First mini camping trip with new ankle 44 days post op.

 

Richo bought a new outboard & so we went on a road trip to collect it. Don't need too many excuses to escape my enforced mundane existence. This is where we camped on the banks of a tidal river. We got here late and I was exhausted, after very little sleep the night before my lovely latex bed in the camper was just what I needed. Richo parked on a bit of a slope so my leg was still elevated and I had a good night. Some knucklehead came and parked right beside us at 4 am with his radio blaring at full bore you know that unce oonce music that makes the windows rattle. Tilly wanted to kill him   I was inclined to let her see him off. After 28 minutes he left. Didn't get out of the car didn't meet or talk to anyone. I suspect he may have been inclined to break into our van but Tilly's vocalised objections protected us. This is the delightful view we awoke to. Sea birds, before dawn fisherman embarking on a day trip, houseboats moored beyond the channel. Richo took the dogs for a brisk walk while I prepared a no cook breakfast.

Not our usual fare but bottled OJ & Iced coffee, Greek yoghurt with pink lady apples, drizzled with honey, crusty french bread stick with butter and Latvian Liverwurst was thoroughly enjoyed sitting out in the cool morning air. Portia the 14 year chihuahua dispatched some crows and I thought she was nearly blind. Then we headed off to pick up some other bits we bought and head into Anaconda and Ikea for a some serious scooter action. Of course Richo couldn't keep up (someone had to push the trolley) but I had the best fun, shopping and flying around the big wide shiny aisles. The security guard asked me what propels my scooter and said he thought it must have been a pocket Harley. I feel a lot safer on it than I would a Harley.

A trip through the city at Peak Hour across the Storey Bridge, I told Richo " I'm gonna climb this sucker when my ankles better!!" I' m going to have live to at least 120 years old just to get through my immediate wish and job list! 

And, and where is everyone? Peak Hour on a week day. I love this city. The view from this bridge is especially beautiful at night, you can almost touch the high rise brightly lit buildings on the banks of the river.

I might have overdone it just a tad. By the time we got to Harbourtown there is a sprawling outlet shopping centre with extensive car parks and spread out pathways I was about burnt out. This is the longest time I have spent with my head higher than my leg in about 6 weeks. A quick nap in the car park and off we go again. Found some wonderful kitchen shops and bought some interesting kitchen things to show everyone on our YouTube channel so that's something to look forward to. A late trip home after dinner at a roadside, riverside seafood establishment and back to the usual leg in air position, with a very swollen foot. But today I saw more than my ceiling yay!!

Day 34 post op ankle reconstruction

It's 4am!!!! Sleep is eluding me again!! Yesterday Richo took me to the shops I needed to check

My mail, buy some fresh vegetables and go for a scooter, my house is a labyrinth of hallways and corners. The carpeted areas have plush carpet too thick to ride on properly. I needed to get some speed up. Aldis is ok but if you really wanna race head to Coles, big wide aisles shiny floors and gazoodles of space. So that's what we did. By the time we got home and I crawled on my knees upstairs it was time for the knees in the air position that I have had to adopt for over a month.

Today I'm off to see my surgeon again , this was an Unscheduled visit following my bad report card last week. I had an excuse, a visitor who needed my attention and assistance. The last week has been consumed with my hanging upside down desperately trying to relieve my dreadfully swollen ankle of its booty of fluid.

 My internet failed me and today Richo had to post my new modem back to D-Link under warranty repairs. I must say I am extremely unimpressed! Southern phone my service provider ran a few diagnostic checks and said "It's the modem!" They even made me take my defective modem to a neighbours house to check it against their ADSL, needless to say I was totally incapable of doing this. Southern Phone said " you must do this as we charge you $150 an hour for a technician to attend if it's the modem!" Richo had to wait for the neighbours to come home from work before he could go and impose on them. eventually s- phone buck passed me to d-link who gave me the run around and promptly flicked me back to the ISP.  Like a hot potato I was shuttled back to d/link who by this time had really forgotten their manners, I have no internet, purpose of the complaint remember, they are sending me instructions via email, you mustn't require the internet for accepting emails!!!!!!! Then you have to print said instructions you are totally incapable of receiving and post them along with modem back to d-link. Registered insured post at MY EXPENSE! Now that's customer service at a level I was hoping never to see again. Another 3-5 days until I receive  a new one. That will be 6 weeks without my internet. Now that couldn't come at a better time, me being so busy and active and all. Not happy JAN!!!!

I must remain upside until we leave for the drs another 250km round trip for a 25 minute consultation. I do hope he is happier with me this time. I really have been good this week!

I have only cooked 4 things since I got home. It's killing me. I NEED to get back into the kitchen.

Very pleased to report Dr is happier with me this week. I have been doing everything right. Still 3 more weeks of no weight bearing. Supposed to only be 1 week guess that's because of the wound problems last week. I must be patient !!!! With no tv or Internet and books too hard to read hanging upside down! Come on June!

Cookies & Cream Popcorn

This stuff is amazing fresh popped corn white chocolate and choc cream biscuits. I swear it's THE best way to eat Oreos! Made it for a snack n we gobbled it b4 dinner. FYI that bowl can accommodate 4 hands at once. For the simple video recipe check out our cheekyricho channel. Movie nights will never b the same.

Happy Birthday Bob

It's gonna be a quiet Birthday this year. If I can't rustle up a cake in 30 minutes it isn't gonna happen. That's how long it takes my foot to fill up and start throbbing. 

It's not like you need cake, we will see what we can come up with. 

I hope he isn't going to request his all time favourite meal of Bangers n Mash, I swear this guy could be on death row and his last meal Request would be snags n spuds. 

Enjoy your day Matey hope it's a warm n sunny one.

A little Fairy dropped by.

A young lady read my blog recently and contacted me to offer a sincere message of support. I wasn't aware she even knew of my blog.  She is a very kind sweet girl who has a wonderful sense if humour. In fact her giggle is almost infectious. During my medical rehabilitation she has been emailing me funny skits and jokes she  had found on the net to cheer me up and help pass the time. Her fiancé visited me in Hospital despite my protests and has since visited me at home. 

The other night they called by again. We chatted and laughed and shared a cup of coffee. It was good to see them. I was totally unprepared for what happened next. She had brought a bag full of goodies for my clinically stark bathroom. A Little bath buddy thing filled with Buffy? A bottle of her favourite french perfume, some little pots of Clinique cosmetics, 2 huge bottles of English body moisturiser and bath Gel, which smells like heaven in a pump pack. All gift boxed with a little silk tassle. 

I didn't know what to say, I couldn't say anything.... I was too overwhelmed, here was a lass who doesn't really know me that well, going out of her way to buy such gorgeous gifts to fill the void that someone, who should have known better, deliberately created. This is a happy post. I do not intend to dwell on the painful reason I have been so upset all week. 

Her extreme generosity was unexpected and a complete surprise. I started to cry I couldn't talk, couldn't even say thank you the words of gratitude were stuck, I am rarely stuck for words but this really knocked me for six. She saw me fold and  her excited happiness at have giving me such gifts immediately turned to concern.    She wrapped arms around me kissed my head and said 'ooh wrong emotion! Rewind, this is supposed to make you happy. Just replenishing, just helping make up for what was lost!'  'You're supposed to be happy!'

Composure took a while to return to me. I couldn't think what to say or how to say it. I was filled with gratitude. Something so sweet to emerge from something so raw and horrible.

What an extraordinary act of kindness. I have experienced the extreme actions of 2 completely different people this week. One who was so concerned about my ordeal, she felt selflessly compelled to try and heal me and make amends for the despicably underhanded actions of someone I had trusted and deserved a great deal more respect from.

Human nature is a funny thing. From the gentle, accepting, non judgmental, caring, happy and nurturing.......to the  controlling, self righteous, over self opinionated, obsessed with forcing unrealistic ideals upon people who do not deserve or foster such confrontational and unwarranted attention. I feel extreme pity for anyone who doesn't conform to the latters ridiculous, socially motivated, selfish, immature, unattainable expectations.

Time to surround myself with people and situations that make me comfortable, happy and bring a sense of acceptance and belonging. 

Courtesy, kindness and civility are free and should flow easily and reflect readily from intended recipients. 

The next time anyone feels inclined to attempt to enforce their opinions upon someone else, they should consider the probable far reaching ireversible ramifications that will inevitably occur.

Please, Please, Please think carefully before you act. Some words & actions are permanent.

An old mate came to visit

Emotionally this week has been harrowing. I have a had a visit from a very old friend who is not coping too well health wise. We fed him and took him to see his oldest dearest mate who was in hospital recovering from major surgery. These blokes have been buddies for over 65 years. The visits were filled with laughing and joking and health comparisons. It was wonderful to see the interaction at their reunion. Given their ages, health and distance they live apart, I think their communication will be by phone from now on. 

We had two distinctly opposite experiences at the Gold Coast Airport. On arrival our friend was shaky and frail, using a walking stick and appeared disorientated. He had also accidentally left his wallet and medicine pouch on a seat at the airport while he attempted to call me on his phone. We had previously arranged to meet him at the taxi rank at the exit. He must have forgotten the arrangement. His legs and breath were  failing him and the airport parking security assisted us immensely. We were trying to hurry him into the car to leave but it was in vain, he was Befuddled and clearly incapable of rushing. We thanked the airport security  lady very much for her very kind assistance and compassion. Our friend was calmed, assisted into the car and given a respect he seniority if nothing else deserved. The departure personnel 3 days later were an absolute disgrace. We were not allowed to leave the vehicle to assist him to a wheel chair inside the terminal. He was clearly unable to walk the short distance alone. We didn't need help to get him to the terminal just a little time to make it possible. She was obnoxious and aggressive and demanding we put him on a seat, move and park the car and then help him. He was badly shaken by the woman's officious behaviour. There were no other vehicles waiting to park there. She had ushered us to the furthest parking space which meant several hundred metres to walk to his destination. This was impossible alone and unassisted. Within his hearing she almost shouted "Put him there and return to your vehicle driver!!!!" Not even allowed the courteous time to explain we would remove the car and get back as soon as possible to help him. That 8 minutes it took for  the driver to drive out of the airport back into the parking lot. Secure the vehicle and run back to him must have seemed an eternity. Our mid octogenarian    friend was being hassled onto a plane to another state without the security a couple of moments time would've ensured his safety, comfort and security. Was the woman doing her job? Absolutely! Was it necessary to perform it with such officious over the top obnoxious efficiency? Absolutely NOT. If she lives to the age of our friend I hope no one treats her like she treated us because no one should ever be subjected to such an outrageous indignity, even though she doesnt deserve a shred of compassion herself.