It's a sad day. Emily has just returned to the US after an extended stay with us and it was lovely having her around. She faces an arduous 30 hour trip on four flights, with changes of aircraft in Sydney, San Francisco and St Louis. Let's hope her luggage travels with her unlike the trip here where it arrived three days late and the airlines incurred a $350 penalty.
Remember this. If you are arriving at a destination that is not your home address airlines are supposed to pay compensation reflecting the length of delay experienced.
AS
Monday, 28 January 2008
Sunday, 27 January 2008
Country Music Festival
Given a choice between listening to country music and purgatory, I would normally choose the latter! I know 
like-minded people in Tamworth, a nearby city, who happily leave town for two weeks in January and let their homes to country music fan
atics from all over Australia and overseas. However, Emily has been visiting for the last two weeks or so and yesterday she expressed a wish to visit Tamworth for the event. My arguments in favour of walking in a National Park were over-ruled and I reluctantly joined the party of four for the 110 km trip south.
Well, Tamworth had several things in its favour. At least it was warm: Armidale has a cool and wet summer and has rarely exceeded about 25 degrees (C). Secondly, it turned out to be an interesting sociological investigationn - I was asking myself who might be tempted to like twangy guitars, lyrics (if that is the right word) about the dreadfully commonplace,
and mournful sounds that would not be out of place at a funeral. Well, I adopted participant observation as my research methodology and was also encouraged by the pleasant rythms and sounds of two Andean flute groups and a group of gyrating belly dancers with music that seemed to be a cross from Lebanon and Morocco. We heard something similar last 
year at an Andalusian Festival in Chefchouen in Morocco's Rif Mountains.
Better still we spent an hour opposite the belly dancers at a pavement cafe having lunch. This was an ideal vantage point for the start of my investigations because we (I) could size up the passing traffic at leisure. Later on we promenaded the main street paying close attention to the other visitors and who, among the many busking individuals and groups, attracted their attention.
Well, it was a snap-shot of middle Australia: elderly farmers and their portly and/or matronly wives in tow; young families with strollers; bikies and heavily tattooed men or women; teenagers of both sexes generally wearing very little; but very few from an immigrant background. It's possible to make a lot of money from performing country music and 
several sub-15 performers were being pushed by their parents into performing on the foot-paths and I had to admit that one 12 yo girl was particularly good.
Yesterday was also Australia Day, so many of the crowd were adorned with flags of all sizes and materials. They were also bouyed by yet further evidence of the centrality of country music in the national landscape by the selection of Lee Kernaghan (OAM) as Australian of the Year,
not my first choice. OA, by the way, stands for Order of Australia - our system of gongs.
Anyway, Emily, Dot - and her friend Jane, who was in our party had a great time and my research confirmed my suspicions! I attach a few pictures giving some of the local atmosphere.
AS
like-minded people in Tamworth, a nearby city, who happily leave town for two weeks in January and let their homes to country music fan
atics from all over Australia and overseas. However, Emily has been visiting for the last two weeks or so and yesterday she expressed a wish to visit Tamworth for the event. My arguments in favour of walking in a National Park were over-ruled and I reluctantly joined the party of four for the 110 km trip south.Well, Tamworth had several things in its favour. At least it was warm: Armidale has a cool and wet summer and has rarely exceeded about 25 degrees (C). Secondly, it turned out to be an interesting sociological investigationn - I was asking myself who might be tempted to like twangy guitars, lyrics (if that is the right word) about the dreadfully commonplace,
and mournful sounds that would not be out of place at a funeral. Well, I adopted participant observation as my research methodology and was also encouraged by the pleasant rythms and sounds of two Andean flute groups and a group of gyrating belly dancers with music that seemed to be a cross from Lebanon and Morocco. We heard something similar last 
year at an Andalusian Festival in Chefchouen in Morocco's Rif Mountains.Better still we spent an hour opposite the belly dancers at a pavement cafe having lunch. This was an ideal vantage point for the start of my investigations because we (I) could size up the passing traffic at leisure. Later on we promenaded the main street paying close attention to the other visitors and who, among the many busking individuals and groups, attracted their attention.
Well, it was a snap-shot of middle Australia: elderly farmers and their portly and/or matronly wives in tow; young families with strollers; bikies and heavily tattooed men or women; teenagers of both sexes generally wearing very little; but very few from an immigrant background. It's possible to make a lot of money from performing country music and 
several sub-15 performers were being pushed by their parents into performing on the foot-paths and I had to admit that one 12 yo girl was particularly good.Yesterday was also Australia Day, so many of the crowd were adorned with flags of all sizes and materials. They were also bouyed by yet further evidence of the centrality of country music in the national landscape by the selection of Lee Kernaghan (OAM) as Australian of the Year,
not my first choice. OA, by the way, stands for Order of Australia - our system of gongs.Anyway, Emily, Dot - and her friend Jane, who was in our party had a great time and my research confirmed my suspicions! I attach a few pictures giving some of the local atmosphere.
AS
Monday, 7 January 2008
Barbecue
We made an increasingly rare social foray out the other night to a neighbour's barbecue, rare because Dot keeps a tight rein on anything that might over-excite me. The occasion was the chance arrival back in Armidale of Christine's two children, Kassandra and Michelle who are roughly the same age as Emily and Rebecca and played together. The former now runs a design business in Sydney and the latter lives and works in London. Completing th guest list were Anne Pine and her son Matt who is Kassandra's partner.
It's a pity that neither Emily nor Rebecca were close but that's life. However, the coming weekend will at least bring Emily and Michelle together - Baltimore joins London in Armidale. Em is coming back for a couple of weeks to check on me and make sure that stories circulating of my survival are accurate. We are looking forward excitedly (sorry, wrong word: passively) for her arrival. Dot is off to visit the Australian Open tennis in Melbourne for four days during Em's visit, so the latter will keep watch over my rebellious tendencies!
Our March visit to Baltimore has been cancelled because Dr Omari (of St Vincent's Hospital) grounded me until the thrombosis in my arm disappears.
AS
It's a pity that neither Emily nor Rebecca were close but that's life. However, the coming weekend will at least bring Emily and Michelle together - Baltimore joins London in Armidale. Em is coming back for a couple of weeks to check on me and make sure that stories circulating of my survival are accurate. We are looking forward excitedly (sorry, wrong word: passively) for her arrival. Dot is off to visit the Australian Open tennis in Melbourne for four days during Em's visit, so the latter will keep watch over my rebellious tendencies!
Our March visit to Baltimore has been cancelled because Dr Omari (of St Vincent's Hospital) grounded me until the thrombosis in my arm disappears.
AS
Saturday, 29 December 2007
Road Bump
Oh Dear! My health hit another bump in the road on Christmas Eve while we were in Sydney.
I was diagnosed by a sequence of doctors with a thrombosis (blood clot) in my left shoulder. This caused a rather visible swelling of my arm and hand. Fortunately, Doctor AbdullahOmari - a vascular specialist at the prestigious St Vincent's Private Hospital - thinks it's not threatening. Less fortunately, he put me on two more drugs, one a fairly powerful blood thinner. This supplements an existing blood thinner prescribed by specialist Dr James Leitch to help me adjust to the defibrillator. The two doctors are going to consult about this overlap when they can find each other - a downside to our extended Christmas / New Year holidays.
Worse still, he banned me from flying for at least two months! You've heard of deep-vein thrombosis suffered by some unfortunate airline passengers. He's worried that flying might shift my clot. Anyway, the treatment is working and my swelling is going down.
This means a few more train trips. We returned to Armidale last night after a 9 hour trip from Sydney. Two events made it rather longer than usual: track work along a 15k stretch of line near Sydney and what may have been a suicide attempt. The driver slammed on the brakes about 30 km south of Armidale because some woman was lying across the line. He stopped short, but had to summon the police to investigate and they took quite a while to travel the 15km to the remote site (no road nearby). Meanwhile family members removed her and presumably took her home - we saw them driving away.
Have a happy new year everyone.
AS
I was diagnosed by a sequence of doctors with a thrombosis (blood clot) in my left shoulder. This caused a rather visible swelling of my arm and hand. Fortunately, Doctor AbdullahOmari - a vascular specialist at the prestigious St Vincent's Private Hospital - thinks it's not threatening. Less fortunately, he put me on two more drugs, one a fairly powerful blood thinner. This supplements an existing blood thinner prescribed by specialist Dr James Leitch to help me adjust to the defibrillator. The two doctors are going to consult about this overlap when they can find each other - a downside to our extended Christmas / New Year holidays.
Worse still, he banned me from flying for at least two months! You've heard of deep-vein thrombosis suffered by some unfortunate airline passengers. He's worried that flying might shift my clot. Anyway, the treatment is working and my swelling is going down.
This means a few more train trips. We returned to Armidale last night after a 9 hour trip from Sydney. Two events made it rather longer than usual: track work along a 15k stretch of line near Sydney and what may have been a suicide attempt. The driver slammed on the brakes about 30 km south of Armidale because some woman was lying across the line. He stopped short, but had to summon the police to investigate and they took quite a while to travel the 15km to the remote site (no road nearby). Meanwhile family members removed her and presumably took her home - we saw them driving away.
Have a happy new year everyone.
AS
Thursday, 20 December 2007
Feeling Groovy
Well, I'm still deluged by expressions of concern and sympathy coming in from all over the world. Only one of them had me dead!
I am steadily feeling stronger and should be able to travel to Sydney at the week-end the slow way. We're taking the train at Dot's insistence and are travelling first class, which is quite cheap with our 'seniors' discount. In fact, we get on free trip anywhere in NSW every year by being seniors, but we're holding that in reserve.
Meanwhile, my health continues to improve and I've gone back to playing bridge - successfully.
We wish readers a happy Christmas.
AS
I am steadily feeling stronger and should be able to travel to Sydney at the week-end the slow way. We're taking the train at Dot's insistence and are travelling first class, which is quite cheap with our 'seniors' discount. In fact, we get on free trip anywhere in NSW every year by being seniors, but we're holding that in reserve.
Meanwhile, my health continues to improve and I've gone back to playing bridge - successfully.
We wish readers a happy Christmas.
AS
Saturday, 15 December 2007
Thanks to Well-Wishers
I would like to thank profusely all the people who have sent me get-well cards or encouraging messages by email. They are much appreciated and involve a large number of countries on four continents. It's nice that so many people care about me.
I send my own best wishes to everyone.
AS
I send my own best wishes to everyone.
AS
Second Coming
Well, I'm back home after an addendum to my recently reported health problems.
After only one day back in Armidale, I experienced a large number of heart spasms. Each, only 5 minutes or less, was accompanied by strong chest pains which gradually disappeared. Alarmed, I went down to the out-patients department of the local hospital and I was promptly put in intensive care. After reading case notes, the presiding doctor sent me back to Newcastle by air ambulance and straight to the Lake Macquarie Private Hospital where my procedure occurred the previous week.
After scans, tests, and a review of the evidence, my doctor put me on several drugs. I did not have another chest pain after departing for Newcastle and the medicos concluded that I had plaque un an artery that was flaking and that drugs, rather than a stent or by-pass was the way to go. They gave me a stress test on Thursday, which went brilliantly, and I was allowed home immediately.
Dot, who has been at my side the whole time here and in Newcastle drove me home. The whole episode must have cost a fortune, but we are privately insured and the part of the bill we'll see is mininal.
After only one day back in Armidale, I experienced a large number of heart spasms. Each, only 5 minutes or less, was accompanied by strong chest pains which gradually disappeared. Alarmed, I went down to the out-patients department of the local hospital and I was promptly put in intensive care. After reading case notes, the presiding doctor sent me back to Newcastle by air ambulance and straight to the Lake Macquarie Private Hospital where my procedure occurred the previous week.
After scans, tests, and a review of the evidence, my doctor put me on several drugs. I did not have another chest pain after departing for Newcastle and the medicos concluded that I had plaque un an artery that was flaking and that drugs, rather than a stent or by-pass was the way to go. They gave me a stress test on Thursday, which went brilliantly, and I was allowed home immediately.
Dot, who has been at my side the whole time here and in Newcastle drove me home. The whole episode must have cost a fortune, but we are privately insured and the part of the bill we'll see is mininal.
Friday, 7 December 2007
Near Death Experience
For the record, I had a Cardiac Arrest a week before your message and I’d appreciate it if you let people know who might be interested. The events run as follows:
Monday 19th: arrive home c. 4.00pm by bike to go a do some campaign work for Tony Windsor (MHR, New England). By very good luck, my wife, Dot was close by as I collapsed in the garage, and she called an ambulance immediately. The second stroke of luck was that 3 ambulances arrived in 5 minutes. Had I been out of town on a property and the arrival time was 10 to 15 minutes, some of you would have already attended my funeral.
The third stroke of luck was that they were able to jump-start my heart. Cardiac arrest is potentially more serious than a stroke or heart attack. The latter impair the functioning of the brain, but usually don’t kill it. I was detained in the Armidale and New England Hospital for 1 wee while diagnostics guided the course of action. I cannot remember a single fact about this week or about the subsequent trip in an Air Ambulance to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle. I can recall waking up in JHH and seeing Dot’s apparition, and I suppose this was on about Wednesday 28 November.
This was the fourth stroke of luck. Dot was able to help me though further batteries of tests and the utter boredom of hospital routine, but I must admit that the quality of care at JHH was very good – as I am told it was in ANE.
Then, on Monday this week, I moved to the Lake Macquarie Private Hospital for the ultimate operation. I’d heard of pace-makers, but not the machine I’m now tethered to for the rest of my life. This small all-singing, all-dancing contraption constantly monitors heart performance and can accelerate or depress beat speed AND/OR change the amplitude of the beat AND/OR the pattern of the beat.
I returned home yesterday by road and am now trying to regain normal life. I’ll start riding my bike in a week; bush-walking a little before that. My Newcastle based Psychologist and Speech Therapists found little wrong with my mental processes.
Sorry for rambling on a long time.
Monday 19th: arrive home c. 4.00pm by bike to go a do some campaign work for Tony Windsor (MHR, New England). By very good luck, my wife, Dot was close by as I collapsed in the garage, and she called an ambulance immediately. The second stroke of luck was that 3 ambulances arrived in 5 minutes. Had I been out of town on a property and the arrival time was 10 to 15 minutes, some of you would have already attended my funeral.
The third stroke of luck was that they were able to jump-start my heart. Cardiac arrest is potentially more serious than a stroke or heart attack. The latter impair the functioning of the brain, but usually don’t kill it. I was detained in the Armidale and New England Hospital for 1 wee while diagnostics guided the course of action. I cannot remember a single fact about this week or about the subsequent trip in an Air Ambulance to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle. I can recall waking up in JHH and seeing Dot’s apparition, and I suppose this was on about Wednesday 28 November.
This was the fourth stroke of luck. Dot was able to help me though further batteries of tests and the utter boredom of hospital routine, but I must admit that the quality of care at JHH was very good – as I am told it was in ANE.
Then, on Monday this week, I moved to the Lake Macquarie Private Hospital for the ultimate operation. I’d heard of pace-makers, but not the machine I’m now tethered to for the rest of my life. This small all-singing, all-dancing contraption constantly monitors heart performance and can accelerate or depress beat speed AND/OR change the amplitude of the beat AND/OR the pattern of the beat.
I returned home yesterday by road and am now trying to regain normal life. I’ll start riding my bike in a week; bush-walking a little before that. My Newcastle based Psychologist and Speech Therapists found little wrong with my mental processes.
Sorry for rambling on a long time.
Sunday, 18 November 2007
Sweeney Todd
Three posts in one day!! Armidale is getting exciting!
We're off shortly to a live performance of the musical Sweeney Todd - the demon barber of Fleet Street. We're not short of culture in the form of theatre, musicals, chamber music, symphony concerts, and the last night of the Proms (creating down under an almost exact replica of the famous Albert Hall event) - not to mention fine art events.
Sweeney Todd is the second musical in town this year, with the other being Joseph and his Multicolour Dreamcoat. The latter was excellent for an amateur rendition and the reviews of tonight's performance have been very good.
We might be 500 km from a large city where such events are common, but it's great to see the locals taking up the challenge. We even have a sort of Glyndebourne nearby! Once a year there members of the Australian Opera turn up to a farm near Inverell (about 130km from here) for "Opera in the Paddock". We've never been, but might go next year to sit under the stars and listen to Mozart and Verdi among others. The event has its own web page: http://www.operainthepaddock.com.au/ , and it's cheap with tickets costing A$50 (a little over 20 GBP).
Postscript:
Sweeney Todd was very well done and enthusiastically received by the large audience. The plot is unbelievably gory, as you'd find out from a quick look at the internet. Stephen Sondheim's music and lyrics are atmospheric and a long way from the schmalz of Andrew LLoyd Webber. The Armidale Playhouse Inc, who do the productions, announced that the next musical will be Titanic. This opened on April 23, 1997 on Broadway and ran for 804 performances. I suppose an on-stage representation of the Titanic's sinking is little different to staging the final Act of Götterdämmerung at Bayreuth. There the Rhine floods and drowns the villain and the Rhinemaidens reclaim the 'ring'.
AS
We're off shortly to a live performance of the musical Sweeney Todd - the demon barber of Fleet Street. We're not short of culture in the form of theatre, musicals, chamber music, symphony concerts, and the last night of the Proms (creating down under an almost exact replica of the famous Albert Hall event) - not to mention fine art events.
Sweeney Todd is the second musical in town this year, with the other being Joseph and his Multicolour Dreamcoat. The latter was excellent for an amateur rendition and the reviews of tonight's performance have been very good.
We might be 500 km from a large city where such events are common, but it's great to see the locals taking up the challenge. We even have a sort of Glyndebourne nearby! Once a year there members of the Australian Opera turn up to a farm near Inverell (about 130km from here) for "Opera in the Paddock". We've never been, but might go next year to sit under the stars and listen to Mozart and Verdi among others. The event has its own web page: http://www.operainthepaddock.com.au/ , and it's cheap with tickets costing A$50 (a little over 20 GBP).
Postscript:
Sweeney Todd was very well done and enthusiastically received by the large audience. The plot is unbelievably gory, as you'd find out from a quick look at the internet. Stephen Sondheim's music and lyrics are atmospheric and a long way from the schmalz of Andrew LLoyd Webber. The Armidale Playhouse Inc, who do the productions, announced that the next musical will be Titanic. This opened on April 23, 1997 on Broadway and ran for 804 performances. I suppose an on-stage representation of the Titanic's sinking is little different to staging the final Act of Götterdämmerung at Bayreuth. There the Rhine floods and drowns the villain and the Rhinemaidens reclaim the 'ring'.
AS
Shopping Centre
In what must be a first for any town in the world of about 24,000 people, Armidale has just opened its third indoor shopping mall, which houses a very large (by UK standards) Woolworths supermarket, an even larger Big W variety store, and another 23 specialty shops.
The town now has 4 large supermarkets - which is absurd - and the area of the whole shopping centre appears to be about half the size of Plymouth's - which seems ridiculous. We now appear to have a branch of most Australian chain retailers and, to use another metaphor, Armidale is now a temple to consumption.
AS
The town now has 4 large supermarkets - which is absurd - and the area of the whole shopping centre appears to be about half the size of Plymouth's - which seems ridiculous. We now appear to have a branch of most Australian chain retailers and, to use another metaphor, Armidale is now a temple to consumption.
AS
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