Freedom ! I am now allowed out of the building for brief trips, wearing the mask, and encouraged to go for a stroll as long as I monitor my energy. It felt so good to go out and stand in the sunshine. One of the surprising challenges for me on this , and I'll be … Continue reading Freedom , clothing & identity →

It's day 9 of isolation, and I've just been told I can go to mask mode this afternoon ! This means that, although I can't leave the floor, I can leave my room and visit people as long as I and they wear a mask. It's a huge relief to get out of the room, … Continue reading Relative freedom →

There is a risk to the procedure I am undertaking currently, and I am going to bring in a work perspective, as addressing risk is inherent to my daily work life. This is quite a long post, but I got a bit carried away with writing it ( yes, I am feeling better and the … Continue reading Risk & reward →

Not much has changed here, my hair is falling out still, which is a good indicator that the stem cells are starting to work. My blood works are ok, but at the low end still so a hoped-for partial release from isolation, to mask status where I'm confined to the hospital grounds but allowed to … Continue reading Day 7 of isolation →

I never, previous to this experience, thought I'd be excited at the actuality of my hair falling out, but yes, it's begun and by that I mean all my hair. Hair on my head, armpit hair, eyelashes, armpit and privates, all starting to shed. The shower drain is beginning to look a bit horrible, and … Continue reading Hair falling out ! →

Not much to report today, I think it's day 5 of isolation although with modern communications and a fairly constant stream of friendly Russian nurses and doctors, it's not isolation in any true sense. I actually had the energy today to clean my earrings with the vodka wash, and put them, my watch and contact … Continue reading Medical stuff →

I'm not going to say a lot here, as a couple of articles have come through on my social media feed today and yesterday which sum up my thoughts perfectly. This article is beautiful, not short but thought-provoking; https://qz.com/1309242/the-most-important-skill-nobody-taught-you/ As I've stated before, I use and love social media. However, it's a tool only and … Continue reading Endless distraction →

I am just beginning to feel as if I have a brain, rather than just a body that can only just sleep or drag itself to the toilet ! I had not anticipated just how knocked out and exhausted I'd be by this process, although all the information available had made it clear. Healthwise, I … Continue reading Contemplation →

For those of you not Australian or in any way interested in AFL, the significance of today being the Grand Final, a West Coast team (the wrong one but never mind that) being in the Grand Final means I can happily stay in bed, listening to 80's rock while watching the match on my phone … Continue reading 2nd day of iso & Grand Final day →

Today is the first real day of my isolation. From now, I can't leave this room, eat only the food they bring other than boiled sweets and chocolate, don't open the windows. They put me in white pyjamas, which I'll get clean every day. I hadn't expect that, for some reason I thought I could … Continue reading First real day of isolation →