The Traveling Kiwi

Next week I get to swallow a camera capsule and go on a photographic expedition to a place no camera has been before. If Zebo is hiding out anywhere in the in between he will get captured 🐲 on camera at least.

Finally a few days of sun after the fog burns off and it’s like spring is already here. Daffodils are up, blossom is out and the tui’s are already getting drunk on the nectar with raucous fighting breaking out. Magnolia’s just starting to unfurl and the garden crying out for attention. So hard to believe when for me august alway seemed to be the coldest month of winter with hard frosts and late snowstorms. But nothing like a bit of sun to brighten up and lighten up.

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Well I would like to report that Zebo has been defeated. However that is not the case. The little bu*ger laid low for only a few days before creating havoc once again. I get totally worn out coping with his shenanigans I am going to have to attack from another direction. Does anyone know what the gestation period is for alien parasites. Don’t know what next steps are yet but I am looking for a nuclear option.

The weather has been crazy though and we are due for another lot tomorrow. At least I can watch it from up on the hill and just listen to the howling wind and rain, I feel for the south islanders who are bearing the brunt of the weather bombs. Races were cancelled yesterday with problems on the track from the non-stop rain. I was actually planning to go as it was the first nice fine Saturday we have had in forever. I like to have a Barney bet on his favourite jockeys $2 max – he trained me well.

So instead I went fungi hunting today at Lake Tikitapu to see what I could discover. Surprisingly little, beyond the usual bracket fungi on dead trees. Apparently it’s been too wet and cold for the tiny fragile ones. There was a weird purple jelly one though. Looked like an escaped brain or what I imagine Zebo looks like.

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They didn’t find Zebo at stage 1, another colonoscopy in 5 years so pretty happy with that. Now 10 days of antibiotics to see if he can be chased out, only problem is that I had a bad reaction to penicillin after being over prescribed as a kid. Fingers crossed reactions stay mild this time. Funny really when all the drugs and the strange high blood test readings all have the the side effect of causing fatigue and gut pain when that’s what the problem is. Who knows which one is the culprit. At least I am still COVID free and I feel for everyone who has had to go through it and now the new variant which is happy to visit again and again. After the antibiotics we are still on plan to swallow the camera. (capsule endoscopy) Quite fascinating really, the camera sends thousands of photos to the recorder you wear – it’s the only way to look inside the small intestine and see what’s going on. I am hoping the antibiotics are going to work so well that it’s not necessary because I am not keen to go to Waikato hospital for the procedure. They have more than a few wards closed with COVID and are probably the easiest place to go to get it.

It’s dark grey out and raining again with a forecast of more rain so walking is curtailed as it everything else really. Good time to be tucked up warm and read in between naps. It feels like winter has really set in. The last of the camellia are trying to give a bit of colour to the grey on grey palette – this was last week when it was a little brighter. I have used a filter on it to make it more like a painting

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It’s like a treasure hunt, each time I take a walk, I am looking for something new and different. I walked in the Whakawerawera Redwoods on Sunday and this is the new crop. I may be getting addicted…

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The worst thing about this alien is it’s taste in wine, or lack of it really. I love my wine, sparkling sav or a full bodied Shiraz, it’s been so hard to look at wine now and have no desire at all to have a glass, not that I have given up alcohol of course – I have just decided for now gin martini’s taste better.

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It’s that time of year and the damp has produced an interesting crop. Haven’t seen the blue one yet and I have to figure out a light source as the low light in the bush makes for grainy photos – but here are a few

.. and yes I have named the alien – Zebo and it is an illegal overstayer. I thought if I get to swallow the camera to find the little bugger I will draw a line on my tummy with little claws trying to get out.

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Not much fun but I am pleased it’s done. Nothing like being squeaky clean inside and out 😳 hopefully on to step 2 now. Next appt with specialist on 4th and in the meantime keeping warm and trying to fit in some good walks. My only criteria is not too much uphill as my alien is not so happy about that. Decided to take a look at the kaituna river after the heavy rain we have had over the past few weeks. the volume of water going through has definitely increased and I was really surprised to see a couple of hardy rafters headed out to give it a ride. Grade 4 on normal days, no idea what it is at this level.

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That’s what I haven’t been…well that is. So tired I just don’t get much done in a day, one task then all bets are off. Was told it was just chronic fatigue and would just have to learn to live with it. But that really didn’t explain the pain and the basketball gut that looks and feels like I am giving birth to an alien and it clawing it’s way out. So finally had a chat with Barney’s specialist and he sent me to the Gastro Raj. Within days I have a diagnosis and plan and someone who actually takes me seriously – it’s such a relief. SIBO – apparently quite common, gives you brain fog and fatigue and one hell of a guts ache, now going on 3 years. So a colonoscopy next week, antibiotics, a capsule camera to map small intestine if the antibiotics don’t completely cure it. So… perhaps you might hear from me a little more often if it all goes to plan.

The storms have stripped most of the lovely autumn colour but I did get a few grey day photos before the worst of it.

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The weather has not been conducive to the biking beginner not wanting mud and puddles or I have had too much on to even think about the hill from hell. Sunday was perfect tho and a good 20km out to Sulphur Point through the thermal Manuka swamp and coffee in town before heading back to confront the hill. I got all the way up in one go this time, a tiny wee bit of fitness must be creeping in. All set today to head out again and the rain showers decided to put an end to that. So it’s coffee, the paper and the code cracker followed by a bit of word feud while I stare at the hairy hedges and try and convince myself they can manage just a bit longer till they dry out. Just too tall for me to cut without a stool and it keeps sinking in the dirt when it’s too wet.

However finished the formula and design for the Badass Bike Balm, now it’s figuring out the costs and plan. Watch this space.

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Who knew rats like tomatoes, I thought it was birds but no it’s rats. Between the rats and the blight I am giving up on growing tomatoes. Last year they were tasteless. So if you see me sneaking in some tomato plants remind me they are more trouble than they are worth. But now how do I get rid of the rats? I have cages on the plums, paper bags on the grapes, I didn’t realise gardening was like warfare. Bloody blight is next!!

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