 So here I am again with nothing to write about except my cast-encased broken wrist. Sorry about that, but it is dominating my life-style at present.
I think I’ve mentioned the awkwardness of dealing with day-to-day activities, haven’t I? I’m too lazy – and handicapped – to even check what I have previously written (using one hand, remember). Last night I was to attend a rather formal function – well, not function, really – I had tickets to the ballet. Well, going out – all dressed up, so to speak - does not sound like needing too much extra effort just because one arm and hand are out of action. Attending the ballet with an arm in a cast may not seem like a chore. But, let me tell you, it was a different experience. Firstly, what to wear? Looking at all my “posh” outfits, I found that most of them had fastenings and/or narrow sleeves with which I couldn’t cope. Also, any trousers that had tricky clips or buttons were out, as I might quite possibly need a visit to the lavatory at least once during the evening and could hardly expect a total stranger to help me do up my pants afterwards! So, I finally decided on a pair of pull-up black slacks (no zip or button) topped by a fairly old, but comfortable black and white, flexible & stretchy top with short sleeves - easily fitting over the rigid cast. A loose linen jacket completed the outfit and my husband kindly fastened the pearl necklace. As is usual when we go to such performances, we went to the Arts Centre Bistro for a pre-show meal and glass of wine. Now the new problem was what to eat? Well, it’s fine at home asking for help in cutting up a meal, and, it’s fine at home making a little mess when eating one-handed, but in public? And all dressed up? Awkward! I ended up ordering a bowl of ‘beer-battered fries’ and a glass of white wine. It was an unusual meal, but (surprisingly) very tasty, with a creamy dipping sauce as accompaniment. The evening went very well. The ballet - La Sylphide – was beautiful. My only other problem was that I was unable to applaud when I really wanted to!
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 Cutting up an apple to eat is a major achievement. It’s such a nuisance, having only one functioning hand and arm: can’t work in the garden, can’t drive the car, can’t go shopping – well, not alone – can’t write much serious stuff, can’t even bake some cookies - and even making a cup of tea requires using a jug of water to fill the kettle because I am unable to successfully hold it under the tap. Pathetic reason to moan about, I know…sorry.
But there are benefits as well: I can’t do house work and my husband has to cook dinner – and make my lunch. So, what’s left for me to do? Read, read and read some more. Fortunately we have a great public library nearby. Not only can I borrow up to 20 items at a time, but it’s all free. And if there’s a book I fancy and it’s not on the shelf, I simply ask the library (online) to find it (in another library) and put it ‘on hold’ for me. After a day or so, a text message arrives to let me know the ordered book is there waiting. Excellent service! My other sanity saver is the iPad. I use it for emailing (slowly!), checking on the news, following favourite sites & people on Twitter & Facebook and lots more. It’s a lazy and relaxing life, but I would much rather have the use of TWO hands. Only 24 days to go and the cast will be off!  Here’s the latest on the fractured wrist. It’s St Patrick’s Day, so my new green fibreglass cast is very appropriate. Unfortunately, it will still be affixed to my arm long after St Patrick’s Day has been and gone – but it’s the thought that counts!
A happy fact I’ve discovered is that my inability to use capital letters when writing can be fixed by simply using spell-check. So it may all read a lot more clearly now! A date has been set for the removal of the cast: April 13. Only 27 days to go until I will be able to function again as a two-handed person. I ‘take my hat off’ to all those who have a permanent disability and will try to stop whingeing about my few weeks without the use of one arm. 
The inconvenience of this plaster cast – and the continuing pain – is getting me down and I’ve only just passed by the one week mark. here’s the arm after a shower. well, I guess that doesn’t look too much of a hassle…but…. and here I come complaining again… it’s taken me about half an hour of awkward manoeuvring to wash my hair with one hand!
the purposely-made plastic arm covering is a blessing, after first having battled with a plastic supermarket bag. so, thanks to my sister for sending this. next post I will try and have some positive words to say – mainly about all the time I have for reading. Notice I have managed a few capital letters this time - but it's a long stretch sometimes. Try it one handed.  Day 5. my poor fat fingers, cramped by a heavy plaster cast.
‘wedding band’ and diamond rings have been cut off with a tiny electric buzz-saw at the hospital. But I am ‘hog tied’ & (almost) cannot write at all. but, still I have a need to put down thoughts. so every few days I will try to give an up-date on the broken wing. sorry to be so self-centred. the pain is lessening, but I am still reliant on painkillers to enable me to sleep. hoping that need will go very soon. on Monday I will attend the fracture clinic at the hospital, where an orthopaedic doctor will give an estimate of how long I will be ‘out-of-action’. could be 6 weeks…that’s 42 days & I’m only up to day 5. groan! please excuse the sparse use of capitals - hard to achieve with only one working hand.  To any regular readers of my blog: Sorry to say I will be out of action - not posting any more blogs - until this plaster is removed from my broken wrist.
Blame the little dog, who vomited on our back veranda! I hosed it clean and then slipped on the wet paving stones. OUCH!  A quote from this morning’s news:
‘Australia's prosperity is at risk of being put under increasing pressure over the next four decades unless Australians work longer and productivity is improved, according to a major report due to be released today.’ Hello? Okay, we understand that productivity needs to rise to keep the country moving, but where are the jobs? If a large percentage of young people are unable to find ANY work, what’s the use of telling older Australians to get out into the workforce (as opposed to receiving an aged pension, I suppose). Where are the jobs? The ‘work longer’ plea does not mean working longer hours in a day, it means work for a longer part of your life. Till you are 75 maybe. But, and here’s a big BUT…almost nothing is being manufactured in this country any more. We have relied on the sale of coal and minerals to other countries to provide much of the country’s wealth and now that the ‘mining boom’ seems to be over, what is left for prosperity? Australia has stopped making cars; in fact stopped making almost everything, including clothing and packaged food. Today I began a search of items that I have bought over the past week. Here’s a little of what I discovered: Sandals (cheap!)= made in China Underwear = made in China Dental floss = made in Ireland. (for heaven’s sake!) Toothpaste= made in South Africa Washing powder= made in China Chocolate = made in Germany Baking Powder= made in New Zealand Noodles = made in Malaysia Instant coffee= made in The Netherlands Tinned sardines and tuna= both made in Thailand Tinned tomatoes= made in Italy Dog treats = made in Hong Kong But, hooray, I also found some rice biscuits, some olive oil a face washer (!) and, later in my cupboard, a very old pullover = made in Australia! But that was all. There were a few packs that said ‘packed in Australia from local and imported ingredients’ or ‘packed for Australia from imported goods’ and so forth. What that means exactly is not quite clear. Can you see a pattern here? Many goods made in China, (and that includes most basic clothing items, such as socks underwear, T-shirts etc) obviously because the labour is so much cheaper there. But what about the ‘sea miles’ the goods have to travel? And (excuse me China) what about the quality of the items? And surely someone in Australia knows how to make toothpaste and be able to present it at a reasonable cost. No? Not even toothpaste? How about washing powder? The Chinese seem to have cornered that market which is a nuisance as they have a habit of increasing the volume of the product with ‘filler’ that puts marks on washed clothes and buggers up washing machines. How about an Australian washing powder that may cost a little more but that does a decent job? And, speaking of jobs – decent or otherwise – how about somebody starting up modern factories and employing people to make some of these products? Young people could find their starting place in factory work – maybe? And that old ‘made in Australia’ pullover that is in my cupboard is still a great wearable item and I think it has reached its 15th birthday. There are a few other items of clothing in our cupboards with a ‘made in Australia’ tag: all still going well and all many years old. Where are the ‘made in Australia’ clothes now? I certainly can’t find any. Can you? And can you find a job? Here’s a wild idea: How about Australia becoming the self-sustaining capital of the world by being the first country to be able to supply ALL its power from solar, wind and waves? Huge job opportunities, wonderful results and we, as Australians, would become the standard setters for the world in both prosperity and clean environment practices. And for those with dollar signs in mind, that would mean another fantastic tourism opportunity. A bridge too far? |
