Sydney 27 March 2008

Storm clouds are still above but a glimmer of hope is shimmering on the horizon. Lyndall's specialist returned from an overseas conference quite upbeat over the trials of a new drug designed almost specifically for her condition. He is now negotiating with the supplier here for a small quantity for our own trial at an affordable price. They are hugely expensive but we see no option save "give it a go". We expect to begin treatment in late May and the first 2 months will see Lyndall at her lowest point. After that, there is a 50% chance of improvement and a happier outlook. On the strength of such news I am arranging for friends to take over my caring duties while I fly to Townsville and spend a week preparing illywhacker. She is currently in cyclone rig and needs to be readied for sailing. Trusted friends will meet me there and sail her to Sydney while I fly back to the patient, all the while pacing the floor, worrying that all will go smoothly on the 1020nm passage south. After illywhacker was completed in 1996, we headed north immediately, thinking that cruising the waters around our home port could wait, we had to see the world first. Hopefully, we will now get to see some of those cruising grounds others travel to from distant ports.