It’s a mild autumn morning in Canberra today, a far cry from some of the whopping frosts we have had over the last few weeks. I’ve actually turned the heater off and just gone with a light jumper complimented by my brand-new birthday Ugg boots. It’s amazing how we slip out summer and into autumn so quickly. It seems we are at once still in our shorts and t-shirts and almost without pause we are suddenly hunkered down inside with the heater going full bore. Such are the vagaries of the changing seasons.
It was another birthday for me last Sunday. They get a little less important the older I get but I had a nice day to be honest. I had family and a few close friends around in the afternoon and it turned out very nicely. We are quite lucky to have a close coterie of people who we appreciate and enjoy spending time with.
Linda is doing well. She has completed her first cycle of chemotherapy since her covid infection, has had a week off and has just started the next cycle. But she is going okay. Her cancer markers were up slightly but the registrar at the appointment last Thursday wasn’t concerned due to her recent scan being positive and the fact the markers fluctuate in any case. So far, so good.
The biggest change for me recently has been the necessity for me to sleep at night whilst wearing a face mask which is connected to a sleep apnoea machine! I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnoea recently-no surprise to Linda-with the result that I have to buy and use a CPAC machine. It’s been going okay. The machine records how many incidences of sleep apnoea occur every night and since being connected I have dropped below five an hour-normal for average people-from a high of over 50 an hour when I was tested. In fact last night I recorded no incidents of sleep apnoea at all. So, although it’s a pain to wear, I have gotten use to it and it is not really impacting my sleep, in fact I think it has enhanced it. The machine responds to your breathing and keeps your airways open. It has certainly helped me and whilst looking as though I am flying a Lancaster bomber every night is hardly sexy, my health in the long run is more important.
So, on we go. Linda and I have a few things planned in the coming weeks and months, so I hope to maintain the wherewithal to write and update how we are going. Until then, take care.
Strange Notations From a Laborious Life 