Health centre bonanza plus shopping

P. and I picked up Rupert the Picanto early and went to the health centre where we got pills for both of us, I got a blood test for Genie next week and I got my foot redressed by the wonderful Jill the nurse, who showed P. how to do it. We then went shopping and to Noel's then home for lunch, the inevitable salmon patties. After a nap, the Bellota box arrived and we had oysters (from Victoria Gardens) and half a fish pie from Bellota. I fear that we have ordered too much food. By the end of the weekend we'll be little blimps. Teev tonight is more English countryside, Q&A, museums then news.

The report

I didn't hurkle-durkle too much this morning and went on with the report on the report and I have now sent my comments off to the authors. It will be interesting to see whether they tell me to bugger off. So I can get back to the big bio. when time permits. I also sent off a renewed plea for repairs to the glass on our front door. This has been 'pending' for months.

We had cheesy tomato soup for lunch and it's now naptime. Lo and behold: a reply to the glass repair from the woman who did it last time. Hooray! Now we wait for action. P. is reheating the Syrian chicken for dinner with rice this time instead of couscous. We watched Irish seacoasts (we've been there, some of it) and another Mads Mikkelson movie The Temptation, then news. Frank rang to say that his flat purchase is completed and he'll be moving in at the end of the month (October). Congratulations.

Two more chapters

I hurkle-durkled again this morning then tidied up two more chapters of the big bio. and sent them to the author. Phew. Only 24 to go! P. went up to the shops for the paper. We had supermarket butter chicken pies (!!) for lunch. The butter chicken filling was fine but the pastry was a bit short of concrete. Never again. Naptime. I made rakott krumpli for dinner, then we watched the nature show with Aaron Pedersen, then the next film noir film with a wide-eyed Joan Crawford, Sudden Fear. It was good, but a bit slow. Then news and Indigenous news.

Big bio. is endless

I hurkle-durkled a bit this morning, then back to the big bio. and I'm not even halfway through yet but I got two more chapters completed this morning. Then Sal turned up to take me to the wounds clinic. After all the confusion was sorted out with Ah Wei, the nurse, and Ellen, the podiatrist (I did NOT have an angioplasty or a vein bypass), they redressed the diminishing wounds, gave me instructions for the next few weeks and my consultation with vascular in the meantime and I went home again in time for a short nap. Thanks Sal for the trip to Royal Park and the PO. P. is making Syrian chicken for dinner, followed by 'normal' Monday night teev.

Crossword and big bio.

The crossword was completed quickly and effortlessly. Then I got on to the BIG bio. and also did a bit on the report, so work is proceeding well. We had supermarket quiches for lunch. After a nap, P. made vera bolognese for dinner, then the teev with new series, Bushfire and one to follow which is very kinky about two killers??? Then a very good SBS program on Russian history.

Bit of bio., shopping and Zoom

I had a bad night with a sore big toe. It was fine when we went out though. Before we went shopping I did a bit on the BIG bio. I am enjoying it as it's so entertaining. We shopped as usual, went to Noel's and had salmon patties for lunch at home. Now a nap. We then had a family Zoom meeting with Kit and her bubble buddy Fiona, Nick, Sara, Allie, Ben and Mark, very geographically spread. Then I made fish chowder followed by the Bellota chocolate balls with icecream and baby cheeses, and, on the teev, Durrells (final, thank God), Keeler, then news especially vale Angela Merkel.

Bio. and report

I made good progress today on both the big bio. and the report, which I'm now getting a handle on and think I know how to fix. Now for lunch, the last of the cauliflower and gorgonzola soup, and a nap. We had part two of the Bellota box for dinner: spicy chicken wings, anchovy and olive foccacia and a pesto and porchetta sandwich, then baby cheeses. On the teev, gardening, serial killers, weird mystery and the end of the Capturing program. What a satisfying night, far removed from reality. Do you have Millie's energy for digging and making?

Dressing, haircutting and report

I started the day beginning again on the report which I have to report on. I should spend a bit more time on that rather than the BIG bio. for a bit. As I waited for a cab to go out, Frank came by happily, so I got his news about his new flat. I went to the Health Centre where the wonderful nurse Helen redid my dressing, then home again where Sally delivered Roger's haircutting equipment so I don't look like the wild man of Borneo. We had leftovers for lunch and now it's naptime. While we were napping, the Bellota box arrived which we will have half of tonight, and half tomorrow night. Meanwhile, P. essayed Roger's cutter and I no longer look like a wild man of Borneo but more like a crew-cutted 50s remnant. It doesn't matter as I'm not going to hit on anyone. For dinner tonight, it's the sausage rolls with relish, lamb boreks with tarator (sic) sauce and Andalusian pork belly skewers, then cheeses, all of which were very good. Usual teev: trains, Q&A, which was excellent because there were no politicians, only scientists. I might catch up on Captured which I missed last week in hospital.

BIG bio. again plus earthquake

I hurkle-durkled again today. I'll have to stop as I lose two hours of work. The earthquake happened while I was still abed, but when I arose the internet was down for some reason but it restored itself shortly. Back to the big bio. before lunch for which we had P.'s cauliflower and gorgonzola soup. Naptime! P. has made vera bolognese for dinner which was delicious as always, then trains on the teev and the usual crappy Wednesday night fare on the ABC. I read a book.

Back to the BIG bio.

Bed was so cosy I hurkle-durkled again, so was late catching up on routine emails and news. I had a quick look at the research report then I got back to the big bio. before lunch which was the remains of the pulled pork pasta from Bellota. Now it's naptime. I'm making anchovy pasta for dinner. On the teev we had Troy Cassar-Daley, Back to Nature, then news and NITV news. All good.

Back to normal

It seems things are back to normal. Because P. put clean sheets on my bed for my homecoming, I was very comfy and hurkle-durkled this morning. Then I did various tidying up tasks from three days away then had a health centre physio session on Zoom. Thanks Kyrene and Jebbie. For lunch, I had the rabbit and pea pie from Bellota. After a nap, P. made cauliflower and gorgonzola soup (thanks David Herbert) for dinner and we watched 4Corners (food fraud) and China (very good). The international programs make us aware of how marginal we really are ('That guy from down-under', 'Trumble') and how stupid the nuclear sub. deal is. Why can't we be Switzerland?

Back from hospital

After three action packed days in hospital, I'm back pretty much as I went in but much studied, tested, jabbed and reported. I went in about lunchtime on Thursday after the wounds clinic secured me a bed in the vascular unit. I was in their ward with a Croatian, Slatko, in a huge room because Slatko had a large motorised wheelchair. After a promising dinner of spinach and pumpkin lasagne, I thought that this wasn't too bad. Next morning, I had three tests, lickety-split: an x-ray of my foot, an ultrasound of my veins and a CT-scan of both legs. It was back to the ward for Irish stew (the meals steadily got worse). They scheduled me for theatre next day, so on Saturday I had to fast. Unfortunately, they didn't get up to me till about 3pm so by the time I had finished my post-surgery wait on my back, it was 8.30pm and all I got was a sandwich and cheese and bikkies. The surgery turned out to be only an angiogram but the anaesthetist, Alex and his offsider, Nurse Wilma, did such a good job sedating me that I slept through the worst bits of it. It seems that my left leg veins are pretty much blocked but not fully, but that an angioplasty to unblock them is too risky (it might make things worse) and a vein bypass is too risky too (mainly because of my feeble heart). So the verdict by Doctor Ben was, do nothing unless it is necessary. Thanks to all at the Royal Melbourne who treated me very well and with expedition, three tests plus surgery in that short time. Sally ferried me home, for which I am very thankful. We had Bellota sausage rolls for lunch, better than I've been getting at RMH though I'd have to say that their food is not bad but not good. But it's not any kind of star hotel. We're finishing off the Bellota box for dinner: anchovies and pork shoulder pasta, then it's Newsreaders and Traces on the teev.

Shopping plus news

P. and I picked up Rupert the Picanto and did shopping for Noel and ourselves. We dropped Noel's stuff off to him, went home for salmon patties for lunch, then had a phone call from the RMH saying I should come into them straight away to see a vascular surgeon. I am awaiting a call back from them but I probably need this arvo and evening to settle everything before going in. I might need an angiogram or a bypass but we'll see. After a nap, I made pea and fish curry for dinner. We watched SIR Tony Robinson on the trans-Siberian. P. tried to finish his reading for colonial lit. tomorrow while I packed preparatory to going to hospital if I have to tomorrow.

Bio. and ultrasound

I hurkle-murkled more than I should have this morning, so didn't get as much done on the BIG bio. as I would have liked before Sally arrived to take me to the vascular imaging people to get an ultrasound of my other leg for anyone who is interested. Thanks Sal, it made it a lot easier. Home again for lunch and a nap. We are having the leftovers from last night's roast beef for dinner. Then nature with Aaron, Juanita, then depressing news about Kabul and Wilcannia.

Physio, big bio. and wounds clinic

This morning, I finished another chapter of the big bio., then had a strenuous zoom physio exercise session. Then Sal picked me up to take me to Royal Park to the wounds clinic. I had Ahmed the podiatrist and Ah Wei the nurse who did a very thorough job. They've referred me for an ultrasound on my left leg tomorrow and want Dr Joanne to order an x-ray on my big toe (!) and a referral to vascular at the RMH. Thanks Sal for the lift. Home again for a short nap. P. is making roast beef for dinner. Then it will be normal Monday night teev with 4Corners sticking it to the Jehovah's Witnesses followed by programs on world affairs.

Crossword plus two biggies

The crossword was despatched before 9am, then I checked through the report and sent it off. Then it was on to the big bio. I am now a quarter way through this go at it but it will have to have a final check before it is signed off by me. I sent the last two chapters to the author and then went on to the next two. After minestrone for lunch, we watched the Film Archives session with Jenny Hocking on the Palace Letters, a shocking account of royal duplicity. Get rid of Betty Battenberg! Naptime. I reheated the leftover lamb roast for dinner, then we watched trains (again), Newsreader, Traces and Spooky Music, a good night of narrative.

Dreary papers plus non-fiction

The papers today were very dreary. It's all 9/11. They seem to forget that the US dropped more bombs on tiny Vietnam than all of Europe copped in WWII. Back to the big non-fiction report which I finished and will send off to the publisher tomorrow after I've slept on it. We had cheesy tomato soup for lunch, then a nap. P. is making lentil and sweet potato soup for dinner which was delicious. Then we watched Durrells (yawn), Keeler (not bad) then Hunted (Mikelson season).

Redress and report

Up early this morning to go to the Health Centre where Jenny redressed my foot. Home again to start the non-fiction report which I hope I'll finish this weekend. We had packaged pho for lunch which was quite good. Now naptime. We had the second instalment of the Bellota box for dinner: burrata with trimmings, lamb shoulder tagine then pannacotta with fruits. Usual Friday night teev: gardening, then we avoided soporific murders by watching Beethoven in Berlin with Daniel Barenboim, who knows his stuff. Then The Capture (good as always) then news then bed.

Hurkle durkling a habit

I've been hurkle durkling a lot lately and it isn't even winter. Ah well. Back to the big non-fiction and I made good progress. I'm still not sure how to report on it though. We had leftover fritatta for lunch then a nap. The Bellota box arrived, proving that the world is still going on out there, and we had half of it for dinner, two entrees and a main: porchetta tonnato, salmon and dumplings with tomato. Then trains and then we i-vooed the film for next Friday: Mrs Ivers, a puzzlement.

Shopping day

P. and I and Rupert the Picanto went shopping and visited Noel with his goodies. He seems fine. Home again for salmon patties for lunch as usual. After a nap, I made prawn bisque for dinner, then we watched railways and the usual unfunny ABC Wednesday night fare. News then bed.

Redress plus big biog.

This morning I did lots more on the big biog., then we had leftover ratatouille for lunch, then I went to the Health Centre for a redressing. Home for a nap, then P. made roast lamb roll for dinner and we watched Tuesday night teev including Back to Nature and the Juanita Neilsen murder story. Then news and bed.

Not much doing but exercise

Because I had a hurkle durkle this morning, I didn't get much done before my physio. this morning, which was good. P. went off to deliver a U3A book to one of the participants, then we had takeaway for lunch then a nap. I am making rosemary and onion fritatta for dinner. Then it was normal Monday night teev with the last of Tony Jones'9/11 stories to finish.

Biggies again

We did the Sunday crossword lickety-split, then I got on with a bit of work on both big ones and made good, but slow, progress. We finished off the leftover French onion soup for lunch, then had a nap. P. is making posh ratatouille for dinner. Then it's Newsreader and Traces on the teev.

Papers plus biggies

After a quick peruse of the papers, I did a fair bit of work on both biggies, the biog. and the non-fiction, making good progress on both. There's a fair way to go though. We had Bellota sausage rolls with their relish for lunch; now for a nap. After that, we caught up with the end of last night's Vuelta on the replay. Then had a pre-Father's Day zoom with Nick and Sara, Kit and their kids. Then we scoffed the remains of the Bellota box and watched castles in Germany, Keeler, then a Mads movie then the start of the penultimate stage of the Vuelta with apparently no major changes in the winners. We'll see tomorrow night.

BIG one then health centre

I did a bit of work on the BIG one, then went to the Health Centre for a redress while P. had a zoom meeting for U3A American Lit. We had leftover anchovy pasta for lunch then a nap. Our Bellota box was delivered and we had two entrees and a main course. The rest for tomorrow. After a very pleasant spring gardening show, we avoided the boring murders by having online concerts by the Affinity Quartet and ANAM with Sara McIver. We finished with a very good Captured, then the third last state of the Vuelta (beginning).

Shopping plus book launch

This morning, we did normal shopping and visited Noel with his goodies. Then we had salmon patties for lunch, then a nap, then I made seafood chowder for dinner after a zoom meeting for an AQUA launch of a book about a 19th century poof. Then it was teev with railways, Q&A plus Fake or Fortune, good as always, and finished with the magnificent scenery of northern Spain in La Vuelta.

End of month

I did the end-of-month accounts first up this morning. Then tried to do a bit on my first two BIG tasks, editing the biog. and reporting on the non-fiction. We had leftover French onion soup for lunch, now it's naptime. While we were napping, the front gate appeared and the fence is complete. It looks good and we await the final bill. We're having the leftover apricot chicken for dinner and 'normal' Wednesday night unfunny ABC comedy.