Clap for the Wolfman

More years ago than I really care to recall, I used to go , in company with a select group of friends, every Friday night at 11.00pm to one of the local movie houses. They used to screen "The Friday Night Horrors." We used to thoroughly enjoy them. lovely old moody black & whites with the emphasis on various & sundry creatures of the night in different combinations of rivalry, with a lot of Lon Chaney thrown in. There was always the good old Christopher Lee/Peter Cushing combo from the Hammer stable. And don't forget good old Vincent Price at his abominable best in the Dr. Phibes series & various others. Wonderful stuff to grow up with.

Herself & I went to the movies tonight. We went to see Wolf Man. I was sort of expecting a grand spectacle with the emphasis on special effects & not a great deal of story. I was pleasantly surprised. It was a damn good story with a good solid plot. Couple this with the intense acting we have come to expect from Anthony Hopkins ably supported by a very good cast. Yeah sure, there were the obligatory chiropracticly impossible bone stretching scenes that made you wince to watch, but then, they have been around in Wolf man movies ever since they were made. Good use was made of the quick glimpse that didn't really show you much followed by an incredibly swift taloned claw/hand dismembering the current victim.

Also notable was a spine chilling scene set in a Lunatic Asylum, complete with a bald cackling assistant, duckings into baths full of ice cold water, straight jackets, chains on the walls, the whole nine yards. So yeah, its clap for the Wolfman, as Guess Who recorded. Its a top movie, done with a lot of respect to the genre. We enjoyed it immensely. Go see it for yourself & see what I mean..

Autumn's golden gown

I love those words. They are a quote from the track "Forever Autumn," from Jeff Wayne's musical War of the Worlds. It's a track that for various reasons becomes more & more evocative as time passes. Look up the lyrics & you will see what I mean. Either that, or just watch this clip. This is Justin Hayward & the visuals are what we saw at the War of the Worlds stage show. It makes me cry every time i hear it.



But I do love Autumn. its a stately time of year. its a time when the air is cool enough & the ground is usually dry enough to get things done. I have been busy. I actually feel rested enough & confident enough to get things done. So far, I have rebuilt the front door & made a damn good start on the concreting that needs doing round the place. Ok, its not real major stuff, but its achieving goals that I have set myself & not has the self confidence to do, so they represent major steps forward for me, so i am proud of what I have done. here is the front door all finished.




















I have replaced the main lock with a new digital one that is much easier for Herself to manage & also a lever handle for the other one. Is a lot easier for her. Found a nice door knocker for a bit of contrast too. What do you think ?

P.S.

I think the following link says what needs to be said on this subject... http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10633589 And thats all I'm going to say about that..

Editorial

I read with a certain amount of trepidation the verdict on a certain high profile trial here in good old New Zealand. last year 3 so called "protesters" cut through a mesh security fence & slashed a protective plastic inflatable dome over a radar installation at a place in the South Island called Waihopai. Conspiracy theorists would have us believe that the whole deal is a secret spy base for the Americans. I know, & it's fairly common knowledge that it is owned by the Americans, but just what theyu are actually spying on is open to conjecture. I mean, there isn't really a lot down here when you look at it. As for the possibility that the installation have some arcane & sinister purpose that endangers the average Kiwi, well I have my doubts. Lets just say I don't feel moved to make a pilgrimage to damage said installation.

Enter stage left our hirsute & rather unkempt trio of so called demonstrators, do gooders who took it upon themselves to represent the rest of New Zealand in what proved to be a protest that was pointless & destructive albeit extremely well publicised. The only thing that this twinky trio of refugee geriatric hippies had going for them was the fact that they freely admit to their guilt.

So guilty as charged on the counts of wilful damage & trespass huh ? Not so simple. You see, it was a jury trial. Guess what or 12 good men & true decided? Not a guilty verdict as you may think, but because they "honestly believed in what they were doing," they were found not guilty. Now it doesn't take much of a legal beagle to see the implications here. Even a worn out old stay at home trucky like myself can see it. Sure the admonition has been made not to see this as a possible precedent & the justice department is thinking about appealing the verdict, but the implications scare me.

Honestly believing in what you are doing opens all sorts of possibilities. lets face it. Hitler, Bin Laden, Mugabe, Saddam Hussein, even Attila the Hun for god sake, all believed in what they were & are doing. Can I now go get drunk & drive a motor vehicle because I honestly believe in what I am doing? I really don't fancy my chances much, do you ?

OTHER NEWS...

In other news, i think the herbal sleeping tablets are starting to kick in. I'm sleeping better & longer now & feeling like I can actually accomplish something worthwhile in my day. Herself had a lovely pamper treatment at the local beauty clinic yesterday & we both had a wonderful massage today. Have a good weekend & enjoy the cooler weather,

Someone left a Cake out..

OK, it wasn't raining & it wasn't Mac Arthur Park either, but someone definitely left a cake out. We found it when we got home yesterday. There it was in all its glory around the back of the garage. No idea who left it, or how long it had been there. An hour or so & a phone call later, the mystery was solved. You see, last weekend I did a favour for a friend. Her Mum had just been givena replacement video for her old one. She thinks watching TV in the afternoon is a little decadent, so she tapes all her favourite shows & watches them in the evenings when "there is nothing else on to watch." Go figure.

Anyway, the whole family is a bit technologically challenged, so me being an electronics genius ( stop laughing) I was asked if I would mind popping round & tuning the video & telly in with each other. I didn't mind. Maisy is one of those delightful people who just ooze goodness in a wonderful way & so is her daughter. We have been friends with her daughter a number of years. Herself first met Min through Keep Thames beautiful & they have stayed good friends since. So as I say, I didn't mind doing it. The whole family have been very supportive to us in tough times, so it was a small thing to do.

Anyway, as I said, I got a phone call. It was from Maisy. She had dropped the cake round just to say "thank you." She didn't have to & she knew full well that I didn't expect anything. That's just Maisy's nature. It was a lovely thing to do & much appreciated by us both.

Isn't it wonderful that there are still folk like this in the world. It's sad that their efforts go largely unheralded & unrecognised. I nearly said unrewarded, but changed my mind. Rewards, apart from spiritual, are the last thing on their minds when they do for others. We have endured the questionable antics of our wonderful "Bishop Brian" in the media lately. It's kind of difficult to get away from the allegations of avarice that spew forth from the media daily. Its very evident, to me anyway, that the only thing he is in it for is the money, quite happy to strip cash from families on low income. An EFTPOS machine in the church foyer ? Come on.

I watched Jamie Oliver's American Road trip with interest on Friday night . he was in the deep south, specifically Georgia. He stopped the night in a trailor park & went out to fraternise with the local rednecks that live there. Not exactly the deep end of the genetic pool. It shocked him deeply to find out that there are still folk down there that use the word "Nigger" & mean it. In contrast, he went to a service at one of the evangelical churches of the genre usually preferred by those of African American Heritage. Aside from the music, which I absolutely love, what a contrast. There the emphasis is all about helping those in the congregation more needy than yourself. And lets face it. If you are needy in the States, you are NEEDY. Unemployment benefit is a lot harder to get & there is no free health system. I am absolutely certain, & I know for a fact that there are, that there are churches here that have the same amount of love & concern for their congregation as the American ones do. It's just sad that their efforts at the moment are overshadowed by an avaricious, relentless megalomaniac.

Eight days a Week

Well, it hasn't really been 8 days, but in a lot of respects it feels like it has been so far. I am actually very proud of myself. The reaming out that I got from the doctor on Monday has made me very stubborn & determined. I am looking forward to the next time I go to see her. I intend to hand her back her prescription & the remaining Zopiclone tablets from the last lot. I haven't given in & taken one yet. Nor am I going to. The herbal capsules seem to be helping. I think that like anything herbal, they may take a while to kick in properly. There is the possibility that they may be having more psychological benefit at this point, but no matter. I have also given up my afternoon Nanna nap. But then , I don't actually feel that I need it now. Sitting down for an hour in the afternoon watching Star Trek is just as beneficial. Keeping busy is a big plus as well. All in all, I'm very proud of my efforts.

Herself has had a new lease of life as well. She has attacked the front garden in a manner that can only be likened to the actions of a cat with chronic diahorrea. I must admit that it is looking really great. has just about given me the incentive I need to breathe life into Morris the Mixer, (Remember Morris?) & actually get some concreting done. Now that its a bit cooler & my self confidence seems to be coming back, I actually feel that it might be feasible to do it. Herself would be happy to see it done. That is as much reason as anything to get it done as anything.

We had a lovely day today. One of Herself's cousins from Hastings came to see us. They are staying with friends in Whangamata for a week & thought it would be a nice idea to come see us. We thought it was a good idea too. We had a lovely time together & it was, as it always is for me when we have guests, a treat to do lunch other than my usual boring sandwich or noodles & yoghurt for Herself. It was also lovely to be able to sit at table & enjoy a good conversation with really lovely guests. Thanks Mike & Kaye, you really made our week for us.

Tomorrow, we will probably go out to Placemakers & sort out some beading to finish off the front door. I wasn't initially going to bother, but the more I look at the more I think it needs it just to finish it off. Monday, massage for herself, Tuesday, Respiratory Clinic for herself at Waikato, Friday Craft for Herself & massages for us both. Where did I ever find time to work ? All that & the calendar says its a good week for fishing as well.....

What ever gets you through the night.

Ever since Jude was diagnosed, I have been taking a sleeping tablet called Zopiclone. A succession of doctors at our medical clinic have been quite happy to prescribe it for me on a month by month basis. Right up until yesterday. You see, we have a new doctor, a lady doctor, not that I have anything against lady doctors you understand. This one is very good. And very strong willed. She has let me know in no uncertain terms that Zopiclone is only a short term quick fix get you over the hump sort of drug that shouldn't be taken any longer than 2 weeks at a time. She even went as far as to say that I would be doing myself less harm by getting drunk every night than to continue taking it. All sorts of possible nasty side effects which if you really want to know about are probably on the net somewhere.

Then we got to talking about why I have problems sleeping. Its a problem that I have had long before Jude got MND. It's just that I can cope a lot easier with stress if I have a good night's sleep. But she didn't want to hear that. She went off down a very murky path involving depression & Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. I know I'm not depressed. I know depressed. I have been down that path & spent 2 years on anti depressants. When I finally weaned myself off them, I vowed that I wouldn't ever get into a situation where I needed them ever again. That still stands. As far as OCD is concerned, nobody that really knows me thinks I have it. Sometimes I just lay awake & worry about things. How strange. Our pharmacist doesn't think I'm depressed either. She has a similar thing. Like me, if she can get a good nights sleep she can cope.

The doctor gave me a weeks worth of Zopiclone & wants to see me again in a week. They have gone into my bedside drawer next to the anti depressants. I'll not take any more. I didn't take one last night. I didn't sleep all that terribly well, but I did sleep & the roof didn't cave in. I went back to the Pharmacist this morning & she has given me some herbal capsules. Hopefully they will help a bit. Even if they don't I am prepared to tough it out & get my head sorted sufficiently to sleep .

Gawd my legs are sore

Sharon & Chris came down to see their Mum yesterday & of course they brought Liam & Renee with them, our two grandchildren. Well, 2 out of 5 1/2 anyway. They are pretty active little tackers, so after a shopping blitz, lunch & a mad ramble through all the games in my puter, vague sounds of boredom began to be heard.

Stupid had a brainwave. Stupid bought a pushbike a while ago so that he could accompany Herself on rides to get a bit fitter for both of us, but it hasn't happened a lot. Herself's co ordination & muscle control is not what it used to be. Chris had the forsight to pack the kids bikes into the back of the wagon & bring them down. So after we established that the tyres on my bike had gone flat from disuse & inflated them, we went for a ride. Quite a long one actually. Well, not all that long really for a couple of young active kids, but quite far enough for an old fellow thats not particularly fit.

It was one of those golden moments that are to be stored away very carefully & brought out to enjoy all over again on a gloomy winters day, or nights when sleep is proving elusive. So yeah, my legs are sore today, but its a really good sort of a sore. I may well carry on doing it on a daily basis when Herself is having her afternoon nap. I could certainly do with the exercise.

Happy Kick in The Guts Day !!!!!!

I'm not sure if its stress, worry, or just the fact that we seem to have a lot of appointments these days, but somehow I seem to manage to get appointments confused a lot easier these days than I used to. Like today. I thought we had an appointment to see The White Rabbit for our customary 3 monthly appointment where we fill him in on what's been happening in the time since our last visit. I had fully resigned myself to exiting the hospital with Grace Slick echoing through my head, but no. We go to see The White Rabbit tomorrow. This morning, as we found out when we got there, we had our first consultation with a new guy. The health system has, in it's wisdom, decided to set up a consulting Neurologist that visits Thames Hospital once a month. A very nice young man that started at Waikato about the same time that Pat Simpson did, so naturally, the two of them get on really well & have a lot of respect for each other. It's the first time that Jude has been seen by a neurologist since she was diagnosed.

We actually like him because he doesn't beat about the bushes when he is laying things out to you. I like that, but sometimes it renders things a little hard to accept when they are stated so baldly. We were both under the impression that Jude's MND was going to be pretty much confined to her upper torso. We have found out today that this isn't so. It has already affected her legs to a large extent. We found this out when we asked him about the possibility of a knee replacement for her. He doesn't seem to think its a particularly good idea because of that. Also there is the prospect of 8 to 12 weeks of quite intense pain, very intensive physiotherapy & the possibility that she may well die under the anaesthetic anyway. I have tonight talked to someone whose stepmum has had both knees replaced & it hasn't even made her pain free at the end of it. All this & Jude is still looking at being in a wheel chair in 2 years time anyway. The analogy that he used was that it would be like putting a Rolls Royce engine in a rusty old Datsun body. not sure I agree with his choice of vehicle though. Jude is more like a Land Rover I think. It doesn't matter what life throws at her she hunkers down, digs her heels in & boxes on, where others would quit.

I haven't asked her yet what she intends to do. Her main concern is that she would like to get back to her gardening that she loves so much. I'm going to ask the physiotherapist if there is anything she can suggest to help. What ever she decides on, I will back & support her to the best of my ability. I know what my thoughts are on the subject, but its not up to me to say. I hope I know what she will decide. In any event, the Neuro is going to expedite Jude seeing a surgeon for her knee, so at least we will know what our options are. My next big challenge is to get through tomorrows appointment with the White Rabbit without giggling.