Emails, Trains and Hospitals

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–*What was it again – ” If at first you don’t succeed, give up before you make a fool of yourself”.  well, something like that. Try number three. I have had no reply to anything I have written over the last few months – not that I have written much – but still…..  However, I think I know what the problem is and although I have tried to fix it, I do not know how. I have said  several times that  the internode address is being cancelled and there is a new email address. A few have  started to use the new address but most have not and I’m not sure if this is working. I warned that soon the internode address will be removed and  be active no longer. This has now happened and internode is no longer active. I have also had problems with  WordPress and instead of simply changing email address they have  decided that it should be a new  person. Actually I have no idea who I am anymore :0)  I think the original page is still active and the people who did change email addresses are getting through. So here we are – Effective immediately: sargon0844@protonmail.com   Please disregard anything that has the old internode address.

I have been spending some time back at Quorn, only this time I am going there for the Steam Trains. This particular photograph was taken at Woolshed Flat and taken from the road since the area is privately owned. I took a number of photographs and decided not to go on to Quorn. I regrated that decision and felt that I would have been able to get closer to the train and the engine at Quorn. The following week, however, I did correct that mistake. I did have son John and Benji  with me. The reason for the  quick return was that the ” Coffee Pot” a small steam  “train” was running. It’s only brought out a few times a year and it is an “Adults Only” unit in that there are no children’s tickets and no concession tickets. The reason for the adults only tag is that there is alcohol on this unit

–  “welcome aboard” cocktails  a three course meal in Woolshed Flat with a choice of Wine. The Coffee Pot was built in 1905, came to Quorn in 1906 and has never left. It is the oldest unit of its type still running anywhere in the world.

The last six or seven weeks I have spent running back and forth to hospitals in Adelaide. John had a tear  in his shoulder that required surgery so that was done at  Flinders Hospital    I took him down, stayed for a couple of days until after the op. then brought him home. Then there was the driving to Adelaide and back to see his Specialist several times before he was admitted to hospital and then  follow up after the ops..  Ten days later  he had pains in his abdomen  and after a scan he was  put into the hospital here. He was here

for two days then the RFDS were called in and he was flown to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide.  Turns out he had gallstones – simple enough, BUT  one of the stones was partly blocking the duct to the liver and that presented problems which could become serious.  If I get these medical things wrong feel free to pick me up on it. I offered to sing to him – Donovan’s  Mellow Yellow – but he was not keen on that idea… That was on a Tuesday and I drove down on the Wednesday. It was suggested that I  don’t need to go down, but that’s not how I view things – I will not leave a family member alone in an Adelaide hospital. I stayed in Adelaide for two nights while he was in the Queen Elizabeth. I was there when two doctors came in  and spoke to him, suggesting that since he had Private Insurance, perhaps he would like to be transferred to a Private Hospital with the chance that the operation might be done quicker. John agreed and arrangements were made to transfer him. Friday afternoon I went home to  see Benji and then come back down  after the weekend. The operation was completed on the Saturday morning and provided all was OK he would be discharged on Monday.

I drove down on the Sunday morning, went to see him  and stayed for a bit then went to my hotel. Monday he was discharged at 11am and  we drove home. He stayed with me for a few days then moved to stay with Andrew before going home. Everything has settled down now and John is back in his Lab again and quite happy. As for me, I am just happy not to have to go  driving so much and so often. Well yes I drive to Quorn but that’s My choice.

I think I wrote some of this in the last post. Some may have read it  since  they were able to use internode, but not any more.  So here it is and please I have been with some of you for so long I don’t want to lose you –    looking forward to reading your posts again.