Jus cruisin...

Today's Monday. Friday's MDT meeting day. To be honest, I'm not really too bothered. I don't have much control over my situation and what's going to happen going forward. I know I can ask lots of questions and probably become confused, and maybe even frustrated, with the "doctorspeak" that's sure to come my way. But I know, at the end of the day, I'm going to accept the decisions made by the Specialists and Professionals with regard to the way forward. 

I have to. Because I have to have faith in them and their experience. Of one thing I'm certain. I know that everyone involved with my care will be doing the best they can to make sure I come through this experience successfully, and with the best outcome.

I'm not being fatalistic...

I'm being optimistic.

And... here's why...

Last Wednesday I went for a CT Scan. This was a full body scan organised by Dr. G. Apparently this type of scan needs to be done before you front up to the MDT meeting. Anyway, we got the results on Friday. (This new Manage My Health App is brilliant.) Without too much bother Denise (ex-nurse) was able to work out that the only problems I had were all in my head. (Shut-up!) The rest of my body, including all the lymph nodes, were clear. Great news, so we decided to celebrate.

First was dinner out at a fancy new Restaurant called MALO in Havelock North. Our impressions...

Friendly and attentive staff.

Smallish portions - which we like.

Absolutely delicious food.  

And we thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Even though she polished off two starters, Denise reckons she's just having the desert next time we go.

Then we decided we needed a road trip, so, next morning we jumped in the car and drove to Wellington to see the Terracotta Warriors at Te Papa. Here's how that went...

We rock up at Te Papa at about 2:00 pm. park the car and head on inside. Bit of a crowd, but not too bad. The night before we'd bought two tickets off the website for the 3:00 pm show, so we wandered up to the Fourth Floor - using the stairs 'cause we still can - and kinda drifted into the front of the exhibition. One of the young ladies in a Te Papa Shirt notices us and walks over. She asks us all the right questions, shows us two roped off lines and explains that we can wait in the left-hand line if we want, but we won't be able to go in until after 3:00. Or... we can come back a little after 3:00 when all the lines have gone and just wander straight in. So, we go for option two.

While we're talking to her, Denise asks if we can get Audio Guides to the exhibition? Certainly, says she, but we'll have to take our place in the line of people waiting to buy tickets. Or... why don't you go down to Level 2 and buy vouchers for the Audio Guides from the Reception Desk? That'll save you waiting in line. Great idea! Let's do that.

Because we've still got quite a lot of time before we can go in we decide to have a look at the Immigration exhibition next door. They have an area in this exhibition where, by pushing a few buttons, you can work out if you would be allowed to come to New Zealand as an immigrant back in the day. I tried my luck in 1870 and "Yes!" I would be able to immigrate. I tried my luck again in 1996 and "NOOoooo!!!" Definitely not. 

What??

Why??

It's a good thing I was able to sneak in under Denise's skirt in 1990. 

While Denise is still looking through the Exhibition I decide to go down to Level 2 to get the Audio Guide vouchers - using the stairs of course. I rock up to the desk and face off with a smiling volunteer dude. The conversation goes like this...

It's now about a quarter to Three. We see a bit of a line starting to form, so off we go. When we get to the front, we're told that we can't get in before three because we've got tickets for 3:00 pm. We're then told, we can go in anytime between 3:00 and 4:00

So, with a confused look at each other, we wander out to the foyer again and find a seat - and sit and watch as they let others in who've just bought tickets.

IT'S 3:00 PM. We join the line. One of the lovely ladies assisting people asks if we have tickets. "Yes, we have tickets for 3:00 PM." 

"Great", she says.

"Can we get Audio Guides to the exhibition? asks Denise.

"Yes," says she. Just walk past the queue straight up to the desk and you can pay for them there. So we bought vouchers for the Audio Guides, were told to cut in front of the queue, and - WE'RE IN!!!

The exhibition was very well put together and well worth seeing. We're pleased we decided to go.

 

While there we also took another tour through the Gallipoli exhibition. It's extremely well done, and if you find yourself in Wellington with an hour to spare, go and have a look.

Then we went up to the fifth floor to see the art exhibitions. There were three Goldies on display, so that made our day. 

After all this culture we jumped back in the car and went on a bit of a Tiki Tour to find our Hotel. Nothing much to write about there - very standard - very ordinary. After we checked in we wandered off to find something to eat. That's a whole 'nother story waiting to be told. Two hours to get a hamburger for me and a plate of fish and chups for Denise.

You know that thing you did before... that made you smile?
Well...
Do it again.