Sydney, 23 August 2008

We've completed chemo session #3. One more to go, then the next phase will begin. Lyndall's specialist could not be happier, he's amazed that the leukemia symptoms have all but disappeared which is certainly good news. However, Lyndall feels very weak and uncomfortable due to her super-enlarged spleen, the result of ongoing blood transfusions and a new production regime from the revitalised bone marrow. The idea now is to remove it when she is able to cope with the operation. It will be a tricky procedure and getting her to improve her fitness when she is so weak won't be easy. So ... even if it hurts it's back on the exercise bike for her while I schedule an increase in fresh juice production as we try to keep an optimistic outlook. Our previous idea of driving to Townsville together just won't work with so much medical treatment going on so I will again fly up to prepare illywhacker for the trip south. This time I will be accompanied by an American couple, Ralph and Glenda who have left their yacht "Our Country Home" in French Polynesia while they visit us. They have agreed to sail illywhacker south to Sydney. It is an arrangement that suits us both. They will see some of Australia with a leisurely cruise in the season of northerly winds and we'll finally have our floating home back. Hooray!!