7. A slight lull...or was there...?

Dr Inder said I could work before my surgery and I got a call to say that I could go back up to Narrabri on 22nd November and back on 28th November. The flights didn't quite work out time wise so the train was a possibility. Once we looked into that the line was cut in a few places from the floods and they had rail buses instead. I don't do well on buses, feel motion sick, even in the front seat. When I was travelling in Norway there was an hour long trek on a bus to get to a ferry in the fjords. I just made it even in the front seat. I didn't think the bus driver would appreciate a modern art installation splattered on his windshield so I was glad it wasn't any longer. The views were amazing and I could've enjoyed them a little more if I wasn't stiffly concentrating on looking only straight ahead. Back to working...I asked if it was ok if I could drive myself up and back. After some discussion on their end it was deemed to be possible. Just take a photo of my speedometer before I leave and when I arrive both ways and I could claim the kilometres at $0.78 a kilometre. Ok, great. It's a 555km drive.

I set off at 7.14am and got a phone call from Rob about 5 minutes later. We chatted and caught up as I negotiated traffic north and he was driving south towards Newcastle. There were a few butt clenching episodes on my part in some heavy traffic but once I was on the Northconnex it was a clear run north. Stopped near Singleton for a break, then Quirindi as well. There is a lookout there called 'Who'd A Thought It'. I decided to check it out. Beautiful 360 degree views of the Liverpool Plains. Arrived in Narrabri at 3.12pm. The roads were ok, could see and feel flood damage. I saw people working on the railway line in 5 places.

I worked Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday and was on call for Sunday. Saturday morning I went out and visited with Rusty, Bec and their 3 kids. Rusty was harvesting some wheat so I spent some time in the wheat harvester with him catching up. Then we had lunch. We worked out we hadn't seen each other since Grandma Horner's 80th birthday party just over 20 years ago. Lots of changes since then! I didn't get called in to work so enjoyed some time crocheting and watching Zac Efron's 'Down to Earth Season 2' on Netflix. It's all about Australia and it was very interesting.

Monday I was up at 5.30am to drive back to Sydney. As soon as I opened my eyes I could tell something was wrong. I could see less than normal - if that is possible. My left eye is my 'good' eye and something wasn't right. I squinted into the mirror from 5cm away and could sort of see that there was something red, like a tear drop, coming from under the coloured part of my left eye, as well as a couple of other red dots just below. Just what I need, my eyes to bugger up just before a long drive. I had a shower, my boob is now hideous mottles of greens, browns, yellows. Looks like some fungus has taken up residence on my skin. Hector Hymenula Affinis (root rot) or Hector Hemileia Vastatrix (leaf rust). After my shower I put my contact lenses in and apart from my left eye feeling like I'd swum in a chlorine pool for many hours without googles I thought I'd be able to drive ok. My vision was back to mostly normal....for my normal anyway.

Uneventful drive home, stopped at Quirindi, Singleton and things were looking good for a clean run when I got out of the Northconnex tunnel until I got EVERY SINGLE RED LIGHT to Sutherland! Why is it that when you sort of need to pee but think you'll be fine making it home the red lights know and decide to make things a challenge but I made it without any leakage. I was pretty tired after my week and so decided to take my contacts out and have a nana nap for an hour at 6pm before dinner. The next thing I know it's 9.30am the next day! I guess I was more tired than I thought.

My left eye wasn't feeling that good so made an appointment with my optometrist. Peter wasn't working on Tuesday but Bonnie was there. I went to her for almost 20 years. Then I had to change contact lens types, from rose K to mini scleral, and Bonnie wasn't trained to fit them. Not many people are so I was lucky that Peter had a practice in The Shire and I didn't have to go too far. When I lived in Yallingup and Dunsborough, Western Australia, there were only 2 people in the whole of the state who had any experience with Rose K lenses so I just ended up flying back to Sydney if I needed a check up.

Bonnie checked my eyes out. Left one was irritated, keratitis, inflammation of the cornea. She is unsure of what happened but the combination of 30-35 degree hot and dry weather in Narrabri and the fact that my left lens is over 4 years old could have something to do with it. She said my cornea wasn't scratched and there were "no floating pieces of tissues broken off" so that was good news. I have scratched my cornea before and my eyes just feel tired and maybe a bit gritty but there is no pain. My eyes have become super desensitised from years of wearing contacts. Bonnie gives me some lubricating drops and says I can't wear my contact lens for a week. Crap, I knew that I wouldn't be able to wear them in the operation but a whole week! That just elevated my operation and recovery experience to a whole new level. I tried wearing just my right lens but that made me feel all whacky and nauseous so blind it is going to be! Guess I'll be having an early night before the operation tomorrow. I have to fast anyway, besides, I do love my sleep.