Year: 2022

Friday April 8th.

Son John has just called me and let me know that he has had a close contact with a person who has tested positive to Covid-19, so he has to isolate until such time as he can organise to get tested himself. I guess that means we wont be seeing him this weekend. The covid cases continue to climb in South Australia and we are almost 7000 new cases per day, and the socialists want to remove masks next week and remove all restrictions. Civil rights groups are taking the  Government to court  for its imposition of mandatory vaccinations for certain job groups, police, teachers and school staff and retail staff. We are in a

situation one week before the end of term that schools are having to close down because there are not enough staff to cope with classes with so many teachers and support staff across the state  testing positive to covid. They are practtically  begging retired teachers to  return to teaching to help them out and get them over the crisis. Perhaps if someone  could give the socialists a good shake to waken them up to the fact that the previous government put the rules in place for a reason – to keep the people of South Australia safe. Up until now it has. Now with the continued increase in cases,  coupled with the removal of almost  all restrictions, SA is no longer the safe haven it was.  Thanks guys!!

Things are strange. As the rain and rainstorms continue to  bomb New South Wales and parts of Victoria with more flooding and  much “re-flooding” South Australia has warm, sunny 30c weather yesterday, 32 tomorrow and 34 on  Monday. After that we may have some rain, but not a lot. That’s good – a wee drop of rain is good for the garden.

On the subject of gardens, I have been taking Benji to the Ada Ryan Gardens most days. In this lovely weather I would like to drive out to the lighthouse or Port Douglas, but we are thinking about  130 klms round trip.  I  filled the car up on Thursday and that set me back $117 so can’t do that too often and drive back and forth to Adelaide. However, the gardens are still looking good despite the fact that a lot of the flowers  have died, but it’s still a good walk  in the shade of the big trees.  It being, as I

said, a warm, sunny day, there were several picnics at the gardens and there was also a jumping castle. The barbecue area was empty but there were long tables set up with food and drinks and lots  of coolers. The children seemed to be having a great time. Benji and I wandered away to the far side of the gardens and  stayed away from that area.. However, I think it is  good that the gardens are being used for what they were designed for more often.

The Boy and I comtinue our walks.In the morning we set off in a kind of half-light that brightens up fairly quickly and  it’s  saylight when we are on our way back.. The evening is dark all the way so I have reduced the distance and the overall time of our evening walk> I don’t think he is too bothered as long as we get out together.

The run down to Adelaide was slow due to the roadworks  and the duplication of the main highway. The drive through Port Wakefield wasn’t all that much better with the bridge works and the access roads still being constructesd. However, what is in operation  is good and has certainly  cleared the deadly intersection that caused so many accidents – and a few deaths. All of this takes time so we are going to be stuck with these dalays and road closures for quite some time to come.  Once we reached the  city I was able to stop off at Officeworks and get Annabell the new computer that I promised her. We set the computer up in  the room for her to have a look at and yes, I did remember to bring a monitor, keyboard  and cables with me. It’s a Lenovo – 16gb Ram with a 512gb hard drive+ 2TB drive. I only took a small(ish) monitor down with us but once we get everything sorted out and set the things up, I will give her a much larger monitor. I did  get her to play with my laptop for a bit before a decision was made – laptop or desktop – and  she was not too comfortable on the laptop- more used to a keybnoard. So, a desktop (Tower) was the final decision..

We only arrived back late Wednesday afternoon and I have hardly had time to stop.  Everything has just been a mad rush since we got back. We also have a tentative date for the next day surgery of  Monday May 16th. Although this is the date we have been given, I’m not too sure about it as the day surgery is generally a Friday = but we’ll see.

We have been home for a week now and already I am starting to organise things for the  three days and the day surgery in May. Had a call from Canberra about a document they want signed. Seems the document is on its way, I get it read it, sign it and send it back  by return post. It has to be there by the 18th April and it’s not here yet. I think Canberra is unaware that the postal service in South Australia is run  by the Pony Express. The clocks went back on Sunday so we are back to normal time rather than daylight saving. Benji got a little bit anxious when he believed I should be serving him dinner, but I compromised and gave him his dinner a bit earlier than normal in the new time. I will slowly work it back to the new time..

Currently there are two Cancer Council Lodges – Flinders Lodge and Greenhill Lodge. Annabell and I stay in Flinders Lodge and that’s where I will book for the May trip. This will probably be for the last time since both lodges have been sold to developers and are currently leased back to the Cancer Council. However, the new Multi-story Lodge should be ready for August/September so that will be interesting. I  will be sad when Flinders Lodge closes since I will miss the nightly visit by the Sulpher Crested Cockatoos.

At the moment it is unsure what will happen with respect to the Commissioner to the State Assembly and the Presbytery. I have been doing this for so long and part of the reason for that is that there is no one else. We don’t have the qualified person to take over. If we fail to fill the position, then Assembly will appoint one of its members to act on our behalf and that person may not have our interests at heart. The position itself is not too great a burden  nor do I mind the driving to Adelaide and back five times a year, but each  trip means two days away from Annabell. That’s what bothers me. It is amazing how your mind-set changes. I am like a yuppie  ( I said “Like”)  I cannot go anywhere without my mobile (cell) phone. I have turned the car round and gone back home because I forgot to lift the phone If I go outside to work, my phone goes with me. If Annabell gets into trouble and calls me I need to get back as quickly as possible. This is why I stopped going to the Wetlands in the morning. My reason tells me that if Annaberll had another seizure. she would not be able to use the phone, I realise this, but it’s not changing what I do or how I think. All very strange.

I am trying to respond to posts but we have gone back  to “your WordPress account has expired” then it deletes what I have written.  So, please understand that I am not ignoring anyone. Not all posts so it’s like being blocked from certain posts. Decidedly strange.

Benji and I are still wandering through the Ada Ryan Gardens.  I  am getting some questions about how I took the photographs of the birds in the Aviary  when the bars are so small – was I allowed inside the  unit just to photograph the birds?  The answer is no, I was not and like all other people I took my photograph outside  the cages. However, there is a way of  by-passing the small squares of the cage and producing a decent photograph.  I have to say that the gardens are looking really good, well kept and looked after. However, I did notify the council about the lack of “doggie

bags” in the main dispenser and the fact that I had to drive to the foreshore and get a few bags from there, then drive back again. Council were good and responded quickly and the  dispenser was refilled. Well, it stands to reason that they would because the Gardens are popular but I have to say that there are people who are  not so considerate of others and refuse to clean up after their dogs. Anyway, went down to the gardens with Benji this afternoon and true to their word, the dispenser is all filled up.

It was an interesting afternoon in that I did not realise that there was a free concert on in the foreshore park and the place was packed – lots of children – not the place for a Benji, so we retreated back to the gardens where it was quiet . Summer here just didn’t happen but

autumn is proving to be really much nicer. The temperatures have been good with just enough  rain to keep things watered and fresh. The only fly is that we have had a State Election and the Socialists won. This means that for the next four years of non-events we will have the Socialists claiming that they were left such a mess by the previous government that they couldn’t keep any of the  promises they made. And in order to fix the mess they left we have to impose new taxes although we said we wouldn’t. Same old, Same old… They have a reputation of continual and reckless spending – some of which our great grand-children will be living with.

Today ( Monday) was shopping day and since Annabell was still not the best, we went shopping in the morning so she could get home and rest. Once all was done and I made lunch I took Benji out for a drive. We drove out to Iron Baron, which used to be a mining settlement.  It was a good 50+ klms from town  and had a good camping ground. I sometimes  went out there and spent the night – usually a Friday night when the  Club was open. Since those days,  the mining operation  ceased, the people moved out. In 2011,  before BHP reopened the mine, the township, school, houses,  sport courts, swimming pool and the Community Club, were all bulldozed –

nothing, not even rubble, remains. Everything was dumped in a large pit at the far side on the mine. People who work at the mine are brought in by bus, or drive in their own cars – 55klms from Whyalla, 48 Klms from Iron Knob – another small mining town.  There is a series of  continious hills of various sizes that begin about 40 miles from here and run  for about 50 miles. They are very

rich in Iron Ore and there are several mines in that area. These are where Andrew heads for when he is on call – most of the time. I have a photograph of my mum somewhere when she was about 17 and ready for tennis,. – probably around 1929/1930

Yesterday was a really nice day for the Iron Baron drive. Today is cool to mild with some rain – not a lot and not really rain, more “drizzle” than actual rain. As long as it stays dry for the drive to Adelaide on Monday coming, I don’t mind too much . We don’t think the visit to Flinders Medical will be anything other than a consultation and an exam and to make arrangements for the next day surgery. At least, that’s what we expect, but you never know…

The Eastern States, particularly Queensland and New South Wales  have been suffering the brunt of Mother Nature’s fury and  it is still raining. Dams are now overflowing adding to the already flooded areas. Some places  where the water had receded and clean-up had started, are now flooded again. Once again there is the blame game and  heated discussions on  flood plains and building houses. From what I remember from geography, large tracts of the Australian Landmass  are classified as “Flood Plains”  including this area  where we currently live.           Why don’t we flood? Well, the levy bank, an extensive storm-water drainage system    and the fact that there are no creeks nor rivers in this area all helps. South Australia is the driest State in Australia.

Thus far we have spent much of this week back and forward to hospitals and spent from 9am to 11:15 am in hospital for tests

and a consultation. To be fair they were not all for Annabell – one was mine. I had to go for a blood test that required fasting – generally not a concern. However, this time: Annabell had to be at the hospital a 9am for an ECG. Anyway let’s go back a few steps.  My  test required fasting, so I  did not eat after 7pm last night (Wednesday) At 7:30 I was at the camera group meeting, returning home around 9pm. I did some work on the computer for a while.  This morning (Thursday) went out with Benji at 6am, made Annabell’s breakfast then brought my dairy up to date. Left home at 8;30 and took her for her test at 9am. The results of the ECG  were taken to Mr. Alam, the Cardiologist. Then it was my turn.  All in we spent about three hours  at the hospital.  I was just a tad hungry having had nothing to eat since last night, so we stopped off at Hungry Jacks (Burger King in the USA) before going home – and yes, we did get something for the boy. He is still looking after his Mum. We go out for our walk in the morning and when we get back, he waits for me to give him his  breakfast treat and that’s the last I see of him. He goes into Annabell’s room and stays, looking after her until such time as she awakes and gets up.

Monday and today (Tuesday) have been relatively quiet. Tomorrow (Wednesday) we head back to the hospital for an EEG and that’s us clear until next Monday when we head off to drive the 477 klms. to Adelaide and her appointment at Flinders on Tuesday. In better times we could have left Tuesday morning and still be in time for the appointment on Tuesday afternoon, but watching the news on Monday night and the traffic backed up for  nearly 10 klms.at Port Wakefield because of the roadworks, Monday is the safer bet.

Much of the flooding  in the Eastern States has started to recede but it is still raining.  Certainly not as bad as it was to create the flooding in the first place, but still rain. We

here in South Australia have had no rain worth talking about although, as a State.  we are still recovering and repairing the damage caused  by our rainstorms a few months ago.  This weekend is the weekend of the State Election, so we have letterboxes full of election   stuff, much of which is taken from the letterbox directly to the recycle bin.

The weather here has been in the mid 30s for much of the last  few days. I still take Benji out and we still go to the Ada Ryan Gardens. As I said before the trees are large and thus the  shade is good for a walk even on the hottest days and there is a dog  watering place as well as a water fountain. The council has provided and maintains the free  barbecues, so at times it can be a

popular place for a fun family outing.  Once in dim dark days beyond recall, we held Sunday School picnics and outings there – we had games, adventure puzzles, food and drink for adults and children, things that the children had to go and find – and always an adult or two went along with them so they were not alone. They were great, fun filled days. Sadly they are now gone and we have no children at all in the church and,  as I said before, we are in decline. and I  think we only have a few more years before we will close altogether. Annabell was the last Secretary of the Women’s Association, which we had to close  due to lack of ladies to take up office positions.

The family still comer for dinner on a Sunday evening. Thus I have my work cut out. Annabell assists ( changed days she assists me instead of me assisting her) and we get through the evening. Connor (Grandson) can be a bit of a pain at times but that’s what children do As I said, I have not poisoned anyone  – yet…

It’s not that I don’t want to write, the  problem is that I have been doing nothing to write about. Well, that’s not really true as you can imagine, but I rather suspect that  you really don’t want  continual posts discussing the health and well-being of Annabell. I have not been going anywhere – except to hospitals and doctor clinics, –  so I have not a lot to write about.  I have kept up my  daily walks with Benji and they are going well. We are still covering  around 33-37 miles (50 – 60 klms) per week. I have made  what turned out to be a major change in  the  walking system – i.e. the position of the Fitbit.

After  the attack on Benji  in Easter 2021, followed by his operation,  I was using the stroller, I complained to my son that  I was annoyed because using the stroller meant that my arm was not moving so the Fitbit did not register steps. My son  suggested that I strap the thing around my ankle. I was a bit sceptical , but I tried it and it worked. However as soon as I came back home and put the stroller away, I changed back to my wrist  and I never really investigated it. About a couple of weeks ago I decided to investigate the results of having it on my ankle and found that in a week I had increased my steps and my distance overall.  I went from 87,000 steps per week on the wrist to 106,000 steps per week on the ankle. But then, there have been a number of doctor and hospital visits this last week and that built up the steps, so it’s not all due to the change of the Fitbit.

There have been serious floods in New South Wales and in Queensland. We have friends in Lismore – which was badly hit. The MacDonald’s own a vehicle workshop and garage and with the impending flood they cleared out the workshop and the office. However, there were two cars that could not be moved, so, they got them onto the car lift and raised it to full. They had predicted a 12 metre flood but what they got was 15 metres. It’s still raining and flooding because the  ground is so  waterlogged the rain has nowhere to go. There was some flooding in Adelaide, but nothing on the scale of inter-state. There is more rain predicted this weekend and parts of Sydney are on alert. Concern has been expressed with respect to the flooding and the fact that a good percentage of the houses in parts of Australia and built of what  once was and is starting to be again – a flood-plain. Annabell agreed about not building on a floodplain until I pointed out that this is where are and that is why there is a large levy-bank running the entire length of the town. In fact, when we had the heavy rain for a few days a month or so ago, the water was backed up behind the levy bank and children ( mostly teenagers)  were  using surf boards to play around in the water.

Summer – such as it was – has ended and we are now into Autumn (Fall)   and here we are in day  5  already. Out of all of this there is a sort of silver lining. The  continual rain has filled all the dams and the water catchment area are over-flowing which means that if after this we go into drought  (probably) we will have more than

enough water stored up to cope better than we did last time, so we can keep the restrictions down to a minimum.

Update on Annabell: She is  reasonably well at the moment. She still gets  very tired and  mornings are not the best time of the day. It is  three months today since she had the seizure and we still don’t know what caused it. All the tests thus far are fairly good but her doctors are still doing tests to try and find out the cause. In  two weeks we head back down to Adelaide for consults at Flinders Medical. She has complaining that her computer is playing up so I will use the time down

there in Adelaide to see about a new computer for her. The current one I think  we got from Noah when he had finished navigating the Ark.

Days seem to merge into one another and there are times when I am really not sure of what day it is.  Fortunately I have my trusty Filofax to keep me sane. I really do need my diary/organizer, for my appointments and to keep track of all  Annabell’s medical appointments. Annabell refers to it as “John’s Brain” and up to a point she is right. Someone suggested that it would be serious if it was lost.

Well, yes and no.. it would be irritating, upsetting, no doubt about that, but not as serious as one would imagine. At the end of the each day I transfer  the contents of the day into  Microsoft Outlook and at the end of each  print everything off so that I have a bound hard copy. Between one thing and another, I have only just  printed off and bound  2021. Normally I would have all this completed but December and January were “interesting” months to say the least.  The garden? Well it was good of you to ask – the flowers are dead but the weeds are doing very nicely, thank you. Getting someone (son) to look after Benji is one thing, but to also do the gardening, is pushing things just a touch  :o)  Never mind, I wasn’t happy with a few things anyway and over the  Autumn (Fall)  I should have the opportunity to rearrange things  differently.  LOL – then it will be time to go back to Adelaide again for the next round…….Ah well, there is always winter. Actually, the only thing that has survived is the Mulberry Bush

We returned from Four days in Adelaide   I partly unpacked, repacked and on Thursday sent off back to Adelaide for a Church Conference, The delays were pretty much the same as they were when we drove down last week. The interesting thing is that the delays were a lot less on the return journey this afternoon (Saturday 12th)

and I made good time.  Benji was at the door waiting for me and  it took me a while before I could even get near Annabell  :o)  For the rest of the afternoon he watched me like a hawk each time I went out to the car go fetch in my bags. It took him a while but he settled down. Later on after things settled I took him to the Ada Ryan Gardens for a walk.

Nothing stays still for too long.  I am currently talking to Annabell and  expressed my belief that my time as Commissioner to the Presbytery and the General Assembly is coming to an end. This, whilst personal on my part, also effects the church and that’s why I have to take Annabell into account before I make any decision.   Like many Traditional Churches we are in decline, a decline that has been accelerating since the onset of Covid. When I was with Annabell in Adelaide,  the Sunday Service here  had a congregation of 11.  Other churches are also suffering and my information is that the L.D.S. ( Mormons)  which was once a full and active

organisation was reduced to 6 members. As the  pandemic decreases we may see an increase in  congregation size as people feel more confident about going out and being with other people. The other problem is that the rules for South Australia require masks indoors and even when singing :  I know that alone has deterred  some people from  attending service, so we may well see  things start to change as the  rules change.  Although, having said that,  I don’t see that happening any time soon. The Sign-in rules have changed for retail so perhaps  the new regulations due out next week will have some new changes in them – the  rules this week do not. There has been more rain and some outback roads are flooded again. The reason being is  that the ground is still waterlogged and the rain has nowhere to go. The police and others have warned drivers  not to drive through moving – over the road – water. It could be stronger than you think it is and the road,  underneath the water,  could be damaged. We are ok down here and the wetlands has benefited from all the extra rain.