Wednesday 2 August 2017

Decided after dragging Johnson outboard around since New Caledonia to install gear seal kit. It's been a smidge over two years - haste makes waste. Youtube doesn't have a demo of same motor, but what it shows are special tools, expert knowledge and a great way to drop wee, irreplaceable parts into the murky, marina water. Rethink. There's an outboard service, In and Outboard Marine, next door. Having already heard that it was the most expensive place in the territory discovered it charges $140 an hour for work by students. Mate Geoff took his Mercury in for carburetor work just before heading out to Kupang, Indonesia, where he discovered that it doesn't run. Hmmmm. After much searching, finally found perhaps the only other shop in NT near Palmerston, which charges $120 and may even use professionals. Helpful and friendly on the phone, receptionist took a reservation for next Tuesday. Couldn't go in Monday because they're closed for an NT holiday - Picnic Day. Expect the following Monday to be "Let's Shut The Territory Down Because We're Just Not In The Mood Day".

Thursday

After parting with generous amounts of bodily fluids for testing, saw Dr. Sam yesterday pursuant (cool word, huh? - sounds like something a cop would say on the witness stand during your trial) to a health check. Only items that jumped out were: normal, but suspicious thyroid levels; attempted blood pressure check causing automatic monitor to go schizo (manual check, after having arm ineffectually crushed three times, was a skosh high, but bpm 48); and good PSA number that was nevertheless a fair jump from previous. She subsequently applied the fickle finger of fate to an appropriate orifice to confirm prostate the size of a cantaloupe. Foregoing is slightly misleading because 1) it's not quite true and 2) Australians have no idea what a cantaloupe is. To be safe, not sorry and following fasting and drinking a ton of water, noon trip to the lab today for ultrasound of applicable area was organized. Highlight of day through 1300 was breakfast at Coffee Club.

At 1530 went to Jan's chemo doc for evaluation eight days after fourth and final round of Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide. Except for having virtually no white cells and generating less energy than a sleeping koala, she's felt pretty good this time, probably due lots of rest. After years of striving to be a bad influence finally got her to appreciate the value of sloth. It wouldn't be a sin if it didn't feel so good.

Jack