12 August
A big day for us.
Our final morning owning our gorgeous home in Millbrook. We leave a well stocked garden with snowdrops starting to pop up.
We had a major swerve in the search for our next home from Australia back to NZ. Neither of us could get the mountains or views or quality of life out of our heads and hearts.
My Haematologist was kind enough to let me travel and as I never pass up such a gift horse, I had a mad 4 day visit to Queenstown last week, to view property, decide what to do together, engage an architect, sign documents, pack stuff for Sydney. There was just enough time to have a cuppa with Sue and Margot, hug Jill as she whizzed in and out of our kitchen, otherwise I kept a low profile and just said hello to a few friendly faces around Millbrook.
It was risky (touch and go getting a flight out with the snowy weather) but well worth it.
We have bought in Arrowtown.
Today, we exchange on a home at: 10 Suffolk st Arrowtown; A weather board cottage in the historic zone; sunny warm, big deck, space for guests and hopefully room to build a new wine cellar.
We also exchange on a bowl and build project at 7 Derby St, Arrowtown. A fantastic sloping location on the edge of Arrowtown ridge with 360degree views. This will get the creative juices flowing and give us a project to take my mind off the hard road ahead.
Sarah is now on a plane and we are crossing everything that all the legal and finance transactions go to plan.
I will happily stay in the apartment in Sydney for treatment (it will ramp up and down as required over the next few years) Sarah will travel between. Our Aussie friends have been kind enough to volunteer to take over from time to time. We will need you guys.
We don’t regret selling Millbrook (although I think that Sarah has regretted spending 3 weeks, cleaning, sorting, boxing and moving stuff around (aided by the generosity of friends with time and space to spare). Thank you to all that helped in every way possible: feeding Sarah, cleaning, lending muscle and screwdrivers when required, storing stuff, lending car, space, wrapping up boxes and many other ways.
Amusingly, I did have to give Sarah instructions on how to wash the polished concrete floors (did I really lose all golf comp haggles in 23 months?)
Bulk of the wine is safely stored in Cromwell (chore no1 with Jude) in a temperature controlled facility,
but the rest?? Hope she can remember who has what.
Our 1 bedroom apartment is at 1402/61 Lavender st Milson Point, Sydney. It has a fab location, looks North to the sun and burbs, overlooks the freeway and reminds me of HK with all the twinkling lights.
It is noisy but lively.
There are great parks to walk to around the corner
Just what a sicko needs to watch the world go by.
As we decided to ship very little, my first challenge has been to furnish the flat. The 2nd is to get anything delivered. The 3rd to find workmen to make the enhancements we’d like. However, I’ve finally moved in permanently after lodging with Bev and Simon for weeks.
How Sarah is going to manage such a small space wlll be interesting to say the least.
Now for the dark side.
Out of 4 cycles of chemo, planned I’m now on treatment cycle 2 day 5. Treatment plan here if you are interested.
https://www.eviq.org.au/haematology-and-bmt/multiple-myeloma/3611-multiple-myeloma-dvd-daratumumab-bortezomib/patient-information
The 7 chemo and Dara injections are (sub cut – not infusion) in the belly per cycle but give me a bloated gut and the same number of sore red rashes, eased only by rubbing on Evening primrose oil. Messy but effective.
The steroids knock me around with an early morning (anytime between 2-4am) sleepless buzz. With all that is going on right now, my head is whizzing all over with things to do, planning several steps ahead. I’m gradually getting more tired with deep black rings round my eyes. Impersonating my panda.
I started treatment putting to good use my Pink Birdie 72 hole golf challenge shirt.
Nurse practitioners are fab in the Day Therapy centre at Concord Hospital. Mad, funny, irreverent, kind, gentle, full of good advice, rushed off their feet; salt of the earth.
I’m learning how to self inject Bortezomib (despite shakey hand; needles make me nervous) and will get a carry out next week to DIY at home in week 2. Week 3 gives my body time to recover and as I am not tied to hospital, we have booked a 4 day trip to Coffs Harbour. Bonville here I come.
This might be the last trip until I’m out the other side sometime post stem cell transplant in late December. My immune system is dodgy and blood levels low so doubt I will be allowed to travel again
Great news is that the appetite is back; (putting on weight, but that’s not a bad thing as I need to be strong for the stem cell transplant process; more on that in future)
Found an awesome simple baked fig recipe: butter, honey lemon zest, pistachio- bake 7-10 minutes. Yum.
A weak gin sipped slowly is passable but best of all I can now tolerate wine. Found some brilliant local shops all in easy walking distance .
I am hoping that when Sarah gets here tonight, we will be able to share some Champagne together. Despite everything, life is great.
Take care everyone and thank you for all the kind loving and supportive messages.
With much love and hugs
Jo
xxx
PS- Paddy has a fan club. Ellie arrived today (thanks to B&B)
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