DO I OR DON'T I?

The so called Swine Flu is a worrying world event. So is world travel just at present with the possibility of passing on or picking up infection from other travellers - especially in hugely populated places like international airports.
With this in mind - and as DH and I will be using two of these facilities tomorrow - I'm wondering if I should purchase face masks to use while traveling through the massive people moving places. I understand governments around the world are ordering millions of these, but should they be used as a precaution now anyway?

Talk of world pandemics brings back memories of that almost forgotten illness polio and more recently, HIV/AIDS. Modern medicine and science have come such a long way in being able to help prevent such massive human disasters but can the experts work fast enough in this instance? There is little we as individuals can do except take precautions - plenty of Vitamin C, Garlic and Echinacea. Certainly not a cure, but helpful in building up the body's immune system.

But in any event, although our travel is not essential, its being taken to celebrate Mum's 90th birthday on Saturday. In these days of long-lived humans, not such an achievement some would say, however when looking at an individuals long life and all that has happened in those years, we feel it is something to be proud of and we plan to make a weekend of lovely memories for her to remember, for however many birthdays she is given in the future.

Will be back next week hopefully with a pic or two of the Nonagerian and the family celebrating this great milestone.

Have a good weekend all and blessings!

A TIMELY REMINDER

A friend sent me this in an email yesterday and I thought I would like to share it. I have no idea of its origin - apologies to the author.

When I was in my younger days, I weighed a few pounds less,
I needn't hold my tummy in to wear a belted dress.
But now that I am older, I've set my body free;
There's comfort of elastic Where once my waist would be.
Inventor of those high-heeled shoes my feet have not forgiven;
I have to wear a nine now, But used to wear a seven.

And how about those blinkin' tights - they're sized by weight, you see,
So how come when I put them on the crotch is at my knee?
I need to wear these glasses as the print's been getting smaller;
And it wasn't very long ago I know that I was taller.
Though my hair has turned to grey and my skin no longer fits,
On the inside, I'm the same old me, just the outside's changed a bit.

But, on a positive note... I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.
I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life.'
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone.

People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

THE MONTH OF MAY...

Follow up from specialist visit was both beneficial and disappointing. Crux of the matter is that without surgery I will continue to get pain down my right leg and which has started on occasions down the left side.

He mentioned to me that as an alternative treatment, one of the drugs given for epilepsy has been proving effective against nerve pain however opposing that, my GP feels that for most people they are not all that beneficial.

I’ve opted for the surgery – to be next month and will be out of action for a few weeks. I’m hoping it won’t be too long though as babysitting duties will be on hold for a while.

Having been through spinal surgery 5 ½ years ago I know what I’m ‘in for’ and am not looking forward to the early days of recovery. By nature I tend to want to rush things and ‘getting back to normal’ I know will be one of the things I’ll be impatient about.

But for now I have a special celebration to focus on. My mother has her 90th birthday on 2nd May and the family from this side of the ditch are traveling to be with her and host an afternoon tea for about 50 of her family and friends. The cake has been ordered and we have caterers coming to provide the food. Hope it all turns out OK and she is well enough to enjoy the party. We have prepared a power point presentation of photographs from her life from early childhood till the present time and she will no doubt ‘rise to the occasion’ for the cutting of the cake. A special family dinner is planned for the following night before we return home.

The month of May is going to be quite a busy one!

BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE

Happened to be up a little earlier than usual just before our clocks were put forward recently and caught a lovely sunrise. I was amazed at how quickly the sky changed, in fact by the time I had grabbed my camera it was almost gone.

AUTUMN - SUCH A LOVELY TIME OF YEAR

Autumn in Sydney is such a lovely time of the year. The heat of summer has now past and more gentle temperatures are here for a while before the cold of winter sets in. In this part of the world Easter is often the time we consider summer is over but our warmer days have persisted this year but evening and morning temperatures have certainly taken a dive down. Well, not that cold yet but it won't be long before the firewood will be brought in to warm the house.

Easter weekend was a blessing in many ways this year. Having spent the weekend before away in New Zealand for a reunion, I missed the beautiful wedding of our nephew but many of his rellies were still here in Sydney so it was great to catch up with some of them. Dinner out at a Greek restaurant on Thursday, and brother-in-law and his wife here for dinner Friday were lovely treats and a good time to catch up with each others news. On Saturday there was an unexpected phone call from another brother-in-law who had driven to Sydney for a couple of days so had the opportunity for him and his lady friend to come for a BBQ tea.

Easter Sunday was a celebration of the Risen Christ in our morning church service. How wonderful to know we serve the Risen Lord!

Last week E5 and L3 were here for two full days as it's school holidays here. This week will be the same before they return to school and preschool next week. Busy active days they were and I was pretty well pooped at the end of them but it was good to share with them - helping with jigsaw puzzles, going to the park, playdough, lego, draughts, drawing, Reader Rabbit - only a few of the things we got up to! And I guess we'll do it all again this week. But before that I'm off out today to see if I can get fabric to cover my rocker. It's only 6 years old but in constant use - if not by me, then by the grandies. Since today is a little cooler with showers predicted it seems a good day to make a start on it.

Better go before I lose the enthusiasm!

A FABULOUS 50TH REUNION

For months I've been anticipating the reunion and now it's over! What a wonderful day it was though. In April 1959 I began my nursing training in Auckland New Zealand. Last weekend 57 of those girls who were able to make it back to Auckland celebrated those 50 years which have intervened with photos, renewing friendships, demonstrations, speakers, and of course delicious food and a wonderful cake made by one of the girls.

Hard to believe that all those years ago we were innocent and naive young 17 year olds stepping out into the big brave world of nursing. What wonderful things have happened in the world of medicine and nursing since then and to think I have lived to see most of it is just amazing. And yet the one thing that has not changed from the time of Florence Nightingale till the present day, is the bedside care nurses and doctors give patients which for most is the motivation for entering this brave profession. Having been on the 'receiving end' a few times in those 50 years I've had a taste of what its like and even with todays 'graduates' who learn most of their nursing techniques after they begin their practical experience in hospital wards, care for the sick remains much the same.

Our next reunion is in 5 years time and already we are talking and looking forward to it. If it's as successful as the 50th, then we're in for a great time!