Last Monday was an important day. I had an appointment with my surgeon to get the results of a blood test that was going to tell me if I still had cancer lurking or not and to my delight the results were very good. Yippee!!! So it was party time that evening at the Rose & Crown. However I still have to have another blood test in 4 months to check again and will have to keep checking.

The other good news is that the operation recovery and all the things associated with it, is going very well. The biggest problem is the Urinary Incontinence (urine leakage) which can be a problem for months. As you can imagine this is such a private matter that men don’t talk about it. I’m not so bashful and see it as part of the operation, part of life and part of my recovery. Luckily for me though this has cleared up and I’m back to normal a little over 7 weeks after my operation.

The surgeon must have done one hell of a good job in removing my prostate and avoiding all the nerves around it as my recovery has been so good and quick. I’m appreciative of his skill. My fitness and my physio, who specialises in prostate problems would have helped as well. I’m now allowed back in my kayak but I have to take it easy for a while and I don’t expect to race or go mad until the New Year.

So if you are an ageing male make sure you get your regular checks.

Monday was also my 41^st wedding anniversary so Jenny and I had double celebration and I even allowed myself to have a light beer. (I have been off caffeine and alcohol, just water).

On Monday we also took our greyhound Nikki to Greyhounds as Pets (WA) to undertake a specific training course so she can be exempt from wearing a muzzle in public. The Dog Act of 1976 was amended to enable appropriately retired racing greyhounds to return to the community as pets without having to wear a muzzle.

Although Nikki is as placid and as calm as a cucumber we were supposed to have her muzzled whenever we took her walking but we couldn’t bear to do that so we didn’t. However we could have been fined if stopped by a Ranger so after 3 years we decided to send her away for the 3 days training course to get that exemption. It is a crazy law as other dog breeds are a lot more savage.

The law still states though that a greyhound has to be on a lead when in public which is another law that needs amending.

So now Nikki is exempt to wear a muzzle and has been issued with a green collar and an identification card which proves that she does not need to be muzzled in public.

So it has been a good week.

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This last weekend was the start of the ‘Waves of Destruction’ for the upper sections of the Swan River. The power boats had taken advantage of the warm weather and have been speeding along the Swan River creating waves that are tearing our riverbanks apart and creating havoc for other river users.

Although the department have erected 3 or 4 cameras on the river there are none on the upper reaches passed Maylands where they are needed most.

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Don’t forget the Beven Dashwood Race this Sunday. Entries close tonight.
See entries below.

It is also the Augusta Adventure Race this weekend.

There is also a Downwind Race on.

So there are lots of paddling.