Back in a bit.

I am having an attack of  the inadequacies.  Neither my body nor my brain are behaving well and I cannot think of anything about myself that I like or value.

I am going out in the garden to eat worms.  When that palls perhaps I will do a little weeding.

I will be back when I have re-established some equanimity.

Sunday Selections #210

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files. 

The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

Like River I usually run with a theme.  I love my garden, and am obsessed with it.  However, this summer my get up and go has disappeared without me, and the garden has been neglected.  When I can track the missing vim and vigour down serious work is needed.

Luckily, some things are still blooming.  The tuberous begonias along the front verandah are just starting to flower and are a joy.

The next plant's name completely escapes me at the moment.  And has done for over a week.

Some of the many liliums we planted are flowering...

As is the hibiscus.

And the bromeliads...

Given how slack I have been, I have been very, very lucky.  Past work rewarded, and current neglect not punished as much as I expected (or possibly deserved).

#LungLeavingDay 2015

Some of you will remember that a little while ago I said that my youngest brother was likely to lose his house because, long before his wife bought it, it had been insulated with friable asbestos.  I don't know about you, but the phrase 'there is always someone worse off' was frequently heard in my house when I was growing up.  It is so often true.  And definitely in this case  A little while ago I had an email from someone who proved it to me.

The person who contacted me was Heather Von St. James. Nine years ago she was diagnosed with mesothelioma and given just 15 months to live. She was a new mother, and determined to survive.  Her life saving treatment included the removal of her left lung and LungLeaving Day was born. February 2nd (which is today in her hemisphere) is the anniversary of that day. 

Each year, she and her family gather around a fire in the backyard, write their biggest fears on a plate and smash them into the fire.   This link will take you to an interactive page they have created to share that special day.

As you scroll down that page you will see Heather's story, and some of her fears.  I am awed at people's resilience and Heather epitomises both that resilience and determination.  She is also using her experience to reach out to others.  Which of us doesn't have fears and or regrets we would like to smash into a million pieces?  A million tiny pieces, each too small to regenerate... 

My families asbestos experience means I am  more than happy to spread the word about the dangers of asbestos.  My brother and his wife have received confirmation and their house WILL be demolished.  We now know that no exposure to friable asbestos is safe.  Our local government has bitten the bullet and all the homes which were insulated by Mr Fluffy will be demolished and razed.  It is a precautionary measure and  residents are not being offered any choice.  A frightening and expensive upheaval for the affected individuals and the community, but necessary.   So very necessary.  Sadly for some of the residents of those homes it will be too late.  Mesothelioma (also known as asbestos cancer) is slow growing, and the exposure they have had in what they assumed was the safety of their own homes means they will develop asbestos cancer.  However the demolition of the affected homes is, like Heather's surgery,  necessary to try and contain/control/cure the damage.

Asbestos has been used in the home for a very very long time.  The cost of that usage is starting to emerge.
 Asbestos in the Home

Image courtesy of the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance.

My information about the mesothelioma is patchy, but for those of you who want to know more there is plenty of useful information to be found here.  For Australian readers this is a useful link - and I was appalled to learn that we have one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world.

I hope that Heather continues to not only survive but thrive - and I love, and plan to adopt,  her initiative of identifying and formally smashing her fears.

Sunday Selections #209

Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files. 

The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

Like River I usually run with a theme.  I have often shown you the birds and the cats (real and ornamental) which decorate/clutter our home.  Today I am focusing on the fish.  Or some of them.  There is a large fish tank in the living room (and goodness it is a bugger to clean) and rather a lot of other fish around, both inside and out.

First the real fish.  Fortunately neither Jazz nor Jewel show any interest in them, though Jazz loves to warm his belly on the light on the top of the tank.

Then some of the other fish around the place.

And for Dana, a frog.