Sunday 24 January 2021

Sunday country drive

 

 Sunday 23rd January 2021

 

A lovely day to for a drive in the bush.

My friend  has asked me if I would like to go for a drive out towards 1770 for a bush drive and possible lunch.

But this drive has a twist to it, we are taking his new truck for a drive not his car.

It's different sitting high up in the front cab of the truck cruising down the back roads on the way to Miriam Vale, but we are not going all that way, we stopped at a small country town called Lowmead in the Gladstone shire. We stopped at the pub and had a couple drinks and a steak sandwich with chips, a good deal for the price. 

 

Saturday 16 May 2020

About me

I was born on the 6th June 1962 at Bankstown hospital N.S.W. I am the eldest daughter of Albert George and Lynette SHEPPEARD. 
I have two siblings, Linda and Wayne Albert (now deceased)

Pineapple 

When I was a baby we lived with my dad's mother Bertha SHEPPEARD (nana shep as I called her) until she passed away. This occurred before my sister and brother arrived. We were a close family in my younger days while living in N.S.W regularly meeting up with my grandparents and close relatives for family gatherings.

One day when I was a young girl, my dad came home from work and said we are moving to Qld. This is how I came to be living in Qld.

My parents moved several times between N.S.W and Qld before I started high school. Looking back now, it did effect how I made friends, as every-time I find a friend, we would move, not having mobile phone like to day I never kept in touch. Even to this day I only have a couple of true friends.

I have had two marriages, the first, giving me three children, Scott, Alan and Jessica.

 I also have three grand daughters Hayley, Tayla and Lauren.


Pineapple

After my second marriage breakdown I moved back in with my mum.

Over the past three years (2017 - 2020) I have been traveling around Qld with a friend, it was during this time he asked me if I knew who my ancestors were? I said ‘no’ and back in 2017, I started on my family tree of SHEPPEARD-COOK.

Another event in my life in late 2019 I was diagnosed with cancer, which my crystal -ball forgot to tell me about. Treatment is progressing.

Sunday 10 November 2019

I have CANCER



I had CANCER

They said they got it all
Well I hope they did.


This is a true-life story written as things happened by Sharon
I am a healthy 57-year-old non-smoker, non-drinker.
I was traveling Qld


When a sudden unexpected u-turn happened in my life which started back in mid August 2019.
I started coughing and bringing up small amounts of blood, thinking it was from brushing my teeth too hard,
or maybe I’m getting a bit of sinus, I didn't take much notice of it until,

I discovered a small blister
13th September 2019

One afternoon while drinking a hot cuppa tea I discovered a small blister in the roof of my mouth, about the size of a small pea. Again I thought nothing more of it and it would go away in a few days as most blisters do
 BUT
This blister was not going away


The blister has been in my mouth for three weeks.
I am still eating as normal but some hot and cold items can cause the blister to ache.
(the blister has a burning feeling and throbs)
& seems to be getting bigger daily


Chipped my tooth
October 2019

One afternoon while sitting eating dip & biscuits I chipped my tooth, a large molar bugger.
Not liking dentists I put off going to see one for couple of week but I had not only chipped my tooth but also exposed the nerves so every time I ate it would ache.
The pain was getting worse, so I called the public system but couldn't get in till November,
so I called a few private dentist in Bundaberg, one who had a appointment on Wednesday, 12 October2019.


I went to the dentist
The name of the dentist is Centrepoint Dentist
(An all female clinic)

When I attend the dentist to have tooth taken out. The dentist discuss with me what they are going to before extracting the tooth they did a mouth x-ray, so they could see what was wrong and how deep the roots of my teeth are.
Trying to relax, the dentist says she has to put in
couple of needles to numb my mouth. Ouch they hurt!.
 I can feel the dentist start pulling the molar out it is rather rotten but one half is not and takes some tugging to remove it
The dentist did ended up taking the molar out.


After the dentist was working in my mouth she asked me about the blister, how long has it been there?
I said about 4 weeks.
The dentist was rather concerned but didn't know what is was.
 She wants me to have a referral to an orthopedic or maxillofacial specialist.
Which comes up from Brisbane every fortnight. Dr Nigel Johnson so a date was set to see him on1st November.2019
Dr Nigel Johnson
Maxillofacial specialist
From Wesley Hospital Brisbane
Who visits Bundaberg every two weeks.

The dentist did say that Dr Nigel Johnson would be in contact with me. within a few days after having tooth removed Dr Nigel Johnson did call me,
he asked if it would be possible to have a 3d Ct scan before the appointment in November but I would have to get a referral letter from the dentist.
No problems I told him and when you have the scan can you have results sent to me at Wesley hospital.
After the phone call we went and seen the Centrepoint Dentist explaining the situation, they said they would write me a referral letter so I waited while it was written
and then I went around to Bundaberg Radiology were they do the 3d scans. The scans were done on 16th October 2019.
I had to lie on a thin bed, which moves in and out of a round large tunnel. Don’t move they say. I can hear the machine taking pictures. Whirring and spinning around. I close my eyes while the machine is spinning.
All done.
 From this machine I am taken to another
x-ray room
where I have to stand up and bit onto a devise that goes into your mouth, this time the machine goes around your whole head taking pictures again. Ok all done.
We wait outside for the results and I receive a copy of the scans but no written results that is for the Drs only.

27th October 2019 the hole in my palette is getting rather large now.
Today while out shopping I noticed that a large piece of mucus or flem fell out from the hole of my mouth, and went down the back of my throat causing me to gag and nearly be sick. My tongue went straight up the where the hole is and I could feel that there was now a large hole in the top of my palette. Oh NO!
I say loudly ,I am also making a loud whistling noise as I breathe, the noise is loud enough that Greg can hear it.
What’s that noise? I say to him it my mouth and I just swallowed a large piece of mucus, which come out of the hole and that I am now whistling
I didn’t need to know that, and stop making that noise.
I can’t I reply back.
Even before this occurred I would have liquids coming out my nose as I tried to drink, brushing my teeth has become a chore as I have to hold my nose as I brush otherwise the toothpaste goes up the hole and out into my nose not a nice feeling and it burns the nose.

A week later 23-10-2019, Dr Nigel calls to say that he has seen the scans and he would like to do a biopsy on my mouth tumor when he sees me on the 1st November.
To confirm what its. I give him the OK to do a biopsy and will see him on the 1st November 2019.

Day surgery with Dr Nigel Johnson and Biopsy.
1st November 2019

Feeling rather nervous as Greg drives me over to the Bundaberg Private day hospital where I’m having the biopsy done,
before having the biopsy Dr Nigel Johnson calls me in and I asks if Greg can be present too? Yes of course.
Dr Nigel Johnson shows us the 3d scan pictures and says that it is rather large and growing rather fast.
He also asked me if I am a smoker or drinker?
To which I answer no never.
Hmm he says because this type of tumor is normally found in
older people who smoke and drink.
You are a rare case.
He won't say what it is but he says it not looking good, but this biopsy will soon tell.
He then goes on to say what he is going to do. Take a seat outside and a nurse will call you in. ok ten minutes later I’m called and prepared for surgery.
I have special covers on my feet and a hat on my head,
are you able to get up on the table.
Yes no problems.
Dr Nigel says that I have to put some needles in your mouth to numb it before I can do the biopsy. He has to put several in before my mouth goes numb.
"They bloody hurt"
Mouth numb he does the biopsy.
Half hour later
I walk out with a very numb mouth and a piece of white gauge hanging out my mouth not a pretty sight.
Dr Nigel wants to talk to me again before going out.
So Greg and I go back in to see Dr Nigel, who says that he took a large piece out and that he will know results within a week,
It not looking good but don't worry the biopsy will tell what it is.

Along week waiting
A week to the day of having the biopsy done
8th November 2019,
while out in Bundaberg  shopping
Dr Nigel calls me on my mobile,
I answer the call and the first thing Dr Nigel asks
How I am and if I'm sitting down?
He apologises that he is not telling me in person, again asking if I'm sitting and do I have someone with me?
Yes I say to both questions
Then Dr Nigel says that the results have shown some bad news that I have CANCER
and that I will have to have surgery to remove the tumor in my mouth.
I start to shake and cry all at the same time from shock of what I have just heard,
Greg takes the phone but I have it on speaker and
Dr Nigel can hear me.
my voice is very shaky and he asked am I ok..
Also apologizing again for telling me over the phone
I'm ok just hearing you say cancer was a shock to me.
He then goes on to explain that he will be transferring me to the Brisbane Royal Woman’s Hospital maxillofacial team.
 Who will call me within the month to make an appointment to see them.
He also said that he would send all scans and biopsy results to them too.
DR Nigel also went to explain that my cancer was a fast moving cancer that’s was eating the palette of my mouth.

 It is mostly found in people who smoke and drink heavily but I don’t do either so he called this a rare case.
This is the day my life was turn up side down.
And changed forever


I HAVE CANCER



BUT
I AM STRONG
AND I WILL BEAT IT.’



You can read more about my experiences

Sunday 13 October 2019

SKYDIVING TOOGOOLAWAH





One of the many things to do on my bucket list  so I thought!

Until one day while playing bowls at a completion day where they had raffles and many different prizes.
to be draw for the days raffles one of them just happened to be a voucher for a tandem skydiving.

When I was buying the tickets I joking said "I only want first prize or nothing at all."
Well I ended up pulling Greg's name out and he didn't have any intention of jumping out of a perfectly good plane. I said to him that I would love to and this is how I got to skydive tandem.
Being harnessed up by my tandem partner



















learning and practicing the moves


Yes I did it and home safely with a  certificate to prove it.

walking to the plane with my tandem partner, note I too have a parachute

 Look I'm flying

Getting ready to land legs up

Touch down bugger its over all ready
That was awesome!! Bugger its over so fast


Cobbold Gorge 06/09/2019


COBBOLD GORGE                                                                                             06/09/2019

Located in Far North Queensland's Gulf Savannah, near Forsayth is an ancient geological landform tucked away within the rugged sandstone formations called Cobbold Gorge. We drove out from Georgetown, there is a dirt road into the Cobbold Gorge but that add to the excitment of the drive.
It is  here that I seen my first ever fresh water croc in fact I seen 6 all up.

This unique narrow gorge is set amid rugged sandstone formations with spectacular 30 metre cliffs that narrow to just two metres wide. A cruise through this unusual gorge is an awesome and unforgettable experience. 
The last photo shows a new glass walkway and the narrow passage you go through. The walkway will not be for the faint hearted.


two fresh water crocs sunning themselves




narrow passage and above the new glass walkway
T

Thursday 10 October 2019

NORMANTON 06/09/2019




Normanton on the Matilda Way                                        September 2019



Be careful when in Normanton because they have very big Crocs, so the story is told see picture above, this is one that didn't get away.
 I didn't see any big salt water crocs but did find a couple of fresh water ones in the Normanton River.
The sunsets are just spectacular as you can see.  




Helicopter rides.


A helicopter or train ride can also be done from here.  
Normanton railway station is a heritage-listed railway station in Matilda Street, Normanton, Shire of Carpentaria, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1889, you can book a ride on the Gulflander. 
Affectionately said to go from ‘nowhere to nowhere’, the Heritage-listed Normanton to Croydon line was never connected to the state rail network and remains the only line in Queensland still measured in miles.
The sunsets are just spectacular as you can see.  

Take the journey "from nowhere to nowhere"<br>
The Gulflander train restored to original design

BURDENKIN DAM 19/07/2018



Burdenkin Dam                                                                                                                19/07/2018

The largest dam is Queensland and holds when in full capacity 1,860,000 ml which is 4 times the capacity of Sydney Harbour.
Well worth a drive from Ravenswood to view

The most exciting part of the visiting the dam is that you can drive right up to the  the spillway wall, (55m or 180 ft tall) as the road winds down past the wall and you even get to drive up close to the where they are letting a small amount of water out which splashes out over you. See photos can you see the truck.
There are many pelican in the water near the spillway and it is interesting to stand and watch them swimming or standing on the many rocks trying to catch the fish. 



 When standing on the road looking up at the wall you feel so over empowered and small. You think "Hope that this wall doesn't spring a leak." 









The spillway only partly open


view from the top of the spillway looking over road (see truck on bottom of spillway)
From looking down from the top of the spillway you can see how close the water is to going over the top and you have just driven over that road and now you have to go back.
.