. That slows my running but otherwise is no worry.

I'm back to running -- slowly but regularly. I have to watch out to my left. I try to be aerobic, to rebuild lung capacity.

Overall... I think I'm doing okay... for my age :-)

Mental:

Again... okay for my age :-)

I read, do crosswords, am having a phone app written.

I do have problems -- most of which are because it can be difficult to see things. I see okay but miss whatever is on the left. The start of words, for example. It's hard for me to quickly look at and understand something.

But I think -- I hope -- that most of the mental problems are related to vision.

Emotional:

Right now, I'm feeling fine.

Yet there is an underlying feeling of... being worried. Almost scared. Concerned... for Deb. Anger... at the state of the world, almost relief that I am not expected to see too much more of it.

But here and now -- very happy.

Keeping busy. Making plans. Doing this and that, not too much but enough to keep my mind on the present. Which is very good.

I can't claim to be feeling positive.

Nor am I feeling negative.

I'm in the live-life-as-it-comes zone. Which is where I want to be...

and that's something to be glad about :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Yesterday I knew nothing. Today I know that." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

trail run

seeing the doc after my last scan she said, are you still running?

well yes, when Deb goes out i tag along :-)

today we go to Walyunga NP.

follow the river, down from its flood level but still plenty of water.

we do 5.5 km -- with more climb than we get near home.

i've been looking for aerobic exercise, this is it, phew.

we end with a picnic lunch, very pleasant. very peaceful.

we enjoy trail running. particularly when it's just us.

--

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
...

===


Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)

The word "boobs" is so scary until you get to the second "b". (Alfred E. Neumann

phew! again :-)

We start the day with a gentle jog by the lake. Not "round" -- that would be a bit further. We do an hour and a quarter. Deb in one direction, me in the other. Slow jogging but... not easy :-)

Then we go shopping at Herdies, for fruit & veg.

Lunch, an hour's rest, then -- off to the oncologist.

Where, once again, the verdict is -- no change.

Well... a little change. The shadow is a bit larger. But:

There's no sign of blood rushing to the area, I have no odd symptoms... so it is probably *not* a growing tumour. The smart money says, it's more "necrosis".

Oh... and no sign of brain bleed, so put aside that nervous worry.

It's interesting, really, when a slowly dying patch of brain is *good* news :-)

So it's relief! for both Deb and me.

I'm still at the edge of the bell curve for survival and pushing it out. Again.

I'll have a next MRI in three months. Till then, "watch for symptoms". And wear the shirt, "Enjoy life -- three months at a time".

Phew :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Yesterday I knew nothing. Today I know that." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

lost!

I'm jogging round a circular lake and I'm lost...

Not exactly lost but uncertain. It's a very familiar area. I look round and I'm not immediately aware of where round the lake I am. Like faces, familiar places are no longer familiar.

Logic tells me exactly where I am -- but I miss the ability to quickly look and recognise. Not to worry, I'm slowly re-learning.

Friday is different:

We go to Karrinyup shopping centre. Nothing is familiar, it's all re-built since earlier visits. All I can do is follow Deb.

We go into David Jones and it is worse.

The shop was never familiar. Today there is nothing to tell me where I am. Rows of flimsy shelves. Too flimsy to lean on, too flimsy to get a visual fix. Surprising how much my balance depends on sight... I feel unsteady.

I want to get out but have no idea where there is a door. Just acres of shelves all, to me, looking the same.

Best I can describe it is, it's like being in a small boat in a stormy ocean, nothing to tell me where I am, no guide to where I could go.

Deb finds a chair, sits me down. All I want to do is get out.

Deb looks after me. Finishes the shopping. We get out of the shop.

It's a bit better. The halls have walls, still vague with hidden corners, rows of look-alike shops, no clear way out. But more solid -- visually solid -- than inside the shop.

I'm glad when we finally get out.

Later: I walk across a carpark, cross a road, meet a friend in a cafe, all no problem -- there are clear boundaries, solid walls, I have the comfort of fixed surroundings.

Deb doesn't trust me to go to Karrinyup by myself. I wonder why :-?

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Yesterday I knew nothing. Today I know that." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

Deb's birthday

Deb has a birthday. once more she is as old as me. So nice to be married to a sensible mature woman:-)

on her birthday we go out for lunch. to our favourite cafe. Floreat Kiosk. where people walk straight off the beach for a meal. but not today... rain and wind...

we sit in the inside area, with a great view of crashing waves and pelting rain. just outside our picture window a few hardy people try the outdoor dining but not for long, the rain reaches in and encourages them to look for shelter.

we sit indoors, warm and cosy, watching the winter weather. very enjoyable.

happy birthday Deb :-)

Next day is fine and mild. We rogaine with debs sister.

deb navigates and sets the pace. its round midland  its good fun to walk round an area that we otherwise drive past.

we cover 12.7 km in 3.5 hours. exhausting but fun.

--

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
...

===


Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)

The word "boobs" is so scary until you get to the second "b". (Alfred E. Neumann

scan then wait

this week is MRI week. tomorrow my head will be scanned.

it will be another week till we know the results.

we already know, from previous scans, that there is something unwanted on my brain. cancer or dead brain? we can't tell without opening my skull, not something to rush into :-)

so this scan will show something potentially nasty. we still won't know what it is. but...

If it is unchanged then we continue the three monthly watch and wait.

if the something has grown, well... then we consider treatment.

even with treatment... The best result will be more watch and wait.

of course i still worry that i may have more bleeding on the brain, from that nasty knock a few weeks back.

But that, i believe, would show clearly on a scan. and is treatable . though the treatment does involve opening my skull. which at least would allow the surgeon to have a look inside, to check for tumours... which would be very convenient :-)

anyway... I'm a bit tense. with a scan then a week of waiting.

but... There has been progress on my app! Signs that it may eventually work! and that's something to be glad about :-)

.

--

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
...

===


Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)

The word "boobs" is so scary until you get to the second "b". (Alfred E. Neumann

second run

today's run is another 5km, this time in Jurien Bay.

a 15 minute drive then we gather on the foreshore.

the run is on a path parallel to the beach. its a flat and pleasant run. ocean glimpses but mostly the view is of scrub to either side.

2.5km, turn, return. deb says its a bit boring, i just switch off my mind and enjoy jogging.

at one point deb chats to a marshall, says, if i dont appear then im lost. we follow red arrows which are on the left, my blind side.

i reach the same marshall, im slower than deb, the marshall says,

your missus is tied up behind a tree so you can beat her :-) only way i could beat deb!

its a nice event. far fewer people than our usual trail runs. it feels friendlier more intimate, personal, less commercial. a pleasant friendly feel. Allbarnone organise it.

after the run we chat to the organiser, rather, he chats at us :-)

and thats it, runs done. we drive back to the motel. plenty of time to shower, relax, wait to check out. then a two hour drive to get home... unless we stop for caches :-)

a good weekend.

Nick Lethbridge    /    Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting    /   Problems? Solved.
   ===


As Conan says: What does not kill you
does not kill you

round cervantes

the run is finished, we're back at our motel room. ready for a lot of relaxing.

first, morning tea.

we go to seashells cafe, it's in the rac caravan park.

we have iced lattes anda very nice vanilla slice. an unusual vanilla slice. a slight lemon tang, a slightly cakey consistency, delicious.

the cafe has a beautiful view across a small park and the large bay.

the park is called Catalonia. Later Deb finds out about naming.

cervantes was named after a ship that was wrecked. since cervantes is also a spanish author, the town liked to use other spanish names.

we relax over our coffee then, a bit later, go to the lobster shack for lunch.

the shack is large. we share crayfish in a bun. we're still not mad about cray, it's nice but the best part is the mayonnaise based sauce.

we walk along the jetty. the water goes from clear and calm enough to make boating seem interesting, to deep and dark and too scary to consider boating :-) and the wind is blowing strong and cold.

deb has a hankering to visit kangaroo point. all we know is, there's a sign.

turns out the beach is beautiful. calm clear water, clean sand, noone else in sight. we stroll a bit then sit on deep piles of dry seaweed.

we go again to the pinnacles. this time we drive round, much easier though perhaps not as involving.

driving back we go in to hangover bay. it's yet another beautiful peaceful beach but we go there to look for a geocache, which we fail to find.

i get the idea that some cache owners stand on a track and throw the cache into the bush... nice locations but it's hard to find a cache that is just... in the bush.

we visit lake thetis, to see the stromatolites. i think that if only we had some bread we could feed them ... lmao

we walk round the lake. we walk up to hanson bay lookout. we walk and walk... it seems like a lot of walking.

back to the motel.

we walk to the very nearby islands cafe, have breakfast for dinner, no urge to have more seafood...

then back to the motel.

set the alarm for 4:30am. there's another run tomorrow morning.

it's been a beaut day. tiring but very pleasant.

Nick Lethbridge    /    Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting    /   Problems? Solved.
   ===


As Conan says: What does not kill you
does not kill you

Pinnacles trail run

the alarm goes off at 5am.

by 6am we are at the Pinnacles Discovery Centre. it's 12 degrees, fine and sunny with a cool breeze blowing.

at 6:30 the run begins. 5km following the tourist drive amongst the pinnacles themselves.

we've been here before. just once, years ago. that time we drove, this time we jog. along with a hundred or more other people.

it's a one way loop. we loop once and are lapped by several people doing two laps, the 10km run.

for half the loop i keep in sight of deb, then she pulls ahead. and finishes 5 or 10 minutes ahead of me.

there's some of the usual encouragement from other runners. well done mate, good work. near the end one cheerful chap says, nearly there now, you could run to the finish :-) i reply... i'm already going full speed...

on the run... i'm really impressed by the pinnacles. they are lumps of limestone, hundreds of them, standing on the hard sand.

really, it's an amazing sight. i enjoy the run and the scenery.

I'm not quite the last to finish. 46 minutes for 5km. and tomorrow is another run... phew!

now we rest.

Nick Lethbridge    /    Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting    /   Problems? Solved.
   ===


As Conan says: What does not kill you
does not kill you

north to cervantes

we stay slowly. lace home about 11. we're driving to cervantes to stay a couple of days. two hours driving so no hurry.

We stop at lancelin for lunch. nothing great but it's food, good enough :-)

we walk round a bit, checking out the artwork, occasional almost-sculptures up on walls.

we walk up the boardwalk. views over the sea, it it a large shallow bay. some kite surfers... there's enough wind to make it easy.

the view is beautiful. some fancy houses round the bay, on the dowside they are facing into a strong wind.

====

As we drive what we notice most is the horizons. it's so nice to have broad, distant horizons. miles of scrub and sand dunes, not blocked in by buildings or trees. so nice and open, beautiful.

the gps tells us to continue for 149km. that is a sensible size for a state. and we are not even in a remote area. distant views across low scrub with occasional areas of low trees, often near the road, probably benefitting from road run off.

it's a bit harsh, would not want to walk through it but it's beautiful.

mid afternoon, we get to cervantes.

now our big decision is, where do we eat.

we walk round town, suburbia really, checking the sculptures. deb has a map, we find half a dozen, eg zebras crossing... to cut out metal zebras

we're looking for a meal of crayfish, they are caught here off the coast. thing is, neither of us really like crayfish.

we end up back at the motel, Pinnacles Motel, at its ploughman restaurant, we have rather nice barramundi. called crispy skin barra but the crisping failed.

dessert is no choice, coles mud cake with ice cream. very nice but an enormous serve, we share but still leave half. $102 all up with drinks. expensive but a good meal.

now we are relaxing in our room, a standard motel self contained room.

alarm set for 5am, tomorrow we have a trail run.

Nick Lethbridge    /    Consulting Dexitroboper

Agamedes Consulting    /   Problems? Solved.
   ===


As Conan says: What does not kill you
does not kill you

spot the brain fade

i have a complete brain fade. see if you can spot it.

once i have bought a present, i just cannot keep it a secret. i get so excited. i just must mention it.

not so bad with presents for Deb. the presents are always the same, hand cream. same brand, same inoffensive smell. i don't like smelly things. not on me, not on Deb. so for each birthday and Christmas, it's the same hand cream.

this year it's different. i decide to surprise Deb. i think, hankies.

but i want it to be a surprise.

for months, i have kept quiet. i claim that i will get to the shops all by myself. but not a word about my true purpose. which is to buy hankies.

an absolute secret. for months.

today, finally... we are shopping. i need paper, i go to the newsagent, an excuse to shop alone.

into a dress shop. do you have ladies hankies, i ask. no... but try the shop at the end of the centre...

no worries. i leave Deb drinking coffee. i say, I'm going shopping...i maintain an air of mystery.

Deb must guess that I'm after something... but has no idea what. can you find the shop, she asks. no worries, i say, and tap off with my white stick.

Success! I'm so pleased.  On her birthday I'll be able to surprise Deb :-)

i return to Deb. carrying hankies. hidden inn a bag. I'm absolutely full of myself.

any problems asks Deb.

no, i say happily.

i found the shop, i continue. went in, i brag. looked round, i tell deb. asked, i say, do you have ladies hankies.

oh damn.

did you spot the brain fade :-(

no more secret :-(

actually, I'm really pissed off. absolutely mad at myself. months of preparing for a surprise. blown. bugger.

tomorrow I'll laugh. today, I'm pissed.

--

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
...

===


Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com.au/ :-)

The word "boobs" is so scary until you get to the second "b". (Alfred E. Neumann

easily worried

I've done it again. Taken a minor symptom and worried that is a sign of something serious.

I have a minor headache. Less than an ache, more a twinge. Is it, I wonder, a symptom of a fresh tumour? Or, closer to possible, is it a symptom of more blood on the brain? I have no idea. Neither of those came with a headache. But I worry.

The twinge continues. All night and into next morning.

I worry enough that I let Deb know. After all, a worry shared is a worry ... doubled.

All day I twinge. It gets no worse. I think, how long till my next scan. Can I wait that long? Eventually I do nothing.

Almost nothing.

I go for a run. I eat, drink, sleep. Ignore the twinge.

It's now even less than a twinge. Perhaps an area of tension. Definitely not an ache.

I'm now happy to ignore the whole thing. Because, well, what can I do anyway?

I could panic. Scare Deb even more. Give myself a *real* headache :-)

So I continue to eat and drink and, soon, sleep. And feel pretty much as well as ever.

I have better things to do than worry.

I'm still a bit worried. But not enough -- I hope -- to keep me awake. Ans that's something to be glad about :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Yesterday I knew nothing. Today I know that." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

weekend running

Saturday: We go on a Metro orienteering event. Deb navigates, I follow Deb. 3.5km of suburbia. I can't see to follow a map but I see well enough to run, slowly and carefully.

I carry my stick. I think it's worth a chuckle to wave my blind man's white stick while taking part in a map-based sporting event :-)

Sunday: Deb and I go jogging in Bold Park. We go our own ways.

Deb covers 7km, I do 9km in the same time. No, I'm not faster -- I'm lost. I have a broad idea where I am but miss turns that would lead me back to the car.

Not a great worry, the park is surrounded by roads, I can't accidentally leave the park. And Deb can track me with our shared location on GMaps. Not that it's great, it's often ten minutes behind.

Eventually I phone Deb, tell her where I am, she picks me up. Well, okay, where I told her -- I was wrong. It all sorts itself out eventually :-)

My best navigational technique is, keep going till I find somewhere that I recognise (correctly). I do prefer to run in an area that has clear boundaries :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Yesterday I knew nothing. Today I know that." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)

PET scan

I wake up from a dream:

carrying a tray full of food up stairs past a lot of schoolchildren.

I get to the top, reach for some food -- and the other kids have taken most of it, all that's left is a crumb of cake.

Interpretation:

The kids, well... I've been reading Harry Potter with lots of kids at a school. The food and loss of... I'm on a pre-PET-scan fast. I'm hungry.

Amazing how hard it is to go through the usual morning processes without eating anything. The house seems to be full of scraps and snacks. I move food out of sight.

Getting ready to go, I start to tidy up after yesterday's visit by grandchildren... they dropped scraps of biscuits on the floor... I pick up crumbs... food... resist eating them... sigh :-)

I take uber to the hospital, no worries. Spend an hour with radioactive sugar dripping into a vein. The sugar high is not enough to keep me awake, I snooze. Then into the scan room.

I'm wearing shorts. In winter I wear track pants, no zips. I have to shuffle my shorts down to my knees to get the zips clear of the scan. If I'd planned ahead I would have worn undies that were less bright red :-)

It's all very easy. One hour dripping, 30 minutes scanning, ten minutes for the post-scan sandwich, the "free" bonus from the PET scan.

I start walking towards home. It's too far really but it's a beautiful day for walking. The walk is a wind-down to relax. I get 2km then call an uber.

The PET is the scan that covers the body. Looking for traces that the testicular cancer may have spread. That cancer is said to be curable, it's not been seen for a while, the doc claims that this could be my last PET scan.

Later... Deep-ENT reports that the scan report says: Nothing to worry about :-)

So, indeed, that cancer seems to have gone.

Another couple of weeks till the head MRI, a week after that till I get the results for that. Till then -- it's all good :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

...        Agamedes Consulting / Problems ? Solved

===

"Yesterday I knew nothing. Today I know that." ... per Ginger Meggs

Dying for you to read my blog, at https://notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com/ :-)