Finally I am back home with Jessie ( Cat) I have certainly had a great time travelling through Queensland and NSW over the past 8 weeks. Jill would have loved the caravan park at Agnes Water. She certainly would have enjoyed the coffee at 1770 “The Tree” where Jill’s sister , husband and friends celebrated her birthday while our family and friends celebrated at home.
While at Cabulture an outer norther suburb of Brisbane I was able to visit Gay and her husband – Gay was diagnosed with MSA in 2012. When I spoke to her her strength was evident and the care shown by her husband was amazing. They are planing their lives with a cruise around NewZealand in the near future.
I finally left the others heading for an overnight stop at Millmerran Show grounds – only a couple of van there but a real friendly care taker and a cheap stay $20 then across the Queensland/NSW border at Goondiwindi to Narrabri – arrived early so had a walk around and some shopping – hot 35C. Early rise and then moved south to Mendoran – Free camp site that I shared with 16 others – I went too the pub for a beer and an evening meal. Next stop Forbes where I had an evening meal with other campers in the camp kitchen. Another early rise and I was getting anxious to get home but decided to stop at Narrandera . The last time 2011 Jill and I were returning from Hervey Bay we stayed there and I was able to get the same site. By evening the drive through sites were full. Next morning I only had about 3 hours to get home. I backed up the drive with the aid of my neighbours and was meet at the door by Jessie.
I have now been home a week – a couple of visits to Jill with some flowers, evening meal with my great neighbours – who Jessie thinks more of than me. A feed of whiting from Agnes Water with Pat and Keith and yesterday Michael & Amanda arrived for a few days.
I was contacted by a woman from Corowa who is suffering similar symptoms to Jill although she has not been diagnosed with MSA . She was amazed that we were so close.
I feel it is something I can do – talk to other MSA carers or patients and give some of our experiences. I noticed that the next MSA conference is in Washington DC – USA in October 2014 and my thought currently is to be there.
See you on the net