Making our way home

My boy is not happy this afternoon.  We left Tasmania yesterday after waiting in line for 2.5 hours.  It took only six minutes to get in position and we were right next to the exit door.  There were some people filming a new advertisement for Spirit of Tasmania but I didn't have my make up on so kept out of their way but you may see a side shot of us both somewhere.

When we were off the ship we made out way to a shopping centre somewhere where there's an Apple shop because Steve's phone has packed in.  We circled the place but couldn't park up because it seemed as if it was all under cover and Steve didn't want to be fannying about with the caravan so we had a nice drive around parts of Victoria that we weren't expecting.

He had to make minor repairs yesterday because he pulled out the electric fittings so as not to use the battery when the engine is turned off while we shopped at Aldi.  Apparently it's my fault he didn't reconnect them because I wanted to stop at Aldi.  We needed food so whether we got it there or somewhere else he still would have pulled them out (and forgotten to put them back in) but I have  broad shoulders and I don't mind him blaming me if it makes him feel less of a wally for forgetting to put them back.

So then, it was another drive around, first looking for a repairer then deciding he could do it himself so looking for Repco/Supercheap Autos etc.,  Found one, bought the bits, did a bit of fiddling and taking bits from the old one to fix to the new one and within 15 minutes we were 'On the road again'.

We're now about 90kms East of Adelaide.  Today's little job for Steve is ascertaining why his special diesel tank in the back of the truck keeps leaking fuel.  

We've met some great people on our travels.  Robin and his wife were at Evandale, they're from Queensland and also there was Chris and Sue.  She has such a sense of humour and we were pleasantly surprised when they pulled into the scout camp at Kingston.

We kept meeting up with Andre and Paula who live in Liverpool.  They came from France over 40 years ago with their son and they have a daughter and grandson now.  They are leaving Tasmania today and Paula is desperate to see AJ.  I know how she feels because I can't wait to see all of our littlies, especially the new one, Harry Patrick Foster.

We spent at least three weeks with our Frenchies, we're a similar age although as usual Steve is the youngest.  Andre took him fishing a few times and we'd all spend time enjoying Happy Hour while Andre told his stories.  I never knew whether to believe him or not.

Flappers

10.4.2013

We’ve been across the top of Tasmania from Devonport to Stanley and also through the mountains down to Port Arthur and everywhere in between.  We’re now in St Helens, which is on the Eastern side, and we’re working our way back to Devonport.  If Tassie was a clock we’re at 4 o’clock with Devonport at 12.  We’ve not been down the South Western side because that’s wilderness and national parks.

The story about the old girl and nearly parking in her backyard happened when we were driving up to Moulting Bay.  The gps said to turn right and there was a sign saying it was a no through road.  When you’re free camping a lot of sites are at the end of roads and to see a no through road sign was no big deal.  However, there was a fork in the road and Paula shot out of their car and took the left hand road and Steve took the right hand side and both came back saying there were houses at the end of each road but Paula’s had a field that we could turn around in.

So, into four-wheel drive and up the road we went.  When we were almost at the top this old bird appears, arms flapping like a distressed swan, shouting that this wasn’t the road to the Bay.  Obviously she was right because there was a house plus a garage and Paula’s field was the back yard, perfect for lots of caravans to park on because it was short grass and level but the flapper said we had to get out and that caravans were always coming up her road.

How hard would it be to have a sign erected at the bottom of her drive, where the street sign is to say it’s not the entrance to the Bay?  Steve started turning around in the back yard and the flapping started again when she told him to take a little track which led to the main road.  Paula was hysterical because as Steve had driven over the crest of the drive the caravan had gone into a plastic marker at the side and Paula was trying to hold it up and straighten it before the old bird noticed it was bent.  I had no idea what was going on behind us because I was watching the old bird.  She was like the Road Runner.

So we’d entered at her front, turned around in her middle and exited through her rear.  (Steve’s words, not mine).

She was short tempered with us but Andre’s French accent calmed her down.

Not quite secrets but stuff that doesn't need to be openly discussed

While we were away last year James’s house was sold.  Later that year Louisa’s house went the same way.  Both sales took about six weeks.  Just before we left for Tasmania we put our house on the market.  That sold in two weeks.  This time we were a tad more organized and had a printer on board for printing off documents from the settlement agent rather than having them posted out to a post office somewhere.

The two houses were between 15 and 20 years old and ours is 6.  There were no issues with those houses and everything went through smoothly.  Can’t say the same about ours.

The buyer wanted a building inspection done and this showed that the roof wasn’t built to code.  The builder said it was and wouldn’t fix it but I turned on the charm and explained we were ‘overseas’ and that we didn’t want to lose the sale and I’d had nothing but good things to say about Summit, blah blah blah and within a few days a crew of roof carpenters had been round and sorted it out.  I have to say that when they were building the house they worked on it every day and we were very pleased with it.

We’ve sold all our properties and possessions.  Actually various people, mostly our daughters, have snapped up the possessions although James is having the washing machine, fridge and other stuff.  To keep our house we would both have had to go back to work in order to pay the mortgage.  If we were both working we wouldn’t be able to travel.  We thought long and hard and discussed with various people and (especially after Steve had experience of his mum’s affairs after she died) we decided to clean up our own affairs now rather than leave it to Louisa, James and Beth to deal with after we died.

Our children have dealt with everything, from packing up the house, to getting the spa removed and the house cleaned.  I’m told that Beth’s garage is full of our stuff, they moved into their new house a few weeks ago and also during this time Paige has been in hospital and Louisa had Harry Patrick Foster on the 2^nd April.

I loved that house; it was the best house we’ve ever owned.  I loved that the living area was so big.  People would walk in and be overwhelmed by the space but we had to be realistic.  Did we really need such a large house that had two spare bedrooms and two bathrooms for the two of us?  It was too easy for any of the grandchildren to stay over; they got to choose their own bed although they usually ended up in ours.  We’d even bought a king size bed to accommodate them and us.

So, from next week we are no longer homeowners.  We leave Tasmania on the 23^rd April and after a trip to an Apple store in Victoria to get Steve’s iPhone sorted we’ll be making our way to Beth’s house.  No definite plan, we hope we can get the caravan in her backyard but we’re not stressing.  One plan is to travel North for the winter and South for summer. 

We haven’t advertised the fact that we’re officially Grey Nomads, living out of a caravan and we’d rather you didn’t mention this on Facebook.   You are more than welcome to leave a comment on this blog.

The next update will be about Andre and Paula and Steve and myself almost setting up camp in an old lady’s back yard and Steve’s fishing plus any other dribbling that comes to mind.

photos to come

A beautiful day south of Swansea, Tasmania.  We are camped up for the Easter weekend, apparently in a place regularly visited by the police.

We sent Andre and Paula ahead to ascertain the spaces available and they sent a message saying there were plenty of spots.  By the time we got here the following day some of the residents had their heavy rock going, loudly and it didn’t stop until 11.00pm.

I’m saying nothing more on that other than I saw an old guy, a younger one and a young woman.  After my reading my imagination is going crazy.

We were sitting round the table with Andre and Paula and a skinny woman who looked older than me and wearing a bra and thong (not a good look as even though she was thin there was a lot of loose skin hanging) and who was drunk came past us.  She’d fallen into the ocean and another lady had rescued her.  Apparently she was embarrassed because she wasn’t fully clothed but she stood there talking to us and swaying.  Andre said later he was frightened to look at her in case she put him off women.

 We’ve been here for three nights and we’ve seen the police twice.  So, it looks as if we could be in for an interesting weekend.

Andre took Steve fishing and they caught three Wrasse

 between them.  Steve made a stuffing with leeks, breadcrumbs, lemon juice, olive oil and chives and cooked them wrapped in baking paper in the baby q.  He left the heads and tails on and they looked awful but they got eaten.

When we were at the scout camp and Steve had the fire going I thought it would be nice to have some baked potatoes so he got two ready, wrapped them in tin foil and put them in the fire.  When we were all talking around the fire he kept checking them to see if they were done and eventually he had a look at them.

Ever wondered where the little charcoal bits that you put on the bbq come from?  That’s just what they looked like, hard and black on the outside and hardly anything worth eating on the inside.  Needless to say, they weren’t worth eating.

We were behind a motor home today which had ‘Free Spirit’ on the back.  We said it was a good sign until we saw the registration number.   

We went to Dunally last week.  We arrived the day they were having a music festival to raise funds for the bush fires.  There was so many people there and we were directed to a field which was full of cars and Andre and Paula. 

It was so sad driving down because the homes were burnt and some of the owners were living on the block, some in caravans and others in tents.

We had fun last night.  Yesterday a pretty large tent went up then a few cars with women and children turned up.  The kids ranged from about nine months old to perhaps 18.  The little kids were so excited and got their places and marked it with their sleeping bags and pillows.  When everyone was in bed it started.  Shouting and swearing from the older girls.  Andre and Paula’s caravan was closest and Andre was looking out of the window.  No point in us doing that because we need to put the contacts in and clothes on and Steve slept through it all anyway.

It went on for about an hour, a mum from further away came to them and tried talking to the most drunken girl, then a guy came up and took one of them away for a walk.  Very exciting times in Tasmania.

Funnily enough, there’s a heap of young men here as well and they started drinking early yesterday but we never heard  anything from them.  Most of the locals bring their boats.  Between them, the caravans and tents there’s hardly room to move.  If there’s a fire its doubtful we’d get out and we’d have to make our way down to the beach.

photos to come

Saturday 23.3.2013

I know, I know and the only excuse is that I’m supposed to be on holiday and taking it easy but when we get messages in the middle of the night asking where is the blog it makes me think that I have to get onto it and tell you stuff.

We’re in Sorell, which is on the eastern side.  Before I forget I have to tell you that nearly everywhere we’ve been there’s lakes and water.  They’ll never run out of it.

So, Sorell is a nice little town and it has a Macca’s which is always a good sign although their Wi-Fi isn’t too crash hot.  We’re camping on the cheap ($21.00 for five nights) with Andre and Paula who we met in Burnie I think.  We kept running into them so more or less decided to travel together.

We’ve visited Richmond, which has the oldest bridge in Australia and a lovely bridge it is too.  There’s ducks and other water birds hovering round.  It also has a bakery where they serve the best coffee we’ve had whilst being in

Tasmania.

We spent a few nights in the scout campground in Kingston.  This was in the middle of the bush and Chris and Sue, who are from Queensland and who we met at Evandale turned up so there were six couples there.  Rain poured from the sky the second night but on the first night Steve made a fire and we sat round it talking.  It was quite smoky and there were thousands of little bugs in the smoke, which we all thought was strange because they usually disappear.

It was in Kingston that I took a tumble and landed on my back.  I’m very aware when I’m falling and it’s unusual for me to drop what I’m carrying.  When I fell over my floppy foot and broke two bones I didn’t drop the cup I had in my hand and this time I kept hold of the stuff I was taking into the caravan.  

Chris and Andre both shot over to help me up.  I just lay there wondering if I was okay and I was.  I could say my pride was damaged but I’d be lying.  I’m just pleased I’ve got this far without anything serious happening to me.

We learnt this week that Paige, who left hospital yesterday after being in for three weeks, has diabetes.  This is part of Cystic Fibrosis.  I’m unable to enlighten you further other than to say it’s to do with her pancreas.  Perhaps when Beth isn’t as busy as she is she’ll be able to type up something and I’ll put it on here.

So, along with all the other stuff Paige has to endure she also has to have insulin injections.  I’m hoping that by the time we get home she’ll be confident about it all and there won’t be any dramas.

Strange how stuff works out:  On Facebook Beth mentions about Paige and diabetes and the very next post is from my cousin’s granddaughter, Gemma, who lives in England and also has C.F.  She’s an adult and she’s just been diagnosed with diabetes.  Out of all the posts that are typed up these follow on from each other.

We went to Port Arthur earlier in the week to see where the convicts were brought.  This place was also the scene of a massacre in 1996 when a guy lost the plot and started shooting people who were in the café.  Not sure how many people died but I was told he got 34 life sentences.  Apparently when the shooting started people thought it was a re-enactment and walked towards the area and they got caught up in it all.  The café is no longer used and the roof has been removed.

There’s almost nothing else at Port Arthur other than the remains of the prison and associated buildings but it’s very tidy and overlooks the bay. The day we went a cruise ship was anchored in the harbour and it seemed that most of the passengers were also visiting.

The following day we went to the coalmine.  I stayed in the car because the entrance is via a walk through the bush.  There were cells that the convicts slept in which were 8’x6’ with no light.

First few weeks

It’s a bit of a worry when you’re parked in the bush and in the middle of the night you smell smoke.  We’re at Lake Mackintosh, can’t actually see much of the lake because the ‘permanent’ campers have got the best spots.   Obviously we’ve not been caught in a fire but my acute senses did smell smoke, Steve says someone had a fire going – I sincerely hope it won’t be going again.  

                                                  

                                                                                                                        

To get to this spot we had to drive over the dam wall.  There’s a sign saying no overtaking which is quite unnecessary as the wall is only slightly wider than the caravan    

The sign over the dam, has been changed by someone

I was in charge of breakfast this morning so I made something in line with my capabilities in the kitchen.  We each had a replacement meal shake.  I came down the step and shook them both and half of Steve’s went all over the place because, again in line with my kitchen expertise I’d not secured the top.  I laughed, Steve didn’t.

I broke another tooth.  I’m thinking it must be an age thing although there are some people who still have their own teeth in their 80’s.  I don’t understand why my health is so bad.

We spent a night at Beaconsfield, where the mining accident happened. 

We also spent time at Evansdale where they have a penny-farthing race but we didn’t stay for that.

Some time ago we saw a program on t.v. about Sheffield where they have heaps of murals on various walls around the town.  They’re really good and it was here that we bought tee shirts for the littlies.

We haven’t done any rushing about.  We’re taking it easy and enjoying the peace and quiet.  We’re here until the 23^rd April when we sail back to Melbourne.  We haven’t discussed what we’re going to do when we’re back on the mainland because it’s so far away.

We have to be back in June or July as I have an appointment with my orthopedic surgeon.  I have to have x-rays to make sure my hips are okay.  If they’re not I wonder what he’ll want to do.  So far this year I haven’t had any disasters, apart from breaking a tooth.  I have to make a conscious effort to walk carefully and take time getting in and out of the caravan because the last thing I want is to fall.

They have sparrows and starlings in Tasmania.  We’ve also been told they have blackbirds and I haven’t seen one of those since the last time we were in England.  I’m surrounded at the moment by big fat bumble bees, complete with yellow stripes, buzzing around.  We don’t have these types of bees in Perth, we have wasps which are referred to as bees but they’re not ‘real’ bees.

Before we left home Steve fitted two tanks in the back of the truck.  One is for diesel and the other for water.  I have a real fear that we’re going to run out of water, even though we carry litres of the stuff for drinking.  I don’t know if it’s because water is so precious in Perth but I do feel a lot better knowing we have plenty with us.

We had a laugh when he went to fill up with diesel when we landed at Devonport because he’d had to use the spare diesel and he wanted to make sure we didn’t get caught without some.  When he was filling the tank a lady asked him what he was doing and she thought it was hysterical and told him there are plenty of service stations to fill up.  When we were getting to Victoria we filled up at every station we passed because you never know where the next one will be.

We also carry a jerry can of petrol for the generator and because you can’t take spare fuel on the ferry Steve gave it to some German boys who were at Inverleigh with us.

Because of the solar we had fitted and the spare water tank we don’t need to go into a caravan park.  Like so many other caravaners of our age we don’t want bouncing castles or playgrounds and don’t like having to pay $30.00+ just to fill up with water and charge everything.  We are now totally self sufficient.  We charge the phones and ipads through the inverter and caravan battery which is charged by the solar.  If we want to do some washing then we use the generator and we also use this when we want coffee from the machine.

Since my hair has grown I don’t use the hair drier so don’t need power for that.

Trees, trees and more trees

New video about, the start of our trip around Tasmania

We've been in Tasmania for almost three weeks and I'm fed up of mountain roads and trees.  Yesterday we went from Queenstown to Strahan on the West Coast Wilderness Railway train, climbing up mountains and using the rack and pinion method (yes, I do understand how it works since they gave us a little model) and then we changed from a steam engine to a diesel.  Not my idea of fun.  I was bored to tears and spent most of the time trying to work out what jobs the various people in the carriage had done before they retired.

Today we felt as if we should be in Italy, driving up mountains with sheer drops on one side, double lines in the middle of the road which some motorists choose to ignore.  Steve pulls in whenever there's traffic behind us which means it takes us longer to get where we're going.  We travelled almost 100ks today.

They have sparrows, starlings and blackbirds here, also big fat bumble bees, Scottish thistles, rose bay willow herb and foxgloves.  I haven't seen any of these for years.  There's lots of bee hives around the place and the bees are very friendly.

The weather has been brilliant, blue skies and sunshine.  We're making our way towards Hobart, we're at Derwent Bridge, parked in the pub car park today and possibly tomorrow.  Yesterday I heard on the news that Hobart is on fire so I'm not in a hurry to move closer to it but we will have to move because I want to do some washing and it wouldn't be a good look to have the washing line out with knickers and socks waving around in a car park.

on our way

Saturday 17 February 2013

Well, here we are in Tasmania.  We had an uneventful crossing, actually there were a few moments starting with being in line for nearly two hours while all the cars and a whole heap of motor bikers got on the ferry but we were told that last on first off which was some comfort.

A few things happened on the boat.  Firstly, even before we got in the shower the en-suite floor was about 2cms deep in water.  Not our problem so we put a towel down so we wouldn’t slip.  Twice through the night I woke unable to breath, I don’t know what that was about.  Steve asked me from the comfort of his bunk was I all right?  I felt blue in the face but being the soldier I am I took, to the best of my ability, deep calming breaths and carried on trying to sleep.

At 3.00am Steve started on the chips, crunching me awake so I had a few to keep me going through the night.

At 5.45am a very nice lady told us we had to get up and be ready to collect the caravan at 6.30.  When we had struggled to get past it (because it’s a tight fit) Steve told me the battery was flat so out came his portable jump starter thingy that we paid a fortune for in Geraldton only to realise that too needed charging.  Fortunately it happens on a regular basis and the lads from the boat came to the rescue and jump-started us and away we went.

 We have no plan as to where we’re going and we have ended up in Deloraine.  On the way here we called into a bakery and had breakfast while we waited for the RAC man to come and start the truck.  We decided we’d take some yummo looking cakes with us but forgot.

The RAC man got us going and we’re now parked in a little area in Deloraine and we’re going to stay here for two nights.  We went back to the bakery today and I told Steve what to buy but he’d been listening to some other conversation and came back with the wrong cakes so he had to go buy the correct ones.  We ended up with 8 scrumptious cakes.

Photo of cakes to come

While we were in Melbourne we had a few moments.  First was when Steve ploughed through a red light with the caravan in tow, strangely enough it changed to red when we got to it and was green by the time we’d got through it.  Then he sallied through a train crossing when the barrier was coming down.  He prides himself on being observant but didn’t notice the red flashing lights or clanging bells.  In his defence he was in an unfamiliar place, trying to negotiate the traffic with me reading my book and being  ‘no help at all’.

11.2.13

Sorry it’s taken so long to update this.  Reception has been a little sparse.

We left as agreed at approximately 7.30 on Friday 1^st February.  We’d spent the night in the caravan because Beth and her family had already moved into the house and Andrew and Beth were in our bed.

I have decided that the country towns do little to enhance themselves ie. Norseman.  There’s only a few shops and they were closed and it was only about 2.00pm that we went through.  I was all for stopping and having a coffee somewhere but there was nowhere to go.

The Nullarbor was interesting – not.  I thought there’d be signs saying ‘You are entering the Nullarbor’ or something on that line but there was nothing other than a little wooden sign to the left of the road which, if I’d been looking straight ahead I would have missed.

I don’t remember where we’ve stayed until now.  We’ve had only one night in each place apart from a few nights ago when we were parked on the outside of the oval and there was going to be a cricket match the following day so we thought we’d support the local team which I think was called Mallala.   It’s in South Australia.  Unfortunately one of the locals told Steve the game had been cancelled so we moved on the following morning instead of staying.

I was so excited because at 8.30pm it was still light and we got to enjoy twilight after all these years in Perth when the sun has disappeared by 7.30.    

Nearly off to Tasmania

The plan is to leave home on Friday morning.  Paige and Beth are coming home on HITH on Thursday afternoon.  We will be packing up the caravan on Thursday, leaving instructions for Beth and Jim about what to do when bills etc., come in.

Steve has made a vague plan of where he wants to stop along the way to Adelaide, then Melbourne before getting on the ferry.  I asked if we could go on the coast road rather than the Nullabor and he said that the Nullabor is indeed the coast road.  I thought it was inland a bit but then again geography was never my strong point.

My floppy foot is improving.  Today I went to the hairdressers and also my dentist, then to Officeworks and didn't have the brace on.  I did really well with my walking until I fell over a guy in Officeworks because I forgot to lift the foot higher than a normal person does.  Fortunately the guy caught me and I didn't actually bowl him over but it is a concern and I really don't feel 100% confident when I'm out.

 I no longer look like white trailer trash because my dentist has fixed my smile with the offending tooth on a dental plate.  I'm surprised at how natural it feels although she did say it was cosmetic only and if possible to remove it before eating.  I had it on the chair arm and Sienna tried picking it up because she thought it was Beth's!   And then, when Steve and I were motoring up to West Perth to see the orthopaedic surgeon I realised I didn't have it in my mouth.

Without

With

When I was at the hairdressers the gay guy who works there turned up and he was saying he'd had botox in various parts of his face, including his lips.  I asked him what it felt like to kiss botoxed lips and he said he didn't know so I told him to come over to me, pucker up and I'd tell him.

Princess Margaret Hospital and Cystic Fibrosis

I recently spent three days and nights in Princess Margaret Hospital with Paige while she had a tuneup. This is when they give her massive doses of antibiotics through her port and extensive physiotherapy for her Cystic Fibrosis.

This picture shows the first port that was surgically implanted. Before she had this each time she went into PMH for a tuneup she had to go to theatre for a picc line inserting.  She's had them in both sides of her neck, her arms and feet.  The veins in her arms have collapsed.  It was quite distressing for her to go to theatre so it was decided to implant a port.  Unfortunately the original one got blocked so she had to have another one put in at the other side.

The antibiotics are in the syringe and the 'spring infuser' pushes it through the tube into her body.  In this photo she's at our house taking advantage of HITH which stands for 'Hospital in the Home'.  Once a day the physiotherapist visits and puts her through her paces.  CFWA also send Denise to do some physio in the afternoon.  Beth and Steve have been trained to do the medication which frees up the nurses to visit other children also on HITH.

Fortunately we're getting a new children's hospital because the existing one is getting old.  Fridges that were donated have been removed from the rooms because of health and safety issues.  Now all food which was previously stored in the room has to be handed to a nurse and put in a communal fridge/freezer.  When we need something out of it we have to ask for it.  Beth waited nearly an hour for her little esky so that she could put some non dairy butter on Paige's breakfast.  Obviously by the time it was delivered the breakfast had been eaten.

We always knew that food in the cafe was a bit of a joke and Steve said that when he went in at 10.00am  on Saturday food which was to be heated up for lunch time was sitting on a trolley in the kitchen, instead of in a cool room.  They talk about health issues on the ward and they are putting all their customers at risk.  Beth came home for a few hours this afternoon and when she went back she sent this message:

'The options of food at the cafe was corn, broccoli and dry boiled potatoes or plain rice.  No sauce or stew or anything for moisture.  That was it!  When I asked for a veggie burger they said they had no bread.  When I asked for the pattie and salad they said they had no patties.  I'm eating a packet of chips for tea.  Bollocks'.

One of my favourite gripes is that nearly every meal which is delivered to Paige is never hot.  There's no use having a go at anyone because they're lovely people, all doing their best for the children.  Since Paige has become vegan she's had some interesting evening meals but breakfast is the same every day:  hash browns and beans.  She eats the hash browns but not the beans.  They also send her Rice Crispies with soy milk but she doesn't like the milk so the cereal doesn't get eaten.  She has a lot of snacks throughout the day, these are usually chips/water melon/other fruit/rice crackers etc.,  They also give her little packs of cheese which she can't eat because it's made from milk.

The reason we stay with Paige is so that we can attempt to correct any problems before they become bigger problems:  When she was having her nebulizer the nurse set the oxygen level but it was too high resulting in the tube constantly disconnecting from the mouthpiece.  The nurse had gone so we had to turn off the machine and Paige actually reset the level to the correct one.

Another time a nurse came in to give Paige insulin.  When the nurse was told she isn't diabetic she realised she'd been reading the wrong notes.  It's errors like this that can cause big problems or even death.

Then we had the registered nurse trying to flush antibiotics through the incorrect line.  Paige had to tell her to use the one which is specifically for flushing.

I am concerned that mistakes continue to be made.  I wonder if the staff are offered additional training in the correct way to carry out these procedures.

Organ Donation and Lungs on Hold

In 1988 when we still lived in England the local Rotary were trying to get donors on the Bone Marrow Registry. Steve and I took the opportunity to give a sample of blood and get registered.

When we arrived in Australia, I don't know how it happened but Steve and I got onto the registry and also on the Organ Donor list.  Louisa and James are also organ donors.

We feel that it's important for bits and pieces that are no longer any use to us, because we're dead, to be available to anyone who is suffering because their bits are no longer working properly.

Personally, I would prefer that my organs not be transplanted into someone who has deliberately abused their body, i.e. alcohol, drug abuse etc., but I'm told we can't discriminate and I'm really quite passionate about donating.  Let's face it, once I'm dead I'm not going to be bothered, all our family know my views and theirs will be the ultimate call.

When Paige was first diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at 6 weeks we were called into the Respiratory department at PMH and during the explanation of what CF is and what was likely to happen we were told that it may be that when Paige is older she may need a lung transplant.

This is the honest truth and I kid you not but immediately Beth said, 'Oh, she can have mum's! '.  I just sat there, wondering how I was going to manage without this very important part of my body.

A few years later Paige and I were talking about organ donation and I said that when she's older she may need a new set of lungs and (just like her mother) she said, 'Can I have yours Granny?'  I'd already asked her consultant if she could have one of my lungs but he said it was probably in a worse state than hers.  We need more people to become organ donors and I'm in the 'lets make it compulsory' camp.  You can't take your body with you when you die, it gets burned or buried, either way it's no use to anyone, if its buried it's taking up space although if its cremated your loved ones can take the ashes and sprinkle them on your roses and watch them spring into life.

Cystic Fibrosis - 65 Roses

Parents of kids who have Cystic Fibrosis have a unique relationship.  These videos are of Joel who I think is a couple of years older than Paige and his sister Jeslyn.

http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=c1fe693e9e5520f9b2843b&skin_id=1603&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url


http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=bd05263101311edb1e8ee7&skin_id=1604&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

Beth met Leelee (their mum) in PMH.  Leelee is a real fighter and stands up for what she believes in.  Jeslyn is a true angel who you can see loves her brother without reservation.  I wonder if she'll be a nurse when she's older.

                                             ******************************

The following link is a movie that Steve made.  The baby is Sienna and the bits and pieces that Paige are putting together were donated by LJ Hooker, Mandurah.  It's a special nebuliser which cost a fortune and takes a very short time to dispense the medication.  She's using a traditional nebuliser in the movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBOj5zyN768

Doing some physio by blowing up balloons.


Steve and I had the back of the caravan covered in the hope that when we're on the road people will check out the website and learn more about this chronic disease which is the most common genetic disease affecting children.

When we're travelling and pull in for fuel we try to take a photo of the caravan with the name of where we are in the photo.  I don't know why we started doing this, possibly so that the CF. Association know that we are indeed spreading the word.

Heart Attack

Today I'm going to tell you about what happened when I had my heart attack in February 2003.  It was a Saturday night and we were eating tea.  Louisa had made salad rolls and mine was really tasty. Strange how you remember the most mundane things.

I'm eating away when my left arm felt strange.  Not pins and needles, just strange, then I started with a sensation in my chest, under my breast bone almost as if there was a rat gnawing away with his horrible teeth.  I had a couple of Nurofen (apparently the worst thing you can take).

We tend not to panic in this house but I did say to Steve that it might be a good idea if we visited the local hospital just to make sure all was well.

Off we went and they put the leads on, did a blood test and an X-Ray and put me into an observation ward.  Everything came back negative so they sent me home.

The next morning we had our children, plus a couple of extras and we were all eating Maccas when it started again.  I'd felt it through the night but didn't panic.  I stopped eating, which is unusual for me and told Steve I didn't feel well and he suggested I go lay down on our bed.

When I was laid there I started sweating and asked for the air conditioning to be put on.  Louisa came in and threw the remote control at me saying she didn't know how to work it and I had to turn it on myself.  Just a little while later I went dizzy and really didn't feel well.  Louisa, James, Beth and various other people all went out to the markets to see if they could get any bargains.

I still didn't realise it was anything serious, it never entered my head to call for an ambulance and I told Steve I wanted to go back to hospital.  He moaned a bit but I really felt rough so off we went.  I told him he'd have to get me a wheelchair because there was no way I could walk and he'd have to park close to the entrance.

He pulled in and went off to find a wheelchair.  There was an ambulance parked at the side of us.  Steve came back and told me there was a queue and he couldn't find a wheel chair.  He didn't say it but he was thinking I'd tell him to take me home.

I didn't and the ambulance people told him where he could find a wheelchair.  When we got inside he went to reception and told them I'd been there the night before with chest pains and I was no better this morning.  The staff fannied about and whilst Steve was talking to another person a nurse came and called my name.  When she saw me sitting on my own and realised she'd have to push me into the department she said she'd come back later and left me there.

Eventually she came back and Steve pushed me to the bed she pointed to.  By this time my dress was soaked through and I crawled onto the bed, she fixed on the leads and within 30 seconds all hell broke loose.  Looking back I can laugh about it but at the time it was very dramatic.  Steve's face was a picture when the doctor told him his wife was having a heart attack.  (guilt).

I don't know how long we were there for but they transferred me to The Mount which is a private hospital in Perth.  We'd got private insurance in 2000 because after I'd had cancer in 1998 I fully expected Steve to have a meltdown and I wanted to have the best care for him.  We'd also arranged good life and trauma insurance but we're still waiting to claim on it because he's too damn healthy.  If he'd have a heart attack or lose a leg we'd get enough money to clear our debts but will he? no he won't.

Stayed in The Mount under the care of a lovely cardiologist who looks as if he should be playing rugby for Australia.  He did an angiogram and the result was that the artery was too small to insert a stent so he dosed me up with medication and told me I'd have to take it for the rest of my life which I'm doing.  I've had follow up tests and they've all been fine.  I used to see him every year and a couple years ago he asked if I knew what had triggered the attack. Had I been upset, arguing, anything at all?  Louisa got married the month after the attack but I wasn't stressed about it so he told me I was unique but we knew that already.

I didn't see him last year, I had the dodgy hips going on.  The year before I'd seen him and I'd been stuck in the waiting room because my knee was locked and I couldn't move.

The pain was not the elephant sitting on my chest.  As I said, it was as if something was gnawing at me and I've had indigestion that's been more painful.  I have to say though that when I do get indigestion I do wonder if it's my heart and still I don't panic.  I have one of those spray things but the first thing I do is have a couple of Rennies.  The pain goes away so it's not cardio and since it usually happens at night I go back to sleep and wake to see another day.

My words of wisdom regarding health are, if in any doubt whatsoever, see a doctor.  I used to think I was a bit of a hypochondriac but it doesn't matter how many visits you need to make, if you're worried take yourself to see a professional.

What shall I write about next?

Jodi Ellen Malpas. This Man Trilogy

I don't do reviews, to me they're a bit like a resume where you write stuff that prospective employers want to read, rather than what you can do ie.  I can competently operate and maintain computer databases/systems and use financial systems to process payments received and monitor expenditure.  I'm able to maintain client records and create effective documentation while respecting the need for privacy and confidentiality.

In other words, I can use a computer, deal with accounts, do the filing and keep my mouth shut.


I read a book by Jodi Ellen Malpas.  It's the first part of a trilogy called 'This Man'. It has some naughty bits in it and it's so good and funny, he doesn't like her swearing and shouts 'Mouth' at her when she's cursing then he has a countdown when she won't do as he says.  I won't tell you what happens when he gets to zero.

I keep tabs on books I know are coming and I saw that the next one 'Beneath this Man' had been released on Amazon UK but not yet on Amazon.com.  Because I'm in Australia I have to get my books from Amazon.com but couldn't find it.  However, I've read enough thrillers and suspense novels to know there's always a back way in and I don't know how I did it but I did indeed find the new book and downloaded it yesterday.

David Kimmerle as Jesse

Oh joy,  I'm trying to read it slowly so that I can really enjoy it but as I'm sure most readers will appreciate, I'm desperate to see how it goes.    

http://www.amazon.com/This-Man-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B009UFDYV8/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1358741004&sr=1-2&keywords=this+man

This is for the first book which is a steal at only $2.99 with approximately 448 pages.


The second one is $5.69 which is another good price
htttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B1WP8T4/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title

Far too often books have only a couple of hundred pages in them.  I can't tell you how many there are in the second book but I'm sure I've seen somewhere that its over 300, perhaps even 400.

Anyway, these are written by a lovely lady from Northampton in the U.K.  We had a bit of a conversation on Facebook, only a few comments because I have no doubt she's desperately busy, keeping her fingers to the keyboard and knocking out another book for us.

Fantastic read, download them now or wait for the third one so you can read them all in one hit.  Steve and I often say we lead boring lives, a bit of fantasy now and then makes up for the day to day living (and certainly perks up the nighttime)!

Books and authors - Aleatha Romig and Maya Banks

I have heaps of books, mostly chick lit' but also crimes and thrillers.  I have to get rid of them.  I don't like lending them out because I'm always afraid they won't be looked after but since we've decided to sell they have to go.  They all look brand new but they've been read at least once by me and perhaps once by one other person.

I went off reading for a while but then so many people were talking about Fifty Shades of Grey that I thought I'd give it a go and mygod, I'm so glad I did because it set off my girly bits with a real vengeance.  Poor Steve was totally whacked because I couldn't get enough.  I honestly thought I had something wrong with me and I mentioned it to the pharmacist who said it had probably just triggered something and to be grateful (which I am, believe me).

Anyway, it lasted about four months and its settled down now, I'm over begging and just grateful when Steve is in the mood.  No more headaches for me although Steve has had quite a few recently.

I have to say that since reading Fifty Shades I've had my eyes opened and what annoys me is that my girls know more about what goes on in the bedroom than me (well they did but not since I've googled quite a lot of it).  They've never told me about this stuff and have years of ignorance.

I bought a Kindle a few years ago and it's great because I go onto the Amazon web site and look at the books I fancy and they can be downloaded within a couple of minutes.  I still go to the book stores to see what's in and make a note of them.  I have over 300 books on my second Kindle (I gave the first to Louisa because it wouldn't fit in my small bag).  I now read the Kindle through the day and the mini iPad in the evening because it has a back light where the Kindle doesn't.

Anyway, whilst trawling through Amazon I came across 'Consequences', followed by 'Truth' written by Aleatha Romig.     http://www.amazon.com/Aleatha-Romig/e/B009SYSSE4

I'm saying no more, other than I am desperately waiting for the final book called 'Convicted'.  Poor Steve has had so many shocks when I've exclaimed, 'Ohmygod I don't believe it!', and 'this is awful', and other such statements.  The suspense is killing me and whilst I converse with Althea through Facebook there is NO WAY that I want to know what happens in book 3.  I will probably taunt myself for a few days after I've downloaded it by not reading it straight away.  I think it'll be a soft cheese and biscuits time, on my own with no distractions.

One of the books I'm saving is 'Colter's Promise' by Maya Banks.   http://mayabanks.com
The 'Colter's books are about three brothers and the woman they share.  They're not smutty, just rather nice.  My eyes have been well and truly opened as I mentioned before.

These are only two of my favourite authors, There's a few more which I'll tell you about later, providing I get a few comments.

Think I may have to change the name of the blog

While we're at home I've decided to treat this as a journal, it's good to sit here typing and getting everything off my chest (such as it is).  I have no idea who reads it because no one leaves a comment but I think it's quite liberating to dribble on and on and on............

Steve and I went to see Beth and Paige this morning in Princess Margaret Hospital.  We took a special tube that we have at home for when Paige is staying here.  She has to have supplement feeds which are high doses of fat to try and keep her weight steady.  A special machine is used which Beth has hired but she's hoping to buy her own, there's one on Gumtree for $600.00 and they're $1700 new. Beth forgot to take the tube and the nurse on duty last night had words with Beth saying that they couldn't keep giving out these tubes because they're expensive and if she already has one then it's a waste of tax payers money to hand out another!

Feeding peg 

We've paid our taxes and it really annoys me that the staff at PMH treat Beth as if she's a nobody but I'm not allowed to say anything or contact them although I did last time when Paige was in because one of the nurses came into the room to give her a dose of insulin.  She told Paige she was diabetic and fortunately she knows she isn't and told the nurse to check the file.  The nurse had picked up the wrong notes!  Honestly, it really doesn't bear thinking about.

The peg goes directly into her stomach

The tube goes from the syringe to the peg.
She looks to have a bit of a muffin top in this photo to the right!  We wish.

I'm going to be talking about books next.

Depression

I'm sinking into depression today, which reminds me that I haven't had my morning pills which does indeed include a Happy Pill (or mental as my daughters call it).  They say it takes 3 weeks for them to be out of your system but my family know within a few days if I've not had them.  I'm not nice when I don't take them.

No, the reason for my sadness today is that I've just calculated how much money comes out of our bank account to pay home loans, finance on vehicles, insurance including funeral plans for Steve and moi etc., etc.,

So, it's unlikely that we'll be staying in the Eastern States when we return to the mainland after visiting Tasmania.  Instead, we'll come home and get the house ready to be sold.  When we're not on the road we're going to live in the caravan either in Beth's back yard or we have some friends who have a lot of land in Pickering Brook and they've said we can go there.  And when we have money in the bank we'll start looking at Plan B with regards to seeing the rest of Australia.

If Beth and her family weren't moving in while their house is being built we could have had it on the market while we're away but I don't think it's fair to ask her to keep it looking nice when there's three kids, a dog and cat and Jimmie living here.

This is Lily, Louisa's daughter.  She used to be referred to as the demon child, I think you can see why!  However, we seem to have exorcised said demon and she's a delight now.

I downloaded the Fifty Shades Trilogy to Louisa's Kindle and a few weeks after reading them she surprised me by telling me she's pregnant with Harry who's due when we're in Tasmania.  For years they had problems conceiving, there was a couple of miscarriages and Matthew was born at 26 weeks and lived for only three hours so when she was pregnant with Lily (and then Adam) we were all anxious in case all was not well but everything was great.

So when we get home there'll be a new baby for me to cuddle.  I just love new babies.  When Adam and Beth's youngest daughter Sienna were babies they used to breast feed which ever baby needed it.  Beth is wondering if she should take some tablets to bring in her milk, she had gallons of the stuff with Sienna, then they can take turns feeding Harry.  Unfortunately I no longer have real bosoms or I'd be wanting to feed him as well, I breastfed all of mine and loved it.

Caravan upgrades

The caravan has had its first service by Kye from Quality Caravan Repairs (0428 897 746).  He's a really great guy and his children go to the same school in Pinjarra that Paige went to before she was registered at Byford.  Both Paige and Charlie will be at the same school this year because Beth and Andrew are building in Byford.  When they move out of the rental they're coming here while their house is finished off.

The reason they're moving to Byford is so that the Hospital in the Home Service, who don't go to Pinjarra, can go to their house instead of ours.   As it is now once she's stable in PMH she comes here and the treatment carries on here.


We've had solar panels fitted to the roof of the caravan.  We should be totally self sufficient now and will be able to do more free camping because we have an extra 49ltr tank for water and another one for diesel.  We always have lots of drinking water which we've never run out of but I panic if we don't have enough to flush the toilet.

Steve went to BBQs Galore last week to fill the 9kgs gas bottle.  They've increased the price from $19.95 to $29.95 so he went to BCF and it was $19.95.

After speaking with a guy when we were away last time Steve went to a place in Osborne Park and bought a new digital satellite finder as the one we had was more trouble than it was worth.  The new one is brilliant and he's got it all wired up and fixed the dish to the same mounting as the spare wheel at the back of the caravan.  It looks really good but it does cover up some of the address for CFWA but this may encourage people to do a search on it.  Once they get into the site who knows what they might find.