Marvellous Mel

Mel after losing 13.8kgs

Mel was grinning when we picked her up from Weight Watchers today.  I knew she had lost weight over the past week but I wasn't prepared for what I was about to hear.  She told me she had lost 2.6kgs in one week!  "Oh no, that must be wrong, no-one loses that much in a week," I said.  As I was leaving the car park I asked to see her WW card.  I braked to a stop at the T junction, taking note there was no one behind me!  I checked her entry for today and there it was;  a loss of 2.6kgs, currently 84.8kgs and total loss since joining 13.8kgs!  Mel said they had double checked her weight, just to be sure!
I drove her home and I took a photo of her 84.8kg body.  I was so chuffed I sent family and friends a text message complete with her photo.  I entered her weight on the iPad WW app.  Even the app was impressed!
How did she do it?  The WW leader told her last week she would lose a little weight after finishing her antibiotics (she had put on 2kgs last month during Easter but only lost 200g afterwards).  Her daily routine has been recommenced including daily exercise.  Then the secret was exposed!  Mel said she had not had any junk food in the last week and was even counting her WW pro points.  I wanted to sing Hallelujah! 
Mel's present goal is 84.4kgs.  Only 400g to go!  We have pencilled in a body massage when she reaches this goal, a dinner together at 81.9kg and a day spa at 76.9kg.  Goals are a fabulous incentive when the goal is achievable!  Well done Mel!



What's Your Spiel?

I put down the phone and sighed.  Customer service isn't what it used to be.  After pressing six different numbers on the key pad being directed by a machine I am eventually put through to a living breathing person.  I am ecstatic.  I discuss my query and the person turns into a robot.  It's the company spiel, a learned message delivered with a small smudge of compassion.  Nothing personal, one size fits all.  It takes time and persistence to talk the spiel reader into listening to your concern.   Sometimes it works and the tone of the conversation changes and once again you are a person of worth.  Other times there is no change except for the next spiel and the proverbial, 'I'm sorry, we are unable to help you on that.'   There are also the spiels by smaller companies and community services.  Spiels are often condescending; they tend to make me feel like I am five years old and incapable of understanding or common sense.
Only last week I rang to find out when Merv's RAS review would happen, it was already five weeks overdue.  The manager rang me back.  She knew her spiel off by heart and repeated it several times in as many minutes.  Her spiel suggested others were more important and we should wait.  I worked with RAS a few years ago.  New clients are of great importance; providing necessary community services to those in need.  I agreed with the manger.  I was told Merv would have to wait up to six months for his review.  I told her I had worked for RAS and recently met a previous colleague who suggested I ring to enquire as her own workload was up to date. A deep sigh is heard and a RAS worker is booked to complete Merv's review next  Monday morning.

Revisiting Japan

Merv on the Costa as 'Mr Pizza!'

On an overcast chilly morning we sorted out my recipes which until now they have been lovingly collected with no home of their own, just stored in a large acrylic recipe holder.  Merv sorted them into;  dinners, desserts, pizzas (we have an electric pizza oven), soups and miscellaneous.  He did a good job of sorting and they were given new folders as homes.  Merv chose a few recipes for me to cook, but not today!  Merv had been asked by the OT at the HD social group to bring a photo next Wednesday of a place he has travelled to.  I dug out the large group photos of us taken in China, one at the Forbidden City and the other at Juyongguan Great Wall.  This started a sequence of events finishing with me foraging for the diary I had kept throughout our Japan/China trip.  We had flown from Perth to Shangai via, Hong Kong in late August 2009.  We boarded a small Costa cruise ship to Japan from Shangai for a six day cruise stopping only at Nagasaki and Fukuoka ports.  As I read the entry for each day of the cruise, memories came flooding back.  The Costa is an Italian ship and offered both Italian and Asian menus.  One of my first orders was Chinese pasta which was presented as a plate of worm-like pasta topped with a couple of mushrooms.  I ate the mushrooms! Merv played it safe always ordering Italian while I ventured outside my comfort zone and tried true Asian food.  No Aussie-Chinese foods here.  It was a real eye opener when I realised many Chinese meals in Australian are created for the Aussie palate!  No fried rice as we know it and the spring rolls were filled with bean curd and not vegetables as we had hoped.  By the time we left China a month later we were both enjoying a daily bean curd dumpling!  We laughed as we read about Merv pretending to be 'Mr Pizza' during one of the many evening entertainment sessions at one of the bars.  He had to pretend to make pizza, sing and dance with the applause of the audience deciding the winner.  He didn't win the contest but we both had a lot of fun!

Enjoying dessert at Japanese Maccas

 Kimono clad girls in Nagasaki shopping mall 
providing entertainment

A Stella Story

It's Saturday, the sun is shining and we begin the day with a trip to the library to return Mel's DVDs and books she borrowed last week.  We enjoy a five minute walk in the autumn sun before driving to the deli and picking up today's West Australian newspaper. 


Stella Young: an amazing lady

I sip my coffee while scanning the paper in hope of a little interesting reading.  There is a lot of response on the national budget handed down on Thursday.  I read a good proportion of them but the story which captures my attention is on page 113 from Stella Young, an outspoken disability activist. Stella is also a comedian and editor of the ABC's Ramp Up website. Today her news story begins with comments on the federal government requiring people on a disability pension under the age of 35 to either work for the dole or assist them to acquire employment.  Sounds good, but the reality is it's full of pitfalls.  Stella tells the story of a young student in a wheelchair who she sees often on her commute to work, they nod at each other and she sees his books on his tray are business type textbooks.  This continues until one day she sees him no more.  She imagines he has found a suitable job in his chosen career path and these thoughts warm her.  It is only her imagination, she later sees him selling copies of a disability magazine in the city.  They no longer nod to each other, her dream for him is shattered.  She sees him regularly and believes discrimination has prevented him from attaining his dream.  Stella was born with Osteogenesis imperfect (brittle bone disease).  She mobilises in a motorised wheelchair and has many experiences of discrimination.  I relate to her story.  I would love Mel to have a job.  We have tried employment and volunteer work but her ability to keep on task and work efficiently is limited.  Stella's story is a nudge for me to keep seeking attainable work, whether paid or voluntary for Mel.

Routine

I love throwing routine out of  window when on holiday, whatever comes my way I am happy with.  At home I'm not known as an impulsive person. I like my routine but I don't like to be bored!  Routine at home helps us to stay on track.  It's those boring everyday things which become 'Ground Hog Day' moments.  A little variety and spice between the everyday times and chores keeps each day a little different and at least enjoyable!  Meal times at home has its own routine, I can do all of this with my eyes closed!  We sit together and break bread which bonds us together, it's a union which satisfies our hunger and the need for companionship.  It is the same each afternoon as I prepare the bathroom and bedroom for Merv's shower.  There is the ever constant routine of what is needed, mats to go on the floor and shower wash to be ready.  It is a time of intimacy as I help him wash, rinse and dry. Finally I help him dress and he is ready for bedtime later on.  We depend on our everyday routine for harmony and comfort in our relationship.  It works just fine!

Tumble, Stumble or Fall?

I arrived home yesterday to learn Merv had fallen at the HD social group.  His support worker who takes him home was with him but every staff member was busy elsewhere!  His support worker said he had a, 'tumble.'   I don't know what he meant by a tumble.  As a professional support worker I know what a fall is, but the word, 'tumble' is never used in falls training.  I needed further information and asked for a detailed description.  Merv did not tumble, he fell.  This is not unusual for people with HD, their balance is impaired.  Merv hit the floor landing on his shoulder.  He reacted quickly and managed to pull himself up with a little assistance from the support worker.  Merv did not suffer any injuries or loss of confidence, which I was grateful for.   The biggest problem was the communication between support worker and staff at the HD group.   The staff took the support worker's, 'tumble' to be a 'stumble', which is not a fall at all, more of a balance impairment but not hitting the floor.  I had hoped an overnight email would clarify this situation but unfortunately it didn't.  I rang the support worker who was again with Merv today to clarify once again before sending another email to confirm; yes it was a fall, not a stumble or a tumble!  Using the correct terminology will keep everyone on the same page, saving time and stress!

National Budget Pain

Mel went home today.  Her antibiotics have finally come to an end.  She is so much better and we are much relieved!  I dropped her off to her Wednesday art class before running some errands finishing up enjoying a Gloria Jeans coffee and reading the newspaper.  I was checking out the National annual budget brought down yesterday.  There is not a lot which will effect us on the pension, except the petrol increase and prescription increase.  I am not sure if we will pay the $7 co-payment when visiting a GP, as we only sign and do not pay when we visit a doctor.  We pay for specialists like everyone else does.  The daily paper comprehensively covered the budget and how it will affect a range of everyday people in our community.  It's a difficult budget for uni students and young families with the change to the family tax benefit.  I met a friend in the supermarket this afternoon who said she was disgusted with the budget and had slammed her kitchen cupboard door while thinking how it will affect her family.  It is never easy juggling money with a young family.  She is now a single parent and I felt her frustration. The government assures us their budget is tough to bring down the spiralling deficit.  The budget will cut sizable funding from; education, family payments, health, foreign aid and public service jobs.  There are some winners and some good ideas but families and students are losing out. 
A week from now we will have our attention on something new but the nation's government  will continue on their campaign in hope of reducing the country's deficit at the expense of the everyday man in the street.