Oh, I see

I've had my left cataract operated on yesterday, The op itself was ok, but the waiting....

We rocked up at a quarter to one on an empty stomach as requested. Sat down and went through the admission procedure with the receptionist at the Eye Clinic. Then she got us to sit down in a full waiting room. Lots of elderly couples, just like us. An hour later a nurse called my name and took me into her office, where again, we went through all the details of what's going to happen and my full medical history, all while dropping eyedrops in my eye every few minutes, that took about 15 minutes, then she put on a blue gown (on me, not her) and placed me in another waiting room full of other people in gowns. She told me to wait until someone would call me through either of the two doors leading somewhere else. There were lots of magazines but nobody was reading them. Just like me, they couldn't see. Another hour later, one of the doors opened and another nurse called my name. It was yet another office and sitting down, the anaesthetists' nurse went through the same questions the other nurse and receptionist went through. I guess they want to make sure your correct eye is done and not your left kneecap.

Then the anaesthetist came and spoke to me and explained that normally they give the patient an injection into the eye as a local anaesthetic but due to a particular drug I take, they couldn't do that as there is a risk of bleeding behind the eye, which could result in blindness. Instead, they would put me on a drip with something to make me drowsy and then anaesthetic drops in the eye. He told me that because of that, I would probably feel the procedure. Great!! I love pain (not).

Another 15 minutes later, I was eventually taken to the operating theatre and placed on a bed. The medical staff then carried out their duties of preparing me. The anaesthetist inserted a canulla and told me, 'I'm going to give you something to make you relaxed.'

A minute later, a nurse said, 'Mr. Bohlen, can you sit up, and follow me.' I asked, 'where are they going to do the operation?' 'Oh, that's all over', she said. Apparently I slept through the whole procedure. I never felt a thing. She took me to a third waiting room, presented me with a plate of sandwiches and a cup of coffee and that was it.

This morning I had an early appointment with the eye surgeon in his rooms at Springwood and he explained exactly what they did. If you want to know what is involved, CLICK HERE

In the waiting room this morning

The eye surgeon removed the bandage, checked the result and after declaring the operation a success, sent me on my way. Now it's suddenly as if someone had turned on the lights or increased the brightness slider on my brain. It's wonderful.

12 Years a Slave

Our daughter Carol-Ann is up from Sydney for a few of days. The darling girl came up to celebrate her dad's birthday. It was decided we'd go to the movies this afternoon to see the above film. In hindsight it would have been better to see anything else. Unless you're into gratuitous violence, keep away from that one. I know, I know, it's supposed to be based on a true story about how white USA landowners treated their black slaves, but really? This was just over the top. If it wasn't for my daughter sitting beside me, I would have left in the first ten minutes. There really is no need for such garbage. Sorry about that.

HOWEVER!!

While entering the theatre complex, we walked past a poster of the upcoming film 300: Rise of an Empire, starring Sullivan Stapleton, an Aussie actor and very good friend of Bernie and Sonya's and 'uncle Smooch' to the boys. Sullivan spent Christmas with us at Bernie's parents' place on Mornington Peninsula.

 A poster of Sullivan's new film

A couple of frightened cinema goers

Burnett River - Bundaberg

We took a trip on the MS Bundy Belle on the Burnett River last Saturday, in Bundaberg. A very pleasant experience.

The MS Bundy Belle ready to depart

We saw a few fishermen out in their tinnies.

The gang (sans moi)

They were practising their rowing skills

The ferry terminal - we had a fabulous seafood lunch there

The Blogger enjoyed herself

There was a regatta on the river as well

And lots of pleasure boats

The Bundaberg Sugar Terminal

Loggerhead Turtles at Mon Repos

We're now at Bargara, near Bundaberg. Close enough for a drive to the Mon Repos Turtle Beach for a look. We booked our tickets and rocked up at the time stated. We were told that at this time of year the hatchlings would emerge from their eggs and head for the sea. But like everywhere else on these occasions, they had their night off and we waited till 11.00 PM without any action.

But then we were called to witness the other big event on the beach, when a mother decided to come up the beach to lay her eggs. It was very exciting.

First, we visited the exhibition to learn a bit more about the Loggerhead Turtle.

Then, while we were waiting, the rangers gave a talk about the habit of these ancient animals and showed a DVD of the process.

 Then it was time to head for the beach. It was 11.00 PM by that stage. There was a near full moon so we had a little light to follow the ranger to the site, which was quite a distance away.

 The turtle had crawled up the beach and was madly digging a big hole with her rear flippers which work like a human hand.

 The ranger grabbed a couple of eggs to show us what they look like. The hole, the turtle digs is 40 cm deep, so that's where the eggs drop into.

 The rangers, then measure the turtle, note features and record the event.

 Finally, the turtle covers the eggs with sand and pats it down with her rear flippers again and after a short rest, darts back into the sea.

It was a fascinating experience.

A secret Beach

We're on the way to Bundaberg for a few days with a group of friends. First night we stopped at a little coastal township called Woodgate, south of Bundaberg. I'd never heard of it. What a gem!

We're staying in beach cabins for a couple of nights.

Catching their dinner

Not a soul on the beach

Our cabins

Woodgate near Childers, Queensland

The Heart of a Photograph

We had our first meeting of the U3A Camera Club for the year and Diane presented the topic THE HEART OF A PHOTOGRAPH. They say, 'A picture is worth a thousand Words'.

A well attended meeting, we had 35 members there

Diane explained the 'Rule of Thirds' for the benefit of the new members who have joined us this year. Most cameras these days have a function to display that on the screen.

One of the main Rules - Rule Of Thirds used by photographers

Basically what that means is don't place people, objects in the centre of a photograph, but move it onto one of the Third lines.

Use Rule of Thirds

Place especially eyes on the point of Thirds

Use colour to highlight focal point

Use framing to highlight focal point

Use framing and/or lines in your photographs.

Or just lines

Get pictures to tell a story, make the viewer work out what you are trying co convey

Tell a story

Evoke emotion in your photograph

The difference between an ordinary photograph and a picture that tells a story. The following picture shows a train stopped at a country railway station in New South Wales. Basically an ordinary photograph.

Just a train at a railway station

Now add some people and suddenly the picture tells a story and evokes emotion. Here is a family saying good bye to their son, brother, nephew who is off to the city, who knows how long for.

Suddenly we have a story of a family saying good-bye

Show interaction between people in your photographs, sometimes other people are not even shown but the picture shows that they are indeed there. This shot was taken at O'Reillys Mountain Retreat and shows a Swedish girl feeding birds outside the Reception. The girls is communicating with her mother who is also feeding a bird. That's the mother's arm in the shot.

Swedish tourist with an Australian Bower Bird talking to her mother

If you want to se more about the Logan U3A Camera Club, check out our blog

CLICK HERE