This is a medical report - or "organ recital" - for the benefit of concerned family and friends - so feel free to skip it as basically boring. Those of you who have expressed concern over my physical condition should now be reassured.

While on the voyage two health related things happened: I lost a lot of weight, and a Physician's Assistant (PA) cruiser friend said I must get a skin cancer on my face looked at. Regarding (1) I went to a clinic in Papeete
and the French doctors told me, in a French accent, that I must have a full checkup once I was back in Australia, because "you have an infection and we don't know what it is". Thanks a lot, I thought, in an Australian accent, as I paid over the 20,000 Francs.

Well, since getting back to Oz in Jan I have been to my GP twice, had a bunch of tests, had an X-ray, and today went to see a dermatologist about the cancer. Here's what Doc White said (paraphrased):

All tests look good, no bowel cancer, urine clear, cholesterol normal, in fact everything normal, excepting the platelets (neither red nor white blood calls) which are a bit over, so he wants more blood tests. As to the X-rays of the hip joints (right hip sore, and I roll like a sailor when I walk) they show mild to medium arthritis - not severe - so I'll not need a hip replacement.

It seems that it all comes down to being "old" and having completed an arduous two years at sea! I'm pretty good for my age, and a bit of pain medication keeps it within bounds.

As to the other - the skin specialist says it should be cut out, it'll leave a scar, but I am already working the scar into my history - "street kid" or "time in the military" or something. It is a cancer, but the least malignant.

So - Joe is okay. Thanks for caring.

No photos today.