105

The mother of one of my old school friends has turned 105. Norma Howard's children organised a party for her and even the Mayor turned up and presented her with a message from the King and Queen.

She also has the 100-year message from Queen Elizabeth as well as a commemorative tree in a nearby park. She is the oldest resident in the area. 

When I meet her she always wants to have a hug. Every day she walks to the local shop with a carer to make sure all is well. Lots of well-wishers turned up and she appeared to enjoy herself.

I reckon there is something about the local water that encourages old age.

Adelaide Botanic Garden

We drove down town to visit the Botanic Gardens.

Back entrance with nearby parking.

Rain was threatening but we proceeded.

An avenue of Moreton Bay Figs.

There was a Chihuly exhibit scattered around.

It blends in better than I expected.

I like this photo.

The rain commenced so we huddled under a tree.

We then wandered into the Adelaide Mall area and enjoyed a cup of coffee in an old arcade. Adelaide is such a lovely city.

The Gums Reserve in Adelaide.

Last year, we held a mini family reunion in Adelaide. Marianne and I flew down to Melbourne and drove to Adelaide with Clare and Ric. This year we took the new direct Jetstar flight from Hervey Bay to Melbourne which takes about 2.5 hours. It's a whole lot better than changing planes in Sydney. 

We organised a bnb and one afternoon we walked in a park close by. It was my first long walk since the angiogram.

Lovely house across from the park.

Entrance.

It's wattle time in Adelaide.

Bark.

Marianne striding on ahead. I am the slow poke these days.

Bottle brushes.

Detail.

Adelaide features such beautiful sandstone buildings.

It was a beautiful walk and it was so encouraging to be able to complete it with only a few stops to catch my breath.

Royal Flying Doctor Service

Every Aussie is immensely proud of this service where medical help is delivered to people in the outback. In addition to this role, the Service is also used to transport patients to major hospitals for treatment not available in smaller hospitals. 

About a month ago, I was climbing the 35 steps to our unit when I felt some chest pain. Since my triple bypass in 2015, I know you don't try to tough it out and I asked Marianne to call the ambulance. Soon after I arrived at the local hospital. After some blood tests, it was determined that I had suffered a mild heart attack and would need to be transferred to Brisbane for an angiogram.

I spent a few days in Hervey Bay hospital waiting to be transferred to Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane. As usual, I enjoyed teasing the nurses because the rest of the time you sit on your bed like a bump on a log.

The plane. They shove you in on a stretcher at the back door. There are two pilots, a doctor and a nurse. In addition there was another patient.

Of course you are hooked up to monitoring equipment.

I had a good view most of the way.

At Prince Charles Hospital, I shared a room with another bloke and was lucky to have a window.

The menu at Prince Charles.

The food choices at Hervey Bay were very limited. At Prince Charles, you picked up the phone and ordered what you wanted.

The fruit cake was just a pale imitation of my Mother's recipe.

Not bad, particularly since I could wash it down with a relatively decent cappuccino.

The angiogram resulted in a stent and two balloons. After almost nine years, it was time for the Rotor Rooter.

The next day, I took a Uber into the city and then a bus back up to Hervey Bay. By chance, the bus took a route that crossed a bridge at a spot where I rowed a dingy in Maroochydore when I was about 10 years old.

So I was fortunate in that I found out what was wrong with me and hopefully I will be good for several more years.

By the way, it was all free except for the Uber ride from the hospital to downtown Brisbane.