Last Day Of Leave

I suppose it all had to end. Six months away from work and six months that have seen the biggest changes in my life. Tomorrow I go back to "The Asylum". They tell me there are a few changes. These changes are things I normally would not like. But now there are more important things in life to bother about than crappy, little minded bureaucrats and the self importance they bestow on themselves to cover their incompetence and unsuitability to "manage". This of course, is common throughout every government department. Most managers and bureaucrats here wouldnt last a month in private industry. I know a few good ones though but they are very very few. I mean, I call them good because they display basic common sense. Thats all you need for heavens sake .... BASIC COMMON SENSE !

It was great two weeks ago. I caught up with an old family friend from my childhood. Elaine.S . She arrived in Perth for a few days from the U.K with a couple of friends. I took them on my regular tour of Perth and then we had a dinner at Dorothy's place. A pleasant day all up.

Olives ! Yesterday our neighbours trimmed their olive tree. Two years ago I took down nearly 10 Kg of olives. Was too much and I gave away heaps. This year I got only 2 kg of big black juicy olives. I have now salted them this morning, put it in a pillow case and sewn it up and hung in out in the laundry to dry. Should take about 3 weeks and then I will marinade them in olive oil with fresh crushed garlic, crushed chilli and oregano. This makes a healthy salad dressing.

Well People ! Until next time ... Caio !

At the Samudra Yoga Centre. I just love the rustic creatively designed outdoor furniture here. You see Val, Abel and Mel

This is at the back of the house with Danielle the Property Developer (she rents out the houses)

Abel , Dorothy and Danielle sitting on some of the furniture at the Samudra Yoga Centre.

Holiday from a holiday from a holiday

One of the Margaret River Vineyards

The Big Apple is still just out of reach !!!

Above : The entrance to one of the bigger wineries

This is the rear of our holiday

home.

Val and I are still at home on sick leave. Still doing my 3 km walks 6 days a week. Last week I went for my echo cardiograph test and also for an exercise test. After a while when the treadmill's speed and incline was increased, I asked to stop. My blood pressure was tested and found to be quite low. Later I checked on the internet and the tablet the cardiologist put me on is said to lower blood pressure. Anyway ! seeing him on Tuesday and will see what he says.
Today is 3 months since the coin was tossed .... and I won the "bet of my life". You see, they gave me a 50% chance of survival. I only discovered this percentage well after the operation.
My sister Dorothy phoned me last week and asked Val and myself to join them for the weekend in Dunsborough. For you people NOT from Western Australia, it is a seaside town about 3 hours drive from Perth. I agreed last moment and so glad i did. Abel and Mel joined us too. The house was lovely .... overlooking a lake and golf course.

Having our morning cuppa tea. The lake and part of golf course is behind us.

On Saturday morning Val and I went for a drive toward Margaret River ... One of the worlds premier wine growing regions (Google it) We stopped at a Venison Farm and bought venison sausages, salami, jerky etc. Venison is supposed to be the leanest meat along with kangaroo at about 1 1/2 percent. Also stopped at a cheese factory and a couple of vineyards. Had a lovely gourmet lunch and returned home at about 4 pm and spent the rest of the evening relaxing with the others.

Sunday morning before lunch, we went into town with Danielle, had an iced coffee each, bought some pistachio, cherry and cranberry nougat then went to the Samudra Yoga Centre ... I just had to show Val the fantastic outdoor furniture I had discovered earlier. We looked at some more shops then returned home to have lunch then left for home

OH YEAH ! I forgot .....

On our way into Dunsborough about 10 Km out ... my car overheated. Lucky it was in a housing estate and I called the RAC. the roadside mechanic assured me it was the waterpump ... gave me a mechanics number who I phoned and of course the RAC guy arranged for my car to be towed there free. The mechanic had my car ready 10 am next morning. PERFECT TIMING !!! Then when we arrived home this evening , when the last package was removed from the car, Val asked me what that hissing sound was .... I looked ..... Bloody Hell ! I had just received a puncture. PERFECT TIMING AGAIN .

Oh Well ! Tomorrow morning is going to be busy. Will pick up my dog Tanto in Vals car from the kennel and then go have the puncture repaired. May even buy a lottery ticket

:-)

Train ride to Mandurah

Val and I always wanted to make the trip on the new rail line to Mandurah. So , today we took my car into the city and got on the Mandurah train. Nice pleasant trip. We walked along the Mandurah foreshore. At first we thought we'd have seafood at Cicerrello's but then we saw this "gourmet bakehouse". We stopped in there and had pies. Val had a crab and fish pie and I had a fish, scallop and prawn pie. We also had a garden salad with the pies . They were OK. After for dessert we had a small scoop .... please note ... I said "small". scoop of chocolate and Val had cinnamon and ginger.

We thought that we must do this again..

Western Cardiology

Went in to see the Cardiologist at Western Cardiology situated at St. John Of God Hospital. Had to wait only 20 mins. He seems good .... with a good sense of humour as well. He took me off one tablet (Clopivas) and put me on a beta blocker which he reckoned I should have been on anyway. Then yesterday I had my pacemaker checked out. Well ! All is fine and it hasnt had to kick in at all since it was inserted. Just the stress test to do next week.
Today Val and I went for our walk in Kings Park after lunch. GOD ! It is so beautiful there. Lush green lawns that go forever. Interspersed with native shrubs and majestic gum trees of a huge variety. To cap it all .... beautiful views of our lovely Swan River.
So glad I survived. After all isnt this Heaven ?

12 Days Home

Back home 12 days now. Feeling good ! Started going on a walk almost daily and have now built up to 3 kilometres a day. Went to visit the people at work and to see Ivan the manager to sort out sick leave etc. Looks like things havent changed much at the asylum.
Had to decide as to wether to see a Cardiologist privately or publicly. The public system left me in no doubt......
All the treatment in "public (govt.) is free. But the next appointment is 6 months away and then too they can phone last minute and say the appointment is cancelled and to come in another 2 months even. Then too I'll get a different Cardiologist each time maybe. If I go "private" the appointment is sooner ... Like I got an appointment for the first of April and a few hours later they phoned and said there had been a cancellation and if I wanted I could come in at 11am. on the 20th March ... that is 2 days away . So I took it. But the cost is about $236 a visit out of which I will get back $115. Then there is ECG's and tests which cost as well out of which I get back about half.But the visits are only once every 3 months initially, then go to every 6 months ... then to once a year .... so it's not too bad..... I'd rather pay Dr.Kale (My Indian Cardiologist) Rs. 1000. ha ha ha .

Home Sweet Home

Arrived Perth 0300 hrs on the 6th march. after nearly 4 months away. Had a great journey home on Emirates. Was met at the airport by our son Abel with Mel, sister Dorothy (carrying flowers and balloons) and dear friends Lorna and Ken.. I just slept a few hours and then stayed awake for a lovely 10 hour + sleep in my own bed.
Next day we were invited to Lorna's house for dinner ..... and what turned out to be a super surprise. She had also called lots of other friends that used to inquire about me. Just loved it. True to "Rego's Dinners" we left after 3 am. What a lovely night . Thanks Loreena & Ken.
Today (Sunday) just lounged around. Currently waiting for Christine and Russell to bring mum over.
Spoke to another pal in Sydney who has had bypass surgery and this is the second person who has warned me about phases of depression. Coming to think of it, there ARE times when I burst into tears. I wonder why this is ............