December Update

I am sitting here at Glenelg in Adelaide where I have been for the past week. My niece was married last Saturday so it has been a major family event - or more correctly a series of family events. My two older grand children were lovely flower girls at the wedding, and all went very well.

We've had a couple of days to look around but always every day end up with family. The weather has been cool, in fact some days downright cold. The wind coming of St Vincent's Gulf had a feeling of South Pole in it!

I had an awesome meeting with an author and expert on Obituaries in Adelaide, but other than that it has been all family, with little "me time". It's OK.

I gave the two grand daughter's a $25 book voucher to spend at Dymmocks, so we headed there yesterday. What a hard task!!! It seems they've read almost everything in the book store! In any event, we did manage to spend the full $25 and all was well.

I've not reported yet, but I had my medical for China, and am due back in Shaoxing in Feburary 2010 ready for teaching on March 1st!! Yeehaa!!! I'm quite looking forward to it.

Adelaide City

I enjoyed my "PFD" - parent free day. I go to Adelaide for the express purpose of visiting my elderly parents, so endure most of my time living the past, being told the same story over and over again, eating food that I'd rather not, but then enjoying the frequent glasses of Pattriti Tawny Port!

On Monday I had my "PFD" and caught the train into the city. I learned that as a "senior" public transport is free (buses, trains, and trams" during the hours of 9 am and 3 pm) so I took advantage of that.

I caught the train from the new Oaklands Railway Station - moved a little from the station that I was more familiar with as a youngster. It was on the station that I met a lady, of Italian descent, who had lived in the area for 52 years.

Many migrants came to Australia post war and she and her husband came out from Italy (somewhere near Venice) and lived there. He is no longer around (I assumed deceased) but she spoke of him with a little bitterness as she claims he forced himself on her when she was just 18, and a pregnancy resulted!

Her son and I went to the same school, though he was a couple of years younger than me, and I did not recall him. We had quite a chat on the train going to the city.

When we arrived at the city, we parted ways - but it was a wonderful short time we spent together. I walked a little way along North Terrace and when I saw at the top of the entrance steps, a sign that said "Welcome to Parliament House" I ventured up the stairs and into the main foyer.

Now, when I was a regular pedestrian on North Terrace as a school girl, and as an office worker on North Terrace, only parliamentarians and people doing high level business with our politicians were permitted.

As it turns out, Fridays are the days to see through Parliament House on guided tours so, I had picked the wrong day, but perhaps I can do that next time I am in Adelaide.

I walked around to Rundle Mall and walked the length of the Mall before getting on a tram in King William Street and going to Glenelg - another place that I have great memories of, all those years ago when I lived in Adelaide.

Is this a lemon?

Isn't this the weirdist????

It is a malformed lemon that appeared in a greengrocer shop - and given to my sister.

We initially wondered what it was, but I looked closely and saw that it had the texture of lemon skin, and we slightly scratched the end near where it would have been attached to the tree, and found the strong lemon scent.

Maybe will be told the story of it - but at the moment - I know nothing. Freaky really.

Still travelling

I've gone from a country with -6 degrees (Shaoxing China on 15th January) to 43 degrees (Adelaide , South Australia, January 28th) - and my poor wracked body is "feeling the heat" in more ways than one. I think I heard that it was likely to be the worst heat wave since 1908!

My folks live in the lovely city of Adelaide - so they were keen to see me after my China adventure, but it always seems to be some record of temperature when I am here (coldest, wettest, hottest etc) so it is no surprise about this heatwave in the midst of summer.

That's just the way it is. No air conditioning in my parents' or sister's homes, but I will manage. Keeping quiet - doing little.

Maybe time to catch up on my writing................................

Trying hard to cope

I'm back home, sort of. I'm actually house sitting in a house not far from where my husband and I live when things are "normal". I arrived home from China via Singapore on July 7th, and learned that my mother had been in hospital, so I arranged to go to Adelaide and visit her and my father.

My father celebrated his 89th birthday on July 16th - so we had a small party, but his life is difficult as he is my mother's carer. My mother is 92 years of age, and slowly but surely she is "losing it." She is often confused, and despite her protestations that she cleans every day, cooks every day and carries on as normal, the reality is that she has been doing very little for a long time.

She fell in her room one night about 2 am and broke several ribs as it turns out. Dad woke and helped her back to bed and in the morning tried to get medical help for her. Not easy as I will explain later. Mum's story is that it happened during the day, and it was deliberate as she was throwing her jewelry onto a cupboard. Not true, Mum.

Dad called the doctor in the morning, but was told the doctor does not do house calls. Not in fact true - but the reality is that it was a hospital/ambulance situation, and it took several hours for an ambulance to arrive. When the took the x-rays, they reported no injury and sent for Dad to take Mum home. It was obvious to him when she returned home that she and he could not cope, and eventually she was admitted to hospital. (Later, it was found that she had broken several ribs - whoever read the x-ray initially did not notice!!!!!)

Mother spend nearly two weeks in hospital - but her mental state deteriorated which was possibly due to her medication. They gave her pain killers, and increased her other medication, and it appears there was some conflict.

I do get the impression that if someone is in their 90's there's not a lot done for them.

In any case Mum was eventually taken home, but it was clear from my conversations with both Mum and Dad that all was not well.

My sister had been in regular contact with them and visited Mum in hospital - but the reality is that there needed to be an "advocate" for my mother and father. Someone with some medical/nursing knowledge.

That is where I come in! As an ex nurse I have some expertise - though I am unfamiliar with the system in South Australia. It is not easy to manage a situation like this. Like many elderly people they refuse all assistance. I had to be very sneaky to get information and support.

My "walk around the neighbourhood" was not about exercise, but I found my way to the doctor's surgery and spoke with the nurse practitioner. For some reason they thought all was well with my parents. They put on a "show" indicating all is well - such is their desire to remain at home without needing to go to retirement accommodation.

I managed to make phone calls to support services. I managed to meet her doctor and attempt to inform him of the challenges that my parents face. In time I might get the support services they need to remain at home. It is obvious they cannot remain at home without some support. But neither of them are nursing home material yet - if they can get some support.

So I've been in Adelaide for a few days, and still have spend little time at home, and little time catching up on things I need to.

One of the hard decisions I will have to make is whether to return to China at the end of August. All is in place to do so, but I worry about my parents.

Meanwhile if I can catch up on some sleep, I might get around to updating this blog with the photos and information from two amazing weeks - one in Shanghai and one in Singapore.

Tomorrow maybe.

Back home again.

The Zebras at the Adelaide Zoo.

Well, we had five busy days in Adelaide. Including a visit to the zoo - which of course the big and little children enjoy. I love the landscaping in the animal enclosures. It does look so peaceful and mostly the animals seem at peace with it all.

Miss A took quite a lot of photos and so did I! Although I seem to be "missing" some on my camera. I'll have to check that the camera is working well BEFORE I leave for China.

I did find the trip tiring - though looking after two very active girls would have done that to me! Apart from a couple of notable events they were well behaved. I guess they get a bit spoiled on such a trip - with great grandparents, an aunt, and second cousin all happy to indulge them.

We went for a swim - actually two swims - at Brighton beach. Where I remember swimming as a child. The waters were clear - and wonderful to swim in. Quite refreshing. I wondered why there were so few people on the beach. It was school holidays and few families there. I suppose many are at swimming pools, and as there have been a few sightings of sharks in recent times, I guess that scares the parents a bit.

Funny - we learned to look out for them when we were children!

Anyway it is back to reality. It is Australia Day today - our celebrations will be on Monday, and I've bought some fun things to wear on Monday too.

I hope to hear the details of the China trip on Tuesday - apparently the tickets were purchased yesterday but I still don't have the details of the departure date etc. And I hear they are looking for two more people to go - so if any Aussie English teacher is looking for an adventure, send me a message via comments (with email address) and I will forward information.

Documents sent..............

Well, it is all done. My documents for the first application to Australia City College have been collected and sent in, as requested. I continue to do research and am finding useful information in a range of places.

I keep reading my Teach International Workbook and other information that all students on the course were given, and I'm busily loading material to my laptop. I have two laptops, but will be taking the smaller/lighter one with me. I will be - when I have time - downloading activity details onto the laptop, so that I need take few things with me. I don't want to have to pay for excess luggage so I am conscious of this as I work things out.

My friends have been great with their enthusiasm for my next adventure. I've had a number of phone calls and emails, and had a chat with one who is also doing a TESOL course, and planning to go to China sometime this year too.

I have loads of things to do before I go - and I'm not unhappy that the date may be February 23rd, rather than 14th, as I was originally told.

This weekend I am travelling to Adelaide with two grandchildren, to see my parents and sister. At this stage they have no idea of my plans to go to China, and I can imagine my parents will not be happy about it.

I must say, that it has been a concern of mine in that they are obviously elderly, Mum is 92, and Dad is nearly 89, so one doesn't know when they will need me, but I will assure them that I will return to Australia if and when I am needed. I have always said that I would look after them at home if that needed to happen too. I know that means going/moving to Adelaide, but that's what I would want to do for them.

The grandchildren are excited about the Adelaide trip, and I think this morning they would announce to their parents "two more sleeps" which is ofcourse the way they count down to any major event that they are looking forward to.

I am still waiting the formal "offer" that is being mentioned, but meanwhile life goes on.