My forthcoming eye surgery

Hi there

Wow, what a past few days.  I have caught yet another head cold.  And the words 'head cold' never seem dramatic enough, do they?  It's not 'the flu', which are the words at the very top of the spectrum, nor is it 'the common cold'' (heavens to Betsy, we  snobs don't want anything that's 'common'!).

Anyway, I went to the hospital yesterday for a second pre-assessment before my glaucoma operation next month.  I had previously rung up and said I had a cold and did they still want me?  "Yes," I was informed by the admissions receptionist

But when I arrived, I was given biblical leper status and immediately handed a medical mask to wear because I might pass my cold on to other waiting patients.

I was also informed I couldn't have my 19 June operation because of my cold symptoms that would take a long time to peter out.

Given all the hacking coughs, and the hundreds of daily tissues that I've blown into, and the not being able to eat (yay, one good point, I've lost weight!), and not being able to talk because of my sore throat (my friends are probably very happy), I guess postponing my operation by a week or two - subject to a  confirmation oath by my GP attesting to my state of health, and probably to be signed off in my blood - was an inevitability.

Update - several days later:

Ooh, pistols to be drawn at dawn?   My GP disagrees with the hospital.  He says my cold will work itself away well before the scheduled operation date.  So is the op on? Or op off?  Stand breathlessly by for further breaking news ...

Glaucoma operation

Hi there

We are so excited because the changing sheds at Hataitai Beach are open.  As my swimming friend   J  screamed out to me in her phone text,  "Whoopee!!"

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I've just been told I've got to have an operation for my glaucoma.  It's next month.  Which means of course that I'll be weighed at the hospital pre-assessment session that I'm going to today.  I've been franticially trying to lose hundreds of kgs over the past month.  I also signed the form that said I could climb forty steps (including landings).  So I've been bounding (yeah right, more like staggering) up and down every set of outdoor steps I could find on the Miramar Peninsula. If you see me, give a wave of encouragement...

Sunset from Miramar

Hi there

When I lived in the suburb of Strathmore I used to see wonderful sunsets.  Now, that I'm in Miramar, I don't get to see so many of them, because of houses, and trees, and hills blocking the way.  But last week, there was a glorious sunset -

Hataitai Beach changing sheds upgrade

Hi there

We winter swimmers are waiting for the workers to finish with re-roofing the changing shed and toilets.  We have heard on a grapevine that the shed might be finished next week.

A few days ago I was waiting at the beach, in my car, for a swimming friend to arrive.   Idly, I was looking at the two portaloos - one pink, one blue.  It was so funny because all the women who decided to use them went to either the pink or the blue one.  It didn't matter which portaloo.   Ah, but the men, they wouldn't go anywhere near the pink portaloo.  They waited patiently for the blue portaloo to become vacant rather than enter that pink one!

Flashback!

Hi there

I wanted to call this Deja Vue but I can't spell it!

Do you remember last winter when the changing sheds at Hataitai Beach were closed whilst there was an upgrade?  The upgrade was supposed to take six weeks, and in the end it took three months?  In the interim, all the winter swimmers had to change on the beach (in the freezing cold, with icy fingers that wouldn't do up buttons or zips, and toes like icicles).   Or they had to dash into their cars in soaking bathing suits.

Now ... the same thing has happened this year!  I arrived yesterday  all kitted out for my swim to find the changing shed door bolted, chained and padlocked.

The Wellington City Council are putting a new roof on the changing shed/toilets. A sign says it shouldn't take longer than a month.  I wonder, does this mean two months?

I pointed out to The WCC that in tv house renovation programmes, a roof could be put on in one day -

"- but there's asbestos in our ceiling, so it will take longer." the WCC bloke told me.

So, beloved readers, should we say a wait of a couple of months?

Above: photo taken pre last year's renovation.  Note there was no showerhead.  The WCC confiscated it  during the summer water shortage.