Archive for June, 2008


Rant Time - Oil

Ok… I don’t think I have written a rant on here before but here goes…

I think that we need to start thinking about oil. I do not have my finger on the pulse of everything that’s happening in the world, but I do not understand the price of oil. Are we running out or is it the billionaire’s who are controlling the supply of oil deciding how many barrels of oil will be produced a day pushing the price?

I know that oil is used in quite a few things, but the main place that we are feeling it is the price of Petrol. And the price is getting beyond a joke. I have a company car, so I don’t have to pay for petrol out of my pocket. YAY! So this may seem a little strange for someone in my situation to have a rant.

I think that it is about time that the world in general needs to start looking at the bigger picture. I remember an episode this year that was on Extra.  Some retired guy has come up with a way that he can run his car on water…. Ok - well it seems like it works (they showed it running) so why don’t we implement it?

The other way that has been getting talked about for years is a hydrogen car.  I believe Honda has a prototype and it is running quite well.  I’ve been told the hold up is that the Government is unsure of how to tax us if we don’t have to go to a station to fill up with petrol. True??

The last part of my rant.  We have 4wds that run on LPG.  When we first bought one of them in 2004 (it seems so far but not really) LPG was a staggering 18.2 cents a litre.  Now we’re talking about the 70 cents per litre.  Why is LPG so expensive now?  Seeing that Australia is exporting LPG for a couple of cents a litre - why are we (the silly taxpayers) paying this????????????

Dad had heart bypass surgery

Once Dad had an Angiogram, the Cardiologist (Dr Rafter) got the Cardiac Surgeon (Dr Mau) to get further advice. Dr Mau & Dr Rafter agreed that Dad needed four bypasses. Seeing that Dad’s heart was still trying to have further heart attacks, they scheduled Dad in for surgery asap. They were trying to get him in on the Friday afternoon, but they couldn’t get the theatre staff.

He went in for surgery on Saturday morning. Glen’s Dad had bypass surgery about 5-6 years ago, so I had already gone through what happens and what to expect.

During the Op, Dr Mau decided that Dad actually needed 5 grafts. Apparently there was only one artery keeping Dad alive.

I think the worst part was seeing Dad in the ICU. I can’t say at any point I thought we’d lose Dad. He’s such a tough old boot, I think he’d get through anything. My only thought was, I want Dad to see me get married & have kids (whenever both of these are going to happen - for everyone that knows me - NOT YET PPL!!)

Anyway, Dad was in the Wesley for a week after surgery. I cannot speak highly enough of Dr Mau & Dr Rafter. They did a fantastic job with Dad. Dr Mau has really made an impression with my Dad. Dad is not a small man (he weighed 94 kilos before the surgery) and Dr Mau sat him up on his bed with one hand. I can’t believe how strong he is!!

In Dad’s room, he shared with four other males. Wayne who was in the opposite bed turned out to be a great room mate. I think they both talked a lot about the surgery (Wayne was going in for bypass the week after Dad). If Dad was out getting tests done etc when I turned up, I would sit with Wayne and talk.

It’s been 7 weeks since the op now. Dad came back down last week for his check up. He has been given approval to drive again. I think he’s really happy about that. Normally, bypass patients have to wait 12 weeks to get the ok to drive.

So Dad has a zipper front & back now… LOL…