Returning to Benalla. And next 3 months

We make it back to Benalla to sort out money things, get a date for Larry's hernia surgery. He should have had this done before we left but did not say a word until we were on the road, silly person,and the money things we thought were sorted, turns out tax office owed me $79.00 lucky me.
While we were in Benalla we made a doctors appointment for me as check up after my dizzy spell in Port Lincoln, where they found nothing wrong after putting me on heart monitor, ECG, urine tests and everything.
I was feeling not quite right but was not expecting what happened next. Doc did all normal tests, sent me for brain scan all ok , then heart stress test which I thought was going well, just a little more out of breath than usual. Well doc stopped test and said what he was seeing on his instruments was I should go have an angiogram to check my arteries. Then came the biggest surprise I needed a triple bypass with 4 blocked arteries, 2 could be done with one graft, the worst was 98% blocked and was probably the one that made me feel dizzy when in Port Lincoln. They could not put in stents to open arteries had to have grafts so within 3 weeks of first tests I was in the Royal Melbourne hospital for surgery. & 8 days after surgery it was back to Benalla to recover. Larry had stayed in Melbourne for my stay in hospital, and all this happened before his hernia operation.
After 4 weeks and just before hernia time we took the caravan to see the oldest daughter in Norooma , I was so bored just walking slowly, no lifting, not doing much at all. She had not made it to see me in hospital but other daughter and son had , plus nurse daughter was helping me plus working, time for other daughter to look after me a little bit for a few days.Also 2 of the grand children were there with mum, so we could spend time with them. We were staying at the Dalmeny van park over looking the ocean, so beach walks, Larry snorkelled, not fair I could not but we did watch baby humpback whales play as they travelled with their mums back south. 



After few days we headed back to Benalla for tests for me , doctor appointments and Larry's hernia opp.
The Benalla rose festival was on so watched a granddaughter play in the band, she plays drums, then sat around with family and grandkids to watch fireworks.


Just over a week after Larry's opp he was cleared for driving and so was I [ both for little trips ] so we took daughters smaller car to Sydney to watch the oldest grand daughter. She was competing in the university section of the cheerleading and dance state competition.They won the university cheerleading section then not only won the dance section for universities but the overall for all schools dance ,which gave them the chance to compete in the world championships in Florida USA in january 2015. Now we have to see if we can make it to watch and cheer her on.


She and the others of her group had flown in to sydney and they had time for us to have dinner with her before she flew back to the Goldcoast. We drove to the Goldcoast to pick up some of her things and see her for a bit longer. She was changing universities in 2015 and had to move all her things in her little car so we collected some of the bulky and not in use items , to take back to mums in Benalla . Good excuse to visit the Goldcoast for a few days.
As for going to USA in january this was harder as we had booked and payed for a south pacific cruise as our recuperation from all that has happened. We have not had a cruise of this sort with such a big ship but we got a balcony room half price and it was to 4 islands we had not seen before, all with good snorkelling warm weather. I was cleared to go and snorkel, I was back walking and swimming in the mornings , Larry was feeling good, so all was going fine. The number of people on the cruse was a worry as neither of us like lots of people but we had our balcony to retreat to.
November 25tuesday we leave on the night train to sydney, it was 15 mins late so left at 10.14pm and arrived in Sydney after lots of stops at 5.45 am wed. From here it was train to circular key found a place for breakfast me cheese and tomato Larry cheese & ham croissant. We sat and watched the ferries coming and going while eating. There in front of us was the big ship we were to spend the next 10 days on , it had docked early and was disembarking. We had to wait until 1pm to embark but got to drop off our luggage early, it goes through all the customs checks as we are leaving the country.Went for a walk and looked at the Opera house and Sydney harbour bridge from the dock area. We finally boarded the ship you have to go through customs and I had to be patted down instead of going through the metal detector , a new experience and one I will have to do from now on as I now have wire holding my chest together.
The first couple of days we were at sea, we went to some trivia times and some shows and were so glad when we got to the first island. We were on the 8th deck so walked around top deck on walking track before breakfast when the weather allowed. Went to gym and walking machines other times. There is food laid on from 6am until late up on deck 9 with 3 pools one just for over 18 year olds but all are always full. We have breakfast up there but as soon as they open before most people are awake and before the kids get there. We have lunch there too on some days and dinner down on deck 2 in the restaurant. Our table is of 2 other couples of our age, all nice enough, you have to dress for dinner and one night is a real dress up night for those that like formal wear, some other nights are fancy dress.Most times we use the stairs to go down decks and at least once a day use the stairs from deck 2 to our deck 8 going up , but by the time we get to our first island I am having trouble climbing the stairs, I have signs of a cold, people /kids coughing ,sneezing over food areas on deck 9.
We had free foot print analysis and are told we both need supports in our shoes , make appointments to arrange for them, no I like walking bare foot or as close to it as possible and walk in negative heel runners , Larry likes his boots and sneakers, Free analysis is to get you in so you spend money.
We played mini golf up on deck 10 [the top deck] it was fun but windy.
Watched one of the crew do an ice carving, he had a time limit and carved a block of ice the size of a person into a couple of doves sitting on a heart ,all in 20 minutes.
At last an island—Mare island


5.30am we walk top deck until 6.20. breakfast and get our boarding pass numbers , pick up our snorkels and things and head to the lower decks and wait to be called to get on the tender [small boat] to get us to the island.Get to the island and have to get a bus to get to the beach we want to snorkel at, 20 min ride. Finally in the water and we snorkel for about 4 hours on good coral with good amount of fish, it is nearly a pristine area. I get a little burnt on the back as I forgot my rash vest and snorkelling leaves your back facing the sun, so we buy 2 cheap tee shirts for me to wear in the water.
Mare Island is in New Caledonia . Is 42km long 33km wide. Population of 6900.mostly Melanesian
Language is french- knack.
New Caledonia is 932 miles west of Australia, Mare island is a coral atoll with its interior a former lagoon surrounded by higher land.
Sunday- its Noumea today this is still part of New Caledonia. We are heading to Ameda island for 8 hours of snorkelling,glass bottom boat over the reef , lunch with the chief and a coconut tree climbing exhibition.

We found a couple of sea snakes [tricot raye] to take photos of. They feed in the sea and come ashore to digest their meal, they have lungs so have to surface to breathe, they have venom but are afraid of humans and are not aggressive.


By know I am coughing and running a temperature but manage to snorkel.
 
Monday 1 december- Mystery Island Vanuatu- this island officially is called Lnyeug.
 

  Most southerly island of Vanuatu 1.5km sq. with population of nothing /zero. It was formerly used by allied forces during WW11. as a landing strip. The traditional owners the Aneityumese ,who live on near by island Aneityum ,were cannibals and believe this island to be haunted and will not spend a night on our mystery island. They come over and set up a market when cruise ships arrive.
There is still part of the old airstrip few sheds thats all .
Snorkel one side after walking all the way around, the calmest side but not much out there, its the side the ship is anchored , then we go round on the other side where there is a lot of debris washed up, the water is a little more open to the currents and ocean wind so the water is not as clear but we do find more fish.
Tues 2 dec 2014 and our last island is Port Vila Vanuatu. Vanuatu has 83 islands-67 are inhabited pop of 243,000.


Port Vila pop 35,901 largest city in Vanuatu and is Bislama, french ,English. The capitol and centre of trade average temperature 18-24.
We head off on another boat to one of the small islands used for turtle conservation and rescue, most visitors go diving on the reef here we are only snorkelling after we visit the turtle rescue centre. They are hawksbill turtles and most of the locals now collect the eggs and return them here to be hatched and raised until they are 1 year old and ready for release. The locals and fishermen don't eat the eggs or turtles any more but give part of there fish to feed the growing young.
By the time we get back to the ship I can no longer walk up the stairs and I am feeling quite ill and am told its a cold a lot of people have.
We have 3 days at sea now to get back to Sydney and to put up with all these people and kids with me not feeling to good. To cut the story short by the time we get of the ship I can hardly carry my own luggage and we have to wait until night time to get the train to Benalla . I did not thing the night would end our son picks us up at the station at 5.30am and when we get home I go and lie down, still thinking its only a bad cold. Within half an hour we are on the way to the hospital in Benalla . Told have pneumonia and transported by ambulance to nearby Wangaratta and their intensive care with oxygen and drips everywhere. 8 days in hospital with the last couple back in Benalla where I find out I also had toxic shock syndrome. No more cruises for us, its alright for some , most of the food and onboard entertainment is included in the price. You just pay for trips ashore and if you want to eat in one of the more boutique restaurants.