Last post for 2013 on the first day of 2014

I won't write a review of this year. ? Random thoughts:

  Work. A whole 12 months of Acting UL. It's actually been good, I like the slighter greater feeling of control, trying to guide a change in culture, make decisions that I'm responsible for. 

   Ken. What a frustrating guy. Really. Ice, but can't run a meeting, make a decision or communicate a decision. Always wants something more, rather than drawing a line and moving on.m thinks usq is the Getty museum!!!

    People. Robyn. She's the wrong person for us now, but how to encourage her to move on? And I'd miss her such a lot.... Sandra, the most  annoying person on the planet, but so much to give if only she'd let others in. Debby. Quite a surprise. Good, and really doing good things. I knew that, but it's been even better than I'd hoped.

Home.

Marking time. Take it as it comes, but I must gradually move up and take more control, as Ian doesn't want me to.

Define an outline for life beyond work. Choir again. More time in the garden, so less time at work.

Ah that'll do. Now for 2014!

December 30

Good morning me!

It is overcast and much much cooler today than the scorcher we had yesterday. We had the air con on all day, and basically did very little, although Valerie did take Will down to Dymocksto replenish his book supply. A mini storm came through late in the afternoon, and another an hour later. Some thunder and lightning but only combined 3 mm of rain. Tea was tacos and burritos, quite successful. 

I think the kids are looking forward to getting back to their own environment. They are really bugging each other. And it's not very exciting here! 

Marilyn was over this morning. I really enjoy her company, she's so positive about things, even if she has so much more energy to do things than I'll ever have...

Photo coming up of my new little plants. They suffered heat stress a few days ago, but have had a good watering now and one of them even starting to bud!! On the minus side, Ann's little solar-powered flutterby has finally given out. Given that I thought it would last a week, 2 years has been a good life!

I'll try to summon energy tomorrow to review the year. Some years just seem to pass with little of long term note - but not this one!!!!

Ghosts and memories of Christmas past

• My only White Christmas, at Plockton. Magic
• At the Leukemia Village, Dec 25 2011. Just out of hospital. Visits from Helen and Pat and Judy Parker. Ian totally solicitous.
• 2 years later, also at the Village, second time around. This time, we hosted Christmas lunch with Mum and Dad. Dad not specially well, but better than I was. THe unit was COLD, the food was hot. Very pleasant. 
• 2 years ago when we had Ann Catriona and the Chestertons. Sun room had just been completed, and we enjoyed sitting there in the morning. See the blog for 2011.

Christmas as a Gibson.

• Christmas Eve more fun than the actual day. Getting the tree very early, then decorating the Gordon St tree, food preparation (fruit salad, cooking chooks, and pavlova) swim late in the afternoon at the town pool with everyone, particularly remember the Butz-Olsens. 
•  Christmas Day. Up early, open santa stuff then quick bfast and off to Church. Packed in earlier years. Dad and Don Shann and Reg Ross and Paul Funda lugging extra seating into church. Open presents one at a time at Grandpa and Grandmas's. Lull for food prepare. All cold. Else's potato salad. Discussions about politics. Who does the washing up? Home for a rest. Walk on the beach then leftovers that always included ham, for tea. Queen's Chrstmas message compulsory.

When Sydney plane traffic is more important than what your wife is saying.. Happy Christmas.

Today is the day you have when you say you want a quiet day.
The best part of today so far has been lying together in bed at 9 this morning idly and pleasantly chatting, and not particularly feeling like getting out. Till it was announced that the paper bags had to be cleared up, and all the problems there'd be about doing this.

Mostly it wasn't a BAD day, but very quiet. Ian spent hours with his iPad, and therefore so did I. The hit of the day was the coffee machine. Nothing else seemed to resonate. It had to be used almost immediately. Then he couldn't , or didn't, read the instructions about the cashback.

I actually did enjoy a quiet peaceful day. We spoke to almost all the families in various places. Had  a glass of bubbles in late afternoon, and a couple of sips of Ian's new Indian whisky. That thank goodness was acceptable.

Next year we are NOT:

• doing Christmas Even paper candles, unless someone else is here to do it.
• having a roast cooked by me. I have lost all confidence in cooking roasts, 2 poultry roasts in a week undercooked.  I was SO careful with the turkey roast, turned the oven on in plenty of time, cooked it for the recommended time and rested it.   Then after all that, had to cook it for another half hour. Never again.

Maybe I'll get a better sense of perspective tomorrow. Got a day to be myself before the Sydney family arrives. But at least then Valerie makes all the decisions. Whether that is reasonable or not. 
Happy Christmas.

December and other beasts

Where HAS this year gone?
It's 8 Dec. Warm but not hot. The 2nd Ashes test is on the tele (and motorracing). I've put up the Christmas tree.

Ian clearly isn't in the space for Xmas. We have had one unhappy shopping trip, so I won't be repeating THAT!
We have spent much of this year tip-toeing around each other. Very careful to make everything neutral, clear, said so he can see my lips or at least that I am talking. Sometimes we still can engage, but not often.

Of course this has been, and still is for Ian, the health year, with over or more treatments for his multiple myeloma still to come, and on and off bone or other discomfort/pain frequently. Here's hoping that he gets some good time next year or two before it comes back.

Me? Applied for the PVC job but such a rotten application that I won't get it (actually I don't really want it, and have only half the requisite experience). So next year I MAY remain as Library Director, or go back to Mgr Info Access. Or something else!

Louie and David were here a couple of weeks ago, only for 3 days, but that was unexpectedly terrific! Louie excellent by himself and I THINK I really engaged with him. David good fun as always.  But I don't THINK we got any photos! :-(

October 13 - this n that

Ian says this morning (of the nasty looking red pimple on his lower eyelid " I'm not going to waste time and money going to a doctor for something trivial like that". I hope he's right....

But at present his general health is pretty good, and his general demeanor is more or less normal. Protein levels are  way down on what they were and other blood results under control. Is doing treatment visits himself with little stress.

I am feeling better this week, having secured the services of Debbie McDonald for the next 6 months to do my substantive job. Starts in a couple of weeks.  I hope she'll go OK..... :-) She has all the right experience and background, but I just hope she gets on with the Info Access crew, and has enough to do! So I move into the Exec Director's office on Tuesday. Much cleaning up still to do!

Ian's watching Bathurst at present.
 I am feeling a bit unsettled.... It's becoming obvious that there won't be a Library Director in the new structure. Don't know if that might lead to a Repositories Manager? or an Openness Librarian? or someone else? or no one else???  I feel as though I should be advocating and tub thumping to keep the role there.... and my staff will hate me if I don't.... And all around me are busily retiring... Alison Boulle is the latest.

August 2 - what can I say : too much to say!

I

Ww

May-June   Holiday in Lorraine, Plockton and Canada
Late June    Ian has severe bowel problem
July 11         Ian has suspected heart attack, into St Vincent's; I have 1st adenoma operation
July 17         Spend all day at St Andrews with tests; I get histology showing carcinoma; Ian is diagnosed with multiple myeloma
July 22         Ian has severe fibrillation attack, into St Vincent's
July 23         Ian transferred to Greenslopes for pacemaker
July 24         Ian has defibrillator (not pacemaker) put into chest, takes a few days to stabilise

July 26         I have second op, at St Andrews

July 27         Valerie arrives
July 29         Valerie picks Ian and I up from our respective hospitals
July 30 Aug 4 Valerie looks after us; cools, cleans pantry, vacuums etc etc etc

Aug 5 - 9      David here to help. Cooks , drives, so good for Ian. I return to work, sort of cope.

Late August I go to Fraser Coast, drop Ian off at Bruce and Sues, they take him to Mater Private for apheresis treatments. I come back throught Bne on Saturday, then return Avis car to Tba. Drive back down to Mater on Sunday. Discover Ian allowed out for the day, so ring Helen King and go over there for low key lovely lunch and chin wag. Ian goes over to Greenslopes Monday for portacath insertion. Back to B€ S Tuesday, and I picked home up from there. The treatment was so good for him, much better colour, more energy.