30 January 2015

Looking out of my ward windows at the Geelong hospital was not inspirational – perhaps it was just as well that the windows were so badly in need of a clean that the ugly roof below could barely be seen.

It’s certainly different in Portland.

After 3 room changes at the Portland hospital, I am now sitting beside sparkling clean windows, watching the ever-changing vista of the active Portland harbour. There are small fishing boats bobbing about, several large ships on the horizon and a continual hive of activity at the port with trucks containing woodchips tipping up at ridiculous angles to unload, logs being unloaded, wind towers turning behind them, and in the far distance the sun is shining over the sea to reveal the windfarm at Codrington. If I have to be stuck in hospital it may as well be with the spectacular view in front of me.

There has not been much action on the ‘treatment’ front for me. However today an OT loaded up her station wagon with an assortment of frames/chairs and took me home, to see how I can manage when I return. Using a light frame, I was able to impressively hop up the 4 porch steps and into our house (for the first time in almost 4 weeks). The only extra aid needed inside the house is a rail at the toilet, otherwise the OT says I am good to go. However I am still in hospital for at least the weekend as the cogs turn slowly and I have to be released by my physician (away for the weekend).

I have not yet heard from the oncology unit in Warrnambool, so don’t know what treatment options are in store for me. Perhaps I’ll just sit back and watch the two tugboats bringing in a large woodchips-loading ship, and also enjoy catching up with locals.