Mandurah

We had a lovely day out in Mandurah on the last day of the WA long weekend. Beautiful weather for winter!

JL relaxing on the beach

E on a hammock

F and C at Nino's on the Dolphin Quay boardwalk

Progress

Progress Report: 2 months 

I can now put on my own socks! I have been driving my car for two weeks, though it's still hard getting in and out, especially if parked in a tight spot. I still sleep on my back, but occasionally try on my stomach just for a change. My physio has also suggested lying on my side, with my bad leg up on 2 pillows.

At the weekend I walked 4 kms and 3 kms.  This was a record. Normally I do 2 kms just around the gardens here. On Sunday it was beautiful weather for the HBF Run for a Reason: thousands and thousands of participants going past the new stadium. The last contingent were doing a 4 kms circuit, so I decided to do some of it as well.

I finished the last of my strong painkillers (Targin containing oxycodone) and decided not to get any more. After that the Panadol Osteo didn't do too much on their own, so I've stopped those as well. I just got tired of popping pills every day and want to rid my body of all the toxins.

On Wednesday I had another appointment with my surgeon GJ.  He asked me why I was still using my stick!  It is a lightweight one I bought in China in a market, and I've got used to it. It helps me walk faster and also gives me confidence going up and down steps.  (JL's sister Ann fell on some steps this week and is back in hospital with a lot of bruising and a suspected cracked rib.  Every day, he asks me to be careful and I am! I don't want a set back like that).

Monster agave plant in the gardens

Base of agave plant

Crown's helicopter waiting to go on scenic flight over Perth

From my favourite seat by the river, watching pelicans

Rehab

It's now 4 weeks since my operation.  I saw the surgeon again last week and he reduced me to one crutch from now on.  He ripped off my wound dressing and said it had healed nicely. He was pleased with his handiwork. I am now cleared to go in the swimming pool, but must continue with the pain killers.

We've had a lovely spell of warm days with no wind, which meant I could go down to the pool every day at 12 noon. As part of my hip rehab, I walk up and down and backwards in the water. The buoyancy is fantastic for holding me upright with no pain. Unfortunately the pool heating gets switched off at the end of the month, so that will be the end of it. I'm still confined to barracks for 2 more weeks when I'll be allowed to drive.  In the afternoon I have a walk round the lake, but it's very slow going and tiring after 10 minutes.

I have solved the shopping problem by having a supermarket delivery from Woolworths every week.  This is a bargain at $11; I think I'll probably continue with it even when I'm recovered, as it's always a pain carrying heavy shopping bags up to the apartment.

C and E made a Kusudama Ball to cheer me up:
it's made out of 12 origami flowers.

More on Kusudama

They also brought me a lovely plant

Hip

Six days in hospital and I'm going home today with a new hip plus a major repair to the gluteal tendon. This latter problem is the hardest to recover from as I have to take extra care not to stress the joint or place too much weight on it when trying to get around. It means crutches for six weeks, a lot longer than after a straight hip replacement. The physiotherapists are pleased with my progress so far. They were all brilliant, teaching me to walk round the corridors on crutches as well as negotiating 3 steps up and down in their special gym.

The operation was on Thursday 29 March at 6.00 pm. This meant no food after 9.00 am and no water after 1.00 pm.  I was given 2 temazapan and an antacid tablet at 3.30 pm to allay any last minute nerves. As they wheeled me into the theatre area I could see my surgeon GJ leaning nonchalantly against the wall, observing proceedings.  I was apparently last on his list for the day, since my two procedures would take longer than usual, but no-one could say by how much. I hoped he wasn't too worn out by a full day in the operating theatre, but the anaesthetist assured me he would be just getting into his stride at that time!  He was!  As far as I can tell, he did an excellent job. I just have to work hard at all the rehab excercises I've been taught, some of which are really painful. At least I can have a glass of red with my dinner tonight!

Waterbirds

The lake in Macdougall Park in Como is slowly getting covered in more and more green algae.  The waterbirds ignore it and carry on as usual, some of them swimming right through it.

This is a family of coots. The mother is working exceedingly hard, diving to find food for her three hungry babies.

These ibis are poking about on a raised path across the lake; the algae can be seen on the left. The all-white bird at the top is a spoonbill.

Olives

I've just discovered three olive trees which were planted as ornamentals near our apartment block. They are currently loaded with the most magnificent olives. Time to get busy preserving a few!  Instructions are here

https://www.milkwood.net/2015/04/12/curing-olives-basic-brine-salt-methods/

The fattest olives I've ever seen!

Three jars in brine; more to come tomorrow

Sculpture by the Sea

We went to Cottesloe Beach as they were just setting up this year's sculpture exhibition.  It was an overcast day, so we could stroll about without getting sunburnt.

Wreck

Crochet

My favourite: there was a home inside!

JL and a boat

Lunch

More on the exhibition here:
http://sculpturebythesea.com