Codeine Linctus

Two months ago, mum started a new round of chemo. The doctors said that it would be much milder than her first dose of chemo through IV (which she had initially had some fairly nasty reactions too). This round would allow her to keep her hair, and hopefully would keep her tumors stable for a year or more.

Three or four weeks after she started, she started coughing. Two more rounds of chemo and the coughing didn't ease. The doctors prescribed her some codeine, and suggested that perhaps the chemo wasn't working. An MRI confirmed that last wednesday. 

There is now no more conventional approved treatments for her cancer. We are now looking at clinical trials.

Mum is coping quiet well. Every night, she sits behind her laptop and watches youtube videos which her friends have sent her.  This pic was taken 

Mum's doctor looks at her latest MRI and confirms that the cancer is indeed growing. 

Slices of Lingzhi mushroom, a herbal medicine used to slow tumor metastasis.

With conventional treatment failing, mum has turned to herbal medicine. She has started boiling a mixture of lingzhi mushrooms, grasses, and other herbs into a tea. About 18 months ago, I photographed her cooking spring rolls in the kitchen. The reason this image is in colour is it reminds me of those photographs. 

Beans

Today is International Coffee Day. The humble little coffee bean is more than just a pick me up. Coffee is the second most traded commodity in the world behind crude oil. While enjoying your brew, spare a moment and think about where those rich grains of magic came from.

These pics are from a kopi (a local type of coffee) factory in Selangor, Malaysia.

Unroasted green beans

Third or fourth generation coffee roaster

Roasting Kopi beans. Kopi is coffee beans roasted in butter and sugar. 

Anarchist Photographer with an Old Camera

While walking through the city, I noticed this gentleman (whose name unfortunately escapes me) changing a dark slide while photographing an Anarchist Society protest. I couldn't help but stop and ask him about his machine and how he works. He explained that he just shoots for fun and had been shooting street photos on sheet film. He carries three dark slides, allowing him 6 shots. He processes his own Tri-X and only prints using an enlarger. Amazeballs.

We discussed how awesome Doc's are, camera stuff, and Melbourne before I head on my merry way. People like this make me smile.

Concrete breeds apathy.

'Concrete breeds apathy' - Parisian Graffiti circa 1968 

Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne. 

Fairfield

While exciting the pub with a few good friends in Fairfield, I noticed these balloons stuck in the powerlines. My good friend Ash Pritchard (who lives near the pub) told me they had been up their for a week or so. 

Shoot The Sun at The Grace Darling

đám giổ

In Vietnamese culture, families hold a feast to commemorate the anniversary of a death in the family. Last Saturday night, my family gathered for a dinner to remember my grandfather. I never met the man; he passed away while he was still living in Vietnam.

My apologies for not keeping posts frequent. I have been quiet sidetracked recently with work and my personal life.