Near Customs House, SydneyI didn’t go see Mark’s mate play last night at the Hopetoun Hote and I didn’t win Lotto last night, but I did manage to go out for lunch today.
Tom’s advice about looking locally – and maybe going to the TAFE across the road – was really helpful. I’ve been there before, and it’s quite good, but I don’t know why, but I just couldn’t be bothered.
When I asked around the office, one of my colleagues suggested a new coffee shop located between work and the pub on the corner. “I don’t know if they just do coffee, or if they do something more, but it’s probably worth a try”, she said. So I did, and it was great. A roll, a fruit juice, and few moments of enjoying the outdoors. And the people running the shop were also really friendly, which was an added bonus.
I also noticed a new little “handmade noodle” place in the laneway near where all those new apartments on Harris Street are located, so there was an additional added bonus in going there.
Gosh, I remember when that particular building was a homeless squat. Every day as I walked past it, the smell of urine was overwhelming. Now it’s all modern apartments. How times change.
The other bright spot in my day was visiting Circular Quay (which I love) and going for a walk through Hyde Park (which I also love). While walking through my park, my friend Sue called to ask how my day had been.
To be frank, I told her, it was a reasonably shitty day at work. Yesterday was great. But today I was confronted with some of the more complex details of managing a largish group of people.
Over a beer tonight I told Damo of my time many years ago working for Coles and needing to organise packers. “You had x amount of boxes that needed packing, and for every box you allocated x amount of packers”, I told him. “It wasn’t that hard”, I continued, remembering the quote of an industry guru who often says, “It’s not brain surgery, so don’t worry, nobody dies”. How true.
None of us slept well last night. Yesterday, the BOM/SES was predicting ANOTHER flood for Lismore. Though not at the catastrophic levels of the floods in February/March, there was still the prediction of a “moderate to major flood”.
The forecast said the flood might reach 9.7 metres (possibly more) on the Wilsons River at Lismore. Though that’s not enough to over-top the levee bank, it’s getting awfully close. It would have seen water in low-lying areas of South & North Lismore.
As we tried to sleep last night, the sound of rain was constant.
It didn’t sound like “flood rain” was the consensus in our house last night. Even though I don’t know if I could precisely articulate what “flood rain” means, I know it when I hear it. And so does the rest of the family. It’s a “sense” that comes from having grown up in a flood-prone part of the city. You just know it’s going to be bad.
And though it didn’t sound like “flood rain”, the family was extremely nervous.
“I’ve lived through many floods, but I’ve never been scared of one until now”, Pat said to me a few days ago. Pat, Jack, and their grandson, Sam were rescued by Marcus, one of the “Tinny Army”, the nickname given to people who helped rescue people from the flood, as all other agencies were overwhelmed by the scale of the emergency.
Today, Marcus knocked on the door. “I’ve got a Channel 7 camera crew outside, and they want to know if they can talk to Pat and Jack”, he said to me. “Come in, and ask them yourself”, I said in reply.
They were very quick to say yes. Throughout the last eight months, they’ve appeared in a number of radio, newspaper and television reports. They understand the power of keeping the story alive, long after many people have concluded life had returned to normal here.
Pat, Jack and Marcus with the Channel 7 News crew
Pat, Jack and Marcus on Channel 7 News
Their individual reactions to last night’s prediction of a major flood could not have been more different. While Jack was fairly sanguine about it all, Pat was terrified. The rest of my family are all showing signs of trauma, responding in quite extreme ways to each new flood threat.
Because I wasn’t here for the actual flood, I’m probably more in the middle. I’m also a bit more fact-based in my approach to the news, and wanting to check the facts, the figures and the sources, whereas another family member is inclined to believe every crazy Facebook post she sees.
By the time we had woken the rain had pretty much stopped. A few hours later, there were blue skies.
Nonetheless, the river kept rising throughout the day and is forecast to peak at about 7 metres (minor flood level) at around 10 o’clock.
Down by the river, not far from home in Lismore at about 4pm today.
Instead of the rain, it’s the sound of frogs tonight.
You know how it is: you go to the doctor, and they ask you what you eat, drink, smoke, and take, and you’re not entirely honest. The experience of the last few months has made me far more open and honest about everything, and not in the slightest embarrassed.
For example, this morning I said to the occupational therapist, “This is my bed, and this is my urine bottle.” “And how often do you use it?”, Anna replied. “Usually only once,” I told her, noting that it was mostly about 3:30 in the morning.
From there, we went into the bathroom where I demonstrated how I would take a shower (with a supportive stool), have a bowel movement (including the actions involved in wiping my bum), and then get up and down.
Before this all happened, I could never imagine the honesty and intimacy I would need to share with strangers. But it’s been a week of that with a number of visits and appointments.
“Do you have much fatigue? How many hours can you have in the community at a time?”, Anna further asked. The answer is about two or three hours at a time, I told her honestly. After one of the outings this week, I came home and needed a nap. But that’s probably not so different from before? :)
“You sound like you’re very well organized,” Anna noted, when I talked about my routines. A few people I’ve encountered over the last few months have said the same, and they’ve all smiled in reply when I’ve told them my job is as a Planning Manager.
I’m already thinking ahead to referendum voting day, and sent an email to my local voting booth, at the Bourke Street Primary School, with a view to understanding if they will have a “sausage sizzle”, one of my favourite parts of elections.
To my relief, the reply came back, with “The P&C will be running a BBQ on referendum day. As we have our big school fete on 29 October, it will only be a BBQ as they’re saving up their energy for the fete. Maybe that’s an excuse for two outings?”
In the next week, I have a few more appointments for which I’ll also be assisted by my support workers who come in twice a week for three hours at a time.
Applying for a disability parking permit
On Monday, we’ll attempt (for the second time) to visit Service NSW at Haymarket to apply for a disability parking permit. Even though amputations are a legitimate reason to apply for a permit, I’ve been told things have “tightened up” in the last eighteen months. “The assumption is that if you have a prosthetic limb you should be okay to get around by yourself”, one doctor told me. We both agreed that didn’t take into account the days when I’ll be in a wheelchair, unable to wear my prosthetic, or after hours of fatigue. Fingers crossed it will be okay.
Meetings with friends
Next week, even with my prosthetic limb, I’ll still be in a wheelchair for a couple of lunch/dinner meetings I have with friends. The key issues remain both fatigue, and uneven footpaths.
I’m still planning the logistics around lunchtime. It’s an annual catchup with some current and former colleagues, which is usually a fairly boozy affair. I might have a glass or two myself, though nowhere near as much as I would previously. I don’t really want to impose on my friends, so I’m trying to work out the best way to get to and from the venue.
Enjoying a coffee near Sacred Heart Rehabilitation in Darlinghurst. Having the coffee, and also a burrito for lunch were wonderful.
It was terrific tonight to watch Ben Knight’s report from the Middle East on the 7.30 Report, ah 7.30. I have a bit of a soft spot for Ben: I remember when he came in to the ABC in Mildura about twenty years ago, first as a work experience student, then as a producer, and then as a presenter. Since then, he’s gone off and got married and had children, and works as an ABC foreign correspondent.
The same is true of Zoe Daniel. Zoe was my producer many years ago on Statewide Drive. She then got a job as a Rural Reporter on the North Coast, worked as a Current Affairs Reporter in Melbourne, got married to a terrific bloke, had some kids, and works now as the ABC’s Correspondent in South East Asia.
Although I don’t know Sally Sara as well, she and I have some connections too. In the late 80s, I worked at 2WEB in Bourke. Sally started work there soon after I left to take up a job at the ABC in Renmark. Soon after I left Renmark to take up a job in Wagga Wagga, Sally followed me from Bourke to Renmark. When they write the history of 2WEB, I suspect she’ll be the station’s most famous former worker.
And then there’s Brigid Glanville. I remember Brigid as a fresh-faced Rural Reporter working for the ABC in Tamworth, and who I met for the first time at The Cattleman’s Bar at the Royal Easter Show.
As I watched television tonight and saw Ben report from the Middle East, I reflected for a moment on the wonderful, talented broadcasters and journalists like Ben, Zoe, Sally and Brigid (and loads of others) who I’ve seen come up through the ranks.
They’re all journos who have done far more “riskier” things than me. I’ve gone down a different, “safer” path in my career. Still hard work. Still challenging, but different. And I’ve never had to put my life on the line :) I admire them all for the personal and professional risks they’ve taken.
And when I see them on television at night reporting from different “hot spots” I am reminded of them as young journalists, and feel proud that I’ve been around long enough to know them when they were young and up and coming.
They stand in stark contrast to what I call the “cut and paste generation”. And by that, I mean the journalists who don’t think there’s a story until there’s a “media release” or it appears in a newspaper. And those people who call themselves journalists, but who really should call themselves comedy writers.
Today, I found myself meticulously planning for a dinner outing with friends at a nearby restaurant, one of my favourites in Surry Hills called “Khois”. While it’s a place I’ve frequented many times, my considerations were more complex this time. I had to think about accessibility, given my prosthetic leg and wheelchair.
This was the same restaurant I had visited a few weeks ago, before I had my prosthetic limb. Back then, maneuvering in and out of the restaurant with only one functional leg was quite challenging, thanks to a high step at the entrance. https://thelimbshift.com/2023/08/leave-pass-lessons/ However, feeling physically stronger this time around and equipped with crutches, I was more confident about managing the entrance. Still I had to think things through, so there were no surprises for me or my friends.
“You’re looking so much better,” one of the owners warmly greeted me with a smile as we entered and took our seats.
For a big night out, I also needed to plan so I felt really good (having a shower) and by dressing nicely.
In recent months, during my stay in hospital and rehabilitation, I’ve mostly worn soft material shorts. I’m still figuring out how comfortable long pants will be in the long-term with my prosthetic leg, so I opted for shorts again tonight. I plan to experiment more in the future.
After a week at home, I think I’ve perfected my shower routine. I’ve arranged a shower stool near the shower door, complete with a small ramp for easy access. To ensure a smooth experience, I always keep my toothpaste, toothbrush, and shower gel within arm’s reach.
Safety is paramount, so I’ve learned to sit down on the stool before removing my leg to prevent potential accidents. I carefully place my leg beside the shower cavity and leave the bathroom door slightly ajar just in case I need assistance. Additionally, I take precautions to minimize steam and avoid triggering the smoke alarm, using the shower on the soft setting for a more comfortable and safe experience.
Amid my planned preparations, there were unexpected moments today.
In the morning, someone rang the front door buzzer while I was still in bed, and I hadn’t put on my prosthetic leg. The thought of rushing to answer the door felt daunting, so I decided to let fate take its course. “Let the cosmos deal with it”, I thought to myself.
Later in the day, a friend called to say she was in the area and wanted to visit. I enthusiastically welcomed her, but I knew it meant donning my prosthetic leg once again. It also prompted me to tackle the dishes, which I had initially intended to leave for later.
My good friend has recently returned from Sweden and brought back for me some delightful Swedish gifts.
Among them, Swedish confectionery with just one gram of sugar for the pack—a true diabetic’s delight! She also brought me some Swedish quiz cards, a fridge magnet, and a book “365 unika and roliga uppdrag” (365 unique and fun/enjoyable assignments/tasks) that encourages new experiences every day. And then writing about them, in Swedish. This will keep me busy, and my mind occupied while I remain on sick leave.
The book’s opening line, “Välkommen till ditt nya liv,” translates to “welcome to your new life”. My friend put her arm around me as I began to get a little teary.
“I’ve got to go. We’ve got a tsunami alert”, I told my friends at the pub.
At first my friends thought I was joking, but pretty quickly they realised I wasn’t, due to the rather serious look on my face.
I’d just received a call from a bloke from the State Emergency Service who I know and trust, and so knew it wasn’t a hoax.
At that stage, the Weather Bureau was predicting a tsunami for the NSW/Victorian and Tasmanian coastlines in the next hour or so, as a result of an earthquake in New Zealand.
Details were a little sketchy at that point. But by the time I’d gotten to work it was all a little bit clearer.
It was a rather unexpected end to an otherwise curious mix of a day.
I’d been to an event for NAIDOC week. I’d heard news of a mate losing his job. All sorts of things happened today at work. And then, just when I thought it was safe to sit around with mates for a couple of quiet beers – with the State of Origin playing quietly on the big screen in the backgroud – I got the call to go into work.
When my friend Sue first spotted the “Nexus Holidays China Sampler” late last year, we both thought it sounded “too good to be true”. For about the cost of a return flight from Sydney to Beijing (about $1200-$1300), the sampler price also included an internal flight from Beijing to Shanghai, accommodation in “five star hotels”, about three quarters of the meals, tour guide support, and entry to lots of major tourist attractions.
That it was previously advertised at close to $3000, and was now being offered (through Living Social) at a much lower price, made it sound even more extraordinary. After consideration of the uncertainties we decided we would go ahead and book anyway, deciding to pay an extra $400 for single accommodation instead of the twin-share. Right up until the last couple of weeks before travelling, we still couldn’t quite believe the generousness of the deal.
The last time I was in China (I mean, the first time I was in China, which was in 2010), I visited my friend Kate who was living here pretty much permanently. She was working at an art gallery there, and had an apartment in a building a very non-western part of Beijing. She invited me to come to visit and so of course I said yes.
Being with someone who had spent a bit of time there, and who had developed a network of contacts and friends (mostly among expats) meant that I was able to go a little deeper more quickly into life in Beijing than the average tourist on a package deal, which is what I did on the China Sampler. I got to do some amazing things and really treasure the memories of that trip in 2010.
It’s one of those holidays where I can pretty much recall everything that happened on every day, and the way I felt about my experiences. But this time around, being on a tour group and the experience was different. Not better, not worse. Just different.
On the positive, I probably received a little more of the “educational backgrounder” than I’d enjoyed previously. On the negative, there were moments when I wished for something a little less “touristy”.
Flights with China Eastern
I was pleasantly surprised with the flights, since I’d read some pretty average reviews of China Eastern. People who write things like “the worst airline ever” without an explanation are wasting their time and mine. And those who fly budget but expect first class are just dreamin’. But having applied those filters I still want expecting much. China Eastern surprised me. We flew from Sydney to Shanghai on an A330: modern aircraft, good but not great entertainment system and plenty of leg room. The leg room was further enhanced by having scored four seats in the centre row between only two of us.
Our trip also covered an internal flight from Beijing to Shanghai, though noting the early morning flight was hell in the transport line.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Shanghai : The accommodation was excellent. It was genuinely in the range of four to five star throughout, with large rooms and good facilities. The only negative from my perspective was the accommodation in Beijing was quite some distance away, some thirty to forty-five minutes from the centre of town, which meant by the end of the day, we were much pretty much stranded. In all the other cities, however, we were close to town.
Tour Guides
Throughout the tour we had a “national guide” and a local guide in each of the cities we visited (Beijing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Hangzhou and Shanghai). They were all knowledgeable, friendly, and all spoke reasonably good English, and often with an unexpected sophistication.
Tourist Attractions
We visited all of the “key” tourist attractions including Tiananmen Square, The Imperial Palace, The Summer Palace and The Great Wall of China, as well as lots of smaller attractions including The Lingering Garden which I’d never heard of before. Of all the attractions, the only one which disappointed my slightly was our visit to The Great Wall. I’d visited what I thought was a more attractive, more interesting part of the wall when I visited in 2010, whereas our visit on this occasion was to a very touristy, very busy part of the wall. Everyone else enjoyed it, though.
Temple of HeavenMei Jia Wu Tea Village/梅家坞Sue points to a sleeping panda at Beijing Zoo
Shopping Excursions
An important part of the tour is a number of “shopping expeditions” which, I’m sure, go some way to subsidising the overall costs. These expeditions included visits to a Chinese medicine facility, a tea factory, jade factory, a silk factory, and a copper art factory.
Chinese Medicine
As I don’t have the “shopping gene” these were the parts of the trip which I found least interesting. These were the parts of the tour most likely to divide the men and the women of our group. Even if the blokes weren’t all that interested in the finished product, there was still something about manufacturing which was enough to keep the men interested. There were times when I (and others) thought too much was allowed for these shopping adventures.
Others, however, really enjoyed these parts of the trip, and many people spent a lot of money. One couple, for example, bought $7000 worth of Chinese medicine products. A few other members of the tour group later seemed to suffer “shoppers regret”, as soon after they made their purchases, they realised they’d incorrectly calculated the exchange rate.
Optional Extras
Throughout the tour there were quite a few optional extras to the program, which included light shows, an acrobatics show, a hot pot dinner, a visit to the hutongs, and yum cha lunch to name but a few. While many people had paid for all of the optional extras, Sue and I took them on a case by case basis.
Food
About two-thirds to three quarters of all meals were included in the price, including breakfast every day and usually one or two further meals. I’m a little more adventurous in my taste in food than were most of the other people on the tour, and so I was sometimes a little disappointed with the food. That said, other people on the tour found it all a little more challenging than they were used to. There was a general agreement, however, food servings were very, very generous.
Toilets
Although squat toilets are the norm in China, they posed a few “challenges” for the female members of our tour group, particularly the older ones. Most of the time, however, our tour guides provided good advice about which toilets were more “western” in style. To overcome our uneasiness about squat toilets, Sue and I adopted a routine of going to the bathroom for a number two each morning at the hotel.
Overall Experience
Tour Group in Tiananmen Square, Beijing
Going on a tour group is, by its very nature, about individual compromise. Our group ranged in age from late 20s to late 70s, with most of the group aged 50-65, so there was room for a lot of different interests based on age alone. You need to go on a tour accepting there will some things you will enjoy, some things you won’t, some people you will like, some people you won’t. Life is about compromise. Sue and I were discussing this on the bus at one point, noting we would have found it difficult to have done so many of the things we had if we had travelled by ourselves. “We could have hired a driver and guide”, I said to Sue, but balanced that by noting it would have been more expensive to have done so, and then on top of that, there would have been all of the additional costs (including entry prices, accommodation and flights) which are all covered as part of this tour. Overall, I thought the trip was excellent value and would highly recommend it to others if the offer comes up again.
If you want more detail on what happened day by day, have a look at some of my China Posts
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Bummer – you missed a pretty interesting show there. Not quite as interesting as someone’s dress getting caught in an escalator though. Have your cameraphone handy, ok?
Bummer – you missed a pretty interesting show there. Not quite as interesting as someone’s dress getting caught in an escalator though. Have your cameraphone handy, ok?
I shall.