Greetings, one and all! Have you settled into this new
decade yet? Coz suddenly it’s almost the end of 2021 … hope you’ve had an
eventful and enjoyable year!
If you’ve followed these silly Xmas Greetings of mine, you
may recall that several years ago, I very excitedly shared that I’d begun
dreaming again. Not the awful, terrifying nightmares that the cruel and
unfaithful God plagued me incessantly with when I was still imprisoned in the
insane asylum (more commonly known to everyone else as the Brain Injuries Rehab
Unit of the Princess Alexandra hospital XD) but nice normal dreams. I don’t
dream very often, and lately I’ve developed this annoying habit (which I got
from mother) of forgetting what the dream was the moment I wake, but I started
keeping a dream journal to note down the dream I had and it turns out I dream
most frequently about mother, followed by myself, followed by other randoms.
One thing that massively annoyed me was that in my dreams, I could NEVER REACH
THE
True to her word, suddenly, last year I DID reach the food!!
:D I was so excited, the next day I opened up Facebook Messenger and SHRIEKED to
Steph that I’d finally REACHED THE
For those of you who have studied at UQ (like I did, before
the cruel and unfaithful God totally wiped me out with the disabling brain
injury in 2007 ><) you’ll know about the
When I’d started plodding laps of the Great Court last year,
it’d been nearing Christmas; I remembered joking to Denis (a clinical
educator), “Hey, it’s nearly Summer and you having me hike around this place’s
leaving me rather hot and sweaty; how about next time I come up here you shout
me an iced chocolate? Denis had begged out, saying he was broke but I’d sniped
at him rubbish. You currently get a full time wage from UQ whereas I subsist on
the disability pension; of course you can shout me an iced chocolate. You’re
just being a miser and tight-fisted. Denis had roared with laughter meaning he
agreed with my accusation but made no offer to shout me a drink. I let the
matter drop also, because not only was he the teacher but five years – half a
DECADE my junior – so it wasn’t prolly very appropriate to nag him to buy me an
iced chocolate, yeah? XD
But fast forward six months. It’s the middle of Winter now,
and I’m presuming most are aware of what a complete cold frog I am? I’m still
doing these Great Court hikes but rugged up wearing tee, jumper, jacket, fleecy
vest, long pants, long socks and beanie when suddenly I have a bright idea!
“Hey,” I remark to Denis. “Six months later, I’m still hiking these
Denis just says he’ll think about it. I hint that he should
think about it *very favourably* and again let the matter drop, although I also
remind my current physio student that some prompting from him about the hot
chocolate might help also. *HINT, HINT* XD
Fast forward again to the final (so 5th) week of
the current student’s rotations. I’m partway through my weekly Great Court Hike
when Denis suddenly strides ahead, turns around and asks me, “What’s your
order? I’ll order while you guys keep walking and then I’ll catch-up with you
two, alright?” I hesitate. “Um, mother didn’t leave me any cash. Before COVID
she’d give the cash to the carer to pay for me while I’m doing physio but since
COVID arrived reception says they’d prefer cashless payment, hence why mother
just rings UQ after I’ve finished physio for the day and pays via telling her
bank details. Unless you’re really shouting?” When Denis nods yes, I whoop with
joy, exclaiming, “Oh, Mr. Jig-Air (not how his surname’s really spelt coz he’s
got French ancestors further back up the family tree somewhere but that’s how
it’s pronounced), you’re the BEST! If you don’t mind, you’ll feature in my Xmas
Greetings this year coz I’ve had a fairly boring year thus far.” I leave my
order for a hot chocolate with marshmallows please; Denis instructs the student
and me to keep walking around the
Well, Denis returned with two hot chocolates, one of which
was for me. I’m unsure did he let the student drink the other one; maybe he did
but then cornered him and threatened to not pass him this rotation until the
student had paid him back! Guess I’ll never know … XD
In the edition of my Xmas greetings last year, the COVID-19
pandemic did get a brief mention. I’ve already had both my vaccinations (the
drama of getting the first one missed the cut into making it into this year’s
Xmas Greetings XD) but I also have endured the unpleasantness of going through
a COVID test. See, after enjoying lunch out one day with a church sister, my
voice went hoarse. Mother promptly bit my head off (not literally, of course
XD) for talking too loudly/too much. I didn’t think I had done either, but just
to be on the safe side, apologised to my friend in case I had. She was very
sweet, immediately replying I’d done neither, so hah, mother. XD It just so
happened that the night after my lunch out I also had our monthly book club
dinner! Mother had already forbidden me from speaking that night, but surely I
had to be polite and say hello back when greeted? I’d hoped by drinking copious
amounts of water and saying mostly silent would restore my voice back to me but
unfortunately that didn’t happen; more worryingly, I started developing a
little phlegm on the Sunday morning …
After attending Bible study, English service and grabbing a
quick lunch with dearest dad at Maccas, mother drives us home. While we’re
waiting for the garage door to go up, I ask her hoarsely may I shower now/did
she need to take her long afternoon nap first, in which case I’d use the
bathroom once first and then pop online for awhile? Instead, mother turns
around to look at me, frowns and then decides, “No. I’m taking you to get a
COVID test now. Your voice sounds dreadful and besides, I can hear the phlegm
in your voice while you talk.”
I was like WTF you think I’ve somehow contracted COVID?! Of
course, I didn’t dare say that aloud; pretty sure mother disapproves of
swearing. XD
At the drive-through testing clinic near where I leave, when
a male nurse approaches my window, I roll it down and bid him good afternoon
before apologising for my raspy voice, explaining that mother has been feeding
me on nothing but a steady diet of frogs for the past three days. The male
nurse roars with laughter, before asking do I know what he’s gonna help me with
today? I gesture at the long nasal swab he’s holding and ask innocently,
“Aren’t you gonna stick that thing up my nostrils and try poke all my brains
out?” The male nurse roars with laughter once more and replies basically, yes!
I lean forward and stick my head out the window; he murmurs, “Sorry, slight
discomfort here,” and inserts the long swab up my nose, probing around. There’s
discomfort alright, but I manage to refrain from gagging even after the swab is
removed. When he asks am I alright, I cup my hand under my face, mock-glare at
him and grouse good-naturedly, “Why didn’t you gimme a bowl to catch all the
brains you just poked out into? Now you’ve made my jeans all dirty.” The male
nurse roars with with laughter before requesting permission to swab the other
nostril? I gesture ‘go ahead’ and again lean towards the window; the same
uncomfortable position is repeated but again I manage to hold in the gag
reflex. After the nurse removes the swab he asks, “You still alright?”
This time I deadpan at the male nurse, “Right, now my entire
brain has been poked out and you’ve ruined my pair of jeans. May I go now?”
Another roar of laughter from the cheery nurse, before he
goes, “Wait! Before you go, do you know what you’ve gotta do now?”
Me, “Ahh, go home, self-isolate and don’t mingle in the
community until I get my negative COVID result?”
The nurse replies
good girl, off you go now; the result should be texted to you within one-three
days.
As mother pulls away from the drive-thru testing clinic, I
cheekily remark that the nurse wasn’t very strict on the ‘stay home and avoid
society until you get your COVID negative test result’ rule at all; what’s to
stop us going to Maccas now and having second lunch (getting in touch with my
inner hobbit, see… XD)? Mother intones that the nurse trusts we’re good
citizens. Well, I’m glad that I at least ‘sound’ trustworthy’… XD
My church pastor’s wife had shared how, after her COVID
test, she’d self-isolated in their upstairs ensuite bedroom; Reverend Chris had
just left her meals outside the bedroom door and she’d returned him the used
utensils for washing up. Originally I wondered was mother gonna like ground me
and have me sit in my room until I got my result; luckily, life remained the
same with the only difference being we didn’t hold hands while my dearest dad
prayed before having dinner together and when he came to kiss me goodbye before
leaving for his hard day’s work in the morning instead of kissing me awake he’d
use the teddy that kept me company in bed at night to nuzzle me awake and after
I’d woken, we’d blow each other kisses goodbye.
I’d gotten mother to promise me that the moment she received
the test clearing me of having COVID; she’d lemme know immediately; lol, that
text arrived when I was inside the bathroom having a shower! Pastor Grace said
that once after receiving her negative COVID result, the first thing she’d done
was find her daughter and give her a great big hug; obviously I couldn’t do
that since I was holding the shower hose and I’m pretty sure mother would not
have appreciated me drenching her. XD I refrained after the showering process
was finished and I was all dry and dressed before giving mother a big hug of
relief; that night, when my dearest dad arrives home from his hard day’s work
and bids me hello, I immediately wave him over, give him a great big hug also
and tell him the good, relieving news.
Armed with my negative COVID result, I’m now allowed to see
my GP (the medical centre had said everyone who came must have a negative COVID
test result before going). After Dr. Ku calls my name, mother and I both head
into his room and take a seat. Dr. Ku takes his own seat and asks how may I
help you ladies today?
I rasp hoarsely back at him, “Well, you can hear that mother
has been feeding me on absolutely nothing but a steady diet of frogs for the
past several days.
Dr. Ku gives a smirk of amusement but doesn’t speak; I
quickly explain how, after having both lunch and dinner out with friends on
Thursday and then losing my voice as well as developing a little phlegm on
Sunday I’m actually all fine, bar pre-existing brain injury, of course. Energy
levels are normal.
Dr. Ku unhooks his stethoscope from around his neck and
listens to both my chest and back, before delivering his diagnosis. “You’ve
just got a mild case of laryngitis. Nothing to worry about, because your chest
is clear.”
I croak at him, “Then you aren’t going to prescribe me any
medicine? Or are you just gonna say drink lotsa water and take bed rest?
Another half-smirk from Dr. Ku. “Yes, that’ll do. You may
also take Vitamin D tablets(/some over the counter tablet that doesn’t require
prescription).”
“And will my voice come back?” I rasp hoarsely at him. “I
sound like I’ve been eating lotsa frogs when I talk, but should I try to sing a
note, absolutely *nothing* comes out.”
Dr. Ku reassures me that my voice will return in due time; I
say my thanks and byes before leaving. Just like he said, my voice did
gradually return; I realised that I had fully recovered from my mild bout of laryngitis
when I tried singing in the shower and actually heard notes coming out. XD
Nearly every night, I must let mother boot me off to bed at
the piss-early time of
Back around 2012, my former DSQ (disability services
co-ordinator) introduced me to Toastmasters. No, it’s not about eating bread;
it’s actually a worldwide organisation focusing on leadership skills and public
speaking! The club I attend is located at QUT Gardens Point. Recently, Young
Achievers @ QUT has seen a fall in attendance numbers; one night the meeting
was cancelled when the only scheduled speech for the night (usually there are
three speeches every meeting) suddenly pulled out and even the president
himself suddenly couldn’t come! I texted my carer to please come pick me up; we
decided we’d just sit at Maccas and wile the night away but after visiting the
bathroom once, as we were heading back out to her parked car, we bump into the
other members of my Toastmasters club who say, “Hey Em, we’re gonna spend the
night @ the pub; wanna come with us?” I look to my carer for permission; Kim
nods and says I’ll come with you guys to where you’re sitting then I’ll go do
my own stuff and pick you up at around
Anyways, there’s exactly two weeks until Christmas arrives;
hopefully you’ve all been good boys and girls this year and Santa will bring
you lotsa presents? For some reason, Santa has practically ignored me these
past couple of years; horrid mother sneers that I’m too old for presents but I
reckon she’s just being a grumpybum! XD Please allow me to wish you all a very
Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year filled with lotsa joy, presents
and laughter! Hopefully 2021 has been a good one for you and I hope that 2022
will be even better! Thankfully with technology nowadays it’s much easier to
stay in contact with people, so I look forward to keeping in touch with
everyone over 2022, whether by e-mail/face-to-face contact. All the best for an
exciting, eventful and happy 2022~
Cheers,
Em. ^^
P.S. Next post here … unsure will I ever find the time to write my movie review
of Daniel Craig’s last Bond movie? If not, you’ll prolly here next from me
sharing about how I spent Christmas and Boxing Day this year~
P.P.S. Sorry if you discover any mistakes in this; lemme know and I'll edit it! Mother has been trying to boot me off to bed for like the past two hours but I insisted on finishing this first ... XD
No comments:
Post a Comment