Hope can be a dangerous thing when it comes to our health
When you’re face-to-face with serious illness or death, hope in an unattainable cure or treatment can be very emotionally damaging.
I mentioned in a blog post a couple of weeks ago that I was being considered for a newly-funded drug to have another crack at my myeloma. It’s now become available and I am into my first round of 21 days on pomalidomide (tradename Pomilide). I’ve only taken 2 capsules so far, which isn’t long enough for any side effects to show up.
Kids off to Singapore
Travel update: son and daughter-in-law have left Noosa and are on the plane to Singapore, en route to UK. We are expecting to see lots of photos of their market excursions there. Haven’t been there myself, but if it is like Hong Kong (minus the whole police state business) I’m sure it will be a great visit.
Unfortunately our daughter is still in hospital and can’t easily pass on food and market advice from her flatmate who lived there for several years while her father was on a defence posting.
Keeping the health system busy
Our family is persisting in making sure the health system is keeping busy. I had to get one of my regular blood tests today, and when we got home, we discovered our daughter, who lives next door, had been referred to the main hospital ED today by her GP for them to check out a bleeding stomach ulcer. Probably caused by taking anti-inflammatories for her endometriosis. So my wife had to drive her into town, muttering, “I’m truly sick of that place.” Good result, though. The daughter has been admitted overnight and will be seen by the gastrointestinal team tomorrow.
Also, one of our nieces fell off her bike this morning and needed the paramedics to clean up a nasty graze and bruise on her knee. She also has two chipped teeth – harder (and more expensive) to fix than a scrape and bruise! Very grateful she was wearing her helmet.
Choosing who you want in your family
Another night in hospital
🐕Making short work of the human’s porridge pot
Joe Biden stepping down from presidential race
As an outside and largely indifferent observer of US politics, I believe that Biden’s decision not to stand in the election is wise. Given his apparent infirmity, age, and rumours about the amount of support he needs from his staff, it seems doubtful he could manage another full 4-year term.
Endorsing Kamala Harris seems like a good decision. She seems popular with demographics Joe doesn’t seem to be. However, it might be challenging for her to maintain Joe’s support with other groups. Hopefully, she can.
But what a radical change it would be to elect a Black woman of Indian descent!
Parliamentary select committee appearance on community adaptation to climate change
The big OE
It’s the second-to-last day of our son and daughter-in-law’s stay at our place before they head off to the UK on Tuesday for their big OE. Last-minute selling of their car, cameras, and sound recording gear. And confusion about how to pack the bags. Will everything fit?
Everyone is feeling a mixture of excitement and sadness.
Faith in dealing with illness
IT outage
Crikey. You go for morning tea at a friend’s new unit* and then a lunchtime concert, only to get home to discover there’s a worldwide IT armageddon. And you hadn’t even noticed. All I can say is that I’m lucky I’m no longer working for my former employer, which is — like most of the New Zealand government — running almost entirely on Microsoft systems.
(* ‘Unit’: a small dwelling that is part of a group of attached abodes.)
Ruth Is Stranger Than Richard
🎵It’s been a long time since I listened to this, and like many of my old records, it’s hard to understand why I left it so long.
It’s quirky and engaging. Jazzy and a bit sad in places.
Why do I love Pukerua Bay?
Reflections on my home town
It is just before Christmas 1988, and you are looking for a nest of your own. You look at townhouses in other parts of Porirua, none of which appeal, and the estate agent suggests you look further north. Somewhere your money will go a bit further to buy something you like more.
“I know a house for sale in Pukerua Bay. You probably won’t like it, but it has character.”
Danish choir Ungklang
🎵We spent a very pleasant hour in the middle of the day today at a concert by Ungklang, a Danish choir here for the World Choral Games.
The group consists of nine young women who are all graduates of the DR Girls Choir. They did well at the Choral Games, winning first place in the Youth category, a gold medal in the sacred choral music a cappella category, and the highest points of any choir in any category.
They sang a mixture of Danish and English songs, including one by Agnes Obel, who I’m a big fan of.
If you ever get a chance to hear them, don’t miss out. Beautiful singing.