September 2012

The first day of spring and it 's actually a pleasant sunny day - but definitely not hot! News involving loved ones is a bit mixed - Michael McCutcheon (Leonie's partner and our first friend when we moved into Palmerston Rd 22 years ago) has throat cancer and underwent a huge operation about 10 days ago to remove half his palate and some of his pharynx. He has a tracheostomy, can't speak or eat and is still looking most unwell, but the surgeons are happy with his progress so far. Once the surgery has healed he will need a course of radiotherapy. When we have visited him in the RAH he seems pleased to see us but is easily tired and our visits have been short.
Our daughter in law, Jen is 11 weeks pregnant ( egg donation and Joshua's sperm) and although she is happy to have morning sickness, I can't rejoice yet. Anything could happen! It has been an emotional and dramatic 3 years for them, trying IVF and even an egg donation from Jen's biological sister - all unsuccessful, and of course, I am hoping that this time there will be a happy outcome with a term baby, healthy and normal.
On the home front, Eion has already booked and planned a holiday for us next March - a week in Hong Kong using up some free miles awarded to us by Singapore Airlines. And my medical school year is holding our 40th anniversary reunion in April. As my two big sisters who have previously been our house and animal sitters while we went away have indicated that they can no longer do this, we are asking the 23 year old daughter of a friend to do the baby sitting. She has a degree in animal sciences and just loves our dogs and the cat - she has met them on several occasions already. Still there'll be a lot of water under the bridge before either of these events occurs.