What a week! That phrase just sums it all up in three words! More appointments and one dinner out with our friend, Robyn.
On Monday, Dad had a doctor's appointment for a skin check. Since so many Aussies love being out in the sun, skin checks are done on people here every year (at least, our doctor does them every year). He found one spot on Dad's back which he wants to take out - that will happen in August. Our doctor is very cautious, but we are okay with that - better safe than sorry, I say. We also had a haircut appointment and a chiropractor appointment today. I wanted a shorter haircut and Dad wanted to get 'cleaned up' so that he looked presentable on his course in Melbourne.
Our new haircuts
On Tuesday, Dad and I had a dental appointment - just a clean for me, but Dad needed more work on two of his teeth (and had another appointment later on in the week). After that, we had to take Garfield back to the Animal Rescue - that was a bit sad. I know that he will be well taken care of by Maree, the woman who runs the place, but it was still hard to take him back. He was so cuddly being with us on his own and also was following us around wherever we went in the house, including sleeping with us at night (well, for part of the night, anyway). Maree asked me why we couldn't just take Garfield on our trip with us - somehow, I don't think that Dad's boss, Harry, would be happy about that. :-)
Our 'baby', Garfield, getting comfortable in my chair
After lunch, it was my turn for the doctor's appointment - this was to have a piece of a spot on my back taken off so that it could be sent away for testing. Dr. Schnetler said that he didn't think it was anything, but he was going to be cautious. I had to get a bunch of needles to freeze the area on my back and, as usual, I held the hand of the nurse while the doctor was doing it. It actually hurt more than usual, although it really wasn't much on the scale of 1 - 10, but, for some reason, I have this psychological 'fear' of needle pain. It doesn't make sense, I know, but it doesn't really matter - if it worries me, then it's real. Thankfully, the nurse and the doctor are amazing people and are very patient and kind with my 'fear'. I had to go back on Wednesday as the bandaid that had been placed over the stitches was covered with blood and had to be changed. Then, I went back on Friday and the doctor checked it again and said it was going well. It's been a bit painful and I have had to change my sitting position and sleeping position often during the day/evening. It has also been quite itchy for a couple of days now - Dad says that's good cuz that means it's healing, but it's a bit annoying since it's in a place which is hard to reach without a backscratcher.
Wednesday was a relaxing day with only two appointments: one for the car service and one for our eyes. Both our eyes have changed and so we will need to get new glasses this year. It will have to wait, though, as we didn't have time to get the prescription filled and returned before our Melbourne trip.
Thursday was a very exciting day! It was the day Dad received his Australian citizenship! The ceremony took place at the council offices and was conducted by the mayor of Hervey Bay, Gerard O'Connell, who was accompanied by the deputy mayor and one of the city councillors. There were 19 people receiving their citizenship that day, including one little girl aged 8 and one couple who have been living in Australia for 51 years. We wish we knew why that couple had waited so long to take out their citizenship. After saying a pledge, each person received their citizenship certificate, a Fraser Coast pen and an uncirculated Australian $1. coin. They then had their picture taken with the mayor and with any of their guests. Robyn came with us to the ceremony - she actually put off her trip to her daughter's to come with us to the ceremony - we were so happy that she could join us on Dad's special day. At the end of the ceremony, we all stood and sang the Australian national anthem, 'Advance Australia Fair'. After that, we were all treated to a lovely morning tea of sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, tea, coffee and orange juice. It was really tasty. Each new citizen was also given an Australian plant (Robyn chose the one she thought would be the nicest for us). There was supposed to be a photographer there to take a group picture of the newest Australian citizens, but they never made it. I was a bit disappointed at that cuz I thought it would have been nice to see Dad's pic in the local newspaper. Robyn bought an Australian flag and gave it to Dad to celebrate him becoming an Aussie citizen. She is such a thoughtful friend. :-)
Dad sitting at the table in the council chambers where the citizenship ceremony was held
'Advance Australia Fair' - the Australia national anthem
Mayor Gerard O'Connell addressing all the new Australian citizens-to-be
Dad reciting the pledge
Dad holding his citizenship certificate (with me and Mayor O'Connell)
Robyn, Dad, me and Mayor O'Connell
Dad standing under the Australian flags in the council chambers
Scones with jam and cream (part of our morning tea)
The $1. Australian coin given to all new citizens
The pledge Dad had to take (you can click on the pic if you want to read it)
Dad's Australian Citizenship certificate
Dad holding the Australian plant which was given to all the new citizens and the Aussie flag which Robyn bought him
After the ceremony, Robyn, Dad and I went to Hogsbreath Cafe to have a celebratory lunch - we even treated ourselves to a nice non-alcoholic drink to cheer Dad on his special day.
Toasting Dad on becoming an Aussie citizen (me, Dad, and Robyn)
Dad with his celebratory meal at Hogsbreath (ribs and prime rib)
Me and my tasty ribs - yummy!
Dad wearing his bib which is mandatory when you order ribs at Hogsbreath :-)
While we were eating our delicious meal, I got a call from the doctor's office - I thought it was odd to get a call, but then thought that they must have been calling to confirm my appointment on Friday to check out my stitches. When I answered the phone, it was actually my doctor. He told me that he had received back the results of the biopsy from the procedure he had done on me on Tuesday. The first thing he said was that it was 'early stage one melanoma'. My stomach fell and I started sweating and I didn't hear much of what he said after that. He said something about 'cure' and doing it 'now' and 'making a decision' and 'changing my flight'. When I got off, I just wanted to cry - it sort of put a damper on our celebration. I didn't feel like eating after that news, but I didn't want to ruin Dad's celebration, so I tried my best to be cheerful. I managed it for a bit, but then I told Dad that I wanted to go and talk with the doctor to see when I could fly out since I knew that I would have to change my flight to Melbourne. When we got there, the doctor invited Dad and me into his office. He told me that he normally doesn't give that news over the phone, but he knew that I was supposed to be leaving on Friday morning and he wanted me to know before I went so that I could decide what to do then.
Let me start off by saying that my doctor is fabulous, amazing, wonderful, etc., etc., etc. He patiently explained to me what was going on and he told me right away that everything was okay and that I had nothing to worry about. He drew a picture of what he was going to do on my back (basically take the whole spot out which is about 3mm) and that once that was done, the melanoma was considered cured. He said that he knew that we were supposed to be going away the next day, but he really would prefer for me to get it done sooner rather than later. I had made the decision to put off flight to Melbourne already - I wasn't going to be taking any chances and I really trust my doctor - if he said he wanted to do it next week then that was what I was going to do. I felt so relieved and happy about everything at the end of our meeting with our doctor, that I gave him a big hug.
Dad filled out an Australian passport application with Robyn signing it as a guarantor that Dad is who he says he is. :-) He then had to go for an interview with someone at the post office - it was actually just to check that he had filled the application out properly and that he had all the necessary documents for them to cite. All went well and he should have his Aussie passport in about three weeks.
On Friday, Dad flew to Melbourne and has settled into the unit. It's been kind of boring for both of us being on our own for the past two days. Dad's boss, Harry, and his wife, Dawn, arrived in Melbourne tonight and another instructor, Garth, who will be taking the course along with Dad, will arrive later tonight as well. Dad will have no time to be bored starting tomorrow when he starts this seven week course. We are both looking forward to me being able to fly to Melbourne in ten days.
