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

Noisy

Huge flocks of white cockatoos are making a nuisance of themselves between us and the river, swooping and screeching as they search on the ground for food. See:

http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/species/Cacatua-galerita

In Australia, the main distribution is in the Eastern States, with "only a small population in Perth".  They are all here in Burswood at the moment!

Every Sunday we are also tormented by powerboats on the river: jet skis and water skis and anything that makes noise  and wastes petrol.  The water sports centre was supppsed to close when the new hotel was built, but it seems to have been granted a stay of execution.

This little family has had enough!

They are heading for the river as fast as they can

Nearly there now!

This is what they are escaping from

These pesky birds are getting nearer and nearer; they are only scared off by the helicopters arriving and departing from Crown Towers

92

JL is ninety-two!  We went for a celebratory meal at Stix Bar, on the ground floor of our apartment block. There is a nice view over the lake and sometimes a great sunset over the city buildings.  Stix is a gem, owned by a couple who live in the complex, with the added attraction of a genuine French chef. His starters and desserts are out of this world: the mains are pretty good too.  I had lamb rump, done to perfection!  JL had swordfish and Claire ordered prawns on pumpkin purée.  Geoff and Tim enjoyed steak with bearnais sauce.  E had gnocchi.  It was a great evening.

The food was so memorable that JL and I decided to go back on Sunday evening, when they have a bargain offer of "sticks", that is, skewers of fish or meat that change every week.

We wondered why we haven't patronised them much before.  You just take for granted what's on your own doorstep.

Plaque outside the Maritime Museum in Fremantle

On Friday it is 90 years since JL and his family migrated to Australia.  This might call for another celebration!  You can read more about his early life at:

http://jglmemoirs.blogspot.com.au/?m=1