“The feeling is less like an ending than just another starting point.” ― Chuck Palahniuk, Choke

Brisbane, Australia

Weather Max 31 Min 19

Where to start!!  A lot of people have contacted me because my blog suddenly stopped and they have wondered why. Unfortunate circumstances have brought me  back to Australia prematurely so my White Christmas in Chicago never happened.....instead I had a hot Christmas in Oz.

Since early in my trip I have had increasing difficulty with breathlessness and my concern was increasing proportionally. My plan was to wait until I arrived in Chicago and to visit the Chicago Memorial Hospital and get checked out. My major concerns related to my previous cancer and my brothers untimely death at my age from lung cancer. While I was still in San Antonio, Texas a few days out from heading to Chicago, my daughter Lee let me know that my mother in law was extremely ill and Lee wanted to spend some time with her. As Lee had arranged to housesit for friends and that couldn't be changed at the last moment, I decided to fly back to help her out and to seek medical attention back here in Australia (a much easier and less expensive exercise than it would be in the States)

After a gruelling time cancelling previous US arrangements and making return bookings to Australia I flew 7 hours with a stop in Salt Lake City  to Los Angeles. I spent the night there and then flew to Sydney and on to Brisbane. I cannot even begin to explain how shattered I was by the time I got here but suffice it to say when I woke the first morning in my Housesit I had absolutely no idea where I was. It took several minutes to piece it all together.

I left the States on the 21st landing on the 23rd (-minus 1 day due to the International Date Line.)

On Christmas Day in the morning my breathing was much worse - possible aggravated by the long trip. I went to the Prince Charles Hospital and spent Christmas Day there and had a cheese sandwich for lunch - very festive. The Staff were dressed in Christmas wear and because it was Christmas Day I had star treatment and what would normally take at least a week was done in a day. All tests showed healthy heart and blood ok but more importantly the Cat Scan I had showed no signs of any malignancy. The verdict is early COPD and I will be visiting some specialists for medication and management of this disease. Fortunately it IS early and IS manageable and my worst fears were not realised.

SO!! Moving forward I will continue with Part 2 of my retirement plans and purchase a camper - smaller than originally planned as my next 12 months are looking pretty busy with a lot of housesitting. Once I am up and running again I will blog my travels around Australia.

It's a disappointment to me that my trip has been cut short but I so much enjoyed the travel I did do and the people I met up with along the way and I look forward to meeting new people and seeing new places when I get my van.

It was great to see Lee and Michael again and wonderful to get hugs from my beautiful boy, Derek.