I returned to my camera club this month,
Queensland Camera Group, after a break and was pleased to receive Merits for all three of my entries in the "Open" subject.
"Marry Me" was taken in Trafalgar Square in London. Terry and I were looking out over the Square and I observed this young couple sitting by the fountain. He pulled out a ring box and handed it to her. She was obviously thrilled and excitedly put the ring on her finger, admiring it and kissing and hugging her new fiance. As I realised what was happening, I took several photos but not all came out well. This was the best. The photo was cropped to show only them. It was delightful to be a witness to this special moment.
"Tangled Web" was taken in Bucharest, Romania and shows that city does not have underground power. There are "webs" like this all over the city and must be a challenge to maintain.
"Gone Fishing" was taken from our boat, "River Duchess" as we cruised down the Rhine River. I spotted this guy on the bank and fortunately with my 20x zoom camera, I was able to capture him.
Click on the Queensland Camera Group link above to see other wonderful images that were in the club competition.
Last week I spent a week in hospital for treatment of my CIDP using intravenous immunoglobulin over five days. The treatment was fairly comfortable though getting the canula inserted was not a pleasant experience, but of course necessary. When not being infused with the treatment, I was on a saline drip to keep my vein open so was hooked up most of the time. With my disability, it was difficult when I wanted to go to the toilet or shower, taking the drip with me and being helped on to a toilet/shower chair on wheels by two nurses. At times they were all very busy and I was desperate but fortunately no "accidents". The staff at the hospital were very good but there are not enough of them to cope sometimes, especially in the mornings. The food was quite good. I was glad to return home because in hospital, understandably, the patient fits in with the hospital routine which doesn't always coincide with your own body routine. I will have follow up treatments as a day patient and hope to see some improvement in my condition in about a month.
One of the things that highlights my current disability and lack of independence is that I now need my husband to cut my toenails. He is my official "carer" 24/7 and does almost everything for me, for which I am very grateful but wish it wasn't necessary. He does all the cooking, housework, washing, ironing and he helps me dress and shower. Fortunately, I can still use the toilet on my own, but is toenail cutting one step up from that? Despite my disability, I am doing my best to keep a positive frame of mind but at times it can be difficult to maintain that mindset. I've been reading Practising the Power of Now and learning to meditate. I had always been an independent person in control of my life so that loss of control is the hardest to manage and I have to guard against thinking about that and focus only on what I can do - not on what I can't. My neurologist believes I may have both transverse myelitis and CIDP but my case is so complex, I'm not sure he really knows. Anyway, "live for the moment" and "always look on the bright side of life." Cheers!!
