Yassas! Me and Mister C say hi!…

Yassou! We say a big hello in the Greek language from Greece this week. Mister C and Me wanted to acknowledge our Bro-in-law (hiya J.M) who is a part of a wonderful Greek family and heritage, with his family immigrating from Greece years ago. We love our immediate and extended family, and always enjoy our gatherings together- especially the yummy Greek food too! We also wish to acknowledge the current hardships many families and communities are facing at present, here in Aussie land and overseas around the world. Together we can get through this tough time, we all need to play our part to ensure all of our communities stay safe (continue wearing those itchy masks), particularly with this enlightened ‘Delta strain’ of the Covid bugs. We miss our family in Sydney and Melbourne (hiya all!) and know we will be able to see each other very soon- stay safe and strong.

Well, as I wrote last blog, we have been patiently waiting for Husband’s looming knee surgery; after a few stuff arounds with the incorrect RFA’s (wrong knee and operation on separate forms!) and was finally sorted, Husband was able to pop into the local hospital and sign the correct form, so it could be lodged in with the surgical bookings unit. I received a phone call last Thursday morning from one of the lovely booking clerks, who said, “We had a cancellation and would your Husband like to come in for his procedure on Monday!” I was a little speechless (doesn’t happen very often), as Husband had only signed the new RFA on Tuesday. I was silent for a few seconds and replied shyly, “Yes and No!” We both laughed and I then said that I would call Husband and most likely yes- we could go ahead with the date (better now or never really!). I rang Husband and said, “So, are you ready for your procedure on Monday?” He gasped and said, “What, no I’m not ready, not at all!” We chatted about it for several minutes and both agreed, it was best to take the first date and get it over and done with (hopefully). I rang the booking office back and it was all then set in stone…

I can now report, Husband successfully had his knee surgery yesterday! It was a busy (and a bit stressful) day with juggling the kids off to school, making sure Husband fasted at the correct time (he can get very hungry) and getting him off to the local base hospital on time, to get admitted and ready for his surgery. I was expecting to have to wait several hours (with our masks on) for Husband to go into the holding area (for his anaesthetic); but I was pleasantly surprised, when the day surgery nurse popped her head into the waiting room (after Husband was dressed in his theatre PJs and ready to go), and said smiling, “You are going in now, are you ready?” I jumped up and said, “Wow, that was quick!” (Only waiting approximately twenty minutes with Husband). I kissed Husband good luck and ducked off to the shops for a bit of retail therapy, while I waited for Husband to be finished in theatre.

In between Husband recovering from his surgery, I was still arranging the install of our new front door (and new deadlock and handle etc), waiting on the new window for the extension downstairs and working out when the new flooring and carpet can be laid down, all the while to work around convalescing Husband. I had several phone calls from Bunnings (thanks all!) regarding our delivery of the door, finally it was arranged and arrived early this morning. Thankfully, I was already dressed and starting another busy day, with Husband going into day one of his initial recovery today. The front door bell rang, Widy answered the door and it was the delivery guy with our large new (beautiful) front door. The chap said, “Hi there, can you give me a hand with this door, it’s a bit of a heavy one!?” Widy and I helped the chap lug this large wooden palate off the big delivery truck, with our new shiny door on it, and safely moved it to the side of the front of the house. Funnily, I went back downstairs and Husband commented, “That’s a funny thing, when you can actually say: can you get the front door? Here’s the delivery of our front door at the front door!” Of course, Husband can’t come upstairs to see our new front door yet, he has not mastered the ‘Canadian’ crutches well enough yet!

Righto, let’s go back to 2019 (nearly there). I recall we were mid-way through Winter and the neighbour’s dogs were still barking through the cold dark of every night. Husband recalls, “I got a call from the Council ranger, they are still waiting for barking diaries from the other neighbours, before deciding if they will do anything about the dogs.” We had paid the deposit for the retro fit double glazed windows to be installed in the house; and patiently waited about four weeks for all the windows and frames to be manufactured first for installation. Husband and I were holding out hope that it would take most of the noise away, having been told by the manufacturing company, that we would expect more than a sixty percent reduction in noise inside the house (we could only hope). Husband also commented, “Got letter from the Council saying dogs were not considered a nuisance, and amazingly since that day about ten days ago, there has been only a couple of hours of nuisance barking and no late night lengthy barking.” It was a disappointing outcome for all of us, but at least there was an outcome made and were weren’t left hanging, like the previous inquiry we had made earlier the last year. We really appreciated our neighbours all pitching in and writing their diaries, to aid in the overall investigation (thanks neighbours!). However, the pressure was really on now for the double glazing to be successful (so we could have some peace and quiet again)…

Funnily, we found out at the end of the month, our fire-box was to be installed (once the deposit had been paid) and the heater installer was our one and only handyman neighbour (Hiya B.W). We were so pleased (and grateful for some good news) it could be installed so quickly; it was going to be a big job, to have the massive high flue installed outside of the house- up in line with the metal roof (thanks heaps!). Husband commented, “Uncannily, our neighbour rang Wife last night, as he is the installer for the firebox heaters in the area. Wife did not know who it was, as she did not recognise the voice, until he told her he was our neighbour (small world hey?!). We also wanted to get rid of the terrible (and cracked in parts) old eighties glass brick window, where the firebox flue was to be joined to the side of the wall. We decided to have a smaller double glazed window fitted into the space, to the left where the bricks were to be removed. What a job! All of the reinforced steel mesh and concrete had to be removed by hand (and some drilling), so as to protect the existing rendered brick wall integrity. It ended up being a big mess (and a lot of work); I was also able to save some of the glass bricks, to make something out of it at a later date (good stepping stones?).

We had to wait another few more weeks for the install date of the retrofit windows. When the work for the firebox was all done and the final install bill had been negotiated with the heater company, due to nasty hidden extra costs that had not been initially discussed (after Husband complained about the unnecessary extra costs for parts on their Facebook page, we did get a small discount). It was such a delight to finally sit in front of the beautiful ‘Norseman’ fire box together, with hot chocolate and cups of tea. It was a particularly freezing Winter that year (as I have already written!), it was so worth all the dust, noise and expense after all. The girls and Mister C loved the firebox; after we had discussed the safety aspects of the box and for the kids not to touch parts of the box when it was burning the wood, they all enjoyed playing some games near it downstairs. It was lovely also, having the wonderful dry heat rise upstairs to the lounge room too.

Husband commented, “When I helped Mister C out of the bath yesterday (he doesn’t actually need help, but asks me for it anyway), I was helping to dry him off and said in a joking way, ‘When you are seven, I won’t be helping you out of the bath anymore’; we both giggled and he seems so small and cute. I treasured the moment; like so many hundreds of moments over past six or so years…”

A Word from Mister C…

Dad was due to have his knee surgery today (Good luck Husband!) Mister C was chatting about the surgery yesterday morning, while having breakfast. “Dad’s having surgery to his knee tomorrow, Mummy!” Mister C sighed, “I really hope it goes well and his knee doesn’t get decapitated! But that may be okay after all, as it could be replaced with a bionic knee instead.” I looked puzzled, then replied giggling, “Do you know what decapitated means, my son?” … “Oh, yeah, it means to cut off a part of something… If that happens to Dad, he could have a new robotic knee and then he could run really fast and be able to chase after me…” 😏

Stay tuned…

Due to our busy days at present (and Husband recovering), I will endeavour to have 2019 stories completed shortly. Due to ongoing Covid restrictions and lockdowns through our communities at present, I have had to postpone any book signing event right now- sorry! Out of respect for family and friends more so affected by the lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne areas, we will wait until it’s a more appropriate time. However, if you would like a copy of any of our books, please get in touch with me via FB or email: ingledlie@gmail.com and I can arrange delivery of a signed author’s copy for you. Thanks for your ongoing support; Mister C sends out a big wave and virtual hugs to all…