ANZAC Day

Thursday April 25th, we got up extremely early, just before 04:30 so we could get ready and head into town for the ANZAC Day Dawn Service. We headed for the tram at 5 am, however like everyone else, we waited and waited as trams passed full without stopping. So after waiting 15 mins or so, we decided like other people gathered, to start making the trek into domain interchange which is approx 40 mins away. The nearer we got, the crowds walking into got bigger and bigger. We managed to make it for the service just in time at 6 am. It was still completely dark when the service commenced, at the end of the service, the dawn had arrived for us and in excess of 40,000 people gathered for this annual service. This year marked the 98th anniversary of the first major military fought by Australia and New Zealand forces during the First World War.

As the trams were still not running, we walked the 20 mins into the city, where we got coffee and brownie whilst waiting for the March, which commenced at 9 am. We watched the March from Princes bridge. Liam was able to watch about 15 mins of the March before he had to dash off to work. Whereas, I was able to watch the March over the 3 hrs at various points along the route. Some of the Veterans were driven along the route in Vibrant coloured Mustangs.
 Liam on the other hand, was working a function for 510 Essendon football fans at the Hilton before the ANZAC Day match. I meet up with Liam again after he finished his shift, at about 2.30pm. We went shopping for a few essential items for me before heading home, where poor Liam headed straight to bed for a cat nap, as he is still regaining his strength.

Although it was such an early start, we both agreed that the Dawn Service, Memorial and March were worth it, as it was an emotional yet moving occassion. 

There and Back Again - Unplanned stay

The week started pretty much the same for both Niamh and me, work and such until Wednesday morning, when on my way to get a tram my pants got caught on something which caused me to fall and bruise my thigh, right arm and bottom. So as you can imagine work, wasn't a fun day, sore and painful as it was. Lucky I had a doctor appointment anyway the next morning at 9am for another problem, as I had been feeling unwell. After his examination, he thought it might have been appendicitis, so sent me to the A&E at the Alfred hospital.

Quickly rushed home to get few documents and Niamh came with me and we arrived at the hospital at 10. After all the routine cleric and initial triage nurse work, I was brought in and examined by a doctor and then by a consultant. I was given morphine for the pain and saline to keep hydrated, as I fasting in case it was appendicitis. The usual blood and urine tests were checked. I was moved to SAAU surgical ward, where more tests were run and examined by various nurses, doctors and surgeons. Prior to the CT scan, I had to drink this clear contrast liquid which had a slight liquorice taste to it. After what seemed like waiting for an eternity, I was finally brought down for the scan. Where I was given an injection of radioactive dye for the scan. Niamh throughout the day, had been my guardian angel, kept me sane, helped the doctors with medical history and kept my spirits up. So just before I went down, she rushed home at 7pm to get a few bits, as we didn't know at the time if I'd be kept in or not.
So after the scan, I returned back to the ward just after 8.30. It pretty much was the waiting game from there on in, we both now armed with our plugs, entertained ourselves with YouTube before Niamh left for home after 11.30pm. So as the doctors hadn't reported by this stage, I was kept in for observation over night. A junior doctor finally came around just before 1.30 am and asked if I been informed anything yet about the CT scan, when I said nope, he got onto the registrar and came back to me. He then informed me it wasn't appendicitis but colitis in the colon near bladder which was causing the pain and finally was allowed to drink clear fluids.
The next few hours, through the night I didn't sleep well, until after the doctors morning rounds at approx 7.30am and was informed that the inflammation could be treated with antibiotics and painkillers and once the bloods came back alright, then I could be discharged. So after various attempts to try get a blood sample, the doctor Ged, finally managed to yet enough for the samples. Seems veins were there, but was difficult to withdraw blood. Like Niamh, I've my mother's veins lol. After the bloods, was given some toast, first food in about 2 days and antibiotics. I finally had fallen asleep when I woke up, Niamh had arrived and been there awhile. So after the blood results came back and pharmacist called around, I was discharged just before 1pm.

That was an unexpected, unplanned visit to the hospital, however all the medical staff from the nurses through to the surgeons were very nice and helpful. 

Moment to Shine

Niamh managed to get a 50 dollars voucher for Pint on Punt which helped us buy dinner and drinks which was pleasant change and helped too, that the food was quite tasty.

Tuesday 9th was free cone day at Ben & Jerry's, both, Niamh and me made use of the offer and went back few times, to make full use of the offer. Niamh went back to work, first time since the accident.

My shift on Thursday was for a book launch at the old women's college, which was an different kind of experience. The book is about the relationship with music composition and art.

The high of week has to be Friday evening, when Niamh and me went into Fed Square, for the Friday 2 hour showcase, The Very Big Laughout, as part of comedy festival, which for Niamh seems to be turning into a weekly outing. One of the highlights had to Pedro Tochas, a comedian from Portugal. His act included audience involvement. First ambushed were a couple, all went well until my horror, I was dragged up on stage to take part. The whole experience was totally hilarious even with me been on stage. After the last act, Lords of Strut, who are brill as always, we went to get quick bite to eat, at the pancake parlour where we had a 2 for 1 coupon on short stacks.

My shift at the Hilton on Saturday, was yet again for another Indian wedding, this is turning into a regular occurrence, this one had more of Indian dancing, music, however had various other entertainment acts including a break dancing troupe and a brazilian samba act. After work, finishing just before 3.30 am, a few of us jumped into a taxi towards St Kilda. This ended been one of the funniest cab journey ever, the driver Marcus was retelling us, various antics and showing us some of the txt messages, he had received during the night, which just had us in stitches.

Lords of Strut

After the relaxation of the Easter Monday, it was an early start to get Niamh to her outpatients appointment at the Alfred hospital, for her check up regarding her fractured shoulder. So after the X-rays and consultant, she was informed, she will unable to do any loading or strengthening with her arm and unfit to work for another six weeks. As I was not working, we did few bits such as laundry and shopping before settling in for a Mike & Molly and Nashville marathon.
I myself had a quiet enough week with exciting things at work until Friday, when I ended up working a double shift for a 15 hours day, beginning in the MEC at a dentist convention, serving in excess of 2,300 people with about 1,800 of them being dentists, that was a busy interesting shift.
As I had a 2 hour break, I meet up with Niamh for a quick bite to eat. We ended up at my usual haunt, shock shock Lord of the Fries. We saw a crowd gathered in city square, so after our food, crossed the road. It was part of the Melbourne international comedy festival, the act was from Ireland of all places - The Lords of Strut, who are a dancing aerobatic comedy performing man-band. Both Niamh and me and we think nearly everyone gathered, we in complete stitches of laughter. I for one haven't laughed that much in years. Would so see them again.

As I dashed for a tram to the Hilton for my other shift, Niamh made her way to Fed Sq for the 2 hour comedy showcase early to get a good seat. Some of the acts included Les Chiche Capon, Hilby, Anna Pocket Rocket and Lord of Strut again. The event was MC'd by The Chipolatas. Niamh said was the best way to spend a Friday evening, it was laid back, hilarious and entertaining. Niamh said she was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the MC, they really knew how to keep the crowd entertained and focused.

Meanwhile, my shift at the Hilton, was for a posh traditional Indian wedding. I have not seen anything like it before in person, it was something unreal between the wedding outfits - the Bride in Sari and Groom in Dhoti, various Indian dances, music and food, however an interesting after dinner entertaining was from a Brazilian samba group, who came from Brazil especially for the reception. I finally managed to finish the shift at 2.30 in the morning however I had to get a taxi home, oh well.
The shift the following day, has probably been one of the most soul destroying shifts I've ever done. I guess you can't win them all. On the upside though, on Sunday, we finalised 90 percent of our trip in May, the countdown has begun, can't wait... - 28 days 16 hrs ...

Along the Yarra

As Niamh was still recuperating because of her fractured shoulder, we decided to take it easy on the Monday and go for stroll in Fitzroy Gardens near Captain Cook's Cottage, Fairies tree, Tudor model village and Sinclair Cottage before catching the tram back into town and do some food shopping but some how we ended up having churros, what a tasty treat.

Besides me working during the week, the other highlight was collecting Niamh's Ayers Rock tour voucher. Once we had that all arranged and booked, we sat down and although it took us hours on end, we finally managed to discuss, organise and book, most of the remaining things we want to see here in Australia, such as Ayers rock, Gold Coast, Tasmania etc.
Besides doing a few odds and ends with finalising the bookings, the highlight of good Friday, was walking along the St. Kilda Pier that evening after sunset and seeing the little penguins which live amongst the rocks down there and that come out after sunset.

Saturday, we decided to head into the city for a while, as we got off the tram at Fed Sq, we saw a big crowd gathered, we found out, that the main stage in the square, was having comedies on stage as part of Melbourne International Comedy Festival, no wonder it was called - The (Very) Big Laugh Out. It was hilarious.

After this, we got an Aussie cheap Easter egg from Big W, which somehow managed to get smashed by the time we got home, so had to be devoured that night as we watched a movie, any excuse to eat chocolate, me thinks. Although on Easter Sunday, we had some proper chocolate Easter egg sent from home, thanks again Mam and Dad, was proper tasty.
To celebrate Easter Monday, we decided to at last minute, to hop on the tram and try and make the last river cruise. After two trams stops, we realised, that I didn't have the iventure cards on me, so a tram journey back and mad dash back to the house, to collect the cards and off we went again. As we arrived in South gate near berth 5, we thought we had missed the last cruise. To our pleasant surprised there was one later cruise leaving at 4pm, due to demand and we were able to use our i venture cards too. The cruise consisted of just over an hour up river cruise along the Yarra river where you see picturesque sights such as the botanic gardens, Olympic parks, Herring Island and other sporting arenas. On the journey back, we got to see various different angles of the CBD and docklands, which was enjoyable and pleasant, if the screaming children aboard wasn't, oh well. To finish off the evening, we went for a sunset stroll in St.Kilda.