Time to Stop and Smell the Roses

Hello dear friends...

Since my last post, almost four months ago, the following has transpired...

July 14. Arrived home from holiday in Honolulu, Hawaii with my carer, Roberta. I was not well, due to chest infection... confirmed in Bendigo Hospital a few days later (while I was 'away with the fairies') as legionnaires disease.

August 6. Transferred to Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, where I underwent an operation to repair a bleeding duodenum (stomach ulcer) - opened up twice and given a 50% chance of survival (relatives summoned to my bedside) - but I wasn't ready to go - still got too much unfinished business to do on this planet! The skills of the doctors and nursing staff at the Austin obviously saved my life and I will forever be thankful to them. The morphine that went through my system, however, gave me the most horrible nightmares... which I still can't put out of my mind.
Due to kidney failure, I also had a 'fistula' fitted to my right arm in preparation for dialysis treatment, which commenced almost immediately.

Sept. 18. Transferred to Rehabilitation Hospital, Heidelberg, after several weeks of recuperation, needles, tablets, tests and dialysis treatments (which are to continue twice weekly for the rest of my life).

Nov. 1. Back home at last. Initially, because Bendigo Hospital has no spare dialysis machines I have to travel by ambulance back to the Austin in Melbourne each Monday and Friday for treatment... leaving at 7 a.m. and returning home about 5 p.m. A loooong day, but I have no alternative until Bendigo has more machines available (hopefully by mid December).

To those of you who sent me cards, phoned and/or visited me while I was in hospital, thank you from the bottom of my heart... your good wishes and prayers really kept me going and now that I'm back home I will do all in my power to keep in touch.

The photos taken on our trip to Hawaii will have to wait a little while until I get a bit more energy back in my system (and learn how to post them on to this site), so please bear with me in that area... I'm getting there, but not quite yet.

All I can ask at the moment is PLEASE KEEP IN TOUCH... I need all my friends right now.

Warm wishes, love and good thoughts from Colin.

Where's the Light?

Yet another little setback when a 'hacker' got into my online banking system and helped themselves to all but $9.00 in my savings account! By most people's standards I didn't have a lot of money in there, but $2750.00 is still a lot to me (especially with my holiday in Honolulu coming up on June 29). Fortunately I alerted my bank quickly enough for them to act on my behalf and the money should be restored within a few days.

I am still feeling pretty ordinary about life, but the next few weeks leading up to my trip will be quite busy, so (hopefully) that should keep my mind occupied on other things. I attended my first church service for some time last week and will go again next Sunday... the pentecostal service and sermon at the Assembly of God Church were quite uplifting and there is no doubt I felt better afterwards - for a while at least.

My dear brother Geoff spent the best part of two days with me last week restoring and upgrading Windows XP on my computer. I'm really blessed to have a brother like Geoff... we don't often talk 'heart to heart' on our personal problems, but we are both aware that, when a helping hand is needed, we will always be there for each other.

Vale Tess

They say things come in threes and so it goes with me. My darling 17 year old cocker spaniel Tess, left in the care of my ex-wife when we split up five years ago, had to be put to sleep yesterday. Memories keep flooding back of the times the three of us shared travelling around parts of Australia, the photo we took of her with Ayres Rock in the background and that wonderful morning when my wife got me out of bed to watch Tess give birth to six beautiful puppies (Tess outlived "Ollie", the pup we kept from the litter).

Farewell Tessy... I'll always remember you and the happy times we shared.

De Blues Are Knockin' at My Door!

Not a good week! Got my divorce papers in the mail and an email from my best friend telling me she doesn't want me to contact her any more (she is going through severe depression and wants to cut her ties with everyone - including me), so I'm left feeling more alone than ever!! I'm NOT looking for sympathy - or pity - because there are many much worse off than I'll ever be, but it does leave me feeling very isolated.

I'm now trying to sort out whether I should leave this area and try to start out afresh somewhere entirely different - which will not be easy at my time of life. At least I've got my Blog to talk to... and my somewhat dented sense of humour.

Just going to try to keep myself busier than normal... maybe write me a coupla real bluuuuuues songs! If you want to talk to me, please do... I need a little company right now.

ANOTHER MILESTONE PASSES

I passed another milestone on April 29 and celebrated with the reunion of my old band, "Insight", which was very popular in the local area back in the early 70's. We drew a crowd of about 60 on the Sunday afternoon at the Bendigo RSL Club, including several old friends who came along to wish me a Happy Birthday and re-live some of the songs of that era. The group included my long-time singing partner Olive Bice, my brother Geoff and cousin Peter Newson.

On the day, I wore two shirts specially made for me by a local lady who makes and repairs clothes for a living... she did quite a good job, so I will give her plenty of work in the future as I update my wardrobe of tired old shirts and coats, etc.

I recently discovered this new dating site called Singles Net and thought I may as well give it a try (not having any luck with the others). Within four days I had received approaches/enquiries from more than 20 ladies!!! That might sound good, BUT they came from places like Germany, Ghana, India, the Netherlands, USA, etc.

I do not feel inclined to pay everyones air fares out to Australia (as most of them seemed to want!) just for a handshake and "so long, sucker" which, I have been told, has happened to many others.

Amongst those enquiries, however, came a few from Australia which I will follow up - ever hopeful - so please keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer for me.

Easter Time in Bendigo

... used to be a fun time for me and my mates back in the 'good old days'. The place used to come alive with the annual Easter fair, popular girl competition, processions (including the famous Chinese dragon and decorated 'floats', marching bands, etc.), street stalls and all those things, but now...? Well, it still goes on, but I guess the fact that I have... er, 'matured' and have no one to share it with has kind of made it a 'non-event' these days. Maybe this time next year I'll see it differently - here's hoping!

The Waiting Game

Life mooches along at (for me) a snails pace, with little happening apart from the wait... waiting for my Star Trader stuff to arrive and get me started on making my first million $ (I wish).

I met a nice lady online at a disability dating site today... she sounds like fun - but she lives in the USA! Surely there's SOMEONE in Australia who is prepared to accept me as a companion? I'd like to believe all Aussie women are not that hard to please!

Saturday, March 17, 2007.
I have just made the decision (a big one for me) of taking most of my money out of an investment account (which brought in a little over 5% interest per year) and sinking it into Star Trader (www.mcit.com.au)... which advises its members of the best stocks to buy/sell on the Australian Stock Exchange. Only time will tell if I'm being foolish or not - oh well, I like living life a little on the dangerous side.

Meanwhile, one of my carers has agreed to being my travel companion on a trip to Honolulu between June 29 and July 13. We will be travelling by JetStar and have left our accommodation and sightseeing arrangements in the hands of a Hawaiian disability travel agent.

This will be my fifth visit to Honolulu, having gone there on three occasions - as a honeymoon! It's such a beautiful spot and obviously holds many happy memories for me.