The Best Birthday Present

Yesterday was my birthday and untimely it started with a visit with my Oncologist. Historically and generally my doctors contacts are negative i.e. you're dealing with the progressing situation of your disease or the full on procedures or side effects that you have to endure. But yesterdays one was very positive and I came away with the feeling that we are creating small miracles here.... Backstory In July things had gone pear shape and I had many many aggressively growing tumours in both lungs, plus some large ones causing pain and breathing difficulties. Our treatment options was limited to chemo (Ifosfamide) with expectation that this was unlikely to be effective. So timewise and in theory things should be a looking pretty grim for me about now, but fortunately we've rewritten that story and have a different or at least extended version.

Earlier in the week I had some more imaging work done and yesterday my Oncologist took us through the timeline of images and showed how the cancer had regressed. The large tumours were essentially gone or shadows of themselves and an area we called the "milky way" of many small tumours has got significantly better. The expectation is that it wont stay this way and that the tumours will get a footing and start progressing again, also unfortunately I am at the end of the road with Ifosfamide and although we talked on some other treatment options there is doubt on availability and effectiveness.

But for now I am very thankful for a great birthday present and looking forward to a long hot summer.

Zach and Macca with Birthday Brasier 

 

Romance in our Garden

Of late Ive been spending plenty of time in our lovely garden, resting, reading and puddling making a deck for Kat; during which I've noticed a vast amount of romance occurring in our garden last week & I spent some time trying to catch some pics. The three most noisy and interesting culprits i.e. birds were:

Firstly the Grey Herons who were making a commotion in the bottom tree of lawn, lots of feather frilling, squawking courtship going on there.

Secondly the Tui, I had two of these doing formula 1 around the garden. I couldn't get a good pic, they were going so fast and so borrowed this pic off the net (Tui explosion in city) . 

and finally my favourite:

The Riroriro (Grey Warbler) which Ive only discovered this year. These  little wonders live in most kiwi gardens and make a very distinctive ethereal noise every spring.  They are difficult to spot mainly because they are very small and don't stay in in the same place for long. But they are easy to hear, very loud and distinctive song. You may find that like mine that they are singing outside your window right now and that you've never noticed them before. 

Spot the Riroriro here (Grey Warbler)..

There he is Sporting Zachs new haircut 

Smaller than sparrows, a little like waxeyes

 Fliting and calling for its partner.

Bottom line... Its amazing what you will spot and learn if you take the time to notice.