I just got done updating the wordpress software. Is the blog working okay? Does it look the same? I know no news is good news, but please do leave a comment and tell me it’s all okay.

I have been putting off the update for… a year, probably. I was still running version 2.6.5. The latest one is 2.9.1. I remember when 2.7 came out I didn’t want to update, because I don’t like new things and I was worried that the update would mess things up. And then time passed and my eyesight got worse and worse and new updates were released, meaning the change would be bigger and bigger. But of course you have to keep your software up-to-date for security reasons. So today I gave it a go. And it looks like it has worked okay. The changes aren’t too bad. My theme still works. Not that it’s much to look at. But I like my header-banner, at least. Anyway, I’m just glad I got through it. I hate making database backups and all that. Especially now when everything is harder to do on the computer.

Blah-di-blah blah. Other than that there is not much new. The new kidney medication is making me feel a little dizzy. It’s not too bad, though. I may have to talk to the doctor about it, but we’ll see.

Thanks go to Corrie, who sent me music for christmas. It ended up coming a month late, but that’s how the overseas mail goes sometimes. It was nice to have an early christmas present this year.

Tomorrow I’m planning to go see the goats. Weather and weary bones willing.

And so on it goes.

Today is my brother’s 30th birthday. Happy birthday, Peter!

We celebrated by going downtown and having dinner at Rådhus Caféen. Quite a good time was had by all, although my traditional order of pork wasn’t quite as good as it has been the other times we have eaten there. It was good, but a little greasy this time. Still, I shan’t complain. Better than most meals I have. And as always I find it surprisingly nice to spend time with the family. Surprisingly only because in the past that is not something I have enjoyed a lot. But I do now. And with the current state of my life, it really is nice to get out and spend time with others. Good times, even with the fumbling around in the crowded dark busses.

But that’s not all for today. I also had a trip to the doctor to get the results of my blood tests. Most of them were fine. The long term blood glucose level was “beautiful”, the doctor said. It was doctor Michael. I haven’t seen him in a long, long time. The blood tests are always done by nurses, and since the results are usually fine I just get them by email. And the last few times I have needed to actually talk to a doctor, Michael hasn’t been there, so I’ve had to see someone else. There are 3-4 doctors sharing the clinic, I think. Anyway, nice to see Michael again. He obviously didn’t know exactly how my eyesight was doing, as he was surprised when he told me to have a seat and I couldn’t find the chair at first. But I got seated and we talked a little about how everything was going. He thought I’d lost weight as well. If it’s been more than a year since I saw him last then I guess it’s possible.

Anyway, one of the tests wasn’t so good. Seems my kidney levels are a little elevated. Nothing alarming. But I am going to have to start taking meds to protect the kidneys. So that’s another one for the list. Pills for cholesterol, for kidneys, two kinds for diabets. And two kinds of eyedrops. Along with fish oil and copper and zinc and vitamins. I am a posterboy for the drug industry.

I did ask him if I still had to take the cholesterol stuff since my cholesterol levels have been fine for a good while now. “For the rest of your life, mate” he said. With my diabetes and bad blood circulation it is so important that my cholesterol doesn’t go up that I have to keep taking the pills as a preemptive measure.

I’m not sure if the kidney meds will be for the rest of my life as well. I’m starting off with half a pill, then I’m going back in for a new blood test in 3 weeks and we’ll see if it has had any effect or if we need to up the dosage. At least my blood pressure is fine.

It’s funny, in some ways I am fitter than ever before and living healthier than ever before. Yet in other ways my health is very frail and sometimes it feels like everything is failing. Go figure.

I wonder if I’ll ever be finished with doctors and nurses and hospitals? Somehow it seems to never end. I do still have some other small niggles that I might want looked at. But I have enough on my plate right now. Maybe when the eye stuff is over.

In good health and good time.