Friday, September 6, 2013

Townsville September 2013, weeks 2 - 3



August 22nd, Went to the Skin Cancer Clinic this morning and had a small cancer cut out of my left shoulder, 2 stitches, no problem. The results from the biopsy taken from my right shin had came back as nasty and will require cutting out. After discussing my operation with the Head Doctor, it was decided that a skin graft would not be required. The method would be to cut out the cancer by removing a 20 cent sized piece, then doing a scallop cut diagonally across my shin, just through the skin, both on the top and bottom of the area removed and that will allow sufficient loose skin to pull together and sew up. So I will end up with a 15cm long scar, lucky me! After trying to frighten me with the possible recovery problems due to the bad circulation in my lower legs, I was given an appointment for next Thursday morning for the operation at the Clinic. The Doctor also prescribed Efudix Cream to be used on my forearms and forehead, to remove the numerous sun spots on those areas. The forearms are to be treated one at a time for 3 weeks each then the forehead for 6 weeks and from what I’m told I’m not looking forward to that.

August 25th, I’ve spent the last few days, since my visit to the Skin Cancer Clinic, to do a few jobs around the van, while I was still able to walk. I even washed the car!! We went to the Sunday markets today, as Val is able to pick up produce for her Jams and pickles at a good price. She has been doing well with sales, so now the job for us is to keep producing.

August 26th, We ducked out this morning to do a bit of shopping at Woolworths, where the strawberries were “on special”. After we got back home, Val was looking for our chopping board, to get on with her cooking. Val looked high and low, then remembered that when she had finished using it yesterday, she washed it off and put it out front to dry in the sun. So after looking out front and no sign of it, I said “where did you put it to dry”, and she said “on the back of the car”. To clarify that, the chopping board was sitting on the towbar and resting against the back of the car, would you believe it, I couldn’t. So the chopping board could be anywhere between home and the Supermarket. I didn’t think it would really be far away, as there are a few speed humps in the Park before you get to the front road. So I went looking and was surprised to find it in the middle of Ingham Road, having been run over by numerous cars and trucks. Ingham road is an extremely busy road and it can take quite a while to get a break in traffic so that you can get out of the Caravan Park. A new chopping board is now on our Shopping List.

August 29th, Val came to the Clinic this morning for my 8.45am appointment. The operation took just over an hour, all went well, and after making an appointment for stitch removal in 2 weeks, Val drove us home. My instruction were to, sit down, leg up , keep wound dry and do as little moving as possible, for the first few days. Only take Panadol for pain, if needed.

September 1st, Fathers Day. We drove into the Flinders Street Markets and Val did her Shopping while I sat in the car and read my book. We allowed 1 ½ hours for the Markets before we were due for our Booking at The Brewery, for my Father’s Day Lunch, organized by our Family in Sydney. The Brewery Building was originally the main Post Office, so is one of those old buildings with high ceilings and lots of ceiling fans, which made the inside temperature very pleasant. When we were shown to our table, there was a Father’s Day Gift, from The Brewery, of a bottle of their own Townsville Beer, a nice surprise. Today’s menu was an all day brunch, so I had a sausage, eggs, bacon, chips, salad and toast plate and Val went for a Pizza, all with some nice wine. The food was great but they didn’t have a dessert menu, unless I wanted pancakes. We moved on from The Brewery to Jupiter’s Casino where we had our dessert and coffee, some more wine and a flutter on the Pokies. We walked out with $40 in our pocket, so didn’t lose on the day. This is only the 3rd day after my leg operation and I was beginning to feel that I had overdone it a little but there was no way that I wasn’t going to have and enjoy my Father’s Day and I did. Then it was back home, to sit down, feet up, etc. How boring!

September 5th, I drove myself down to the Skin Cancer Clinic today, to have the stitches removed from my left shoulder and to get my right leg operation re-dressed. The Doctor was very happy with my progress and instructed me to keep doing the same until next Thursday, when they will remove the stitches from my leg.

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