Monday 26 October 2015

Recovery from Pulmonary Embolism - Part 1

So, it is now 10 weeks and 3 days since my Pulmonary Embolism (PE). I'm in recovery mode and doing o.k I think.

I did have to go back to hospital in the early hours of the Tuesday morning, 18th August. I'd started coughing a bit before midnight, and it wouldn't stop, no matter what I tried. I was getting increasingly short of breath and had a feeling of pressure. I tried water which had usually helped, but not this time. I also had pain under my shoulder blade. My pulse was o.k. but my respiration rate was a bit fast at 25, and the same about 20 minutes later. In the end at about 1:00am I woke Boar and said I was going to talk to someone. I rang 111 (Emergency services number here in New Zealand) and before I was off the phone a rapid response vehicle was at the bottom of the drive! They were at the base in Johnsonville only a few minutes away. An ambulance was there soon after and I was taken into ED. Boar followed in the car.

What I didn't know till the next day was that Locket had heard the commotion and was sitting at the top of the stairs listening . . . poor girl. She said she knew I was o.k because she could hear me talking. She came down after Boar left to check the front door was locked and turn off the lights.

I was admitted to the Short Stay Unit around 5am and they kept me in for most of the day. It turns out that when the clot is breaking apart sometimes a piece gets stuck in the smaller vessels, causing irritation hence the coughing, and also a pleural rub - which is when the two layers of the lung rub together. There is a better description here. It was what was causing the pain.

I left the hospital around 5pm when Boar got off work and was able to pick me up. Brains and Locket came as well. They got me a wheelchair as walking was still a bit of an issue. Since there was a pretty cold wind I got Locket to run into the house when we got home and get my scarf  which I wrapped over my nose and mouth, as I'd found cold air didn't help and would start me coughing. Then it was up to the house. The only way to do this was slowly as there is a path up to the house and some steps. So I walked 5 steps and rested. And again . . . and again . . . until I was in the house. Mission accomplished!  :D

I took it pretty quietly for a few days and anyone who came to visit was greeted by me in my PJs and dressing gown. We were brought meals and my Life Group from NBC brought a whole heap of food to us, which made a lot of meals. So thanks a lot to everyone who helped out  :)

My first big day out was on Saturday. By then I was able to walk around the house pretty well, though still not quickly, and had even ventured upstairs! Up three stairs, rest . . . and repeat till I got to the top. Mainly to see if I could.

I got Boar to drive me out to Porirua to a couple of the shops. I managed o.k, but was tired by the time I got home. I saw some coasters I liked and so bought four . . . just because I wanted to.





They make me smile  :)

Friends were great at getting Brains and Lucy to and from dance which was a great help. I took it fairly quietly the following week however I did sew as I needed to get some dresses finished for Mrs C who was going to Fiji on the Saturday. They got done and delivered the day before she left!

The day before that was the first time I'd driven the car since my PE. I took Locket to dance and came straight home. I found I had to concentrate really hard, much more than usual. The short 10 minutes there and the same back was more than enough for a first outing! I did it as a test drive as Brains had an appointment I needed to take him to the next day. So I needed to drive for that.

The following week I took Pa to an appointment and also had my first follow-up appointment after the PE at the VTE clinic (Venous thromboembolism). It was a long and very thorough appointment! I had to have some blood tests done and also arrange to have a mammogram, plus there was another scan the consultant ordered - CT Colonography. Basically a scan of your gut and pelvis.

I was working through that week and weekend on a sewing job for a client and delivered it the following Monday. That night I got a call from Chuckles and Butcher. One of Butcher's best mate's wee son had passed away at only 18 months old. It was devastating news. I agreed to look after Half-pint and Lil Battler so they could go to the funeral. In the end Brains and Locket looked after the two boys as P had said it would be fine for me to go to the funeral. It was a beautiful, but very sad, service. They always are for wee ones  :(

I went for a short walk on the Tuesday - It was a flat easy stroll. 5 minutes one way and 5 - 6 minutes back. My first walk since the PE. I really enjoyed it but even though I took it really slowly I still found I was coughing by the time I got back to the car. It happens when I walk too far, or talk too long!


It was a lovely day and so I snapped a few photos of the calm sea at Oriental Parade.


I saw the small yacht and the ferry were going to pass and so decided to take a coupe of shots as the ferry dwarfs the yacht! It didn't take long for them to pass.


I managed to catch them just as they passed. By the time I clicked again they'd gone past each other.

Another thing that happened was Ma & Pa's 60th Wedding Anniversary celebration. It was held at Johnsonvale Rest Home where ma lives as Ma is not able to go anywhere these days. I had organised it - but in the end I couldn't go. I had a flu bug a couple of weeks before, and then came down with another virus bug that had me coughing a lot. Coughs and sneezes are not welcome at the rest home and so I stayed away. A good afternoon was had by everyone who was able to get there. I think Ma basically slept through most of the event. Her sister was able to come down from Palmerston North for it which was lovely, and there was a good number of family and friends there as well.

I had the mammogram done and thankfully it was all clear. Not having had one before it was an experience!  :-O   I think the poem below sums up the experience well!

Ode To The Mammogram

For several years they've told me,
"Be careful of your breasts.
Don't ever bruise or hurt them,
And give them monthly tests."

So I heeded all their warnings
And protected, both, they are!
I've guarded them most carefully,
And always worn a bra.

After thirty years of tender care,
The doctor found a lump.
He ordered me a mammogram,
To look inside that bump.

"Stand up very close," she said,
As she got my breast in line,
"And tell me if it hurts," she said,
"Ah yes, there… that's fine!"

She stepped upon a pedal…
I could not believe my eyes!
A plastic plate was pushing down,
My boob was in a vice!

My skin was stretched and stretched,
From way up by my chin.
And my poor breast was being squashed
To Swedish pancake thin!

Excruciating pain I felt,
Within this vice-like fit.
A prisoner in this vicious thing…
My poor, defenceless tit!

"Breathe deeply, now," I heard her say.
Who does she think she's kidding?
My chest's been smashed in her machine -
Can't breathe, can't do her bidding!

"There, that was good," I heard her say,
As the room was slowly swaying.
"Now, let's have the other one."
Lord, have mercy, I was praying!

It squeezed me from the up and down,
It squeezed from each side.
I'll bet she's never had this done
Upon her tender little hide!

If I had no problem when I came here,
I'm sure I'll have one now.
For if there'd been a cyst in there,
It would have popped - ker-pow!

This machine was made by men,
Of this I have no doubt.
I'd like to get their nuts in there -
For months they'd go without!

Author Unknown



Monday 5 October 2015

Life changes . . . in a few seconds!

Thursday 13 August, 2015. It is an evening that will be forever etched in my mind. Not so much the date as the event.

I walked down the drive from my client's home, and as I walked I thought what a beautiful evening it was. Still, calm, not many clouds, quite a few stars out, almost balmy! One of the rare Wellington evenings at this time of year. I thought it would be a lovely evening for a walk. It was around 8:30pm. I got into the car and called Boar, to let him know I was on the way home, and to check if there were any other things needed from the supermarket.

I drove back to Johnsonville and decided to go to the larger Countdown on the main road. I parked and wandered in. I had an idea about the client's costume so sent her a text, partly to fix it in my mind and so I would have a record of it. It was a few minutes after 9:00pm. I got the few items we needed, went through the self checkout and headed back to the car. I went at my usual pace, which isn't fast. I suspect my iron (haemagblobin) is low again and I need to get it checked. It has been up and down since 2009 when it was found to be really low. Iron pills usually help.

When I got back to the car I felt a bit breathless and thought, "That's odd! Maybe I walked more quickly than I thought." However it resolved quickly, by the time I got to the lights, 30seconds, it was fine again.

I got home a couple of minutes later, got my bags out of the car and started up the path. By the time I was halfway up I was again feeling breathless. Got to the top, paused for a moment, then went across to and up the steps. By now I was feeling even more breathless. Made it inside the door, glanced in at  Boar who said, "Hello, dear," and didn't seem to think anything was out of the ordinary. I decided I needed to sit down so went to the sofa and plumped down there. NO! Still couldn't catch my breath and so thought I'd go and sit on a more upright seat, one of the dining table chairs . . . chucked off my jacket, and sat down.

Source

I felt as though someone had suddenly slammed me in the chest, or I'd been dropped on my back and winded . . . really badly. I was gasping, at the time I didn't think I was making much noise but I'm assured I was! I couldn't call out, my mind was going a mile a minute, "If this is an asthma attack they're not much fun!" I've never had asthma. "Maybe I've got that virus Mr Magoo (2yrs old) had that put him in hospital over the weekend,"    "What will happen if I collapse off the chair, will anyone hear and find me?"   "I can't breathe I cant breathe I CAN'T BREATHE!!" 

Then I started to talk myself down as I could feel I was beginning to panic, the nurse in me kicked in . . . it's still there. "O.k, calm down, you ARE breathing, slow your breathing down, that's it, slow deep breaths, you're doing o.k, you'll be fine, see your breathing is easier now . . . "  During this time Pa had appeared out and glanced at me as he went to the loo. A few minutes later Locket came down from upstairs and asked if I was o.k. At this point it would have been sensible to say, "Get Dad!" meaning Boar. Did I? Nope! Boar hadn't heard all my noise, he was in the bedroom, TV on, and is a bit hard of hearing these days after years of working with noisy tools.

"Yes," I said. "You sure, you don't sound o.k." Locket said, looking a bit worried.  "I was a bit breathless but I'm doing o.k now. I'll be alright."

I decided to go to bed, so I pottered around, got a hottie, went to the loo. I did find whenever I walked even a short distance I was breathless. I took my pulse at one stage and it was 135. I thought that was a bit fast! Did I do anything about it, like call Healthline? Nope! I went to bed!

Boar realised I wasn't feeling so great when Brains brought me his inhaler and suggested I have a couple of puffs, in case it was asthma.

I slept reasonably well, woke up once to go to the loo. Walked to the bathroom . . . 15 steps from bed to the loo, ordinary walking steps. Breathless by the time I got to the loo, and more breathless by the time I got back to bed. Fell asleep again. Woke again at 5:30am . . . a repeat of before. I ended up staying awake, sitting up in bed. I couldn't be bothered trying to get comfortable again. By this time I'd decided that I would go to the doctor. I was tossing up between my GP or after hours at Kenepuru. I thought that even if it was a virus and I needed Ventolin I shouldn't take it without a prescription. I mean, usually a walk to the loo and back doesn't leave me breathless!

I let Boar know I was going to see a doctor and got him to wake Brains as I decided on Kenepuru and I could drop Brains off at Whitireia before I went. I didn't feel like climbing the stairs though to wake Brains myself. Throughout this time I kept feeling basically fine . . . until I walked anywhere, even the shortest distance in the house would leave me breathless. No pain at anytime.

Into the car we climbed, driving was fine, dropped Brains at Whitireia and then drove myself to Kenepuru. Parked in the closest carpark and walked slowly in. By the time I got to the reception desk I was breathing pretty hard, coughing a little. The receptionist asked if I'd been there before . . . yes. Then my name. I was able to answer, but only by pausing and taking a breath for nearly every word! While I was confirming details the nurse, at the counter close by, got up to take a file to the back of the office. She stopped and eyeballed me, put the file away and sat down again, by which time the receptionist had said for me to have a seat and the nurse would be with me in a minute. The nurse said something to the receptionist who then told me to go right over to the nurse. Nurse took my pulse, temperature, oxygen levels and asked briefly what had brought me there. I replied, slowly, lots of pauses. Nurse asked me to sit down, then almost immediately a nurse came through from triage.

It was around 9:25am. This time I was put on the BP machine and I looked at the numbers as usual. 177/78 . . . "Gosh! That's a bit high!" I said. They agreed and asked if it had . . . "No, I've never known it to be that high before!" I said. The senior nurse popped out, the student continued the obs and next thing I knew they were taking me back to a cubicle. The senior nurse had spoken with a doctor and an ECG was wanted. As far as I knew it was fine. Then the doctor asked if I could walk to her room. I did . . . and she saw how breathless I was. Again obs were taken, then questions asked which I replied to slowly, and with many pauses. At one point I remember the doctor saying, "So, at no time did you not think it was strange that you were so breathless so suddenly?"  "Ah . . . no . . " and I told her what to me was my logical reasoning from the night before!

After taking my history the doctor rang through to speak with the ED doctor, questions, answers, and the comment that when I'd walked from the cubicle to her room I had been very breathless. There was also my history of high D Dimer and CT Scans for possible clots in 2009 and 2014. The upshot was that the ED doctor said I should be sent on there.

I queried whether I should drive myself there, absolutely not, I was told! I tried A-M Prof's home number but no reply. I was on the point of going online to find the church's office number when the doctor said not to worry, she was going to arrange an ambulance. Say what?! Dimly in the back of my mind I realised they were thinking "clot" again, but still I had no pain anywhere. Both the other times I did! So no pain, no clot, was my next piece of logical reasoning.

While I waited back in the cubicle the nurse took some bloods to go to ED with me, and put in an IV leur plug. I tried to get hold of Boar, or his work . . . no luck. I was taken in a wheelchair to the ambulance, took the two steps up into the ambulance . . . and sat down puffing! I was observed on the way in, as usual and then triaged by a nurse when I got to ED. Then I nearly cracked up laughing . . . because ED was really busy, no spare rooms and so they put me out in the main waiting area! Oh, well, I thought, at least there are people around if I fall out of the chair!

It wasn't that long before I was taken through to a cubicle. Another ECG, more bloods done, an X-ray and the questions. More thorough ones this time. They were looking for causes.

Have you had a long plane ride in the last few weeks?    No.
Have you had a long car ride in the last few weeks?    No.
Have you had a swollen calf or leg.   No?
Do you have pain when you breathe.    No?
Are you on an oral contraceptive.    No?
Are you on hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?    No.

So I didn't fit the criteria for what they were looking for! The blood tests discovered that my haemaglobin was low, very low. 75g/l when it should be between 115 - 160g/l. I also had an ultrasound of the heart to see if one of the chambers was enlarged. So the medical consultant decided I needed a blood transfusion. They were going to send me round to MAPU (Medical Assessment and Planning Unit) and do it there. They were still deciding about doing a CT Scan. My D Dimer was raised, which can indicate a clot, but can also indicate other things.

So I was taken around to MAPU. There I was admitted, then the consultant came to see me with a medical student. I had the consultant a bit puzzled! The medical student took a more detailed history. Then went to write it up. In a while the consultant and student came back.

It was about 8:00pm by this time. Boar had been driven out to Kenepuru by Smurfette to pick up the car from where I'd had to leave it. When he had dropped it home they, along with Brains and Locket, came in to see me. They brought me the things I'd asked for as I realised I'd be in for the night.

There was a plan. Instead of a blood transfusion they were going to give me an iron infusion. It is safer and gives as much iron in an hour as your body takes two to three months to absorb. Also the consultant had decided that they would do a CT Scan, just to be on the safe side. I do remember him saying, "I don't really expect to find anything though. I'm still a bit perplexed about your past history."

I was given a jab in the stomach of a drug called Clexane in case there was a clot. It would start to thin my blood. A new IV line was put in as the CT Scan contrast dye needed a larger one than I had in. Soon after that the orderly arrived with a trolley to take me to have the CT Scan. So my beautiful family had to go home.

Scan done it was back to the ward and the iron infusion went ahead. You are observed for the first 15 minutes, i.e. the nurse stays with you. This is in case you react to the infusion. I was all good and so I was checked on a couple of times over the next hour as it went through. Towards the end my neck was feeling warm, and I felt a weird pressure in my neck and my chest. I was thinking if it kept up I'd ring the bell, when the infusion finished and the feelings stopped. Since the machine was beeping the student nurse and a senior nurse arrived to disconnect it, took a look at me . . . and asked if I'd had that rash on my neck and under my chin before? No. Explained why my neck was feeling warm! They decided it had better be checked by a doctor.

By the time the doctor arrived I'd flung back the sheets and was rubbing my knees . . . the rash had come up there, on my arms, a bit on my chest, and it was darn itchy! The doctor prescribed an antihistamine. By this time it was around 10:00pm. I don't sleep well when I'm away from home so was sure I was in for a pretty sleepless night. Anyone who has been in hospital knows they are not the quietest of places!

I slept! Woke to go to the loo a few times, but went back to sleep straight away. Perhaps the antihistamine helped.

In the morning, Saturday, the consultant arrived, asked how my night had been and how I was feeling. Then he asked if they'd given me the results of the scan last night. No. (Cos nurses and technicians are not allowed to say till the doctor has  . . . I didn't even bother to ask!)

 "Oh!" he said, "There is a clot, a very large clot in the right pulmonary artery! Radiology rang me last night to tell me."

Now, I used to be a nurse, so I know that radiologists don't ring consultants after 9:00pm on a Friday night unless they really need to. I'm guessing the consultant was glad he'd decided to order the CT Scan!  #:-S

I know that Pulmonary Embolism can be fatal. I did not know that when they are in the vessel leading to the lung they do not always cause pain. 1 in 3 people die of a pulmonary embolism, sometimes within 30 minutes of it happening. I remember thinking that it could have killed me . . . silent, no signs, a clot sitting there somewhere had moved.  And I had gone to bed!

The consultant went on to say that he would prescribe an anticoagulant tablet, Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), for me to take, that I would be under the VTE (Venous thromboembolism) clinic after I was discharged, and that he wanted me to stay in another day at least so they could keep an eye on me. Also I wasn't to just stay on the bed. To try and walk around a bit, go further than I thought I could.

By the time I'd stood and talked to one of the nurses, then had a shower, slowly, I decided I'd rest for a bit. I fell asleep! Slept for around an hour or so. Most unlike me, and shows what my body had been through, to me anyway.

In the afternoon I had a few visitors, and Locket took my photo and put it on Facebook . . . no details though. After a few concerned queries from cousins, friends and family she edited it so folk would know what had happened. Turns out a number of the people who commented have had clots of various types.

The rest of the day went past . . . I was pretty tired and even though I had a book and knitting I wasn't able to concentrate on anything for too long. Mostly my thoughts just roamed. The one front and centre was that I was very glad to be alive! It's quite a surreal feeling to reflect that it could have gone the other way. Not that I'd know of course!

Later that night I was moved to another ward, the usual musical beds in the hospital.

When my obs were taken around 11:30pm, I think, my temp was up. Some blankets were taken off and it was checked again about 30mins later. Still a bit feverish. So I had to do a urine sample, and I think they took bloods. I had a urine infection of all things, again no symptoms of it. So I was given antibiotics for that. It took me ages to get back to sleep . . . around 4:00am or even 5:00am.

So then it was Sunday. I went for a wander, very sedately, but I made it most of the way round the ward, and my pulse wasn't too fast when I got back. Late morning or early afternoon the consultant arrived. He wasn't too worried about the fever, said that as the clot begins to break down it can cause a slight fever. It would take 3-4 weeks for the clot to break down. I queried whether it could happen again . . . not likely as I was on the anticoagulant.

"But if something like it happens again . . .?"      "If it does, don't go home, don't go to your GP . . . go straight to Emergency!"   O.k, message received and understood.

I called Boar to let him know I could go home. We had to pick up the medication from a pharmacy in Newtown as only certain ones stock it. I did find out I should be able to get it from my local pharmacy so long as I give them enough time.

I did get dressed to go home, but got into my PJs and dressing gown pretty quickly once I was home. Walking was still a major effort and if I walked too far - even in the house - I'd start to cough.


So good to be home, with family and enjoy a roast dinner. I wasn't able to eat much, but what I did was lovely  :D

Sunday 4 October 2015

A busy week or three

That weekend on Saturday, 25 July, I was booked to do something for myself! When I was young I used to love reading books about the Chalet School by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer. A few years ago I discovered a website that was re-publishing the books Girls Gone By publishers. Through them I found a lady who imported the books to New Zealand and that there was a local group that met to discuss the books and socialise. So I joined! I'd realised that it was only a few short years until I would not be involved in Home Education and my two youngest may be out in the world doing their own thing. So I wanted to meet a few new people before that happened. At the first meeting the ladies invited me to also join the group that met to discuss "The Abbey Books" by Elsie J.Oxenham. I hadn't read any of the books but as a lot of the group were the same folk I decided to join. This Saturday was a meeting in Palmerston North. I was lucky enough to get a ride with B who was going.

Source  

This was the book that was being discussed. I don't have many of them but had been given a disc by J with quite a lot of the books on so I was able to read it. We had a good drive up, a great meeting and a good drive home.

I'd had a text while I was away asking if I was home . . . well, no, but Boar was. Jester and Frosty had some wood for us. By the time I got home it was all stacked.

Locket had helped to get the wood from the truck, it was in rounds and Jester split it. When I got up into the house Locket was sitting with her foot up. When she had to move . . . she hopped. She had accidentally stood on a piece of wood, when she went to step over it, and had rolled her ankle into the gutter! Since she couldn't walk on it I said we should go get it check out at Kenepuru. But she didn't want to, wanted to see how it was the next day. I did make sure she iced it and kept it up.

The next day it wasn't any better so I insisted we have it checked. The doctor who saw her ordered X-rays. He said he though he could see a line but wasn't 100% sure. Locket was given a tubi-grip bandage and crutches and instructed to keep off it. An appointment was made for her at the Monday afternoon fracture clinic at Kenepuru for a week after the injury. We were hoping it was just a sprain. So that meant both Locket and Brains were on crutches!

It was quite entertaining taking the pair of them to the shops . . . they got quite a few glances.

On the Tuesday, 28 July, Brains had physio again. This time with Jason. He hadn't quite caught up with Brains' injury, and when it was all explained realised it was a bit more serious than he had thought. When Brains took off the moon boot Jason was a bit startled at the amount of atrophy and said that Brains needed to start loading on the leg. I.e. not using the crutches at home just while he was out and about. Brains was also given some excercises to do.

Thursday Pa had his 3 month check with his doctor. His weight was up a bit and he had quite a bit of swelling in his lower limbs, plus was a bit breathless. He was prescribed some Prednisone, to be taken for 3 days and then discontinued. We then had to weigh him once or twice a week to keep an eye on it. If it went up too much . . . a few days of Prednisone. It seems his heart may be having a bit of trouble coping, fluid can build up and increases the weight. The Prednisone increases output . . . in other words makes you pee!

As the week progressed Locket started putting some weight on her foot. It still hurt but not too much. She did still need to use the crutches though.

On the Monday, 3 August, we went to Kenepuru Fracture Clinic in the afternoon to get Locket's foot checked. We were hopeful because she was able to put some weight on the foot. The doctor had a look, asked her if it was sore "just here" putting pressure on exactly the right place, which bought a resounding yes from Locket! Then the doctor said, "That's because that is where the fracture is." Locket's face dropped a mile. She had fractured a metatarsal! The doctor asked if she could walk on it, and so Locket showed him she could. He said the fracture was stable, not displaced and it wouldn't displace. So she had a choice: she could have a cast, or just use tubi-grip and crutches. Well, having seen what happened to Brains' leg with six weeks in a cast she chose to go with no cast. She was less than impressed when he also said no dance, until the foot told her it was ok. And, no, she wouldn't be able to do her dance exams in around 5weeks time! Locket was pretty devastated to hear that! And pretty determined that she would do the exams!


Here's a photo of the pair of them fooling around on their crutches.

The next day we had the inaugural Wellington Home-Education Network (WHEN) teens meet-up. We're trying to get a regular group going. There were around 9 young folk turn up. I'd organised the meeting and so had made the first part at the Porirua Hospital Museum. It was a place we could go to whatever the weather was doing. It was a really interesting place and I'd like to go back and look around again.

On the Thursday I met up with a client in the city who had a sewing job for me. We had a preliminary discussion and sorted out a time to meet up the next week.

Saturday I went to meet another client, and spent quite a bit of time with her discussing ideas and taking measurements so that I would be able to draught the garment. Sorry no more details! Eventually they'll both be blogged about on my other blog Alyz Creations.

The following week we had a meeting with one of the parents from the studio. There were a few things that needed discussing. Every so often issues come up that need sorting out. Not very often thankfully. Hopefully things have been resolved.

The next couple of days went pretty much as usual. Brains had physio. The first few times he had gone every few days, but this time it was a week since he had been, so progress made. He was also doing the stretch class at the studio, with strict instructions as to what he could and could not do.

Thursday evening, 13th August, after dropping Locket and Estelle at Girls' Brigade I headed across the city to meet up with the first client from last week. I had some samples and patterns to show her, further discussion as to her garment, and measurements to take. It was a good meeting and I left around 8:30pm. MF lives near the sea, there was no wind and it was a lovely still evening, especially for that time of year in Wellington.  :) 

A round up of events

It's now October. I was going to do several posts to fill in the blanks but I've decided to do a couple up until mid August. I'm having to refer to my day-to-day appointment diary to do it too!

Brains continued to improve, and continued with his course. He was to be given an appointment to have a fibreglass cast applied after a week. When it came to halfway through the week and we had not had a phone call with an appointment I called the Fracture Clinic. They had no record of an appointment! It was supposed to be at Kenepuru Fracture Clinic but in the end they saw him at Wellington Hospital Fracture Clinic on the Tuesday - 10 days after his surgery. I dropped him off and picked him up from Whitireia on the Wednesdays to Fridays when he attended course.

There were other things happening too as usual - Ma's usual 3 month check-up by the doctor she is under at the rest home. Ma is slowly declining, muscles giving up. Ma has been fed pureed food for a while now as she has lost the ability to chew. Sleeps a lot, most of the time in fact. It's sad to see someone who used to be so vibrant a shell of what they once were  :(  It is life though. We none of us know what may happen with our health.

Another appointment I was involved with was taking Chuckles to attend an appointment at Wellington Hospital. She has been having some symptoms . . . and needs investigation to find out what is going on. Out of respect for Chuckles' privacy that is all I'm saying for now. I need to ask permission before sharing anything more.

Tuesday 16th June Brains had the new cast applied. Fluoro pink . . . because he could. No rocker on the foot as he was still to be non-weight bearing.

Saturday morning of that week I woke up to a text that was sent around 1:00am. Usually I wake up when my phone goes off . . . not this time. Miss Lisa had skidded and fallen while walking her dogs . . . and broken her ankle in two places! She had actually lain for an hour till she attracted attention. So she was in a back-slab plaster and had to wait about a week for surgery. I popped out to see her fro a while in the afternoon. She was feeling pretty sore understandably.

The following weekend I had what to me is a day off! Boar dropped me in the city so I could go to a  Mad Skills course at Made on Marion. I've been sewing for years but I'm always keen to learn new things. I had a great day with lots of other folk. Always more fun when there are a few of you  :) 


Here's a picture of Miss Lisa and Brains, after Miss Lisa has had her surgery, a few days after, back-slab plaster in place. She was at the studio as she insisted on going over Locket's dances with her before the Hutt Valley Performing Arts Competitions on the weekend. Locket did well and was awarded Commended for both her Classical and Barefoot dances. It gets pretty tough once they get into the 14+ categories . . . there are a lot of talented dancers in her age group so to even get a placing is great  :D


A photo of Locket in her new barefoot costume. Her dance is to Pie Jesu by The Ten Tenors.

These comps were at the beginning of the school holidays and Brains had a week off as well so things were a bit quieter for a few days. The evenings too as there wasn't dance most nights of the week.


The second Friday of the holidays Brains was due to see the surgeon and have his cast removed. So we managed to get a photo of him and Miss Lisa in their casts. Miss Lisa posted it on the studio Facebook page along with the comment: "Dancers with real attitude . . . don't want to talk about lack of pointed toes xx"

So Friday July 17 Brains' fibreglass cast was removed. In the photo below he's sitting waiting to see the surgeon, after cast removal and X-rays. Thankfully the repair looked good.



For the next 6 weeks he had to wear a moon boot - which is in the photo below. It gives support but means that he can begin to weight bear on the leg. Strictly no dance, but we did get permission to start physiotherapy.


So the moon boot during the day, and take it off at night. Anyone who has ever been in a cast will know that the first thing you want to do when the cast comes off is to have a shower or bath! Because a limb in a cast gets sooooo itchy, smelly and feels just awful by the time the cast comes off.  ~X(

Before he got in a bath - no weight-bearing without a moon boot - I took a couple of photos. The difference in the two legs was quite marked!

Back view

Front view

You can really see the atrophy of the muscles in these views! I rang that afternoon to make an appointment for him to start physio the next week. The sooner he begins the better.

So the following week, after Brains had finished at Whitireia, I took him to Te Aro Physio, who among other things specialise in dance related injuries. They are the physios for the Royal New Zealand Ballet and so are able to design a physio programme designed to get a dancer back to performance level. The reason I wanted to get him to physio is that the directions from the hospital are often a bit vague . . . whereas the physio knows how much to do for the muscles to get back to normal. This first visit was to see where he was at and he had some massage to free up the muscles of the ankle a bit. Then an appointment was made for Brains to see Jason the following week who has worked with him before.

During this time there were visits from some of the grandchildren - Mr Magoo stayed for a few days. The first night I put him to bed I was sure I'd put everything out of reach. Nope, as these photos show!


The table was against the wall to the right of the photo. And the powder was on the table, plus nappies and wet wipes!


I managed to get the top sheet off, with Locket's help I got the pillow out too. Shook them off and changed the pillowcase, all the toys had a good shake outside and a wash the next day! I didn't want him breathing in the powder all night. Mr Magoo had pulled out every wet wipe, so Boar put them all back in the packet. We did it all without waking Mr Magoo . . . and moved everything further out of reach!

Wednesday 30 September 2015

A Repair Job!

So we got out of the hospital on the Sunday evening, and later that evening I took Locket to get checked.

Thankfully once Locket was on antibiotics she began to improve, and continued to over the week.

Brains called his course tutor and asked if it was o.k. for him to attend as he had been told he could go by the doctors. His tutor said he could . . . although if he needed to miss a couple of weeks it would not be a problem as he is quick at picking things up. So I took him out on the Wednesday as he was still in a fair bit of pain and having to get to the bus stop and then on the bus was a bit much to expect of him I thought. The day went o.k, although he did find his ankle was quite sore by the evening. He decided not to go on the Thursday as he wanted to keep his ankle elevated. He'd been told that if he had too much swelling the operation wouldn't go ahead.

So fast forward to Friday 5 June and we were off to Kenepuru Hospital where Brains was having the surgery. He had been nil-by-mouth from 6:00am and we needed to be at the hospital by 11:30am. He was to be 1st on the list so surgery around 1:00pm.

Except as the way these things go . . . it didn't. He was checked in, got changed and was given a warming blanket. We were told some of the equipment wasn't quite ready . . . needed to be sterilised. So in the end I think they took someone else before him, and he didn't end up going in till after 4:00pm!

I popped home for a bit and also to pick up Locket as she wanted to see him after surgery. Locket found it quite entertaining as we were allowed into the recovery area since Brains was the only one there. He was still under the influence of the anaesthetic and not making that much sense, plus making smart aleck remarks that he wouldn't normally and questioning everything the nurse did as to the reasons why she was doing it! He had an experienced nurse and so she just went with the flow . . . obviously very used to patients saying random things in recovery!

 The repair job was two screws, to attach the pulled away fragment of bone back to the main piece of bone.

By the time he got up to the ward it was nearly the end of visiting hours. He had a pressure "boot" on his leg similar to the ones below. His left leg that is. His right leg had another back-slab plaster on it. The "boots" are to reduce the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) whilst he was not mobile and sitting in the bed. Once he was up and moving again the risk lessens as the body keeps the blood moving. A DVT can be dangerous as it can move and end up in the heart or lung and is sometimes fatal. So the less risk of that the better!

Source

 Although Brains seemed pretty chipper I knew it was all the effects of the drugs . . . and yup, after about 30 minutes he began to look very tired all of a sudden! So it was homeward bound for us and sleep time for him.


This photo was taken when Brains was still at the resonably perky stage . . . he was hamming it up a bit, along with the, "Do you have to?!" look  :D 

Goodness knows what happened over the weekend. I think we all just took it easy. 


Sunday 20 September 2015

Life just keeps on rolling along!I

I last posted back in June. It honestly doesn't seem as though it was that long ago! Perhaps that is because so much has happened in the last few months. I've felt as though I've had little time or energy. Enough to keep going and that was about it.

So I'm writing these next few posts retrospectively.

Well . . . I got that far and then it was a few days before I felt up to writing again due to a virus! Sooo . . .

Brains started a 12 week course at Whitireia on Wednesday 27 May. We had rung with an enquiry then gone to find out some info the week before and they told him there were places if he wanted to apply. Hospitality & Barista skills. So he did!

Queens Birthday weekend, Friday 29 May - Monday 1 June here in New Zealand, both Brains & Locket were entered in the Wellington Regional Dance Teachers Association dance competition. They had both been working hard. They had their usual dances and Brains was doing variations as well. Often these are on a Saturday evening, but this time they were on the Friday evening.

Miss Lisa was all ready to come with us when a family emergency in her partner's family prevented her. So off we went. Brains was all prepared and had rehearsed in the afternoon, his two variations were looking pretty good according to Miss Lisa.

Both had to be classical dances but different in style. His first variation was from a ballet called, Who Cares choreography by George Balanchine, music by George Gershwin. It's quite a different ballet and not what many people expect to see. In fact before one of the comps this year the variation was queried as to it's legitimacy, because it's not very well known. But it is a valid entry and fits the criteria.

Brains preformed it really well and the audience really liked it. It certainly was different to all the other dances.

The second variation was Siegfried from the ballet Swan Lake, choreography by Julius Reisinger, music by Tchaikovsky. Brains started out really well and was looking good, according to Miss Lisa's mum who was watching and has attended dance comps for the last 40 years with her own children and then Miss Lisa's pupils. She is a great support and encouragement and gives a fair but honest critique. Not far into the dance Brains went up in a jump, which looked good . . . came down . . . and . . . landed poorly! Twist, nearly crumpled to the floor, tried to keep going, then realised he couldn't so limped off . . . giving the adjudicator a bow as he went!

I think the whole audience gasped. The Mama Bear in me wanted to race out, of course. But he'd just turned 18 and . . . it's Varations. There are the stage manager and others there to look after them. I was told later he sat down side stage as soon as he got off. There was only one more dancer after him and I felt sorry for her having to go on after that. I don't know how Brains managed to stay standing during the presentations but he did. Of course he was eliminated since he couldn't finish.  :(

When I did get out to the dressing rooms, after explaining to Miss Lisa's mum why Miss Lisa wasn't there, Brains was sitting looking pretty sore. He still had his dance tights on at that stage and they were black, making it hard to see his foot. I'd already decided I'd take him to Kenepuru A & M to get it checked. One of the other dance teachers there, who knows Miss Lisa well, said she thought we should get it checked as well as she was worried he may have broken something. He got changed into his usual gear . . . and out of the black I could clearly see his foot was on a funny angle, definitely needed checking.

The doctor at Kenepuru thought it was likely to be a sprain but ordered x-rays for the next day - Saturday - as x-ray had closed for the night. Brains was issued some crutches and we were on our way.

So Saturday morning - Locket was supposed to be dancing, but she was battling a heavy cold. I had warned Miss Lisa on the phone Locket may not be able to dance as she, Miss Lisa, had called me to see how Brains had done in the comp when we were at Kenepuru Friday night. Locket made the decision she definitely wasn't dancing . . . she didn't have the breath for it, her dance was quite a fast one. Brains and I headed off to Kenepuru soon after 10am, Brains had the x-rays and was seen by a doctor who said, "You have an avulsion fracture of the Talus bone."

Well, I got the word "fracture" right away! She then explained that what had happened was the ligaments had torn a piece of bone off the talus bone - that's what avulsion means, tearing. She said Brains would be going home in a cast. Brains' face at that piece of news! He also had another x-ray as the doctor wanted to check the rest of his foot to make sure there were no more fractures. So that was done and then we waited in the waiting room again.

After a short time we were called by someone, who took us into her room, introduced herself and began with the usual - what brings you here today? Hang on a minute, I thought! "Ah, . . . we've actually seen a doctor already and Brains had another x-ray . . ."   "Oh! I wondered why her name was on the form! Just a minute . . ." and she went off, came back and asked us to just wait on these seats as that doctor was with another patient. Phew!

Once we were seen, by the doctor who had first viewed the x-rays, Brains was cleared of any other fractures. Then after a phone call we were sent on our way to Wellington Hospital Fracture Clinic.

If you want to see where the talus bone is and what it does, look here.

I made a phone call to let Boar know not to expect us any time soon. Then we headed to Fracture Clinic . . . via Miss Lisa's home . . . via McDonalds  :)  By now Brains was hungry, aren't teenage males always hungry?

Brains wanted to tell Miss Lisa himself. With a fracture he was looking at a cast for probably six weeks. So time off dance classes.

We were at Fracture Clinic some time . . . as is usual, especially on a weekend. When we'd been put in a room and were waiting for the registrar to come and see Brains I asked for some scissors. Why? To open the seams of his jeans which were skinny leg ones. Can't ruin a good pair of jeans!  =;   I can sew the seam back up!

While we were whiling away the time Brains concluded, "Well, I guess 6 weeks in a cast isn't that long to be off dancing . . . then I'll be back!"

The doctor asked the usual questions, and then about Brains' dancing. Was it a hobby or . . . ?  "Oh, I do 4 - 5 classes a week . . ." Brains said. And left it at that! At that point I chipped in with, "He has the ability to train and dance professionally, if he chooses to, if that's what you're asking." Cos . . . that is a Mama Bear's job, after all, to add in the extra info that the cubs sometimes don't give  :D 

After glancing at us both the registrar said, "Oh! Well, this is rather an unusual type of injury, I think I'll go and take another look at the x-rays. I'll be back soon." And out he went. To look at the x-rays . . . and call his boss - the consultant. When he came back he said he'd spoken to his boss and these were the options . . . he started to explain and his phone went. It was the boss, confirming the registrar's treatment plan. One option is to cast for six weeks while the bone knits together. However Brains' fracture was displaced, therefore making it unstable, and so surgery was the preferred option. "Wait! What? SURGERY!?" I could see Brains thinking. The registrar stated that there was a choice but if Brains wanted to get back to dancing - surgery was the best option. Because he wouldn't be able to dance without it. At least never professionally! It would mean surgery, a cast for 6 weeks, then a moon boot . . . and it would be six months before he was back to jumps  :-o  :-o  :-o

Well, for Brains there was no choice - it was surgery of course! A dancer just HAS to dance!

They weren't sure whether they would be able to do the surgery that weekend or not, possibly the next day (Sunday), but if not it would be done on the following Friday at Kenepuru Hospital. Either way they decided to apply a back-slab cast and admit him overnight.

 
I took this photo on Saturday evening. By then Brains was pretty shattered. He'd hardly slept the night before due to the pain, and it had been a loooong day. Shorty after this photo was taken I went home, after settling Brains for the night. I'd been battling an achey jaw/ear most of the day. I thought it was a tooth but couldn't work out if it was an upper or lower tooth. I know folk usually refer to top and bottom teeth - but that just gives me an image of teeth implanted in a bum!  =))  Home time.

Next day, Sunday, I was back at the hospital early, with Locket in tow. She wanted to come even though I explained it could be a long day. She still wasn't feeling well, if anything she was worse. We decided that if Brains went to have surgery I could take Locket down to the After Hours Medical Centre. If he was discharged we'd probably be home fairly soon, hopefully by noon, and I could take Locket to Kenepuru then.

The doctors did their round fairly early, the consultant and his underlings. The decision had been made to discharge Brains and do the surgery on Friday at Kenepuru Hospital. That way Brains wouldn't have to be nil-by-mouth most of Sunday and possibly most of Monday. Made sense to us - and the surgery would definitely be done on the Friday. So after the paperwork was done we would be on our way. It was about 10am by then. It should only take an hour . . .

Unfortunately it wasn't only an hour! Unbeknownest to us the doctor who was going to do the paperwork became unwell and went home. We found this out when the nurse eventually rang to find out what was happening, after several hours and no appearance by the doctor. Poor Locket had fallen asleep, sitting up on a chair, head bent over to her lap and resting on her puffer jacket! She slept for over an hour. Definitely not well. When she did wake up she commented, "It hurts sometimes when I breathe . . ." You are certainly going to the doctor when we get out of here, I thought!


The above photo was taken about 4:15pm . . . thankfully soon after the doctor arrived to do the paperwork. Smurfette had called to see if she should come and visit, but we said no, we'll be out of here soon. She offered to get Burger Fuel burgers for anyone who wanted them so we said yes please!

Once we'd got home and everyone had eaten I took a reluctant Locket out to Kenepuru. I was very glad I did because she was diagnosed with an Upper Respiratory Tract Infection or URTI. So antibiotics were prescribed. We picked those up and headed home.

We were all pretty tired. Despite tiredness Brains was already researching recovery of his injury  :) 

Sunday 7 June 2015

Self-seeded Pumpkins

Sometimes the compost or vege scraps we have produce surprises. We often have self-seeded potatoes, and this year we found a self-seeded pumpkin outside the lounge window. We've been watching it grow and with the warmer weather it has taken off!


It's more or less taken over the whole path and is climbing the walls! It has quite a few flowers on it as well.


And after a hunt we discovered there are already some pumpkins developing  :)

These photos were taken months ago and we got quite a few pumpkins. I think we should have removed all but a couple of the pumpkins as there was one that grew really well and the others weren't quite as good. Not as big and the flavour wasn't as good. It turns out they were Crown pumpkins. 

Just a few photos

I realised when I was looking through my photos that there were a few I'd meant to put in here last year and hadn't.


This sofa we've had since Boar's mum passed away. I think she had it all her married life, it could have been in her family, though I'm not 100% certain of that. Over the years the fabric had got into a sorry state, plus saggy springs. Boar suggested getting another, but I really wanted to keep it and have it, and the two chairs, re-covered. It is such a good solid sofa. Although they weren't supposed to when they were little the children would walk along the back of it, and it didn't tip over! I took this photo just before the sofa was taken away to be re-covered for us by Jester's friend.


I liked how the misty clouds were in the valleys, with the sun just coming up, 12/08/2014


The moon the next night, 13/08/2014, with a bit of cloud around it. I'd love to have a camera with a better lens for closer shots. One day!


All re-covered. It looks lovely and is great to sit on again.


What happens when a two year old granddaughter decides my diary needs some art work with chalk!


Sad, tired old duvet cover needing retirement throwing out! 


A new-to-us cover. Not wanting to get a new one I looked in Savemart. Hopefully we'll be getting a new bed this year or next and I'll be up-sizing. The one we currently have is a double and I want to get a queen. So I'll need a new inner and would rather spend money on a down/feather one than on a new double cover. We've been given at least one new queen sized cover which I haven't used yet  :)

Saturday 6 June 2015

Family Holiday

Hard to believe that nearly 6 months have flown by! But they have, packed with the usual busy days.
I was going to write another post today - then I realised I left the last post at January 3rd, the day before we went away, so I thought I'd post some photos of our time away.

We left on the Sunday and had a good trip over the hill. Boar, Brains, Locket and myself. Also heading over were A-M Prof and Moneypenny with Sunshine and Poppet. They actually arrived before us so started scouting out a spot. We didn't take too long to set up, tempers didn't get too frayed which was good. The only negative thing was when I discovered we'd left the mince behind for the traditional first night hamburger patties! I think I was distracted by having other folk in the house when I was getting orgnised.  :|  All good, we just had buns and cheese.

A-M Prof and family went home on Tuesday as he had to work that night. Wednesday Boar went and picked up Butcher, Chuckles, Half-pint and Lil Battler and they came out for the evening, then Boar took them home. Thursday we had some family visitors for the day which was lovely. Friday Frosty and Jester arrived with Mr Magoo for the weekend, and Smurfette came over as well.

So over the course of the week all of our children, their partners and grandchildren had time camping. It's lovely to see the wee grandies getting the same enjoyment out of the place their parents did  :D

So a few photos of the time we were there will suffice for a commentary.


The hills opposite our beautiful camping spot - Photo by Locket


Locket and Sunshine enjoying aunty/niece time


Poppet playing with the river stones. Who needs toys when nature provides!


Moneypenny settling a wee one, enjoying the solitude.


A-M Prof taking Sunshine down to see the jet boat I heard coming up the river.


I think each grandchild had a snooze in the hammock  :)


A misty morning.


The sun coming through and burning the mist away.


Half-pint throwing stones with Boar


Lil Battler having a good look at something!


Jester took Brains eeling and Brains caught this big one!


Mr Magoo making a run for it - to the river of course  :D


The sheep come up pretty close in the mornings.


Camp washing line!

Saturday 17 January 2015

October to January wrap up

The time from mid-October was as busy as it usually is, if not more so.

There were extra rehearsals as it was leading up to RAD exam time. There were also competitions over Labour weekend so rehearsals for the comp.

Brains also had rehearsals for Pump Dance, plus Maureen Ax School of Dance in Palmerston North.

A good friend of Miss Lisa's died suddenly on 28th of October. We knew her as well so it was a shock for all of us.

Our exams were held on 31st October. The day went well, and I was there for the whole time as Miss Lisa needed some extra support, plus someone to pick up and return the examiner, and do a few other jobs during the day.

The Maureen Ax show was the weekend of the 15-16 November and the Pump show the following weekend. So there was a fair amount of juggling schedules and extra travel involved.

Oh, and Pa's car blew it's head gasket. We were without it for almost 5 weeks!  :-w

I was busy with costumes for the Pump show, and then our show. I was also going to be making some costumes for Rachel Compton Dance Studio which a friend's daughter attends.

The weeks flew by but everything got done. Our show was on the 14th December which was the same day as the WSBN Christmas meet. I wasn't able to get to the meet but I did get the Secret Santa gift made that I needed to. You can see it and read about it here if you would like to.

In the week after our show I finished the costumes for Rachel Compton Dance Studio. They were very happy with them and I'm hoping to get some photos from the show soon.

I went with a friend to see a show the week before Christmas which we both really enjoyed.

The following week, on the 21st Dec, my younger brother, Perry, came to stay for a couple of weeks over Christmas and New Year.

I managed to get all the shopping done a few days before Christmas so it wasn't too frantic in the days leading up to the 25th.

On 24th we had lunch at Ab-Prof and Moneypenny's along with Moneypenny's family. Even though we were happy to help out Moneypenny wanted to do it all herself. She did, and a fantastic meal too!

Then it was the big day, Christmas Day. It started out really well with Smurfette arriving early to open presents with us. A lot were going to be taken over the hill to Featherston where Butcher and Chuckles were hosting the Christmas dinner.

Boar, Pa and Perry headed into the service at CTCC. We went to the Christmas Day service at NBC and then headed to Johnsonvale to see Ma. She was very sleepy and not really able to be woken so we only stayed a few minutes.

Then it was home to gather up all the things we needed to take to Featherston. We'd just driven down Earp Street when Locket suddenly complained that her neck was really sore. And a few seconds later that her chest was hurting. A bit strange. We were home in two minutes and I asked a few more questions once we'd got inside and I'd sat her down. I also gave her a glass of water to sip as she was feeling nauseous. Yes, both neck and chest were still sore, and her arm and left side "felt funny, tingly." She also looked pale and just not quite right.

Decision time - I wasn't happy to travel over the hill with Locket displaying the symptoms she was. So we packed all the things needed in Smurfette's car, plus Brains, and they headed to Featherston. We headed to Kenepuru After Hours clinic. Among other things Locket commented that her head felt really "spacey".

We were seen quite quickly. The doctor at Kenepuru decided it was best we go through to Wellington Emergency Department so he gave us a referral letter. I knew we could probably kiss good-bye any chance of going over the hill, but health is more important. Her symptoms were some of the ones that are displayed with a stroke or TIA, but I was sure hoping it wasn't anything like that!!

We were seen fairly quickly at ED. Locket was given a thorough examination with all the neurological observations, plus a chest X-ray and an ECG. The strange feelings in her arm slowly disappeared too. All the tests were o.k. so she was discharged with the instructions that we come back if the symptoms returned. Thankfully they didn't  :)


During this time Boar had dropped Pa at Johnsonvale to have Christmas Day lunch with Ma at the home, and he - Boar - and Perry had gone to join everyone else over the hill for dinner.

We were out by around 2:45pm  . . . too late to go over the hill. We'd kept in contact with the rest of the family who were understandably worried about their daughter/little sis. They were all glad to hear that nothing serious had been found.

Although we were both gutted that we had to miss the family dinner we were just glad she was o.k. We briefly considered heading to Charles and Lynne's, Boar's side of the family, in Miramar, but when Locket asked what we'd do for the hour we had to wait and could we wait at home, we made the decision to just go home. I really didn't think she should be out, and she was pretty wiped. Poor girl almost fell asleep on the way home from the hospital because she was so tired.

We curled up on the bed and watched a movie  :D 

Pa arrived home and sometime soon after Jester, Frosty and Mr Magoo came to see Locket and deliver some food to us that they'd all saved.  :)  Ab-Prof and Moneypenny had been going to visit as well but the girls were cranky so they headed home. 

Boar & Brains called in briefly as they were dropping Perry back here before going on to Miramar. They had Butcher with them as the family needed transporting over. So Butcher popped up to see Locket as well. And I handed over the Pamol that had been requested by Chuckles as Half-pint wasn't too flash! Chuckles and the boys were travelling in Smurfette's car to Chuckles' dad's home. 

Thankfully Locket hasn't had any more of the same symptoms. At least the episode is all documented should anything like it happen again. Which I sincerely hope doesn't!

The next day, Boxing Day, my older brother, Vidor, arrived to stay. He lives in Opotiki and came down to be here when we went away. He's pretty cruisey and was happy to sleep on a couple of mattresses on the floor in the lounge.  

30th December I spent most of the day with my friend from college days. I blogged about it here so won't again! 

On New Year's Eve Brains and Locket went out with a few friends, Estelle included, into the central city and then after the fireworks at midnight headed home to Estelle's for the night.

All of us at our place just had "A quiet night in"  :D 

The next few days went by quickly as we organised things to go away. Stocking up on food and supplies, checking the lanterns, batteries. I also tidied out my chest of drawers so I could put the one from Pa's place in my room. Especially since we needed the space in the van for packing  ;)

Saturday 3rd January we started sorting and packing the van. We planned to leave on the Sunday after Boar got home from church.

Friday 16 January 2015

A bit of planting done.

The next day, Sunday, we got a bit more done in the afternoon.


Boar got the steps all cleared and a lot of the back area cleared on Saturday. The steps look lovely and clear now. Much easier to get up. When the children were little we had a gate between the two walls at the level of the second step. It meant they could play in the front yard and side path but I didn't need to worry about them going up the steps and falling down when they were too small to manage by themselves.


We got the greenhouse cleared and the tomato plants in the ground. These are the Money Makers, full sized tomatoes.


A close-up of one. I hope they grow well.


The cherry tomato, and the bucket at the back of the photo holds . . .


 . . . an onion! I need to do a bit of research on them to find out when to harvest etc.


Boar also cleared the ground at the top of the first step. The chooks manage to get all sorts of stuff there and it builds up over time.


A view of the pergola. The areas beside the steps need a fair amount of work too.


The Sycamore tree just coming into leaf. We may have to cut it down as it is getting pretty big. It grew from a seedling. It was planted over Fleabags, the sheep we had that came as a chattel when we bought the house!


We'd been pretty busy and got thirsty. So I went in to make us a cuppa. On our property this is the easiest way I have found to get the cup of tea/coffee up the back without a fair bit of it spilling on the way up. Whatever is needed in the cups, and the boiling water in the flask. If it's just me I'll take enough for a couple of drinks  :)


Boar was busy clearing the patio area. All the bushes around this area need clearing up too. I think I need to come up here each hour from around 7:00 am to take a photo of where the sun is so I can work out the best plants for here. It gets a fair amount of shade. Especially in winter.

Soon after this we headed off as we wanted to return the weed-eater to Jester. He sometimes works for his mate and needs his tools for the work.


Mr Magoo was there to greet us  :)


The beautiful Kapiti Island in the distance is a nature reserve. We went on a trip here when Locket was around 9 months old! I carried her in the backpack to the top of the hill. I'd love to do another trip here one day. Think I need to be a fair bit fitter though.  :-?

Pa came with us on the visit as he had not seen where Jester, Frosty and Mr Magoo live. We had a lovely time before heading home for some tea.