It's 7.30am on my day off and I'm out of bed...things can only get better from here.
I am about to leave for Queenscliff to umpire two games of football, U/16 & Colts. It's been COLD the last few days so I've got three layers on and hoping it doesn't rain.
Once my duties are finished I'm heading up to Melbourne to see one of my best mates, and loyal reader, Birchy who is in town for a family event. 8 of us are going to the footy at the MCG tonight, Geelong v Collingwood. Regardless of ladder position or form this is always a BIG game but I'm quietly confident the Cats will win their 6th straight game of the season.
It will be great to see Birchy and catch up on one another's news.
In other news, Spike flew back to WA on Wednesday having been "offered" a job with a mate of his. Hopefully the offer will bear fruit. I'll miss him but he is a restless spirit and I suspect he'll be back and forth across the country for a while. Now who does that remind me of?
Pop is doing well and flying solo at the moment as Vicki has come home. His surgery is booked in for June 13 so I'm heading up to Queensland again on the 11th. We're expecting it to knock him around a fair bit based on the last experience. Vicki and Mrs Holt Press will follow a couple of weeks later.
Oops, out of time, gotta go
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Friday, May 10, 2013
A Good Day Ahead
Vicki is coming home today which is good news in three ways:
1. It will be good to see her
2. It means Dad is well enough to look after himself for the next few weeks, the first time he'll be flying solo since he got sick.
and
3. Vicki will get home in time to come to the footy with us tonight: The Geelong v Essendon Blockbuster, with both teams undefeated after 6 rounds. A mate, Neil, is also coming to the game, along with Favourite Daughter and sport Boy. Shuld be a great game, and possibly another nail-biting thriller.
I've just had a couple of days off which was spent umpiring a school footy game, having a follow-up appointment to my recent gastroscopy -with the results coming back all clear- and cutting up firewood.
My love-hate relationship continues with the chainsaw!
Spike is doing better health-wise but is restless so on the "promise" of a job with a mate back in Perth is heading back to WA next week. I will miss him.
Gotta start work in 30 min, 5.56am. adios
1. It will be good to see her
2. It means Dad is well enough to look after himself for the next few weeks, the first time he'll be flying solo since he got sick.
and
3. Vicki will get home in time to come to the footy with us tonight: The Geelong v Essendon Blockbuster, with both teams undefeated after 6 rounds. A mate, Neil, is also coming to the game, along with Favourite Daughter and sport Boy. Shuld be a great game, and possibly another nail-biting thriller.
I've just had a couple of days off which was spent umpiring a school footy game, having a follow-up appointment to my recent gastroscopy -with the results coming back all clear- and cutting up firewood.
My love-hate relationship continues with the chainsaw!
Spike is doing better health-wise but is restless so on the "promise" of a job with a mate back in Perth is heading back to WA next week. I will miss him.
Gotta start work in 30 min, 5.56am. adios
Thursday, April 25, 2013
ANZAC Day 2013
We've got to go back to Daylesford. Tuesday was a day off so Favourite daughter and I drove up to Bendigo to pick up Spike who had been house-sitting for a friend. Apart from lonliness it had gone well until the two dogs, Boomer and Frog had a massive fight on Saturday night that left both of them covered in blood and Frog requiring urgent attention from a vet. He handled it well in the circumstances but suffice to say Spike was glad to see us when we arrived to collect him. It would have been nice to do more in Bendigo than have lunch and check out a couple of op shops but we were keen to get to Daylesford, because Daylesford is home to a massive Mill Market, an Aladdin's Cave of all things retro and collectable. I hunted around for an hour and although I didn't find any football badges, I enjoyed seeing all the cool old stuff.
By then it was getting dark and there was no time to have a look at the rest of the town but we all agreed it looked like a really lovely and interesting place and thus we would have to go back again for a better look.
The kids bought coffee and we headed for Geelong where we picked up another trailer load of sleepers and some noodles for dinner. I've been picking up sleepers from a secret location and cutting them up for firewood with my latest toy, a chain saw! (manly grunts etc). In fact I've acquired enough to sell a few trailer-loads of firewood and still have plenty to keep Mrs HP warm in the coming winter.
I worked today (Public Holiday = double time = $ = :) ) I didn't go to the dawn service but I did enjoy listening to the ANZAC commemorations on the radio before the football. Today was the 98th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings. There are no WW1 veterans left and even the WW2 vets are dwindling in number. I wonder how long the ANZAC ceremony will continue to be observed? The continued interest and support of children, young people and the general population suggests it won't cease any time soon which is a good thing but it will seem odd if we are still observing it in 50 or 100 years time.
By then it was getting dark and there was no time to have a look at the rest of the town but we all agreed it looked like a really lovely and interesting place and thus we would have to go back again for a better look.
The kids bought coffee and we headed for Geelong where we picked up another trailer load of sleepers and some noodles for dinner. I've been picking up sleepers from a secret location and cutting them up for firewood with my latest toy, a chain saw! (manly grunts etc). In fact I've acquired enough to sell a few trailer-loads of firewood and still have plenty to keep Mrs HP warm in the coming winter.
I worked today (Public Holiday = double time = $ = :) ) I didn't go to the dawn service but I did enjoy listening to the ANZAC commemorations on the radio before the football. Today was the 98th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings. There are no WW1 veterans left and even the WW2 vets are dwindling in number. I wonder how long the ANZAC ceremony will continue to be observed? The continued interest and support of children, young people and the general population suggests it won't cease any time soon which is a good thing but it will seem odd if we are still observing it in 50 or 100 years time.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Update
I've gotta go to work in 5 min so this will be brief:
Dad is doing very well on his treatment regime.
Bruce and Paula came over for a week of footy and family visits and had a great time.
Bruce has gone on up to Gympie to spend a week with dad.
Vicki is home for a couple of weeks and we went to the footy on Saturday night to see the Cats record another great win to start the season.
Spike is house-sitting for a friend in Bendigo but is possibly heading back to Perth where there is the prospect of a job for him working with a mate.
Favourite Daughter and Sport Boy spent last week at Soul Survivor, a Christian youth festival and had a fantastic time by all accounts.
Both of them have seen a new doctor recently and gotten some clear dianoses of there health problems. Sport Boy looks like he has coeliac (sic?) disease which means NO gluten in any form or quantity, ever.
Mrs HP is busy working, spending time with her Dad and trying to keep the household together.
I've just had 3 days off and went to the footy with Broady who is in town for work for a few days. We went out for dinner afterwards and spent the entire day talking and laughing: I love hanging out with him.
Yesterday I took Vicki and Mum up to Melb to get stuff for the new house etc and we all had dinner with Broady again.
That's my 5 mins.
Cheers
Dad is doing very well on his treatment regime.
Bruce and Paula came over for a week of footy and family visits and had a great time.
Bruce has gone on up to Gympie to spend a week with dad.
Vicki is home for a couple of weeks and we went to the footy on Saturday night to see the Cats record another great win to start the season.
Spike is house-sitting for a friend in Bendigo but is possibly heading back to Perth where there is the prospect of a job for him working with a mate.
Favourite Daughter and Sport Boy spent last week at Soul Survivor, a Christian youth festival and had a fantastic time by all accounts.
Both of them have seen a new doctor recently and gotten some clear dianoses of there health problems. Sport Boy looks like he has coeliac (sic?) disease which means NO gluten in any form or quantity, ever.
Mrs HP is busy working, spending time with her Dad and trying to keep the household together.
I've just had 3 days off and went to the footy with Broady who is in town for work for a few days. We went out for dinner afterwards and spent the entire day talking and laughing: I love hanging out with him.
Yesterday I took Vicki and Mum up to Melb to get stuff for the new house etc and we all had dinner with Broady again.
That's my 5 mins.
Cheers
Monday, April 01, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
Last Night in Gympie
This is my last night in Gympie for this trip. Mrs Holt Press and I are planning to be back in June when I have three weeks holiday and Dad is due to have surgery.
Things have gone well. I've taken on chauffeur/support duties while Vicki has been able to stay home and rest the last week. With no treatment over the weekend things were pretty quiet for all of us.
On Saturday we drove down to Tin Can Bay and had lunch with Dad's good friends Ken and Jackie. It was very pleasant and peaceful sitting by the water and sharing stories, laughs and good company.
On Sunday morning Vicki and I had a browse around the Southside markets before finding our way to The Palms for a look at where Pop first lived when he moved to Gympie.
In the afternoon I got busy in the back yard, whipper-snipping and then trimming the bamboo which has been a bone of contention with one of Dad's neighbours. With another neighbour's help I tidied it up and we took a trailer load to the tip. By the end of that exertion I was hot, sweaty and slightly sunburnt but satisfied with my efforts.
After the first week of radiation and chemotherapy Dad is holding up very well. So far there have been none of the "usual" side-effects: no nausea, no vomiting, no hair-loss (although with the latter it would be hard to tell). We are glad about that and hopeful it will continue. About the only symptom of the treatment so far is that Dad feels lethargic a lot of the time.
I've enjoyed spending the time driving Dad down to Maroochydore each day. Our conversations have ranged far and wide and been laced with laughter and reminiscences.
Today was particularly busy because as well as the radiation we had appointments for blood tests, PICC dressing, wound dressing, stoma condition, chemo canister changeover and to see Dr Alex, Dad's oncologist. In the midst of all that and because it took about an hour and a half longer than we'd anticipated, we forgot to move the car in the 3 hour car park and came back to find that the friendly parking inspector had left us a note just 10 minutes before we got there!
Pop took it in his stride and we went and had some lunch before driving home to Gympie.
By this time tomorrow night I'll be airborne and heading back to Victoria.
I start work at 6 o'clock Wed morning so I hope the flight is not delayed.
My Favourite Daughter will pick me up from Tullamarine. She turned 24 yesterday!
It is hard to believe she's that old already. She is a beautiful young woman with a lovely spirit, a generous heart and a creative streak which she puts to use in her photography and her art and craft. I love her more than words can say.
Things have gone well. I've taken on chauffeur/support duties while Vicki has been able to stay home and rest the last week. With no treatment over the weekend things were pretty quiet for all of us.
On Saturday we drove down to Tin Can Bay and had lunch with Dad's good friends Ken and Jackie. It was very pleasant and peaceful sitting by the water and sharing stories, laughs and good company.
On Sunday morning Vicki and I had a browse around the Southside markets before finding our way to The Palms for a look at where Pop first lived when he moved to Gympie.
After the first week of radiation and chemotherapy Dad is holding up very well. So far there have been none of the "usual" side-effects: no nausea, no vomiting, no hair-loss (although with the latter it would be hard to tell). We are glad about that and hopeful it will continue. About the only symptom of the treatment so far is that Dad feels lethargic a lot of the time.
I've enjoyed spending the time driving Dad down to Maroochydore each day. Our conversations have ranged far and wide and been laced with laughter and reminiscences.
Today was particularly busy because as well as the radiation we had appointments for blood tests, PICC dressing, wound dressing, stoma condition, chemo canister changeover and to see Dr Alex, Dad's oncologist. In the midst of all that and because it took about an hour and a half longer than we'd anticipated, we forgot to move the car in the 3 hour car park and came back to find that the friendly parking inspector had left us a note just 10 minutes before we got there!
Pop took it in his stride and we went and had some lunch before driving home to Gympie.
By this time tomorrow night I'll be airborne and heading back to Victoria.
I start work at 6 o'clock Wed morning so I hope the flight is not delayed.
My Favourite Daughter will pick me up from Tullamarine. She turned 24 yesterday!
It is hard to believe she's that old already. She is a beautiful young woman with a lovely spirit, a generous heart and a creative streak which she puts to use in her photography and her art and craft. I love her more than words can say.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Reporting From Gympie
I'm back in Queensland to visit Dad for a week. Vicki is back here too after a brief return home to visit her new house. This means we can share the load a bit in helping to look after Dad. His radiation treatment and chemotherapy started on Monday and will run for 28 sessions in all, which with weekends and Easter will take it up until the end of April.
Treatment involves driving down to the radiation clinic at Maroochydore each day, about a 90 minute trip each way, and occasional trips to Gympie and Nambour hospitals. Thankfully there have been no unpleasant side-effects yet and dad is managing the travel and treatment regime very well. We are all aware that it may get difficult and unpleasant as it progresses so we are enjoying the ease of this phase with gratitude. I had my first lesson (hands-on) in changing his colostomy bag today which wasn't quite as confronting in reality as it had been in my imagination. Dad has adjusted to it very well and the whole process is handled with a minimum of fuss.
Me being here meant that Vicki could take the day off and stay home today which is a welcome relief for her. I'll take driver/companion duties for the next few days while I'm here. I fly back to Victoria on Tuesday afternoon and return to work at 6 o'clock Wed morning.
Wed night I "receive" my Christmas present when I achieve a long-held ambition: to see Bruce Springsteen in concert, at Rod Laver Arena. I have been a big fan of The Boss since the early 80's but this is the first chance I've had to see him live.
I have 11 days off work in total and on the weekend just gone Jordy and I hired a truck and drove up to Mum's place at Tatong to collect the remainder of Vicki's furniture etc. The trip went well and Jordy was a great help and good company. He liked Mum's place and even said he might go back up on his own for a visit.
Over the last few weeks I have been collecting old railway sleepers from a railway stockpile (with permission) and bringing them home to cut up for firewood. I burnt out the motor of the powersaw I bought on ebay because the wood is too hard so I've graduated and bought myself a chainsaw! Woohoo! (Imagine Manly grunts and gestures). With an abundance of good quality firewood for the winter not only should the notoriously poikilothermic Mrs Holt Press stay warm but we might be able to sell off a couple of trailer-loads of firewood as well. Jordy and I will split the workload and the profits on the venture.
Finally I can't blog without saying how much I'm looking forward to the return of the footy season with the opening game tomorrow night. The Summer hiatus is almost over. Bring it on.
Treatment involves driving down to the radiation clinic at Maroochydore each day, about a 90 minute trip each way, and occasional trips to Gympie and Nambour hospitals. Thankfully there have been no unpleasant side-effects yet and dad is managing the travel and treatment regime very well. We are all aware that it may get difficult and unpleasant as it progresses so we are enjoying the ease of this phase with gratitude. I had my first lesson (hands-on) in changing his colostomy bag today which wasn't quite as confronting in reality as it had been in my imagination. Dad has adjusted to it very well and the whole process is handled with a minimum of fuss.
Me being here meant that Vicki could take the day off and stay home today which is a welcome relief for her. I'll take driver/companion duties for the next few days while I'm here. I fly back to Victoria on Tuesday afternoon and return to work at 6 o'clock Wed morning.
Wed night I "receive" my Christmas present when I achieve a long-held ambition: to see Bruce Springsteen in concert, at Rod Laver Arena. I have been a big fan of The Boss since the early 80's but this is the first chance I've had to see him live.
I have 11 days off work in total and on the weekend just gone Jordy and I hired a truck and drove up to Mum's place at Tatong to collect the remainder of Vicki's furniture etc. The trip went well and Jordy was a great help and good company. He liked Mum's place and even said he might go back up on his own for a visit.
Over the last few weeks I have been collecting old railway sleepers from a railway stockpile (with permission) and bringing them home to cut up for firewood. I burnt out the motor of the powersaw I bought on ebay because the wood is too hard so I've graduated and bought myself a chainsaw! Woohoo! (Imagine Manly grunts and gestures). With an abundance of good quality firewood for the winter not only should the notoriously poikilothermic Mrs Holt Press stay warm but we might be able to sell off a couple of trailer-loads of firewood as well. Jordy and I will split the workload and the profits on the venture.
Finally I can't blog without saying how much I'm looking forward to the return of the footy season with the opening game tomorrow night. The Summer hiatus is almost over. Bring it on.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Medical Update
Despite my best intentions, my blogging has become spasmodic again. If you are one of my loyally persistent readers, thank you for your patience.
I am currently suffering a broken toe, the 2nd toe on my right foot. I have no idea how I broke it, I have no memory of doing anything bad to it, either accidentally or on purpose. But it HURTS!
There is no correlation between the size of the toe and the level of pain it is generating. It hurts BAD!
And it seems that in the exhaustive annals of medical science, there is no treatment for a broken toe!
But enough of my whingeing.
My Dad is having a much tougher time than I am.
On Monday he starts 4-6 weeks of intensive radiation and chemotherapy treatment on the cancer in his bowel. Then follows a "recovery" period before further surgery to (hopefully) remove the tumour. The op is planned for early June. The whole saga has been very difficult already and is probably going to get worse before it gets better. Dad has always said "I've never been sick a day in my life". Sadly that has all changed drastically.
At the moment my big brother Alan is staying in Gympie to help look after him which has allowed Vicki to come home for a break, and to "settle" into her new home in Leopold. Jordy and I are taking a truck up to Mum's place at Tatong on the weekend to collect the last of Vicki's furniture.
She is going back up to Queensland on Saturday night and will tag team with Alan as he returns to WA Sunday night.
Then I am flying up on Tuesday arvo and will stay for a week as Dad commences the treatment.
None of us knows how Dad will react to the treatment but we're anticipating it will be pretty bad.
Hopefully Vicki and I can support him and one another as it gets underway.
My little brother Bruce is going up for a week in April to help share the load which is falling primarily on Vicki. Dad is not rapt about being the centre of attention as he hates to be a "burden". Needless to say we don't see it as a burden, rather it is our responsibility and our desire to care for our Dad when he needs it most. Happily I have several weeks of holidays and time-off I can take as needed. I have holidays in June and Carolyn and I were going up to Queensland alread. Now we'll be able to be there in the post-op recovery period.
On behalf of Dad let me say thank you for the many get well wishes and prayers that have been expressed for him.
Pic taken a couple of days after the first operation, in Nambour Hospital
I am currently suffering a broken toe, the 2nd toe on my right foot. I have no idea how I broke it, I have no memory of doing anything bad to it, either accidentally or on purpose. But it HURTS!
There is no correlation between the size of the toe and the level of pain it is generating. It hurts BAD!
And it seems that in the exhaustive annals of medical science, there is no treatment for a broken toe!
But enough of my whingeing.
My Dad is having a much tougher time than I am.
On Monday he starts 4-6 weeks of intensive radiation and chemotherapy treatment on the cancer in his bowel. Then follows a "recovery" period before further surgery to (hopefully) remove the tumour. The op is planned for early June. The whole saga has been very difficult already and is probably going to get worse before it gets better. Dad has always said "I've never been sick a day in my life". Sadly that has all changed drastically.
At the moment my big brother Alan is staying in Gympie to help look after him which has allowed Vicki to come home for a break, and to "settle" into her new home in Leopold. Jordy and I are taking a truck up to Mum's place at Tatong on the weekend to collect the last of Vicki's furniture.
She is going back up to Queensland on Saturday night and will tag team with Alan as he returns to WA Sunday night.
Then I am flying up on Tuesday arvo and will stay for a week as Dad commences the treatment.
None of us knows how Dad will react to the treatment but we're anticipating it will be pretty bad.
Hopefully Vicki and I can support him and one another as it gets underway.
My little brother Bruce is going up for a week in April to help share the load which is falling primarily on Vicki. Dad is not rapt about being the centre of attention as he hates to be a "burden". Needless to say we don't see it as a burden, rather it is our responsibility and our desire to care for our Dad when he needs it most. Happily I have several weeks of holidays and time-off I can take as needed. I have holidays in June and Carolyn and I were going up to Queensland alread. Now we'll be able to be there in the post-op recovery period.
On behalf of Dad let me say thank you for the many get well wishes and prayers that have been expressed for him.
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Last Day in Gympie
Vicki and I are about to leave for Nambour to see Dad. He had a quieter day yesterday, with a lot less medical information to digest. Vicki stayed home and rested for the day while I visited him. I'm flying home to Victoria tomorrow morning so she will be doing the heavy lifting after that.
There is a plan in place for Pop's treatment, now we just have to pray and wait for each stage to be carried out. It is going to be pretty tough on him I suspect considering how much this first episode has knocked him around.
His best mate Warren aka Greenie is coming up to see him today and then I will hitch a ride back to Brisbane with him in order to make my flight tomorrow morning. Back to work tomorrow arvo!
Thanks for those who are praying for Dad.
M
There is a plan in place for Pop's treatment, now we just have to pray and wait for each stage to be carried out. It is going to be pretty tough on him I suspect considering how much this first episode has knocked him around.
His best mate Warren aka Greenie is coming up to see him today and then I will hitch a ride back to Brisbane with him in order to make my flight tomorrow morning. Back to work tomorrow arvo!
Thanks for those who are praying for Dad.
M
Friday, February 22, 2013
My Dad
On Tuesday night I got a message to call in and see my sister Vicki on the way home from work.
She had bad news. Dad was in hospital having had emergency bowel surgery the day before.
And the Dr thinks he has bowel cancer.
Wow! It came as a hammer blow! Pop had only been down to visit a few weeks ago and suddenly he's in ICU following major surgery and has cancer!! It was hard to comprehend.
Between us we rang the rest of the family and some close friends to let them know about dad's condition.
Vicki and I both agreed we should fly straight up to Queensland to be with him which we subsequently did on Wed afternoon.
He is in Nambour Hospital and is receiving wonderful care from the amazing staff. He is weak and tired, runs out of puff and has little appetite but has improved a bit each day. At present he has a colostomy bag but we are hopeful that that won't be a permanent thing. Today was very busy with a procession of doctors and other medicos coming to see him to discuss his treatment and management. It is likely that he will come home early next week but that will be followed by a succession of procedures, starting with further tests then radiation and chemo before another operation to remove the tumour. This should happen over the next 3-4 weeks.
It has been a traumatic and emotional time for Dad, and for Vicki and I and we are glad we were able to come and be with him. For a man who has enjoyed remarkably good health for most of his 76 years it has been very confronting to experience such sudden and serious problems.
Equally it has been confronting for me to see my Dad in this state, to see his vulnerability and mortality. My feelings and love for him have never been stronger, nor more necessary as we try to support, comfort and care for him.
I have to fly home to Victoria on Monday to go back to work but thankfully Vicki is able to stay on and help Pop with all that lies ahead in the next few weeks. She had just moved into her new home and was expecting the movers to deliver her furniture the day we left so the timing wasn't great for her. Needless to say, even something as big as moving into her new home was never going to be more important than caring for Dad. She's doing an amazing job. I wish I could stay here and help her with it but the economic necessities of life can't be ignored.
She had bad news. Dad was in hospital having had emergency bowel surgery the day before.
And the Dr thinks he has bowel cancer.
Wow! It came as a hammer blow! Pop had only been down to visit a few weeks ago and suddenly he's in ICU following major surgery and has cancer!! It was hard to comprehend.
Between us we rang the rest of the family and some close friends to let them know about dad's condition.
Vicki and I both agreed we should fly straight up to Queensland to be with him which we subsequently did on Wed afternoon.
He is in Nambour Hospital and is receiving wonderful care from the amazing staff. He is weak and tired, runs out of puff and has little appetite but has improved a bit each day. At present he has a colostomy bag but we are hopeful that that won't be a permanent thing. Today was very busy with a procession of doctors and other medicos coming to see him to discuss his treatment and management. It is likely that he will come home early next week but that will be followed by a succession of procedures, starting with further tests then radiation and chemo before another operation to remove the tumour. This should happen over the next 3-4 weeks.
It has been a traumatic and emotional time for Dad, and for Vicki and I and we are glad we were able to come and be with him. For a man who has enjoyed remarkably good health for most of his 76 years it has been very confronting to experience such sudden and serious problems.
Equally it has been confronting for me to see my Dad in this state, to see his vulnerability and mortality. My feelings and love for him have never been stronger, nor more necessary as we try to support, comfort and care for him.
I have to fly home to Victoria on Monday to go back to work but thankfully Vicki is able to stay on and help Pop with all that lies ahead in the next few weeks. She had just moved into her new home and was expecting the movers to deliver her furniture the day we left so the timing wasn't great for her. Needless to say, even something as big as moving into her new home was never going to be more important than caring for Dad. She's doing an amazing job. I wish I could stay here and help her with it but the economic necessities of life can't be ignored.
Monday, February 18, 2013
They Said It Can't Be Done!
This story starts over 100 years ago with the beginning of "Thomas Jewellers" an institution in Geelong. Situated on the corner of Moorabool and Malop Streets it has enjoyed primacy in the city for over a century.
Thomas recently underwent a makeover, rumoured to have cost over a million dollars! I've never been into the shop but the outside has certainly been spruced up.
A few months ago, while the refurbishment was still going on, I was driving the Nightrider bus which takes the pubbers and clubbers home to the coastal towns around Geelong through the early hours of a Sunday morning. That's when I spotted something interesting in a skip bin outside Thomas. NB. This is not THE skip bin in question, it's just an example of A skip bin for the sake of the post.
I particularly liked all the different sized and shaped hutches and a vision formed in my mind of transforming it into a bookcase by sawing it in half. From side to side. To form two "identical bookcases which might even sit one on top of the other.
But how to do it? Cutting something like this cabinet with all of it's shelves, struts and dividers would be tricky.
"That's a %*@> of a job mate a real %*@>, can't help you"
Fair enough. Back to the drawing board.
What about a chainsaw? Chris next door has one and while he was willing, he was very reluctant.
"It'll just chew it to pieces Marcus!"
Hmmm!
What to do?
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Obviously it was a specialist job, requiring specialist tools. Time to hit ebay.
A circular power saw should work for the outside.
Lo and behold, there's a power saw going for $20 in Gympie.
Pop lives in Gympie!
45 minutes till the bidding closes.
Ring ring.
G'day Pop, can you go onto ebay and look at something for me?
OK.
20 minutes and half a dozen attempts later we were finally looking at the same item!
Pardon the pun but we were cutting it fine!
Yeah it looks alright Son and yes I can bring it down with me in January if you win it.
Thanks Pop.
I was the only bidder so for $20 and a personal courier to transport it a couple of thousand km I had the first tool I'd need.
Next on the list was a jigsaw which I managed to get at a garage sale for $10.
The final and critical tool was Mum's "Renovator". You may have seen them advertised on TV. I can vouch for them as being a very handy and adaptable cutting device.
Note the combination of safety glasses and steel toed socks he chose for the job!
A precision job like this one requires careful measurement!!! In reality I was just trying to establish a line to follow with the saws.
Suffice to say it was tricky and required a high degree of problem solving, not to mention the semi-dismantling of the cabinet, but after an hour or so I had achieved the first part of the task: The cabinet was separated into two roughly equal parts. The final cuts, made in the narrowest sections were achieved using the Renovator with the blade turned back towards me, quite a neat trick if I do say so myself.
"half-cabinet A" was back in one piece.
Next came the sanding and tidying up. Admittedly the back of each cabinet was pretty munted due to the difficulty of getting to each surface and section but as they will spend their lives hidden up against the wall I was not worried about that. A couple of hours of sanding had them both in good enough order to be moved inside although the second one had to await a spray of varnish.
So, to all the scoffers and doubters and those who said it couldn't be done: I did it!!
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
World Series Poper
You may have heard that the Pope has resigned. First Pope to do so in 600 odd years apparently. Normally the Pontiff's retirement party features a coffin. Not this time.
My mate Al is a committed Catholic. In fact a few years ago when Pope Benedict visited Australia Al and I went to see him in Sydney (along with a couple of hundred thousand other people).
Upon hearing the news yesterday I sent Al a text.
No more German Shepherd
After a bit of repartee Al came up with the brilliant idea that:
The modern church should hold a "Pope Idol" contest to choose a successor.
He also offered "Pimp my Pope".
I liked the idea and so we started brainstorming Reality Style TV shows to choose the new Pope.
Me: "The Choice"
Al: "No Queer Eye for the Vatican Guy"
Me: "Savivor"
Al: venturing away from the reality genre- "How I met your Pope"
Me: "The Amazing Grace"
Me: "Masterchief"
Al: "Two and a half Popes"
Me: "My Pontiff Rules"
Al: "Extreme Popeover"
Al: "Law and Odear we need a new Pope"
Me: "Popey Days"
Me: "The Vatican wants a Pope"
Me: "Vatman"
Me: "The Biggest Pray-er"
Me: "Dancing with the Cardinals"
Al: "So You think you're Infallible"
and my personal favourite
"World Series Poper", with the tagline "Just gotta play the Cards right"
We kept ourselves amused for over an hour!
My mate Al is a committed Catholic. In fact a few years ago when Pope Benedict visited Australia Al and I went to see him in Sydney (along with a couple of hundred thousand other people).
Upon hearing the news yesterday I sent Al a text.
No more German Shepherd
After a bit of repartee Al came up with the brilliant idea that:
The modern church should hold a "Pope Idol" contest to choose a successor.
He also offered "Pimp my Pope".
I liked the idea and so we started brainstorming Reality Style TV shows to choose the new Pope.
Me: "The Choice"
Al: "No Queer Eye for the Vatican Guy"
Me: "Savivor"
Al: venturing away from the reality genre- "How I met your Pope"
Me: "The Amazing Grace"
Me: "Masterchief"
Al: "Two and a half Popes"
Me: "My Pontiff Rules"
Al: "Extreme Popeover"
Al: "Law and Odear we need a new Pope"
Me: "Popey Days"
Me: "The Vatican wants a Pope"
Me: "Vatman"
Me: "The Biggest Pray-er"
Me: "Dancing with the Cardinals"
Al: "So You think you're Infallible"
and my personal favourite
"World Series Poper", with the tagline "Just gotta play the Cards right"
We kept ourselves amused for over an hour!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Garage Sale @ Holt Press
I love garage sales.
I love going to them and I love having them.
Yesterday we had one, partly as a result of going to too many of them!
It was successful in both of the critical factors that determine a successful garage sale:
1. We got rid of a lot of stuff we didn't want
2. We made some extra money, in this case about $400.
The car is loaded with the leftovers ready for delivery to an op shop.
The garage is much less cluttered.
And I met lots of people and had a good time.
Talking of a good time, let me recommend a movie that Mrs Holt Press and I went to see this afternoon.
"Silver Linings Playbook". We both loved it. It's about a man coming home after being in a mental health facility to live with his parents, played by Robert DeNiro and Jacki Weaver who has been nominated for an Oscar for her performance. Well worth seeing.
I start work at 5.30 tomorrow morning so...good night!
I love going to them and I love having them.
Yesterday we had one, partly as a result of going to too many of them!
It was successful in both of the critical factors that determine a successful garage sale:
1. We got rid of a lot of stuff we didn't want
2. We made some extra money, in this case about $400.
The car is loaded with the leftovers ready for delivery to an op shop.
The garage is much less cluttered.
And I met lots of people and had a good time.
Talking of a good time, let me recommend a movie that Mrs Holt Press and I went to see this afternoon.
"Silver Linings Playbook". We both loved it. It's about a man coming home after being in a mental health facility to live with his parents, played by Robert DeNiro and Jacki Weaver who has been nominated for an Oscar for her performance. Well worth seeing.
I start work at 5.30 tomorrow morning so...good night!
Tuesday, February 05, 2013
Pics & Pieces
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Yes lucky. Check out the retro cars in the front yard and it missed them all!!!
Sunday, February 03, 2013
What are you trying to do? Kill me?
My body is in a state of shock.
No, not as a result of the COATC Diet.*
Rather because it was subjected to two hours of strenuous exercise today at a footy umpires training day!
They warned those of us unused to physical exercise that we might pay for our exertions tomorrow.
My body decided not to wait that long!
Mrs Holt Press kindly rubbed some Elmore Oil (snake oil?) into my back to deal with the worst of it.
Tomorrow could be unpleasant although mercifully I don't start work till after 3.
That in turn means I can watch the Superbowl in the morning. Go Ravens! (Sorry Paul if you're reading this!)
* Diet update: I am doing pretty well in avoiding all those sweet and tasty things that I used to indulge in but need to add exercise to the regime to start burning away the accumulated layers of fat. My good mate Birchy has had a lot of success with the "Every Other Day Diet" and has sent me some notes on it to encourage me to give it a go. (Thanks Birchy).
The Biggest Winner is up and running at work with 6 of us participating. A small but none-the-less encouraging beginning.
I have a backlog of blog posts to write but having gotten out of the habit of regular blogging it is not so easy to get back into it. Also our internet connection regularly fails despite the big bucks we pay for it.
The main "event" of the last few weeks was Pop's visit. He ventured south from Gympie and stayed with us for about a week during which time we did some really good things, which I intend to blog about once I get the pictures uploaded.
Mrs HP's Dad was in hospital for a few weeks after a couple of falls but he has returned home now with an increased level of care and support.
Sport Boy has gone back to school for the start of the new year.
The Heir finally got justice in a dispute with his former employer thanks to the aid of Fair Work Australia.
Favourite Daughter is having on-going health struggles but has had 2-3 photography jobs recently and is going into a partnership with a friend taking photos.
And Spike is planning to come back to Victoria shortly. Things haven't worked out as well as he hoped back in WA and he too has health problems which will be helped by having some stable accommodation and the love and support of his family.
No, not as a result of the COATC Diet.*
Rather because it was subjected to two hours of strenuous exercise today at a footy umpires training day!
They warned those of us unused to physical exercise that we might pay for our exertions tomorrow.
My body decided not to wait that long!
Mrs Holt Press kindly rubbed some Elmore Oil (snake oil?) into my back to deal with the worst of it.
Tomorrow could be unpleasant although mercifully I don't start work till after 3.
That in turn means I can watch the Superbowl in the morning. Go Ravens! (Sorry Paul if you're reading this!)
* Diet update: I am doing pretty well in avoiding all those sweet and tasty things that I used to indulge in but need to add exercise to the regime to start burning away the accumulated layers of fat. My good mate Birchy has had a lot of success with the "Every Other Day Diet" and has sent me some notes on it to encourage me to give it a go. (Thanks Birchy).
The Biggest Winner is up and running at work with 6 of us participating. A small but none-the-less encouraging beginning.
I have a backlog of blog posts to write but having gotten out of the habit of regular blogging it is not so easy to get back into it. Also our internet connection regularly fails despite the big bucks we pay for it.
The main "event" of the last few weeks was Pop's visit. He ventured south from Gympie and stayed with us for about a week during which time we did some really good things, which I intend to blog about once I get the pictures uploaded.
Mrs HP's Dad was in hospital for a few weeks after a couple of falls but he has returned home now with an increased level of care and support.
Sport Boy has gone back to school for the start of the new year.
The Heir finally got justice in a dispute with his former employer thanks to the aid of Fair Work Australia.
Favourite Daughter is having on-going health struggles but has had 2-3 photography jobs recently and is going into a partnership with a friend taking photos.
And Spike is planning to come back to Victoria shortly. Things haven't worked out as well as he hoped back in WA and he too has health problems which will be helped by having some stable accommodation and the love and support of his family.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Signs of the Times
One of the little treats driving the #30 to Corio along Thomson Road is anticipating what imaginative spelling (& grammar) I will find on the signs outside the fruit shop on the corner of Princess Road.
See what I mean for yourself.
(For the competitive among you, there are 12 mistakes I can find in these 9 pics. Can you find them all?)
As you can see there is more than one way to spell a word wrongly.
I've started to wonder if it's a deliberate ploy to attract attention!
Fair to say it's got mine.
PS. Thanks for the comments, a are thing on Holt Press these days. Birchy, I've tried looking for the EODD online and can only find books to buy, do you have something you can email me on it?
See what I mean for yourself.
(For the competitive among you, there are 12 mistakes I can find in these 9 pics. Can you find them all?)
I've started to wonder if it's a deliberate ploy to attract attention!
Fair to say it's got mine.
PS. Thanks for the comments, a are thing on Holt Press these days. Birchy, I've tried looking for the EODD online and can only find books to buy, do you have something you can email me on it?
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Easy as 1 2 3...
I don't normally make new year resolutions but for quite a while now I've been conscious of my weight and the need to lose a few many kilos.
The strategy is in 3 parts.
1. Go on that unpopular but effective diet, the COATC (Cut Out All The Crap)
So far so good. I've stopped carrying chocolate/lollies/snacks with me on the bus and have largely resisted my usual visits to bakeries etc.
2. Exercise more. Not hard when you start from such a low base! Thus the purchase of the mountain bike on the weekend. I've been on two rides already, over to Barwon Heads and back, the second in the company of Mrs HP. Our place is at the top of a steep hill so pushing myself to ride all the way home gets the pulse rate up. Mrs HP walked the last stage, complaining that her bottom was sore, again not surprising as it was her first bike ride in several years.
3. The Biggest Winner. I don't consider myself "Fat", just a bit overweight. Some of you are probably quoting The Castle about now: "Tell him he's dreaming"! Either way, compared to a LOT of the other drivers at work I am quite slim. There are some seriously obese blokes at work. A job that involves sitting on your bum 8 hours a day doesn't help but nor does lack of exercise and poor diet.
Pinching an idea from reality TV and tweaking it I have launched a weight loss competition at work called The Biggest Winner. Contestants put $100 in each and at the end of 6 months the person who's lost the most weight (by percentage of starting weight) wins all the money. So far there has been a fair bit of discussion, some stirring and an under-whelming sign-up response. Undeterred I have sought the support/sponsorship of the company who have agreed to put up some (modest) prize money for 1st 2nd & 3rd. I'm also cutting the entry fee in half in the hope of encouraging more people to have a go.
Two blokes today told me they're going to enter so if no-one else signs up we'll all win some dough!
Regardless of the outcome I am determined to drop a minimum of 10kgs and will push towards 15 as my next target. Feel free toencourage hold me accountable.
The strategy is in 3 parts.
1. Go on that unpopular but effective diet, the COATC (Cut Out All The Crap)
So far so good. I've stopped carrying chocolate/lollies/snacks with me on the bus and have largely resisted my usual visits to bakeries etc.
2. Exercise more. Not hard when you start from such a low base! Thus the purchase of the mountain bike on the weekend. I've been on two rides already, over to Barwon Heads and back, the second in the company of Mrs HP. Our place is at the top of a steep hill so pushing myself to ride all the way home gets the pulse rate up. Mrs HP walked the last stage, complaining that her bottom was sore, again not surprising as it was her first bike ride in several years.
3. The Biggest Winner. I don't consider myself "Fat", just a bit overweight. Some of you are probably quoting The Castle about now: "Tell him he's dreaming"! Either way, compared to a LOT of the other drivers at work I am quite slim. There are some seriously obese blokes at work. A job that involves sitting on your bum 8 hours a day doesn't help but nor does lack of exercise and poor diet.
Pinching an idea from reality TV and tweaking it I have launched a weight loss competition at work called The Biggest Winner. Contestants put $100 in each and at the end of 6 months the person who's lost the most weight (by percentage of starting weight) wins all the money. So far there has been a fair bit of discussion, some stirring and an under-whelming sign-up response. Undeterred I have sought the support/sponsorship of the company who have agreed to put up some (modest) prize money for 1st 2nd & 3rd. I'm also cutting the entry fee in half in the hope of encouraging more people to have a go.
Two blokes today told me they're going to enter so if no-one else signs up we'll all win some dough!
Regardless of the outcome I am determined to drop a minimum of 10kgs and will push towards 15 as my next target. Feel free to
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Saturday: A Welcome Day Off
After 5 days of very early starts it was a relief to have the weekend off and I enjoyed one of my favourite past-times yesterday: cruising garage sales.
My scores included:
A jig saw, (the cutting variety) haggled down from $10 to $8
A very good mountain bike, down from $40 to $25
A girl's mountain bike for Mrs HP for $10. (We are planning to do a ride along the Yarra River bike path from Greensborough to the city some time soon)
Two copies of the 2011 AFL Grand Final Footy Record in pristine condition for $2. I will keep one of them for Sport Boy as a memento of one of the best days we have ever spent together.
A cute pair of salt and pepper shakers for 50c
A set of filing shelves for work for $5
An old Richmond jumper for $2
and a Ben Harper CD for $1
At one sale there were a couple of ladies trying to fit two big armchairs into a 4WD so I offered to load them on my trailer and follow them home to drop them off. They were most appreciative, as was I when they let me use the dunny, I had been busting for over an hour!
Before heading home I stopped and loaded the trailer with a stack of old paling fence timber that has been sitting on a vacant lot on the #30 route for several months. What can't be used for woodwork/craft purposes will make excellent kindling for the fire.
Last night I drove the Nightrider Bus, which takes the night-clubbing crew home to Torquay-1.30, Lara-2.30, Ocean Grove-3.30 and Lara again-4.30.
On my way into work at 1am I stopped to pick up a bloke who was walking along the Portarlington Rd. It turned out that his wife had kicked him out of the car and gone home without him, to Bacchus Marsh!!! He had already walked about 10km from Portarlington but after I dropped him off in the city he still had another 50 odd km to get home! He was talking about taking a cab. As a former taxi driver I'd have liked that fare!! Hopefully his wife had cooled off by the time he got home!!
My scores included:
A jig saw, (the cutting variety) haggled down from $10 to $8
A very good mountain bike, down from $40 to $25
A girl's mountain bike for Mrs HP for $10. (We are planning to do a ride along the Yarra River bike path from Greensborough to the city some time soon)
Two copies of the 2011 AFL Grand Final Footy Record in pristine condition for $2. I will keep one of them for Sport Boy as a memento of one of the best days we have ever spent together.
A cute pair of salt and pepper shakers for 50c
A set of filing shelves for work for $5
An old Richmond jumper for $2
and a Ben Harper CD for $1
At one sale there were a couple of ladies trying to fit two big armchairs into a 4WD so I offered to load them on my trailer and follow them home to drop them off. They were most appreciative, as was I when they let me use the dunny, I had been busting for over an hour!
Before heading home I stopped and loaded the trailer with a stack of old paling fence timber that has been sitting on a vacant lot on the #30 route for several months. What can't be used for woodwork/craft purposes will make excellent kindling for the fire.
Last night I drove the Nightrider Bus, which takes the night-clubbing crew home to Torquay-1.30, Lara-2.30, Ocean Grove-3.30 and Lara again-4.30.
On my way into work at 1am I stopped to pick up a bloke who was walking along the Portarlington Rd. It turned out that his wife had kicked him out of the car and gone home without him, to Bacchus Marsh!!! He had already walked about 10km from Portarlington but after I dropped him off in the city he still had another 50 odd km to get home! He was talking about taking a cab. As a former taxi driver I'd have liked that fare!! Hopefully his wife had cooled off by the time he got home!!
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
Interior Decorating
To protect the guilty the identities of those involved in the following post will not be disclosed .
Any resemblance to a certain Holt Press family member is entirely possible.
Let's say a local teenager and his mate were hanging out one day when one of them needed to go to the toilet.
Badly.
So badly that they made their way to another mate's place for the express purpose of using the dunny.
When they got there there was no-one home but mercifully the door was open.
Nature was CALLING VERY LOUDLY.
They went in and the desperate teen found relief.
The other teenager suggested a practical joke while they were there.
"How about we rearrange the furniture a little?"
Typical adolescent humour in action. Not hilarious. A little immature but pretty harmless?
Interior decorating complete the teens moved on to other adventures.
Later that evening the phone rang in a house that may or may not be the residence of a certain blogger.
"Did ______ happen to come around to our place today while we were out?" asked the parent of the mate who wasn't home.
"I don't know. Why do you ask?"
"Whoever it was rearranged some of our furniture and we just want to talk to them about it. I'm sure they meant it as a joke but we're a bit concerned."
"OK, we'll talk to _______ and let you know what we find out".
A bit later: contact was made with the teenager in question who readily admitted to having been involved and thought it was a pretty funny joke.
"OK, well ________________ would like to talk to you about it tomorrow, he doesn't think it's as funny as you do. I'd suggest you explain and apologise and it should all be sorted out".
It seems there was no anger or thought of punishment, just concern...
Fair enough.
Next day: The teenager in question fronts up and apologises. Apparently he got a bit of a lengthy story about teenage high jinks and the need to respect other people's property. Other than that, no harm done. He remains a welcome visitor at said house. A good outcome.
But, there's a funny post-script.
Apparently the family decided they liked the new room arrangement better and have kept it the way the "offenders" left it!!
Any resemblance to a certain Holt Press family member is entirely possible.
Let's say a local teenager and his mate were hanging out one day when one of them needed to go to the toilet.
Badly.
So badly that they made their way to another mate's place for the express purpose of using the dunny.
When they got there there was no-one home but mercifully the door was open.
Nature was CALLING VERY LOUDLY.
They went in and the desperate teen found relief.
The other teenager suggested a practical joke while they were there.
"How about we rearrange the furniture a little?"
Typical adolescent humour in action. Not hilarious. A little immature but pretty harmless?
Interior decorating complete the teens moved on to other adventures.
Later that evening the phone rang in a house that may or may not be the residence of a certain blogger.
"Did ______ happen to come around to our place today while we were out?" asked the parent of the mate who wasn't home.
"I don't know. Why do you ask?"
"Whoever it was rearranged some of our furniture and we just want to talk to them about it. I'm sure they meant it as a joke but we're a bit concerned."
"OK, we'll talk to _______ and let you know what we find out".
A bit later: contact was made with the teenager in question who readily admitted to having been involved and thought it was a pretty funny joke.
"OK, well ________________ would like to talk to you about it tomorrow, he doesn't think it's as funny as you do. I'd suggest you explain and apologise and it should all be sorted out".
It seems there was no anger or thought of punishment, just concern...
Fair enough.
Next day: The teenager in question fronts up and apologises. Apparently he got a bit of a lengthy story about teenage high jinks and the need to respect other people's property. Other than that, no harm done. He remains a welcome visitor at said house. A good outcome.
But, there's a funny post-script.
Apparently the family decided they liked the new room arrangement better and have kept it the way the "offenders" left it!!
Tuesday, January 08, 2013
One Liner updates
Mrs Holt Press' Dad is in hospital following a couple of falls: I visited him today on my lunch break.
My Dad is on his way south, first to visit Auntie Merle and then on to spend a few days with us around the weekend.
Favourite Daughter has decided to sell her beloved Kombi for financial reasons. (Let me know if you are interested in a Kombi Campervan!)
Sport Boy is spending much of his holiday surfing.
The Heir has returned from Robe SA after visiting Briony's family for New Year. Apparently he passed muster.
Mrs HP has a full day of work in Torquay tomorrow, cleaning a house for some people who are moving.
In the absence of AFL or CFFL Cam and I have adopted the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL play-offs now that my Giants and his Browns are finished.
I am on earlies this week, 5:30 start tomorrow so am going to bed without watching Survivor!!
My Dad is on his way south, first to visit Auntie Merle and then on to spend a few days with us around the weekend.
Favourite Daughter has decided to sell her beloved Kombi for financial reasons. (Let me know if you are interested in a Kombi Campervan!)
Sport Boy is spending much of his holiday surfing.
The Heir has returned from Robe SA after visiting Briony's family for New Year. Apparently he passed muster.
Mrs HP has a full day of work in Torquay tomorrow, cleaning a house for some people who are moving.
In the absence of AFL or CFFL Cam and I have adopted the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL play-offs now that my Giants and his Browns are finished.
I am on earlies this week, 5:30 start tomorrow so am going to bed without watching Survivor!!
Saturday, January 05, 2013
Toes
A girl with four toes got on the bus today. Actually she had eight toes, four on each foot.
I don't normally look at people's feet when they get on the bus although considering how skimpily dressed some of the girls are it would be a safer option. I don't know why I looked at her feet but when I did I realised there was something slightly odd about them and a quick count confirmed she was short one toe on each foot. (She was wearing thongs in case you're wondering if I have suddenly developed X-Ray vision).
Being a master of tact I didn't say anything or ask to take a picture for my blog...You'll have to take my word for it.
I did wonder how much attention or grief her feet have caused her. Obviously not enough to cause her to hide them away. Good for her.
I don't normally look at people's feet when they get on the bus although considering how skimpily dressed some of the girls are it would be a safer option. I don't know why I looked at her feet but when I did I realised there was something slightly odd about them and a quick count confirmed she was short one toe on each foot. (She was wearing thongs in case you're wondering if I have suddenly developed X-Ray vision).
Being a master of tact I didn't say anything or ask to take a picture for my blog...You'll have to take my word for it.
I did wonder how much attention or grief her feet have caused her. Obviously not enough to cause her to hide them away. Good for her.
Thursday, January 03, 2013
T-Shirt Humour
A guy walked past me today wearing a T-Shirt that said:
I Love Animals
They're Delicious
I Love Animals
They're Delicious
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
Happy New Year
The New Year brings promise and hope.......that maybe the previously prolific blogger might rediscover his passion for prose.....maybe.....
We'll see.
The plan is regular and brief. (Bowel movement blogging?)
Snappy snippets for the hungry reading public, all two of you!
So, here goes.
Mid-afternoon on day off.
Text from Mrs HP.
"I'm going to be a while (at the hospital with her Dad) Do you want to start getting dinner ready?"
Reply from sincere but ill-informed blogger husband
"No worries, Favourite Daughter has already started cooking"
Half an hour later.
Favourite Daughter:
"Dad can you give me a lift to youth group?"
Dad:
"Sure. What's that?"
FD
"Dinner I cooked to take to group"
Dad
"oops!"
After delivering daughter and misinterpreted meal
Text to Mrs HP
"The good news is dinner is cooked.
The bad news is FD took it with her!
It wasn't for us!"
Final scene, Blogger Husband hastily cooks traditional get out of trouble meal, spaghetti bolognese...
We'll see.
The plan is regular and brief. (Bowel movement blogging?)
Snappy snippets for the hungry reading public, all two of you!
So, here goes.
Mid-afternoon on day off.
Text from Mrs HP.
"I'm going to be a while (at the hospital with her Dad) Do you want to start getting dinner ready?"
Reply from sincere but ill-informed blogger husband
"No worries, Favourite Daughter has already started cooking"
Half an hour later.
Favourite Daughter:
"Dad can you give me a lift to youth group?"
Dad:
"Sure. What's that?"
FD
"Dinner I cooked to take to group"
Dad
"oops!"
After delivering daughter and misinterpreted meal
Text to Mrs HP
"The good news is dinner is cooked.
The bad news is FD took it with her!
It wasn't for us!"
Final scene, Blogger Husband hastily cooks traditional get out of trouble meal, spaghetti bolognese...
Friday, November 09, 2012
First Tuesday in November
I had the luxury of three days off in a row over the weekend. We didn't plan anything special it was just good to relax and spend some time with the family.
We did have a celebratory meal on Sunday night, the first chance we'd had to mark Spike's 21st birthday which happened a couple of weeks ago. The Heir and his girlfriend were headed for Lorne for a couple of days so they couldn't join us but the rest of us ordered Chinese takeaway and had a lovely night sitting on the back verandah, laughing, eating, telling stories and reminiscing. The weather was good and a great time was had by all.
It is two years since we moved from Busselton and we agreed that while the time had gone quickly, a great deal has happened since we moved to Victoria.
On Monday Mrs Holt Press and I went up to Melblourne to see her old school friend Tracey who is an art curator at the Gasworks Gallery complex in South Melbourne to discuss the possibility of me having an exhibition there next year. She was very encouraging and keen to see it happen which was very affirming. From there we went to Ikea to buy a few frames to see how some of my drawings would look framed. We ate at the Ikea cafeteria. I had the meatballs.
The first Tuesday in November will be memorable for three reasons. Australia stopped for the Melbourne Cup. Barack Obama went to the polls and emerged victorious and won a second term as President of the USA. And I was in hospital!
It started on Monday night. We went to bed early as I was due back at work at 6.22 Tuesday morning.
However, neither of us could sleep. Sleep is not normally a problem for me but after two hours laying in bed and Mrs Holt Press tossing and turning in shared frustration, I got up and sat in my recliner chair, hoping a change of setting might do the trick.
Instead over the following hour I started getting stomach pains which intensified with every minute.
I took some Nurofen but that didn't help.
I moved to the futon couch but sleep eluded me and the pain just got worse.Added to the pain I had the worst case of explosive belching and burping I've ever experienced.Not normal burps, not even the kind brought on by Coca-Cola. Relentless deep rumbling gaseous eruptions . Did I have food poisoning? Were the meatballs wreaking a terrible revenge? There's been a gastro bug going around? Was I the latest victim?
I tried going to the toilet but there was no tell-tale diarrhea, in fact there was nothing at all.
Then I vomited.
Not much sadly. I'm a believer in the theory that the sooner you get it all out the quicker you feel better.
That was not to be my fate.
By 5.00am I was in desperate straits.
I rang work to let them know I was sick and couldn't come to work.
By 5.30 I had no choice but to wake up Mrs HP who had at least fallen asleep some time earlier.
"I'm sorry to do this but I'm really sick. I've had terrible stomach pains for the last 4 hours and have just thrown up"
She was very sympathetic and supportive, administered paracetomol and offered to take me to the hospital.
We delayed that until she'd gotten Sport Boy up and on the way to school at 7.30.
Before that I suffered the sort of gut-wrenching vomiting that starts at the toenails and grabs everything in its path and forces it upwards and outwards in excruciating heaving waves of pain. By this stage, all that came up was liquid and bitter tasting bile. I was a mess.
The drive to the hospital was awful. Every bump, every breath, every movement sent pain shuddering through me. We had to stop enroute as I feared another vomiting attack but it mercifully subsided.
I literally staggered into the emergency dept and told my sad tale of woe to the duty nurse.
They swiftly took me into emergency and began assessing and assisting me.
First priority was getting the pain under control.
Bring on the morphine.
"How is it now Mr Holt?"
A bit better...
"I'll give you a bit more...don't want to knock you out..."
Three doses finally did the trick.
Thanks
Next came "the champagne of anti-nausea drugs", "just let this dissolve under your tongue Mr Holt"
OK, I no longer felt like throwing up. Instead my mouth felt like a dried up dingo dropping on a December day in the Simpson.
Can I have some water please?
"Sorry Mr Holt, but I'll get you some ice chips"
This wasn't exactly a lie, he just waited a further two hours to deliver!!
In the meantime...
Over the next few hours they tested me for a variety of things, ruling out the worst systematically.
Chest and abdominal x-rays. All clear.
CT scan. All clear. (In a classic case of the sublime to the ridiculous I was forced to drink a litre and a half of aniseed flavoured liquid in the 45 minutes prior to the CT scan. CT stands for Computer Tomography by the way. I asked Bruce the radiologist)
"Mr Holt, we're going to do a gastroscopy and have a closer look for the problem"
"We'll just spray some local anaesthetic down the back of your throat and some general to knock you out. Open wide please..."
"Mr Holt, wake up Mr Holt, you're in recovery..."
"We're admitting you now Mr Holt, the orderly will take you up to the ward..."
It was about 4 o'clock by this stage and Mrs HP had moved the car three times. She went home to check on the family and fetch me a few things.
I slept on and off for the next few hours.
I was allowed to drink but no food!
Mrs HP returned with various items and some TLC. She was wonderful throughout my whole ordeal. Tender, concerned, supportive, helpful, loving, patient and kind. I realized again why I love her and told her so.
I should say, in case anything is misconstrued that the staff at the hospital were fantastic throughout. Every nurse, orderly, doctor, med student, specialist and ward staff who dealt with me was wonderful. I felt very well cared for.
There were three other blokes in the ward but none of us were up for any conversation.
I slept for 2-3 hours at a time throughout the night, a couple of panadol all that was necessary to keep the pain at bay.
Next morning the doctor informed me that the gastroscopy had revealed small ulcers on my osophagus, signs of Reflux Disease. They were giving me Nexium through the IV.
Still no food, just water and apple juice.
By mid-morning my signs were all significatly improved.
Food was back on the menu. woohoo!
Sadly hospital food maintained its underwhelming reputation but at least it was something to stave off the hunger.
"How are you feeling now Mr Holt?"
A lot better than I was yesterday
"OK, you've manged some food without further problems, I think we can let you go home this afternoon"
A couple of hours, some paperwork and a prescription later they were true to their word.
Mrs HP collected me at about 3.00pm, just in time to see on a TV monitor that the President had been re-elected. More good news.
Thursday was a rostered day off so I spent the day recovering and resting. Most of the pain has gone. The tablets are working. I felt a bit tender and washed out but otherwise not too bad.
So much so that I returned to work this morning. (5.30 start!!) and got through the day in one piece.
We did have a celebratory meal on Sunday night, the first chance we'd had to mark Spike's 21st birthday which happened a couple of weeks ago. The Heir and his girlfriend were headed for Lorne for a couple of days so they couldn't join us but the rest of us ordered Chinese takeaway and had a lovely night sitting on the back verandah, laughing, eating, telling stories and reminiscing. The weather was good and a great time was had by all.
It is two years since we moved from Busselton and we agreed that while the time had gone quickly, a great deal has happened since we moved to Victoria.
On Monday Mrs Holt Press and I went up to Melblourne to see her old school friend Tracey who is an art curator at the Gasworks Gallery complex in South Melbourne to discuss the possibility of me having an exhibition there next year. She was very encouraging and keen to see it happen which was very affirming. From there we went to Ikea to buy a few frames to see how some of my drawings would look framed. We ate at the Ikea cafeteria. I had the meatballs.
The first Tuesday in November will be memorable for three reasons. Australia stopped for the Melbourne Cup. Barack Obama went to the polls and emerged victorious and won a second term as President of the USA. And I was in hospital!
It started on Monday night. We went to bed early as I was due back at work at 6.22 Tuesday morning.
However, neither of us could sleep. Sleep is not normally a problem for me but after two hours laying in bed and Mrs Holt Press tossing and turning in shared frustration, I got up and sat in my recliner chair, hoping a change of setting might do the trick.
Instead over the following hour I started getting stomach pains which intensified with every minute.
I took some Nurofen but that didn't help.
I moved to the futon couch but sleep eluded me and the pain just got worse.Added to the pain I had the worst case of explosive belching and burping I've ever experienced.Not normal burps, not even the kind brought on by Coca-Cola. Relentless deep rumbling gaseous eruptions . Did I have food poisoning? Were the meatballs wreaking a terrible revenge? There's been a gastro bug going around? Was I the latest victim?
I tried going to the toilet but there was no tell-tale diarrhea, in fact there was nothing at all.
Then I vomited.
Not much sadly. I'm a believer in the theory that the sooner you get it all out the quicker you feel better.
That was not to be my fate.
By 5.00am I was in desperate straits.
I rang work to let them know I was sick and couldn't come to work.
By 5.30 I had no choice but to wake up Mrs HP who had at least fallen asleep some time earlier.
"I'm sorry to do this but I'm really sick. I've had terrible stomach pains for the last 4 hours and have just thrown up"
She was very sympathetic and supportive, administered paracetomol and offered to take me to the hospital.
We delayed that until she'd gotten Sport Boy up and on the way to school at 7.30.
Before that I suffered the sort of gut-wrenching vomiting that starts at the toenails and grabs everything in its path and forces it upwards and outwards in excruciating heaving waves of pain. By this stage, all that came up was liquid and bitter tasting bile. I was a mess.
The drive to the hospital was awful. Every bump, every breath, every movement sent pain shuddering through me. We had to stop enroute as I feared another vomiting attack but it mercifully subsided.
I literally staggered into the emergency dept and told my sad tale of woe to the duty nurse.
They swiftly took me into emergency and began assessing and assisting me.
First priority was getting the pain under control.
Bring on the morphine.
"How is it now Mr Holt?"
A bit better...
"I'll give you a bit more...don't want to knock you out..."
Three doses finally did the trick.
Thanks
Next came "the champagne of anti-nausea drugs", "just let this dissolve under your tongue Mr Holt"
OK, I no longer felt like throwing up. Instead my mouth felt like a dried up dingo dropping on a December day in the Simpson.
Can I have some water please?
"Sorry Mr Holt, but I'll get you some ice chips"
This wasn't exactly a lie, he just waited a further two hours to deliver!!
In the meantime...
Over the next few hours they tested me for a variety of things, ruling out the worst systematically.
Chest and abdominal x-rays. All clear.
CT scan. All clear. (In a classic case of the sublime to the ridiculous I was forced to drink a litre and a half of aniseed flavoured liquid in the 45 minutes prior to the CT scan. CT stands for Computer Tomography by the way. I asked Bruce the radiologist)
"Mr Holt, we're going to do a gastroscopy and have a closer look for the problem"
"We'll just spray some local anaesthetic down the back of your throat and some general to knock you out. Open wide please..."
"Mr Holt, wake up Mr Holt, you're in recovery..."
"We're admitting you now Mr Holt, the orderly will take you up to the ward..."
It was about 4 o'clock by this stage and Mrs HP had moved the car three times. She went home to check on the family and fetch me a few things.
I slept on and off for the next few hours.
I was allowed to drink but no food!
Mrs HP returned with various items and some TLC. She was wonderful throughout my whole ordeal. Tender, concerned, supportive, helpful, loving, patient and kind. I realized again why I love her and told her so.
I should say, in case anything is misconstrued that the staff at the hospital were fantastic throughout. Every nurse, orderly, doctor, med student, specialist and ward staff who dealt with me was wonderful. I felt very well cared for.
There were three other blokes in the ward but none of us were up for any conversation.
I slept for 2-3 hours at a time throughout the night, a couple of panadol all that was necessary to keep the pain at bay.
Next morning the doctor informed me that the gastroscopy had revealed small ulcers on my osophagus, signs of Reflux Disease. They were giving me Nexium through the IV.
Still no food, just water and apple juice.
By mid-morning my signs were all significatly improved.
Food was back on the menu. woohoo!
Sadly hospital food maintained its underwhelming reputation but at least it was something to stave off the hunger.
"How are you feeling now Mr Holt?"
A lot better than I was yesterday
"OK, you've manged some food without further problems, I think we can let you go home this afternoon"
A couple of hours, some paperwork and a prescription later they were true to their word.
Mrs HP collected me at about 3.00pm, just in time to see on a TV monitor that the President had been re-elected. More good news.
Thursday was a rostered day off so I spent the day recovering and resting. Most of the pain has gone. The tablets are working. I felt a bit tender and washed out but otherwise not too bad.
So much so that I returned to work this morning. (5.30 start!!) and got through the day in one piece.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The Planets Align
Once in a while everything falls together at the right time in the right place to create something good.
Like this afternoon.
Mrs Holt Press worked in Torquay this morning. She has started doing some cleaning work after making some connections in the local area. She enjoys it and it provides a break from the family routine and caring for her Dad Alan.
I finished work just after 2pm, having started at 6am.
We arranged to meet in Torquay for lunch.
On a hunch I rang her Dad and asked if he'd like to come with me to Torquay.
Surprisingly he said yes. Bear in mind he is 93 and has significant disabilities so getting around is a bit of a challenge.
I said I'd be there in 15 minutes to pick him up.
"I'll be waiting" he replied cheerfully.
We met at a Pizza and Pasta restaurant in the seaside town of Torquay.
Alan worked out that although it was a place the Jones family often went when the kids were young, he hadn't been to Torquay in 33 years.
An even greater revelation was that he had never had a pizza!!
Emboldened by his surprise outing he also decided to try pizza for the first time.
He had a traditional Aussie pizza: Hawaiian ham and pineapple!!
And he liked it!
On the way home we drove along the beachfront at Torquay. He smiled as he recognized a few familiar sights amidst all the new development and growth, and pointed out the Bowling Club overlooking the ocean.
A simple but very rewarding afternoon.
Like this afternoon.
Mrs Holt Press worked in Torquay this morning. She has started doing some cleaning work after making some connections in the local area. She enjoys it and it provides a break from the family routine and caring for her Dad Alan.
I finished work just after 2pm, having started at 6am.
We arranged to meet in Torquay for lunch.
On a hunch I rang her Dad and asked if he'd like to come with me to Torquay.
Surprisingly he said yes. Bear in mind he is 93 and has significant disabilities so getting around is a bit of a challenge.
I said I'd be there in 15 minutes to pick him up.
"I'll be waiting" he replied cheerfully.
We met at a Pizza and Pasta restaurant in the seaside town of Torquay.
Alan worked out that although it was a place the Jones family often went when the kids were young, he hadn't been to Torquay in 33 years.
An even greater revelation was that he had never had a pizza!!
Emboldened by his surprise outing he also decided to try pizza for the first time.
He had a traditional Aussie pizza: Hawaiian ham and pineapple!!
And he liked it!
On the way home we drove along the beachfront at Torquay. He smiled as he recognized a few familiar sights amidst all the new development and growth, and pointed out the Bowling Club overlooking the ocean.
A simple but very rewarding afternoon.
Thursday, August 09, 2012
Warrnambool, Mildura, Swan Hill, Benalla
I had two weeks off work recently and took the opportunity to do some touring around Victoria.
Mrs Holt Press and I had a day out to Warrnambool in the south west of the state on the train.
I then took a train and bus journey to Mildura to visit Julie and Mrs King before going on to Benalla via Swan Hill to see Mum and Vicki. As "promised" here are a few pics from my travels.
Art at the Swan Hill Gallery
Billy Brownless' pub in Swan Hill
Old paddle steamer, Swan Hill
Greg, a fellow Cats fan at his photographic shop in Swan Hill.
Top quality car dealership, Swan Hill
With apologies to Arnie, Swan Hill
Two lovely ladies at Benalla train station
I am a lot bigger than them!!!!!
Art at Swan Hill
An artist we met at a gallery in Mildura with some of his work which he did while living in China
Art in Mildura
Julie and her Mum Mrs King
Not even my bulk could block out all the quilts on Julie's walls!
Makeshift cinema in Swan Hill
The old Fletcher Jones factory in Warrnambool, now home to the Mill Markets
Public art re. the Warrnambool bike race along the Great Ocean Road
Mrs HP rugged up against the cold overlooking the bay in Warrnambool
The train we were about to catch back to Geelong
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