Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
2010 -Tragedy!
Sadly, after all we've shared and been through, my lovely wife Margaret died on 29 March 2010. She had been ill and virtually housebound and bedridden since July 2009, but I had no idea how ill Margaret was.
It was a painless ending for Margaret, they told me. It was in the ICU at Whakatane hospital, and I was with Margaret all the time.
I am now trying to relocate permanently to Scotland, and having some bureaucratic problems! Nevertheless, I hope to make it eventually, and maybe then be in a position to make the WALK! I certainly need something to look forward to, rather than vegetate as so many old men seem to do.
My best wishes to all of you - I know I'm not alone in my misery,
David.
It was a painless ending for Margaret, they told me. It was in the ICU at Whakatane hospital, and I was with Margaret all the time.
I am now trying to relocate permanently to Scotland, and having some bureaucratic problems! Nevertheless, I hope to make it eventually, and maybe then be in a position to make the WALK! I certainly need something to look forward to, rather than vegetate as so many old men seem to do.
My best wishes to all of you - I know I'm not alone in my misery,
David.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Medical Misadventures!
Sadly, at end of May 2008 I fell seriously unwell. Shocking bouts of heavy chest pain and lots of vomiting, for some 4 or 5 days. Bad enough to visit doctor, as it did not seem to be a temporary state.
It was diagnosed as liver, and I was jaundiced - colour of skin amazingly yellow. doctor thought it might be hepatitis. Blood sample testing suggested it was in fact the glaabladder, a stone stuck in wrong place.
Outcome was that I was sent to local hospital for ultrasound scan. There, they found the details they wanted regarding the gallbladder, but also found something near my groin - something they didn't like the look of.
So, I was scheduled for a CAT scan - and that took place in October. Result was an immediate dash by ambulance from Whakatane Hospital to Tauranga, because it turned out I had a large aneurysm. Good luck for it to be discovered at ultrasound stage - because there are no ways of detecting aneurysms otherwise apparently, and they are life-threatening.
At Tauranga, they kept me for 5 days, testing everything - and sent me home because my blood pressure was too high for surgery - 219 over 100-plus. I was given pills to get it down, and my local GP soon doubled the dosage of that pill.
Surgery was done on 4 November 2008 at Tauranga - most successfully. I suffered very bad hallucinations - due to being under anaesthetic for nearly 9 hours. It seems it was what some call "morphine poisoning". I can tell you that I would not wish it on anyone. Horrific. And my wife sat by my bedside for 3 or 4 days/nights to keep a close eye on me. She tried to talk me out of or through it, but I was in a world all of my own. Light and shadows were transformed by my drugged mind into "end of world" scenes, and were very realistic. Enough of that - it's all over.
Then, on christmas Day 2008, I developed "sea-sickness". Local doctor suggested it was most likely an inner ear infection, and sent me to the Emergency Dept. of Whakatane Hospital for checking. They could not rule out either ear infection or aftermath of the surgery or anything else, but told me these were definitely the symtoms of inner ear infection, and that it was most likely that. Here I am in April 2009, and the dizziness has become infrequent short bouts of "wobbles". All in all, I'm pretty much recovered.
However, I am scheduled for more ultrasound scanning to check for any more aneurysms. Apparently, having had a large one, I'm susceptible to aneurysms. Behind the knees is the most likely place to find them, and at Tauranga Hospital last Monday, a doctor felt behind my knees and considered that there were none there. But, better safe than sorry . . . . .so, I'm awaiting an appointment at Whakatane Hospital.
Also, I'm awaiting another outpatient appointment at Whakatane Hospital for a check on when I'll have my gallbladder removed.
All of this has meant I've had to cancel all thoughts of charity walking, unfortunately. Will I be able to do some after this is all over, eventually? I'll have to wait and see.
It was diagnosed as liver, and I was jaundiced - colour of skin amazingly yellow. doctor thought it might be hepatitis. Blood sample testing suggested it was in fact the glaabladder, a stone stuck in wrong place.
Outcome was that I was sent to local hospital for ultrasound scan. There, they found the details they wanted regarding the gallbladder, but also found something near my groin - something they didn't like the look of.
So, I was scheduled for a CAT scan - and that took place in October. Result was an immediate dash by ambulance from Whakatane Hospital to Tauranga, because it turned out I had a large aneurysm. Good luck for it to be discovered at ultrasound stage - because there are no ways of detecting aneurysms otherwise apparently, and they are life-threatening.
At Tauranga, they kept me for 5 days, testing everything - and sent me home because my blood pressure was too high for surgery - 219 over 100-plus. I was given pills to get it down, and my local GP soon doubled the dosage of that pill.
Surgery was done on 4 November 2008 at Tauranga - most successfully. I suffered very bad hallucinations - due to being under anaesthetic for nearly 9 hours. It seems it was what some call "morphine poisoning". I can tell you that I would not wish it on anyone. Horrific. And my wife sat by my bedside for 3 or 4 days/nights to keep a close eye on me. She tried to talk me out of or through it, but I was in a world all of my own. Light and shadows were transformed by my drugged mind into "end of world" scenes, and were very realistic. Enough of that - it's all over.
Then, on christmas Day 2008, I developed "sea-sickness". Local doctor suggested it was most likely an inner ear infection, and sent me to the Emergency Dept. of Whakatane Hospital for checking. They could not rule out either ear infection or aftermath of the surgery or anything else, but told me these were definitely the symtoms of inner ear infection, and that it was most likely that. Here I am in April 2009, and the dizziness has become infrequent short bouts of "wobbles". All in all, I'm pretty much recovered.
However, I am scheduled for more ultrasound scanning to check for any more aneurysms. Apparently, having had a large one, I'm susceptible to aneurysms. Behind the knees is the most likely place to find them, and at Tauranga Hospital last Monday, a doctor felt behind my knees and considered that there were none there. But, better safe than sorry . . . . .so, I'm awaiting an appointment at Whakatane Hospital.
Also, I'm awaiting another outpatient appointment at Whakatane Hospital for a check on when I'll have my gallbladder removed.
All of this has meant I've had to cancel all thoughts of charity walking, unfortunately. Will I be able to do some after this is all over, eventually? I'll have to wait and see.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Fraserburgh a Confirmed Site
So that the current date will appear each time I edit the following list, I'll do a new posting and delete the previous one. That way there'll be less for you to scroll through. But, I noticed after posting this one that the date shown is 12 hours behind my time in New Zealand - must be British time(?).
I can be contacted at xtr208758@xtra.co.nz.
The columns are town, mileage, whether confirmed (****),date.
**** denotes confirmed sites (the dates are the nights of . . . . .)
London Marathon walk on 26 April 2009.
Rest in London a day or two.
London, at Crystal Palace Caravan & Camping site overnight 28/29 April
London, Start on the morning of 29 April 2009.
Brentwood 22 miles **** 29 April
Witham 21 **** 30
Colchester 22 **** 1 May
Ipswich, site at Fynn Valley 18 **** 2
Saxmundham 20 3
Lowestoft, site at Southwold 20 **** 4
Norwich 25 **** 5 and 6
Cromer 24 7
Fakenham 20 **** 8
Kings Lynn 21 **** 9
Holbeach 19 10
Heckington 20 **** 11
Lincoln 22 **** 12 and 13
Market Raisen 18 14
Brigg, or Caistor, or Humber between 16 and 24 (?) 15
Little Weighton 22 **** 16
Little Driffield 18 **** 17
Scarborough 21 **** 18 and 19
Whitby 15 **** 20
Guisborough 24 **** 21
Stockton-on-Tees 14 22 and 23
Durham 28 *** 24
Ponteland 28 **** 25
Otterburn 23 **** 26
Jedburgh 18 27
Kelso 19 **** 28
Lauder 19 29
Edinburgh 20 **** 30 and 31, and 1 June
Kinghorn 20 2
Markinch 13 **** 3
St Andrews 20 4
Dundee or Monifieth 13 5
Perth 22 6
Crieff 15 **** 7
Inver near Dunkeld 20 **** 8
Coupar Angus 15 **** 9
Forfar 17 **** 10
Brechin 12 11
Inverbervie 20 12 and 13
Newtonhill 17 14
Balmedie 18 15
Cruden Bay 16 16
Crimond 17 17
Fraserburgh 10 **** 18
Gardenstown 15 19 and 20
Portsoy 17 21
Fochabers 18 22
Forres 21 23 and 24
Ardersier 16 25
Kirkhill 19 26
Evanton 19 27
Dornoch 24 28
Brora 16 **** 29 and 30
Berriedale 20 1 July
Ulbster 19 2
John O’Groats 23 3
Thurso 20 4 and 5
Strathy 20 6
Tigh na Beithe, Tongue 23 **** 7 and 8
Altnaharra 18 **** 9
Lairg 21 **** 10 and 11
Dalnavie 20 12
Evanton 20 13
Cannich 25 **** 14
Drumnadrochit 12 **** 15
Fort Augustus 19 16
Spean Bridge 23 17 and 18
Onich 19 19
Bridge of Orchy 29 20
Balquhidder/Killin 25 21
Callander 19 22
Stirling 20 **** 23 and 24
Glasgow 25 **** 25
Kilmarnock 21 26
New Cumnock 21 **** 27
Carronbridge 22 28
Dumfries 17 29 and 30
Gretna 24 31
High Hesket 16 **** 1 August
Great Strickland 15 **** 2
Keswick 22 **** 3
Kendal 26 4 and 5
Lancaster 24 6
Preston 21 7
Southport 18 **** 8
St Helens 20 9
Chester 25 10 and 11
Whitchurch 20 12
Shrewsbury 20 **** 13
Craven Arms 21 14
Knighton 15 **** 15
Builth Wells 25 **** 16 and 17
Talgarth 13 18
Pandy 21 **** 19
Saint Arvans 26 20
Bristol 20 *** 21
Cheddar 17 **** 22 and 23
Langport 19 24
Wiveliscombe 26 **** 25
Sth Molton 26 26
Barnstaple 12 27
Bideford 11 28
Kilkhampton 21 **** 29
Camelford 22 30 and 31
St Columb 18 **** 1 September
Redruth 18 **** 2
Ludgvan 17 **** 3
Penzance 20 **** 4
Lizard 20 **** 5 and 6
Carnon Downs 20 7
Lostwithiel 25 **** 8
Landrake 30 **** 9
Ivybridge 21 **** 10 and 11
Torquay 16 12
Woodbury 28 **** 13
Lyme Regis 24 **** 14
Dorchester 24 15
Manston, Sturminster Newton 23 and 17
Winterbourne Stoke 27 **** 18
Andover 20 19
Basingstoke 23 20 and 21
Wokingham 25 22
Windsor Great Park 11 **** 23
London 25 24
I can be contacted at xtr208758@xtra.co.nz.
The columns are town, mileage, whether confirmed (****),date.
**** denotes confirmed sites (the dates are the nights of . . . . .)
London Marathon walk on 26 April 2009.
Rest in London a day or two.
London, at Crystal Palace Caravan & Camping site overnight 28/29 April
London, Start on the morning of 29 April 2009.
Brentwood 22 miles **** 29 April
Witham 21 **** 30
Colchester 22 **** 1 May
Ipswich, site at Fynn Valley 18 **** 2
Saxmundham 20 3
Lowestoft, site at Southwold 20 **** 4
Norwich 25 **** 5 and 6
Cromer 24 7
Fakenham 20 **** 8
Kings Lynn 21 **** 9
Holbeach 19 10
Heckington 20 **** 11
Lincoln 22 **** 12 and 13
Market Raisen 18 14
Brigg, or Caistor, or Humber between 16 and 24 (?) 15
Little Weighton 22 **** 16
Little Driffield 18 **** 17
Scarborough 21 **** 18 and 19
Whitby 15 **** 20
Guisborough 24 **** 21
Stockton-on-Tees 14 22 and 23
Durham 28 *** 24
Ponteland 28 **** 25
Otterburn 23 **** 26
Jedburgh 18 27
Kelso 19 **** 28
Lauder 19 29
Edinburgh 20 **** 30 and 31, and 1 June
Kinghorn 20 2
Markinch 13 **** 3
St Andrews 20 4
Dundee or Monifieth 13 5
Perth 22 6
Crieff 15 **** 7
Inver near Dunkeld 20 **** 8
Coupar Angus 15 **** 9
Forfar 17 **** 10
Brechin 12 11
Inverbervie 20 12 and 13
Newtonhill 17 14
Balmedie 18 15
Cruden Bay 16 16
Crimond 17 17
Fraserburgh 10 **** 18
Gardenstown 15 19 and 20
Portsoy 17 21
Fochabers 18 22
Forres 21 23 and 24
Ardersier 16 25
Kirkhill 19 26
Evanton 19 27
Dornoch 24 28
Brora 16 **** 29 and 30
Berriedale 20 1 July
Ulbster 19 2
John O’Groats 23 3
Thurso 20 4 and 5
Strathy 20 6
Tigh na Beithe, Tongue 23 **** 7 and 8
Altnaharra 18 **** 9
Lairg 21 **** 10 and 11
Dalnavie 20 12
Evanton 20 13
Cannich 25 **** 14
Drumnadrochit 12 **** 15
Fort Augustus 19 16
Spean Bridge 23 17 and 18
Onich 19 19
Bridge of Orchy 29 20
Balquhidder/Killin 25 21
Callander 19 22
Stirling 20 **** 23 and 24
Glasgow 25 **** 25
Kilmarnock 21 26
New Cumnock 21 **** 27
Carronbridge 22 28
Dumfries 17 29 and 30
Gretna 24 31
High Hesket 16 **** 1 August
Great Strickland 15 **** 2
Keswick 22 **** 3
Kendal 26 4 and 5
Lancaster 24 6
Preston 21 7
Southport 18 **** 8
St Helens 20 9
Chester 25 10 and 11
Whitchurch 20 12
Shrewsbury 20 **** 13
Craven Arms 21 14
Knighton 15 **** 15
Builth Wells 25 **** 16 and 17
Talgarth 13 18
Pandy 21 **** 19
Saint Arvans 26 20
Bristol 20 *** 21
Cheddar 17 **** 22 and 23
Langport 19 24
Wiveliscombe 26 **** 25
Sth Molton 26 26
Barnstaple 12 27
Bideford 11 28
Kilkhampton 21 **** 29
Camelford 22 30 and 31
St Columb 18 **** 1 September
Redruth 18 **** 2
Ludgvan 17 **** 3
Penzance 20 **** 4
Lizard 20 **** 5 and 6
Carnon Downs 20 7
Lostwithiel 25 **** 8
Landrake 30 **** 9
Ivybridge 21 **** 10 and 11
Torquay 16 12
Woodbury 28 **** 13
Lyme Regis 24 **** 14
Dorchester 24 15
Manston, Sturminster Newton 23 and 17
Winterbourne Stoke 27 **** 18
Andover 20 19
Basingstoke 23 20 and 21
Wokingham 25 22
Windsor Great Park 11 **** 23
London 25 24
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Another Confirmed Site - Brentwood, Essex
So that the current date will appear each time I edit the following list, I'll do a new posting and delete the previous one. That way there'll be less for you to scroll through. But, I noticed after posting this one that the date shown is 12 hours behind my time in New Zealand - must be British time(?).
I can be contacted at xtr208758@xtra.co.nz.
The columns are town, mileage, whether confirmed (****),date.
**** denotes confirmed sites (the dates are the nights of . . . . .)
London Marathon walk on 26 April 2009.
Rest in London a day or two.
London, at Crystal Palace Caravan & Camping site overnight 28/29 April
London, Start on the morning of 29 April 2009.
Brentwood 22 miles **** 29 April
Witham 21 **** 30
Colchester 22 **** 1 May
Ipswich, site at Fynn Valley 18 **** 2
Saxmundham 20 3
Lowestoft, site at Southwold 20 **** 4
Norwich 25 **** 5 and 6
Cromer 24 7
Fakenham 20 **** 8
Kings Lynn 21 **** 9
Holbeach 19 10
Heckington 20 **** 11
Lincoln 22 **** 12 and 13
Market Raisen 18 14
Brigg, or Caistor, or Humber between 16 and 24 (?) 15
Little Weighton 22 **** 16
Little Driffield 18 **** 17
Scarborough 21 **** 18 and 19
Whitby 15 **** 20
Guisborough 24 **** 21
Stockton-on-Tees 14 22 and 23
Durham 28 *** 24
Ponteland 28 **** 25
Otterburn 23 **** 26
Jedburgh 18 27
Kelso 19 **** 28
Lauder 19 29
Edinburgh 20 **** 30 and 31, and 1 June
Kinghorn 20 2
Markinch 13 **** 3
St Andrews 20 4
Dundee or Monifieth 13 5
Perth 22 6
Crieff 15 **** 7
Inver near Dunkeld 20 **** 8
Coupar Angus 15 **** 9
Forfar 17 **** 10
Brechin 12 11
Inverbervie 20 12 and 13
Newtonhill 17 14
Balmedie 18 15
Cruden Bay 16 16
Crimond 17 17
Fraserburgh 10 18
Gardenstown 15 19 and 20
Portsoy 17 21
Fochabers 18 22
Forres 21 23 and 24
Ardersier 16 25
Kirkhill 19 26
Evanton 19 27
Dornoch 24 28
Brora 16 **** 29 and 30
Berriedale 20 1 July
Ulbster 19 2
John O’Groats 23 3
Thurso 20 4 and 5
Strathy 20 6
Tigh na Beithe, Tongue 23 **** 7 and 8
Altnaharra 18 **** 9
Lairg 21 **** 10 and 11
Dalnavie 20 12
Evanton 20 13
Cannich 25 **** 14
Drumnadrochit 12 **** 15
Fort Augustus 19 16
Spean Bridge 23 17 and 18
Onich 19 19
Bridge of Orchy 29 20
Balquhidder/Killin 25 21
Callander 19 22
Stirling 20 **** 23 and 24
Glasgow 25 **** 25
Kilmarnock 21 26
New Cumnock 21 **** 27
Carronbridge 22 28
Dumfries 17 29 and 30
Gretna 24 31
High Hesket 16 **** 1 August
Great Strickland 15 **** 2
Keswick 22 **** 3
Kendal 26 4 and 5
Lancaster 24 6
Preston 21 7
Southport 18 **** 8
St Helens 20 9
Chester 25 10 and 11
Whitchurch 20 12
Shrewsbury 20 **** 13
Craven Arms 21 14
Knighton 15 **** 15
Builth Wells 25 **** 16 and 17
Talgarth 13 18
Pandy 21 **** 19
Saint Arvans 26 20
Bristol 20 *** 21
Cheddar 17 **** 22 and 23
Langport 19 24
Wiveliscombe 26 **** 25
Sth Molton 26 26
Barnstaple 12 27
Bideford 11 28
Kilkhampton 21 **** 29
Camelford 22 30 and 31
St Columb 18 **** 1 September
Redruth 18 **** 2
Ludgvan 17 **** 3
Penzance 20 **** 4
Lizard 20 **** 5 and 6
Carnon Downs 20 7
Lostwithiel 25 **** 8
Landrake 30 **** 9
Ivybridge 21 **** 10 and 11
Torquay 16 12
Woodbury 28 **** 13
Lyme Regis 24 **** 14
Dorchester 24 15
Manston, Sturminster Newton 23 and 17
Winterbourne Stoke 27 **** 18
Andover 20 19
Basingstoke 23 20 and 21
Wokingham 25 22
Windsor Great Park 11 **** 23
London 25 24
I can be contacted at xtr208758@xtra.co.nz.
The columns are town, mileage, whether confirmed (****),date.
**** denotes confirmed sites (the dates are the nights of . . . . .)
London Marathon walk on 26 April 2009.
Rest in London a day or two.
London, at Crystal Palace Caravan & Camping site overnight 28/29 April
London, Start on the morning of 29 April 2009.
Brentwood 22 miles **** 29 April
Witham 21 **** 30
Colchester 22 **** 1 May
Ipswich, site at Fynn Valley 18 **** 2
Saxmundham 20 3
Lowestoft, site at Southwold 20 **** 4
Norwich 25 **** 5 and 6
Cromer 24 7
Fakenham 20 **** 8
Kings Lynn 21 **** 9
Holbeach 19 10
Heckington 20 **** 11
Lincoln 22 **** 12 and 13
Market Raisen 18 14
Brigg, or Caistor, or Humber between 16 and 24 (?) 15
Little Weighton 22 **** 16
Little Driffield 18 **** 17
Scarborough 21 **** 18 and 19
Whitby 15 **** 20
Guisborough 24 **** 21
Stockton-on-Tees 14 22 and 23
Durham 28 *** 24
Ponteland 28 **** 25
Otterburn 23 **** 26
Jedburgh 18 27
Kelso 19 **** 28
Lauder 19 29
Edinburgh 20 **** 30 and 31, and 1 June
Kinghorn 20 2
Markinch 13 **** 3
St Andrews 20 4
Dundee or Monifieth 13 5
Perth 22 6
Crieff 15 **** 7
Inver near Dunkeld 20 **** 8
Coupar Angus 15 **** 9
Forfar 17 **** 10
Brechin 12 11
Inverbervie 20 12 and 13
Newtonhill 17 14
Balmedie 18 15
Cruden Bay 16 16
Crimond 17 17
Fraserburgh 10 18
Gardenstown 15 19 and 20
Portsoy 17 21
Fochabers 18 22
Forres 21 23 and 24
Ardersier 16 25
Kirkhill 19 26
Evanton 19 27
Dornoch 24 28
Brora 16 **** 29 and 30
Berriedale 20 1 July
Ulbster 19 2
John O’Groats 23 3
Thurso 20 4 and 5
Strathy 20 6
Tigh na Beithe, Tongue 23 **** 7 and 8
Altnaharra 18 **** 9
Lairg 21 **** 10 and 11
Dalnavie 20 12
Evanton 20 13
Cannich 25 **** 14
Drumnadrochit 12 **** 15
Fort Augustus 19 16
Spean Bridge 23 17 and 18
Onich 19 19
Bridge of Orchy 29 20
Balquhidder/Killin 25 21
Callander 19 22
Stirling 20 **** 23 and 24
Glasgow 25 **** 25
Kilmarnock 21 26
New Cumnock 21 **** 27
Carronbridge 22 28
Dumfries 17 29 and 30
Gretna 24 31
High Hesket 16 **** 1 August
Great Strickland 15 **** 2
Keswick 22 **** 3
Kendal 26 4 and 5
Lancaster 24 6
Preston 21 7
Southport 18 **** 8
St Helens 20 9
Chester 25 10 and 11
Whitchurch 20 12
Shrewsbury 20 **** 13
Craven Arms 21 14
Knighton 15 **** 15
Builth Wells 25 **** 16 and 17
Talgarth 13 18
Pandy 21 **** 19
Saint Arvans 26 20
Bristol 20 *** 21
Cheddar 17 **** 22 and 23
Langport 19 24
Wiveliscombe 26 **** 25
Sth Molton 26 26
Barnstaple 12 27
Bideford 11 28
Kilkhampton 21 **** 29
Camelford 22 30 and 31
St Columb 18 **** 1 September
Redruth 18 **** 2
Ludgvan 17 **** 3
Penzance 20 **** 4
Lizard 20 **** 5 and 6
Carnon Downs 20 7
Lostwithiel 25 **** 8
Landrake 30 **** 9
Ivybridge 21 **** 10 and 11
Torquay 16 12
Woodbury 28 **** 13
Lyme Regis 24 **** 14
Dorchester 24 15
Manston, Sturminster Newton 23 and 17
Winterbourne Stoke 27 **** 18
Andover 20 19
Basingstoke 23 20 and 21
Wokingham 25 22
Windsor Great Park 11 **** 23
London 25 24
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
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