Tuesday, 7 January 2014

Things that need to be done

I've been keeping some things from you...

I had some weird symptoms at the end of October, which led to many tests in November. I have a partial obstruction of my abdominal aorta and of the right femoral artery. Too many years of eating the wrong things, plus smoking heavily, was bound to cause some problems.

So... I go into hospital tomorrow and will have surgery on Thursday to fit a couple of stents. There will be posts as usual: I scheduled one week's worth of posts to keep things going.


The down side is that there's no wi-fi at the hospital, so you'll have to be patient regarding any news. The surgeon said I would be in for three days, because he thought I would have an epidural or a spinal block, but the anesthetist decided to go for a general anesthetic when he saw my medical history. I had transverse myelitis in 2000 and after consulting with a neurologist, the anesthetist thought it could be risky to mess with my spine. Having general anesthetic will possibly extend my stay in hospital to between five and seven days.

The other downside is the hospital food. A few weeks ago I had to spend a day having various pre-surgery tests and they gave me a very nice room. Lunch was included, but I wouldn't offer it to a pig! I asked the nurse if the food was always so "delicious." She laughed and said yes, it's always incredibly delicious.

We're going to take a lot of our own stuff!




Monday, 6 January 2014

Time to say a big thank you

Amy suggested a post where people can express their gratitude to the guys who are very committed to their work.

Here's to you, Mr Sleuth!



Sunday, 5 January 2014

Our very handsome new friend

Pallottine sent us some photos of Cody. What a cute little guy!







Saturday, 4 January 2014

Adorable dogs

Mrsgunka sent us these pictures of "two" doggies helping each other...



Thank you, MrsG.

Friday, 3 January 2014

Exercise for over 60s

GrannyJ sent us this very useful exercise program. Thank you, GJ!

Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side.

With a 5-lb potato bag in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax.

Each day you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-lb potato bags. Move up to 20-lb bags for another couple of weeks or so.

Then try 50-lb potato bags and eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb potato bag in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute.


After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each bag.

Wednesday, 1 January 2014

Reflections


Mrsgunka sent us this beautiful photographic essay by Tom Hussey. She wrote: 

"This is really great.  My mind says I'm 40 but the mirror says different. Gonna quit looking in the mirror. It is too depressing. Guess I need a longer dressing table and a picture of Rita Hayworth over the mirror. Bless Amy!"











Thank you, MrsG.

Tuesday, 31 December 2013

Time to party!

Another year gone... Out with the old, in with the new!




These fireworks were a lovely welcome to the new year in Melbourne:


Let the party begin! Happy 2014, my very dear friends!



Monday, 30 December 2013

Two fairytales

View sent us the first one and I found the second of these fairytales:

Once upon a time, a Prince asked a beautiful Princess, "Will you marry me?" The Princess said, "No!!!" And the Prince lived happily ever after and rode motorcycles and dated skinny long-legged full-breasted women and hunted and fished and raced cars and went to naked bars and dated ladies half his age and drank whiskey, beer and Captain Morgan and never heard bitching and never paid child support or alimony and dated cheerleaders and kept his house and guns and ate spam and potato chips and beans and blew enormous farts and never got cheated on while he was at work and all his friends and family thought he was friggin cool as hell and he had tons of money in the bank and left the toilet seat up. The end.
**********
Once upon a time, in a land far away, a beautiful, independent, self assured princess happened upon a frog as she sat, contemplating ecological issues on the shores of an unpolluted pond in a verdant meadow near her castle. 

The frog hopped into the princess's lap and said: "Elegant Lady, I was once a handsome prince, until an evil witch cast a spell upon me. One kiss from you, however, and I will turn back into the dapper, young prince that I am, and then, my sweet, we can marry and setup housekeeping in yon castle with my mother, where you can prepare my meals, clean my clothes, bear my children, and forever feel grateful and happy doing so." 

That night, the princess dined sumptuously on a repast of lightly sautéed frog's legs seasoned in a white wine and shallot cream sauce. The end.

Sunday, 29 December 2013

Bed & Breakfast with a difference

There's a B&B in Marseille called Au Vieux Panier where each of the five rooms is changed every year. Each room is a work of art.

Here's an example, by graffiti artist Tilt:



I think this particular room would give me a headache...

Saturday, 28 December 2013

Animals in awkward places... and they fit!

Amy sent us a load of animal photos, where they seem to find the most awkward places to sit... Thank you, Amy.
















Friday, 27 December 2013

And we're back!

We have arrived back from dropping Billy at the airport about an hour ago. I meant to write a post straight away, but stopped by the kitchen to make some soup for our dinner. I must confess to being very scatterbrained these days - I've stopped smoking...

Peter is watching a program about antiques and they showed this fantastic castle. The presenter said that construction started in 1268 and the bulk of it was built in only 3 years!