Tuesday 20th July 2010

Various news from the last 10 days: Helen is in good form - has been eating better and put on some weight! More independently mobile than she was and enjoying life. Douglas and Louis and I are continuing on a roster of 1 in 3 which is great. We have had some lovely visits from Helen's friends including her Book Group last Sunday who had their gathering here. A few outings - to the Wharf and Framed and the Fannie Bay Italian Restaurant. A less interesting one to the oncologist yesterday. For now we have decided to just go on as we are with no further chemotherapy - the cancer symptoms seem pretty minimal at the moment.

The chickens are growing into little monsters - bigger day by day! We have a small dilemma over their future - I am keen to keep them longer as they are fun to have around, Louis is keen to give them to the community garden at Nightcliff as they are reaching the age of increased destructive capacity, Douglas and Helen are somewhere in the middle. We have been letting them out to free-range in the garden and they are so tame and curious that to re-catch them I just have to go out and make a few cheeps and they come running. The downside of that is they spend a lot of time on the verandah and if given a chance will come into the house and hide under Helen's bed.

Yesterday I left Helen having a nap in the hammock and when she woke up not only did the chickens go into the house while she was powerless to prevent them, the afternoon sprinklers came on and sprinkled her for 20 minutes! Alas I was upstairs and not hearing her calls but luckily she was OK really. I'll post a few photos again soon.