Landscape-ing

I was very pleased to receive a Merit for my first camera club competition for the year. The subject was "Scapes" and I took this photo at my local landscaping business. The judge said it worked on two levels, though wasn't sharp enough. I'll have to work on that. Otherwise all going well with my new different life. I'm still going to book clubs, camera club, historical society and oral history meetings, so having as "normal" a life as possible with the support of my family and friends.

Back home to start new life

I've been discharged from Canossa for just over a week now after being there for six weeks. I'm gradually getting used to my new life. I'm feeling much better now that I've accepted I'm now disabled. I will now concentrate on those things I can still do and "let go" of those things I can no longer do, just remember them fondly without getting upset. This has been a very difficult year for me and for those who love me. My leg weakness was initially diagnosed as being a very rare auto-immune disease, CIDP, and I underwent uncomfortable treatments for that. In August when another opinion said I had spinal cord damage, I went through a terrible emotional time. There was no explanation for this damage. A later opinion was that it was probably caused by a virus (in the absence of any other medical evidence) and I was told it is "unlikely" I will walk independenty again. I have a lovely new wheelchair to help me get around and I will no longer put my life "on hold" waiting to recover. I will get back into my oral history interviews and already have a couple of good prospects lined up. Canossa was the best "treatment" I could have had. The staff there looked after me very well and helped me come to terms with my disability. They were all so good to me. Thanks to them I feel I can now move forward with my life.

Canossa Hospital

I've been "rehabilitating" at Canossa Private Hospital, Rehab Unit, for a couple of weeks now. The staff are all wonderful and I'm enjoying the physiotherapy. I'm allowed "leave" during the day on weekends, on Saturday after physio session and on Sunday as there is no physio. I'm under the care of a good doctor who seems curious about my "unusual" case so he's trying to find answers, but he's said it's "unlikely" I'll walk independently again. But who can say - doctors can't tell me how this has happened and they can't really know what the future holds for me. I'll just take each day as it comes. I believe I've come to terms with my current situation and that acceptance will make it easier to cope, I think. I've got wonderful support from my family and friends, so I'm truly blessed.

Life Member OHAA

At the Annual General Meeting of the Oral History Association of Australia (Queensland Inc.) this morning I was surprised and honoured to be made a Life Member. I have been a member of OHAA for many years and on the Committee since 2001 as Newsletter Editor and also Secretary. The only position I now hold is Secretary and that keeps me very busy and that's what I need. I consider I am in illustrious company with some of the "greats" in the Australian oral history world and I am pleased to be now in that select group. I will continue to do my best to promote oral history as it is something I am passionate about.

European Windows

At a recent camera club competition I entered my audio visual. I was up against some stiff competition from the best photographers in the club so didn't get a place. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to be there on the night so didn't experience the audience reaction or hear the judge's comments personally. However, friends who were there gave me some feedback on how I could improve it so I've taken that on board and changed it. View it on full screen and make sure you've got the sound on. Hope you enjoy it.

Brain & Mind Institute

A couple of weeks ago Terry and I flew down to Sydney to the Brain and Mind Institute to see an eminent professor of neurology for an opinion on my condition. He examined me and ordered tests be done at the Institute by a neurophysiology technologist. They were interesting. The first was in a darkened room with a computer screen showing black & white squares, like a chessboard. I had lots of coloured wires attached to my head and I had to look at the screen as the program began. The squares changed at different speeds from black to white and back and I had to concentrate on keeping them in focus. The technologist could tell from looking at her monitor screen when my mind was wondering - very creepy, she could virtually read my mind. It was quite exhausting. Each "run" would last about 2 or 3 minutes with one of my eyes covered. After about an hour of that, I had more wires attached to my arms, legs and head and an electric pulse was turned on. That all went for another hour. We then saw the Professor again and he said I didn't have CIDP or MS but he concluded I have spinal chord damage at waist level which will require further investigation with better MRI. It was a bit of a shock to learn I've been treated for 12 months for something I don't have but also relief. I'll now go on to the next step in this medical "journey".

Lucas' Graduation

Our family was very proud to attend the graduation of my nephew, Lucas, last week. He has a Bachelor of Applied Science in Forensics. Early in his studies, at times he struggled with the workload and the subject matter but he persevered over the years and has done very well. Now comes the task of finding a job (anywhere in Australia) to match his newly learned skills. He is a very nice young man and will work very hard. We wish him well.