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Nov. 30th, 2008 05:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kiwisueI haven't posted properly in over a month and my reading/commenting has been extremely erratic as well. Sorry. Here's the update.
Dad got out of hospital the day before I flew to Wellington for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
get_together. He was really weak, still is, but he's gradually improved and he's not the kind to act the invalid if he can actually get out of bed and get around. A couple of weekends ago I called and Mum told me he'd been out to the shops by himself. During that phone call he was outside, my nephew Nicholas was mowing the lawns & Dad was cutting down some overhanging kowhai tree branches. I heard part of it - mum grousing at him about cutting too much, Dad answering back *g*.
However, while he was in hospital they found a shadow on one lung that they decided was cancer. He's had some radiotherapy, which has knocked him around a bit, but he's back home again and the biliary drain has been removed. Not sure what the next step is. My sister isn't sure either, even though she lives quite close to them. My parents take "need to know" to the limit sometimes.
Nicholas is going to Otago University next year & he's been accepted into St Margaret's College, which is a very big giggle for me because when I was at Otago in the '70's St Margaret's was a women-only, sign-in, sign-out, no men in rooms after 10 pm kind of residence. Lovely building though. I lived in University College (Unicol) which had segregated men's and women's towers at the time – not sure if that's still the case or not. He's currently waiting for his scholarship exam results.
Niece Lori continues to grow (5' 10" now, one inch taller than me). She's rowing 6 days a week and doing well in school too.
Work piles didn't get any smaller while I was away. The NSW health system is pretty much broke unless the Feds step in to prop us up. The Member for Not living in Cabramatta is no longer State Health Minister, thank god, but we now have the Minister married to the Federal Member most in need of Anger Management Therapy. Who is at least experienced and able to deal with complex issues that don't involve his wife. I'm giving him a leave ticket for the moment. The alternative, who has been shadow minister for health for over a decade, is a nice lady, but still an idiot.
I had one really fun weekend - the annual Routier Oktoberfest party at our place. Pics follow:
Other things:
This is worth a look - London in 1904 through an Australian's eyes:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3248605/Lost-film-footage-of-Edwardian-London-discovered.html
We saw "Quantum of Solace" a couple of weeks ago. Good things were: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Olga Kurylenko, Giancarlo Giannini, Jeffrey Wright, the opera scenes, the new agency-of-evil (Quantum), CIA moral ambivalence, resolution of the Algerian lover plot thread from CR. Bad things were: choppy editing (bring back Martin Campbell!), action overwhelming plot development, a completely un-charismatic villain, Bond-as-Bourne stupid stunts, unbelievable hotel firestorm climax. Do Better Next Time, guys.
I've been watching 'Apparitions' and loving it. Discussions, yeah, I've had a few (over on![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
nellhowell's lj mostly) which I won't repeat here.
I plan to be a good girl and comment more from now on. We'll see how that goes *g*.
Dad got out of hospital the day before I flew to Wellington for
get_together. He was really weak, still is, but he's gradually improved and he's not the kind to act the invalid if he can actually get out of bed and get around. A couple of weekends ago I called and Mum told me he'd been out to the shops by himself. During that phone call he was outside, my nephew Nicholas was mowing the lawns & Dad was cutting down some overhanging kowhai tree branches. I heard part of it - mum grousing at him about cutting too much, Dad answering back *g*.However, while he was in hospital they found a shadow on one lung that they decided was cancer. He's had some radiotherapy, which has knocked him around a bit, but he's back home again and the biliary drain has been removed. Not sure what the next step is. My sister isn't sure either, even though she lives quite close to them. My parents take "need to know" to the limit sometimes.
Nicholas is going to Otago University next year & he's been accepted into St Margaret's College, which is a very big giggle for me because when I was at Otago in the '70's St Margaret's was a women-only, sign-in, sign-out, no men in rooms after 10 pm kind of residence. Lovely building though. I lived in University College (Unicol) which had segregated men's and women's towers at the time – not sure if that's still the case or not. He's currently waiting for his scholarship exam results.
Niece Lori continues to grow (5' 10" now, one inch taller than me). She's rowing 6 days a week and doing well in school too.
Work piles didn't get any smaller while I was away. The NSW health system is pretty much broke unless the Feds step in to prop us up. The Member for Not living in Cabramatta is no longer State Health Minister, thank god, but we now have the Minister married to the Federal Member most in need of Anger Management Therapy. Who is at least experienced and able to deal with complex issues that don't involve his wife. I'm giving him a leave ticket for the moment. The alternative, who has been shadow minister for health for over a decade, is a nice lady, but still an idiot.
I had one really fun weekend - the annual Routier Oktoberfest party at our place. Pics follow:
 |
A Debauch on the lawn, topless Routiers (it was warm). |
 |
The obligatory whippet. |
 |
Clean-up crew at breakfast. |
Other things:
This is worth a look - London in 1904 through an Australian's eyes:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3248605/Lost-film-footage-of-Edwardian-London-discovered.html
We saw "Quantum of Solace" a couple of weeks ago. Good things were: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Olga Kurylenko, Giancarlo Giannini, Jeffrey Wright, the opera scenes, the new agency-of-evil (Quantum), CIA moral ambivalence, resolution of the Algerian lover plot thread from CR. Bad things were: choppy editing (bring back Martin Campbell!), action overwhelming plot development, a completely un-charismatic villain, Bond-as-Bourne stupid stunts, unbelievable hotel firestorm climax. Do Better Next Time, guys.
I've been watching 'Apparitions' and loving it. Discussions, yeah, I've had a few (over on
nellhowell's lj mostly) which I won't repeat here. I plan to be a good girl and comment more from now on. We'll see how that goes *g*.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-11-30 09:09 am (UTC)Fingers crossed that there's good news for your dad soon.
And sigh for work crap . . .
That's one very cute whippet *g*.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-01 09:15 pm (UTC)I gather we have to wait a few weeks now to see whether the latest round of Dad's treatment has done him some good. Thanks for the crossed fingers!
That's one very cute whippet *g*.
*g* He looks very placid and content in that pic, I have to say.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-30 01:55 pm (UTC)hearread from you - I do hope things look up for your dad (and it sounds like he's at least feeling a lot better just now?).Congratulations re University news (um, Nicholas is your ... nephew? Or did I get that wildly wrong?) and nieces who row seriously well (blimey, 6 days a week - I guess perhaps she competes? She must have biceps of steel! *g*)
no subject
Date: 2008-12-01 09:26 pm (UTC)Yes, Nick is my nephew. Lori hasn't been rowing seriously for long and this is the first time I've heard of her training 6 days - there may be competitions coming up, I forgot to ask *headdesk*. When I was over in October she didn't sound too keen on the gym-work involved *g*!
no subject
Date: 2008-11-30 03:47 pm (UTC)I hope things continue to go well with your Dad.
It does look like you've been managing to have some fun along the way so that's good. *g*
no subject
Date: 2008-12-01 09:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-30 05:18 pm (UTC)Love the naughty routiers pic (though I have no idea what a routier is - they're not maps, so... erm... *g*) and seeing glimpses of your house almost makes me miss Australia a little bit... almost... *g* Shall look forward to your ensuing goodness, me dear!
no subject
Date: 2008-12-01 09:30 pm (UTC)"The Routiers" is the name my 17th century reenactment group usually goes by. Long story *g*.
no subject
Date: 2008-11-30 05:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-01 09:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-02 03:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-11-30 06:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-01 09:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-01 10:46 pm (UTC)Sending good vibes for you, your dad and your mum, and the rest of your family in these difficult times, and keeping you in my thoughts for a good outcome.
*HUGS*
no subject
Date: 2008-12-02 12:08 pm (UTC)*hugs back*
no subject
Date: 2008-12-02 10:05 am (UTC)The Routiers weekend looks fun - nice garden you have there! Love that lady's pinned back hair and blue dress in the second pic. And that article is fab - how brilliant to see footage from 1904, and people being people - I love it, thanks for sharing it!
no subject
Date: 2008-12-02 12:14 pm (UTC)I'm glad you liked the pics (I was really pleased with the second one with my friend J, it looks like a composition for a painting). And yes, the really cool thing about the 1904 footage was just that - real (ie they looked 'normal', not like actors dressed up) people going about their lives. I loved the steam train over the street too!
no subject
Date: 2008-12-06 11:10 pm (UTC)