A threatened eviction, two bits of mail, a drive and a walk.

We all end up small
On Saturday I got involved with a older man who comes to our drop-in centre. He is in a state housing unit and has been told he will be evicted. His lawyer tells him it could be an immediate eviction on Tuesday so his family was keen for him to get his important items in storage ASAP. He was a bit of a hoarder so I went along to assist. He was so sad as we stashed just a little bit of his stuff. He looked around his remaining treasures and knew they would be discarded. "You may as well dump me as well!" he said. It reminded me that no matter how many material possessions we have, there comes a time when we will all have to "downsize". 
An MRI scan already?
At my recent hospital appointment the doctor felt around my stomach, asked questions and stuck his finger up my backside. He gave me instructions about tests he wanted and what to expect in the future, then went off to confer with the specialist. I thought it was all over, but he came back in and said that the specialist thought it would be good to have a MRI scan, just to check there is no cancer. I was surprised, but had read in the newspaper that there was a long wait for MRI scans, so was expecting a call up in a few months time. A letter arrived on Friday and they are going to do it next week! The reality of it hit me - I am having a scan to check for CANCER! Then, because I am a worry-wart, I said to myself, "Why did they make it so soon? Perhaps they are really worried?" - my sane brain reminds me it is just the doctors being thorough.  - But the mail brought a sense of reality and a measure of uncertainty.

Moeraki where we had lunch today.

A trip away.
In my role as a chaplain for St John Ambulance we drove about 45 minutes north of Dunedin to the township of Palmerston where I had to lead a dedication prayer as part of the opening of a new ambulance station.  We seemed to have been very busy lately so my wife convinced me to take a break and continue up the road a little to the beautiful little township of Oamaru. We had a special meal (two BIG ribeye steak meals - I had to help my wife finish hers so I waddled out of the restaurant) and relaxed in a luxurious motel there for the night, pretending we were rich.  We lazed around sleeping in and reading until we had to leave at 10 a.m. We wandered the shops and then dawdled home taking several side routes and exploring the countryside. It is funny how as you get older a quiet drive in the country is a thrill. Sometimes just a short spell of relaxation out of town can ease the stress. After checking emails (all of them work related) and doing a few other things at home I went for a 10k walk.  After about 4k I bumped into a man who we have dealings with through the Night Shelter Trust. I had a congenial chat, but he raised a couple of issues. The reality is that around town I just cannot escape "work".  
Official looking mail.
I received an official looking envelope in today's mail.  The opening line said, "Dear Mr Brown APPLYING FOR NEW ZEALAND SUPERANNUATION (NZ Super ) As you are about to turn 65 you may be able to get NZ Super." I could look up information at www.seniors.msd.govt.nz 
It is funny... I am looking forward to retirement at the end of the year. Twenty one Sundays to go!  But somehow the word "superannuation" and "seniors" hit me with the reality. I am a senior!  I will be classed as a pensioner! The newspaper would call me an "elderly man!"  I still feel young?  But I have not "succeeded" yet? Where did those years go?  Life seems to have passed by so fast.

On my walk - a sign of spring coming.

A new track looking across Sawyers Bay.

I decided to take a short cut down the railway line.
Just then one of the rare trains decides to use it.