end/start

Not long after coming back from America, I visited the haematologist to be told that I'm not going to die (prematurely), but I have to live with what I've got. I am now halfway through a testing regime, which involves 3 blood tests a week for 6 weeks; yesterday was number nine. The inside of my right elbow (my preferred blood-extraction arm) is bruised and pinpricked, so I have switched to my left elbow for a week. This arm hurts when blood is taken. My arms look like I have a drug addiction. The nurses at the lab greet me by name. I have read all the magazines on the low wooden table, and can tell you all about Sally Ridge's baby and other news from the 5-month-old glossies. In early March it's back to the hospital for more good/bad news.

I have been the recipient of several bunches of flowers and cards from J, and on Saturday night I was treated to dinner at our favourite Italian restaurant with a bottle of delicious wine (diet banished for one night). When I was buying lemons at the market on Sunday, I turned back to see Jeremy across the asphalt holding 5 tall stems of red and yellow flowers for me. They are long and thin, and about one metre tall. They look like hibiscus, but they aren't. I brighten to look at them.

If I am tired, we play 'last card' endlessly. If I have energy, we walk to the school and play 'four square' competitively. We share duties of dinner, washing, folding, entertaining. We walk, sometimes. One day we walked to Miramar. We always walk past the beach. When it rains at night, we open the window and soak in fresh air.

We have been growing lately, due to a bit of watering, lots of sun, and plenty of time spent together. We are starting to trust instincts. There is so much to do, but we are young and with time on our side. Nothing like a serious health scare to bond and bind. I have been there before, but with a different angle. This time the ending is not so final.

first report

I chose my most favourite bus route to get home today, #14. It winds its way along Oriental Parade, then up and over Mount Victoria, via Hataitai. As the bus creeps (wait, can a bus creep?) along the precarious road, there is such a magnificent view down to Evans Bay and over to the Miramar Peninsula.

There is too much to say about our recent trip, so documenting the highlights and lowlights will appear later. But for now, here are some photos from my cousin's camera. I've scanned the film that Jeremy and I took while we were away, but they are on my work computer and I have yet to remember to e-mail them to myself. The quality of these photos isn't great, but you get the idea.

The tour group. You can't see it very well, but Jeremy and I are both wearing badges with Disney characters on them, and it also says "FIRST VISIT!" We were given them with our tickets, and decided that would be our Disneyland souvenir. And for free, even.

It is a small world, after all!

Crystal Cathedral

The 'xcelarator' rollercoaster at Knotts Berry Farm. Yes, it is that high, and yes, it was very scary. The whole ride takes 26 seconds (we timed it while waiting in the line), and the first five seconds is a 0mph-to-80mph flat stretch which actually made me stop breathing... in between the screams.

It is much smaller than you imagine. Apparently everyone says that.

At the end of the Jurassic Park ride at Universal Studios (which culminates in a huge water-slide after freaking you out with a massive t-rex leering at you in close proximity)

Christmas Day - presents by the pool. The youngest in the family always plays 'Santa'. As the newest member, and by unamimous vote, Jeremy was deemed to be Santa this year. I guess he'll have that role until someone else gets married.. !

Waiting in line for the Pirates of the Carribean ride (which was okay, although I did fall asleep on Mum's shoulder halfway through..)