The sun has come out to play

Yeah!  

The sun has come out to play

Banishing the rain and dismal grey

The colours are bright

Bringing cheer to our hearts 

With smiles all around

Joy abounds

Wishing you all a wonderful day.

Drought Conditions

We are in drought conditions...

There is a hose pipe ban, no watering the garden, washing cars etc...

The garden is flooded...but we are drought conditions...

Apparently it is the 'wrong type of rain'

Goodness me, what other type of rain is there?  It's wet, wet and wet...surely that means its rain?

The brooks and rivers around the area are flooded and several roads are closed...

But we are in drought conditions!

Go figure!

Perhaps they should fix the leaks??

It has come time...

It has come time to say I am sadly starting to sell some of my instruments as it is looking like this is going to be a long battle indeed to be free of pain.  My last two lidocaine infusions didn’t work and I am still in constant pain to varying degrees depending on what I do.  They are unsure what to try next as the Ketamine infusion carries its own risks as well and with the added new diagnosis of Chiari Malformation, a neurological brain disorder, I’m not sure I want to take those risks.  As I am unable to work, I find I am needing the money as well, so it is time I just faced facts.

My lovely Jupiter Soprano Saxophone will be the first to go...

The birds were having a field day in our garden yesterday.  A rook, or is it a crow?  And loads of starlings!

The stuff dreams are made of

I've just found some more photos of New Zealand that I haven't posted about yet.

On 13th March Dad and I went out to Shelly beach for a walk and some lunch.  We had a lovely wandered around, although for some reason I must have forgotten to take some actual photographs at Shelly Beach...I think we were just enjoying each others company and the walk.

We stopped on the way home to have a look at some subdivided farm land blocks up for sale.  Apparently there were originally up for very silly money but had since been substantially reduced.  

One of the things that I am known for doing whilst over there is dreaming about buying a property and returning to live.  Sometimes it is nice to indulge that dream, sometimes it isn't!

This was my pick out of the lot...

Not too big, but not too small...just enough land for a little small holding, some grazing, privacy and wonderful views of the estuary full of wildlife.

Driveway concreted and all the fence work in place

It would be a bird photographers dream to have a property so close to such a enriched estuary/river.  Such an abundance of birds.  Of course you would then need all the appropriate photograph equipment as well! 

Whilst I was able to use my binoculars to observe some of the birds, unfortunately I didn't have my zoom lens with me.

The stuff dreams are made of.

Reading material

I read in bed just before I go to sleep.  I don't tend to read for very long now as I drift off quite quickly even if I don't stay asleep all night.

One of the books I am currently reading and that I highly recommend if you like true life stories of wildlife is The Elephant Whisperer.

This book is about a game reserve in Kwazulu Natal called Thula Thula and the author Lawrence Anthony writes about his experience of taking on a rogue herd of elephants and how he gets to know and learn from them, as well as also earning their respect and acceptance.  The story is also about life on the Game Reserve and all the ups and downs, floods, attacks, poaching etc...that go with it.  I am really enjoy it and was saddened to hear that the author recently died this year of a heart attack at the young age of 62.  

On a completely different subject but one that is certainly interesting me is 'Its all in your head" by Maria McCutchen.  This is the story of her battle with a brain cyst and the subsequent problems she had both before diagnosis when she was trying to put it down to all sorts of other reasons, and after diagnosis.  To try and imagine how she coped is almost impossible as she struggles with doctors who have what I'd call a 'god complex' who won't listen to the patient and in the end refuse to treat her, as well as those that do finally help.  It also has some mention of Chiari Malformation which she also develops as a result of some of the trauma to her brain during the period of time she couldn't get the doctors to listen to her.  Well worth a read if you are interested in this type of subject.  It certainly opened my eyes to what some people go through and how difficult it can be to get the help you need, which is something I can relate to.

Still on the subject of Chiari Malformation I have a book on order as well that should arrive tomorrow...

I thought this looked interesting...

Fixing Sewing Machines

Over the last couple of weeks, my computer died and my sewing machines went wrong...first my Bernina got jammed, then my overlocker started making a knocking sound and finally at quilting group my Bernette stopped feeding the fabric through.  

Well my wonderful husband spent all night fixing my computer so that I can transfer all my files to an external hard drive, and I can now use them on the new computer he kindly bought me.  The old computer can then be completely reformatted for perhaps DS1 to use...the jury is still out on that one at the moment.

My Bernette just needed a jolly good defluff, clean and oil and is now working as good as ever.

This has been a really trusty machine.  The first machine I ever bought for myself when I was around...well not going to tell you how old I was as that will be a giveaway, instead I will say it is at least 25, if not 26 years old.  I love it, it has been a very trust worthy machine and has sewn everything from clothes for me, my husband and children, leather shoes for babies, soft toy/fur fabric and now currently is used for sewing my dolls clothes.

Filled with confidence at getting the Nettie, the Bernette running smoothly I then set to repairing 'Nina' the Bernina as my friendly reliable sewing machine repair man has unfortunately retired....to say I am devastated with this news is an understatement as he was local and excellent!

My Bernina is my quiliting and patchwork machine.  This machine was given to me as it didn't work.  It cost a little for it to be overhauled with a couple of replacement parts and now runs beautifully.  It is a Bernina Minimatic 807.  Not sure of its age, but I'm guessing at least 20 - 30 years old.  I use this machine for quilting, although I often do my piece work on my cute  Vintage Singer Featherweight 201.

Turns out it was a simple unjamming of thread,

I was more concerned about whether I would be able to fix my Elna Overlocker.

This machine was the cream of the crop when I bought it in May 1990, so it is nearly 22 years old.  It cost me $895.00 New Zealand Dollars, so considering how long ago that was, it was a very expensive machine and definitely an investment for me.  I still have the original receipt and guarantee form.  I have made many sweatshirts for adults, children and babies on this machine as well as dolls clothes.  

Could I fix it?  Fortunately yes, it needed some screws tightening that had worked their way loose, a clean and an oil and is now working.  Yeah!

So all in all I am feeling very happy that my everyday sewing machines are back in full working use.

Green

Our Maple is coming into leaf...

Lidocaine Infusion

Today I had my second lidocaine infusion in the hope that it is more successful than the last one I had in January which didn't appear to help at all.  I have to travel into London to the Neurology & Neurosurgery Hospital in Queen Square.

It is used to reduce nerve excitability and is sometimes used as a treatment for some chronic pain conditions, in particular those caused by neuropathic pain.  The drug is given over a course of an hour through infusion into a vein.  They monitor your heart and blood pressure during the course of the treatment as like any medication it can have side effects such as fits, abnormal heart rhythms and low blood pressure.  Fortunately I haven't suffered from any of these problems during the infusion despite the fact that my blood pressure is normally very low anyway

This time I had a companion 'Henry' and of course my trusty Kindle.  I am currently reading The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony and Graham Spence.  What a wonderful read so far!  I also have to have 'an escort' to take me home so my lovely husband came to.  He bought some work with him to do and was kept busy that way.  

I have been doing more research and googling on the web into Chiari Malformation and have found some interesting websites.  Although somewhat scary as well.  I am fairly certain that the pain I suffer from is as a result for the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and subsequent decompression surgery I had, but forewarned is forearmed and after my Pain Specialist seeming rather concerned about when I was having follow up appointments and whether I was going to be monitored I thought I ought to investigate further.

The Ann Conway Trust home to the British Syringomyelia Chiari Society.
Conquer Chairi

Chiari Support UK a valuable forum of fellow sufferers.

and another online support group based in America but with Worldwide members

Chiari Malformation Support Group

I've also found a couple of blogs as well which I have subscribed to.

Wednesday Flowers

Just a few photos taken of the flowers and blossom around the garden this afternoon taken between showers.

Pain Specialist Appointment

This is as much for my information and records as for anything else as I guess in a way this is my 'diary' as I don't really keep a paper form, nor a journal despite the intention at times.

I saw the Pain Specialist in London yesterday. The pain in my right side when it is bad has spread somewhat a goes up the side of my face to my ear as well as down the right side of my body to my ribs and of course including the arm.  I told him about this and the fact that the Lidocaine Infusion appeared not to have helped at all, and nor were the Duloxetine doing a lot, apart from giving me frequent headaches.  My GP had wanted me to ask him about increasing the dose.  I was quite impressed the first time I saw him and also when I had my first infusion as he really seemed to listen a lot.  He still listened to me but seemed more concerned at first about the Chiari this time and was asking when I was next seeing the Neurologist, did I have any follow up appointments etc... I feel now that every time I have a problem it is going to be put down to the Chiari Malformation instead of as a result of this *** Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Decompression Surgery I had over three years ago, from which I have had pain from ever since!  In the end he did agree it was the same problem and I wasn't getting any other symptoms from the CM...and has booked me in for another Lidocaine Infusion next Wednesday.  We are going to leave the Duloxetine as is at the moment so no other variables have changed to see if the Lidocaine helps this time.  I sure hope it does.  When the pain is just at the usual level I feel I can cope and then it flares up like it did at the end of last week and I know that something needs to be done.  

I still think about my music and how hard I worked to get my Honours Degree and Masters and how I only really got to fully use them for about a year after completion before I had the operation and now am unable to play and haven't done for some time now.  I miss it, and still think I should just try and forget about how I ever did play now.  I had had thoughts about joining the local choir to get my 'fix' of music, but am not sure I really have the confidence to try singing.  I'm not really convinced I will be able to, after all that is why I played a wind instrument after all!  How does one really give up something that they spent some many years doing?  I have played since I was 7 years old.  Perhaps a final break from hanging on by the thread would be good.  Forget that I ever was a musician and music teacher.

Anyway I am going to try going back on to my Raw Foods diet to see if that will help get rid of the headaches even though I am still on medication.  It is worth a try that is for sure.  

In the meantime I will get on with things and forget feeling sorry for myself.  Yesterday was just a bit of shock to me that is all as I wasn't expecting him to talk so much about the Chiari and the worry of getting Syringomyelia and it does feel as if I am walking round with a time bomb inside of me waiting to go off.

Incy Hexagon Flowers

I'm finally catching up with photographing and making my Hexagon flowers.

First we have some flowers that arrived for me...

These are my March flowers made by Celine in Hertfordshire

Next up...

Lovely flowers from Terry in California

and finally I can hold my head up rather than hang it in shame as I have caught up with the January, February and March flowers...

All ready to send to Anna in The Netherlands, Elizabeth in Australia and Simona in Croatia

Now just need to make the April flowers...

Tiritiri Matangi Island

Finally another post about my visit to New Zealand.

 Photo heavy post of the wonderful birds and scenery on Tiritiri Matangi Island.

Brown Teal (Pateke)

Bellbird (Korimako)

North Island Saddleback (Tieke)

Red Crowned Parakeet (Kakariki)

Female Stitchbird (Hihi)

Male Stitchbird

Whitehead (Popokatea)

New Zealand Pigeon (Kereru)

Takahe

North Island Robin (Toutouwai)

Tui

Oyster Catcher