5Yr plan - am I crazy?
Re: 5Yr plan - am I crazy?
by di_namic42 » Mon Mar 24, 2014 9:49 pm
Well, I am almost recovered from the one night on the houseboat from hell. I will write it up as you will all get a great laugh. The old saying about yachts being the most expensive way to travel third class was absolutely true.
- di_namic42
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Re: 5Yr plan - am I crazy?
by di_namic42 » Tue Mar 25, 2014 11:43 pm
Possibly the worst 18 hours of my life!!!
Hire boat from Hell!!!
It seemed like a good decision at the time ... I have heard so much about the Hawksbury river, my aunt and I had a few unscheduled days before our south pacific cruise on the 30 March. I had been having difficulty finding accomodation that looked comfortable, interesting and where i could park the Van.
After leaving Phillips place ( Seaka) we had had lunch at a little waterside cafe near Forster NSW and as a houseboat went by, my aunt mentioned that she had sometimes though a houseboat would be something she would like to try. So when an add popped up on my tablet for houseboats on the Hawksbury, I thought a few days would be great! Having just finished my radio operators course, and my intoduction to diesel motors course, and received my RYA Coastal skipper Certificate, I felt it was something I could do. If I felt unwell, I could always drop anchor and stay in the one spot.
The add read "The Clipper Sundecker 30‘ is our most popular cruiser for hire with couples and young families. As it is not too large, it is easy to handle out on the water with just two adults. This boat is open plan, with a double bed and two single beds." So I called, without my usual planning and weighing things up, and luckily ( I thought) snagged a standby hire for the weekend, with the thought I would extend for a few more days the the following week. For the first time in months I felt really excited, and cancer seemed like a setback i could ignore for a while!
So after a 3.5 hour drive and a stop at woolworths to stock up on 6 days food we arrived at the boat hire place, after travelling down the steepest piece of windy, narrow road I have ever been on. Berowra waters road is apparently infamous. The signs saying "No semitrailers or caravans" should have tipped me off. Of course I should have put the van in low gear and let engine braking slow us down. The severity of the road only became apparent about half way down, and I put the van in 2nd , and I should have dropped it to 1st. I know better after being a driver in the Army Reserve in my uni days, but I guess chemo brain struck again.
We looked for the office and pulled up unknowingly in the cable barge queue, found the office, and then had to ask people to move back , and then hurriedly reverse the van around cars in the queue and the parked cars back to the car park area, before the barge arrived and the cars drove off. Ok, so by now I am stressing ! The helpful lady who asked did I know that my brakes were smoking and didn't I know not to ride my brakes ( brand new after the service before i left) down the hill did not help! So now I am feeling like a stressed idiot.
With time rapidly escaping on the friday afternoon, it was easier to take too much stuff, than to carefully sort thru what to take and minimise it. So food and gear for two women for 6 days holiday amounts to a bit of gear!! The company's trolley had been recently stolen, so after the paper work was done, and it was evident that the van was going to cool down and not about to catch fire, I had to reverse the van back down beside the queue, beside the wharf so we could unload, quickly before the barge came in again. either that or carry all this gear and groceries 200 metres from the van to the boat. [ Background: I tore a muscle in my shoulder last year on my sailing course and have suffered intermittent nerve pain and neck problems since then, but I thought they had mended.]
Concentrating on images of us moored in a picturesque harbour, playing with my watercolours trying to cature the mist and early morning light and reflection on the river helped me to contain my rising stress. With the cancer and the treatment, my stress levels rise quickly, drop slowly and my anxiety rises to near panic and the DianneBeast lurks impatiently to burst out and verbally savage those who irritate ( which is everyone)!
So my aunt and I, with some help from the boat hire guy lugged all the stuff to the boat! I was starting to feel like I was in one of those surreal dreams where nice things morph into dragons and dark images.
With my brain now fried from stress chemicals, a long day and exhaustion the boat and safety briefing was an exercise in self control. The boat was simple - no instruments except a depth sounder. a bit of a shock, as it has been a while since i have been on any boat that doesn't have even a small chart plotter. [ No worries! I have my tablet with me with navionics on it!] There were 2 folded charts with the plastic coating peeling off, and some pen marks showing tracks to take. The overview of the switches and the engine starting procedure was fine and I managed to follow all that, somehow.
The mooring demonstration was to be first thing in the morning. It was at that point I realised that my aunt would have to be the one to scoop up the rope and attach it to the boat as i bought the boat 30ft boat in. She is a total non-sailor and can't swim and is older than me. Mmmmm this is going to be interesting! Especially as the bays are tight and there would be a lot of weekend boat traffic around. Mmmmmmm. I would have to teach her how to give me signals as the visability from the controls was not great. Not insurmountable, but could be challenging. Dial the stress levels up another notch.
For the non-boaties: The bilge is the inside bottom of the boat where the water collects. A few boats have dry bilges, but most boats leak somewhat. A bilge pump, can be electic or manual and is the way water is removed from the boat so it doesn't fill up with water and sink. Boats can have one or more electric bilge pumps and/or one or more manual bilge pumps. On some boats the bilge pump can run once per week varying through every hour to continuously on a boat that has problems. The bilge pump on this ran about every 15 minutes with a burbling sound and then a long splaaaaash . as the bilge water was emptied into the river.
The toilet ( or head to the boaties) was a vacum seal flush. This meant that a vacum was built up and when deposits had been made into the pan , a pedal was pressed cracking the seal and sucking the contents down into the holding tank. This was amazingly noisy and the crack of the air rushing into the vacum very sharp. Also, the pump which built up the air vacum had a sound like a Da-Da-Thump, so as it was building up again it went Da-Da-Thump-Da-Da-Thump-Da-Da-Thump-Da-Da-Thump-Da-Da-Thump-Da-Da-Thump-Da-Da-Thump and sounded like rabid bunny rabits humping. The tank must have had a slow leak as it pump went off about every 5 minutes for a few Da-Da-Thump's. This was funny at first and cause Val and I to laugh histerically as we imagined a cupboard with 2 huge rabbits humping..
As the anchor light wasn't working we stayed tied to the dock so it could be examined in the morning. The guy said the barge would slow down from the current 15 minute round trip.
Whilst we quickly learned to shut off the vacum pump , 2 post menopausal women have to pee several times per night, and this involved tuning on the pump cunningly hidden in a cupbord with an unoiled slide lock CLUNK, about a minute of Da-Da-Thump as the vacum built up whilst various toilet noises happen, then the CRACK-swooooosh, a minute of Da-Da-Thump whilst opening the cupoard and finding the awkwardly placed switch again ClUNK.
Finally, we spread the sheets and crawled into bed. 3 inches of ultra high density foam on plywood. My elbow would just make a dent if i pressed really hard. the mattress was only just softer than concrete. My shoulder is now aching from carrying stuff down to the boat, and is rapidly worsening from the bed and the thin pillow. The noises echo and reverberate around the cabin.
The barge comes in, low rumbling noises, various lights and a small wash and the sounds of cars driving off and other cars loading about 30 ft from us. CLUNK Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump, CRACK-swooooooosh. Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump CLUNK. Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash. Barge lights noises wash and cars. Roll & toss & nerve pain throbbing. Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash.
CLUNK Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump, CRACK-swooooooosh. Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump CLUNK. Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash. Barge lights noises wash and cars. Roll & toss & nerve pain throbbing. Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash. pause ....... waiting, waiting ....... Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash.
By midnight I was in severe pain and waiting during the silent time for the next time the bilge pump would go off.
CLUNK Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump, CRACK-swooooooosh. Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump CLUNK. Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash. Barge lights noises wash and cars. Roll & toss & nerve pain throbbing. Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash. pause ....... waiting, waiting ....... Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash. pause ....... waiting, waiting ....... Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash.
I think I slept for an hour around 4am before the barge started running every 15 mins again.
By 5 am I had my escape plotted and how we could hopefully get most of my money back, and wondering how could an idea which seemed so happy and fun have gone so wrong? Yes, we would have been away from the barge , but we could not have out run the mattress and the bunny rabbits and the bilge pump.
Finally at 8am the boat hire people arrived and we moved our STUFF up to the gate, drove the van down after the barge disgorged several cars, hurriedly loaded our gear, and after a test of the possibly cooked brakes headed up the winding road as I was just able to keep my eyes open.
Hire boat from hell!!!
Hire boat from Hell!!!
It seemed like a good decision at the time ... I have heard so much about the Hawksbury river, my aunt and I had a few unscheduled days before our south pacific cruise on the 30 March. I had been having difficulty finding accomodation that looked comfortable, interesting and where i could park the Van.
After leaving Phillips place ( Seaka) we had had lunch at a little waterside cafe near Forster NSW and as a houseboat went by, my aunt mentioned that she had sometimes though a houseboat would be something she would like to try. So when an add popped up on my tablet for houseboats on the Hawksbury, I thought a few days would be great! Having just finished my radio operators course, and my intoduction to diesel motors course, and received my RYA Coastal skipper Certificate, I felt it was something I could do. If I felt unwell, I could always drop anchor and stay in the one spot.
The add read "The Clipper Sundecker 30‘ is our most popular cruiser for hire with couples and young families. As it is not too large, it is easy to handle out on the water with just two adults. This boat is open plan, with a double bed and two single beds." So I called, without my usual planning and weighing things up, and luckily ( I thought) snagged a standby hire for the weekend, with the thought I would extend for a few more days the the following week. For the first time in months I felt really excited, and cancer seemed like a setback i could ignore for a while!
So after a 3.5 hour drive and a stop at woolworths to stock up on 6 days food we arrived at the boat hire place, after travelling down the steepest piece of windy, narrow road I have ever been on. Berowra waters road is apparently infamous. The signs saying "No semitrailers or caravans" should have tipped me off. Of course I should have put the van in low gear and let engine braking slow us down. The severity of the road only became apparent about half way down, and I put the van in 2nd , and I should have dropped it to 1st. I know better after being a driver in the Army Reserve in my uni days, but I guess chemo brain struck again.
We looked for the office and pulled up unknowingly in the cable barge queue, found the office, and then had to ask people to move back , and then hurriedly reverse the van around cars in the queue and the parked cars back to the car park area, before the barge arrived and the cars drove off. Ok, so by now I am stressing ! The helpful lady who asked did I know that my brakes were smoking and didn't I know not to ride my brakes ( brand new after the service before i left) down the hill did not help! So now I am feeling like a stressed idiot.
With time rapidly escaping on the friday afternoon, it was easier to take too much stuff, than to carefully sort thru what to take and minimise it. So food and gear for two women for 6 days holiday amounts to a bit of gear!! The company's trolley had been recently stolen, so after the paper work was done, and it was evident that the van was going to cool down and not about to catch fire, I had to reverse the van back down beside the queue, beside the wharf so we could unload, quickly before the barge came in again. either that or carry all this gear and groceries 200 metres from the van to the boat. [ Background: I tore a muscle in my shoulder last year on my sailing course and have suffered intermittent nerve pain and neck problems since then, but I thought they had mended.]
Concentrating on images of us moored in a picturesque harbour, playing with my watercolours trying to cature the mist and early morning light and reflection on the river helped me to contain my rising stress. With the cancer and the treatment, my stress levels rise quickly, drop slowly and my anxiety rises to near panic and the DianneBeast lurks impatiently to burst out and verbally savage those who irritate ( which is everyone)!
So my aunt and I, with some help from the boat hire guy lugged all the stuff to the boat! I was starting to feel like I was in one of those surreal dreams where nice things morph into dragons and dark images.
With my brain now fried from stress chemicals, a long day and exhaustion the boat and safety briefing was an exercise in self control. The boat was simple - no instruments except a depth sounder. a bit of a shock, as it has been a while since i have been on any boat that doesn't have even a small chart plotter. [ No worries! I have my tablet with me with navionics on it!] There were 2 folded charts with the plastic coating peeling off, and some pen marks showing tracks to take. The overview of the switches and the engine starting procedure was fine and I managed to follow all that, somehow.
The mooring demonstration was to be first thing in the morning. It was at that point I realised that my aunt would have to be the one to scoop up the rope and attach it to the boat as i bought the boat 30ft boat in. She is a total non-sailor and can't swim and is older than me. Mmmmm this is going to be interesting! Especially as the bays are tight and there would be a lot of weekend boat traffic around. Mmmmmmm. I would have to teach her how to give me signals as the visability from the controls was not great. Not insurmountable, but could be challenging. Dial the stress levels up another notch.
For the non-boaties: The bilge is the inside bottom of the boat where the water collects. A few boats have dry bilges, but most boats leak somewhat. A bilge pump, can be electic or manual and is the way water is removed from the boat so it doesn't fill up with water and sink. Boats can have one or more electric bilge pumps and/or one or more manual bilge pumps. On some boats the bilge pump can run once per week varying through every hour to continuously on a boat that has problems. The bilge pump on this ran about every 15 minutes with a burbling sound and then a long splaaaaash . as the bilge water was emptied into the river.
The toilet ( or head to the boaties) was a vacum seal flush. This meant that a vacum was built up and when deposits had been made into the pan , a pedal was pressed cracking the seal and sucking the contents down into the holding tank. This was amazingly noisy and the crack of the air rushing into the vacum very sharp. Also, the pump which built up the air vacum had a sound like a Da-Da-Thump, so as it was building up again it went Da-Da-Thump-Da-Da-Thump-Da-Da-Thump-Da-Da-Thump-Da-Da-Thump-Da-Da-Thump-Da-Da-Thump and sounded like rabid bunny rabits humping. The tank must have had a slow leak as it pump went off about every 5 minutes for a few Da-Da-Thump's. This was funny at first and cause Val and I to laugh histerically as we imagined a cupboard with 2 huge rabbits humping..
As the anchor light wasn't working we stayed tied to the dock so it could be examined in the morning. The guy said the barge would slow down from the current 15 minute round trip.
Whilst we quickly learned to shut off the vacum pump , 2 post menopausal women have to pee several times per night, and this involved tuning on the pump cunningly hidden in a cupbord with an unoiled slide lock CLUNK, about a minute of Da-Da-Thump as the vacum built up whilst various toilet noises happen, then the CRACK-swooooosh, a minute of Da-Da-Thump whilst opening the cupoard and finding the awkwardly placed switch again ClUNK.
Finally, we spread the sheets and crawled into bed. 3 inches of ultra high density foam on plywood. My elbow would just make a dent if i pressed really hard. the mattress was only just softer than concrete. My shoulder is now aching from carrying stuff down to the boat, and is rapidly worsening from the bed and the thin pillow. The noises echo and reverberate around the cabin.
The barge comes in, low rumbling noises, various lights and a small wash and the sounds of cars driving off and other cars loading about 30 ft from us. CLUNK Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump, CRACK-swooooooosh. Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump CLUNK. Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash. Barge lights noises wash and cars. Roll & toss & nerve pain throbbing. Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash.
CLUNK Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump, CRACK-swooooooosh. Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump CLUNK. Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash. Barge lights noises wash and cars. Roll & toss & nerve pain throbbing. Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash. pause ....... waiting, waiting ....... Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash.
By midnight I was in severe pain and waiting during the silent time for the next time the bilge pump would go off.
CLUNK Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump, CRACK-swooooooosh. Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump Da-Da-Thump CLUNK. Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash. Barge lights noises wash and cars. Roll & toss & nerve pain throbbing. Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash. pause ....... waiting, waiting ....... Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash. pause ....... waiting, waiting ....... Bilge pump Burble Burble Burble Splaaaaash.
I think I slept for an hour around 4am before the barge started running every 15 mins again.
By 5 am I had my escape plotted and how we could hopefully get most of my money back, and wondering how could an idea which seemed so happy and fun have gone so wrong? Yes, we would have been away from the barge , but we could not have out run the mattress and the bunny rabbits and the bilge pump.
Finally at 8am the boat hire people arrived and we moved our STUFF up to the gate, drove the van down after the barge disgorged several cars, hurriedly loaded our gear, and after a test of the possibly cooked brakes headed up the winding road as I was just able to keep my eyes open.
Hire boat from hell!!!
- di_namic42
- Posts: 69
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- Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:45 pm
- Location: Moreton Bay, QLD
Re: 5Yr plan - am I crazy?
by Phillip » Wed Mar 26, 2014 10:14 pm
Ok Di, so just how much did that hours sleep cost?
Or are you still too hurt to tell us
Have you got yourself organised for the cruise, re parking etc?
I think you may need a good supply of seasick tablets to start off, looking at the weather!
Or are you still too hurt to tell us
Have you got yourself organised for the cruise, re parking etc?
I think you may need a good supply of seasick tablets to start off, looking at the weather!
Phillip.
SEAKA
A 1969 Mark 1
Home port is at Dunbogan on the Camden Haven Inlet, Laurieton NSW
SEAKA
A 1969 Mark 1
Home port is at Dunbogan on the Camden Haven Inlet, Laurieton NSW
-
Phillip - Site Admin
- Posts: 1826
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- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:18 pm
- Location: Camden Haven Inlet, Mid-North Coast NSW.
Re: 5Yr plan - am I crazy?
by di_namic42 » Thu Mar 27, 2014 11:10 pm
Hmmmm....
the standard weekend rate was $960.
they gave me a discounted rate of $800 and if I extended to week days it was only going to be $150 per day plus $25 per hour engine running time.
As they spent time doing the briefing and paperwork they charged me $260 plus 28 for the linen so $288 for the worst bed I have ever slept in.
we met Diana (sea lady) for lunch after we left the boat, and we have been esconced in her back yard, with me sleeping in the van and my aunt in her spare room. The van can stay here til we get back, thankfully. We have a shuttle to pick us up and drop to the cruise terminal.As val and i are struggling to fight off virulent sydney flu bugs we have not gone anywhere or done anything.diana has been an amazing host, even down to the movie marathon day today, complete with log fire , tapas and of course ,jaffas.
larry ( woodsy) has been wonderful with his patient offers to take us sightseeing in his boat, but as my plans change so often and t
E rain has closed in , it will have to be after we get back from the cruise and it stops raining.
I have not been watching the news or weather, so after your comment I went and looked at BOM. Holy crap! I don't get seasick ( but who knows what strange things my body will do now. ) My aunt does, so lots of stematol and travel calm on the list. I am used to bad weather, every time I go diving or sailing or crewing, so why should this be any different. 25 to 30 knots is usual.40 knots is frequent. It started raining the day i bought my caper cat 14 and didn't stop til the brisbane/bundaberg floods occurred 3 years ago. Yes, I was responsible for them. I feel sorry for my aunt already.
After sunday you can track me on ....
http://www.seascanner.com/schiffspositi ... =oosterdam
which also shows weather conditions.
once on the boat wifi is available for $1 per minute in a block and will no doubt be slow. Only $100 for a block of 100 minutes.
I am allowed one bottle of wine to take free on boat , I can take more if I pay the $18 per bottle corkage upfront. No spirits.
the standard weekend rate was $960.
they gave me a discounted rate of $800 and if I extended to week days it was only going to be $150 per day plus $25 per hour engine running time.
As they spent time doing the briefing and paperwork they charged me $260 plus 28 for the linen so $288 for the worst bed I have ever slept in.
we met Diana (sea lady) for lunch after we left the boat, and we have been esconced in her back yard, with me sleeping in the van and my aunt in her spare room. The van can stay here til we get back, thankfully. We have a shuttle to pick us up and drop to the cruise terminal.As val and i are struggling to fight off virulent sydney flu bugs we have not gone anywhere or done anything.diana has been an amazing host, even down to the movie marathon day today, complete with log fire , tapas and of course ,jaffas.
larry ( woodsy) has been wonderful with his patient offers to take us sightseeing in his boat, but as my plans change so often and t
E rain has closed in , it will have to be after we get back from the cruise and it stops raining.
I have not been watching the news or weather, so after your comment I went and looked at BOM. Holy crap! I don't get seasick ( but who knows what strange things my body will do now. ) My aunt does, so lots of stematol and travel calm on the list. I am used to bad weather, every time I go diving or sailing or crewing, so why should this be any different. 25 to 30 knots is usual.40 knots is frequent. It started raining the day i bought my caper cat 14 and didn't stop til the brisbane/bundaberg floods occurred 3 years ago. Yes, I was responsible for them. I feel sorry for my aunt already.
After sunday you can track me on ....
http://www.seascanner.com/schiffspositi ... =oosterdam
which also shows weather conditions.
once on the boat wifi is available for $1 per minute in a block and will no doubt be slow. Only $100 for a block of 100 minutes.
I am allowed one bottle of wine to take free on boat , I can take more if I pay the $18 per bottle corkage upfront. No spirits.
- di_namic42
- Posts: 69
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- Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:45 pm
- Location: Moreton Bay, QLD
Re: 5Yr plan - am I crazy?
by Ianb » Fri Mar 28, 2014 1:59 pm
You are going to have a great time Di. Those cruises let you unwind, and as long as you dont mind a bit of a regular thump from the waves or the engine/prop, you will sleep soundly. The trick is to imagine you are a baby again, rocking in your cradle, with the sounds of your mother's heart etc., washing around you. Relax and enjoy!
If you have a smartphone it is fun to download Navionics Australia/NZ charts app, only about $12 from memory, and plot your track. Trick is to search for the charts of the areas you are going to be going to before you leave home WIFI, and it will then download the detail charts in those areas if you ask. Free App called GPS Test by Chartcross can give you Lat/Long and course/speed.
If you have a smartphone it is fun to download Navionics Australia/NZ charts app, only about $12 from memory, and plot your track. Trick is to search for the charts of the areas you are going to be going to before you leave home WIFI, and it will then download the detail charts in those areas if you ask. Free App called GPS Test by Chartcross can give you Lat/Long and course/speed.
- Ianb
- Posts: 201
- Joined: Tue Jun 05, 2012 7:31 pm
Re: 5Yr plan - am I crazy?
by di_namic42 » Fri Mar 28, 2014 10:47 pm
Great idea. I have navionics for aus and nz on both phone and tablet.
for evyone else google "ship oosterdam position". I am amazed hiw man sites there are out there.
I love the rocking of a boat, instant relaxation. For my aunts sake I hope being up on the 8th deck doesn't exaxerbate any movement too much. We are on the holland america line, ship is the Oosterdam. 2 sleeps to go.
for evyone else google "ship oosterdam position". I am amazed hiw man sites there are out there.
I love the rocking of a boat, instant relaxation. For my aunts sake I hope being up on the 8th deck doesn't exaxerbate any movement too much. We are on the holland america line, ship is the Oosterdam. 2 sleeps to go.
- di_namic42
- Posts: 69
- Images: 9
- Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:45 pm
- Location: Moreton Bay, QLD
Re: 5Yr plan - am I crazy?
by Phillip » Sun Apr 13, 2014 10:22 pm
I Post this [from today] as an interest to those who have been following Di's journey.
New post on Dianne's Bucket List
End of cruise
by Dianne L
Ended with a whimper. Carted off ship in ambulance. Spent day in hospital with chest pain and infected insect bite.
Is Not heart problem and will know more tomorrow.
Did I mention the broken toe?
Pacific islands Ok but I think Queensland is heaps better .
Hope you are getting better Di, sounds like you had some fun!
New post on Dianne's Bucket List
End of cruise
by Dianne L
Ended with a whimper. Carted off ship in ambulance. Spent day in hospital with chest pain and infected insect bite.
Is Not heart problem and will know more tomorrow.
Did I mention the broken toe?
Pacific islands Ok but I think Queensland is heaps better .
Hope you are getting better Di, sounds like you had some fun!
Phillip.
SEAKA
A 1969 Mark 1
Home port is at Dunbogan on the Camden Haven Inlet, Laurieton NSW
SEAKA
A 1969 Mark 1
Home port is at Dunbogan on the Camden Haven Inlet, Laurieton NSW
-
Phillip - Site Admin
- Posts: 1826
- Images: 152
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:18 pm
- Location: Camden Haven Inlet, Mid-North Coast NSW.
Re: 5Yr plan - am I crazy?
by Phillip » Tue Apr 22, 2014 4:30 pm
Hi All,
I think Di might be to busy to post here so have reposted her blog below.
Not looking good, so can only wish Di the best.
Plans for this week
by Dianne L
So much for swanning around D in hospital...
The doctors here in St. Vincent's {Sydney} will talk to my oncologist tomorrow and make arrangements.
Selena {Di's sister} and I are flying back {to Brisbane} Wednesday and I will be admitted to the Wesley hospital
I think Di might be to busy to post here so have reposted her blog below.
Not looking good, so can only wish Di the best.
Plans for this week
by Dianne L
So much for swanning around D in hospital...
The doctors here in St. Vincent's {Sydney} will talk to my oncologist tomorrow and make arrangements.
Selena {Di's sister} and I are flying back {to Brisbane} Wednesday and I will be admitted to the Wesley hospital
Phillip.
SEAKA
A 1969 Mark 1
Home port is at Dunbogan on the Camden Haven Inlet, Laurieton NSW
SEAKA
A 1969 Mark 1
Home port is at Dunbogan on the Camden Haven Inlet, Laurieton NSW
-
Phillip - Site Admin
- Posts: 1826
- Images: 152
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:18 pm
- Location: Camden Haven Inlet, Mid-North Coast NSW.
Re: 5Yr plan - am I crazy?
by Phillip » Sun May 04, 2014 9:35 pm
Evening All,
I spoke to Di the other day in Brisbane and things are not looking good.
Di asked me to post here, the odd post off her board and I think today she can best tell how it is in her own words....
[I haven't posted the photo that comes with her post]
My new gucci handbag.
by Dianne L
This is a Nicki machine and delivers continuous morphine for pain management and is my new 24 hour pqrtner. There is also a second point at the tummy to add other additional pain relief like muscle relaxant or other necessary medications
My new gucci inspired handbag. Thknk it will fill any fashion awards?
My pain rate is constantly monitored by the nurses. It is on a scale of 0 or no pain to 10 which is excruciating pain. My pain has been growing daily over the last 6 weeks moving through panadol whilst I was on the cruise boat and onto a morphine based tablet called endone when I got to st vincents. After some 10 monents of Pain whilst moving my arm as i had the following day, I was moved to Targen a morphine based drug that lasts supposedly 12 hrs plus. A 10 moment is unbearable and includes breaking into a prolific sweat whilst feeling icy cold and wanting to vomit uncontrollably from the unimaginablepain. A 10 moment also makes me want to smash my head against the wall and quickly throw myself out of the closest window or find a gun. Fast
Pregabolon has been prescribed to manage the nerve pain where the the cancer metastased lymph nodes are pressing into my spine and brachial plexis shoulder nerve centrs which control my left arm and hand.
The good part is that the pain managment is working. I slept for 7 hours last night and pain has stayed mostly at 1 with only a few moments at 5 as the meds start to wear off. Just the memory of the 10 pain causes me to watch my meds timetable closely ( meds = medical tablets etc,) so that it never happens again if I can help it.
The radiation is designed to reduce the lymph nodes but the radiation could also kill the nerves as they are so close. I estime there is a high chance of losing the function of my left arm and hand as I can't use my left hand to eat now withoug some high pain momebtz .
Another worry is some of the affected lymph nodes are close to the main artrry or aorta of my heart. If either the nodes or the radiation affect this....
Also there is a chance of some adverse drug interaction as I am now taking several, or an adverse reaction to one of the chemo drugs if I start chemo next week.
So, if you are going to call me or visit me you had better do it soon. There is a possibility all will go well and I may yet have a month or two to travel in the van, or next week could be the end, given the rate this is progressing.
Call me on 0428152388 and I will answer if i am not with a doctor, nursr or a visitor. i will call u back as I can, generally within an hour or two. Plesse leave a message and your number if it is silent or hidden.
Sms works best where possible to save my brain power and for clear communication.
Make a booking to see me, so I can spend time with just you. I would love to see uou all but things are happening so fast , so don't feel insulted if I have to put you off a.fee days so I can see family and manage my affairs and get them in order.
Yes, I should have done that before I went on the cruise. Alas denial and avoidance is a part of msny csncer patient's life, but I have to do it now.
I will be doing a DNR or "DO NOT RECUSITATE" by Monday. This means that I am not to be brought back
If I stop breathing for any reason. Also the Advsnced Health Directive stops hospital from Forse feeding via drip or procedures that will just prolong life with no point.
This may havr been a hard email to read and please realise I hsve been coming to terms with all thus for a while, but it may be a shock for some of you, so big hugs whilst you get over this.
After I pick up my computer tomorrow and csn write on a keyboard I will tell you much more about how I am coping emotionally.
Chocolates are good.. lindt, lindor or ferrero rocher are the best, preferably dsrk if possible.
Hand , foot or head massages are also good while you visit me. Bring your fsvourite oil if you hsve one..
I am checking if I can have a wine with dinner, as I have moved past curative care and am now being treated as a palliative care ( dying) patient. If I can, I will buy my first bottle of Grange .
Hugs to you all and wellcome to my world of total uncertainty.
Oh well, day pass tomorrow to go and put some affairs in order. mom hss promised peach crumble and ice cresm, after salmon steaks , roast pumpkin, and salad with gobs of garlic in the dressing. Mmmmmmm
Posted on behalf of Dianne
I spoke to Di the other day in Brisbane and things are not looking good.
Di asked me to post here, the odd post off her board and I think today she can best tell how it is in her own words....
[I haven't posted the photo that comes with her post]
My new gucci handbag.
by Dianne L
This is a Nicki machine and delivers continuous morphine for pain management and is my new 24 hour pqrtner. There is also a second point at the tummy to add other additional pain relief like muscle relaxant or other necessary medications
My new gucci inspired handbag. Thknk it will fill any fashion awards?
My pain rate is constantly monitored by the nurses. It is on a scale of 0 or no pain to 10 which is excruciating pain. My pain has been growing daily over the last 6 weeks moving through panadol whilst I was on the cruise boat and onto a morphine based tablet called endone when I got to st vincents. After some 10 monents of Pain whilst moving my arm as i had the following day, I was moved to Targen a morphine based drug that lasts supposedly 12 hrs plus. A 10 moment is unbearable and includes breaking into a prolific sweat whilst feeling icy cold and wanting to vomit uncontrollably from the unimaginablepain. A 10 moment also makes me want to smash my head against the wall and quickly throw myself out of the closest window or find a gun. Fast
Pregabolon has been prescribed to manage the nerve pain where the the cancer metastased lymph nodes are pressing into my spine and brachial plexis shoulder nerve centrs which control my left arm and hand.
The good part is that the pain managment is working. I slept for 7 hours last night and pain has stayed mostly at 1 with only a few moments at 5 as the meds start to wear off. Just the memory of the 10 pain causes me to watch my meds timetable closely ( meds = medical tablets etc,) so that it never happens again if I can help it.
The radiation is designed to reduce the lymph nodes but the radiation could also kill the nerves as they are so close. I estime there is a high chance of losing the function of my left arm and hand as I can't use my left hand to eat now withoug some high pain momebtz .
Another worry is some of the affected lymph nodes are close to the main artrry or aorta of my heart. If either the nodes or the radiation affect this....
Also there is a chance of some adverse drug interaction as I am now taking several, or an adverse reaction to one of the chemo drugs if I start chemo next week.
So, if you are going to call me or visit me you had better do it soon. There is a possibility all will go well and I may yet have a month or two to travel in the van, or next week could be the end, given the rate this is progressing.
Call me on 0428152388 and I will answer if i am not with a doctor, nursr or a visitor. i will call u back as I can, generally within an hour or two. Plesse leave a message and your number if it is silent or hidden.
Sms works best where possible to save my brain power and for clear communication.
Make a booking to see me, so I can spend time with just you. I would love to see uou all but things are happening so fast , so don't feel insulted if I have to put you off a.fee days so I can see family and manage my affairs and get them in order.
Yes, I should have done that before I went on the cruise. Alas denial and avoidance is a part of msny csncer patient's life, but I have to do it now.
I will be doing a DNR or "DO NOT RECUSITATE" by Monday. This means that I am not to be brought back
If I stop breathing for any reason. Also the Advsnced Health Directive stops hospital from Forse feeding via drip or procedures that will just prolong life with no point.
This may havr been a hard email to read and please realise I hsve been coming to terms with all thus for a while, but it may be a shock for some of you, so big hugs whilst you get over this.
After I pick up my computer tomorrow and csn write on a keyboard I will tell you much more about how I am coping emotionally.
Chocolates are good.. lindt, lindor or ferrero rocher are the best, preferably dsrk if possible.
Hand , foot or head massages are also good while you visit me. Bring your fsvourite oil if you hsve one..
I am checking if I can have a wine with dinner, as I have moved past curative care and am now being treated as a palliative care ( dying) patient. If I can, I will buy my first bottle of Grange .
Hugs to you all and wellcome to my world of total uncertainty.
Oh well, day pass tomorrow to go and put some affairs in order. mom hss promised peach crumble and ice cresm, after salmon steaks , roast pumpkin, and salad with gobs of garlic in the dressing. Mmmmmmm
Posted on behalf of Dianne
Phillip.
SEAKA
A 1969 Mark 1
Home port is at Dunbogan on the Camden Haven Inlet, Laurieton NSW
SEAKA
A 1969 Mark 1
Home port is at Dunbogan on the Camden Haven Inlet, Laurieton NSW
-
Phillip - Site Admin
- Posts: 1826
- Images: 152
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:18 pm
- Location: Camden Haven Inlet, Mid-North Coast NSW.
Amazingly ....I'm STILL here!!!
by di_namic42 » Wed Oct 29, 2014 7:57 pm
Well guys ... as Monty Python would say ... I'm not dead yet!
It took 3 months to mostly recover from my radiation and chemo, with the amazing result that i have about 98% use and strength back in my left arm.
I declined my oncologists offer of more major chemo and am working on a number of alternative therapies.
Initial prognosis was 6-10 months and I am now at 14 months. Stubborn!
So as some strength started to return, I finished kitting out my hiace van and did some very gentle camping at harvey bay and 1770 caravan parks. Baby steps. I had a seriously sore right foot and had a tentative diagnosis of gout from the redland hospital.
Of course, I am still broken hearted that i did the SENSIBLE thing and bought a van not a yacht.
I came back a week early from my planned 3 week trip, feeling very breathless, and with pounding and racing heart everytime i laid down. I really thought then that cancer was rapidly growing near my heart and lungs. Almost all over, rover. i had my scheduled ct scan on the friday and was due to see the oncologist on the monday. Over the weekend my right foot swelled up and was seriously painful.
My scan was actually quite good..... no growth in the major tumours, and the lymph nodes are growing slowly. so maybe something is working?
However my dr looked at my foot and listened to my current symptoms . She said she though i had blood clots, admitted me to hospital at once and called for a wheelchair ... i had major clots in right leg almost occluding circulation and multiple clots in my lungs. Another 24-48 hours i would not have made it. 5 days staying still in bed , only allowed up to visit the loo and quick shower. Definately not gout!
so another 6 days after that in hospital, with twice daily injections, to dissolve clots, that really stung. and left huge bruises. Now out with a small daily table that should fix the problem (for good) that apparently cancer/chemo patients are known to have. Geez, ya think they could have warned me! I could have been taking asprin etc. The weekend locum dr called me the lucky one as I was lucky to still be here.
So now.... i am not breathless like i was for the last month, normal heart beat( scans showed i have the heart/arteries of a 40yo) , over the previous chemo and radiation, and hopeful again about the future, and feeling better than i have in a long time.... just need to lose some weight and regain fitness and strength. I start swimming on friday and gym next week.
if you are interested in what has been happening ... http://diannesbucketlist.wordpress.com/blog
So now I am entertaining thoughts about selling the van and buying my boat. yes, most would say that i am seriously delusional, but i won't make any final decisions for another 4 weeks when i have my next scan and see what is happening. My no 1 on the bucket list of sailing to Lizard island, has a chance of being back on the list of possibilities.
Who da thunk it?
It took 3 months to mostly recover from my radiation and chemo, with the amazing result that i have about 98% use and strength back in my left arm.
I declined my oncologists offer of more major chemo and am working on a number of alternative therapies.
Initial prognosis was 6-10 months and I am now at 14 months. Stubborn!
So as some strength started to return, I finished kitting out my hiace van and did some very gentle camping at harvey bay and 1770 caravan parks. Baby steps. I had a seriously sore right foot and had a tentative diagnosis of gout from the redland hospital.
Of course, I am still broken hearted that i did the SENSIBLE thing and bought a van not a yacht.
I came back a week early from my planned 3 week trip, feeling very breathless, and with pounding and racing heart everytime i laid down. I really thought then that cancer was rapidly growing near my heart and lungs. Almost all over, rover. i had my scheduled ct scan on the friday and was due to see the oncologist on the monday. Over the weekend my right foot swelled up and was seriously painful.
My scan was actually quite good..... no growth in the major tumours, and the lymph nodes are growing slowly. so maybe something is working?
However my dr looked at my foot and listened to my current symptoms . She said she though i had blood clots, admitted me to hospital at once and called for a wheelchair ... i had major clots in right leg almost occluding circulation and multiple clots in my lungs. Another 24-48 hours i would not have made it. 5 days staying still in bed , only allowed up to visit the loo and quick shower. Definately not gout!
so another 6 days after that in hospital, with twice daily injections, to dissolve clots, that really stung. and left huge bruises. Now out with a small daily table that should fix the problem (for good) that apparently cancer/chemo patients are known to have. Geez, ya think they could have warned me! I could have been taking asprin etc. The weekend locum dr called me the lucky one as I was lucky to still be here.
So now.... i am not breathless like i was for the last month, normal heart beat( scans showed i have the heart/arteries of a 40yo) , over the previous chemo and radiation, and hopeful again about the future, and feeling better than i have in a long time.... just need to lose some weight and regain fitness and strength. I start swimming on friday and gym next week.
if you are interested in what has been happening ... http://diannesbucketlist.wordpress.com/blog
So now I am entertaining thoughts about selling the van and buying my boat. yes, most would say that i am seriously delusional, but i won't make any final decisions for another 4 weeks when i have my next scan and see what is happening. My no 1 on the bucket list of sailing to Lizard island, has a chance of being back on the list of possibilities.
Who da thunk it?
- di_namic42
- Posts: 69
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- Joined: Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:45 pm
- Location: Moreton Bay, QLD
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