I've just finished my weekly rehab with Yolane and taking a moment out to reflect on the positives.

For those of you who don’t know, in my Brissie days since April 2017 I’ve had BL Physio keeping me functioning - Ang running weekly rehab with me and after her I’d see Paul or Kieran for my weekly physio. With my hardcore covid ISO and then move to the coast that all took a back seat until I could tell my body was starting to fail. And bad.

I found Yolane in July through a health referral and she subbed into Ang’s rôle perfectly. Just as particular about my technique and so in tune with my body it’s spooky (good spooky). And Yolane introduced me to Justin my new physio down here who kicked in when the neck incident happened!

Both the Brissie and Coastie Crew have been the key to keeping me together this last 6+ years since the beginning of what we’ve now deemed SPS. Physically and emotionally. My one weekly staple. Structure.

This last 4+ months it’s been Yolane on Thursdays, Justin on Tuesdays. And like BL Physio, they collaborate on where my body is at and adapt to what it needs. Often adapting on the day given my SPS, respiratory and voicebox issues change each day, even hour haha.

Why am I reflecting on this?
Well, today is my last day at my Caba pad. After whohar with the landlord on Monday, I can’t get any security of a lease, so I decided the risk is too high staying with only a 30 day notice window and a post surgery rehab that means I can't drive or lift for 4 weeks, is predicted to be 4-6 weeks to be 'pretty good' and 3 months fully recovered. Not a good combo!

This makes today my last rehab here with Yolane, overlooking the beach, building my strength and stretching out my niggles. We don’t know if it’s my adrenaline or it’s genuine … but we had probably our best session yet. My body is feeling as strong as it can right now for surgery.

So a bit sad to not know when I’ll next get to see my crew down here. I’m so very grateful to meet such incredible people along the way.

Saying goodbye to my favourite neighbour little Ava (probably 3.5/4yrs old) this morning was a wee bit traumatic. She cried so much (whilst squeezing the hell out of me with her hug) that her mum cried too. And I was hanging by a thread. Had a quiver but needed to stay strong for her haha

Such great people in Caba. That’s what I will miss most. The rehab crew, my other key support person Careen who tends to my cleaning each fortnight, my new friends I’ve made thanks to Peters intro (Marzia, Rob, Maureen & Graham), the various incredible neighbours, and the owners/managers of No35 and Paper Daisy. I’m not sure I’ve ever eaten so well so often!! My waste line knows!!

But on the upside - how wonderful to have made these connections. Hopefully I’ll get back.

Thankfully once I become a coastie again I’ll be able to pick things right back up with Yolane and Justin. Regardless of where I find my next place - I will get to them.

Whats next?
Tomorrow I have packers coming and everything will head to storage. And by tomorrow night I’ll be starting a new chapter.

Where too?
Well, a few nights with the Scotty & Elise (keeping my coastie dream alive a little longer), then Hans & Carlos's, then Greenslopes Hospital... and then we play it by ear! Maybe back to Hans & Carl, maybe a little airbnb with Jen & Mick, no doubt some time at the Harris's to spread my love and not outstay my welcome anywhere! And if good health luck should have it .... some very overdue time down home in Corowa. Then hopefully come January I can be back on my feet to get a new coastie home.

Again - how fortunate am I to have such an incredible squad around me? You can't put a size or value on it. Priceless friendships. Forever endebted.


On the health front, it’s all systems go for admission Tuesday 1pm for premedical reviews to hopefully sign me off for Thursday 10am surgery.

I’ll be forever grateful to Jenbo & Micky D for helping me financially cover this epic procedure. It’s the biggest yet.

I did say to them some people buy new cars and I tend to buy surgeries. Jenbos reply was bang on:

“Well you deserve to get new pads put into your C5 and C6 and hopefully another 200000000 miles”.

Let’s cross our fingers all goes ahead next week and I’ve got new pads to spin the tyres in whatever destination life takes me next.

PS Today I found my favourite stubby holder (photo below) that Caz got for Johnny and I back when we did my post voice surgery 'mute' West Coast 'Western Blowout' road trip. I'd not told them all year that I thought I'd lost it. Today I found it. I felt a major stress release. I think it's a really good sign the future is bright.