Nocturnal Intruder.

It was very dark last night. I had forgotten how dark it is here after 10 weeks in Brisbane.It was quiet but sometime before dawn something clattered in the sink.Will got up to see what it was and found the empty cream carton that I had washed had been knocked into the sink.A bit later...just after dawn....there were more noises.I got up and looked where the noise was coming from and saw a little rat-like bottom poking out behind one of the cutlery holders on the shelf.I tapped the shelf and it tried to hide further but I cut it off and banged the shelf near its head and it ran back the other way. I got a good look at it as it sat there staring at me. It didn't move so I went for my camera but when I got back it had disappeared.

This is what it was....an Antechinus.

The Great Outdoors!

Return to Frogknot!

I have been looking forward to today. We are back at Frogknot after 10 weeks of medical drama.I skyped Josh this morning."I have missed hearing about Frogknot," he said.I had to report in first of all with Centrelink and inform them of Will's gross pay for the last 2 weeks before they would release my carer payment. I endured about 15 minutes of distorted classical music before I got through."Doesn't he get paid the same every fortnight?" Asked the woman on the phone."Yes," I said."Oh, well I will remove you from reporting fortnightly, just ring if it changes." Such a sensible suggestion!We packed up and set off about 10.45 this morning.Dulcie was looking better and had had a good night which made it a little easier to drive off leaving her and Shirley behind until Sunday.We filled up with petrol and bought 'Allen's Snakes' for the journey and headed away from the city.

Blue skies

We shopped madly at Stanthorpe IGA but completely forgot to get any 'greens.'It is good to be back.

 It would appear the "Son of Rambo" has been enjoying the run of the house while we have been away but apart from that it did not take too long to sweep and tidy up.The northern wall is still collapsing and cracks that we filled in have started to open up again.Some of the water stains we whitewashed over have returned.

The lemon tree is has quite a few lemons on it.

The Mulberry tree has fruit on it.

There are Jonquils in the garden and several pumpkins.

The dam is as high as we have seen it since last October and the frogs that had been fairly quiet are back singing.

We wandered down to the rocks at dusk[gallery ids="2788,2789,2790,2791,2792,2793"]....three mosquitoes were happy I was back.On returning to the house I applied the hot spoon treatment.We have electricity, a fire in the stove, hot water and chicken curry for dinner.

It's a good job we packed jumpers....it is going to be cold.

We don't care, it is so good to be back.

Doctor Hew and the Lasix!

I beat Dr Wang to the surgery this morning. He arrived as I was sitting in the waiting room.He saw me first.90% of my systolic readings were too high and 70% of my diastolic readings were too high.He took my blood pressure and it was 130/70 ....normal......the crazy thing was I had not taken my pill that morning as I was waiting to see what he prescribed.He has upped my medication and I have to go back in a week.Dulcie also saw the doctor today. Instead of me driving her there, Dr Hew came to see her.She has had a bad week and this weekend though slightly better has been difficult even with Shirley here.She breathes better when sat at the table but her feet swell up. When in her recliner the swelling goes down but her breathing is worse.Dr Hew prescribed medication (Lasix) to stop the swelling and ordered some blood tests. They are coming tomorrow to do that here at home.He believes that it is due to 'heart failure' and even suggested that her breathing difficulties were due to fluid on her lungs. Shirley used to be work in a Pharmacy and she is happy with this new medication and is hopeful we will see improvement over the next few days.Will and I are leaving for Frogknot tomorrow. I was reluctant to leave Shirley alone because I know how hard it is on your own with Dulcie like she is but Wendi is coming tomorrow. They are both determined we get away for a break.Dulcie was the best she has been since last Monday today....is walking more and recovering her breathlessness quicker. That is the hardest part, staying calm and coaching her out of her 'panics' to breathe in....in mid panic she seems to forget how to breathe in.In other news I received a letter asking for my Tax File Number before they could process my Carer's Pension. They sent me a form to send off to apply for one but I already had one so decided to ring and tell them.After telling the automated advisor it was 'something else' a few times I had to wait for 25 minutes listening to classical music before being told I needed to be put through to another department."I'll put you to the front of the queue," they said.They lied.....I waited another symphony and concerto in D before I finally got through.I told them my tax file number....the guy on the other end was a bit slow and narrated the whole procedure of finding the right page on his computer and  spelled out everything he was doing before telling me they were due to review my case again on the 6th of June.What's another week when you are on the breadline?However, later in the afternoon I received a phone call to say that my application had been passed. I have to ring in fortnightly until further notice to inform them of Will's gross fortnightly pay for my payment to be released.....unfortunately it looks like the same flippin' number I wasted 45 minutes of my life upon today......starting from tomorrow. It is good news....It will cover what I owe on my flight home."Are you getting paid for looking after me, Nick?" Asked Dulcie."I am," I said."Does that mean I can order you about?" She said between intakes of breath."It does," I said, "Your wish is my command. I'll do anything you want.........except get you a cigarette!" I added.

Everything goes 'Wang'.

I made an appointment to see Dr Wang today at 10.30 for the results of my 24 hour blood pressure monitoring.There were three people before me to see him. The first one was  quite quick but  then two women went in together and were in there about 30 minutes!They were followed by a young chap who also was in the for another 30 minutes.I felt something was 'Wang' and it was.The computers had crashed and it was slowing everything down and the waiting room started to fill up.Finally it was my turn but Dr Wang called in an elderly couple sat who came and sat in front of me and then when they came out  I moved to stand up but he apologised and called in a mother and her two young children.He called me in next. I had been waiting for 90 minutes. He could not give me my results as they were on the computer. He asked if I could come back later as someone was coming to fix the computers in the afternoon.I was only in his room for 5 minutes.I asked the girl at the desk about a later appointment she asked me to ring back about 2.00.I did. The receptionist asked me to give them another hour.I did. I was told to ring back in 20 minutes.I did. The computers were fixed. I had to go after 4.30.I did.The waiting room was packed....there were at least 10 people in front of me....including a family of kids that the mother could not control....it was no good for my blood pressure.I asked the receptionist for an appointment tomorrow."Come at 8.15 am" she said, "I'll get you in."...........Computers willing.