Sunday, October 01, 2006
Ed Watkins, Spiritual Warrior
I got the phone call on Saturday that a very good old friend of mine had just died. His funeral will be at 10am Tuesday at the McKay Family Funeral Home on the Pacific Highway at Palmdale, NSW, near the Ourimbah exit from the motorway to Newcastle.
Ed Watkins was a brave and courageous fighter - a true warrior - all of his life. And in the best meanings of the word, as well.
In World War Two, Ed had been a Military Policeman, and in "Civvy Street' afterwards, he had been a Station Officer in the NSW Fire Brigades. He used to live in Eastwood, with his wife, Shirley. I remember him nursing her through her long illness before she finally succumbed.
Ed was deeply into Yoga and Aikido, and that's how I first met him. We started training Tomiki Aikido together back in 1978. I was about 30 years old then, and Ed had just retired from the Fire Brigades and started training Aikido at the Epping YMCA with Alan Ames.
He was the first of Alan's little group of students to be graded to black belt by John Gay who ran the Australian Aikido Accociation from Melbourne, Victoria. He continued to train Aikido at the Willoughby Part Centre. I left and started a new Aikido group at the North Ryde RSL Youth Club.
After his wife Shirley died, Ed sold up his house and moved out to Mangrove Mountain, NSW, and built a small wooden cabin on the hillside next to the Satyananda Ashram at Mangrove Creek. He was a long-time friend of the Yoga community there, who knew him by the name of "Sunas".
Ed remained cheerful and an optimist right to the very end. His health was failing and he was often in severe pain, but he accepted it all as what he called "A Yogic Experience".
Ed once spoke about Aikido being a spiritual tool that forged a Sword of the Spirit. And while the sword of steel is one that takes life, the Sword of the Spirit is one that gives Love.
Ed Watkins. May you find that peace and love now. Sleep on, brave warrior of the spirit!
Ed Watkins was a brave and courageous fighter - a true warrior - all of his life. And in the best meanings of the word, as well.
In World War Two, Ed had been a Military Policeman, and in "Civvy Street' afterwards, he had been a Station Officer in the NSW Fire Brigades. He used to live in Eastwood, with his wife, Shirley. I remember him nursing her through her long illness before she finally succumbed.Ed was deeply into Yoga and Aikido, and that's how I first met him. We started training Tomiki Aikido together back in 1978. I was about 30 years old then, and Ed had just retired from the Fire Brigades and started training Aikido at the Epping YMCA with Alan Ames.
He was the first of Alan's little group of students to be graded to black belt by John Gay who ran the Australian Aikido Accociation from Melbourne, Victoria. He continued to train Aikido at the Willoughby Part Centre. I left and started a new Aikido group at the North Ryde RSL Youth Club.
After his wife Shirley died, Ed sold up his house and moved out to Mangrove Mountain, NSW, and built a small wooden cabin on the hillside next to the Satyananda Ashram at Mangrove Creek. He was a long-time friend of the Yoga community there, who knew him by the name of "Sunas".
Ed remained cheerful and an optimist right to the very end. His health was failing and he was often in severe pain, but he accepted it all as what he called "A Yogic Experience".
Ed once spoke about Aikido being a spiritual tool that forged a Sword of the Spirit. And while the sword of steel is one that takes life, the Sword of the Spirit is one that gives Love.
Ed Watkins. May you find that peace and love now. Sleep on, brave warrior of the spirit!
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Spring in Sydney, Oz
Well, it sure is spring here in the southern hemisphere. Great picture-postcard weather; plenty of sunshine, and happy visitors enjoring the sights and sounds of Sydney Australia. Australia, the Land of Oz.
Of course it's not quite the pretty if you work here.
The city traffic continues to be pretty near impossible, with snarl-ups happening around the new Land Cove tunnel just as they did a year ago with the Cross-City tunnel... The difference here is that the Pollies have an election coming up, so they're trying to minimise the damage by reopening roads they'd agreed with the tunnel company to close. So the NSW state government will be paying out millions on compensation from the public purse - after the election.
Notice how the price of petrol has suddenly gone down again? What's the bet it goes up again once the election's over. And if that's the case, why aren't more people wondering how this little miracle can occur.
The public always gets the government it deserves... Isn't that what they say?
Of course it's not quite the pretty if you work here.
The city traffic continues to be pretty near impossible, with snarl-ups happening around the new Land Cove tunnel just as they did a year ago with the Cross-City tunnel... The difference here is that the Pollies have an election coming up, so they're trying to minimise the damage by reopening roads they'd agreed with the tunnel company to close. So the NSW state government will be paying out millions on compensation from the public purse - after the election.
Notice how the price of petrol has suddenly gone down again? What's the bet it goes up again once the election's over. And if that's the case, why aren't more people wondering how this little miracle can occur.
The public always gets the government it deserves... Isn't that what they say?
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Back from the Edge
Lionel is back. It's amazing. That man has a will to live that astounds me. The doctors told his family all his organs were shutting down. He wasn't expected to live. Yet he came back from the hospital this week.
He's not fixed up by any means. In fact he's room-bound - if there is such a phrase. Lionel doesn't have the mobility to walk any further than his shower and toilet, and he lives on the food that's brought to him by Meals on Wheels.
Poor old bugger. He's got a TV to occupy his mind a little bit, but his quality of life isn't much better than the two budgies in that cage inside his room. They haven't been out of the room in months as far as I can tell.
What's that saying? Life sucks... And then you die.
He's not fixed up by any means. In fact he's room-bound - if there is such a phrase. Lionel doesn't have the mobility to walk any further than his shower and toilet, and he lives on the food that's brought to him by Meals on Wheels.
Poor old bugger. He's got a TV to occupy his mind a little bit, but his quality of life isn't much better than the two budgies in that cage inside his room. They haven't been out of the room in months as far as I can tell.
What's that saying? Life sucks... And then you die.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Lionel Came Home Today
My neighbor, Lionel, came home from hospital today.
His sister was there to help, and she tidied up his room a bit. There was also a worker from the hospital, who came along to check that Lionel could handle the shower and toilet on his own. They are going to have the shower head changed to a hand shower, and they are organising for meals-on-wheels to supply his meals.
I had a brief talk to his sister, who is also a big lady, and she says the whole family are big people.
Poor old Lionel has suffered multiple organ damage... his heart, lungs and even his kidneys are functioning poorly. And he even has emphysema. Not from smoking, he was never a smoker, but from years of working in a sawmill and breathing in all the saw dust.
They reckon his next bout of sickness will take him out. But until then the man is back, and his two budgies will have someone to talk to them again.
His sister was there to help, and she tidied up his room a bit. There was also a worker from the hospital, who came along to check that Lionel could handle the shower and toilet on his own. They are going to have the shower head changed to a hand shower, and they are organising for meals-on-wheels to supply his meals.
I had a brief talk to his sister, who is also a big lady, and she says the whole family are big people.
Poor old Lionel has suffered multiple organ damage... his heart, lungs and even his kidneys are functioning poorly. And he even has emphysema. Not from smoking, he was never a smoker, but from years of working in a sawmill and breathing in all the saw dust.
They reckon his next bout of sickness will take him out. But until then the man is back, and his two budgies will have someone to talk to them again.
Monday, June 19, 2006
The Latest on Lionel
My neighbor Anthony tried to see Lionel the other day, but he'd been transferred to R.P.A. Hospital (the Royal Prince Alfred). Apparently he was having breathing difficulties earlier but he seemed okay when my neighbor visited him in the new hospital. I haven't been over there yet, so I can't be more specific.
I bought some bird seed at the Supermarket yesterday to keep Lionel's two budgerigars supplied. And when I talked to another neighbor, Dennis, this morning, I discovered that both he and Anthony had bought birdseed as well. So Lionel's budgies will be well supplied.
It's a moderate wintery day outside, it was drizzling rain a bit this morning, but there are blue skies and some clouds visible from my window; and a little bit of sunshine to warm the heart and the soul.
Life goes on.
I bought some bird seed at the Supermarket yesterday to keep Lionel's two budgerigars supplied. And when I talked to another neighbor, Dennis, this morning, I discovered that both he and Anthony had bought birdseed as well. So Lionel's budgies will be well supplied.
It's a moderate wintery day outside, it was drizzling rain a bit this morning, but there are blue skies and some clouds visible from my window; and a little bit of sunshine to warm the heart and the soul.
Life goes on.
Friday, May 19, 2006
"What the doctor doesn't know won't kill him."
It's a beautiful autumn's day outside across Sydney and its beautiful harbour.
I can see the Sydney Harbour Bridge from by bathroom window while I have my morning shower, and it is inspiring to listen to the currawong birds cheerfully announce the new day.
I head from a neighbour that poor old Lionel is out of the ICU and off life-support. That's good news because we were told to expect him to die. He was moved to another ward in the hospital yesterday. Apparently his whole leg is now in a cast because the surgeons couldn't pin the fracture.
The bad news is that he'll be in a wheelchair for some time. And the old guy had enough trouble getting around before because of his weight. His sister and other kinfolk are trying to arrange to get him into a nursing home. So he's going to lose his independence his little rented studio flat gave him.
Maybe it will be good too. If he's in a nursing home, they'll have nutritionists to keep close tabs on what he eats. No more trips to Macca's (the Aussie nickname for McDonalds restaurants) for Lionel. I hope not, anyways - for his sake.
I spoke to him about it once and asked if his doctor hadn't warned him about eating junk food. What was Lionel's answer back then?
He laughed and said, "What the doctor doesn't know won't kill him."
I can see the Sydney Harbour Bridge from by bathroom window while I have my morning shower, and it is inspiring to listen to the currawong birds cheerfully announce the new day.
I head from a neighbour that poor old Lionel is out of the ICU and off life-support. That's good news because we were told to expect him to die. He was moved to another ward in the hospital yesterday. Apparently his whole leg is now in a cast because the surgeons couldn't pin the fracture.
The bad news is that he'll be in a wheelchair for some time. And the old guy had enough trouble getting around before because of his weight. His sister and other kinfolk are trying to arrange to get him into a nursing home. So he's going to lose his independence his little rented studio flat gave him.
Maybe it will be good too. If he's in a nursing home, they'll have nutritionists to keep close tabs on what he eats. No more trips to Macca's (the Aussie nickname for McDonalds restaurants) for Lionel. I hope not, anyways - for his sake.
I spoke to him about it once and asked if his doctor hadn't warned him about eating junk food. What was Lionel's answer back then?
He laughed and said, "What the doctor doesn't know won't kill him."
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
My Mate Lionel
My mate, Lionel, is in the Intensive Care Unit at St Vincents Hospital.
A week ago he slipped and broke his leg. But he's 76 years old and very overweight... a dangerous combination.
The medical staff took care of Lionel and set his fractured tibia bone and they helped with his pain by administering morphine. But not long afterwards he vomited and the fluid went into his lungs, burning the tissue and impeding his breathing.
I went and saw him at the ICU today. He looks bad. All kinds of tube running into him and an oxygen mask on his face, so it's very hard to hear him mumble. It's hardly speech.
A few days ago we were convinced he was going to die at any time. He still could. But with a strong will and a bit of luck, the big fella might make it okay.
But then he's got the broken leg to deal with. The bachelor flat he lives in has stairs, and Lionel will be in a wheelchair. The poor bloke will probably have to go into a home, and I know he'll hate that.
A week ago he slipped and broke his leg. But he's 76 years old and very overweight... a dangerous combination.
The medical staff took care of Lionel and set his fractured tibia bone and they helped with his pain by administering morphine. But not long afterwards he vomited and the fluid went into his lungs, burning the tissue and impeding his breathing.
I went and saw him at the ICU today. He looks bad. All kinds of tube running into him and an oxygen mask on his face, so it's very hard to hear him mumble. It's hardly speech.
A few days ago we were convinced he was going to die at any time. He still could. But with a strong will and a bit of luck, the big fella might make it okay.
But then he's got the broken leg to deal with. The bachelor flat he lives in has stairs, and Lionel will be in a wheelchair. The poor bloke will probably have to go into a home, and I know he'll hate that.
Not another bl@@dy bl@g!?
Here we go again. Another hopeful places their mark out there in the Blogosphere!
The amazing thing is that there are so many goshdarn blogs to choose from now. How can we make an intelligent choice?
From what I already know about the Internet and the way people search for things... essentially for information. I expect we'll just use the search engines the way we do to find web pages on whatever subject interests us.
Enough for now!
Davo
The amazing thing is that there are so many goshdarn blogs to choose from now. How can we make an intelligent choice?
From what I already know about the Internet and the way people search for things... essentially for information. I expect we'll just use the search engines the way we do to find web pages on whatever subject interests us.
Enough for now!
Davo
