Female Factory

 

Hi everyone it’s Wednesday morning what happened to Tuesday seems like I forgot to do a post, I was going to write about the Female Factory in Tassie but then remembered that I already had done one back in 2016 which can be found here: https://jo-annemotherandnanna.blogspot.com/search?q=female+factory

So, if you want to know about or remind yourself about the place go check it out and that’s today’s post

 

A Stressful Day

 

Hi all, yesterday Friday 1 May was a stressful day for me I had to go and have an Xray done of my neck as I still have pain from when I fell on the cruise. However, I had only just got home when my doctor’s surgery called to tell me I had to go back and have a CT scan done of my neck asap. So, I went back and had that done the radiologist spoke to Sue and explained there was a small break in the neck.

After a couple of hours my doctor’s surgery rang and said I needed to go to emergency about the break, I didn’t want to go due to the time, but of course I did, Sue took me over and she stayed with me the whole time, I was there around 8hrs.

So, I have a C4 teardrop fracture at the back of my neck but thankfully not the front and the break is stable.

A C4 teardrop fracture is a serious injury to the cervical spine, typically caused by high-energy trauma such as a car accident or a heavy fall. This type of fracture occurs at the fourth cervical vertebra and is often associated with damage to the spinal cord, which can result in varying degrees of paralysis or loss of sensation below the level of the injury. In addition to bony damage, there may also be ligamentous injury and potential instability in the neck, making immediate medical attention critical to prevent further complications.

Symptoms of a C4 fracture vary depending on the injury’s severity and spinal cord involvement. Patients experience localized pain in the neck, which may radiate to the shoulders or arms. Muscle spasms, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms and legs are common. More serious neurological deficits, such as paralysis in the arms, hands, torso, and legs, or even loss of diaphragm function requiring ventilator assistance, can occur with spinal cord involvement. Recognizing these symptoms and seeking prompt medical attention is important to prevent further damage.

I now have to go back to my GP and arrange to have an MRI done to check for ligamentous injury.

So what does this mean in the long run, well it is still a serious cervical spine injury a future fall could cause loss of stability in the fracture which would not be good. As this could cause damage to the spinal cord resulting in problems breathing, difficulties moving my arms, loss of sensation in my body.

Worsening of the fracture as in an increased displacement, new cracks, or involvement of other vertebrae. As well as soft‑tissue injury to ligaments, discs, and muscles around the fracture can be damaged, reducing stability.

Then there are delayed neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling, weakness, or changes in coordination.

So even a “simple” fall — tripping, slipping, or landing awkwardly can transmit force through the neck. So, a stable C4 teardrop fracture can stay stable if protected, but a fall can change the situation quickly.

 

Week 18 of 2026

 

I had an early start woke at 3.45am to pee couldn’t settle again so got up at 4am, the first thing I did was have a shower. I had a good 9hrs of sleep.

Then I had to clean the kitchen and start the laundry before unpacking the dishwasher and making myself a milk shake.

After hanging the washing out, I went for my daily walk it has been a warm day.

This afternoon I was folding the clothes up and felt extremely exhausted and Tim asked me what was wrong I told him I was exhausted and he said how about I do the yard work, and he does the housework, I replied how about you have Parkinson’s and I don’t. He said what’s that got to do with it, every bloody thing that’s what.

Here I am on Monday morning been up since 4.20am had a good 9hrs of sleep again it is now 5.45am and the temp is 13c or 55f.

I have had a busy morning sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, changed the bed sheets.

Tim hung the washing on the outside clothesline. He is off today as it is a public holiday.

It warmed up to 23c or 73f.

Steps: 8,937 = 4.5k’s of 2.7 miles

 

I had a so-so night, I was up and out of bed by 3.30am due to being in so much pain, the pain is on the left side of my neck and my right hip as well as my back from the middle down. I still feel a bit tired, but I am doing ok I am functioning. I had around 6hrs of sleep.

It is 11c or 52f at 4am and it is supposed to warm up to 22c.

Sue said she things I should see the doctor to make sure all is ok since I have been in pain and have limited movement in my neck since I fell over on the cruise. So I now have an appointment tomorrow.

I had an hour a nap after lunch, but by 6.30pm I was falling asleep in my armchair so off to bed I go.

Steps: 8,226 = 4k’s or 2.4miles

I had a good night slept through to 4am when I got up to pee felt awake and decided to stay up. I had around 9hrs of sleep. The temp at 5am is 13c or 55f.

I have made a doctor’s appointment for 11.24am, seen the doc he wants me to get an Xray done of my neck just to be sure all is good.

Sandy said I might have a slipped disc I hope she is wrong.

Sandy rang to tell me she can no longer deal with Landon’s violent nature so has informed DCJ of that and he is being returned to his mum. Sandy has done the best she could and did make some progress but her own daughter is not in a good place mentally and she wants to focus on her needs. She will let Landon know she is only a phone call away if he needs to talk to someone.

Michelle has gone on and on about wanting her kids back and now that she is getting Landon back, she doesn’t really want him because he will interrupt her life.

Steps: 9,809 = 5k’s or 3miles

Another early start to the day and I was up later last night it was 8pm when I went to bed. I slept well till 3am when I got up to pee but found it hard to settle again, so at 4am I got up and had my shower.

I am feeling good this morning no morning walk because I am going shopping with Sue.

I have had a good day I washed the ramp outside after sweeping it and I vacuumed and washed the towels all before Sue picked me up.

Steps: 10,353 = 5k’s 3miles

A good night managed 7hrs of sleep was up at 4.30, washed, dressed and ready for the day, first task of the day unpack the dishwasher and clean the kitchen.

Tim doesn’t sound good this morning he sounds like he has a cold.

I went and had my Xray done but after I got home, I had a phone call from the doctor’s surgery letting me know I now need a CT scan done today.

So, I have had the CT scan done and it turns out I have a small break in a bone in my neck. I am now waiting to hear from my GP as to what he wants to do next.

The GP sent me to the emergency room where I am going now, and I expect to be there till sometime late tonight.

Steps: 8,498 = 4.3k’s or 2.6 miles

I slept well after finally getting home at around 10.50pm, I spoke to Tim for a bit then went to bed.

I had around 6hrs of sleep, I was up at 6.15.

So it seems I have a stable C4 teardrop fracture in my neck, I have to see my GP and get referred for an MRI.

There were many phone calls to Sue during the time at the hospital, a good reminder of how much my; family love me.

Yes, I am worried about falling over again. I cannot let my fear of falling over again to stop me walking each day.

Steps: 5,751

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Links

 

My post with links to other posts and a few photos as well

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/04/another-hodgepodge.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/04/sharing-my-world.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/04/sunday-stealing-on-wednesday.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/04/remarkable-sister.html

https://jamfn.blogspot.com/2026/05/getting-to-know-me.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Cruise Day 3.....Hobart

 

On day three of the cruise, we were in Hobart for the day after getting off the ship we decided to get on the hop on hop off bus a tour bus and I found it interesting.

When it reached the Female Factory which was a women’s convict prison, we got of to visit the factory. After we got off the bus it was a long ass walk to the prison thankfully all downhill took us 10-15-minutes to walk there.

The tour was great I will do a post about it later, after the tour I thought we would get a cab to the next location to get back on the bus, however, Tim said it was only a couple hundred metres downhill so I agreed to walk it, he was wrong it turned out to be 1.4k’s and I felt exhausted by the time we reached the bus stop.

So, it was decided that Sue and I would return to the ship while Jess and Tim went to the old gaol, but that was closed.

As it turned out both Sue and Me as well as Tim & Jess arrived back at the ship at the same time.

The rest of the day was spent drinking cocktails.

Cruise Day 2

 

On our first night on the cruise the ship is moving a lot, and there was a lot of announcements telling guest to hold on to handrails or walk close to the wall if they are feeling unsteady.

I did feel the ship moving but once I was in bed I didn’t notice it and had a good 9hrs of shut eye. I was still up at 5am and spent time writing my diary entry and drafting a letter to my penpals.

We had breakfast in the Botticell Dining room, and we will not be going back there, there service was so slow, and Tim didn’t like what he ordered. The bacon was so crispy it hurt our teeth; the waiter told us we should have ordered English bacon.

Jess started to feel sick with motion sickness and skipped breakie and return to her cabin to sleep, she in fact spent the rest of the day sleeping.

After breakie Sue and I went to hear a talk about Hobart and Port Arthur it was interesting but due to how much the ship was rocking I start to feel unwell, so we left before it ended.

After lunch Sue and I returned to our cabins for a nap, I was woken by my alarm for medication. I walked into the bathroom feeling great lost my balance or tripped I don’t know which and fell, I hit my head and ended up with a bruise on my arm, a sore right knee and a very sore and stiff neck. I managed to stand and walk back to the bed get my phone and ring Sue. I tried to ring Tim but couldn’t. Sue turned up in only a couple of minutes she was still in her nightie and barefoot and left her medallion in her cabin, she checked me over then returned to her cabin. She had to knock loudly on the door to wake Jess up to let her back in the cabin. She told Jess about my fall and assured I was alright, so Jess went back to sleep.

Sue messaged Tim and as soon as he saw the message he came back to check on me.

I am bruised and sore, in fact today I went and saw my GP because I still have a pain and stiffness in my neck and I have to have an Xray just to make sure all is good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cruise Day 1

 

On Saturday the 18^th we left for our cruise we were picked up at 10am in a minibus which Jess arranged from the company she worked for, for over ten years and still does some weekend work for them at times. She received a good discount.

When we went to board the ship because I had the walker and we didn’t have to wait in a long queue, Sue converted the walker to the wheelchair and Tim pushed me onboard.

After finding our cabins we went in search of food which had Sue and me wondering around in circles, well it seemed like we did. In the end Sue, Jess and I ordered some hot chips to my cabin.

Around 6pm Tim contacted the service desk as my luggage hadn’t arrived all the others had theirs, while he was doing that it was delivered to Sue & Jess’s cabin.

It felt like a long day with a lot of walking, and I was in bed by 7pm.