2011 has started with an overwhelming amount of disasters, natural and unnatural alike, that have been difficult to accept. So much devastation and loss of life in such a short period of time. It just seemed that every week there was another flood or bushfire or earthquake. Add to that, the unrest in Egypt and Libya, and it would seem that the world is a big ball of turmoil. My thoughts have certainly gone out to those whose lives have been affected by those events, both local and abroad.

On a personal level, this has been a very bizarre year for me. At this time of blogging, I have been wrestling with illness for almost three months. I went to bed after the first Murphy's Lore Burswood gig of 2011 on January 8th and woke up feeling quite crappy. As the days wore on, I developed a fairly nasty cough, akin to a smoker's cough. I started feeling like there was a small lump on the inside of my chest, right in the middle of the sternum, and I was bringing up phlegm in sporadic amounts.

I thought my first trip to the doctor would see me walking away with a prescription for some antibiotics and I'd be right as rain in no time. I walked out of there with said antibiotic prescription and an asthma diagnosis and a chest infection. I had suspected around the age of 11 or 12 that I may have had asthma...I seemed to struggle running along the cross-country circuit than most of the other kids. It seemed to get better as I got older, as I participated in various sports over my teenage years.

Now, Rhona is asthmatic, and so are the kids, so I was the only one of the family not to be on a regular prevention program. I'm taking Symbiocort, a turbuhaler, which involves the grinding of pills (I'm guessing) and inhaling the fumes. I diligently started using it once every morning and night and took my course of antibiotics.

Eight weeks later, and that feeling of having a small lump in my chest isn't really there anymore, but I still cough and blow my nose a lot; spme days are better than others. It has affected my personality. My happy-go-lucky demeanour has been cracked, and when I've tried to keep up the facade, I have ended up becoming grumpy and short with those around me. Because laughing triggers a cough, I try to stifle my hearty guffaws now.

Sometimes while I sing, I start coughing too, or bringing up phlegm, which is weakening my performances somewhat. Thankfully, I've only had to cancel one gig in the time I've been ill, but it's been a challenging time.

I've been back to the doctor's surgery three more times since that first visit in January and gone on three more courses of antibiotics. I have another prescription there ready to go, if I think I need it. I'm going back again with Rhona next week. She feels that I need some help in kicking all the gunk out of my system and opening up my lungs, and is going to suggest I take prednisolone, a fairly strong steroid. I've been told that my chest infection has gone, and it's just the remnants that remain in my system that are causing the cough and the runny nose.

Because I've not had to manage my health as an asthmatic before, I may need to kick out the germs before I can return to a steady preventative course of action. Rhona has told me to take Asmol (like Ventolin) every four hours for a few days and see if that makes a difference. I hope it does. I would love to be able to laugh again without bringing on a coughing attack.

On the other hand, the year has been brilliant for Alyssa and Lachlan, who started year one and kindergarten respectively. Although Loch had spent half days at the Autism Association (Star School) for his early intervention therapy, he had yet to stay anywhere for the whole school day. Here we are in the eighth week of term one, and he's at kindy all day Monday and Wednesday, and at Star School all day Tuesday. He's managed to fit in with the other kids at both places and is participating well in the activities and therapies. Lyss had a great year at pre-primary last year, so her move to year one hasn't been as dramatic, but is still a big step. She has a desk and chair now, and is coping quite well being in a split year one and two class. Both kids have aides which makes a big difference to keeping them calm and involved. We're very lucky they are generally very happy kids too, and that hasn't changed. Loch, in particular, has had a great couple of weeks, and Lyss took her toy saxophone in for news yesterday, which was a big success!

Rhona's situation has changed professionally as well. She spent 2010 as a DOTT teacher at Clifton Hills PS in Kelmscott, and is this year north of the river at Osborne PS. A bit of a commute, but she seems to have enjoyed the changed. After completing a graduate diploma in teaching children with special needs, she has applied for work as a tutor for the Dyslexia-SPELD Foundation. She remains ever passionate in her efforts as an autism advocate and her desire to make a difference to education of children with special needs. We are both attending APAC 11 this year (the Asia Pacific Autism Conference), after learning so much at APAC 09 in Sydney.

Got some great gigs coming up...ML are at South Thornlie PS Saturday night for a City of Gosnells community event. I'm playing a solo show for the World Autism Awareness Day celebration in Kings Park, which will culminate with the Perth Bell Tower being lit up blue for autism. Rhona and I are flying to Bali in October for a wedding gig I'm doing, which is exciting. It will be the first time either of us has left Australia since the early 90's!

It's been a very bizarre start to the year, but it certainly isn't all bad. I just want to feel like my old self again.