Year: 2021

Not a good day.

by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

This morning on our daily walk Benji was attacked by a much larger dog. When we are out walking at 06:30 and I see people approach me with a dog, I will move with Benji off the pavement on to the roadway and give the people with the dog room  to pass freely. I also do the same for  Joggers. That is what I  did this morning when I saw the girl with the Alsatian walking towards us. I took Benji off the pavement and on to the road allowing free passage. As they  drew close her dog started growling and  fighting to  break free and the girl was struggling with it. Sadly the dog broke the harness and before anyone could react she attacked Benji. (yes I did find out that it was a ‘she’.)  We managed to get the  dog off Benji and she used  what was left of the leash and tied it to the dog collar. Apart from being wet he seemed to be okay and I ran my hands along his  back and sides and he seemed none the worse for ware. He seemed ok and I was too much concerned to notice that my right hand was streaked with blood. He let me touch him without a mummer so I assumed that he was ok, but I lifted him on my shoulder and the girl got on her way – crying by the way!  I stayed where I was and let her get a fair bit away before I abandoned the walk and headed for home. By the time I walked home with him the adrenalin  in him had calmed down and he was starting to feel the pain. In the house I put him down, and,  with the lights on, I saw the blood on my hands for the first time. I tried to touch Benji and he snapped at me. I knew then something was wrong.

This is the Easter long weekend here and most things are closed down until Tuesday, but I called my vet’s after hours number, got through and explained what had happened. He said he would be at the clinic in 20 minutes and I was to meet him there. He opened the clinic for me and treated Benji. First thing was to shave the areas of the wounds  and having done that, gave him a pain killer injection. We let him calm down for a bit then  washed the wounds with a saline solution. Anyway, he is home here and I have antibiotics to give him and to clean the wound several times each day with a saline solution. Also to keep a close eye on the wounds and if there is any swelling or if they start weeping  I have to

Nice and peaceful on a happier day.

call and take him back to the clinic immediately.

So, that’s been my morning thus far. Benji is very quiet and he is here by my side. He is so quiet and subdued. Just looking at his wounds I feel so bad for him and for me. It looks as if I shall be walking on my own for a little while, which will give me time to work out a new route. “Brainwave”   I just thought in a few days I can take him out again and use the dog stroller, but I will work out a different route – not that there is much to choose from.

On the news this morning a vehicle was stopped  by the police. The female driver was breath tested and blew six times the legal limit. On checking,  the police discovered that the woman had never owned a license. The  car was impounded for a month, she was fined and she was banned for holding a  license for 12 months. Goodness but we know how to sort out those  law breakers. South Australia is still living in the days when a talking to by a Judge and you  never broke the law again.

I went out to the store for some things for Annabell. When I got back home, unlocked the door and walked in, Benji was there, tail going and waiting for me. What a boy!

I seriously dislike Blocks!

by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs
Seems about right.

I had already completed a post with over 800 words and several pictures but a malfunction in WordPress – or me – lost everything. It had gone back to blocks and I tried to get it and load again in Classic and lost everything. I  have no idea if this will survive. Anyway –  What I do remember from the lost post is that I  did recall on seeing an item in the news about a unit that is similar to a pacemaker only this unit is for the brain. Once activated it send signals to the brain and can reduce the trembling of hands as well as other aspects that are associated with Parkinson’s Disease. There was a demonstration on the news  and once activated the difference in the man’s hands and in his overall demeanor  was incredible. The reason I mentioned this was not really to highlight a breakthrough in Parkinson’s  but the fact that the Medical Scientists are looking further and feel with further investigation and development it could  be used to control and contain the effects of epilepsy. That would be some breakthrough.

Apart from a  few days here and there, we didn’t have much of a summer. However, this early weeks in Autumn  have been glorious, mild to warm and sunny – warm and sunny during the day, still warm in the early evening and cool to cold at night and in the morning. Yesterday Benji and I  went for a drive in the car out to Fitzgerald Bay and the Shingle Ridge, from there to the Lighthouse. From there we drove to the Foreshore – which was busy so we went to the Wetlands and had a good walk there. This was followed by Ice Cream , Vanilla for him and Almond for me ( but don’t tell  Annabell)

During the week  I attended a Memorial Service at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Brian, a member of St. Mark’s, was also a good friend to us when we needed help. He died last year but because of Covid-19  nothing could take place.  As of Midnight Tuesday  most of the restrictions in South Australia were lifted and, with some assistance, I have put all the pews back to their positions and removed the seating tags.

Had a telephone call from Flinders yesterday and  the reports from our last visit and not great but not bad. The cancer is still there but not moved nor enlarged. However, we will go back down to Adelaide in about six weeks and spend a few days there,   There will be an investigation of what is happening and  day surgery to replace the units. They will be left in place for six weeks and  if there is no progress  then they will consider chemotherapy.

The weather since the beginning of Autumn has been great – this is the weather that we should have had over summer. Yes we had a couple of heatwaves that lasted a few days each time, but other than that it was not all that great. This weather coupled with the Easter Holidays has people swarming to the beaches and

Part of the Shingle Ridge from the roadway.
The Lighthouse – again.

holiday spots. After church today (Friday) I made sure Annabell was ok then took Benji for a drive in the car. We had a great time and went to Fitzgerald Bay, the Shingle Ridge, the Lighthouse and back to  the Wetlands ( no ice cream) – a pretty busy afternoon and since we went much further along the coast road, this time, slightly different from last time. I drove to the end of the bitumen and  went on the gravel until I was able to turn around and head back. When I go out I always make sure I have my  phone with me. When the hands free speaker tells me I am “disconnected” I will turn back and get my phone. It does this about 100 yards away from the house and out of range. If Annabell were to call me I am only about 40 minutes away from home and can soon be back.

Home for the moment.

by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

We returned home on Wednesday after the unexpected second trip to Adelaide and the day surgery. Although as I said, I did manage to spend some time on Tuesday at the Marion Shopping

The Flinders Lodge

Centre. Now we just wait for the reports and the telephone call to let us know what is to happen next and if, or when, we are due back in Adelaide. When we left the hospital my intention was to push the wheelchair to the train station, get the train back into town and a taxi from there to the Lodge. The  Hospital were not at all happy with this arrangement in that  if anything happened you cannot turn a train around as you can a motor vehicle. So it was a taxi from the hospital to the lodge. Getting home was a concern in that we discovered that several dog toys had found their way into my case. No idea how they got there and the fact that they had Marion tags on them must just be a coincidence.  I’m sure Annabell believed me!!  On the Friday I went to the garage to see what was happening to my car. It seems the initial assessment was incorrect and it was not the ignition system as thought so the replacement was removed and my own system restored. The company called Ford and asked their advice on the problem. They suggested it was a unit that assists the computer to operate and that seems to have broken down – but whatever the reason, it was not working. So a new unit was sent up from Adelaide and to install it required two sets of keys – it also requires two people and the keys must both be synchronized, failure to do so, renders the keys useless and means a new set of keys and the programming and the cost of new keys.. And yes, before you say anything – I figure I might have been cheaper  and probably less stressful getting another car. However, all that aside, I may have my car back on Monday or Tuesday. I am beginning to feel really bad about having this car for so long. I did not think anyone expected it would be this long that I would have the  car.

We were due to go out to a function last night but Annabell was weary and tired and I will not go on my own without her, so I stayed at home. I

The normally placid Nepean River.

worked it out that it was better for me to stay at home and keep her company than have to field all the necessary questions about her health. :o)

Strange kind of day yesterday. I was out walking with the dogs and I thought about what I would write. I would remark that it is Autumn and the day was a very warm and sunny 32c with just the most gentle breeze.  That was in the mid-afternoon. As the afternoon wore on the sky darkened, the breeze became decidedly chilly and next thing we know we were in the middle of a major thunderstorm. Haven’t seen so much rain in ages. There is major flooding in several of the Eastern States and it is believed that the  major fronts are heading in this direction – one from the north and one  through Sydney. And Sydney is in  a bit of trouble in that one of the major dams is expected to overflow.— The dam has overflowed and the staggering amount  of 450 gigalitres will be released. There is talk of an evacuation of Penrith – and that’s serious. Thus far, 18,360 people have been evacuated

Up here there are no rivers to flood and if there is any flooding it will be at the roadways as the floodwater drainage system get overloaded. However, for the moment there is really no serious rain on the  present forecast.  Shortly after lunch I went  by taxi to the workshop and collected my car – all tickity-boo ( all repaired) So it is a happy Monday, now that I have my car back. This afternoon I will take the Toyota,  make sure the fuel tank is full and  then return it  to its owner. Annabell has bought Rene a small gift of Swarovski Crystal  as a “Thank You.”  Without that car we would have been in trouble and would have had to cancel Adelaide. We are most thankful for her kindness.

Return to Adelaide (apology to Elvis)

by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

The trip down to Adelaide (Monday 15th) was again uneventful. Some problems in getting to the Greenhill Lodge and trying to cross lines of traffic on a main road. I am so thankful for Traffic Lights and I was able to do it very quickly before the lights changed. Once I got Annabell attended to I went for a short walk around he area to plan my ” Escape Route” for Wednesday and the crossing of two lanes of traffic on a fairly busy road. However, I do intend to start out at 05:30 so it should be reasonably quiet at that time in the morning. I will get her home and home ad hope this will be the last trip at least several months. I have to say through that this Greenhill Lodge is easier to get to that the Flinders Lodge irrespective of the traffic lane cross. Not quite as good perhaps since Flinders Lodge is newer and more modern, but Greenhill is currently being upgraded and half of the lodge is closed down which is why there were no places available at Flinders this week.

The other problem I have here is that there is only one bed in each room downstairs. There are two beds in each room upstairs, but there is no lift and stairs are just out for Annabell. However, there is a fairly large recliner chair which can make a half decent bed for me. Did that last night (today is Tuesday) and although it was not the best idea, nor the most comfortable, I did get a decent sleep. This morning we get the train out to Flinders Medical and she will be admitted for Day Surgery. I will wander off for a few hours to the large shopping mall at Marion. I’ll spend some time there and then get back to Flinders and wait there until she is ready to go.

Poor Benji – his people abandoned him for three days – then they came back – now they have abandoned him again for another three days. I hope this time, though, we will not have to leave him again for at least three months. Annabell and I have had a discussion regarding this tripping to Adelaide and we believe that the next visit will be the same as this one. We come down Thursday and Friday for tests and examination, go home and come back again on the Monday and we were considering staying down here for the duration. I worked out the costing taking fuel and accommodation costs and meals into consideration and we will be very much cheaper if we go home on the Saturday and return again on the Monday. Annabell expressed concern regarding me and the stress of so much driving. I am quite able to drive to Adelaide and back, every three months.

Wednesday 17th. Left Greenhill Lodge at 05:30 this morning and covered the 330 miles in a reasonable time, allowing for a half hour stop for coffee in Port Wakefield. It was a good drive home, clear weather all the way. Annabell managed to nap a couple of times.

Oh I don’t know with this new WordPress system. I am having difficulty in finding anything and doing anything. Don’t know why they changed it. There was nothing wrong with it in the first place. There must be an alternative somewhere.

Continue reading “Return to Adelaide (apology to Elvis)” →

Adelaide – Back and Forth.

by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs
DSC_2002
Nightly visit by the Cockatoos to Flinders Lodge

The drive to Adelaide on Thursday was uneventful and quite pleasant.  Getting to the Flinders Lodge was fairly easy. Once I had her settled in, I walked up to Norwood and did some shopping. Was interesting walking past  the Norwood Church, which is where we hold the conferences. Anyway, did the shopping and started back to the lodge. I took a wrong turn at the north end of Norwood Parade. Of course, I never get lost. From time to time I have become geographically misplaced, but never lost. Anyway, I made my way back to the lodge, After dinner we had a quiet evening. Annabell read and watched some television and I pottered about on the laptop. Can’t really do a lot since most of the programs I use are not on the laptop.

The Train
The New Station
The Medivac Helicopter

Friday afternoon and a taxi to the railway station. We used the wheelchair and into the station. There was only a short wait before the train came in and we boarded. Spoke to the train driver and he wanted to know if we would need the ramp put out. I said not and we would manage just fine – which we did. The  train journey was quiet and   took us on the extension and up to Flinders within the 37 minutes.   As it happens, I had made a mistake when I was last down. I assessed the distance from the train station to the main entrance of Flinders Medical, which I had walked,  but as it happens, the Cancer Clinic is only half that distance so we arrived in plenty of time. Not that it really mattered because the clinic was running late and it was 50 minutes before she was seen.

Flinders Innovations Clinic

Overall, everything seems to be fine but the Surgeon is unhappy with the progress and would like to see it happen a lot quicker than present. That being the case we will be back down on Monday for Day Surgery on Tuesday and instead of 1 unit they will insert 2 and leave them for three months – we hope. I say hope because although I am very concerned for Annabell.  Travelling back and forward to Adelaide so often in a short space of time is tiring – (650 miles round trip)   The Flinders Lodge is fully booked  this coming week so we are booked into the Cancer Council Lodge  at Greenhill. I’ll have to find out how to get to that one.

Since the computer crash before we left for Adelaide, nothing seems to be the same. I lost  WordPress and I have this program. Not entirely sure what it is but it does say WordPress so I suppose this is it. I am having  problems with it – which is fantastic because what I need right now is more problems, otherwise I might get bored.   :o)  However, it will have to wait until the return from Adelaide this week. Take care all.

Things fall apart!

by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

I used the sroller for just one day. After that, Benji was fine and quite happy to walk. I think, perhaps, he just had a bad day, but it is fair to say that he enjoyed the experience. However, Annabell said that I really have to come to terms with the fact that he getting on in years. If the adoption papers are correct then he will be 11 in October.  I have said  to several people already that my car will not be ready for some time.  I went to the repair place, and the electrician (Auto) has been off sick and from what I saw, not a lot seems to have been done to the car.  I did retrieve  Annabell’s parking permit, which we need.  I will have to go and see the  friends who loaned me this car and  ask if they will allow me to

New Flinders Station
Rundle Mall, Adelaide
Ada Ryan Gardens
It’s been a rough week alright.

take the car out of town –  to Adelaide – since I have to take Annabell to the clinic next week. Driving around town is one thing, driving to Adelaide and back is something different. It’s not something you can just do without asking if it would be ok. As it  happens, it was no problem and  I can take Annabell to Adelaide as planned.

I am taking Annabell to see her doctor this afternoon as a follow-up from the visit to the emergency dept. at the hospital on Monday. I also want a note from him to allow me to  borrow a wheelchair from the hospital for the Adelaide visit – unless, of course, I am forced to cancel it. I should know the answer to that very shortly. The good news is that I will be taking to Adelaide next week. There is no problem with me taking the car to Adelaide and back. This is a long weekend here in South Australia so I will pick up the wheelchair on Tuesday Morning.

I did pick up the wheelchair. Last time I did this it was so simple, not so this time. Telephone calls, forms and  more telephone calls later, I finally signed to accept the wheelchair. At one point I actually went away and had a coffee in the hospital tearoom until the permission came through. Anyway, we have it now.

Today I will get the car packed, last minute arrangements for the boys to look after Benji and tomorrow we set off for her  appointment at the Flinders Clinic. Tomorrow after I get her into the hotel and settled I want to go into town to do  a few things. I am supposed to go to the photography  club this evening, but I’m not sure I will.

Anyway, to bring you up to date, my computer crashed and I lost most of everything. At the moment I have got some things back although not quite what they were. I have also lost nearly all of my bookmarks which were part of Opera. I suspect they are still around the computer some place but I can’t really do anything until I get back from Adelaide at the weekend. Even this is not the way it was. WordPress  is very different from before. I just tried to upload a photograph – that didn’t work too well – as you can see  :o)  LOL I’m not even sure that I will be able to post this – although I expect so. And, NO I am not growling – just making observations.