11 July 2009

Bits and Bobs

I'm not going to apologise for not being around...I've done enough of that in the past and you know I'll be back anyway...right?

I went to my writers' group on Thursday night and the project this month was to take along an excerpt of something we're working on at the moment. So I ummed and aahed, and finally took along the first chapter of my work in progress. I felt sick to the stomach at the thought, because it was going to be critiqued by the others, some of whom are published authors. So I asked them to be gentle with me and handed a copy out to everyone, then went and bought a cup of green tea while they read it. To my gratification, they were laughing out loud...whew, what a relief! That's the reaction I was hoping for.

To cut to the chase, they found it entertaining and funny and I was told there was a good chance a publisher would probably pick it up. I've been on Cloud Nine ever since... I'm sorry I'm not going to say what it is about, I'm a bit superstitious in that respect, but if it gets published, I'll be crowing!

* * * * * *
I was talking to my eldest daughter yesterday and she had had some rather bad news so I jumped in the car and went to see her. Her father (my ex) has been diagnosed with a benign tumour on the cerebral cortex, the brain stem. It's growing and there's a danger of it cutting off passage of the spinal fluid and if that happens, the outcome is the worst you can think. He has to rest until he can have surgery. Apparently the operation itself is not too bad, with only a 2 -3% chance of a fatal outcome.
However, for all you Aussies who think our health system is in dire straits, listen to this. He has to wait two weeks just to have an MRI and three weeks after that for surgery. A total of five weeks and in the meantime, he could die. This is in New Zealand and when I heard that I was appalled. With the life threatening condition such as he has, it would be classified as category one here, and he would have had the operation quick smart. I do feel for he and his wife, they're going to be living on tenterhooks for the next little while.
They had also booked to visit Australia for a month in September and have had to cancel that, as the condition is too dangerous for John to fly. They had insured against untoward emergencies so they will get their money back. But what a dreadful thing to have happened. It makes you wonder what's next...because last year he was diagnosed with melanoma. Fortunately it was found and treated early, so there wasn't too much trauma there. But melanoma is such an insidious cancer, there's no telling if and when it will pop up next.
* * * * * * * *
I went to see my youngest daughter earlier this week as it was her birthday on Wednesday. She's left a very dissatisfying position and is now trying to set up a little business from home. She had almost finished the most beautiful quilt which she hoped to put up for sale. I don't know where she gets the patience...I wouldn't have it to do anything like that. She also has a blog and you can read it here.
That's it for now...no photos this weeks, so this post is looking a bit boring...sorry.

15 comments:

Gattina said...

I didn't even notice that you haven't been around (hehehe) I am sure it works for whatever you wrote, I have laughed so often about things you describe !
That's really terrible what happened to your ex, such a long waiting time, do they have to much population in New Zeeland that they want to reduce it ? You largely have the time to die ! But strange things happen here too, a friend of ours had cut off part of his middle finger completely and with half of the finger in his hand he had to sit for an hour in the EMERGENCY service ! Can you believe that ??
Fortunately they could sew it on again, but still ...

Peter said...

Congrats on the reaction to your story.

Gledwood said...

Best of luck with the literature!

I don't think I'd let anyone poke through my work until it was truly finished to the END...

Gledwood said...

PS: Have a great weekend... KOALAS at mine this afternoon!

Merle said...

Dear Robyn ~~ Well done on getting the right reaction to your first chapter. Should encourage you to keep on with it. So sorry to hear about your ex being so ill and hope he gets his op in time.
Thanks for your comments, most ppl seemed to like the husband in the dept.store with his tricks. That must have been a fun guy you went out with waiting for the next surprise.. Glad you are haing some nice days, ours start off cold, but the days aren't too bad.
Take care, my friend, Love, Merle.

Mountain Mama said...

Sorry to hear about your daughters father. There is so much illness it seems we just wonder who next?
I went over to see your daughters blog and it sure is pretty. So is her quilt.

Gledwood said...

I hope your ex is going to be OK...

... and that melanoma is VERY nasty.

More koalas chez moi!

Ramblins of a middle-aged goddess said...

Your daughter made a beautiful quilt!!
I am so sorry to hear about your ex hubby!! That is awful..All that time and no help at all. I am so happy to live here in the USA..We would get in the same day or at least the next day I am sure..wow!! Keep us updated.
Sandy

Ellen Whyte said...

Hey what are you writing? I've got a book coming out this month Katz Tales and am writing another to be out in November. But still looking for an agent for my romance novels!

Docs here are slow too - unless you pay them lots of money.

Ydiana said...

Hi, congrats on the book. Hope it gets published soon.

Sorry to hear about your ex. Hope he gets well too.

Liz Hinds said...

I'm not surprised they loved your writing: you tell very entertaining stories!

Sorry to hear about your ex. I pray the system can be speeded up for him.

RennyBA said...

You have nothing to apologise for Robyn - to me your one of the best blog buddy :-)

Thanks for keeping us posted - not boring at all!

Merle said...

Hi Robyn ~~ So you don't want to volunteer to water that garden on my
blog. A hose and a good water pressure would probably do the trick.

My new desk is to keep things tidier
not get worse. Here's hoping. I like it so far. Take care, my friend,
Love, Merle.

Alice said...

I hope that John remains 'well' and the operation is a total success.

Good to hear that your writing was so well received....a great vote of confidence.

Walker said...

I haven't been around myself.
You got to live a little to blog about later ;)