WOKE UP LATE - OH WHAT A NIGHT!

I failed and woke up at 7.30am. Luckily I still managed to get in and conduct the new group of clients.

The lil guy has been joined today by his cousins. When I got home him and the youngest cousin were in all-out-fun-mode. The eldest boy had been showing off on his bike and taken a tumble. He’d banged his head, shoulder, elbow and knee. He’d been really dazed but seemed fine now having treated parts of his body with cold packs.

I heard tears from the 2 youngest (the lil guy and his cousin). The eldest relayed the following incident. The boys had been wrestling.
The lil guy said, “I have you now” as he pinned his 6year old cousin down on the bed.
In a fluid ninja move, C3, unpinned himself and reversed the positions and loudly declared “I have you now, u cannot escape.
The lil guy struggled and for a while the balance swayed back and forth. C3 was now holding onto the upper tier of the bunk bed and the lil guy was trying to tear him down.
The lil guy torn him free of the upper tier, got him to the bed and pinned him around his body and said “That’s it I got you now!”
C3 said, “NO YOU HAVEN’T. YOU’RE JUST GIVING ME A BIG HUG!!!”
The room broke up with laughter with all the kids present :).

I missed you.

GOT SHOT!

I got up at 9am - family, a child and a radio can be very loud. The lil guy was already active in the house. I soon persuaded him that outside would be more fun. So he found his way onto my back and we journeyed into the glorious sun. We examined this, we examined that. His journey of examination soon led him onto my shoulders. We then examined the same assorted garden objects, from a different vantagepoint (at least for him).
The neighbouring kids were not around. Some bright moment of inspiration led me to recall the location of a couple of water pistols. The perennial problem with toys is the various bits that seem to go AWOL (if not the entire toy). In this case both pistols had lost the cap that retains the water. Another bright moment of inspiration allowed me to recall "a bottle cork" I had picked up, with a thought, at the time of "um, this might come in useful". I was able to shape pyramid bits from the cork, which fit nicely into each pistol’s waterhole. The action began.
I tried to run but could not generate much speed, due to the groin strain. However I was much more accurate and his face was awash with water – and laughter, and joy, and a big grin. I was a little wet. Eventually we ended up washing cars with the pistols. He made a new friend, younger than him, whom he persuaded to cross the road to attain usage of a pistol. The child protested that his parents had forbidden him to cross the road. The lil guy made a strong counter-claim stating 2 points: 1. He too was not allowed to cross the road. 2. If you want the gun, come and get it. Such logic led a 3year old, armed with only the trousers he was wearing and a comfort-blanket, one corner ensconced in his mouth, to cross boldly to…THE OTHER SIDE. He received his reward and was taught the finer points of washing a car using a water pistol. The seagull poop was treated to water. Despite my plea for them not to touch the seagull poop – his new friend…TOUCHED THE SEAGUL POOP. The lil guy said… "Errrrrr".
His new friend was soon bored with shooting seagull poop and turned his attention to the lil guy. The lil guy shot back and a mini war ensued. Soon they were back to washing the car. The new friend was joined by his brother was then tried to grasp the gun away "to have a go :)". He failed initially. However he won a go by reporting the kid’s location to his parents who promptly got his next eldest brother to drag him back across the border. He had a go, then he dropped the gun and it broke. It was an accident I told the lil guy and eventually he took it well.
Luckily I knew the presence of one more water pistol. I produced it. We returned back to the car. The lil guy then advertised the new gun to every "potential friend". He got 2 takers who initially washed the car. Then one traitorous youth wondered how I would react to being shot...and shot me. I had no gun, I could not run. I got REALLY WET. The lil guy found it funny and joined in with shooting me. My only hope was they would run out of water. My only hope…took about 5 minutes. Then the new friend walked 2 housed down and refilled his gun with the outside water tap. I was subbed by my sister :) – THANK THE LORD :).
Later the lil guy had a go on his bike down the park. He did really well. He cycled on two wheels for 30minutes. Although is still unsteady he did cycle on the path and low cut grass for spells of 5minutes. He had the occasional tumble but picked himself up and got on with it. Soon he will join his cousins for the long bike rides of fun.
11pm: My sister and I paid a visit to the nightclub where my brother works. I expected it to be heaving, as there had been a big event in town. It was busy but not heaving – which was nice too as we could dance, sit, view, laugh and scream-to-talk. I managed to dance a bit without twinging the groin too much. She danced too with great energy – which surprised me as I expected the chemo to affect her at any moment. We left at 2am. I had to wake up that morning for work at 6.30am

2006 - Part 2

The lil guy came down earlier today. Sadly his cousins, who have been spending the days here, during the working week, left yesterday. His mum, my sister, brought him. She is feeling tired with the chemotherapy. She is completely bald. The chemo is expected to continue until October. She is on the 2nd phase of chemo, i.e. it’s a different set of chemicals to those she was taking in phase 1. These chemicals take a greater toll on her energy reserves.

The lil guy is full of energy. He has more energy than a Mexican illegally crossing the American border. He has more “va va voom” than Thierry Henry. He is duracell personified. Tonight we watched “Cars” and “Cats and Dogs”. It’s funny enough watching the humour on the telly. It’s even funnier when he sees his uncle recreating the actions on the carpet. Didn’t manage to complete all of “Cats and Dogs” – the lil guy was fighting fatigue, with his usual stubbornness. He failed and was soon in REM sleep once his head hit the pillow. He’ll probably dream of talking dogs, cats and cars :) - I might get a guest appearance. He’s put on so much new height. He is now able to cycle without stabilisers. He can even push himself from a standing start. Remember, the last time he was down, we cycled 8 miles, with him using stabilisers.

Last weekend I took his cousins on a bike ride. They too have grown nearer to the sky. I had to raise their saddles. The eldest led the way, the youngest was third and I shouted commands from the rear. We cycled the same route, more or less, as I did with the lil guy, the full 10 miles plus. The boys handled the journey well. We sampled some black/red berries at the furthest point from home.
Further on I let the boys go shopping in a major supermarket ALONE. I hung outside, guarding the bikes and watched the parading people go in and come out. They went in armed with 10 large money units. They did well. They purchased drinks and sweets and even brought back change. We found a new BMX bike park and the eldest 2 had fun. Child 2 fell off a few times and the gravel irritated his cuts, but he didn’t stop – he was enjoying the experience too much. The youngest let me race him on the cycle track – he won, but it was close. They made a few transitory friends too. The youngest is the best at making friends – he sees a game going on and just wanders over and asks if he can join. Both days of the weekend were spent on our bikes.

We also went swimming on Saturday – or was that last weekend? That too was fun. All the boys can now swim without floating aids, though the youngest still finds the deep end a challenge and has to be watched. He went down the “snake-slide” more than any of us. I went down twice and would have done more but each passage and landing aggravated the groin. I did a handstand in the water, for about 3minutes. When I came up it was to find a protective father staring with evil eyes at me as he feared my imminent collapse on him and his child. I apologised and smiled and went back to the boys.

The fuss I made with the insurance company paid off. I received a cheque, less the excess, for my stolen bike. I’ve been scanning Ebay hoping to spot a bargain bike – so far without success. I may eventually purchase new. I’m trying to avoid steel –I want a light bike.

More police action at work. One of the existing clients had his car stereo stolen by, we think, one of the new clients. We discovered one of the existing company mobiles has been stolen and has possibly been in active use for 3 weeks. This was discovered by accident – one of the staff rang the number by accident. The phone had been used by a recently departed member of staff. Sadly with the clients we deal with “lock it up or lose it”. Though as in real life it’s the few who actually ruin it for the many.

Me: I motor on. I am beginning to believe God took me up on those offers I made when tragedy struck family members. You know, when your brother is lying in a hospital bed, you kinda offer god anything, your soul, your happiness, etc, so long as he gets well. A bit like those books/movies where a person sells their soul to the devil to ensure happiness for someone they love.

As for Lisa, I’ve heard nothing from her. I’ve played all the cards I am prepared to play. I’ve noticed on some of the “female ads” – “must be sufficiently well off”. It’s the only card I haven’t played. Maybe I’ve read too many classics, have too many romantic attitudes and ideals, but I just can’t bring myself to mention money.
I’ve never been money mad. I’ve always felt health was more important. Watching money, e.g. shares, interest rates, bores me. I’ve always felt pursuit of fun as more important. Though family obligations have been a higher priority. I watched my elder brother pursue money. I watched him take on two money-losing businesses. He refused to let them go for the sheer “joy” of having his peers praise him for having 5 businesses on his letterhead. Eventually the worry led him to a triple heart bypass operation. Eventually the 2 money-losing businesses were sold off.

The only real ambition I have shown in my life has been the subject of this blog.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

Lisa has moved house. She is now nearer the sea but further from water – weird ain’t it? She appears to be sharing a house, as there are at least 3 other people at the same address. I sent her an email to congratulate her on achieving a degree (I assumed she passed). I got an auto-response informing all emailers of her intended move (it confirmed what I had suspected). I later received an auto-response telling me she’d received my email greeting. That was about 5 days ago. She, herself, has not personally responded in anyway.

Today, I checked her online persona. She has dumped 4 friends. In away I feel better. It means that whatever the problem has been it is more her than me. She seems to sway emotionally with the moon’s phases. Perhaps on some level she is getting her own back on ALL MEN - Hurt us, as she has been hurt in her past?

Despite my bravest intentions I have found it impossible to stop thinking about Lisa. I keep ignoring the most obvious signs of "her lack of interest". I keep hanging on the smallest hope. I keep thinking that somewhere along life's road she'll see the real value of what I represent. Of course I also see the same argument being raised about my expectations. However I am bewitched.

Coincidence 1: In her new residence she is now living less about 100m from the other Lisa.

Coincidence 2: During my time at my place of work. One of the clients we have the honour of taking care of is an ex-boyfriend of Lisa’s. I have not made him aware of my connection. I have not asked him about Lisa – so he knows nothing of my information. I know of his (how? I have my sources). He too is from her neck of the woods.

The past month has not been easy. I strained my left groin super-stretching for an impossible ball in footy (I got the ball, but it got me too). It’s now week 2 away from the beautiful game.

My sister was down this past week. She has now lost all her hair. The lil guy was fun. He played non-stop with the local kids and his cousins when they were down. I didn’t spend much time with them as it was mostly during the working week.

I maybe getting some insurance payback for my stolen bike. Time will tell. It’s been a fight with the insurance company and their “settled” methods. So I maybe racing on a brand new speed mobile.

I recently fell off my backup bike. I grazed a 3cmx2cm area of my left elbow and revealed white flesh. This happened in the morning as I was cycling to work. The night before had been raining. The path appeared dry. However as I took a wide turn at speed, the back tyre slid out and I went sliding. Luckily no bones were broken, no extra muscles/tendons torn, the left groin did not feel any worse. A walker witnessed my fall and kept asking me if I was alright. I answered him through the soundtrack playing on my mp3 player (without realising until later). I was obviously slightly dazed but coherent. Another witness, a lady on a bike, cycled on without stopping. I got back on my bike with my elbow bleeding below my T-shirt sleeve – a slow trickle. At work, I washed the elbow and P, a first-aider, raided the first aid box and applied a cotton-wool bandage on the elbow. The bike appeared unaffected in any major way. I managed the workday without problems and remained cheerful as ever.

Life is the same as it ever was. I still am amazed by the “couples” that exist in my line of work. Even the weirdest client seems to be partnered. Darwin would be proud.