Pillion.

Preparations are under way for our 'Great Escape' for a few days up north.........but first we had to tend to Roxy.She needs a service and a year ago we were warned to get the timing belt changed as well. So we tried to book her in last week but Udi Schwaben in Underwood could only fit her in today.This morning I drove her over and Will followed behind on Jaxy. We dropped Roxy off with Udi and after we managed to escape his German accented chatter and opinions on the Bali Nine we headed for home.I have never been on the back of a bike or scooter......ever!I was glad I remembered to take my blood pressure pill before hand.I did feel very vulnerable sat behind Will in just my shorts and t-shirt and no outer metal casing. I particularly disliked going around corners where Will said we had to lean into the turn. I would whimper and I could feel Will shaking with laughter.I was very aware of trying to keep my mouth closed because here it might not only be a fly that hits your 'uvuluvouluvula'......it could be a locust or at worst a kookaburra!We still have to make the return journey to collect Roxy when we get the call from Udi......if it is this afternoon we might head off on our trip tonight but if not we will set off tomorrow.We are going to Boreen Point up near Noosa to a lakeside campsite until Sunday and we will explore the Sunshine Coast a little more over the next few days. 

Thank you!

Just a quick 'Thank you' to everyone who has sent messages and emails in the last week. I am very grateful for your thoughts and good wishes and I will reply properly soon.We are intending to go away on Thursday for a few days but I will catch up with correspondence after that.N xxx

The First Best Exotic Pensioner Discount.

What could only be the best way to use your Pensioner Concession card for the first time........but to go and see'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.' for $4.40 or just over £2?!It was the best $4.50 I have ever spent. It was fantastic!Very often follow up films are never as good as the original but this one was just as good as the first.If you don't want to go to India after seeing it.....then you are probably already dead.The soundtrack is wonderful....but then it is Thomas Newman.....and he can do no wrong in my eyes.You will not be disappointed if you go see it as soon as you can!

My first 'Pensioner' ticket!

"I DON'T believe it!"

So......apart from everything else that has been going on I have had a bit of toothache. I need to get it sorted before is worse so today phoned the dental clinic at the Q E II Hospital."Do you have a health care card  or a pensioner's concession card?" Asked the woman on the other end of the phone."No, But I have a Medicare card," I said."No, I'm sorry that doesn't count.""So, how do I get my tooth sorted?" I asked."Go to a private dentist or the School of Denstristry at Queensland University."I wasn't keen for students to experiment on me at all.I googled "How do you get a Health Care Card?" and was taken to the Centrelink website.......on checking it out it looked like I might be eligible.....but I wasn't going to waste time on waiting for them to answer the phone so drove to Inala to the Centrelink Office.Like this morning I was expecting bad news but soon found myself sat in the red chairs with all the nationalities of the World sat around me.I have sat there for hours before but this time was called in 5 minutes by a bald headed guy."I just wondered if I am eligible for a health care card. I have a dodgy tooth that need sorting." I said."We'll just see what we can do," he said, tapping away at his computer and peering at the screen. He got up and walked away and then a few moments later came back with a piece of paper. He sat down scribbled on it stamped it three times and said,"This will last you for two weeks until your real card comes through the post."I was utterly gobsmacked!.......'Perhaps I need to buy a lottery ticket today,' I thought."Fantastic!" I said, "Thank you!"I came home and rang the Dental Hospital again clutching my temporary 'Health Care Card' paper.....but on closer inspection noticed the Health Care Card bit was crossed out and what I had actually been given was a 'Pensioner's Concession Card.'Some mistake surely!!!!!!!.....but then I realised I was getting a Carer's 'Pension.'I got my dental appointment but then realised from the paper that they were going to send my card to Frogknot.I wasn't going to ring them to change it so drove back to Inala and found myself back on the red chairs.I could see the bald headed guy peering at me over his computer screen and felt like a serial benefit cheat and bludger.I waited about 20 minutes before I was called by a woman but here desk meant I would have to walk past the bald headed guy's desk. I took a short cut between some other desks and avoided going past him.The woman looked incredulous."You're not supposed to walk through there!" She said."Oops" I said."Well, luckily no-one was looking," she said.The computer didn't want to change my address to Celtis St but she managed to set it as my postal address but she hit a problem.  She went in search of help,walking through the desks I was not allowed to walk through....but couldn't find anyone to help."Don't worry. I will get it sent to your postal address," she said.I wasn't convinced."Can I just ask a silly question? I see it is a Pensioner's Concession Card but I am far too young to be a pensioner. Is it right? Is it because I get a Carer's pension?""I'm sorry," she said ," Do you want me to ask if we can call it something else?......Yes, it is right."I thanked her. "Should I go this way?" I asked, indicating a path away from the desks I was not supposed to walk through. It was the long way round......and I was a pensioner!"If you don't mind," she said.I had to walk past the bald headed man......I kept my head down and hurried out.I am 52 and in possession of a Pensioner's Concession Card!"I DON'T believe it!"

'C' Day!

So........I did get some sleep but I was awake for ages in the night before I slept.I drove to the P.A and parked over the road in the Woolies car park as I was not paying the extortionate hospital parking fees. It said I could park there for 3 hours.....loads of time.I walked over to the hospital which looked like a big cruise liner, with its three copper funnels on the roof, moored in its dock under the clear but pale blue sky.It was hot and humid outside but so nice to be enveloped by the cool embrace of the air conditioning as the main door slid open, 'Like Death with his arm around my shoulder saying come with me' I thought.I knew where I was going....up the Orange Lifts to the second floor and then down the corridor to 2F.The waiting room wasn't as busy as last time.....and no one was playing a guitar.I handed my appointment slip in at the desk."Thank you", some tapping on a keyboard and a fixed smile, "Take a seat. You will be called shortly."I chose a seat nearer to where I knew Dr Fanning would come out....so I didn't miss hearing him call me.It was 8.30. I was early.I guess I must be a 'glass half empty guy' because I was pretty much prepared for the worst. I hadn't depressed my self or become overly worried but for me it was easier to expect the worst and be pleasantly surprised than to go in all positive and be shattered."Nicholas Allen?"It was a woman.'Oh, no.' I thought 'I want Dr Fanning not this doctor.' I walked over to her."I just need to check your height and weight." Some relief but then.......'Why?' I wondered....'it must mean bad news, they wouldn't do this if they weren't going to see me again.......Oh, no! They are not sizing me up for a coffin are they?'"Take a seat again please."I went back to the waiting room.The woman with the heads on the trolley was there again.....she hadn't sold any.

"Would you like a tea or a coffee?" It was an elderly woman in a bright tabard.'My last request?' I thought.........maybe I was overdoing the preparing myself for the worst bit!"Er.....no thank you." I said. I was stunned that they offered people in waiting rooms tea and coffee anyway.....it is what you would expect only in Heaven."Nicholas Allen?"It was Dr Fanning.'Here we go.'His hand was still cold. He seemed very up beat."How are you?""Fine," I said.......but I had been much finer.....quite often."Well, good news! There was no trace of cancer (the first time the 'C' word had been used.) It was just tissue and pulmonary matter. It doesn't mean conclusively it is not there unfortunately but it's still positive."He showed me the CT scan of the needle in my back and sticking in the 'lesion.'"And do you see these gaps? That is where they took the samples so I am pretty sure they got it from the right place.  But , I think we need to keep an eye on it and get you back again in 3 months for another CT scan to check it is not growing. Any questions?"I wasn't going to mention it but perhaps though I should while I had the chance."Well, a couple of times I have felt nauseous, broke out in a cold sweat and felt weak but it passed. I have been thinking, 'Ooh, does it mean I have cancer?' "He pondered it....but didn't say an outright 'no.'"Pretty non specific," he said "but if the symptoms continue or get worse ring here to make an appointment."I shook his cold hand again and left.It was not what I had expected to hear but it was good.I sat in the glass enclosed atrium and texted and messaged the good news back and forth for half an hour before heading home once more to Shirley and Dulcie.