Thank goodness thats over.
In this update some comments about recent elections and related catfights.
As most folk who have not been living under a rock would know there have been a number of elections recently. NZ National government, Queensland State government, and what was the other one? Oh yes the US Presidential election. I have been following each with some interest, especially the quirky features that seem to draw on my curious nature.
For example why is the icon used for the US Democrats and Republican parties a Donkey and an Elephant? Why is the Republican party referred to as GOP? What is the electoral college and how does it work? And did you know that the originally the two parties were actually just one party - the Democrat-Republicans - before they split. And did you know that there is an option on the US ballot to just write in the name of someone you want to be president? And that one state voted to change is name? And why the US election is held on a Tuesday? All good for future trivia.
Anyway, I am glad the cliffhanger count is now over. It was becoming very distracting having to check that, oh yes, Nevada has again knocked off counting for the day and the result is again prolonged. Not that there is any need for speed, but give me a break. Why couldn't they just get it done. Seriously its time for e-voting. Everywhere.
Inevitable.
Catching up with a long term friend recently I had a call and chatted about family and what they are up to, about our health and about our respective mums both of whom were of a similar age and both shared the same name. My friends mother was recently moved into aged care in Dunedin, my mum still lives in her own place. I was saddened to hear that only a few days later my friends mum had passed away peacefully in her sleep. A few days later a friend in Victoria also lost her father. And last week another friend in Nelson lost his mother. Its now I am at a stage of life when more and more of that generation are being lost, and with them their stories and memories. My sister is helping mum to record her history, and with great use of remote control is able to even scan images in Dunedin, from her home in Sydney. I am keen to read the final tale as I am sure there will be some interesting information that was previously unknown (to me at least).
Walking.
Now over 175 days in a row without missing a morning walk. I recently went walking on a fun walk over the Story Bridge to the Gardens - it was a fun stroll. Hopefully I can upload a few snaps that I took along the way. It ended up being a walk of mammoth promotions - I actually clocked up 18007 steps for the day. This is in part due to my lovely partner who boldly said " lets just walk back to the car along the river". Let me explain that we cunningly parked a car at Milton/Auchenfluer, planning to catch a bus/ train from the city, and were delivered to Kangaroo Point start point by my partners daughter on her way to work. Needless to say, I had already been up and walked my regular morning circuit, so was good to go. So by 10am when we got back to the car, I had clocked up 15500 steps. As my partner points out, since I have a height advantage, she walked a lot more steps than i did from Kangaroo Point to the Gardens and then back to the car. She felt it for the next couple of days. A plunge in the pool was mandatory after the morning session and we both rounded up a few more steps doing the groceries later in the day.
This week also managed to clock up a step count milestone - its surprising how far the step count increases just mowing the lawn.
As a general idea I intend to get a Parkinson's Shirt organised to get awareness out in the field while I walk. Have been in contact with the marketing folk at Parkinson's Queensland to see if they have artwork and/ or any rules around use of the Parkinson's Tulip logo. Thinking about a slogan that will be generally useful to wear any time.
Medication.
No Change to the schedule or positive impact. Saw my Neuro guy a couple of weeks back and was it a case of "steady as she goes" (so to speak). Same Same until end of Feb.
I have been keeping a bit of a check on my seemingly twitchy feet.....sitting watching tv or relaxing I have observed that I seem to be moving my toes a lot. Have to consciously stop doing this. And a cramp like stiffness on the top of one foot comes and goes. Noting here so I can track back to when I first noticed these things.
Research.
Still working to make the research links page a bit more useful, it was a simple list to start with but expanding to make better use of the info in it.
Pilates.
Still getting the hang of the program activities names but clearly working out the equipment and settings, so much so that I now have additional balancing activities to do to fill up the allotted time. According to Justine, the physio I am the "quiet achiever". I am sure that most of you who know me, know I am the quiet one.
Social Outings.
Some upcoming events in the pipeline, and some great events past.
Went to Opera in the Reservoir which wa great fun and something different.
An interesting "Early Friday" beers with Neil, Don and Greg so that we we heard about Dons epic journey around the coast of Australia from Sunshine Coast to WA by yacht! Also "River Drinks" with some of the 4101 friends was lovely to sit and chat down by the waters edge and watch the world go by.
Garden.
Planted out the mint in a glass jar so it sits in the kitchen. Planted the spuds and they have gone berserk! Have had to mound them up twice already. I am sure there will be new spuds for Christmas day. Topped up the planters with a few bags of soil and put in some more seedlings for ongoing produce - lettuce, basil, tomato, corn.
Spent some time sorting out the pool, just general maintenance. Still planning to head to Bunnings and get some fittings for the recycled solar heating panels and some posts to rebuild the pool shed. And some hinges for my "glass" house I went to order the solar powered pump to circulate the water, but it was sold out. Will try again this week.
Work.
Even busier that before - now comes the work tsunami. Head down and focus on delivery. Not planning time off over Christmas and New Year. Catch up is the order of the day.
Updates to the website.
Entered this blog in a local awards just for a bit of geeky fun. By the way this website is built using Joomla 4.x. Also just took delivery of my new camera. Yet to test it out properly but plan to add some video to the site so am looking forward to playing around with it. Its a Panansonic HC-VX1 and can record 4k video.
Land Sailing.
Finally found a suitable land yacht in my price bracket so am now the proud owner of a limited edition Team NZ Americas Cup Blokart. Looking forward to getting some sailing in on land in the coming weekends. Don and I have been before and had a blast - now to get some real time in the seat will be awesome. Practiced setup and pack up in the back yard.
Otherwise for me its still so far so good.
Same Same. PARKDIS20 is my new normal. Other than the weeping / streaming eye from last week - which thankfully seemed to clear up with some allergy fixing drops in a couple of days.
And that is all for just now - keep a lookout for the next post.