Being eligible in May for our passports, The Geek finishing his MBA by the end of the year, then having a think about where we want to spend the next few years.

and having BB round for lunch and a good old sing song

Hmmm, thinking about it...may want to bring that "where to spend the next few years" decision forward...

Just want to be happy and to bring happiness to others who wish it,but hurt and pain to those who wish to harm those who can not look after themselves.

Pauline's brother arrives for 5 weeks in Feb
Christmas in july
Turning 50
Visiting Scotland for my 50th and not for sad reasons for a change
My niece visiting for christmas this year

theres a few more to add but thats just off the top of my head, much like my hair

My OH graduating from the Vic Police Academy in March

1-Youngest kid is off to Kindy (whoa, free time, I vaguely remember that)
2-Going back to Canada for a quick visit in December (enough time to say hello, go to BPs and Swiss Chalet, and then head back to Oz for Christmas)
3-Working p/t and getting some Aussie qualifications (see 1)
4-Staving off blindness for another year (come on retinas, hang in there)
5-Yes, an end to the 2012 nonsense. Maybe the Mayans just ran out of space on the tablet they were using.

Magic

Here you go.....
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...o-Barreno.html

Blindness? My goodness what has caused that?

I have "senile" (snarf) retinoschisis--but you don't have to be in your senior years, that's just to differentiate it from a juvenile genetic type. Essentially, my retinas are splitting. Nothing surgeons can do to stop the process except repair detachments as they happen. I had one occur already at 34 years old (and lost a part of my peripheral vision in one eye). After years and years of check ups with no change, just the occasional laser surgery to try and stabilize small separations, and just when I was starting to get my hopes up, the surgeon told me in November that my "good" eye (ie. the one with the least amount of damage and vision loss so far) was going the way of the other, so to be on guard and prepare myself.

Sucks, really. Any day, I could get the signs that the other retina is detaching and then I have to haul ass to the hospital to try and save my vision.

I spent a couple of days in November really miserable about it (after bursting into tears in the consultant's office when he delivered the news--poor guy, he looked pretty uncomfortable, ha), but I figured there's no point in sitting around feeling sorry for myself, so I'm just grateful for every day that I get through still being able to see my kids, mischievous looks, gappy teeth and all.

Puts things into perspective, really. Hmm...is that a bad pun?

Oh crikey. That's really poo. I admire your attitude though Japonica

Thanks. You just have to play the hand you're dealt, no matter how lousy. Blah. And buckle surgery is not pleasant (done under local--I still get flashbacks to the Canadian surgeon digging in my eye socket). Maybe I'll get to do a comparative on Aussie vs. Canadian surgical techniques. Yippee.

The consultant here in Perth handed me his card and said, "My mobile's on the back. Call me if you think it's warranted."

I was like, "Mate, after what happened last time (going from just diagnosed to lost vision the next evening), I'll be phoning you from the emergency dept. because that's where I'll be. No mucking about for me."

He laughed about that...

Eyes are so precious.

I am on meds that can cause retinal detachment and have to be dilated twice a year.

Some people are squeamish when it comes to eyes, I am not. I had those punctal plugs inserted into the tear ducts and saw the sharp object coming towards my eyeball and I didnt feel a thing.

I truly hope you get to keep your eyesight and hope with vigilance that you have, you pick up on stuff/issues early.

Good luck with all that