Tue 31 Dec 2019: New Years Eve

Tue 31 Dec 2019: New Years Eve

Picked up Fiona at 10:30am

Seetos come over for lunch.

Bindy and Ange join for dinner. Vanita also comes over after 9pm fireworks.

Spent the night doing a jigsaw puzzle - started 5:30pm and finished just after 1am

Sun 29 Dec 2019: Scarborough Beach

Sun 29 Dec 2019: Scarborough Beach

Mare picks Kaylene and I up at 10:30am for a drive down south towards Wollongong.

The place she wants to have lunch at is busy so we go to the beach first.

At 1pm drive back to the hotel for lunch. Popular place.

Meet up with Jacq and family at the beach.

After the beach, Mare drops us off at Seetos. Janet has gone to pick Fiona up and meets us at Seetos for dinner.

Thu 26 Dec 2019: Boxing Day

Thu 26 Dec 2019: Boxing Day

Lunch and dinner at Strathfield.

Invite Seetos, Soph's mum and brother, Jacq and family, and Mare

Wed 25 Dec 2019: Christmas Day

Wed 25 Dec 2019: Christmas Day

Have lunch at Carl Simon's place.

Dinner at Bindy and Ange's place.

Sun 22 Dec 2019: Bills in Surry Hills

Sun 22 Dec 2019: Bills in Surry Hills

Have early dinner in Surry Hills with Jacq and Sam Mar for her 40th birthday.

Dinner is at Bills, 359 Crown Street.

Jacq gives me a lift.

Sun 15 Dec 2019: Lights of Christmas

Sun 15 Dec 2019: Lights of Christmas

Went out to see the Christmas lights at St Mary's Cathedral with Evan and Janet

Sun 15 Dec 2019: Koi Christmas High Tea

Sun 15 Dec 2019: Koi Christmas High Tea

No more lockdown, so Mare booked another high tea experience, this time in the Koi cafe in Top Ryde. 

Attended by Kaylene, Jacq, Mare and I

Thu 12 Dec 2019: Surgery Followup

Thursday 12 December 2019

11:15am appt with Dr Sanjay Warrier at Clinic B Level 2 COBLH

Apparently cancer was level 1 and slow growing. No cancer was found in the lymph nodes. I will just need tablets. No need for chemo or radiation. I need to see the oncologist.  His team will arrange and contact me about the appointment.

I get a medical certificate to cover work up until 20 March 2020. Make follow-up appointment on Monday 16 March 2020 at 9am.

11:45am see Kate the breast care nurse. She checks and removes the bandage, checks the nipple.  Checks the drains. Only 1 of them can be removed.

12:45pm I have to get another blood test done.

Melbourne Day 4: Tuesday 10 December 2019

5:00am Wake up
6:00am Checkout
6:15am Ola ride to airport.
7:00am Checkin and go through security
7:15am Gate 8
8:20am Boarding Melbourne Qantas QF416 8:30am - Flight to Sydney.
8:45am Need to board via rear of plane - walk on tarmac and up stairs. We are in the very last row of the plane. 30A, B, C and D.
9:15am Breakfast
Chorizo, egg and baby spinach on stone baked ciabata - QF breakfast with apple juice and water
9:55am Landed
10:25am ES Uber pick up
1pm Lunch at Flemington after dropping KC off at work
Rare beef noodle pho @ Flemington with LC, JT and ES (paid). Sugar cane juice $5

Melbourne Day 3: Monday 9 December 2019

10am checkout- stored luggage. Very hot today.
Catch free city circle tram - get off at Parliament House (10:20am) - walk and get back on again (10:35am) in front of Carlton Gardens (Victoria St). Do a loop - all the way around and back to Flinders Street Station.
11:25am Get off and walk to White Mojo cafe for brunch.
Brunch @ White Mojo.
Signature croissant burger - Soft shell crab, chipotle mayo, smoked eel, pickled cucumber, chorizo crumb and fried eggs on buttery croissant $25. - MT paid
12:35pm Walk via Myers and shops to State Library of Vic.
1:30pm State Library - Go in and check out the rotunda. Rest a bit.
2:45pm Head to Hawker Chan, but detour into Daiso - JT buys face masks and KC gets a drink.
3:10pm Hawker Chan for late lunch. Find out that our flight has been cancelled.
Lunch @ Hawker Chan. Shared Wonton soup, hor fun with char siu, rice with roast pork, egg noodles with char siu and plate of bok choy. $44 - MT paid
Melbourne Jetstar 7.45pm - Flight Cancelled -
4:12pm Booked accommodation at Fraser Place $119.00.
4:30pm Walk and catch tram back to Hotel. Get luggage
5:00pm Catch tram back up to Russell Street
5:30pm Check into Fraser Place - Rm 205 (MT and JT) Rm 305 (LC and KC). Take a nap.
7:30pm head out for dinner - walk to Shujinko for ramen.
Shujinko Ramen
Takoyaki balls to share.
Signature original ramen in Tonkotsu soup base (pork broth) served with bok choy, spring onion, bean sprouts, marinated egg and signature grilled pork belly. $14.50 - KC paid.
Chatime peach ice tea with rainbow jelly - MT paid
Strawberries and cherries
8:45pm Walk to QV - check out the lights - christmas tree.
9:10pm Chatime
9:15pm State Library projections
9:45pm walk back to hotel. Shower - bed.

Melbourne Day 2: Sunday 8 December 2019

10:00am Head out to Queen Victoria Markets
KC meets her friend at Southern Cross Station. We walk to QVM
10:35am Flagstaff gardens
10:50am QVM
11:00am Buy souvenir wood matchbox Melbourne scene $20
11:25am Buy Souvenir cotton bags buy 2 $15 and get 1 free ($30 for 3)
12:18pm Buy boreks for lunch
Boreks from Queen Victoria Markets. Cheese & Spinach, Beef & Onion and Chicken & Mushroom $6 for 3
Potato & Vegie borek $4
Gelato mango in cone $6
Sugar cane juice $6 (x3)
Strawberries and cherries (JT paid)

12:43pm Buy mango gelati
1:00pm Buy sugar cane juice $6 each x3
1:35pm Catch tram to Bourke Street Mall - Myers
2:15pm take photos outside Melbourne Town Hall
4:30pm Catch tram back to hotel - have a nap
5:30pm Head out to dinner
5:55pm Flinders Street Station
6:00pm Federation Square
6:30pm Graffiti lane

6:45pm Dinner @ Kisume
Dinner @ Kisume. KC paid
Spanner crab and white truffle $44 x 2
Agedashi tofu $24.50
Prawn & Pork Gyoza $24.50
Ebi (prawn with noodle )tempura $39.50
Deluxe feature box (sushi & sashimi 30piece) $145.00
Soft shell crab sushi roll $25.50
Warm mushroom and cauliflower $27.50
Hazelnut dacquoise $18?

9:15pm Fed Square - Christmas lights
10:00pm Bourke Street Mall and Myer's window display
10:15pm Melbourne Town Hall projections

Melbourne Day 1: Saturday 7 December 2019 - post surgery

Saturday 7 December 2019
11:30am Leave home - Nathan drives us to airport
12:30pm Security and buy lunch
1:00pm have lunch
1:30pm Gate for boarding
2:00pm on plane to Melbourne
3:30pm Land in Melbourne
4:10pm Uber ride to hotel
4:40pm Checkin at Batman on Collins
5:20pm Head out to Crown Casino and Nobu
6:00pm watch Crown Casino christmas bauble display

6:15pm Dinner @ Nobu
Dinner @ Nobu.  KC paid
Edamame with Muray River Salt$8.50
Nobu tacos (Yellowtail) $8 x 4
Nobu tacos (snow crab) $11 x 4
Tuna tataki with ponzu $28, Matsuhisa crispy rice with spicy tuna $31
Sauted mushroom salad $28 Japanese scallops with spicy garlic sauce $30
Baby tiger prawn tempura with creamy spicy sauce $32
Prawn tempura (2pieces) $16 x 2
Eggplant tempura (2 pieces) $5 x 2
Pork Belly, Spicy Miso Caramel $36

9:15pm Shopping at Woolworths, Southern Cross Station

Thu 05 Dec 2019: Discharge Day

 Thursday 5 December 2019

6am Check BP, temp and pulse.

Pee and poo.

Feel so tired.

7:30am Doctors do the rounds. Says my drains need rebandaging. Also says I should be good to go home today. We'll see how it goes.

8:00am do a pee and a poo.

9:00am Breakfast

Ask for a panadol - as I have a headache.

Nurse comes in to take the canula out. She also changes the dressing on my drains.

9:50am nurse comes in to take blood for testing

12 noon I have a shower.  Have lunch.

Message Jenny, who can pick me up and take me home. Lily is out with her walking group and Janet is still at Concord.

2:56pm Jenny drops in to pick me up.  Stops in Enmore to get some takeaway, before we head to Concord Hospital to visit Janet.

Janet also gets discharged, while we are visiting - lucky, Jenny is available.

Kaylene and Nathan goes to the Khalid concert - if I wasn't sick - I would have gone.

Wed 04 Dec 2019: Recovery at COBLH

Wednesday 4 December 2019

Woken up by nurse to have BP, pulse and temp taken.

7:30am breakfast.

Dr Gary Sharp checks in. I ask him about Melbourne travel - says it should be ok.

Dr Daniel Oh checks in. Asks me about Melbourne travel and forms I need to complete to travel - he fills them in, signs them and gets them back to me.

Kate, the breast care nurse checks in.

Lunch is served.

Email the forms to Qantas.

LC, ES and CS visit.  Also told that they are closing down level 9 and I need to move level 8 room 8.

Views aren't as great and seems smaller.

Have a shower and change my clothes, which LC brought for me.

6:30pm dinner time

After I have eaten, they leave to go visit JT, who is still in hospital - she needs to go through more tests.

8:30pm Daz drops in for a visit.

9:30pm Take antibiotics

11:00pm can't sleep - have a painkiller and panadol.

Nurse changes my drains

Tue 03 Dec 2019: Round 2 of Breast Cancer Surgery at COBL

Tuesday 3 December 2019

7:30am Lily drops Janet and I at COBLH

8:00am back on level 3 Day surgery waiting room. Apparently Dr Sanjay has been called in for another surgery.

10:30am finally wheeled in to prep room. Assistant anethestist puts the canula in.

Dr Sanjay comes in and removes my bandage. Checks the nipple - says it's a bit dark, bruised, but it should be ok.

SPY machine is used again. Dr Ryan injects the dye  and they use the machine to check the nipple. Says it's all good to proceed with surgery.

Nurse puts monitor pads on hairline above head - to measure brain and heart.

Wheel me in to operating theatre. Dr Ryan administers the anesthesia. I check out the operating theatre. They put my bed beside the bed in the theatre and the nurse asks me to scoot over, which I do. And I am out like a light.

12noon wake up in the recovery area. Nurse Cheng checks if I am ok. Asks name, DOB, etc.

12:30pm Feeling a bit of pain - notify nurse and get injected with a painkiller.

1:00pm Taken up to Level 9, Room 33. Nurse Charlotte is on duty.

1:45pm eating lunch - egg and mayo on brown bread. Apple juice. Cheese and crackers, eat the crackers - give the cheese to Kaylene when she visits.

2:30pm LC and JT visit. Bring my jewellery, phone and snack food.

Nurse comes in to take my blood pressure.

Student nurse comes in and is shown what to look for. Shown the drains, I now have 2 bags and the pico bandage.

Given an Endone tablet for the pain.

Another nurse gets shown how to insert the antibiotic drip.

More BP, temp and pulse taken.

Kaylene comes after work and after visiting Priti next door.  Needs to empty and dry her carry bag. Her bottle of water leaked.

4:45pm they leave.

5:00pm nurse gives me panadol.

Go for a pee and change into my pj's out of the hospital gown.

6:00pm dinner is served.Eat everything bar the sandwiches and lemonade. Pretty good dinner.

Watch 7 news.

Watch The Project

7:30pm nurse change over

Eat sandwiches

Go for a walk around the ward twice.

Get water

Get back to my room and I start to feel dizzy, then nauseous.  Can feel the sandwich coming back up.  Rush into the bathroom and puke in the toilet, but I end up with some puke on me. Clean myself up. Have also peed my pants.  Need to change my undies.

Get myself back into bed and call nurse.

Ask for panadol/painkiller.

Sweating and I'm sure my BP is low.

2:40pm get up to pee. Check my phone and see that LC has posted photo of JT in Concord Hospital.  She was washing clothes and got dizzy. Apparently Nathan found here lying on the couch downstairs. Mark drove her and LC to Concord Hospital.

LC stayed with her until the doctors told her to go home. Got Mark to pick her up at 5am.

Sun 01 Dec 2019: Fiona's Christmas Lunch

Sun 01 Dec 2019: Fiona's Christmas Lunch

Lunch at Kirrawee, with Fiona and her house mates.

We made potato salad and jelly, Lily made curried eggs.

Fri 29 Nov 2019: Recovery and discharge from COBLH

Friday 29 November 2019

4pm wake up to do a poo.

Feel some pain, buzz the nurse for panadol.

7am. Dr Gary and 2 others do the rounds. Check wounds and dressing. Says I'm ok to go home today. Says I should try and do normal stuff. I ask if its ok to get my hair done and he 'says "no reason, why not".

Once they leave, I'm up again to do a poo, which is getting back to normal colour.

7:30am nurses handover.

9am breakfast is served. Omelette is overdone. Have vegemite on toast. Chocolate milk.

Need to poo again.

Get changed.

Pharmacist sees me about medication - need to pick uo on level 1 on the way out.

Nurse takes blood pressure etc. Back to normal like when I first came in.

Nurse removes iv. Gives me extra drain bags. I ask what needs to be done, she says when I am ready to go, I just need to let them know, once I've arranged pickup.

Discharge papers given.

11:20am I let LC and JT know.  Had to go via lvl 1 pharmacy and get medication. $33.30.

12noon they come to pick me up. Miss out on lunch - bugger.

1:00pm back home and I have a surprise waiting for me. LTS staff have sent me a bunch of flowers.

2:30pm have a cup of noodle with roast pork and cucumber.

3:00pm Jacq gives Kaylene a lift back and stops in for a visit.

5:00pm Linda Savirak visits and brings a bag of mandarins, as well as a bag of assorted tim tam biscuits.

Seeto's also arrive to visit, bringing ingredients to make beef noodle pho. Which JT and A. Cath preps.

7:30pm have dinner - small bowl of beef noodle pho.

9:30pm shower. Wear compression socks as legs are feeling bloated.

10:00pm change my drain bag (80-90ml) - take photo.

Have a choc mint tim tam.

10:30pm brush teeth and go to bed

Thu 28 Nov 2019: Recovery at COBLH

Thursday 28 November 2019

Wake up at 3am - feeling some pain, so call nurse to give me some pain killers.

I'm woken up at 6am by nurse who takes my blood pressure, pulse and temperature. My BP is low - told to drink more water. Given a panadol which I can take whenever and a pain killer, which I need to take with food.

6:30am I have an antibiotic drip inserted.

7:00am Nurse comes in to flush the antibiotic drip. Brings me 2 bottles of water.

7:20am Dr comes in with locums. Checks dressing. Advises breast care nurse will be in to show me how to do things. May be discharged today??

7:23am Nurses changeover

7:45am Dr Gary comes in with consent for for SPY, tissue expander and flex aid surgery to be signed. Someone will contact me re appt time on Tuesday.

8:18am Dr Ryan pops in to check on pain - tell him I'm ok.

8:45am breakfast is served. Lifehouse breakfast - 1 slice toasted bown bread. Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, grilled tomato. Apple juice, chocolate milk. Congee with chicken.

Daz visits with a banana berry smoothie and a slice of banana bread.

9:30am Kate, the breast care nurse shows me how to change the drain bag. How to unclip the battery pack from the pressure pad. Talk to her about my discharge - she will talk to the ward nurse. Gives me a set of drainage bags. Need to see how the nurse changes it.

10:00am Daz leaves.

10:10am Mare drops in for a visit. On her way to have lunch with a relo at Lindt. She leaves at 10:45am. I watch TV but end up getting tire and woozy.

12:15pm Physiotherapist, Satchen shows me what exercises and breathing I need to do. He gets me a pair of non slip socks and then takes me for a walk around the ward. Gets me to go up and down a set of stairs. Gives me a leaflet on the exercises.

12:30pm update my dairy. Watch Ellen.

1:08pm Lunch is served - chicken and vegie pie with carrots, peas and mashed potato.

Go for a walk around the ward. Ask the nurse for towels, and she just directs me to the trolley, so I help myself to 2 towels.

Watch tv, dose on and off.

Do a poo.

5pm shower for first time after surgery. Feels weird with my right side flat and indented.

6pm Bindy, Ange and Vanita visit bringing gifts and food after work. Bindy gives me a pink heart pillow, snacks, hand sanitizer, mini bricks ice cream. Vanita gives me a bunch of Daiso craft goodies. Needle felting kits and "boobie" jello. Chinese egg tarts, mini char siu bau and goodies to brighten me up.

Dinner also arrives. Eat and talk. Gave my sandwiches to Bindy and Ange.

They leave around 8pm to go out for dinner.

Watch Better Homes and Gardens Christmas special.

9:30pm go to sleep.

Wed 27 Nov 2019: Mastectomy Surgery

Wednesday 27 November 2019 - admitted into hospital for nipple sparing mastectomy.

Sick Leave - Med Cert (Y) Chris O'Brien Lifehouse Breast Clinic -  Surgery with Sanjay Warrier.

Wake up early. I take with me a foldable backpack - with pjs, toiletries, thongs and glasses.

Catch the 8:49am train to Newtown with JT.

9.30am Level 3 of COBLH. Admittance desk, check paperwork - they have the wrong phone number for Lily's contact details. Paid the $200 OPE with Visa.

10:30am still waiting in waiting room with JT.

10:45am Taken to pre surgery ward by nurse, Keira. My measurements are taken again. Height 149cm and weight 60.9kg.

Another form needs to be completed. Name, DOB, any allergies, teeth, medication.

Then I need to strip down to nothing, given a gown to wear and I can wear netting undies. Not sure which way to wear the gown, get it wrong, need to wear it with the opening in the back.

They then inject me with medication in my abdomen (needs to be fatty area), which regulates my blood flow.

11:15am they finally wheel me in to the anesthetic room by nurse Eric (Filipino). He preps me for the cables to hook up to the machines that monitor heart and pulse. Four spots stuck on my back. Then my pulse and blood pressure is taken.

11:30am Dr Ryan, the anesthetist comes in to check and preps me for an IV administration of anesthetic.

11:45am Dr Sanjay comes in. Looks at tape and markings. Removes the tapes. Takes photo of both breasts. Marks my breast with lines and dots and leaves.

Nurse Eric is back - puts on music from spotify.

Fellow, Dr Fred Hazim comes in - checks charts, but does nothing. Says Dr should be by to do markings.

Dr Gary comes in next, checks forms. Dr Sanjay and Dr Ryan comes back in. Dr Ryan administers 2 shots through the iv. Wheeled into the operating theatre.

12noon operating theatre. See that there is another bed in the room - wonder how they are going to get me on it. And like that I'm out like a light and unaware of the surgery.

2:15pm wake up in the recovery room. Nurse asks me if I am ok. Underarm is feeling painful but otherwise all ok. Not sure if she gives me anything through the IV. Asks for my name and DOB and next of kin. Says she will call JT. Nurse Ivan helps move me to my room Level 9 south 32. 

3:00pm Janet comes back to see me after the surgery.

Nurse Keira pops in. Checks pulse and blood pressure. Asks me if I'm hungry and then helps order me food. Choice of ham and cheese or egg mayo. Then orders dinner for tonight and breakfast tomorrow.

Turns on tablet and screen. I select tv, but after a while the table switches off. Need to call nurse to show me how it works.

4:30pm JT goes home. 

5:00pm Dr Sanjay and Dr Ananya comes in to check.  The inform me that they couldn't proceed with the insertion of the tissue expander. SPY machine indicated skin tissues weren't in a position for them to go ahead.  No wonder it seemed like a quick surgery. They only removed the lumps. My right breast is deflated. I am wearing a elastic bandeau bandage, which covers the bandages over my breast and the pico pressure pad, which is battery operated and applies pressure.  I will need to come back on Tuesday for further surgery, approx 1hr.

6:00pm nurse gives me 2 panadol tablets and another tablet to have with food.

6:30pm dinner arrives: Ham cheese tomato sandwich and roast beef with pumpkin and zucchini, chicken broth, sweet potato mash, apple juice. I am so hungry, I wolf it down and get hiccups. Quick drink water. Hiccups give me pain.

7:15pm Lily, Justin, Soph (brings a huge boxed native floral arrangement) and Kaylene come visit during dinner time. They bring my colouring book and packet chips, and my power bank.

7:30pm Nurse takes blood pressure, pulse, temp. Asks if I've peed yet.

7:45pm Family leaves, so I ask the nurse, what I need to do to go pee. Need to unhook my drain bag, and take it with me. Not difficult.

Watch the Arias.

8:40pm Daz and Jen drop by with hot chips and toum from El Jannah, but I am so full from dinner, I only have a bit of chips and toum.

9:10pm they leave.

10:30pm sleep.

Tue 26 Nov 2019: Lymphoscintigraphy

Tuesday 26 November 2019

Sick Leave - Med Cert (Y): Alfred Nuclear Medical - 1pm -4pm - lymphoscintigraphy

JT and I catch train to Newtown and walk to the medical centre. Get there at 12:50pm. Long wait. When I get called in, Dr Kevin London advises that the tests will take a while, so I let JT know, and she can go for a walk to the shops and explore. An ultrascan is done on my breast. Then he injects 5 injections of coloured dye.

1:30pm directed to another room to massage my breast - to promote the flow of the ink to my lymph nodes. Asked to change rooms, when they need the room I am in, twice.

2:00pm I'm back out in the waiting room. Let JT know that she can go home, no use waiting for me.

2:30pm They get me in the Camera room - take a photo of my front. Then told to lie down, I'm positioned and the camera is lowered above the breasts, very close to the face.  Then told to position my arms up. Same thing. Then sitting up - hard one to keep still with breasts up against camera. Then down again. With right arm above head. Then she draws on me and tapes me up. I can't scrub it off. Just need to wash and pat down.  The tape needs to be left on.

3:00pm Back out in the waiting room. Go to the toilet. Waiting for the 3D scan which is done by 3:30pm.

Pay for my scan. Have to wait 1/2 hr for the reports.

While waiting I get a call from COBLH informing me I have to pay $200 up front before surgery.

Get the reports and I am finished at 4pm. Walk to the train station. Sue Hoy calls to find out how it's going.

6:15pm Anita calls from COBLH - advised that my surgery gas been scheduled at 9:30am on level 3. Also advised that no food after 12midnight, can drink water up until 8:30am, but the anesthetist had said 6:30am.

Sue and Leonie drop by at 9pm to pick up SU goodies and catch up on the news. Stay for a cuppa and chat.

Mon 25 Nov 2019: Pre-surgery consult

Monday 25 November 2019

Sick Leave - Med Cert (Y): Chris O'Brien Lifehouse Breast Clinic - 1pm - blood test, anesthetist, breast care nurse appt.  Meet JT at station 12noon - catch train to Newtown.

Called Sophie and accepted costs for surgery - notified her that I will be going in as a private patient.

1pm Monday at Chris O'Brien Life House (COBLH).

Janet and I took the train and walked to the hospital.

See Sharyn at the Front Desk on level

Zoe Read is the registered nurse who calls me up.

Takes a reading of my height and weight: 61.9kg

I'm given 2 forms - 1 for pathology and 1 for chest x-ray.

They then take my blood pressure : 133/77

Connect me up and they take a heart reading as a baseline.

We're finished at 1:38pm with Zoe.

Next up I see Nicola Moore - an anesthetist.  She asks me a few questions.

Any allergies?

Any previous surgeries? I just tell her about my wisdom teeth removal.

Then she goes through the details of what happens, e.g. will be given anesthetic via the arm. An air tube will be inserted in the throat to help me breathe. Painkillers (tablets) would be given. Expect pain for a week.

We're finished with Nicola at 1:59pm

Next up we meet the Clinical Nurse, Helena, who runs us through what I can expect after surgery. Finish at 2:15pm

Then I need to go to pathology 3:19pm for blood tests - 3 vials are taken, so they can match the blood if required during surgery.

Then finally, x-ray at 3:36pm in medical imaging - x-ray is taken of my chest and left side.

Thu 21 Nov 2019: Surgical Consultation

Thursday 21 November 2019

1/2 Sick Leave (Med Cert (Y)) Chris O'Brien Life House Breast Clinic - 2pm -5pm Assoc Prof Sanjay Warrier. His team consists of Kate - Breast Nurse, and Sophie - billing. JT came with me.

Planned surgery:

31524 Right Breast, subcutaneous mastectomy (h) (Anaes.) (Assist.) $1,137.75 Rebate $528.45

45539 Right Breast reconstruction (unilateral), following mastectomy, using tissue expansion - insertion of tissue expansion unit and all attendances for subsequent expansion injections (Anaes.) (Assist) $3113.00 Rebate $1088.35

30300 Sentinel lymph node biopsy or biopsies for breast cancer, involving dissection in a level ii/iii axilla, using preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and lymphotropic dye injection, not being associated with a service to which items 30299, 30302, or 30303 applies (Assist) $584.75 Rebate $194.30

60506 Fluoroscopy using a mobile image intensifier, in conjunction with a surgical procedure lasting less than 1 hour, not being a service associated with a service to which another item in this table applies (R) (LSPN:007774) $435.00 Rebate $58.75

Total Fee: $5270.50

Estimated Rebate: $1869.85

Out of Pocket Costs: $3400.65

+ Anaesthetist fees $

Sophie calls at 3:35pm

Under private health cover, the material Flex HD is covered. If I go as a public patient, it would not be covered.

She gives me a verbal quote over the phone.

$5270.50 surgeon fee

$1869.85 rebate

$3400.65 Out of pocket expenses

Sat 16 Nov 2019: Lea Salonga in Concert

Sat 16 Nov 2019: Lea Salonga in Concert

Had lunch at VN City in Stratfield before heading out to the city and the Sydney Opera House to watch Lea Salonga with Janet, Lily and Mare.

Following the concert we visited the Botanic Gardens chasing the Koala Trail - looking for the rest of the koalas.

Sat 09 Nov 2019: Jenly's Cookware Demo

Sat 09 Nov 2019: Jenly's Cookware Demo

Jenly invited us to her place for a cooking ware demonstration which included lunch. 

Made leb bread pizza with bbq sauce, zucchini and ham - delicious.

After the demo, we went to Jacq's and ended up staying for dinner.

Fri 08 Nov 2019 - Bd News Day

Fri 8 November 2019 - Bad news day

My temporary crown fell out that morning. Tried to make an appointment, but no openings, so will have to wait until my other appointment where I get my crown.

Dr Appt. 12pm-1:30pm  - Waited for over an hr. Bad News Lump in breast is cancer - referred to Chris O'Brien Life House, RPA - they should contact me on Monday to make appt.

That afternoon, Mare asks if we want to go to the Burwood Public School fete - with LC, KC and Mare, came to pick us up. It was so windy.  We bought some Korean dumplings, then followed it with a hotdog.  Nothing much, so we walked across the road and visited Burwood Lib for an hour, to kill time. Rejoined the library and borrowed a book (Mare borrowed 4 books on my card) Books are due back on 30 Apr 2020. Then we walked to Clarendon Place (between Plaza and Chinese shops) for Duo Duo ice cream, because Mare and Kaylene had cravings. So over ice cream, I buried my sorrows. We were joined by Jacq and family, and Joy Li.

Wed 06 Nov 2019: Darren's Birthday

Wed 06 Nov 2019: Darren's Birthday

Family dinner at Macau Kitchen, Burwood.

Followed by cake at home. I had baked a Japanese cheesecake the night before.

Tue 05 Nov 2019: Biopsy to confirm Breast Cancer

Tue 5 November 2019

Sick Leave (MC) 9:30am-10.30am.  Biopsy - Campsie Medical Imaging. Took 2 samples by injection and then another 2 by staple sounding machine. Janet comes with me. We park in a car park. Janet goes for a wander to the shops, while I get the lumps in my breast checked.

Baked Japanese cheesecake for Daz's birthday

Sun 03 Nov 2019: Janet's Birthday

 Sun 03 Nov 2019: Janet's Birthday

Family dinner at Strathfield Sports club for dinner

Wed 30 Oct 2019: Mammogram and Ultrasound

Wed 30 October 2019

Sick Leave (MC) - Mammogram and ultrasound appt - 11:30am -1:30pm Campsie Medical Imaging. Lump in right breast. Janet, Lily and I drive to Campsie.  They go shopping, while I wait for my mammogram and ultrasound. We have Malaysian after my scan. It's a bit rushed as Lily also needs to go to a medical appointment, back in Burwood.

Cancer Notes - Right Breast Mastectomy

Friday 25 October 2019
Dr Appt 3:30pm
Ultrasound scan of abdomen - all ok - no signs of gall stones, all other organs ok.
Blood test results - fatty liver ok - but liver count is high - has jumped with each blood test. Need to find out why - requested further blood tests just for the liver. (Liver appt 24 Mar 2020 with Dr Emily Yi Jun He). Had blood test after this apt.
Cholesterol - also increased - may be due to increase in seafood - Hawaii holiday.
Blood pressure - everything ok
Heart monitored again - hooked up to ECG machine - will have to see what results were with next visit. (Results - apparently I have an irregular heartbeat.) Also had measurements taken - height, waist, hips and weight 61.9kg
Mentioned to Dr that I felt a lump in my right breast.  She examined it (felt my breast and confirmed that she could also feel a lump) - need to get mammogram and ultrasound.

Wed 30 October 2019
Sick Leave (MC) - Mammogram and ultrasound appt - 11:30am -1:30pm Campsie Medical Imaging. Lump in right breast. Janet, Lily and I drive to Campsie.  They go shopping, while I wait for my mammogram and ultrasound. We have Malaysian after my scan. It's a bit rushed as Lily also needs to go to a medical appointment, back in Burwood.

Tue 5 November 2019
Sick Leave (MC) 9:30am-10.30am.  Biopsy - Campsie Medical Imaging. Took 2 samples by injection and then another 2 by staple sounding machine. Janet comes with me. We park in a car park. Janet goes for a wander to the shops, while I get the lumps in my breast checked.
Baked Japanese cheesecake for Daz's birthday

Fri 8 November 2019 - Bad news day
My temporary crown fell out that morning. Tried to make an appointment, but no openings, so will have to wait until my other appointment where I get my crown.
Dr Appt. 12pm-1:30pm  - Waited for over an hr. Bad News Lump in breast is cancer - referred to Chris O'Brien Life House, RPA - they should contact me on Monday to make appt.
That afternoon, Mare asks if we want to go to the Burwood Public School fete - with LC, KC and Mare, came to pick us up. It was so windy.  We bought some Korean dumplings, then followed it with a hotdog.  Nothing much, so we walked across the road and visited Burwood Lib for an hour, to kill time. Rejoined the library and borrowed a book (Mare borrowed 4 books on my card) Books are due back on 30 Apr 2020. Then we walked to Clarendon Place (between Plaza and Chinese shops) for Duo Duo ice cream, because Mare and Kaylene had cravings. So over ice cream, I buried my sorrows. We were joined by Jacq and family, and Joy Li.

Tuesday 12 November 2019
Called Chris O'Brien Life House - staff said they would call back.

Wednesday 13 November 2019
Emailed Chris O'Brien Life House - got a call from Victoria - who registered me as a patient and sent me an email to confirm appointment on Thu 21 Nov, at 2pm, as well as forms to be completed.

Thursday 21 November 2019
1/2 Sick Leave (Med Cert (Y)) Chris O'Brien Life House Breast Clinic - 2pm -5pm Assoc Prof Sanjay Warrier. His team consists of Kate - Breast Nurse, and Sophie - billing. JT came with me.
Planned surgery:
31524 Right Breast, subcutaneous mastectomy (h) (Anaes.) (Assist.) $1,137.75 Rebate $528.45
45539 Right Breast reconstruction (unilateral), following mastectomy, using tissue expansion - insertion of tissue expansion unit and all attendances for subsequent expansion injections (Anaes.) (Assist) $3113.00 Rebate $1088.35
30300 Sentinel lymph node biopsy or biopsies for breast cancer, involving dissection in a level ii/iii axilla, using preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and lymphotropic dye injection, not being associated with a service to which items 30299, 30302, or 30303 applies (Assist) $584.75 Rebate $194.30
60506 Fluoroscopy using a mobile image intensifier, in conjunction with a surgical procedure lasting less than 1 hour, not being a service associated with a service to which another item in this table applies (R) (LSPN:007774) $435.00 Rebate $58.75
Total Fee: $5270.50
Estimated Rebate: $1869.85
Out of Pocket Costs: $3400.65
+ Anaesthetist fees $


Sophie calls at 3:35pm
Under private health cover, the material Flex HD is covered. If I go as a public patient, it would not be covered.

She gives me a verbal quote over the phone.
$5270.50 surgeon fee
$1869.85 rebate
$3400.65 Out of pocket expenses

Monday 25 November 2019
Sick Leave - Med Cert (Y): Chris O'Brien Lifehouse Breast Clinic - 1pm - blood test, anesthetist, breast care nurse appt.  Meet JT at station 12noon - catch train to Newtown.
Called Sophie and accepted costs for surgery - notified her that I will be going in as a private patient.

1pm Monday at Chris O'Brien Life House (COBLH).
Janet and I took the train and walked to the hospital.
See Sharyn at the Front Desk on level
Zoe Read is the registered nurse who calls me up.
Takes a reading of my height and weight: 61.9kg
I'm given 2 forms - 1 for pathology and 1 for chest x-ray.
They then take my blood pressure : 133/77
Connect me up and they take a heart reading as a baseline.
We're finished at 1:38pm with Zoe.
Next up I see Nicola Moore - an anesthetist.  She asks me a few questions.
Any allergies?
Any previous surgeries? I just tell her about my wisdom teeth removal.
Then she goes through the details of what happens, e.g. will be given anesthetic via the arm. An air tube will be inserted in the throat to help me breathe. Painkillers (tablets) would be given. Expect pain for a week.
We're finished with Nicola at 1:59pm
Next up we meet the Clinical Nurse, Helena, who runs us through what I can expect after surgery. Finish at 2:15pm
Then I need to go to pathology 3:19pm for blood tests - 3 vials are taken, so they can match the blood if required during surgery.
Then finally, x-ray at 3:36pm in medical imaging - x-ray is taken of my chest and left side.

Tuesday 26 November 2019
Sick Leave - Med Cert (Y): Alfred Nuclear Medical - 1pm -4pm - lymphoscintigraphy
JT and I catch train to Newtown and walk to the medical centre. Get there at 12:50pm. Long wait. When I get called in, Dr Kevin London advises that the tests will take a while, so I let JT know, and she can go for a walk to the shops and explore. An ultrascan is done on my breast. Then he injects 5 injections of coloured dye.
1:30pm directed to another room to massage my breast - to promote the flow of the ink to my lymph nodes. Asked to change rooms, when they need the room I am in, twice.
2:00pm I'm back out in the waiting room. Let JT know that she can go home, no use waiting for me.
2:30pm They get me in the Camera room - take a photo of my front. Then told to lie down, I'm positioned and the camera is lowered above the breasts, very close to the face.  Then told to position my arms up. Same thing. Then sitting up - hard one to keep still with breasts up against camera. Then down again. With right arm above head. Then she draws on me and tapes me up. I can't scrub it off. Just need to wash and pat down.  The tape needs to be left on.
3:00pm Back out in the waiting room. Go to the toilet. Waiting for the 3D scan which is done by 3:30pm.
Pay for my scan. Have to wait 1/2 hr for the reports.
While waiting I get a call from COBLH informing me I have to pay $200 up front before surgery.
Get the reports and I am finished at 4pm. Walk to the train station. Sue Hoy calls to find out how it's going.
6:15pm Anita calls from COBLH - advised that my surgery gas been scheduled at 9:30am on level 3. Also advised that no food after 12midnight, can drink water up until 8:30am, but the anesthetist had said 6:30am.
Sue and Leonie drop by at 9pm to pick up SU goodies and catch up on the news. Stay for a cuppa and chat.

Wednesday 27 November 2019 - admitted into hospital for nipple sparing mastectomy.
Sick Leave - Med Cert (Y) Chris O'Brien Lifehouse Breast Clinic -  Surgery with Sanjay Warrier.
Wake up early. I take with me a foldable backpack - with pjs, toiletries, thongs and glasses.
Catch the 8:49am train to Newtown with JT.
9.30am Level 3 of COBLH. Admittance desk, check paperwork - the have the wrong phone number for Lily's contact details. Paid the $200 OPE with Visa.
10:30am still waiting in waiting room with JT.
10:45am Taken to pre surgery ward by nurse, Keira. My measurements are taken again. Height 149cm and weight 60.9kg.
Another form needs to be completed. Name, DOB, any allergies, teeth, medication.
Then I need to strip down to nothing, given a gown to wear and I can wear netting undies. Not sure which way to wear the gown, get it wrong, need to wear it with the opening in the back.
They then inject me with medication in my abdomen (needs to be fatty area), which regulates my blood flow.
11:15am they finally wheel me in to the anesthetic room by nurse Eric (Filipino). He preps me for the cables to hook up to the machines that monitor heart and pulse. Four spots stuck on my back. Then my pulse and blood pressure is taken.
11:30am Dr Ryan, the anesthetist comes in to check and preps me for an IV administration of anesthetic.
11:45am Dr Sanjay comes in. Looks at tape and markings. Removes the tapes. Takes photo of both breasts. Marks my breast with lines and dots and leaves.
Nurse Eric is back - puts on music from spotify.
Fellow, Dr Fred Hazim comes in - checks charts, but does nothing. Says Dr should be by to do markings.
Dr Gary comes in next, checks forms. Dr Sanjay and Dr Ryan comes back in. Dr Ryan administers 2 shots through the iv. Wheeled into the operating theatre.
12noon operating theatre. See that there is another bed in the room - wonder how they are going to get me on it.
2:15pm wake up in the recovery room. Nurse asks me if I am ok. Underarm is feeling painful but otherwise all ok. Not sure if she gives me anything through the iv. Asks for my name and DOB and next of kin. Says she will call JT. Nurse Ivan helps move me to my room Level 9 south 32. 
3:00pm Janet comes back to see me after the surgery.
Nurse Keira pops in. Checks pulse and blood pressure. Asks me if I'm hungry and then helps order me food. Choice of ham and cheese or egg mayo. Then orders dinner for tonight and breakfast tomorrow.
Turns on tablet and screen. I select tv, but after a while the table switches off. Need to call nurse to show me how it works.
4:30pm JT goes home. 
5:00pm Dr Sanjay and Dr Ananya comes in to check.  The inform me that they couldn't proceed with the insertion of the tissue expander. SPY machine indicated skin tissues weren't in a position for them to go ahead.  No wonder it seemed like a quick surgery. They only removed the lumps. My right breast is deflated. I am wearing a elastic bandeau bandage, which covers the bandages over my breast and the pico pressure pad, which is battery operated and applies pressure.  I will need to come back on Tuesday for further surgery, approx 1hr.
6:00pm nurse gives me 2 panadol tablets and another tablet to have with food.
6:30pm dinner arrives: Ham cheese tomato sandwich and roast beef with pumpkin and zucchini, chicken broth, sweet potato mash, apple juice. I am so hungry, I wolf it down and get hiccups. Quick drink water. Hiccups give me pain.
7:15pm Lily, Justin, Soph (brings a huge boxed native floral arrangement) and Kaylene come visit during dinner time. They bring my colouring book and packet chips, and my power bank.
7:30pm Nurse takes blood pressure, pulse, temp. Asks if I've peed yet.
7:45pm Family leaves, so I ask the nurse, what I need to do to go pee. Need to unhook my drain bag, and take it with me. Not difficult.
Watch the Arias.
8:40pm Daz and Jen drop by lwith hot chips and toum from El Jannah, but I am so full from dinner, I only have a bit of chips and toum.
9:10pm they leave.
10:30pm sleep.

Thursday 28 November 2019
Wake up at 3am - feeling some pain, so call nurse to give me some pain killers.
I'm woken up at 6am by nurse who takes my blood pressure, pulse and temperature. My BP is low - told to drink more water. Given a panadol which I can take whenever and a pain killer, which I need to take with food.
6:30am I have an antibiotic drip inserted.
7:00am Nurse comes in to flush the antibiotic drip. Brings me 2 bottles of water.
7:20am Dr comes in with locums. Checks dressing. Advises breast care nurse will be in to show me how to do things. May be discharged today??
7:23am Nurses changeover
7:45am Dr Gary comes in with consent for for SPY, tissue expander and flex aid surgery to be signed. Someone will contact me re appt time on Tuesday.
8:18am Dr Ryan pops in to check on pain - tell him I'm ok.
8:45am breakfast is served. Lifehouse breakfast - 1 slice toasted bown bread. Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, grilled tomato. Apple juice, chocolate milk. Congee with chicken.
Daz visits with a banana berry smoothie and a slice of banana bread.
9:30am Kate, the breast care nurse shows me how to change the drain bag. How to unclip the battery pack from the pressure pad. Talk to her about my discharge - she will talk to the ward nurse. Gives me a set of drainage bags. Need to see how the nurse changes it.
10:00am Daz leaves.
10:10am Mare drops in for a visit. On her way to have lunch with a relo at Lindt. She leaves at 10:45am. I watch TV but end up getting tire and woozy.
12:15pm Physiotherapist, Satchen shows me what exercises and breathing I need to do. He gets me a pair of non slip socks and then takes me for a walk around the ward. Gets me to go up and down a set of stairs. Gives me a leaflet on the exercises.
12:30pm update my dairy. Watch Ellen.
1:08pm Lunch is served - chicken and vegie pie with carrots, peas and mashed potato.
Go for a walk around the ward. Ask the nurse for towels, and she just directs me to the trolley, so I help myself to 2 towels.
Watch tv, dose on and off.
Do a poo.
5pm shower for first time after surgery. Feels weird with my right side flat and indented.
6pm Bindy, Ange and Vanita visit bringing gifts and food after work. Bindy gives me a pink heart pillow, snacks, hand sanitizer, mini bricks ice cream. Vanita gives me a bunch of Daiso craft goodies. Needle felting kits and "boobie" jello. Chinese egg tarts, mini char siu bau and goodies to brighten me up.
Dinner also arrives. Eat and talk. Gave my sandwiches to Bindy and Ange.
They leave around 8pm to go out for dinner.
Watch Better Homes and Gardens Christmas special.
9:30pm go to sleep.

Friday 29 November 2019
4pm wake up to do a poo.
Feel some pain, buzz the nurse for panadol.
7am. Dr Gary and 2 others do the rounds. Check wounds and dressing. Says I'm ok to go home today. Says I should try and do normal stuff. I ask if its ok to get my hair done and he 'says "no reason, why not".
Once they leave, I'm up again to do a poo, which is getting back to normal colour.
7:30am nurses handover.
9am breakfast is served. Omelette is overdone. Have vegemite on toast. Chocolate milk.
Need to poo again.
Get changed.
Pharmacist sees me about medication - need to pick uo on level 1 on the way out.
Nurse takes blood pressure etc. Back to normal like when I first came in.
Nurse removes iv. Gives me extra drain bags. I ask what needs to be done, she says when I am ready to go, I just need to let them know, once I've arranged pickup.
Discharge papers given.
11:20am I let LC and JT know.  Had to go via lvl 1 pharmacy and get medication. $33.30.
12noon they come to pick me up. Miss out on lunch - bugger.
1:00pm back home and I have a surprise waiting for me. LTS staff have sent me a bunch of flowers.
2:30pm have a cup of noodle with roast pork and cucumber.
3:00pm Jacq gives Kaylene a lift back and stops in for a visit.
5:00pm Linda Savirak visits and brings a bag of mandarins, as well as a bag of assorted tim tam biscuits.
Seeto's also arrive to visit, bringing ingredients to make beef noodle pho. Which JT and A. Cath preps.
7:30pm have dinner - small bowl of beef noodle pho.
9:30pm shower. Wear compression socks as legs are feeling bloated.
10:00pm change my drain bag (80-90ml) - take photo.
Have a choc mint tim tam.
10:30pm brush teeth and go to bed.

Tuesday 3 December 2019
7:30am Lily drops Janet and I at COBLH
8:00am back on level 3 Day surgery waiting room. Apparently Dr Sanjay has been called in for another surgery.
10:30am finally wheeled in to prep room. Assistant anethestist puts the canula in.
Dr Sanjay comes in and removes my bandage. Checks the nipple - says it's a bit dark, bruised, but it should be ok.
SPY machine is used again. Dr Ryan injects the dye  and they use the machine to check the nipple. Says it's all good to proceed with surgery.
Nurse puts monitor pads on hairline above head - to measure brain and heart.
Wheel me in to operating theatre. Dr Ryan administers the anesthesia. I check out the operating theatre. They put my bed beside the bed in the theatre and the nurse asks me to scoot over, which I do. And I am out like a light.
12noon wake up in the recovery area. Nurse Cheng checks if I am ok. Asks name, DOB, etc.
12:30pm Feeling a bit of pain - notify nurse and get injected with a painkiller.
1:00pm Taken up to Level 9, Room 33. Nurse Charlotte is on duty.
1:45pm eating lunch - egg and mayo on brown bread. Apple juice. Cheese and crackers, eat the crackers - give the cheese to Kaylene when she visits.
2:30pm LC and JT visit. Bring my jewellery, phone and snack food.
Nurse comes in to take my blood pressure.
Student nurse comes in and is shown what to look for. Shown the drains, I now have 2 bags and the pico bandage.
Given an Endone tablet for the pain.
Another nurse gets shown how to insert the antibiotic drip.
More BP, temp and pulse taken.
Kaylene comes after work and after visiting Priti next door.  Needs to empty and dry her carry bag. Her bottle of water leaked.
4:45pm they leave.
5:00pm nurse gives me panadol.
Go for a pee and change into my pj's out of the hospital gown.
6:00pm dinner is served.Eat everything bar the sandwiches and lemonade. Pretty good dinner.
Watch 7 news.
Watch The Project
7:30pm nurse change over
Eat sandwiches
Go for a walk around the ward twice.
Get water
Get back to my room and I start to feel dizzy, then nauseous.  Can feel the sandwich coming back up.  Rush into the bathroom and puke in the toilet, but I end up with some puke on me. Clean myself up. Have also peed my pants.  Need to change my undies.
Get myself back into bed and call nurse.
Ask for panadol/painkiller.
Sweating and I'm sure my BP is low.
2:40pm get up to pee. Check my phone and see that LC has posted photo of JT in Concord Hospital.  She was washing clothes and got dizzy. Apparently Nathan found here lying on the couch downstairs. Mark drove her and LC to Concord Hospital.
LC stayed with her until the doctors told her to go home. Got Mark to pick her up at 5am.

Wednesday 4 December 2019
Woken up by nurse to have BP, pulse and temp taken.
7:30am breakfast.
Dr Gary Sharp checks in. I ask him about Melbourne travel - says it should be ok.
Dr Daniel Oh checks in. Asks me about Melbourne travel and forms I need to complete to travel - he fills them in, signs them and gets them back to me.
Kate, the breast care nurse checks in.
Lunch is served.
Email the forms to Qantas.
LC, ES and CS visit.  Also told that they are closing down level 9 and I need to move level 8 room 8.
Views aren't as great and seems smaller.
Have a shower and change my clothes, which LC brought for me.
6:30pm dinner time
After I have eaten, they leave to go visit JT, who is still in hospital - she needs to go through more tests.
8:30pm Daz drops in for a visit.
9:30pm Take antibiotics
11:00pm can't sleep - have a painkiller and panadol.
Nurse changes my drains.

Thursday 5 December 2019
6am Check BP, temp and pulse.
Pee and poo.
Feel so tired.
7:30am Doctors do the rounds. Says my drains need rebandaging. Also says I should be good to go home today. We'll see how it goes.
8:00am do a pee and a poo.
9:00am Breakfast
Ask for a panadol - as I have a headache.
Nurse comes in to take the canula out. She also changes the dressing on my drains.
9:50am nurse comes in to take blood for testing
12 noon I have a shower.  Have lunch.
Message Jenny, who can pick me up and take me home. Lily is out with her walking group and Janet is still at Concord.
2:56pm Jenny drops in to pick me up.  Stops in Enmore to get some takeaway, before we head to Concord Hospital to visit Janet.
Janet also gets discharged, while we are visiting - lucky, Jenny is available.
Kaylene and Nathan goes to the Khalid concert - if I wasn't sick - I would have gone.


Thursday 12 December 2019
11:15am appt with Dr Sanjay Warrier at Clinic B Level 2 COBLH
Apparently cancer was level 1 and slow growing. No cancer was found in the lymph nodes. I will just need tablets. No need for chemo or radiation. I need to see the oncologist.  His team will arrange and contact me about the appointment.
I get a medical certificate to cover work up until 20 March 2020. Make follow-up appointment on Monday 16 March 2020 at 9am.
11:45am see Kate the breast care nurse. She checks and removes the bandage, checks the nipple.  Checks the drains. Only 1 of them can be removed.
12:45pm I have to get another blood test done.

Tuesday 18 December 2019
1:30pm Appt: Kate - breast care nurse to remove drains at COBLH. Finally get my second drain removed.

Thursday 16 January 2020
2:30pm Dr Catriona McNeil, Oncologist, COBLH - Level 2, Clinic D.
Given a card which I need to show when I go in for appt. Need to take height and weight meaasurements. 148cm and 62kg. Parking $5.
Dr Omali Pitujaracher explains treatment and gives me once over before Dr Catriona does the same again.
No need for radiation or chemo - just need to take tablets - Tamoxifen, once a day. Given a prescription.
See receptionist to make follow up appointment on Thursday 30 April 2020 at 10:30am

Fri 25 Oct 2019: Routine Health Check - not so routine after all

Friday 25 October 2019

Dr Appt 3:30pm

Ultrasound scan of abdomen - all ok - no signs of gall stones, all other organs ok.

Blood test results - fatty liver ok - but liver count is high - has jumped with each blood test. Need to find out why - requested further blood tests just for the liver. (Liver appt 24 Mar 2020 with Dr Emily Yi Jun He). Had blood test after this apt.

Cholesterol - also increased - may be due to increase in seafood - Hawaii holiday.

Blood pressure - everything ok

Heart monitored again - hooked up to ECG machine - will have to see what results were with next visit. (Results - apparently I have an irregular heartbeat.) Also had measurements taken - height, waist, hips and weight 61.9kg

Mentioned to Dr that I felt a lump in my right breast.  She examined it (felt my breast and confirmed that she could also feel a lump) - need to get mammogram and ultrasound.

Granny Smith Festival 2019

Saturday 19 October 2019

Walked to Burwood Plaza to get a blood test done at the lab. Got there before it opened at 9am, but someone else beat me to the numbers and I ended up with 2 - still ok and was seen in no time. Got my blood test done and it was off to my next appointment at Burwood Medical Imaging at 10am - but was still early, so I walked through the Plaza then on to Burwood Road and walked all the way up to the end of the shops and back down again. So many new Chinese restaurants and eateries.

9:50am walked into Medical Imaging place and gave details. Signed a consent form before being told to take a seat.  Waiting room was full of people. I hadn't eaten or drunk anything after 10pm the night before, but for sips of water after the Tattoo.

Whilst waiting, a young girl and her friends came in - she was kicking up a stink with the receptionist, as her booking had been messed up and they had booked her in to some other place which was closer to her home. But since she was here, she asked them to slot her in, which they did.  The thing was, her friends and her were making fun of every Chinese patient that got called - saying their names. All I could hear were snide remarks and complaints from this girl.

I was chatting to our group - saying here were all these patients having to drink copious amounts of water and not being able to go pee, and here I was, not allowed to drink or eat anything.  Apparently she was reading my chat over my shoulder and said so to her friends something like "of course I need to pee, this lady here is writing about me"  - So I turned around and told her off for reading over my shoulder - what right did she have reading my private conversation. She the said " Oh- she speaks English" - that got me more furious, so I tore into her and her friends - saying they had no right to speak about other people the way they had.  They shut up after that.

After all that she got called before I did or anyone else that was waiting.  A guy that was waiting actually got up and complained that they slotted her in before him or anyone else that was waiting.  Lucky for them, I got called up, otherwise if someone else was called, I would have also complained. It was nearly 11am by then, 1 hr later.

Anyway the scanning lady apologised for keeping me waiting. Got me on the bed, and then popped out, saying she was going to check my previous scan.  Came back later and apparently my previous scan was for my knee. Told her I had been scanned elsewhere for my abdomen.

So on the bed, I could keep my clothes on, just had to hike my top up and pull my pants down to expose my belly. She scanned liver, gall bladder, kidneys. Finished up and said my results would be available Monday and an email would be sent to notify me.  I can look them up online.

So hungry by then, I first bought myself a tiger milk tea and then I went to buy pork rolls for myself and family. Walked home and had my pork roll.

After eating, Lily, Janet, Kaylene and I headed out to catch the train to Eastwood for the Granny Smith Festival.  Mare had already gone with her cousins. Managed to find her in the crowds, but then she was on her way home.  Also saw Carmen, Francis and Andrew - they were buying jewellery for Maggie. Lily asked me if it was Carmen - took a closer look and it wasn't until I saw Francis that it was confirmed.  Went up to her and we had a chat. Took a selfie with her, which I sent to A.Ping.

Bought portuguese tarts 4 for $15 - so we all had one and sugar cane juice, for Lily, Kaylene and myself - Janet didn't want for $7 each for a large.

Checked out the stalls - said hi to Casey who was selling his Lego.  Went to Aldi, because Janet wanted to buy some castor wheels which were on sale that week, then caught the train back home.

Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Friday 18 October 2019

Mare bought last minute, two for one, tickets to the Tattoo, for us, whilst we were in Hawaii. $95.65pp. I paid for 4 tix $382.60 to Mare. Otherwise they would have been $189 each.

Finished work at 4:30pm

Jacq gave Kaylene a lift from work and got home 4:45pm. They stopped by her mum's place to check on kids.

5:00pm Dinner at Hiroba. Mare joined us later 5:30pm as she had piano lessons to give.

6:35pm caught the express train to Olympic Park - it was packed with people from Central and Redfern. But we managed to squeeze on.

Found our seats - Gate G, Section 116-2 Aisle 115 Row 36 - Seats 37 - LC, 38 - JT , 39- KC, 40 - MT, 41 - ML, 42 - JC

7:15pm preshow start with announcements and governor general opening the proceedings.

7:30pm show starts

The term "Tattoo" comes from the early 17th century Dutch phrase doe den tap toe ("turn off the tap"), a signal sounded by drummers or trumpeters to instruct innkeepers near military garrisons to stop serving beer and for soldiers to return to their barracks, and is unrelated to the Tahitian origins of an ink tattoo.

They had the scottish bagpipers, the  marching bands, drill teams, a highlight were the secret Swiss precision drummers, a first appearance by the PNG marching band. Performers from the Pacific islands, Samoa, PNG, Solomon Islands, Fiji and NZ, Indonesian drummers, and interpersed between performances were Aboriginal dancers telling stories from the dreamtime.  The finale had singers from navy, army and air force joined by John Paul Young singing "Love is in the Air" - not quite what you expect at a Tattoo. But it did finish off with choirs, performers and audience joining in to sing "Auld Lang Syne"

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,and auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my jo, for auld lang syne,
we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp!
and surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

11:00pm caught the train to Lidcombe and then changed for train to Strathfield - was quicker and less packed than the express to Central from OPark.

Koala Trail at Botanic Gardens

Sunday 13 October 2019

A day outing with Fiona to hunt for koalas at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney.  Joined by Mare, Jacq, Richard, Oliver and Juliette.

Lily, Janet and I met up with Mare at Strathfield station and headed out to Town Hall - changed trains to Martin Place. Walked to the Moreshead Fountain gate which Janet had suggested as our meeting point.  Kaylene came on her own, as she was late getting up.

Met up with Jacq and family at the Calyx.

Went hunting for koalas. Took photos with Fiona and then she'd find somewhere to sit, while we continued taking more photos.

Lunch at Botanic House - dining by Luke Nguyen. Lucky to get a table. Ended up with 12 of us. Jacq's Uncle and Aunt from HK also joined us for lunch.

Mare left straight after she ate - piano lessons.

By the time we finished it was already around 3pm. So we made tracks and walked back to Martin Place. Said out goodbyes - the Cheongs were going to wander around city looking for manga book shops for Oliver.

Got home around 5pm

Then headed over to Seeto's for belated birthday dinner for Bindy.  Had been volunteered to decorate the cake.

Dinner had been prepped and cooked by Evan and A.Cath who piked on the outing to chase koalas, so that they could surprise Bindy.

No much of a surprise, because Bindy was there before all of us.

We gave her a travel set of cutlery and Costco bag of mixed fruit chips(MT), perfume roller ball (JT), Lorna Bradley coin purse (LC)

Mount Annan Botanic Gardens

Monday 7 October 2019

Labour Day Public Holiday

Seemed a shame to waste such a nice day, so I suggested we take a drive to the Mt Annan gardens - no planning.

Evan and A. Cath came over and then we took the white car with Lily, Janet and I.  Kaylene had gone to the gym and was having lunch with friends.

I drove - following gps which took me the back streets via Liverpool and Campbelltown.

Finally got to the gardens and we took a drive around first - it's very big with lots of areas for picnics. Before heading back to main area where the spring flowers were on display.

Took photos - walked the gardens.  Should have packed a picnic lunch, or stopped to buy food on the way, but didn't.

We were all starving by the time we got home.

Made Hainan chicken rice and gorged ourselves.

Cirque du Soleil - Kurios

Sunday 6 October 2019

SL paid for tickets. 

Trained it to Central - lunch at Market City 

Walk back to Central and take the bus to Entertainment Qtr where we wait for Soph and family.  They haven't eaten yet, so they buy some noodles to eat.

Seats are ok. We watch the show.

Kurios: Cabinet of Curiosities. Created and directed by Michel Laprise, it looks at a late 19th-century world inventor who invents a machine that defies the laws of time, space, and dimension in order to reinvent everything around him with steampunk elements featuring characters from another dimension that interact with him and a tribute to the power of the human imagination.

11h11 (Opening)
Steampunk Telegram (Aerial Bike)
Bella Donna Twist (Chaos Synchro 1900)
Gravity Levitas (Russian Cradle)
Monde inversé (Upside Down World)
Dinner guests are stunned by the telekinetic powers of one of their table companions who can make a chandelier suspended above their heads move. Another guest challenges him by piling up chairs in an attempt to reach the chandelier. All of a sudden, the group realizes that their exact double exists in a parallel universe right above them where the same scene is unfolding... but upside down!

Hypnotique (Contortion)
Deep-sea creatures that embody electric eels inside the Seeker’s cabinet come to life in this stunning, fast-paced and fluid contortion act. The wriggling artists execute a series of incredible pyramids and figures at an astonishing pace using the Mechanical Hand as a platform.

Nico
The perfect handyman, Nico is a little shy, a tad awkward, and extremely sensitive. Nico’s accordion costume allows him to bend way down or stand way up so he can be at eye level with absolutely everyone.

Departure (Theater of hands/Transition into Rola Bola)
Fearsome Flight (Rola Bola)
A fearless Aviator who happens to be an expert in the discipline of rola bola makes a soft, graceful landing in his small propeller plane, which he will use as a platform. Balanced on his impressive, tottering structure, the artist and his cylinders and planks rest on a platform built into a trapeze Washington. The suspended apparatus moves up and down and swings in a long pendulum motion – an incredible feat requiring an extraordinary sense of balance.

Clouds (Acro Net)
Above a vast ocean, underwater creatures pirouette, bounce and rebound on a net that covers the entire stage. Their street-style performance is mixed with pure trampoline techniques.
Créature de siam (Aerial Straps Duo)
Wat U No Wen (Banquine)

You Must be Joking (Finale)

Then we catch the bus back to Central

Take the light rail to Exhibition 

Have afternoon tea and kurtosh at Darling Qtr 

Then train back to Strathfield.

Honolulu Day 15: Friday 27 September 2019 - Honolulu to Sydney

Friday 27 September 2019 - Honolulu to Sydney

6:30am wakeup - lie in bed checking FB. Think about going for a last walk on the beach, but bed is too tempting and my clothes are already packed.

8:00am breakfast - leftover pastries - too many - others are all up.

9:00am head down to wait for cab, which Kaylene has ordered.

9:44am the Hello Cab finally comes to pick us up - I think he went to the wrong hotel. Say our goodbyes to Daz, Jen and Christy, who are staying on for an extra day or two.

10:48am Pass through security and in boarding area. Buy Starbucks Strawberry acai refresher for myself and Kaylene.

LC buys roast pork and prime beef combos, so we find a place to sit and eat.

11:55am final toilet stop as we walk to gates.

12:10pm boarding.

Seats 40G, 40E for JT and I, and 42B, C, D for KC, LC and MC.

12:43pm taxi to runway as they play the safety video.

12:58pm up in the air.

Watch the rest of "Poms".

Lunch is meatballs, capsicum with rice, a pineapple cookie and apple juice.

Watch "Little"

3:55pm watch "Widows"

6:02pm watch "The Mule"

8:00pm watch "Breakthrough"

10:00pm watch "Penguins"

Served sandwiches and macadamia nut chocolate with apple juice.

11:30pm/7:30pm  Landed and still in the plane - they are quarantine spraying.

1:02am/9:02pm Home sweet home.

Honolulu Day 14: Thursday 26 September 2019 - D and J Circle Island Tour

Thursday 26 September 2019 - D and J Circle Island Tour

7:00am
8:45am have a cinnamon malasada for breakfast.
9:45am Daz and Jen have hired the car from Hertz, they have an office on the first floor of our hotel.

Daz drives, Jen is navigator and tour guide. First stop is the Dole Plantation.

10:30am - we check out the shop. Daz, Jen and Kaylene buy dole whip ice cream.  I buy a pack of dried pineapples and pineapple gummies. Have a quick look around, but don't have time to spend all day here.

So we head off towards the north shore. 

11:30am Haleiwa Beach - a crowd has gathered to watch turtles surfing and hitting the rocks at the beach.

12:30pm after we had no luck trying to find a parking spot at Waimea Beach, we head to the Waimea Valley and end up swimming in the Waimea Falls.  Daz pays for entry, and gets his mum and dad in as seniors.  Walk all the way to the waterfall. There is a kiosk set up and if you want to swim, you need to wear a vest.  I am so OK with that. Jen and Daz are already in the water. I slip and slide entering in, as the rocks are so slippery from algae. But once in, it's so nice. I have even forgotten to take my fitbit off. Kaylene points this out and helps me out by swimming it back to where Mark is on the rocks.

Next it's off to the food vans. Past 2 shrimp places, before we decide to stop at Romy's Garlic Shrimp farm.  Lily and Darren pays for the food.  We find a table and sit and wait. It's going to take at least 30-45min.  They ordered a pound of steamed shrimp with rice. 1/2 pound steamed shrimp with rice, edamame, 2 packs of garlic butter shrimps - includes rice and salad. We sit and eat overlooking the shrimp ponds. A passing cloud brings rain, but quickly passes.

Back on the road
Stop at Kahana Beach - check out the beach - do some writing in the sand, take photos.
Stop at Chinaman's Hat beach - take photos
5:30pm back on the road and head back to Waikiki.
6:00pm on the the highway back into Waikiki. Heavy traffic heading back in.
6:15pm Daz fills up petrol at Shell Station. DC pays.
Then he drops us off at the hotel, while he and Jen go to drop off the car.
Have a shower
Go down to LC's unit.
Head down to check out the farmers market, which we saw as we were driving back to the hotel.
I withdraw USD$200 from the Bank of Hawaii atm. I finally have some cash.
Buy a pack of taro chips USD$5 - no tax at markets.
Others buy pastries and sago pudding.
Head back to hotel and stop by Poke Bar to by poke. Daz and Jen are already inside eating.
8:30pm back in LC's room and eat our poke.
10:30pm back in room - packing.
11:00pm sleeping.

Honolulu Day 13: Wednesday 25 September 2019 - Waikele Premium Outlets

Wednesday 25 September 2019 - Waikele Premium Outlets
It's a rainy day

$10 return shuttle to outlets (JT pays for me). 9am pickup.
8:30am, we're out the door.
9:00am and we're still waiting for the shuttle. The small one fills up quickly. Wait and a bigger bus arrives. Lily just happens to stand where the bus stops and is the first one at the door. The driver checks tickets and takes no flack from the crowd who wants to push in. Form 1 single line and then he lets us on the bus.

When we get to the outlets, I'm the first to head to the Info desk to get the outlet passbook of discount vouchers.

10:00am - 10:20am Adidas - buy a white jacket and 2 shorts, navy and white. I also pay for Daz and Jen, LC and KC - so that we can use the voucher in the Outlet passbook. USD $121.37
10:30am -11:40am BR - buy 1 dress, 3 tops, 2 skirts, 3 shorts and manage to get 1 for free, which the cashier didn't scan. USD$204.21
11:50am - 12:24pm Kate Spade - 1 handbag and 1 wallet USD $146.45
12:40pm - 12:50pm Gap - buy a top for $5.23
The rain is easing, so I make my way to the van. No queues.
12:52pm Leonard's Bakery van - buy a 6 pack malasada - 2 custard, 2 coconut and 2 cinnamon for USD$9.63
Walk back to the building housing Gap, wait for Lily and Kaylene who are headed this way. Sit outside Gap and eat the malasadas. Mind LC and KC shopping when they head to Old Navy to have a look. I've already bought too much, so I don't go.
It starts to rain again as we head back to the other side.
2:15pm we wait for the shuttle which will pick at 2:30pm
As we are waiting, Jen discovers if you spend over $1000 using the Citi card, you can redeem a carry-on luggage. So we pool all our receipts and give her our cards and she dashes to the information desk. Comes back just as we are about to board with her bag, and find out that it's all suppose to be on the one card, but she sweet talked them into giving her the bag.
2:40pm we're on board the shuttle bus and head back to Waikiki.
3:20pm we walk back to the hotel.
4:10pm decide to buy poke from Poke Bar
6:30pm we head out with DC, JD, Christy, KC and JT for more shopping. Daz and Jen go for more food at Yochoko Alley.
7:00pm We walk into Sephora. KC buys her stuff. I buy tinted moisturiser for USD$18.
7:55pm head to Ross - Christy wants to return her shoes. End up buying padlocks and a pack of taro chips, JT pays. Walk back via RHSC and Sheraton, check out the shops.
Walk past Denny's - about to go in, but I open my big mouth and mentioned "pancakes". So they change their minds and we head towards IHOP.  Get there and find out that it is closed for renovations. So we turn around and walk back to Denny's. Christy orders a cheese toasty USD$7.99 and JT orders a nachos share plate USD$20 for the 3 of us.
9:30pm eat our meal.
10:30pm back in room. Shower
DC and JD get back. They tell us that they are hiring a minivan for tomorrow.  Pick up is at 9am.
11:00pm sleep.

Honolulu Day 12: Tuesday 24 September 2019 - Ala Moana Shopping

Tuesday 24 September 2019 - Ala Moana Shopping

7:00am get up but lie in bed.
8:00am update diary
9:30am LC, KC, JD and I head downstairs to the lobby for ukelele lessons with Caz.
10:25am head to Ala Moana.
11:00am get to Ala Moana - split up.
I head to Ann Taylor - but find nothing.
Look in BR and buy a top.
Head to Uniqlo - buy airism camisoles and shorts.
Go to Famous Footwear - buy a pair of Skechers sandals.
Buy Starbucks refresher - very berry hibiscus refresher - KC pays
1:30pm meet up with others for lunch in foodcourt - garlic shrimps and shrimp scampi pasta.
3:00pm go shopping with KC
Victoria's Secret - 3 bras - buy 2 get 1 free.
Pacsun - buy a sundress and a top for KC.
Back at hotel.
Check out Cheesecake Factory - but they are busy, it will be a 1 hr wait. So we try Duke's.  Also a wait, but Daz tries again and we manage to get a table.
7:19pm Dinner @ Duke's - shared Baby back prok ribs, Coconut ginger braised seafood, shrimp pasta, and salad. Endless summer cocktail (tropical blend of mango, citrus vodka with guava, coconut, and passion fruit juice)
Walk back after dinner
9:30pm shower and pack my shopping.
10:00pm bed

Honolulu Day 11: Monday 23 September 2019 - Waikiki

Monday 23 September 2019 - Waikiki

Rest day  and it's raining

8:00am up but lying in bed
9:30am go up to the pool deck to get some sun. Others join me later, but they only manage to just get a swim in. The sun disappears and clouds come rolling in.
10:00am it's raining
Head back to our room and have a shower.
Breakfast - is 1/2 a sandwich with ham, lettuce and tomatoes. Nutrigrain trailmix and a banana.
As we head out, it's raining heavily. Mark stays in.
11:00am we head to Ross. I end up buying a top, tennis pants, shapewear and shoes.
1:40pm finally finish at Ross
2:00pm have lunch in the RHSC food court. Mark joins us. Have Kazan ramen express - shiyo ramen USD$10, and Steak and garlic shrimps USD$12.
Kaylene and I got to toilets on 4th floor, on the way back, we get a Dole whip float USD$7.33
Check out Kate Spade. Walk through and down to the street level.
4:13pm Walk through the International Marketplace. Check out the Samsonite shop.
4:30pm - 6:00pm Nordstrom Rack. Buy tops anad necklaces.
6:00pm Go down to the stage to watch the hula show at 6:30pm.  Unfortunately, the traditional hula can't be shown as the stage is wet, but the other dances are still on.
Kaylene and I have a look in Pandora to kill time - bad mistake - end up buying Aladdin's lamp USD$90, Flounder USD$65 and Little Mermaid USD$65.
Have dinner at Paia Fish Market - JT pays from the kitty. We have fish and chips, deep fried calamari, deep fried shrimp, grilled salmon cajun style with home fries, coleslaw and garden salad.
Mark doesn't eat with us, he goes back to room - buys cheap food.
Walk through Dukes Lane.
Go into Coco Cove to buy mochi ice cream - queues are long at the cashiers. Buy a 6 pack USD$7.99 - 2 lychees, 2 mango, 1 green tea and 1 strawberry.
Have to eat it straight away as it's melting.
Walk into H and M - buy a skirt, dress and top.
10:30pm back at hotel.
Daz and Jen have arrived and are on the way from the airport.
11:00pm head down to the lobby to greet them. Mark acts as the porter.
Catch up.
12:00am pack away the stuff I bought.
1:00am sleeping.

Honolulu Day 10: Sunday 22 September 2019 - Ala Moana Shopping

Sunday 22 September 2019 - Ala Moana Shopping
8:30am walk down to beach with KC and LC.  The AVB volleyball competition is on.
9:30am back at hotel room
10:00am have breakfast - joong and bau.
11:00am walk to Ala Moana.
12:15pm walk into T-mobile - Christy needs to get a SIM card.
BR - buy tops
Abercrombie and Fitch - nothing
1:35pm Gap - nothing
2:30pm Ala Moana food court - get a Thai satay combo USD$11.99 for me and a Beef pho noodle USD$11.99 for Janet. Jamba Juice strawberry refresher USD$10.46
3:30pm Old Navy - buy top, winter jacket, sloppy joe, swimming bottoms.
5:00pm Ross - buy 1 top
6:30pm Vans and other shoe shops for Christy
7:00pm walk to Don Quijote via Target and Walgreens.
7:20pm Don Quijote. I sit outside and mind bags whilst I go in. They buy food to eat for dinner. Takoyaki is tempting me but by the time they come out, they are no longer cooking the balls.
8:15pm walk back to hotel.
9:00pm eat in room, Sushi, karage chicken, roasted pumpkin, brocolli (JT cooked) salad, etc.
10:00pm shower
11:00pm sleep

Honolulu Day 9: Saturday 21 September 2019 - Chinatown - Hoolaulea Festival

Saturday 21 September 2019 - Chinatown - Hoolaulea Festival

7:30am walk on the beach - see rainbows.
10:18am Bus 2 to Chinatown USD $5.50 for a day pass.
10:50am Just before our stop, a guy gets on the bus without paying and bus driver confronts him but he won't pay or get off the bus. Some people are in a hurry, so they get off the bus. Eventually most of the passengers get off and we get off too as it is only a short walk to Chinatown.
Kaylene needs to pee, so we walk to Maunakea Marketplace but the toilets are no longer available for the public to just go in, you now need to ask a store owner for a key.
Walk through the food court to markets.
11:04am LC buys rambutan for USD$3.50 a pound.
11:20am Pig and the Lady - walk in. Lucky we are early. Get a table and Kaylene gets to pee. It gets busy after.
Get a chanh muoi soda USD$4 - LC gets one too.
Share a Le Fried Chicken USD$13.00
Pho Bac USD $17.00
Crispy curried chicken USD$18.00
Crispy roast pork belly USD$18.00
The Pho French dip banh mi USD$17.00
1:00pm finish bill USD $123.04 ($150)
1:05pm buy char siu baus and joong from Sing Cheong Yuan bakery.
Catch bus back to Fort bus stop
1:52pm walk back from Fort
2:00-2:50pm go upstairs to members lounge. KC loses her lens cap - dropped over the balcony.
Back in the room, eat a bau and rambutan
LC, JT and I head down to check out the setting up for the festival, while others stay in room and nap. Walk all the way down to the Duke statue then head back - only tables and decorations - not much merchandise.
6:20pm catch the sunset upsti=airs at level 26 members lounge - not that great.
6:40pm walk down to Kalakaua Avenue for the Hoolaulea Aloha Festival block party.
7:00pm Line up for garlic shrimps. KC pays USD$29 for a garlic shrimp with rice and greens USD$14 and a mixed plate - chicken shrimp with rice, greens and pineapple salsa USD$15.
LC buys a chicken shrimp with rice and salad from a hotel stand for USD$15 which also includes a drink. Mark buys fish with rice, corn and pineapple from another and Christy buys a grilled corn for USD$7.
I buys a sarong for USD$6.
JT buys sugar cane juice 3 x USD$8 = $24.
10:30pm back at hotel.

Maui Day 8: Friday 20 September 2019 - Maui to Honolulu

Friday 20 September 2019 - Maui to Honolulu

6:00am wake up
Breakfast - manapua bau (char siu bau) and avocado.
7:30am out the door.
8:00am fill up petrol USD $49.85 ($#.979 at 12.528L) with citi.
8:25am car drop off USD$471.00. Lady at drop off is abrupt and not happy Jan. Checks petrol etc and gives me the receipt.
Toilet stop for some before we catch the lift up to the tram station.
8:30am catch tram to terminal
8:35am self check-in.
Bag drop. My bag is 39 pounds.
Security - take shoes off. KC gets bag checked.
9:00am buy maxi hibiscus navy dress USD$51.04. from DFS shop.
9:30am at Gate 13 waiting to board.
10:15am board plane. Seats 23E (JT) 23F (MT) 24D (MC) 24E (LC) 24F (KC)
10:25am taxi to runway
10:30am takeoff
11:00am arrive Honolulu.
11:23am Hello Cabs USD $35 pick up. Driver is Brian Hundao. Pay him USD$45 for the ride.
11:50am Imperial Resort. Checkin.
Store our bags in Lily's unit, her room 1406 is ready, our one isn't.
Walk down to the avenue. Into Cinnamon Girl - I buy a top for USD$65.
4:40pm Vera Bradley - buy 2 back packs USD$220 minus 10%.
4:59pm in Ross.
5:40pm still in Ross. My feet have had it and I am tired. Tell others I am going back to the hotel.
6:00pm get our keys to room 1910. Move our bags from 1406 up to our room.
7:00pm others get back from Ross.
Walk down to the beach to see the Hilton fireworks.
7:45pm Fireworks on the beach.
8:00pm walk to pau hana food trucks, but looks like they are no longer there. Go to 7-11 to buy food. They buy spam musubi and salad. Nothing grabs me.
Kaylene and I decide to get a large poke bowl to share USD$17
8:30pm eat dinner in room 1406
9:00pm back to our room
Put bed down - bed is in the wall. Janet is sleeping on the couch. We leave the main bedroom for Daz and Jen.
Shower
10:00pm in bed.

Maui Day 7: Thursday 19 September 2019 - Iao Valley and Lahaina

Thursday 19 September 2019 - Iao Valley and Lahaina

9:35am out the door
10:35am Iao Valley USD $5 for parking. Pay for parking, could park outside the gates but it's a bit of the hike.
Explore the valley. take photos.
12 noon leave the valley.
1:30pm Walmart. Buy Hawaiian shirt, wood burning tool, paint brushes, cords, snail glue, souveniers - landyards, face towels.
2:00pm drive to Lahaina.
3:00pm Paia Fish Market late lunch early dinner. 2 x fish and chips USD$13.95, 2 x shrimp and chips USD$12.95 and a garden salad USD$6.95. I pay for dinner.
4:00pm Ululani's shave ice. KC pays. Sunset Beach - passion orange, mango, guava - Ulu size USD$5.95. Local Motion - Li Hing Mui, Mango, Pineapple Ulu size USD$5.95.
5:00pm back at resort.
Go for a dip in the ocean, while KC snorkels. She sees a turtle.
6:20pm sunset on the beach.
7:00pm packing
8:00pm dinner 3 min noodle with wong bok and egg.
10:30pm bed - sleep.

Maui Day 6: Wednesday 18 September 2019 - Road to Hana

Wednesday 18 September 2019 - Road to Hana

8:00am prepare salads and bread for lunch. Slice tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, avocado and butter the bread buns.
Breakfast is 3 slices of ham, 2 sushi and a slice of orange sponge.
9:00am out the door and on the road to Hana.
10:50am Stop at Twin Falls. Walk down the trail to have a look. Lucky there is parking in the first lot before the entry to the falls. As it seems to be filling up. Falls are on private property, but they allow public access. There is a food truck in front selling coconuts and other fruits and drinks.
Take photos at bottom.
12:43-12:53pm Pua a Ka a Falls - stop for lunch. Have burger buns with turkey ham, and salad. Corn and pineapple.
1:52pm pull in to Coconut Glen's ice cream. Get 2 scoops, coconut and pineapple for USD$7. have a couple of spponfuls in the car, before I head back on the road.
Drive past half way to Hana - pull over to stop, but there aren't any parking spaces.
Drive past Hana and the road gets narrower and not so paved.
3:00pm Kipuhulu Visitor Centre is part of Haleakala National Park - having paid entry fee 2 days ago, we can still use the same ticket to enter.
JT, KC and I hike up to the Bamboo Forest and the bridge at the top of the falls. LC and MC don't do the hike, but go explore the pools.
On the way up, we pass a lot of guava trees which we attempt to pick.
3:50pm get as far as the Bamboo Forest and decide not to go to the top, so we turn around and head back down.
4:30-4:40pm check out the Óheó Gulch and Seven Sacred Pools.
5:30pm Stop at Hana Bay Beach Park.
6:00pm Black Sand Beach at Waianapanapa State Park.
6:30pm drive back to resort.
9:00pm back at resort
Feet are all black. Need to wash my feet and shoes.
Have a shower

Maui Day 5: Tuesday 17 September 2019 - Haleakala and Kaanapali Sunset

Tuesday 17 September 2019 - Haleakala and Kaanapali Sunset

Wakeup at 7am, but lie in bed. No walking on the beach. KC goes for a walk.
9:00am breakfast. Chicken corn soup with macaroni and a slice of orange cake, ham and avocado.
10:00am housekeeping
11:00am out the door.
12:45pm Visitors centre. Buy a pin and magnet
1:30pm reach the summit.
2:10pm back down to the lower summit. Toilet stop. Do the Sliding Sands walk, but only the start of the trail. Take photos.  Mark has walked up to the Rocky Mountain walk. We can see him from the Sliding Sands walk. Head up to join him. Take photos.
3:30pm head back to resort.
5:30pm stop at Leoda's kitchen and pie shop. Buy chicken pot pies USD $10 x 2, Turkey pot pies USD$11 x 2, Vegie pot pie USD$10 and lemonade USD $4.50 x 2.
6:00pm -6:30pm drive to Kaanapali - looking for parking and beach access. I come to a dead end, drive into a hotel parking area to do a u-turn and end up finding beach parking.  Run down to the beach, but the sun has already set. Manage to catch twilight hour.
7:30pm shopping at Times supermarket in Kaanapali. Buy rolls and filling for lunch tomorrow.
8:30pm back at resort.
Discover I have received an email from Citibank - my card has been blocked. Give them a call. Verify I am overseas and still have my card. Snacking on chips, 2 pieces of sushi and blueberries.
9:40pm in bed.

Maui Day 4: Monday 16 September 2019 - Kahului and Haleakala Sunset

Monday 16 September 2019 - Kahului and Haleakala Sunset

6:00am wakeup to catch the sunrise.
8:30am walk on the beach with KC
9:15am breakfast
Drive to Kahalui to the post office to mail A. Joy's relative's fry pan. The things we do for friends.
After the post office, we go shopping at Target to kill time.
12:30pm leave Target and drive to Mama's Fish House.
1:15pm appointment at Mama's Fish House, which Kaylene made.
Drive in and they have valet parking, so we let them have the car to park for us. Oops forgot to tip the guy when I give him the key.
Start with complimentary bread and tomato soup.
Order grilled kanpachi and shrimp salad.
Mama's stuffed fish with lobster and crab baked in macadamia nut crust.
South Pacific blue prawns with huahine island vanilla.
Seared kanpanchi with kalua pig fried rice.
3:18pm $330 for lunch - JT pays cash. Take photos on the lawn of the restaurant. Get the car from the valet, this time we tip the driver.
Drive to the summit of Haleakala to catch the sunset.
Toilet stop at the lower summit. By the time we drive up to the summit, the parking lot is full and we need to park on the side of the road which leads to the observatory. We bring our jackets and something to sit on. Hike up and find a spot to sit and watch the sun set. It gets colder as the sun goes down. Lucky for us the clouds aren't too bad and we get a pretty good sunset.
7:00pm head down the mountain. Driving down in the dark. Following other cars down. Braking is hard on my knee.
8:00pm finally get down.
9:30pm back at resort.
Have a shower.
10:00pm have dinner. Macaroni with leftover sweet corn soup.
11:30pm sleep.

Maui Day 3: Sunday 15 September 2019 - Kihei and Makena

Sunday 15 September 2019 - Kihei and Makena

6:00am wakeup to go toilet
Back to bed
9:00am wakeup
9:30am walk on beach with others.
10:30am breakfast on the balcony. Cos lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, ham, orange sponge slice.
12:00 noon drive to Makena
12:49pm stop opposite Lahaina Cannery Mall for markets. Buy sugar cane juice for USD$5
1:39pm Papawai Point - whale lookout
2:53pm Paáko Beach (Secret Cove). Find a parking spot. Big waves and very hot. No swimming - too rough. Walk the beach with KC and MC. JT and LC go back to the car.  It's getting hotter and clouds have parted, and there is no shade.
3:34pm Makena Landing Beach Park.
4:00pm Kihei Marketplace - deserted, except for an Asian lady and her pug dog.
4:15pm Kalama Beach Park - big whale
4:26pm Times Supermarket - buying more groceries.
5:54pm stop in Lahaina. Park in parking lot. Walk to the big Banyan tree, go to the public toilets and then walk along the waterfront.
6:20pm wait and watch the sunset - take photos.
Walk the streets of Lahaina. Check out some shops.
7:15pm drive back to resort.
Snack on chips
Shower
8pm JT cooks pho for dinner.
11:30pm sleep

Maui Day 2: Saturday 14 September 2019 - Lahaina and North West Coast

Saturday 14 September 2019

7:00am wake up
Walk on the beach
8:30am breakfast - milo bar, slice of orange sponge cake, ham, salad, boiled egg, tomato, lettuce, chicken.
11:00am drive to Lahaina. Main street/ Front Street is closed for a kids marathon. Drive around to the free parking area. It is full. Drive back to Outlets of Maui. 2hr free parking if you purchase from shop. They give you another ticket which on exit you insert after the entry ticket. Would have had to pay $8 for less than 2 hours.
Go check out the kids marathon. Street is too busy. Will have to come another day. Check out the shops in the Outlets. Walk into Crocs - no buy. Walk into Kate Spade, LC buys handbag and 2 card/coin holders - get parking validated. Walk into Skechers - LC and JT buy shoes. Walk into BR - I buy tops and shorts.
1:33pm 15 min wait for a table. Lunch at Star Noodles, Lahaina.
Pork buns USD$12
Banh Xeo (Viet Crepe) USD$16
Garlic Noodles USD$13
Lahaina Fried Soup USD$14
Pad Thai USD$15
Singapore Noodles USD$15
Mentaiko USD$17
Total USD$106.25 - pay USD$125.00

3.00pm back at resort to change shoes and drop off shopping. Drive to the blow hole.
4:00pm Nakalele blow hole
5:30pm still at blow hole. KC missed the heart rock - had to go back down just to take a photo. Drive to parking area. Have to walk via a well trodden path off a golf course to get to the "teeth".
6:20pm Dragons teeth and labyrinth. Sun has set. Take photos.
7:00pm drive to Safeway, Lahaina for shopping.
7:33pm shopping in Safeway. Buy bran (JT) and Sambucco USD$24??
Drive back to resort.
9:00pm
9:30pm late dinner
Pasta, crab, sashimi, poke, salad.