D-Day

After a fairly quiet weekend (mall shopping, brunch at Suede in Smith Street), today I went to the home dialysis centre in Parkville for my first 'briefing'. The demonstration was clear and accompanied by questions about my health and ability to cope with the peritoneal dialysis regime. I think I passed.

The whole procedure is fairly straightforward. Its major drawback is the time taken: about an hour per dialysis which must be done four times a day, on getting up, before going to bed and two other times, spread through the day. It is semi-portable, so you could take all that is necessary for a weekend away in the boot, but you'd have to allow time for the four dialyses.

It is possible after a month or two to be trained for the overnight dialysis (using a machine) but you still need to do one manual dialysis during the day. The major difficulty seems to be an awful lot of handwashing to keep everything sterile and avoid peritonitis (very nasty).

The major part of the training after insertion (surgical) of the necessary catheter is done at home, and the major disruption is finding somewhere in the house to store three months' worth of bags of fluid. I feel fairly confident about the support offered by the home dialysis unit, who were friendly and efficient. The thing which boggles me a bit is finding the time to do the four procedures each day.

More medical

Off to the hospital again, this time to renal where I scored the associate professor, Eugenia. My kidney function continues to deteriorate, and my Caltrate pills have been upped to two per meal to keep my phosphates down. Also, I have to go next Monday to see a demo. of peritoneal dialysis, then in three weeks to the renal surgery to begin the process to make that happen. As well, my blood levels are down, so I have to have fortnightly injections of Aranesp (!!) to help with that. Then I had a session with the dietician. It seems that pre-dialysis I have to keep my protein levels DOWN (not too much dairy, chocolate), but that once I start dialysis I have to keep them UP (maybe with extra milkshakes). It took a wait of an hour and a half for the injections (they may only be obtained at the hospital) and they have to be kept in the fridge. Plus back to the normal renal clinic in four weeks. Do I sound over-medicalised?

In passing, the tests I had before Christmas showed that my blood is O-positive and my heart is not too good. I need an angiogram, but can't have that till I start dialysis as 'the dye could affect my kidneys'. Poor Eugenia said she was not having a good day (her mobile phone was going off gang-busters). Neither was I.

Now for the much more peaceful and soothing putting-on-of-the-roast for dinner. Sal and Father are coming. Happy Birthday to me, and thanks to all the good wishes from folk on Facebook and otherwise.

Attica in Ripponlea

Last night, Frank, Lorraine and I headed off in the train to the city to get a train to Ripponlea to meet P. from work for dinner at Attica, which on Tuesday night has the chef's table tasting menu. Unfortunately, when we tried to change at Flinders Street station, there was a long delay in a stifling, crowded train. After ten minutes, it was announced that the Traralgon train (which passed earlier) had been sent BY MISTAKE down the Sandringham line and had to be brought back. Hence the delay. We headed for the Carnegie tram outside the station, which deposited us in Glen Eira Road in short order.

The dinner was excellent. An almond, fig, pear and rosemary soup started, folowed by mouth-watering waygu with soy, garlic and clams. The prize for the evening in my book was the blue eye, horseradish, cucumber and octopus that followed. It was a subtle, taste sensation. Almost as good was the lamb with smoked goats milk, pea and mint . We finished with a modern version of apricot crumble with creme fraiche sorbet. As all the portions were small, it was a manageable and memorable meal. A very good early start to my birthday in two day's time.

Medical morning

After a quiet and relaxing Sunday, this morning I went to the Hospital to give blood to the kindly vampires before a renal visit later this week. I also popped into the Health Centre to replenish my pill supplies. I've said it before, but it's hard work being sick. By way of compensation for all this necessary but tedious activity, I got a couple of quiches (goat's cheese and onion) from Parisienne Pate in Lygon Street, and some blackberries to add to the raspberry icecream (in preparation).

Katrine at the Health Centre pharmacy commented on the blackberries and asked about icecream. When I mentioned cream, I realised that one of the pills I was getting was Lipitor for chlorestorol! Ho, hum.

I've just passed 8,000 words worth of memoir and think that that might be enough.

Big manuscript goes home

Yesterday, the author of the very large and innovative manuscript dropped in to pick it up and discuss it. We had a good natter about its possibilities, and the Asia-Pacific Triennial that P. and I saw in Brisbane. I also got notice of another manuscript coming for review and report. As well, I did a bit of administrative tidying up in readiness for the end of the month tomorrow. The warehouse at Landmark has been infinitely patient in holding on to my books for a long time, but has now called for stock reduction. This has meant contacting the authors to see whether they want copies. I hope to keep two of them which are selling a bit in print.

Today, P., Frank and I were off to the Mall for shopping, thence to Smith Street and Caballero for an excellent brunch, which fulfilled P.'s request for a 'superior' brunch. The poached eggs on salmon on brioche with pancetta and cheese croquettes were a delight.

Arfstrayia Day

Yesterday, I received a new first chapter and revised chapter outline for the Indigenous thriller. This morning I sent the author feedback and some more suggestions. The book is coming along very well and should be a corker.

Then P. and I went into town to go to the National Gallery St Kilda Road. We didn't reckon on Swanston Street being closed to trams for some kind of Australia Day event (lots of patriotic giggle hats and youths draped in flags), so we had to walk all the way to the gallery.

Once there, we went to the splendid Ron Mueck exhibition. I particularly liked the two sinister troll-like old ladies and the young man lifting his T-shirt to reveal a stab wound. The other pieces were good, though the large newborn girl with blood and umbilical cord was a bit disturbing. All of the pieces had a lot of emotional resonance. What more can you ask?

We then lunched in the new gallery eatery upstairs. It is trying to be stylish, but our presence soon fixed that. I had a very nice mixed sandwich (P. described them as a homage to speed-bumps as they looked like little humps) and salmon with dill on pastry. P. had little roast beef rolls with mustard and an eclair filled with tiny strawberries. To keep up with the piss-elegance, he had Darjeeling tea. It was an excellent lunch.

Afterwards, we took in a variety of photographs, drawings and a fine exhibition, Chinoiserie, which Ouyang Yu reliably informs me has no equivalent in Chinese, understandably. Home again to find that one of our neighbours was having a barbecue in the best Arfstrayia Day tradition. We've settled for roast chook with Frank which P. is preceding with bellinis. Strawberries and strawberry icecream to follow. Then Sally S. dropped in to return the new Anne Summers book which she enjoyed immensely, the only book in the world to contain both Winifred and Lucerne Crescents (Toorak and Alphington).

Four wise monkeys

Bruce, Frank and Peter at McClelland Gallery outdoor park. Sculpture: Lisa Roet: White Ape, 2005 Pic: Lorraine E.