Doctors and phone books

I spent two hours today delivering phone books. It’s the major fundraiser for Suttontown Primary School that families deliver the local phone book for Sensis.

Our designated area included parts of the central business district, which Juliet had to do by herself in warm weather on working days.

The big kids disappointingly didn’t want to help us. Teenagers!

We finished most of the residential streets today. Despite cooler weather it wasn’t easy work because of carrying the books, climbing steps and distance from the car for replenishment of supplies.

A pram would have been handy. Air travel cases had to suffice.

After lunch I played cricket with Michael in the nets and bowled fast at him, finally getting a rhythm. I know I’ll be sore tomorrow and Monday.

The burst of energy came coincidentally after I visited a doctor on Friday for the first time in five years.

My blood pressure was slightly high and the doc reckons I should lose a couple of kilograms. I could have diagnosed that myself and saved the $96 consultation fee.

However, he did check the brown spots on my chest and back, and none of them are malignant for skin cancer.

When I was a child nobody worried about covering up with shirts and hats or suncream, so it’s worth checking.

Not to mention the long history of cancer in my family on both sides, which I told him about.

The only thing they can test for properly, apparently, is bowel cancer, which they normally do for people over 50.

The prostate cancer test is unreliable. Tests for skin cancer and testicular cancer are by view and touch.

“Self check below deck” is the phrase we used in Apex many years ago to promote awareness of testicular cancer. I never thought I would lose a cousin to the disease.

If you read the daily newspapers you may as well give up breathing, because everything you eat and drink is a cancer risk.

I’m not so hypochondriac and plan to enjoy what’s left of my life.

I scheduled a blood test for next week and will be interested to see how my cholesterol is going.

Despite the blood pressure, my doctor seemed to think and I agree, if the cholesterol is low I don’t have anything to worry about for the next few years at least.

If the cholesterol is elevated I will increase my exercise regime, as I did several years ago.

I have less time now, but I’ll make the time through lifestyle changes if necessary. Maybe I’ll walk to work several days a week in autumn and winter.

I walk regularly now, but need to do more to lose those few kilograms. Doc thinks I should try something different in addition to the walks.

Delivering phone books and bowling fast was a good unplanned start.