h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hati, they are indeed genuine Estonian rollmops. Now you know where all the herring goes; it's in my local shop. Here's a fresh jar .

*thinks - probably a good thing there's no smiley*

HonestIago - I think it was you who mentioned the value of people simply getting on with daily life, including all its trivial chatter. You are quite right. A few years ago I had another hideous thing to deal with. I went to work, told the boss, and he said, 'OK, we'll see about giving you some time off. Now go to your desk and get on with things. Finish X, Y and Z. Then see me at 4 o'clock and I'll take you to the pub and get you p***ed.' He was a man who understood...

Thanks for that link, Az. I hadn't seen it; I've been looking at this one: http://www.guidant.com/webapp/emarketing/compass/comp.jsp?lev1=living&lev2=icd_index

The more the merrier

I know the operation itself is quite simple, and the outcomes are quite good - but I've never coped with medical details, they make me faint, or worse . It was my sister who wanted to be a doctor. She takes a keen interest in surgery, post-mortems, forensic science... ... so at least she can cope with all of this. My job will be to keep Mum calm, 'if and when'.

I don't mind having all the rollmops on the other side of the world.

I am the naive one to trust the doctors. Sometimes it seems that most people don't. However, I don't think that this makes their lives easier while I can put all the hope on somebody else. What I wanted to say was that they wouldn't have invented all this crap if it was good for nothing or making anything worse.
I remember there was an urban legend about a little boy who switched off his grandfather with the remote control, though. Umm, ages ago...
Was it inappropriate now? Those devices you mentioned above may cause minor problems but nothing as bad as going without the defib.
*sighs*
I am still too sleepy and mourning.

Hati, I was thinking that if I found the right remote control, I could get my sister to do more housework...

How are you now? You have had some very troubled times , and I couldn't find the right words.

I've always wished a remote control for my kids.
I am doing relatively okay. It's just the last week sucked off all my energy. I didn't go to the funerals but I was told it was nice. So I better concentrate on everyday life and selling the house and such. Life goes on...

Hi Ivan - glad work went well. I've been in a filthy mood for 2 days and was very rude to various people on hootoo yesterday. but today's a new day, so plenty of time for more rudness.

Life does go on. It just goes in strange directions sometimes. This is not always a bad thing. Some of the best parts of my life at the moment are the direct result of bad things that happened in the past. If I hadn't had a really bad job in Adelaide I would never have applied for a job in Canberra - and if I hadn't come to Canberra I would never have met the person who is now my closest friend and a big part of my life .

Just at the moment, though, I am thinking of something my father once said. It was a Sunday afternoon and he was slouched in his chair with his feet on the table (Mum wasn't home) and he said, with a world-weary voice, 'Tomorrow is another day. Too hideous to contemplate, isn't it?' Then he giggled.

There's a box of Swiss on the table. Help yourself!

Hey Red! We did a simulpost!

Be as rude as you like. Pass the bottle, please - my glass is empty.

*snaps some and off to meet RL*

Hey try this cheeky little French red I've been saving for a special occassion since yesterday.

Oh I do like cheeky little French things. *sips* This one is particularly good.

yes good isn't it! Goes really well with juicy little oysters. Here, try one. remember to swallow it whole

Just read what Ivan wrote in Community Spirit and I'm really touched One of my favourite sayings is 'A man can judge himself by the quality of his friends' and Ivan, with what you said about us, you come off pretty well too

Meant to pop back earlier to see how things were, but it looks as if you're all too to notice.

Anyways, glad to see you're in reasonable spirits (or possibly vice versa).

Noggin

Iago,

I read that Community Spirit posting too . I even got a tear in me eye.

Well, off to teach my last class for the day. Hope there is some left for when I finish.

az

* to read*

I hope we've all stopped doing this .

I've just been on the phone to my sister again. She wanted my advice. Blimey. I was unable to give any - at least until she's cleared up some things with the doctor tomorrow. Now I feel sick. Medical stuff always does this to me.

hi Ivan,

Perhaps the best 'advice' you can give her is say what you think you would do if it were you having to decide for yourself. Once she has had the next appointment with her doctor and has cleared up some of her doubts she should have a better idea of which way to go. Though it almost sounds as if there is only one logical choice (to have the op).

Still, her choice. My mother had a breast removed last year and refused chemo. Then a couple of months ago the cancer returned in a couple of ribs. She still refuses chemo and is going for more radiation treatment. I cannot advise her, mostly cos she the stubbornist thing on two feet! But also because it's her choice.

I had an op four years ago and I was scared sh*tless. And the only pressing need to have it done then was that to have it done, say, in another ten years or so, was that it would have been harder on me and meanwhile compications might have developed. I'm still not sure I made the 'right' decision, but what's done is done.

From the info on those websites it sounds like this op is not much more complicated than inserting a pacemaker. In fact, didn't they say they only use a local anesthetic?

Well, one thing you might be able to advise is that your sister get another medical opinion on her condition before making her decision. And tell her that if she decides to go through with the op that you will be there waiting for her when she wakes up.

az

I've told her that if I were in her position, I would probably have the operation. It does provide some sort of certainty. I mean, the point of the thing is that it will keep her alive - and if I had a choice between life and death, I'd choose the familiar option. (The other one will happen one day; I'd rather avoid it while I can.)

I've also told her that she's to give me as much warning as she can, so I can get to Adelaide at the right time. My job will be to keep Mum as calm as possible, which could be a big job, but essential for the patient's comfort.

It's a pity Dad isn't still alive - not just in general terms, but because he was the rational, logical parent. Mum is perfectly sweet, but she does lurch into melodrama sometimes. Not that I blame her when something like this is happening.

At least things will be clearer by this time tomorrow...

Well, sounds like you are doing as much as you can for the moment.

Meanwhile, just waiting to see if aka yikes's my last posting on the digibox scandal thread. He shouldn't have any right to, I'm quite sure I haven't broken any house rules, but he might try anyhow.

az