Enjoying New Zealand

The view from our one bedroom motel apartment
as I write this blog entry in Timaru, New Zealand.

Monday 28 September, Barbara and I met with Dr Blossom, a registrar and Dr Kate Mahon, my oncologist.  The blood test showed that my liver cancer markers continue to improve towards normal while the kidney marker is a bit high but OK.  Thus, I could have my three days of chemo despite having an infection for which I was taking antibiotics.  Dr Kate is very supportive of me going to Uganda, so I finalised my Uganda travel plans for late October/early November.

It is encouraging to have a continuing good health assessment.  I had been feeling down for over a week due to the infection.  Prior to then I enjoyed over two weeks feeling the most normal I have for months.

Last week we spent three days in Canberra visiting our youngest son and his wife.  They were the ones who sent me a Canberra doctor when I was feeling unwell.  This week we are in the South Island of New Zealand.  We arrived in Christchurch on Friday and spent the late afternoon in the city centre looking at the huge effect of the earthquake, the amazing amount of rebuilding and enjoying the friendly nature of those resilient New Zealanders.  Today we have travelled on south to Timaru, the town where my father grew up in the early 20th century.  Tomorrow we will be visiting the local museum archives to see what we can learn about his family.  In a few days we will be meeting up with our oldest son and his family for a week at Lake Wanaka.

Enjoy these Canberra Arboretum and Christchurch and Timaru photos.

Canberra Arboretum Photos

(7 photos)

Gum nut playground equipment at Village Centre

Inside the Village Centre building

On of dozens of fantastic bonsai trees on display at the Village Centre

Barbara and David in the playground at the Village Centre

Panoramic view from Dairy Farmers Hill

With my youngest at the Wide Brown Land sculpture at the Cedars Forest

Barbara lazing on the Wide Brown Land sculpture

Christchurch, New Zealand

(7 photos)

About to begin our walk in the city centre

Spring blossoms

Anglican Cathedral earthquake distraction

Christchurch Transitional Cathedral - new building at another church
site where the old buildings had been severely damaged and replaced

Floating sculpture in a park across road from transitional cathedral

Christchurch citizens enjoying food at the Farmers' Market

Timaru, New Zealand

(15 photos)

View over Caroline Bay from our motel for the next two nights

Does this 'people comment' resonate with you?

The house where my Uncle Ivo (my Dad's brother) and Aunty Myrtle
lived for most of their married lives

A view from the western point of Timaru Harbour

View along the coast south of Timaru Harbour

Pylons of an old pier

View of the coastal walk, south of Timaru Harboour

Sculpture in Centennial Park

Some of the many daffodils a blooming in New Zealand

Still smiling after nearly 40 years of marriage

At lookout at northern end of Caroline Bay Beach
one of New Zealand's 10 favourite beaches

Wedding photos being taken on Caroline Bay Beach

On the rocks down on Caroline Bay Beach

Light house used from 1878 to 1970 at Timaru Port, now moved to
northern end of Caroline Bay

Panorama from lighthouse around to Caroline Bay Beach

Enjoying Port Stephens

Barbara and I enjoyed five days in Port Stephens from Monday to Friday last week.  We stayed in Shoal Bay which is at the southern headland.  We walked out to the World War II gun emplacements on the headland, enjoyed lots of seafood, slept, watched the excellent Australian drama A Place to Call Home series one and two and spent an afternoon at Soldiers Point.

Over the last week or so I have felt normal, whatever ‘normal’ is for me.  Our holiday helped.  It is good to feel better than I have for quite a while.

Today I am sharing some photos from the headland, Shoal Bay and Soldiers Point.

On the headland

Shoal Bay on the jetty with headland in the background

View from our apartment

At Soldiers Point

The Outlier Advantage

Monday 31 August Barbara and I met with Dr Kate Mahon, my oncologist.  During our discussion, Kate mentioned that I am an outlier.  In March 2011, when I was diagnosed, my statistical life expectancy was one to five years.  Four and a half years later I am likely to live for many more years.  I am fortunate that I have continued in relatively very good health for someone in my situation.  This makes me an ‘outlier’, in that I am a person beyond the normal statistical situation.

This second round of chemotherapy from Monday to Wednesday was more comfortable than the first round.  I think this was at least partially due to it being more time since a stent was inserted between my left kidney and bladder.

However, I have had some problems with my colostomy bag.  I seemed to have some allergic reaction in my skin from this second chemo round.  There were some spots on my stomach and chest, a couple of which were in the area of where the colostomy bag covers my skin.  I had a red rash around the perimeter of where the colostomy bag attaches.  Thursday afternoon I met with Lesley, the senior stoma nurse at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.  She examined the colostomy bag area.  I will be trying a couple of other types of colostomy bags over the next few weeks.  Thankfully, the rash has settled down and I am now more comfortable.

2015 is the year of a multiplying of issues relating to my cancer and my treatment for the cancer.  Hence it has been good to enjoy catching up with some family and friends – diversion therapy helps.  Tuesday night Barbara and I met Pam and Allan at Sydney Airport on their return from Uganda.  Wednesday night our daughter joined Barbara and I for dinner out at a Thai restaurant to celebrate Barbara’s birthday.  Thursday, Maureen and Glenn came for morning tea.  Friday, second cousins Tim, Kylie and Simon came for afternoon tea.  Saturday friends Hugh and Barbie came for a late lunch and late afternoon Barbara and I went to Balmoral Beach.  There our children and grandchildren met us to for our family celebration of Barbara’s birthday and Fathers’ Day.  Though a cool and cloudy afternoon, the granddaughters loved playing on the beach.  A wedding group had photos taken nearby.  We enjoyed an early dinner of fish and chips.

Today, Sunday, in the evening, Barbara and I are speaking about The BezCan Project at Holy Trinity, Pam and Allan’s Church.  They will be there too.

I hope you enjoy these Balmoral Beach family photos.