Kalamunda

On a wet morning, we all went out to the Xanthorea Nursery to select some Geraldton Wax plants to fill in a space in the garden at Como.  It is a lovely spot, full of natives, and beautifully looked after.  Pity about the rain! Afterwards we went for Morning Tea in Kalamunda and amused ourselves taking selfies and photos in the cafe.

Trying out C's cap

E with newly pierced ears

C waiting for coffee

JL in his new knitted waistcoat

Sandalfords

Our regular Swan Valley excursion for E's birthday went down well.  Glorious weather after a freezing cold start to the day.  Winter is definitely here in the form of overnight low temperatures , though days have been warm and sunny.

Before going to our lunch booking at Sandalfords, we wanted to check out Mandoon Estate next door. This seemed to have attracted the crowds, going by all the parked cars, with its many dining options, including BBQ'd meat on the lawns, fine dining in the restaurant as well as beer and wine tasting. However, there appeared to be a ridiculous border war going on between Mandoon and Sandalfords, as a gate between the two is closed and fastened with a big padlock.  There was no access even for pedestrians. 

On a fine Sunday, both places seemed to have as many clients as they could handle, so what is the problem?  For lunch, JL and I enjoyed beef cheeks with a raviolo, C had a risotto with chorizo and prawns, whilst E had pasta w cheese sauce. To drink, there was a bottle of delicious Cab Merlot.

JL, C and E outside Mandoon

My new winter outfit amongst the vines

Beef cheek

Progress Report: 3 months

I can now do everything I need to around the house, though getting stuff out of low cupboards is a bit hard. I can get in and out of bed easily, and I can sleep in any position I want.  Walking down to the river is still a problem.  It's about 3 kms round trip. I can feel my bad hip and have to go slowly. I've been doing without my stick. I wouldn't be able to keep up with the others on a bushwalk. I do this walk nearly every day, and try to remember not to limp!

I've been doing a physio programme prepared for me by JE, a brilliant young man who has written research papers with my surgeon on the subject of rehab after hip operations. He has a PhD in this. I see him once a fortnight and come away each time with 4 pages of exercises to do at home.  Some of these are against a theraband resistance or rolling an exercise ball around. I'm now doing sideways abduction exercises, which were a no-no at first. I have to make time every day to do a few. I also go once or twice a week to use the walking lane at Beatty Park Pool.  I'm doing all I can, but progress seems very slow. I need to be able to walk 15 kms before I can book a ticket to Spain.

A pod of pelicans in front of Crown

Perth Marathon last Sunday: a lovely winter's day of 22 degrees

A honeyeater who visits our balcony every day looking for food from this flower

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!