Between the checkups

Hot off the press from the waiting room at Kenepuru Hospital today

This morning I’m at Kenepuru hospital waiting for my checkup with Stuart, one of my surgeons. It’s a good time to pen a few highlights of how I’ve spent my time since my last checkup a few months ago:

• Shared a glorious dawn at 1300m altitude with Maree and Mia at Sunrise Hut in the Ruahine ranges.

• Represented the Gillies McIndoe Research Institute at The Goat Tongariro in January, then in the Wellington Round the Bays run in February, and the Tararua Mountain Race ‘Field Dash’ in March. In that race I took a spectacular tumble 200m from the finish line (but finished).

• Thanks to some very good physio, I recovered in time to compete in the NZ mountain running champs last weekend - where I was comprehensively thrashed: by the driving rain, the 80kph winds and the lightning fast competition. It was my NZ mountain running champs debut, and I was happy to be there - and took the chance to sport the singlet of my Centre of Origin: Gisborne Harriers, home of Young Nick’s Head.

• I also started a new full time job working within the health sector in nz, with plenty of potential, and plenty to do, to make things better.

All of which has been a good way, as someone wise once told me, to Enjoy Life.

p.s. my checkup today went well ;)

This was the device (and screen) used for my checkup at hospital today, where a long fibre optic cable & camera is moved down and up my throat. The surgeon and I watch the monitor, looking for realtime evidence of dysplastic cells / tissue, or any other areas of concern. Today: no worries!