In a disastrous last round RickyRalph pipped me by one to take the 2017 title. We both tipped six in round 23 leaving him one ahead.
And the Demons dipped out of the finals because West Coast beat Adelaide by more than 2/3 goals and took eighth place narrowly on percentage.
So be it, if you are not good enough you don't make it.
From here frankly I have little interest. but will be pleased to see Essendon and Richmond arseholed at some point soon. I can't see anyone other than Sydney or Geelong winning the flag. Adelaide has no balls and GWS are a threat but have really never done anything to this point so I just can't see it happening for them. Mind you they would be a favourable result for the AFL so I'm watching closely.
Well done RR you did me on the knock. I'm more interested in the horses these days. Funny how I have changed in my old age but I have no desire to go to the footy at all, AFL that is, it seems such a massive con job.
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
What a Wonderful World
Tonight I reflect briefly on my last ten days or so and the world we live in. It abounds beauty and amazing people, which counteracts the ugliness and bastardry of which there is also plenty.
A week ago today I spoke to my surgeon in the private hospital, St John of God, Berwick. The previous day he performed keyhole surgery to repair hernias on each side of my groin. He said, "I was very happy with the operation and the placement of the mesh. We are giving you some painkillers to take home. Don't be a hero. Take the painkillers. You won't feel like doing anything for a few days, then you must be very careful for a couple of weeks. It is important that the mesh settles in well with scar tissue and does not separate. Leave the dressings on for a week and the staff will make an appointment for you to see me on Monday week."
He was right about the painkiller, a strong narcotic, I was very sore and needed it for a few days or more, before reverting to panadol and ibuprofen which I kept up for a few more days. There was three holes in a row in my abdomen starting next to belly button and going down, an inch or two apart. I took a long deep bath tonight and soaked the dressings and removed them. All seems well, I'm not in much pain or discomfort but still do not feel robust and since I have been home I have been walking around and working on light duties both home and work, carefully of course.
I have not had any RA medication since Aug 2 and have not collapsed with the RA but i do have some stiffness and soreness developing in the chest, upper back, ribs and upper arms, but it is not bad and I'm hoping it does not escalate in the coming week or two as I want to stay off the medication if I can. I have a scheduled blood test late next week and I'd like to see what the results are after a month of no meds.
In the last two days I have met and talked to two amazing people, both ladies, one a Gembrook neighbour just around the corner, B, and the other K, in Clematis.
Both these ladies helped me with some firewood. B and her partner had some trees down some years ago, wattles and peppermints, and I have availed myself of some of it this past two years when I have been short. Some of it has gone to balsa and is not much good but it is of some heat value when mixed with more solid stuff. There was always an open offer to get more this year but I didn't make it there till yesterday. I had quite a long talk to B who revealed that for 12 months she had been recovering from an operation to repair her hamstring that had torn from the bone at the top of the leg, which explained why I had seen her walking not her usual running over some months. She had her first race since the injury last weekend, a ten miler, and was thrilled about it. She is aged 65 and has been a serious athlete in Europe and Australia. She also told me she's blind in one eye after the retina detached and has has serious problems including an operation to save her limited sight in the other eye. The problems have returned and she has an appointment shortly with a specialist to see if anything can prevent her from going blind in the near future. She is extremely anxious as anyone would be. She also shared with me her excitement at the expected birth in six weeks in England of her son and his wife's child. She attended their wedding a few months back in the UK. Her son and his future wife were in Australia last Christmas and B said it was her best ever and the baby must have been conceived on their holiday to OZ.
I have known K for more than thirty years. She worked at our farm as a casual in the garden in the 1980's. She had two sons by her first marriage one of whom is the same age as Gord and was at Emerald Secondary the same years as Gord. K's marriage split and she became a working single parent. She had a relationship with another man which did not last but gave her twin boys who are now young men. She basically raised these on her own. Along the way she became very sick and would have died but for a liver transplant. She offered me some wood last year that had been her shed for many years after she had a tree down, she no longer relying on firewood for heat as her circumstances did not suit all the hassles with it. I didn't get there last year but after my op I went to her house as I was short of wood and looking for some easy stuff because of my soreness and recovery.
So these two marvelous ladies helped me in my hour of need. How lucky am I? Both these ladies love their garden and watching the birdlife and both told me lovely stories. These exceptional human beings would never throw a piece of litter onto the roadside, as neither would any of my friends or people I associate with.
The ugliness and bastardry I referred to at the beginning of this post? When Lib and I were driving up the coast Rd north from Perth we were astounded by the huge amount of litter on the roadside for hundreds of kilometres. Bottles, cans, plastic bags, you name it every sort of rubbish and debris just chucked and left. If I had not seen it with my own eyes I would struggle to believe the scale of it.
Then last Monday I went to the dentist in Berwick (to get a second opinion to my bloke who wanted me to get a crown for about $1500... I have decided against... my teeth can break away at their own pace and will probably outlast the rest of me anyway) and I stopped at Aldi in Beaconsfield to shop on the way home. I crossed the highway to go to the organic butcher and was disgusted at the amount of litter strewn through a low hedge and garden in front of the shops. Cans, bottles, takeaway food containers, butts, bags, wrappers, straws. Right in the middle of the shopping centre.
What is the matter with the % of people that trash our country. It's a national disgrace. It should be cleaned up nationwide and I don't care if taxes and rates need to be raised to do it. It is said that if a place is cleaned up people are less likely to litter and it is logical. I find it scary to hear how are our oceans are becoming so polluted with plastic and this is a follow on from our trashing of the land.
Thank goodness for all the good people I encounter that enable me to feel "What a Wonderful World."
For how long, who knows? There are many good things happening to repair the environment so l live in hope.
A week ago today I spoke to my surgeon in the private hospital, St John of God, Berwick. The previous day he performed keyhole surgery to repair hernias on each side of my groin. He said, "I was very happy with the operation and the placement of the mesh. We are giving you some painkillers to take home. Don't be a hero. Take the painkillers. You won't feel like doing anything for a few days, then you must be very careful for a couple of weeks. It is important that the mesh settles in well with scar tissue and does not separate. Leave the dressings on for a week and the staff will make an appointment for you to see me on Monday week."
He was right about the painkiller, a strong narcotic, I was very sore and needed it for a few days or more, before reverting to panadol and ibuprofen which I kept up for a few more days. There was three holes in a row in my abdomen starting next to belly button and going down, an inch or two apart. I took a long deep bath tonight and soaked the dressings and removed them. All seems well, I'm not in much pain or discomfort but still do not feel robust and since I have been home I have been walking around and working on light duties both home and work, carefully of course.
I have not had any RA medication since Aug 2 and have not collapsed with the RA but i do have some stiffness and soreness developing in the chest, upper back, ribs and upper arms, but it is not bad and I'm hoping it does not escalate in the coming week or two as I want to stay off the medication if I can. I have a scheduled blood test late next week and I'd like to see what the results are after a month of no meds.
In the last two days I have met and talked to two amazing people, both ladies, one a Gembrook neighbour just around the corner, B, and the other K, in Clematis.
Both these ladies helped me with some firewood. B and her partner had some trees down some years ago, wattles and peppermints, and I have availed myself of some of it this past two years when I have been short. Some of it has gone to balsa and is not much good but it is of some heat value when mixed with more solid stuff. There was always an open offer to get more this year but I didn't make it there till yesterday. I had quite a long talk to B who revealed that for 12 months she had been recovering from an operation to repair her hamstring that had torn from the bone at the top of the leg, which explained why I had seen her walking not her usual running over some months. She had her first race since the injury last weekend, a ten miler, and was thrilled about it. She is aged 65 and has been a serious athlete in Europe and Australia. She also told me she's blind in one eye after the retina detached and has has serious problems including an operation to save her limited sight in the other eye. The problems have returned and she has an appointment shortly with a specialist to see if anything can prevent her from going blind in the near future. She is extremely anxious as anyone would be. She also shared with me her excitement at the expected birth in six weeks in England of her son and his wife's child. She attended their wedding a few months back in the UK. Her son and his future wife were in Australia last Christmas and B said it was her best ever and the baby must have been conceived on their holiday to OZ.
I have known K for more than thirty years. She worked at our farm as a casual in the garden in the 1980's. She had two sons by her first marriage one of whom is the same age as Gord and was at Emerald Secondary the same years as Gord. K's marriage split and she became a working single parent. She had a relationship with another man which did not last but gave her twin boys who are now young men. She basically raised these on her own. Along the way she became very sick and would have died but for a liver transplant. She offered me some wood last year that had been her shed for many years after she had a tree down, she no longer relying on firewood for heat as her circumstances did not suit all the hassles with it. I didn't get there last year but after my op I went to her house as I was short of wood and looking for some easy stuff because of my soreness and recovery.
So these two marvelous ladies helped me in my hour of need. How lucky am I? Both these ladies love their garden and watching the birdlife and both told me lovely stories. These exceptional human beings would never throw a piece of litter onto the roadside, as neither would any of my friends or people I associate with.
The ugliness and bastardry I referred to at the beginning of this post? When Lib and I were driving up the coast Rd north from Perth we were astounded by the huge amount of litter on the roadside for hundreds of kilometres. Bottles, cans, plastic bags, you name it every sort of rubbish and debris just chucked and left. If I had not seen it with my own eyes I would struggle to believe the scale of it.
Then last Monday I went to the dentist in Berwick (to get a second opinion to my bloke who wanted me to get a crown for about $1500... I have decided against... my teeth can break away at their own pace and will probably outlast the rest of me anyway) and I stopped at Aldi in Beaconsfield to shop on the way home. I crossed the highway to go to the organic butcher and was disgusted at the amount of litter strewn through a low hedge and garden in front of the shops. Cans, bottles, takeaway food containers, butts, bags, wrappers, straws. Right in the middle of the shopping centre.
What is the matter with the % of people that trash our country. It's a national disgrace. It should be cleaned up nationwide and I don't care if taxes and rates need to be raised to do it. It is said that if a place is cleaned up people are less likely to litter and it is logical. I find it scary to hear how are our oceans are becoming so polluted with plastic and this is a follow on from our trashing of the land.
Thank goodness for all the good people I encounter that enable me to feel "What a Wonderful World."
For how long, who knows? There are many good things happening to repair the environment so l live in hope.
Monday, August 14, 2017
Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude
It was a winter's day, cold and harsh, the 17th of June, not yet two months ago. Gord as team manager of the Gembrook reserves had to go to Warburton where Gemmy was playing Warby Millgrove. I went with him as he is not confident driving to places he has not before.
Not far from Gembrook about 10am as I drove Gord's car I narrowly missed a large wallaby that jumped out from nowhere seemingly hellbent on leaving an impression on the front of the Skoda. We got to the footy ground on time, the same ground I took Gord and Rob to as players for the Gembrook U/12's cricket some two decades earlier. On that occasion we were bowled out for 9 runs team total with young Rob, aged 10, not out 0 after stonewalling for nearly half an hour in an heroic effort.
So I had my share of nostalgia as I said "Good luck" to Gord and took a walk into town. I was looking for a needle threader, you know one of those little fine wire things that you stick though the eye of a needle then put the cotton through it then when you pull it back out hey presto the needle is threaded. The one I had that had given me two decades or more good service had broken some time ago and I could not find one to buy anywhere at Emerald or wherever I asked in recent times, leaving me unable to sow a button on clothing for maybe 12 months.
It was so nice to be on my own meandering in the Warburton shopping centre main street. In a bric a brac store I found a needle threader in a sowing kit for $3, then a little further down talked to a lady in a lace and things type shop who introduced me to self threading needles and I was so happy to have solved this problem that I celebrated with a curry pie at the bakery, following a pork roll at a small Vietnamese cafe. Absolutely delicious both. In between all this joy I shopped in an opp shop and bought two books for a dollar or two each. One of these caught my eye because it was a collection of stories, " Australian Stories for the Heart". I noticed the name Margaret Court on the front page as one of the contributors, and as she was a large figure in my early recollection of sport and had also been front and centre in the news at that time because of her outspoken comment against same sex marriage, I made the purchase.
Back to the footy frankly I had no interest in watching so I took a walk along the Yarra River. I sat on a bench seat in some sort of playground area enjoying some winter sunshine. Looking into the river at the water gently cascading over rocks it occurred to me that the scene would have been the same for centuries probably, same river, same rocks worn smooth over however long. Two ducks came down with the current like two little boats bobbing and weaving, easy as you like, just steering their way through with minimal effort, like magic. At that moment I felt close to God. Whatever happens to me or the nation or the world that river most likely will flow exactly the same for many more centuries and the ducks will ride the current.
Gembrook Reserves got wopped and the seniors also, and as a matter of update both sides have not won a game for the season to now with I think only one game to go. The winter dragged on with merciless cold until Lib and I took off for West Australia on July10. I took my Australian Story book and read a bit each night in the campervan as of course we had no television. I was surprised to find it was a book of religious stories, mostly with a theme of getting to know Jesus. The Margaret Court one was about her desperate battle with depression that happened to her after her tennis career was over and she was married into the very wealthy Court family, with the world at her feet she should have enjoyed life to the full but instead she was miserable and in the depths of despair and insomnia and contemplating suicide.
Then she discovered a bible verse 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." Over and over she said it day and night and somehow the fear started to diminish. It changed her life completely.
As the debate continues over this marriage equality thing and the plebiscite I have to say I don't agree with same sex marriage. By all means give same sex people who form a civil partnership equal legal rights to that of a married couple, but I agree with Margaret Court that marriage is between a man and a woman. Frankly I don't see why there is so much fuss about it. Margaret Court is entitled to her opinion, and should not be attacked for it. Homosexuals can live as they like, and should not be discriminated against in law or otherwise.
Each night on our holiday I said to Lib I'll just read a little more of my Jesus book before turning out the light. Many of the stories were quite corny and over the top, most only a few pages long, some maybe five or six. But they were all easy and interesting, some quite inspiring, and one in particular riveted me. Without going through the book to find it, it related the story about the crippled man whose friends in desperation to get him to see the miracle worker Jesus came in through the roof to a meeting of big wigs and Jesus. They lowered their friend down and Jesus said to him "Take up your mat and walk", and he did.
The first week of our holiday I was in much discomfort with my rheumatoid arthritis, more pain in my upper back and shoulders and ribs than I have had for a long time. We crossed the Tropic of Capricorn and I soaked up the warmth and the coral reef and the smiles of every man and woman I met. As we made our way back south my pain had eased and by the time we were in Kalbarri I felt fantastic, no pain and just feeling so well. We watched numerous whales from the cliff as they spouted and breached and the world looked so beautiful I turned and said to Lib, "I think I'm cured."
Now I don't know about that really. But let me say, as I prepare for surgery to repair two hernias this coming Tuesday, I did not take my medication last Monday (methotrexate) nor did I inject my weekly abatacept on Wednesday, on advice from surgeon who said not to, and I have not collapsed into a painball as I feared. In fact I feel bloody good even with a little soreness about the chestbone and ribs.
And every day I thank God for it and ask for continuing help to get me through.
Yes. I have had a big change of attitude. The funny thing is I don't know what I did with my needle threader and the self threading needle I bought that day. I'm hoping they will turn up.
Not far from Gembrook about 10am as I drove Gord's car I narrowly missed a large wallaby that jumped out from nowhere seemingly hellbent on leaving an impression on the front of the Skoda. We got to the footy ground on time, the same ground I took Gord and Rob to as players for the Gembrook U/12's cricket some two decades earlier. On that occasion we were bowled out for 9 runs team total with young Rob, aged 10, not out 0 after stonewalling for nearly half an hour in an heroic effort.
So I had my share of nostalgia as I said "Good luck" to Gord and took a walk into town. I was looking for a needle threader, you know one of those little fine wire things that you stick though the eye of a needle then put the cotton through it then when you pull it back out hey presto the needle is threaded. The one I had that had given me two decades or more good service had broken some time ago and I could not find one to buy anywhere at Emerald or wherever I asked in recent times, leaving me unable to sow a button on clothing for maybe 12 months.
It was so nice to be on my own meandering in the Warburton shopping centre main street. In a bric a brac store I found a needle threader in a sowing kit for $3, then a little further down talked to a lady in a lace and things type shop who introduced me to self threading needles and I was so happy to have solved this problem that I celebrated with a curry pie at the bakery, following a pork roll at a small Vietnamese cafe. Absolutely delicious both. In between all this joy I shopped in an opp shop and bought two books for a dollar or two each. One of these caught my eye because it was a collection of stories, " Australian Stories for the Heart". I noticed the name Margaret Court on the front page as one of the contributors, and as she was a large figure in my early recollection of sport and had also been front and centre in the news at that time because of her outspoken comment against same sex marriage, I made the purchase.
Back to the footy frankly I had no interest in watching so I took a walk along the Yarra River. I sat on a bench seat in some sort of playground area enjoying some winter sunshine. Looking into the river at the water gently cascading over rocks it occurred to me that the scene would have been the same for centuries probably, same river, same rocks worn smooth over however long. Two ducks came down with the current like two little boats bobbing and weaving, easy as you like, just steering their way through with minimal effort, like magic. At that moment I felt close to God. Whatever happens to me or the nation or the world that river most likely will flow exactly the same for many more centuries and the ducks will ride the current.
Gembrook Reserves got wopped and the seniors also, and as a matter of update both sides have not won a game for the season to now with I think only one game to go. The winter dragged on with merciless cold until Lib and I took off for West Australia on July10. I took my Australian Story book and read a bit each night in the campervan as of course we had no television. I was surprised to find it was a book of religious stories, mostly with a theme of getting to know Jesus. The Margaret Court one was about her desperate battle with depression that happened to her after her tennis career was over and she was married into the very wealthy Court family, with the world at her feet she should have enjoyed life to the full but instead she was miserable and in the depths of despair and insomnia and contemplating suicide.
Then she discovered a bible verse 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." Over and over she said it day and night and somehow the fear started to diminish. It changed her life completely.
As the debate continues over this marriage equality thing and the plebiscite I have to say I don't agree with same sex marriage. By all means give same sex people who form a civil partnership equal legal rights to that of a married couple, but I agree with Margaret Court that marriage is between a man and a woman. Frankly I don't see why there is so much fuss about it. Margaret Court is entitled to her opinion, and should not be attacked for it. Homosexuals can live as they like, and should not be discriminated against in law or otherwise.
Each night on our holiday I said to Lib I'll just read a little more of my Jesus book before turning out the light. Many of the stories were quite corny and over the top, most only a few pages long, some maybe five or six. But they were all easy and interesting, some quite inspiring, and one in particular riveted me. Without going through the book to find it, it related the story about the crippled man whose friends in desperation to get him to see the miracle worker Jesus came in through the roof to a meeting of big wigs and Jesus. They lowered their friend down and Jesus said to him "Take up your mat and walk", and he did.
The first week of our holiday I was in much discomfort with my rheumatoid arthritis, more pain in my upper back and shoulders and ribs than I have had for a long time. We crossed the Tropic of Capricorn and I soaked up the warmth and the coral reef and the smiles of every man and woman I met. As we made our way back south my pain had eased and by the time we were in Kalbarri I felt fantastic, no pain and just feeling so well. We watched numerous whales from the cliff as they spouted and breached and the world looked so beautiful I turned and said to Lib, "I think I'm cured."
Now I don't know about that really. But let me say, as I prepare for surgery to repair two hernias this coming Tuesday, I did not take my medication last Monday (methotrexate) nor did I inject my weekly abatacept on Wednesday, on advice from surgeon who said not to, and I have not collapsed into a painball as I feared. In fact I feel bloody good even with a little soreness about the chestbone and ribs.
And every day I thank God for it and ask for continuing help to get me through.
Yes. I have had a big change of attitude. The funny thing is I don't know what I did with my needle threader and the self threading needle I bought that day. I'm hoping they will turn up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)