Family Business

Last weekend we got to spend some time with some relatives we hadn't met before. Izzy (my cousin's daughter) is visiting as an exchange student. Also on the guest list was Daniel (my other cousin's son) who lives here in Melbourne. Izzy's host Madi, two of my kids, and Daniel's three half-siblings were all there, so it was a fun filled day for them, all put on by Deb and David, the host parents for the student exchange. Thanks to everyone for coming together and having such a lovely day!

Madi is on the left here, and Izzy in the middle.

Here's all the kids - oops, Thomas must be getting more sausages off the barbeque....

And here's Daniel with Karen and Royston - relationships too hard to describe, but they're all our people now!

Traffic report

Lane closures force motorists to take to balloons.

What I have to put up with

Jeff left for work this morning, but not before checking the mail.

Recovering from a cardiac ablation

Here we go with a special blog post, all about what it's like to be getting over the heart procedure I've just had. I gave it a nice detailed title, because you never know when this stuff is a good read for a total stranger.

I had my ablation on Thursday last, and now it's Wednesday night. This is my second go at this procedure - the first time was a few years ago, and I wrote in detail about what the procedure was like. This time was a lot the same, except they opted for lighter sedation. I winced a few times, and consequently the catheter site and IV site are black and blue! Recovering now though.

As I lay in the hospital that afternoon I could already notice the difference- I had got used to feeling an odd heartbeat every few seconds (and not in a pattern, of course). But now it was just calm the whole time. That's pretty positive!

I got woken up around 11 pm for an injection, and again at 5.30am for an ECG. They still asked me how I slept! I got to go home by about 10.

I took home a little blue makeup case they gave me - wow, a goody bag! Turns out it was full of injections! I was supposed to inject myself with blood thinner for three days. I know people do it, but I wasn't game. I saw the GP the next day (got her to look over the bruises too), then saw the clinic nurse the second day. On the third day, the car park was so full I realized it would be a huge wait. So Jeff bravely stepped up to the task. His injection site is the least bruised!

I rested on the sofa most of the weekend, apart from a brief jaunt to the shops to take Catriona to a cool event. I found a sofa there too so it was just like home.

On Monday I went back to work- Jeff drives me right to the door, so it's pretty easy. I stayed all day on Monday, but on Tuesday and today I bailed an hour early. There was a moment when a coworker asked me a simple question- something like "how do we get the figure in column 3"? I looked it up, and shuffled slowly to his desk. "oh, in that case, how do we get column 2?" "What?? You mean I have to go all the way back to my desk and find that too???". His desk is about ten steps from mine...

So what it feels like now is a bit hard to describe. I tell people I'm tired, because that's easy to understand, but really I'm getting odd discomfort whenever I do too much. It feels a bit like heartburn, a bit like a sore throat, and a bit like 'I-promised-myself-I-wouldn't-cry'. "Too much" can be just about anything, including sitting up in a chair for a few hours. So I'm lying on the sofa every spare minute.

I'm getting as many things delivered as I can, and the thought of grocery shopping is ... well, it's not gonna happen.

Just for fun, Jeff leaves for the US on Sunday, so my capable teens will have to pitch in. Good thing they are all nifty cooks, and that we all love simple dinners!

What to do next?

I've been painting stuff again. And using huge punches. And using dictionary pages. So far this is far as I've got, but I'm liking it!

Getting through my recovery

With the help of my assistant Catriona.

But I have to ...

It's for my health!

Totally awesome bears!

Each bear decorated by a different designer- lovely!

I think I'm looking forward to breakfast already

Oh, wait, no, tomorrow I have to FAST!

I know what you're thinking...

Good thing that floor's nice and clean!

Joy free zone

Spontaneous humming also frowned on.

Big fashion parade tonight

...and we get to clean the stage...

Narcissistic? Moi?

A display at Chadstone - I ( heart) me!
Tonight's goal is to stay out late and get tired, prior to tomorrow's hosital visit. They'll only send me home if I can't show any arrhythmia, and this is the best way to bring it on!
PS they are giving out sparkling wine too!

Pretty things on my desk at work

Admire the silver tea pot, please.

Just waiting for Jeff to finish talking.

Vegetarian burger!

You can get these a Lord of the Fries, and they are yummy!

Reading in public places

It's best if you bring a book each.

Hard Rubbish Day in Vermont South

I know, I know, when it's hard rubbish day, I'm supposed to rave about the awful junk we got rid of, and the awesome treasures we saw outside other people's houses. Well, our junk was prettymundane (even some excess cardboard boxes - now that's mundane).

But one thing has rescued the suburb from mundanity. SOMEBODY (no, not me, and not anyone I know) has dragged lots of mattresses from various hard rubbish piles, and had a giant game of dominoes!

Now that is cool! Probably naughty in a lot of ways too, but marvellous anyway.

If you are quick you can see them in Billabong Park, Vermont South. Before someone rolls up their sleeves and carts the lot away.

TERROR is his middle name!

... And Cichlid is his proper surname, just for reference. This is just one of the marvellous fish on display at the Melbourne Aquarium. We had a super day out there back on Australia Day (and here it is nearly Labour Day!)

Well that was fun, says the Axolotl. Wotl we do next?

Oh, I know, I'll wish Gail a happy birthday!