Val’s Comments (group member since Aug 28, 2019)

Val’s comments from the Beyond Zon group.

I had a lovely text message from the doctor:

Hi Valerie. All your blood tests are back - they look great. Very good levels of iron and vitamin B12, kidneys and liver working fine, very good levels of cholesterol. Don't change a thing. Kind regards, Dr. A......

I only had the blood taken at 11.00am yesterday and the message came through at 6.30pm today. Good to know that something about me is working!

At last we have a cooler day here. Last night was 24 degrees - and that was outdoors; don't know what our bedroom was. Makes it hard to get a good night's sleep. Today I was back on the medical merry-go-round. Is this what old age means? Constant medical appointments? Last November when I had suspected cellulitis, my daughter bundled me off to her doctor (and I'm glad she did because my local practice - only a 10 minute walk from home - is becoming very lackadaisical) and the lovely young woman gave me a thorough examination, two powerful prescriptions and a referral for a bone density scan. I had the latter down a couple of weeks ago and got an immediate text from the GP to come back and see her. So that's what I did today. It's a 25 minute drive from home but worth it I think. My bone density had decreased by 4% in 3 years which isn't alarming but because of the broken wrist, she now wants me to take further medication. The choice was between a tablet once a week or an injection once every six months. I said I'd try the tablet first. If it does cause me reflux, I can opt out and go for the injection instead. But before I can start on the tablets, I have to go to the dentist because if I should need an extraction (most unlikely as I see the dentist every 6 months and I'm fortunate in that my teeth at least are strong), it must be done before I start strengthening my bones! So that's yet another appointment next week. While there, she also got me to have blood tests for all the usual stuff - thyroid, cholesterol, blood sugar, etc. Luckily I hadn't had any breakfast so I could have the blood taken on the spot without the need for another appointment. But what's the odds that the results will have me summoned again and I have to continue on the medical merry-go-round? Oh the joys of age!

Hi P, I only know of them by reputation which I believe is very good if you're looking to re-create the Pink Floyd experience. I hope they live up to your expectations.

Glad to hear you got the battery sorted P. You need to be able to rely on it, especially with the colder weather and maybe not using the car as much. I feel fortunate mine hasn't died (fingers crossed). I got to the hospital this morning and had my x-ray. I didn't want to drive because I hate the car park at this hospital. So I took 2 trains and a bus. Took me an hour each way but public transport is very quiet at the moment and all air-conditioned. I arrived an hour early at the hospital but they saw me right away so all out, I was only away from home for 2 hours 15 mins. Mind you, in 34 degree heat, I was glad to get home. And, my hospital appointment on Thursday has been changed to a phone consultation so I don't have to repeat the trip and I won't be sitting in the waiting room for an hour or more. The reason for the cancellation is that because of the Omicron wave, our hospital system has gone on to Code Brown - "a nationally recognised emergency alert" whereby staff can be re-deployed to the area of greatest need. I'm not concerned because I don't think the orthopaedic dept can do any more about my wrist. It's regained most of its strength and it's now up to me to follow the physiotherapist's advice re exercises to improve the flexibility.

Hope all are feeling fit and staying out of trouble. My exciting week ahead:
Tuesday: Hospital for wrist x-ray.
Wednesday: Grocery delivery
Thursday : Hospital Orthopaedic Department - hope they give me the all-clear on the wrist....
....followed by physiotherapist - hope she gives me the all-clear on the wrist.
And I may pop into Office Works and recycle my last printer cartridge.
Friday: R & R

Sorry your gig didn't match up to your previous experience P. I don't have anything booked until Feb. The Who's Tommy (saw the film but have never seen it live) - this show was postponed in 2020 and again in 2021 and each time we've opted to continue with the booking and our seats keep getting better and better as others pull out and we keep moving towards the stage. I also have a play coming up - I booked a 10 play subscription to the Melbourne Theatre Company for 2022 (been going for years but most performances were cancelled over the last 2 years). There are 4 other friends going to some of the plays but the first one in February I shall be all on my tod. And, fortunately, masks are mandatory.

It's still hot here. I spent yesterday visiting Daughter No. 1 (and her children aged 3 and 5 months) who lives about 7 miles from here. I'm just getting back into the swing of driving after my broken wrist so it was a decent run. Daughter No. 2 (and her children aged 5 and 3) were visiting so it was good to catch them all together. I still had Daughter No. 2's birthday presents from Dec 29th. I left there about 1pm and drove a further 4 miles to my son's house. They only moved in a couple of months back and previous visits, he picked me up because of the broken wrist, so this was the first time I had driven there myself. I chickened out on using the new road (slightly quicker) because I can't get my head around its twists and turns so used two straight roads and it suited me very well. He and his wife had an afternoon wedding and evening reception so I was babysitter for grand-daughter aged two and a half. She's a delight - sharp as a tack. She asked to watch the Disney movie "Sing" because she likes Johnny "the monkey" (he's really a gorilla, voiced by Taron Egerton). She sang and danced to nearly all the songs - a fine performance of Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off". When Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" came on, she gravely informed me this song was from "Shrek" (which it is). I tried to tell her that Johnny's song "I'm Still Standing" was a song by Elton John but she looked at me very seriously and said "No, Grandma, it's by Johnny". I told her it had been written by Elton and she asked if he was in the film. I explained that he wasn't really in films, that he wrote and sang songs and played the piano but I was met by that look - "Don't try to pull the wool over this little lamb's eyes!" She's a real character but a delight. They didn't expect to get back from the wedding until about 1.00am so I had planned to stay over. But when they arrived at midnight I said I'd be on my way - a cool night, no traffic and a 12 minute journey! It was good to sleep in my own bed.

At 11.45pm it's still 25 degrees here and the week ahead is forecast as 34, 35, 33, 33, 30 and 27 with maybe a few showers towards the end of the week.

A blessedly cooler day here today - 22 degrees today. At least we got a reasonable night's sleep even if we did have the fan on all night and just a cotton sheet to cover us. 21 forecast for tomorrow before it starts warming up again. 35 forecast for the weekend. I had to go for a bone density screening today - what an exciting life I live! Tomorrow's highlight will be the weekly grocery delivery!

We're far too southerly to get up to the 50s (I hope!!). I think we've had temperatures up to 46 degrees (2019) but it's not that often we get over the 40, thank heavens.

All well here as I hope you all are too. We've had a run of hot and humid days (and nights). Some rain about at the moment (thunder and lightning too) but while good for the garden, it's not cooling things down much. Three towns in Western Australia recorded temperatures of 51 degrees C today. Ours was a much more manageable 32.

Oh P! Just what you needed! I hope both you and Mrs P. are feeling a bit brighter today. I wonder if having contracted it, your immunity has been boosted further? That would be a good result and I feel you deserve it. Our numbers here indicate that 1 in 4 people has fallen victim to Omicron. Doesn't make you feel like going anywhere!

I will admit that I gave up on our automated lighting. I found it was quicker to turn on a lamp than to instruct Google (in our case). And I will also fess up that having to rely on an app just gets on my nerves these days. You have to keep updating them and then when you get a new phone, well I just can't be bothered. I have just updated my phone and with my daughter's help, all contacts, photos and apps were transferred seamlessly but I couldn't transfer all my messages. But I was amazed at all the apps that suddenly appeared, some of which were installed on my tablet, some on the desktop computer. I really didn't need them all on my phone as well so deleted many. I have become a dinosaur - I use my phone for calls and texts and QR check-ins (although I can't see the value anymore seeing the message is "you're going to get it, so do the best you can"), occasionally for photos and even more seldom for internet access.

Fingers crossed for you P. Surely 2022 has to be a better year for your family?

Oh Suzy! What a debacle from the care agency. Isn't this what we all pay our taxes for? What happened to caring for people who have difficulties, especially when they're residing in their own home and not being a burden on other services? Do you have any way of lodging, if not a complaint, at least an acknowledgement of their dereliction of duty? It's so hard when you gear yourself up for someone coming to do their job and then you sit twiddling your thumbs all day. Not good enough!

It's 11.15pm here and still 31 degrees outside. I've just been out in the dark watering pot plants and now I'm sitting here with my glass of Harvey's Bristol Cream sherry and a couple of mince pies hoping I'll make it to midnight. I have heard a couple of firecrackers but I think it's going to be a very quiet NYE round here. People are still wary of congregating and the very small public fireworks event in the city centre is an all-ticketed affair. We had our booster shot today (Moderna - thanks Dolly Parton!); my arm is feeling a bit sore but nothing I can't handle. I hope you all have a better 2022 - especially Duke and P who are waiting on results.

Good luck P. I hope all goes well with the MRI and that you have a speedier and more successful result than you had with your son's ex.

Good luck P. What an uncomfortable position she's forced you into!

Morning/evening all. A beautiful day here. Cool enough for me to do some baking. Two lots of shortbread and I got the marzipan onto the cake. Might even do some more tomorrow. The decorations are slowly going up. We're not expecting the family until either Christmas night or Boxing Day and as the 5 grandchildren are aged 5 and under, we like to make the place as magical as possible. there are garlands and tinsel everywhere. Lights out the front, lights out the back, lights in every window! I'm fully on board with Aldi's slogan "you can't overcook Christmas"! I'm glad to see the forecast for Christmas Day and Boxing Day has been toned down to a fine and sunny 21 degrees. Perfect!

It was hot here and the promised thunderstorm didn't eventuate. The coming week should see us in the mid-twenties which will make baking a bit easier.

Wow, what a kick in the teeth that was Duke! I can only imagine your shock. I do hope you get a follow-up sooner rather than later and that the outcome lends you some hope. On the positive side, bowel cancer possibly has a better prognosis than when it occurs in other organs. Also, you have remained otherwise fit and healthy and, as you say, a lot of headway has been made since 1998. I too wish you and your Mum all the best for the months ahead and I hope you are able to keep us posted on how you're travelling. Keeping active seems a good plan if you're feeling well. Take care,
x
Val

Sorry to hear of your dental woes P. It's something you never wish for but you would like to think you could get through the festive season without pain and discomfort. Hope things improve soon.