Greetings from a wet and cold Canberra. It really has been a stiff winter so far-the sort of thing we really haven’t been used to over the last few years. Yeah, it gets cold in Canberra but I’m sure many of our North American friends would guffaw at what we think is cold, but….it’s cold for us. The multiple nights at minus 7 have taken me back to my youth and it appears there is no let up yet with negative degree mornings due this week a long with a bit of rain and snow. It’s cold and stormy tonight. Rain and thunderstorms are coming in from over the Brindabellas. Time to snuggle down in bed soon and tune into Stage 2 of the Tour de France. Ironically, it’s cold and wet in northern France tonight!
Of course the cooler temperatures have brought out the right wing, climate change denying looneys. “So much for Global Warming” they screech almost audibly across Facebook whilst posting quotes from conspiracy theory websites where discredited “scientists” decry the efforts of the “woke infested media” to combat rising global temperatures. It’s a strange world and like most things I disagree with nowadays I just let it pass through to the keeper. No point shouting into the abyss. Makes you angry and life is too short with too many other priorities for me to deal with.
The worst part about the climate change deniers is that there are many smart, educated people whom I know who are on the charge as global warming deniers and that is disappointing. The part they don’t seem to get is that scientists knew way back at the dawn of the industrial revolution that carbon emissions would cause a “greenhouse effect”. They wrote about it and predicted it a couple of centuries ago and you can easily find that stuff on the internet with a couple of clicks.
Ah conspiracy theorists, it’s scary how many of them are out there. A few years back I worked with a lady during the Coronavirus pandemic who wasn’t going to get a vaccine shot because her aunty told her that it was a ruse to implant a microchip in your head so “they” could follow you around and control your life. Now I am pretty sure her aunty wasn’t a scientist, in fact I believe she lived on social security in Sydney so I wasn’t really worried about not taking my colleagues advice to avoid the vaccine (she wasn’t the brightest spark in any case) and she seemed perplexed when I asked her how they get a microchip through a syringe and into your head after taking the needle, presumably, in your arm? She didn’t know.
Getting the Covid vaccine was necessary for us to maintain employment so I assume she took the shots happily enough in the end, in fact she still works for the company so I can only assume all is well and “they” haven’t controlled her life too much.
I’ve always wondered who “they” are? I have often seen conspiracy theorists warning people that “they” are watching. “They” are trying to control your life. Who the heck are “they”? Fair dinkum, if some mysterious government agency is following me around via a chip in my head then they are clocking up long and boring days indeed for their employees. As the title of this blog suggests, I’m not discussing national security issues with anyone or trying to sell secrets to China. If you are monitoring me or my blog tonight then I suggest you nick off and stalk someone else or find a new, more satisfying line of work.
Anyway, as for me, I have been battling okay if not setting the world on fire. As I said it’s been cold so hanging around home with the heater on (I’m dreading my gas bill!)has been the order of the day. I keep making promises to myself that I will go walking or riding and get fitter but of course it never comes to pass. Maybe when it warms up (hehe).
I had a slight query a couple a months ago in regard to my PSA levels but I went to my specialist and he wasn’t particularly concerned with a slight rise. Just another little bodily issue that tickles upwards due to arriving in my mid-fifties.
I guess, if you have manged to hang in here so far, the main reason for my post tonight is to give an update on Linda as there are a few people I know who may read this blog and be interested in how she is going. And she is okay. There are are some concerns. Her tumour markers have been rising and if they are elevated again at her next oncology appointment then the specialists may have to try her on a new form of therapy, most likely a new form of chemotherapy. Changing therapies comes with new side effects which are never pleasant for her and I guess any new chemo may be intravenously administered which certainly won’t be pleasant. But, we hope that she can remain on her current treatment for some time yet. If not, the road ahead starts to narrow a little bit.
Linda is still living her life well. She has beaten the odds so far and there is no sign she is about to cash in her chips just yet. We are off to West Wyalong in a couple of weeks to catch up with friends. Linda grew up there and it is never far from her thoughts and remains part of who she is. We will keep going forward strongly as long as we can.
That’s about it from me for the moment. If you are in these southern climes then stay warm. If you are reclining in a more temperate climate then lucky you. Keep up the good work!
Until next time.
Strange Notations From a Laborious Life 