probably boring

Okay, we already know the results of my latest scan: nothing interesting.

Now we have the official word from the cancer doc: "nothing interesting" :-)

It's a phone consultation. Deb asks, What did she say?

Well, I heard, "no sign of tumour growth" and "April" Apart from that, I'm defeated by my deafness and the doc's slight accent.

What else did she say? asks Deb. I have no idea, I'm only guessing that she said something about no change. Oh, and the doc asks how I am? I probably replied fine, fine, as ever. I don't really listen, if it's important I'm sure she'll repeat it. I pass the phone to Deb.

The doc says that the next scan can wait for six months.

All very uninteresting. Which is all good :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

===

Whoever said "fighting never solves anything" obviously never won a fight

Dying for you to read my blog :-)

a fallen woman

After years of clean living (and luck) Deb and I finally have covid.

For me it's like a bad cold. Much the same for Deb except...

Deb does not let something like covid slow her down. Until...

We're in the kitchen and Deb -- slowly crumples and falls to the floor.

I go into mild panic mode. Are you okay? (stupid question). Yes, I'm fine, says Deb. I suspect that she is not aware that she is lying on the floor.

We exchange a few words. Deb saying that she's okay, me not believing it.

Deb stands up, quite carefully, and walks to her usual spot on the couch.

I speak sternly about sitting still. I also have words about her having thrown a cup of coffee all over my trousers.

Our son phones, he's on his way over. Why is he coming over, Deb asks. Because I phoned him. Why? It was either phone him or phone an ambulance. Oh, okay.

Deb says that she's fine, no worries, all good. Ha :-(

Son checks Deb's pulse and blood pressure, all good.

Deb later speaks on the phone to the GP, all very reassuring.

The consensus is that the virus caused Deb to have a little girlie faint.

Later Deb says that yes, she did feel rather bad before the fall.

Being Deb she would not consider taking it easy.

From then on I watch Deb like a hawk. Making sure there is no sign of a wobble. All seems fine again.

As I tell Deb, several times, just one collapse and no-one trusts you any more.

====

Another side-effect of covid: Today I get the latest scan results -- by phone, the doc doesn't want covid in her office.

She's late phoning. Not a worry, we're sitting in comfort at home.

But anyway: Our insider has already told us, my latest scan is as uninteresting as the last. Phew :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

===

Whoever said "fighting never solves anything" obviously never won a fight

Dying for you to read my blog :-)

home again

End of holiday.

Good holiday, good accommodation, easy driving -- for me. Even Deb enjoys it, more space and less traffic than on English roads.

We follow a "sculpture" trail , did I mention this? from Gnarabup Beach, a couple of hours walking.

Deb looks for a walk, reads about it, decides if it's okay for me. I'm well looked after :-)

And the wedding... This is the entire reason for us being in Margaret River.

It is fun.

The ceremony is... good grief, I'd be embarrassed. The words of the bride and groom to each other -- are also embarrassing -- but they clearly mean it. I suspect that the wedding goes -- and feels -- exactly as they want, a beautiful memory for the couple. Including the outdoor location at the edge of the vines in a vineyard. All very nice -- but not my style.

I worry... Does Deb regret the simplicity of our own wedding? We were married in Deb's parents' lounge. I ask Deb, Do you ever wish we had gone somewhere fancy? Without pause for thought Deb replies, Oh God no!

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

===

Whoever said "fighting never solves anything" obviously never won a fight

Dying for you to read my blog :-)

accommodation

We're in a cottage on a winery, Bettanays. It's very nice, quite large for two, very peaceful, no other people in sight, an occasional glimpse of a distant car.

It's also full of fancy mod cons. Press a pedal to open the bin, then it glides closed smoothly and silently. The toaster is button operated. Push a button and the bread glides down for toasting. Another button and the bread glides up so you can see how it's going then it glides back again. Simple, it works, it's fun. (We can still get smoke.)

There's a "pod" coffee machine. I created several cups of hot water before I gave up, now Deb makes fancy coffee for herself.

There's a washing machine -- I'm not even going to try.

There are no fly-wire doors! The whole place is air con. Which is very nice for temperature though a bit drying. I'll put up with dry skin :-) The cottage is comfortable and well located. Well located for isolation (our preference) and for proximity to the places we want to visit.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

===

Talk is cheap — but say the wrong thing to your boss and it'll cost you. (adapted from Alfred E. Neuman)

Dying for you to read my blog :-)

last few days

I'm fairly certain that today is Friday. Because Friday is the day of the wedding that brought us to Margaret River. And we're just back from the wedding. So, Friday.

Though... The wedding is at four pm and we thought it was at six. So who knows...

Some days ago: We walk the "Quenda Trail" from Smiths Beach. A pleasant couple of hours along the beach, along a trail through bush area then a bit more beach. Beautiful weather, beautiful walk. A bit tiring but only because we are (or I am) unfit.

It's nice walking along the beach with the sound and smell of ocean on one side. Nice, but I still prefer bush.

Our walk is a tiny fraction of the Cape to Cape. Deb has done the entire C2C twice with her sister. While we're here we look, we think, time to walk it again? Ha! we wish :-) Just shorter day walks for us, for now...

Today we walk the Sculpture Trail from Gnarabup Beach. There's a comment, "The sculptures will keep the kids amused." Another, "Not as many sculptures as we expected." Well... There is one park half way round, with a few sculptures. That's it. (I think you could drive there.)

However, in the park the main sculpture is man and dog with stick -- very cute -- worth the walk just for that.

And then... the wedding.

I explain to our grandson -- who is getting a bit tired -- that a wedding means a lot to the people involved but can be tiring for others. I do *not* say bloody tedious. I do rather like the words of the bride and groom to each other. Embarrassing but sweet.

It's nice to catch up with a few family members (our family is spread all over the place. I chat, then Deb tells me who that was.

We all go inside for food. I believe there's a food source, I don't see it, Deb and others bring me some snacks, I don't like crowds, I don't like eating in a crowd. Grandson is a bit tired and, perhaps overwhelmed, I sit next to him to offer silent comfort. I don't know if he needs it but I do.

The kids want to play outside, we all follow them, what a relief.

I've not eaten much, Deb fetches me a big bowl of paella, unfortunately it tastes disgusting.

We leave before speeches, in my defence I'm getting deaf and won't know what they are saying. We. get home where I eat some crackers and cheese.

Phew!

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

===

Talk is cheap — but say the wrong thing to your boss and it'll cost you. (adapted from Alfred E. Neuman)

Dying for you to read my blog :-)

catching up

As far as I can tell, tech problems have lost two earlier posts. So, briefly:

Sunday. We drive to Harvey for lunch. Then on to Balingup for a few days at Balingup Forest Heights or something like that. As we arrive my first thought is, Wow this is beautiful. We stay for three peaceful nights. Enjoying every day.

We visit to the Golden Valley Tree Farm where we find and admire our sponsored tree, a silver mallet, E. recta. Brilliant :-)

We walk 4km near Greenbushes. Through wetlands with lots of flowers, all reclaimed tin mine.

We drive to Nannup, a very pleasant place, then on to Margaret River. Stopping for scones and an icecream on the way.

In MR we're in a cottage on a vinyard. Dinner at a crowded pizza place in town. All very nice. It reinforces my view that I would not stay in MR by choice. It's all very nice and classy and I'm not.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

===

Talk is cheap — but say the wrong thing to your boss and it'll cost you. (adapted from Alfred E. Neuman)

Dying for you to read my blog :-)

Fwd: our tree

Golden Valley Tree Farm 

read the sign :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
...

===

If everyone is thinking the same way, then someone is not thinking.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Deb Lethbridge <debleth@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2023 at 4:21 pm
Subject: Tree
To: Nick Lethbridge <nickleth@gmail.com>

balingup

a deb and I are relaxing for a few days. Very pleasant :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper
...

===

If everyone is thinking the same way, then someone is not thinking.

another scan

Another MRI today. Deb drops me off, picks me up, we go for coffee and cake.

The scan is easy enough. We won't get the results for a couple of weeks.

I can't claim that I'm not worried but, not too tense. It's all a bit ho hum. At least until the results are different. Which we won't know for weeks :-)

Deb says nothing but yes, she does worry :-(

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

===

Talk is cheap — but say the wrong thing to your boss and it'll cost you. (adapted from Alfred E. Neuman)

Dying for you to read my blog :-)

do not panic

When you're lost it's vital to not panic. So, when I'm trying to get home from Kings Park -- I do not panic.

I've done this trip several times. With varying degrees of lost-ness. Leave the cafe, follow the track to the main road. Cross the footbridge, walk past the hospital, get to G Block, catch the bus. Easy.

I leave the cafe and fail to find the track. Is it to the left or the right? I go left, a long way, no track. Return, walk past where I started. Find a track.

The track reaches the main road... no bridge. It's the wrong track. No worries, I find the main road. No sign of the footbridge. I cross at traffic lights.

I can see the hospital that I need to pass. I can't see a footpath... I cross various minor roads, carefully, waving my white stick in a defensive fashion.

No sign of G Block. Not to worry, I can follow a road. Carefully. Finally, a bus stop.

Not my usual stop but... it lists the bus that I want.

I use Google Maps, it says -- walk three minutes to a bus stop. But I am already at a bus stop?

I uninstall Maps and wait for the bus, they come every ten minutes.

The bus arrives, no worries, it takes me to nearly the end of our road.

I know to press the stop button when I see the primary school. Then cross the very busy road, head away... and work out where exactly I am. No worries.

I must say, bus drivers and passengers are very helpful.

Yes, I'm lost for most of the journey. But logic and memory tell me which way to go.

It's a lot less comfortable when I'm in a new location with no memory to guide me.

So: close, but no panic :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

===

Talk is cheap — but say the wrong thing to your boss and it'll cost you. (adapted from Alfred E. Neuman)

Dying for you to read my blog :-)

the O Festival is Over :-)

It's been ten days  of orienteering festival -- the National Orienteering Champs -- in WA. Deb is one of the many volunteers, she helps at the Finish on several days. When we volunteer, we always work together, two volunteers for the price of one. This year it's one-and-a-half for the price of one. Plus Deb's sister G, who adds value at one of the events. Plus, G guides me round a course.

She's not a regular orienteer but does very well. No way I could do a course by myself, I follow G. It's great fun to be in the bush and "competing". Then we help Deb in her volunteering role. It's simple stuff, our "help" is mostly to be company.

It does involve hours of standing in the sun, with breaks in the shade. Then an hour and a half to drive home.

I hope it was tiring for Deb and G, it was absolutely exhausting for me.

Deb and I do this helping at the finish at three events on three days. The third day has good shade and it's close to home. With some unexpected entertainment: Competition is finished, presentations are happening on the lawn -- and the sprinklers turn on :-) Everyone enjoys it except the people who have to desperately shelter the computers being used to record results.

The Festival is over, I'm exhausted -- and all I did was hang around.

Now back to normal activities... phew :-)

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

===

Talk is cheap — but say the wrong thing to your boss and it'll cost you. (adapted from Alfred E. Neuman)

Dying for you to read my blog :-)