Heating and sleeping.

It's been difficult to keep the kitchen warm with a portable electric panel heater. Fortunately, a recently purchased and installed 'split system' heating/cooling air conditioner has made a huge difference and our kitchen is now pleasantly warm. That's where 'the carer' sleeps, downstairs was much too cold and the thought of him sleeping in a carpeted bedroom with access to that ever-distracting computer caused way too much anxiety. So, every night for the past few months we drag a mattress into the kitchen and that's where I sleep. Our patient patient sleeps comfortably on a mattress on the wooden floor of his old bedroom. That room is kept warm using an electric column heater (or two); door closed to keep in the heat and window slightly ajar for fresh air. The gas central heater remains idle, for fear of the dust it may blow around and the smell that it might generate. Our winter gas bill is down and the electricity bill is sky high.

The state of the ation.

© 2012, Ben

Trepidation consultation classification,

   Medication sedation constipation,

Consternation agitation pacification,

   Hesitation vacillation frustration,

Imagination expectation articulation,

   Deliberation speculation meditation,

Regulation obligation complication,

   Marginalisation separation ...

      Isolation.

Determination!

(Living with illness.)

A welcome week of winter warmth.

Coconut palms.

A week at Trinity Beach was a welcome break from the routine of the past few months. The temperature was warm but not humid and it was safe to swim at the beach at this time of year. The normal exercise regime was only slightly interrupted by outings to the Cairns Tropical Zoo and a visit to Green Island on the reef. The fishing rod remained in its bag and it was only by chance, and on the final day, that we found a local fishing spot, complete with customary "beware of crocodiles" sign. Far north Queensland was a pleasant change from the cold, wet southern states, especially now that cool and fresh are no longer sought after. We're told it's not so pleasant in a few months time, when the heat and humidity increase dramatically, and marine stingers float around the ocean. We figured we could travel north in winter and south in summer; if only it was that simple! Nevertheless a return trip to Trinity is now on the agenda, as is a return trip to Tassie.

Blue Lagoon resort.

The pool at night.

Trinity Beach.