Evil Oddie

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…

Mum called me last night to tell me that Dad has been rushed to hospital because he’d had a heart attack.  The Royal Flying Doctor’s picked him up and flew him down to Brisbane today because their closest hospital couldn’t look after him.

He’s having more tests tomorrow, so we’ll know what other procedures will be done then.  They were talking about stents while I was at the hospital visiting him.  Life is such a rollercoaster…

Last Tuesday (the Tuesday after the Easter 4wd Comp), Glen came home from work with six red roses for me.  The card read something to the effect of “I couldn’t have done the weekend without you.”  I loved my roses, but initially I thought that I was about to have a bad experience.

When Glen and I were first together (a long long time ago),  I came home from work and Glen gave me a lovely bunch of flowers.  He said that he got them just because… Then about 15 minutes later, he says “I’m going away and I don’t want you to come.” 

I have only received flowers a couple of times and this is the first time that it was for a positive experience.  Plus this is the first lot of roses!!! Yay!!!

Over the weekend, Glen was the navi for Mick for the first time.  It was the first competition for the SSS Winch Challenge at Landcruiser Park- more info here. I think that they will put the results up shortly.

Anyway, on with the weekend. Glen was majorly excited. We got up early on Friday morning and we got to the camping ground at about 9:30am. We set up camp (took us only 30 mins - yay for our instant tent and gazebo). Then we got to watch everyone else set up camp. There was one couple that took over an hour and a half to put up their tarp just to put their kitchen under!!!

I think Mick got to the camping ground at about 11:30am and we helped him set up his tarp and swag. Once that was done, the boys set about getting the last little things done on the Comp Truck. As more people arrived, we started to get some visitors to camp. Jen & Fester rocked up just before the guys had to go for Drivers Briefing at 6pm. So I went with Jen & Fester to their camp (they scored the best site - we got stuck with the plebs on a slope).

Soon enough, it was time for the comp to start. At the draw, Mick and Glen were the first to run on Stage One. Everyone hates having to go first; but for Glen it was his first Navi experience at night and he had to go first. The boys did an ok time, but picked up a couple of penalties. The first one was pretty bad - Glen had stepped over the live winch rope - 30 points and Mick broke the bunting - 10 points. After that though, they didn’t incur any further penalties.

The boys broke the driver’s side CV on Stage 3. It was majorly hard core - the hill that the Navi’s had to climb for Stage 3 & 4 was unforgiving. Glen was stuffed after Stage 3 because they didn’t have any drive, they had to winch everything. Unfortunately, they ran out of time and recorded a DNF.

All the stages were really well planned and I think that organisers did a really fantastic job. The only issues that I had as a spectator was: Parking on Saturday; No Toilets until lunch time on Saturday; Didn’t see much of the night runs and; Having to Pay Extra for the Navi’s car to get to the Comp sites (I’m cheap - so I reckon it should be included).

Other things I should mention about the weekend. I met heaps of fantastic people. Everyone is really nice and helpful. The drivers & navi’s got to know my face, so they’d stop and have a chat and talk about their run. The families of the other competitors all look out for each other too. It really is like a gigantic family that catches up at every comp.

I also got to meet the photographer who goes to most of the comps. Her name is Sam and she posts the pics here.

On Saturday, we went shopping for new desks for our home office.  We wanted 5 desks that matched.  Glen, Pete and I all have differring tastes, so I knew it was going to be difficult.

Pete chose the colours for the newly renovated office, which is Green Aspen for the feature wall and a lighter green for the rest.  So we needed to get something that would match the new office.  After going through all the desks, we finally all came to an agreement.  We wrote down the details and went to the warehouse bit where you pick them up.

When we got to the area the desktops should be, there was only one left.  So we went to find out if they had more or when the next shipment is coming in.  Bad news.  The line is being discontinued and they only had one left.  So our entire Saturday afternoon searching for new desks was only the beginning of a long drawn out episode.  We are still looking for a desk we all agree on again… GRRRRRR!

I have a new job, well I have for a while actually.  I started on the 2nd of January.  It’s really close to home, they are extremely flexible and I have got a company car in my salary package - YAY!  Of course there are teething issues.  I have never used the type of Accounting Software that they use and there are no existing finance people that are there that can show me.  I’m sure once I’ve settled in, everything will be great!

Sorry for the long delay in writing another post.  We just got back from New Zealand.  It was the trip that initially motivated me to do the Photography Course.  Glen’s sister’s (Viv) wedding was really good and the photos look pretty good too (even if I do say myself).

It wasn’t so much a holiday, it was more of visiting family.  There was only one thing that really cheesed us off.  It was really hot and humid over there.  Why did this bother us so much?  Because New Zealand (we were only at Auckland and Northland) is not equipped for hot weather.  They don’t have ceiling fans, pedestal fans, air conditioners or even fly screens!  As soon as you opened a window, mozzies would eat you alive (which we experienced several times).

After all the trips that we have gone to NZ, this has been our best travelling experience.  We flew with Emirates, the food was fantastic and they actually know what service is!  I think we’ll only be flying with them in the future.  For the flight back, Glen’s olds shouted our upgrade from Economy to Business Class.  It was the best!!!

So another Christmas is done.  Glen was on call so we didn’t do very much at all.  Glen’s parents are pretty much the only family that we have in Brisbane, and they don’t really get into the Christmas spirit so it’s not like a Christmas with my family.  Glen and his parents have a couple of traditions for Christmas - fruit salad for breakfast and plum pudding for dessert.

My nephew-in-law (his name is also Glen with one ‘n’ - and technically he is my sister’s nephew) and his partner Michael, have moved to Brisbane and they don’t have any family in Brisbane either.  So I went around to their place on Christmas just for a visit.  They were great and they put on some good food and wine.  They love Christmas (like me).  We had bon bons and wore the silly paper crown hats that come in them.

After a couple of hours, I went home and we had a BBQ dinner.  The main course was garlic prawns (I had a sausage cause I can’t eat prawns / meat).

A few people that I talked to weren’t happy with the drowsy weather.  I quite enjoyed not having the sweltering heat that we have had before on Christmas.  I remember a Christmas and it got to 42 degrees!

A friend sent this to me. It is very rare for me to laugh out loud but I did when I saw this.

Employee: ‘Hello this is *****, how can I help you?’

Customer: ‘I would like to order a cake for a going-away party this week.’

Employee: ‘What do you want on the cake?’

Customer: ‘Best Wishes Suzanne’ and then underneath that, ‘We will miss you’.

Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.