THINGS THAT GO BUMP!

Why is it that things always happen on holidays? We stopped to feed the swans by the lake on the way home & even before we got out of the car there were 5 or 6 enormous black, fat breasted birds vying for poll position. Their beady red eyes on serpent necks inquisitively checking our hands & pockets. Darcy took one look and bolted. I guess a bird that stands at eye level can be quite intimidating! Seisia & I quickly tore up slices of bread and retreated over to where Darcy was. Maybe a short burst on the playground would get their confidence back.

Now I don't know if it really was an accident but you have to show faith don't you. Darcy & Seisia were either side of a sailboat on springs. Just like back in the Pacific they were shouting "Starboard! Port! Pull the mainsheet!" it was a great game rocking the boat from side to side and I was enjoying a chat with my friend when there was some sort of accidental gybe & Seisia was running towards me crying, a huge bump developing on her forehead. Now if you know Seisia you know that she is very stoic and it takes a lot to upset her, so I knew this was the real deal.

Bundling back into the car we raced home to apply the frozen pea icepack. The swelling was now well & truly an egg! Poor little love. She lay on the couch looking quite frightened. Mind you my worrying was probably not helping. After about 15mins and some ABC3 she was feeling a little better & the swelling had gone right down. Good news. Her pupils were normal & she could tell how many fingers I was holding up. Even better.

It was a little later when she went in the car to pick up her friend from school camp that I got a real fright. Sigal phoned me, said not to panic but Seisia had just had a little vomit! Not good.

I stood in the doorway, my heart racing, my mind running away. Five minutes felt like hours. I jumped in the car & we went straight to the medical centre.

She sat on my lap. Eight years old. I felt like she was part of me, my soul. I was afraid for her & I could feel her uncertainty.

The doctor was great, Chinese & very thorough. After he asked her some general questions he began pressing & feeling the lump. Suddenly I felt hot & prickly, my peripheral vision was clouding in black & their voices were coming down a tunnel. I can't faint now! Can I? And then the word no one wants to hear from a doctor. "Hmmmm". I mustered every ounce of strength to stay conscious. "What is it?" I whispered in a hoarse dry voice.

"Oh she'll be fine" he said "but she does have some live headlice"!!!

Hmmmmmm...