Sunday Selections #225

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. This week I would like to share a very scary morning.

My youngest brother and his wife have to find a new home because of asbestos contamination.  The good news?  They found one they think is suitable.  The bad news?  It was up for auction yesterday - when they were in another State for medical treatment.  The scary bit?  'Will you bid on it for us?  I don't want to be on the phone with you while the auction is going on because it will be toooo stressful!'

'Why thank you brother.  I wouldn't want you to go through any stress.'  Nice to be trusted, but a HUGE responsibility.  The real estate agent was unimpressed with his cowardice and told him that he really should be on the phone while the auction was underway.  I expect she thought he would increase his maximum bid.  She was wrong. 

So yesterday morning bright and early we headed across town.  It was a chilly start to the day, but bright and sunny.

The house isn't to my taste (lots of very small rooms), but it doesn't need to be.  I did like the wheelbarrow full of pansies though.

Heart in mouth, and knees knocking I started bidding.  And yes, the brother (stressed out to the max) was on the phone.  There were two other bidders and at one stage it was on its third and final call on my bid.  I put in a valiant effort - but failed when the other bidders got their 'auction legs'.  $43,000 over the upper limit I had been given it was sold (I believe it was grossly overpriced).  The nearest unsucessful bidder burst into tears.   Oh dear.

Better luck next time brother mine.  And hopefully you will be in town to do your own bidding.

#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.