Happier times.

I've been tied up (as in busy) with the exhibition of my linen collection over the past three weeks, but that finished on Sunday, so I have some time now to catch up with my blogs.  I went with Ken to see the lung specialist two weeks ago, and we were relieved to hear that Ken's blood tests etc. were showing a vast improvement since he was in hospital.  He is feeling a lot better now, especially after Dr G. assured us that those bullae (air sacs) in the lungs are common in people with COPD, and the chances of them bursting are very unlikely.  He said it would just as likely to be struck by lightning, so I guess that is rare enough to not worry about it!  So Ken has gone back to work four days a week, and seems to be coping well enough.  He went on a 200 KL ride with a dozen other guys from the Japanese Vintage motorcycle club on Sunday, and although he was pretty tired when he got home, he said he enjoyed himself, and that's what is important.
We have got a big mess in our front and back yards with trees and branches blown down in a recent storm, but they can stay there until we both feel energetic enough to spend a day at home cleaning up.  Everyone else around here is in the same boat.

I was at the Eltham library today, and found a book about Melbourne.  I've lived here all my life and thought I knew a lot about our city, but the author of this book has uncovered some remarkable little-known stories that make me want to go walkabout around the city for a day and rediscover some of our old buildings.
I came out of the library and paused to admire the view from the balcony.  It looks over one of Eltham's beautiful parks, and I felt a sense of immense pride.

 A lady about my age was walking to her car which was parked next to mine, and I said to her "Aren't we lucky to live here?"  Just a spontaneous remark, to which she smiled and replied "I think that every day when I get home from work".  Some people hate where they live, some people don't dwell on their locality at all, but some of us really love where we live, and I'm one of those fortunate people.