Edgar's Page

The Man

16/11/2014 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

I have renewed my WordPress Account for a further year even although I am not sure why. I have, for the most part, recovered from my illness although I am having a little bit of a breathing problem, which, I am told, will sort itself out. I also get tired easily and I find that I am quite lethargic and not in the mood for doing much. I missed the last meeting of the RFDS and organized someone to take the minutes. I would prefer not to be going to Adelaide this week, but I have to be there for the Sitting of the Commission. To make matters worse, the Man is not having such a great time. One night I was particularly worried about him and I thought I was going to loose him, but he seemed to settle down and slept peacefully. He did not have a great night last night although he not only had his dinner, we wanted more food, so, I fed him again and he scoffed that too. Here again he settled down and is again sleeping peacefully – well, he snores, so as peacefully as that allows. ///// I was out and Herself telephoned me because she was concerned about the Man, who seemed to be fighting for breath and was in some distress. I left and came home and agreed with her – he was not good and his mouth was blue. I called the Vet and he agreed to meet us at the surgery. He is in some trouble, his heart is not good, his lungs are not good. He was given an injection to try and calm him down and put into a humidifier crib and oxygen pumped in to help his breathing. At the moment it is touch and go and he will be in the crib overnight. Mustapha (the Vet – he’s Turkish) will have another look at him in the morning. It’s not looking good and even if he comes through this episode, it’s only a question of a short time before it will be time -a few months at the most.

We went after lunch and collected him from the Vet. Not a clean bill of health but not too bad for his age. He had a wander around, did some sniffing and settled down in his bed, where he has been all afternoon. He is sleeping very peacefully now – not even snoring. We may only have him for a little while longer but we will try to make it as comfortable for him as possible.

The Man, me and sleepy-time.

11/11/2014 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

The first “real” fire of the season and it claimed a life. A major fire burning north of Port Wakefield was brought under control but at the cost of a life. Is not a good start to the fire season and despite the odd rain, if has been very dry, so it’s not looking all that good. I almost had the best sleep in weeks – almost. He finally settled down just after midnight and I went to bed. I went to sleep and was sound asleep when he decided to start yelping at 6:33 and woke me up.” I could have been a contender – I could have been somebody”- I could have slept until at least 7:15. But no! Duty, in the shape of the Man, called at precisely 6:33am.

Here, in the North, we may not experience the problems that the south has – we don’t have floods and we don’t have serious gale force winds all that often, but we do have major fluctuation in temperature more rapidly here than in the South of the State. A few days ago it was 34c but up here the temperature can drop as much as 12-15c overnight, which means that you go to bed with a light sheet covering and wake up in the wee small hours just about freezing and scrabbling frantically for quilts or blankets. No – it does not happen the opposite way. Temperature rises are gradual – it can drop from 39c – 24c overnight but it wont rise from 26c – 39c overnight – if that makes sense!! At the height of summer the temperature rises to 42+c and can stay there for days at a time- then the major problem for fire-fighters is a wind blowing in off the desert and swinging back and forth in different directions. Arizona would know all about fighting fire and changing wind direction. However, I also have to say that there is nothing in this area that even remotely resembles a forest – or even a large area of trees and the closest I have ever come to a forest fire was when I drove back from Adelaide last year. In Scotland the North wind came screaming in off the Ice-Cap bring cold, ice and snow. Here the North wind is a hot wind blowing in off the desert.

The Man is not having a good day. I fed him his treat and medication this morning ( at 6:33) but he’s crying as if he was in some pain. I understand that he is a bit scared and has no idea what is happening to him, he is blind and can’t see what is happening around him. There is nothing in this world that I want more than to be able to lift him, cuddle him, comfort him and somehow let him know that I will never abandon or desert him and be always here for him. I touch him, and he tries to bite me – I lift him and he screams and struggles until I put him down. He fights and resists every attempt to help or comfort him and at times I just don’t know what to do. The closest I get to him is when I hand feed him his treat in the morning. My recovery is not helped by him yelping at 3am and I have to get out of bed to attend to him and get him back to his bed again. Poor wee thing…

It seems like weeks since I last wrote anything here and I suspect the reason it feels like weeks is because it is. The “Bug” turned out to be a little more serious that we thought and the swabs threw up a few “nasties” – interesting but not dangerous. I am still tired and unable to do much, but I am recovering and I should have recovered sufficiently to be in Adelaide on 19th & 20th November. I will be down for the Commission – which I have to attend. I also have to attend a conference on 6th December and that should be me until mid-February next year. Because of the lack of energy I have not been able to keep up with much of what’s been happening around the place and with the other members of WordPress. I really must try and get on top of things. In the meantime all I can do is quote the words of the Great Mark Twain “The reports of my demise are grossly exaggerated”

Gracie, The Man and a bit of a bug.

30/10/201430/10/2014 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

That was a struggle and even the two of us could not control him. He fought and clawed us every single moment, screamed and yelped in herself’s ear until we finally released him – half done. What was this traumatic experience we subjected The Man to ??? We gave him a bath – or tried to! He screamed and yelled the whole time one would think we were trying to murder him. He needed to be bathed and we did try – we got him bathed but not fully dried. Fortunately it was a very warm day 34c so it was not too much of a problem. He may not be able to bite but there is nothing wrong with his voice or his front paw nails. Anyway, he is reasonably clean now although I was not able to cut away the hair from the front of his face. That’s a job for another day, once herself’s hearing has recovered :o) Because of his lack of sight he keeps knocking over the biscuit bowl and the water bowl, so this morning I went to the hardware store and bought some timber. I will make a platform on which I will place the water and biscuit bowls – not so high that he can’t reach it (about the same height as the platform I made for his food dish) but high enough so that he is not stepping in the water or knocking it over.

As I said in the last post, the trip to Adelaide was good – up to a point. But at least I am not due back until late November, then the first week in December and that’s it until February. We did decide on a single location for the conference and from now on, all meetings will be held at Para Hills, who are willing not only to accept the responsibility but also do the catering required.

Bit of a delay in posting. I have been ill but am recovering now. There I was, standing at death’s door and along comes CDL and does her very best to push me through by using words like, incident, Gracie, Vet and Blood Tests almost in the same paragraph. If the Man had not got trapped in a corner and was yelling for help, I shudder to think what might have happened. Anyway, I am so glad she is OK (Gracie, that is!). Wish I could say the same for the Man. He’s not getting any better, nor do I expect him to, but he seems to be holding on. He still gets trapped in corners and I still have to rescue him. However, he eats well enough and he still has his medication but he is almost completely blind now although he still seems strong enough and gets around – slowly, as long as there are no corners to jump out and trap him. Sneaky things, corners!! Between this and a few other issues, my recovery has not been as speedy as I would have liked. I am impatient particularly with myself when I find that I cannot do things this week that I did last week and will probably be able to do again next week – I want it to be next week now! I have to make an unscheduled trip to Adelaide in about a week. I don’t have to do this now, but the sooner I get it over and done with the better and I can forget about it for another three years. Actually, if I do this now I will NOT do it again – ever. Of course, in order to do this, I need to get myself fit and well.

Watching grass and Conference woes.

18/10/2014 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

The Man’s health is declining but he is not making it any easier to help him. He resists every attempt to be nice to him and help him. I have stopped taking him out with me because I have to watch him like a Hawk – not for his benefit but for mine. He cannot walk in a direct line but wanders about the place crossing back and forth in front of me or so close to my legs that I have to stop. My fear is that I wont see him because of some distraction and it’s me that will go head first into the roadway. Bitumen hurts! I don’t know what to do. He is not the lovable little Man that we knew and loved and that’s a worry. This is like living with a stranger, one that wanders around in circles. Actually, Chienne walks away from him and goes outside and sleeps in the Dog House rather than listen to him yelping. It’s not a question of medication because he is getting the right medication for his age and weight – he is less than 3 kilo. Despite all his problems at the moment, he is still My Dog and it’s still my responsibility to take care of him – even when he bites :o) My theory about that is that when he wakens up from his sleep he has no idea where he is and no idea who I am, which means that if I try to touch him he may well see me as someone who is trying to attack him and responds accordingly. He sleeps most of the time now so we ensure that his bed is as comfortable as we can make it for him.

I did not go to Adelaide as I was supposed to on Wednesday. I wont have the same luxury this coming weekend when I really do have to be in Adelaide. Fortunately my son is coming with me so he can have a turn at the driving. Apart from the Conference I want to get the sleeve for the Hills Hoist, a cleaner for the driveway, some stationery at Koorong as well as some things for my Filofax at Office Choice. John wants to go to the computer warehouse to get the components he wants to build his computer, so all in it will be a busy weekend. Fortunately, things are starting to calm down and I only have three more days in Adelaide – the coming one – one in November and the last one in December. That should be me until February of next year. If I do go to Adelaide it will be because I want to do something or get something there rather than have to – if that makes sense :o) The trouble with living so far away from anything – and being a One Horse State – our shops only stock a limited amount of “sellable” stationery and other things. Anything out of the “ordinary “means a trip to Adelaide or order on line. Much of the things I want for my Filofax, I have to order on line from the USA (Pens & Leather) or from Filofax U.K. I have, however, ordered a new Leather Binder from Holland – a sort of move away from Filofax – but not a complete break since I will use both, the Van Der Spek and the Filofax although it really wont make all that much difference since I will still have difficulties in getting supplies whatever I do.

Spring is being its usual obnoxious self. We were warm and sunny, then it took a turn for the worse and just as we were getting used to the warmth, it was cold and wet and miserable again – rain and high winds. Still, according to the news this morning, Sydney got a bit of a battering. Then, just to keep us on our toes, the forecast for the coming week is warm to hot with temperatures reaching the high 30s during the forecast period. Nice pleasant weather for driving.

It was a good drive down and traffic was fairly light. We drove directly to Elizabeth and John ordered the things he wanted or needed to build his computer Driving into Adelaide I managed to get to the stationery shop and get the things I wanted, then drive out to Bunnings and get the sleeve unit for the Hills Hoist. After booking into the hotel we walked into town and get some other odds and ends. Nice quiet night at the

hotel. The following morning John dropped me off then drove back to Elizabeth to get the things he ordered. Personally, I think he got the better of the bargain for the day. I think I would have had a much better time watching grass grow. I would love not to go there but there is no one else – and that’s not an excuse, it’s a sad fact. John picked me up at 12:15 and we drove home. It wasn’t until after we were on the road that he told me that a couple of people were trying to get him to talk me into staying for lunch – which I will not do. You can judge how much importance he placed on this by waiting until we were on the road home before he told me.

Holes in the Garden and the Man

09/10/2014 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Two trips to Adelaide in two successive weeks – one this Wednesday and the other the following Friday. I have one run to Elizabeth in November for the Commission and one in December for the Conference and that will be me for the year. I don’t have to move out of town until next February. All of this, of course, depending on no medical trips to Adelaide – although I don’t foresee any. I have spent the last few days working in the garage and clearing that out and this afternoon, after a medical appointment, I will get changed and work on the retaining wall. This weekend – as I said earlier – I have four fundraising events for the Royal Flying Doctors. I’m doing the first one tomorrow and I am not looking forward to getting up at 5am. :o). I may leave the back until tomorrow and do some work out front. The Sturt’s Desert Pea is now past its best and looking very scraggy and untidy so I will cut that back. The Desert Rose is blooming well enough but somewhat untidy. I am, however, reluctant to do anything about it at the moment. I really don’t want to prune it just yet.

The flies have been atrocious these last few days and I have taken to wearing a thing for my hat. I think I did mention this once before but they (the flies) were driving me nuttier than I already am. After I cut back the Desert Pea and swept up I put a new bench in the garage and sorted out the old bench, so now I just have oi tidy up the garage and put things away in their new places and I can get back to the retaining wall. In the meantime herself would like me to shift the clothes line to a new location. I told her I’ll add it to my “to do” list, which I don’t think impressed her too much. I will get around to it – in the fullness of time :o) I have actually I’ve had a look at it and I will have to dig up the unit that holds the clothes line in place. That should not do too difficult. It will simply mean getting a new unit and cementing that one in instead. Piece of Celery (I’m not allowed cake) Still leaves me with the problem of the “crazy paving” and that very uneven surface and unless I sort that out she will still have difficulty using that area. On the photograph it looks not too bad but it is only when you get up close and personal that the uneven nature of the stones becomes apparent – and remember I didn’t do this; it was here when we bought the place. I did look into bonded aggregate but that’s very expensive – even to get the resin and the other materials and do it myself. I’ve thought about rubber matting and artificial turf. Not really sure what I can do here but as it is it is too uneven and thus dangerous for Herself to walk on.

The Man is causing concern in that he has loosing his eyesight faster than expected, he keeps trying to bite me when I touch him, but once I survive the attempts to bite and set him down next to his diner, he eats well enough. I still hand feed him in the morning ( and he doesn’t try to bite me then) and slip in his medication. He refuses to use the stroller and he gets very stroppy when I lift him because the walking is too much for him. I put him down because I consider it much safer to have him on the ground than have him struggle too much and fall out of my arm and onto the hard surface of the road, or the hard ground. He still runs around the house and from time to time he bangs into things – including me. He was outside today and we heard him yelping, on and on so we went out to investigate. Now you may remember that herself asked me to shift her washing line and I was in the process of doing just that. The Hills Hoist is fitted inside a metal sleeve which is dug and cemented into the ground. I had dug the hole but with all the new housing being built around the place, the sleeves were out of stock at all three hardware shops. I was talking to herself when we heard the yelping. At first we thought it was just his normal yapping at a blank wall, but it went on so we investigated and found — yes you guessed it the Man had gone into the hole and could not get out. I mean it’s not a great big hole, but he managed to get stuck in it. Anyway, I lifted him out and as a thank you Daddy, he tried to bite me – again. I am so glad he has no teeth :o) We have put a bucket in it for the moment – until such times as I can get a sleeve from somewhere – probably Adelaide next weekend.

Clan gatherings, gardens and vacations

01/10/2014 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Today is a day of extreme fire danger – hot temperatures coupled with a high wind – gusting at 90-110 kph. It’s just gone 06:30 and already can hear it outside. Yesterday I bought the material for the retaining wall along the back fence. There’s not a lot I can really do with this area so I thought a two sleeper high retaining wall, fill the space with cheap gravel until about halfway up, then finish off the rest of the way with good quality, decorative material. I will not be planting anything in there because the soil in this area is not the best, but I do have some nice, large pots that I will use with good, hardy, full-sun plants – Geranium for starters, then probably some native plants. However, it being Sunday, it is unlikely that I will be doing anything today although there is a lunch at the church after the service this morning, which should be good. The family will be over for dinner this evening – sort of like a mini clan gathering.

Lovely day! Hot with a high wind. Adelaide has had serious trouble with wind speeds at 110k per hour – trees bringing down power lines and several houses have been damaged. The emergency services have responded to about 160 calls and some 14,000houses are without power. As far as I am aware, everything up here seems to be ok for the time being but there has been no let-up from the wind all day. Took the dogs out for a walk but the Man got tired so I lifted him and carried him for a little while. He went back down and walked back home. Was not out for too long. I think it best to keep him walking while he still can, but the stroller is there all set up for him when we need it.

I will be in Adelaide on the 8th October at a Committee Meeting of the West Terrace Trust. Dr. Klee Benvenista, of the Adelaide Hebrew Congregation was to make a presentation but it being the first day of the Feast of Tabernacles – Sukkot – she asked to be excused since she will be very busy and will not have the

time necessary to organize a presentation, but she will make one at the next meeting of the committee. I come back from that and travel down a few days later for a Conference. I love Conference – it’s like being being mauled by a sheep in sheep’s clothing. My son is coming down with me on that trip since there are things he wants to do in Adelaide and he can take the car after he drops me off. This coming week we have four fundraising activities for the RFDS – three of which require getting out of bed at 5am to be ready to serve breakfast for the 4 wheel drive adventure club. This is the October long weekend and they will be here for four days. On the Monday, one group will do the 4 wheel club and the other group will do a second fundraiser at another venue.

The retaining wall uprights have been concreted into place and part of the sleepers put in to give some degree of stability whilst the concrete cures. In about three days I should be ready to install the remainder of the sleepers and start filling the space with old, tired gravel and I have already selected the pot plants – and the big red Geranium that I want. In the meantime, whilst the concrete cures, I’ll potter around in the garage for a bit. I was sent what I thought was a test – a one word test – and the word was “Vacation” I was unfamiliar with this word so I asked herself ( no point in going to Google – herself knows everything) and she seems to think it’s a period where you leave where you normally live and travel to someplace else. I thought about this and it seems to me that since I travel to Adelaide – which is away from home – then that must be a “Vacation”. Yup, that works — I think…. :o)

Funerals, Weddings and JFK

25/09/2014 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

So, that's how it's done! — So, that’s how it’s done!

Ron Cairns was a soldier with the 42 Highland Regiment – The Black Watch. He spent time in Malta and Cyprus. As a piper he traveled much of the world with the Pipe Band. In 1963 the band were touring the USA and Canada when they were invited to play on the White House Lawns where they met JFK and the Kennedy family. The President jokingly remarked that he was glad this was a friendly visit because the last time the Black Watch were here they burned the place down. Three weeks later whilst the band was performing in Kentucky, came news of the Assassination of the President. Mrs. Kennedy asked that nine pipers from the regiment play at her husbands funeral in Washington. Ron was one of the men who were chosen. There is, as far as we know, only one of the nine pipers remaining.

So, I have had a fun end to what has been a stressful week. Telephone call this morning at 8am to ask me who is doing the fundraiser for the RFDS. I had forgotten about this and I spent the early morning organizing and making telephone calls – getting people out of bed (popularity- zilch!!) To make matters worse, I was actually down for this one. Emmm – I have a wedding this morning at 11:30 – but I spent from 8:30 to 10:15 running around getting things and people organized. My son is always good value and stepped in to take my place. No excuses, this was my responsibility and I didn’t get on top of it when I should have. Anyway, I left the wedding fairly early, came home, got changed and lay down for a while. I was just so tired. On Friday we were given three more medical appointments- one on Monday two on Tuesday and we ended up with three on Tuesday because she was called back to the surgery late in the afternoon. Her doctor had been in touch with the Kidney Specialist in Adelaide and they are giving her new medication. However, it can have a lot of side effects so she she has to be carefully monitored for the next few days, at least until the medication settles in — My Job! However, they are now certain that the problem is not the kidney but the blood vessels leading into the kidney which causes a whole range of issues. However, once the new medication settles in she should start to feel a great deal better ( Plan A)

I have not been out with the dogs these last few days and very little work had been done outside. The Man is very strange – at times he cries and falls down and at other times he runs around the place like a mad thing. He is still eating well enough although sometimes I have to lift him and place him down next to his food and I hand feed him his stick in the morning by breaking it in small pieces and letting him eat it out of my hand. It’s also sort of sneaky because I slip his medication into one of the pieces.

Since starting this I have been back down to Adelaide and the remainder of the week out of town. I did manage to get the dogs out for a walk before I left and The Man is walking – not well and very slow – but walking. He still sleeps a lot and he is still eating well enough.. Subsequently I have not used the stroller much. Odd thing happened when I was in Adelaide. I was in Rundle Plaza (shopping mall) and a lady stumbled and dropped her bag. Several of us went over to help her and pick up the things that fell out of her bag. I picked up a large, glass enclosed candle, which I did see come from her bag – and handed it to her. She wanted to know why I was handing her this thing because, she claimed, it was not hers and she refused to take it from me. I said it did come from her bag, but she just turned and walked away leaving me holding this glass enclosed candle. No one seemed interested and I spoke to the security people who just shrugged and handed it back to me – so, I brought it home with me. Herself thinks that she had been shoplfting and the candle was part of her haul. Very strange, but I got a Jasmine scented glass enclosed candle out of it all :o) But it just seems very odd – who steals a candle and why? and it did come from her bag.

Hospitals, doctors and Chienne the attack dog.

12/09/201412/09/2014 by edgar62, posted in Garden and Dogs, House

Monday: First hospital visit this morning. This is to her Diabetic Clinic and some tests. Hope we don’t have the same results as last time round BP 235/90. After the clinic we go shopping and I can pick up the Stroller for the Man. – We brought the shopping inside and put everything away then I got down on the floor and assembled the Stroller. It was fairly easy since everything was clip-on and nothing to screw or tighten. No tools required. It’s blowing a gale here at the moment so I wont be taking them out for a little while – at least until the wind dies down a bit. North of South Australia – generally a windy place and going into spring increases the strength of the wind until summer takes it by the throat and strangles it, then roasts us for the next three months or so :o)

The wind died down at about 8:40 so put on a Jacket, put a leash on Chienne and put the Man into the stroller. We only did a short walk and he was pretty good although he did want out at one point and I did bring a second leach with me so that was ok. He needed to pee, but I left him out and walking for a while. It was a bit odd for him but I think he will get used to being wheeled around.

Something I did a while ago was get three inches of foam to place under their bed so that the dogs have something springy and soft underneath their bed. I did this several months ago, so you can imagine my surprise, not to mention my utter dismay, to find the foam had been ripped apart and was scattered across the room. Who is responsible? Hmm, let me think…. The man is weak and sleeps much of the time; he has not the strength in his present condition to do this; he has NO teeth; it certainly wasn’t me, I was visiting friends in the Land of Nod, and it wasn’t Herself, who couldn’t bend down that far anyway – so by process of elimination – Chienne!! Why?? I have no idea. I am not altogether impressed – this week I have so much to do – looking after herself and the dogs, the foam thing was not something I really needed this week. Never mind, worse things happen at Sea – or so I am told :o)

Today – Tuesday – we have two hospital appointments, the first one being for the Kidney Ultrasound in about an hour from now. In a little while I will take her to hospital and then sit and wait and read – I’m doing a lot of reading this week :o). Lunch then back to hospital in the afternoon. The morning session took longer than expected. They did the UltraSound then decided to do a CT Scan as well and they injected some dye into her so now she has to go for a blood test on Thursday afternoon to ensure that the dye has cleared and it has not caused any complications (remote) Two more appointments to go and that’s us for the week. Phew, it’s been a busy week. Actually I dozed off in the waiting room this morning.

Chienne (Chi for short) - The Foam Destroyer — Chienne (Chi for short) – The Foam Destroyer

One appointment today and since it’s fairly early on in the morning we might actually get some time at home. That would be nice. ( Not long after I wrote this we were “Blessed”with two more appointment) The wind, although high, didn’t cause too much damage here but I believe that was not the case in other areas – namely Adelaide and Melbourne – with gusts up up to 130 kph. Nice, interesting start to Spring. Herself came up with a great idea ( knew I kept her for a reason) Cut what is left of the foam to the size of the inside of the Dog Stroller, put it inside a pillowcase and there you have it – his very own foam mattress :o) Gosh, she’s good!!!

I have actually managed to do some work in the garden this afternoon. A sort of quiet before the storm. I have emptied out one of the sheds and moved it (struggle but got there) to a new location- now I am about to go out and put everything back in to it. Had me coffee, back to work !

The Man, Vets and Adelaide again.

07/09/2014 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

I took the Man to the vet this afternoon because his behaviour was causing me problems. I have not said anything on line because y áll had enough problems but I have been exhausted when I get out of bed in the morning and The Man is the reason for this exhaustion and also the reason why I extended my Sabbatical. I have been wakened two, three and four times a night – most nights – with The Man just yelping – I investigate and he is standing facing a blank wall and just yelping, or he is staring off into space and bark/yelping. He calms down and a couple of hours later, he starts again Its ‘been a concern and after a while I do get tired and sleep deprived. Ok what I know, – his arthritis is “progressing” he is going blind, he is loosing his hearing and we suspect there is something akin to a Dog form of Dementia. Mustapha (The Vet) believes that he wakens up in the dark, declining eyesight, scared, not knowing where he is, goes outside to have a wee, and forgets how to get back in – poor eyesight in the dark – gets scared, barks for help, not a lot we can do really other than comfort him and make him feel safe. Well, no! On the way home I stopped off at a hardware store and left him in the car with herself comforting him, and bought two fairly bright night-lights. One I will power on tonight and the other is an outside motion sensor light. I really do know what else I can do. He has a bit of a cough so some medication for that, 10ml of Fish Oil and his arthritis medication. So we’ll see how we go from here. And no, nothing will happen to him. It is not being cruel – he is still much loved and It is my responsibility and my opportunity to repay him for some of the fun we have had together over the last 13 years. Well not strictly true, to say that there is nothing we can do Instead of wheels I have ordered a “Dogger”a stroller for dogs. It should arrive sometime in the next week or so and I will introduce him to it when I get back from Adelaide this coming weekend. Ok, I know I did say that I was staying home until the end of September and generally that’s true, but I need to go be in Adelaide this Friday and Saturday, so back to my little park bench in South Terrace.

The Man has an abscess on his bottom and we have been looking after that. This was also a visit to the vet. We have antibiotics and a saline wash twice a day and rather than diminishing it seems to be slightly larger if anything. I will go on for another few days with the medical treatment, then I will make another trip to the vet. I don’t know what can be done, but the fact that he is old and in decline regarding his health, in not an issue, he still needs good quality vet treatment and I want him to have just that – he deserves it. But somethings are working – he has been sleeping a lot better since the night light. He is sleeping through the night and – importantly – I am too!! Such a little thing, like a night light, has made an enormous difference.

When I get back from Adelaide I will spend all next week running back and forth from hospital with Herself. We have appointments every day, except Friday. On Tuesday she is going for an Ultrasound on her kidney and perhaps from all this we can finally discover why she is loosing blood. I took her to hospital last week and she recorded a BP of 235/90, which she thought was quite ok. She worries me at times.
The drive down to Adelaide was, thankfully, quiet and uneventful and I am now safely in my little Park Bench in South Terrace. Ron was a piper in the Black Watch, Highland Regiment. He was one of the Black Watch Pipers that Mrs. Kennedy asked to play at her husband’s funeral in 1963. Her husband, of course, was JFK. This is an interesting story of itself and sometime I will relay it – perhaps in the next post. As far as we know, there is only one piper remaining of the

pipers who were chosen for the funeral.

Oh, the Dog Stroller arrived on Saturday morning but since herself was out with one of the boys. I was still driving back from Adelaide but the postal people left a note on the door saying that it could be collected on Monday. I will do that and I really do hope this will help. At least it will get him out and about in safety and pain free.

Field Days. Shows and Hospitals

27/08/2014 by edgar62, posted in House, Garden and Dogs

Royal Adelaide Show — royal Adelaide Show

Mid-July and August are the traditional “Show or Field Days” period. I think for America it would be about equal to the State / Local Fair. The Royal Adelaide Show is about on the same par as your State Fair. We have just completed the Eyre Peninsula Field days in which we exhibited the RFDS Aircraft Simulator. This brought a lot of interest and has really proved a great way to bring the work of the RFDS closer to the people. It helps to give them more understanding and adds to what they already know about the RFDS and how it operates. We have had people come into the simulator and tell us that they have been in an aircraft but didn’t know much about it at the time. I had one lady who pointed to the Humidicrib and told her daughter that she spent the first hours of her life in one very similar. Not that the last weeks or jaunts out of town have been associated with the RFDS but I just thought I would mention it since they are just about over and the simulator is on its way back to Adelaide. I Believe it will be a feature at the Royal Adelaide Show.

After a long hard look at the little we have managed to do regarding the vine and associated garbage, we came to the conclusion that our little brush cutters are not really making much of an impression. That being so we called in the services of a gardener and with his better tools, he believes he can have it all out and the ground cleared within half a day. His price to do the job was fairly reasonable.

I was at a fundraiser for the RFDS last night and I have another one this morning and I have to honestly say that for the first time ever, I really don’t feel like it. I think all this running around is starting to catch up with me. That, plus the ton of paperwork that I need to catch up on. The paperwork can be done in fairly short order -it just needs time to get it done..

Can't you let me sleep in peace?? — Can’t you let me sleep in peace??

It’s still cold so the dogs have been sleeping in my room at night. I came home from the fundraiser, put the fire on and brought the dogs in. The man curled up on the second bed with foam underneath it and went to sleep. Chienne did her usual wandering about before she settled down. They slept through until 6am when I got up. They both had their sticks – I hand fed The Man – then they went back to sleep. Half their luck!! Opps, he’s snoring. Never heard him snore before. Must be having a good sleep.

It’s been over a week since I last looked at this and I am pleased to say that the vine and the other stuff has been cleared – well the plant stuff that is. What we discovered underneath everything is that the previous owner – or even before that – had used it as a rubbish deposit. There is just so much garbage behind the garage that he will need to fill a trailer and get it all to the dump – old tyres and metal of all descriptions. It will take a trailer to clear it away before he can even start the new fence.

Most of the paperwork I have completed and have started to catch up on everything. I still think I will continue my “Sabbatical” for another week, or at least a couple of more days before I allow myself to be out of the house. I have one more serious piece of paperwork to get done and I will do that over the next two nights. Actually I have written the paper just need to sort out a couple of things before I send it off.

Oh the joys of it all. Took Herself to the hospital to see her diabetes person and she recorded a blood pressure reading of 230/90. The Practitioner came out to see me and suggested that we go from the hospital to see her doctor – the hospital will phone ahead. Well, did this and her BP was 235/90. Of course, Herself just can’t see what all the fuss is about because she feels perfectly well. Brought her home then took her to the hospital today and her BP was 156/90, which is fairly good. However, Dr. is concerned so he is sending

her for an ultrasound. So much for my quiet, recovering days. Oh well….

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