We hope all of you are in good health.
My father is still not well, and was in and out of hospital until the third week of this month. Once he got out, we have had a family conference at the Doctor's surgery to decide on our next steps. We are going to take the Hospice route of palliative care, as opposed to the Hospital route, where they are constantly running tests and trying to repair the unrepairable. My sister came up, which was great, so we were all there as a family to talk about everything (including my Father, of course). We have had a good talk about what will happen, and when, and built in choices for him.
Jan went to the specialist to get an opinion on his hips. He has been getting a lot of right hip pain, and, despite being on humira, the pain hasn't settled down. He was rather shocked to be told by the specialist that he needs two hip replacements. He thought that he would be nowhere near that bad yet, and was thinking that this would mean that he would need to have both hips done again before he meets his end.
But as the specialist said: each year there is only an extra 1% chance of needing another hip replacement: so in thirty years, there is only another 30% chance of a second replacement; or a first replacement. So why put up with pain now?
Good point. So we have tentatively booked in for the week following Easter for the first operation, and hope to have the second one done in June. Then he should be all set for the following thirty years :-)
Jan has been going to men's yoga in the Upper Moutere village, with Jan Cools. They both seem to enjoy it. Jan also has a pre-hab plan from Claire to help strength and flexibility prior to him having his first hip replacement. A great idea to prepare before surgery.
I have officially accepted my place at Griffith, which is great, though I do have to go for a post-graduate 'induction' session in July. Although I have tried to get them to video link it, to record it and upload it, or to allow me to Skype in, the admin team remain obdurate that all post-graduate students must attend in person. The sessions before July are all when I have teaching on, so I am hoping that the timing of the July session will fit in before the start semester two. Fingers crossed too that Jan's surgery goes well, and he is OK for me to leave when I have to hop across the Tassie.
I have been writing a piece on how long it would take a non-digitally competent person to learn enough digital skills to be work ready. This has been a fascinating piece of secondary research to do. Basically, no one has any real idea of how long it should 'reasonably' take the average person to learn a set of skills... which is staggering. So I am trying to put something together. I am nearly finished draft one. Two professors emerita have retired to Nelson, and have offered their services to NMIT. I have tapped into that, and am regularly asking for advice - simply for the price of a good coffee. Talk about epic value for money :-)
Have fallen in love with Fluevog shoes, and have bought two pairs so far. Below are the flower patterned boots. I also have some cobalt blue boots which are gorgeous.
Barb was here for a few days while we were sorting out family things, and for my folks' wedding anniversary. She has started knitting me dreadlocks - or dreaddocs, as I am calling them - to be worn under my doctoral bonnet on/after graduation. The idea is to not take the whole thing to seriously. There is a PhD at NMIT who wears her doctoral bonnet with Christmas decorations hung off it, and I love that irreverence. My dreaddocs look disgusting, but will be so much FUN!
Had dinner at Nahm with Kevin & Sandra, which was lovely, including a spectacular view of a cruise ship exiting the harbour while we were waiting to order.
Tracey, Erica and Jenny came around one weekend and we made Kesundi sauce and pureed and bottled tomatoes. A very productive weekend.
Had the usual spectacular sunsets and sunrises:
Hope to be in touch as the year progresses
Sam (& Jan)
